This  volume  is  virtually  an  epitome  of  religions,  but  is
rather  for  the  general  reader  than  the  specialist,  for  it  shows
the  former  the  result  of  the  researches  of  the  latter,  and  the
important  scope  of  these ;  and  it  is  hoped  makes  the  general
literary  position  more  assured.  The  public  are  rarely  equipped
with  the  necessary  information  on  which  to  form  a  judgment,
so  that  much  precious  time  and  literary  labour  is  often  wasted
in  arguing  or  rehearsing  matters,  which  have  long  passed  beyond
the  province  of  controversy.
The  work  of  the  specialist  is  rarely  attractive  to  the  public,
because  it  is  not  only  technical  but  destructive  and  seems  to
surround  one  with  pitfalls  and  uncertainty.  It  is  the  work  of
the  expositor  to  search  solid  ground  and  the  task  is  often  as
thankless  as  it  is  laborious.  He  must  popularise  as  far  as
possible,  the  knowledge  hid  away  in  dusty  tomes,  and  scattered
in  home  and  foreign  magazines,  as  well  as  in  scientific  journals.
Nor  will  his  services  receive  much  appreciation,  for  he  is  certain
to  run  athwart  many  current  theories  and  practices,  feelings  and

Til


Vlll  PREFACE.
opinions.  It  is  with  knowledge  as  it  is  with  commodities.
There  is  no  feeling  evoked  in  technical  or  abstract  pursuits.
One  may  observe  facts,  study  laws,  excavate  tombs  and  trans-
late texts  with  impunity,  but  it  is  otherwise  when  as  in  this
case  we  apply  the  information  thus  obtained,  to  existing  institu-
tions; when  we  undertake  the  formidable  task  of  comparing
one  religion  with  another,  in  order  to  show  the  origin  and
development  of  each.
