CHAPTER I - PRIMITIVE FAITH: RELIGION BEFORE BOOKS

"The investigation of the beginnings of a religion is never the
work of infidels, but of the most reverent and conscientious
minds."

"We, the forty million souls of Japan, standing firmly and
persistently upon the basis of international justice, await
still further manifestations as to the morality of
Christianity,"--Hiraii, of Japan.

"When the Creator [through intermediaries that were apparently
animals] had finished treating this world of men, the good and
the bad Gods were all mixed together promiscuously, and began
disputing for the possession of this world."--The Aino Story of
the Creation.

"If the Japanese have few beast stories, the Ainos have
_apparently_ no popular tales of heroes ... The Aino mythologies
... lack all connection with morality.... Both lack priests and
prophets.... Both belong to a very primitive stage of mental
development ... Excepting stories ... and a few almost metreless
songs, the Ainos have no other literature at all."--Aino
Studies.

"I asked the earth, and it answered, 'I am not He;' and
whatsoever are therein made the same confession. I asked the sea
and the deep and the creeping things that lived, and they
replied, 'We are not thy God; seek higher than we.' ... And I
answered unto all things which stand about the door of my flesh,