The Descent of Man

on the 'Development of Religion,' in Lubbock's
'Origin of Civilisation,' 1870. In a like manner
Mr. Herbert Spencer, in his ingenious essay in
the 'Fortnightly Review' (May 1st, 1870, p. 535),
accounts for the earliest forms of religious belief
throughout the world, by man being led
through dreams, shadows, and other causes, to
look at himself as a double essence, corporeal
and spiritual. As the spiritual being is supposed
to exist after death and to be powerful, it is
propitiated by various gifts and ceremonies,
and its aid invoked. He then further shews that
names or nicknames given from some animal
or other object, to the early progenitors or
founders of a tribe, are supposed after a long
interval to represent the real progenitor of the
tribe; and such animal or object is then naturally
believed still to exist as a spirit, is held sacred,
and worshipped as a god. Nevertheless I
cannot but suspect that there is a still earlier
and ruder stage, when anything which manifests
power or movement is thought to be en-