Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1920 — MEXICAN IDEA OF CREATION [ARTICLE]

MEXICAN IDEA OF CREATION

Maya-Qulche Scripture Reeemblee In Marked Degree That Handed Down by Other People*. The true indigenous civilization of Mexico—tile Maya-Qulche, so named from it* foremost peoples, still numerous and robust —has its authentic scripture in the Quiche tongue, the Popol Vuh, unearthed by Padre Xlmenez about 1675, and printed In full, with an interleaved French translation by the Abbe Basseurde Bourbourg in 1865, according to an article by Charles'* Johnston, in the Atlantic monthly. The scripture’s cosmogony begins with universal night—what the Sanskrit Scriptures call the night of Brahma—when darkness was upon the waters. Then~follows the development of worlds, first formed like thin cloud-wreaths in the abyss, and gradually hardening into hills'and plains, under the formative will of “the Creator, the Moul ter,, Heart of the Heavens, Heart of the Earth.” Then beasts and birds are formed. But, although they have voices, they have no articulate speech; they can not Invoke thglr Creator, or call upon the Heart of Heavens In prayer. Therefore the Divine' Powers set themselves to make man, who can pray and praise the Creator, so the Divine Powers may receive adoration from their hapdiwork. Two races are made only to fail; men formed of wet clay, who melt and dissolve, and the minikins, whose hearts are hard and who can not worship. At last a race, Intelligent, reverent, full of a penetratbig wisdom that sees all things in the iraavens as well as on earth, is brought into being. This perfect race renders praise and glory to the Creator.