The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | страница 215

The European Union in Prophecy
to degrading idolatry, by the worship of the Goddess of Reason, in the person of a
profligate woman. And this in the representative assembly of the nation, and by its
highest civil and legislative authorities! Says the historian: "One of the ceremonies of
this insane time stands unrivaled for absurdity combined with impiety. The doors of
the Convention were thrown open to a band of musicians, preceded by whom, the
members of the municipal body entered in solemn procession, singing a hymn in
praise of liberty, and escorting, as the object of their future worship, a veiled female,
whom they termed the Goddess of Reason. Being brought within the bar, she was
unveiled with great form, and placed on the right of the president, when she was
generally recognized as a dancing girl of the opera. . . . To this person, as the fittest
representative of that reason whom they worshiped, the National Convention of
France rendered public homage.
"This impious and ridiculous mummery had a certain fashion; and the
installation of the Goddess of Reason was renewed and imitated throughout the
nation, in such places where the inhabitants desired to show themselves equal to all
the heights of the Revolution."--Scott, vol. 1, ch. 17. Said the orator who introduced
the worship of Reason: "Legislators! Fanaticism has given way to reason. Its bleared
eyes could not endure the brilliancy of the light. This day an immense concourse has
assembled beneath those gothic vaults, which, for the first time, re-echoed the truth.
There the French have celebrated the only true worship,--that of Liberty, that of
Reason. There we have formed wishes for the prosperity of the arms of the Republic.
There we have abandoned inanimate idols for Reason, for that animated image, the
masterpiece of nature."--M. A. Thiers, History of the French Revolution, vol. 2, pp.
370, 371.
When the goddess was brought into the Convention, the orator took her by the
hand, and turning to the assembly said: "Mortals, cease to tremble before the
powerless thunders of a God whom your fears have created. Henceforth acknowledge
no divinity but Reason. I offer you its noblest and purest image; if you must have idols,
sacrifice only to such as this. . . . Fall before the august Senate of Freedom, oh! Veil of
Reason!""The goddess, after being embraced by the president, was mounted on a
magnificent car, and conducted, amid an immense crowd, to the cathedral of Notre
Dame, to take the place of the Deity. There she was elevated on the high altar, and
received the adoration of all present."--Alison, vol. 1, ch. 10. This was followed, not
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