THE MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL — NOVEMBER 21, 1875
Mr. Moncure D. Conway recently delivered his lecture on the "Devil" at Chicago, and in the Tribune of that city we find the following synoptical report of it:
Mr. Conway said he did not know of any reason why children should not bow their heath respectfully when the name of the devil was mentioned. Probing beneath the surface of philology, they would discover that demon and deity were originally synonymous. The Latin word Deas was corrupted in the English deuce, and the Egyptian devil was regarded as a God. In some copies of the old bible they found the curious injunction, “Thou shalt not be afraid of any bugs by night.” This was simply a contraction of the word bugaboo, with which all children were familiar. Beelzebub related to Boal, and, in short, all such words and names, when investigated, showed a regular affinity. In the early ages the alleged fall of angels from heaven was taken in a literal sense. Jupiter, it was held, took nine days in failing, and was, naturally, rather hurt by the fall. Lucifer coming down, fell upon his feet, which, no doubt, was the cause of his cloven hoof. [Laughter.] Primitive man found himself encountering in nature a will antagonistic to his own. He thought himself surrounded by strange influences, which he classed as spirits. Man had lived to learn better. The crowd of gods and goddesses of the Pagan ages were now regarded as the mythology of nature. They had outlived their day, and were now but the records by which
