Fire Worship

An important element in most primitive religions, fire being generally regarded as giving life, and by some as the very soul of nature, and the e ence of everything. The natural importance, which the preservation of the hearth fire had in primitive life, led to many observances, the principal functions of the state itself growing out of the care bestowed upon the tribal fire. The idea of purification by fire is very general. The creation of the new fire at recurrent seasons was one of the most solemn rites of the ancient Mexicans.