Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1896 — Belief in Omena. [ARTICLE]

Belief in Omena.

In former times belief in omens was an article of religious faltb and belief in them exists to a considerable extent in some countries to-day. When the plofis mother of James 1. of Spain wished to select a name for her child, she surrounded his cradle with twelve lighted tapers, each bearing an apostle’s name; it was decided that the saint whose taper burned longest was the one who would thus signify his intention of becoming the Infant’s special patron. St. James’ light outlasted that of his brother apostles, and to St. James was the child tiierffldre dedicated. This was in the century, but the same spirit of pious superstition survived Inng afterward. The Puritans believed in casting lots, nnd In opening the Bible and receiving as an oracle the first words <Jn which their eyes fell and the early Methodists practiced the same description of divina lion.