Page:Cole (1885) The Hope of Sherbro's Future Greatness.pdf/13

 CHAPTER II.

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In contrasting the present with the past we cherish great hope for the future of the Sherbro country. A great and fearful battle of twenty-eight years has been fought with the king of darkness by the missionaries, and Jesus is the conqueror. Purrowism, polygamy, idolatry, superstition, and Mohamedanism are now falling victims at Immanuel’s feet.

Purrowism, which is a secret society, is losing its power and influence over the minds of the people. Some societies of this kind are to be found among almost all African nations. The Magi (confounded with the Magicians) of Egypt is a class of, or the origin, of these secret societies. They do nothing openly. Neither could one fully understand them without being a member. They conceal crime and protect a guilty member from punishment, however heinous the offense may have been. This society was founded by Zoroaster, a Persian. From the Arabs it spread through India and Egypt, whence it traveled in various corrupt forms to Soudan and western Africa. Herodotus says that this society had great influence in the political as well as religious affairs of the state, and that a monarch seldom ascends the throne without their previous approbation. He says they also pay particular homage to fire. A careful comparison of the different African private society will prove what we have affirmed of their derivation from the Magi of Egypt, as it is the same in law and many other respects. The Avudu relative to the Shagoes are lightning worshipers. They have great delight for fire. I have witnessed an Avudu