I cannot believe that any creature was created for uncompensated misery; it would be contrary to God's mercy and justice.
Mary Somerville.
The spider and the dove,—what thing is weakIf Allah makes it strong?The spider and the dove! if He protect,Fear thou not foeman's wrong.From Mecca to Medina fled our Lord,The horsemen followed fast;Into a cave to shun their murderous rage,Mohammed, weary, passed.Quoth Aba Bekr, "If they see me die!"Quoth Eba Foheir, "Away!"The guide Abdallah said, "The sand is deep,Those footmarks will betray."Then spake our Lord "We are not four but Five;He who protects is here.'Come! Al-Muhaimin' now will blind their eyes;Enter, and have no fear."The band drew nigh; one of the Koreish cried,"Search ye out yonder cleft,I see the print of sandalled feet which turnThither, upon the left!"But when they drew unto the cavern's mouth,Lo, at its entering in,A ring-necked desert-dove sat on her eggs;The mate cooed soft within.And right athwart the shadow of the caveA spider's web was spread;The creature hung upon her web at watch;Unbroken was each thread;"By Thammuz' blood," the unbelievers cried,"Our toil and time are lost;Where doves hatch, and the spider spins her snare,No foot of man hath crossed!"Thus did a desert bird and spider guardThe blessed Prophet then;For all things serve their maker and their GodBetter than thankless men.
The spider and the dove,—what thing is weakIf Allah makes it strong?The spider and the dove! if He protect,Fear thou not foeman's wrong.
From Mecca to Medina fled our Lord,The horsemen followed fast;Into a cave to shun their murderous rage,Mohammed, weary, passed.
Quoth Aba Bekr, "If they see me die!"Quoth Eba Foheir, "Away!"The guide Abdallah said, "The sand is deep,Those footmarks will betray."
Then spake our Lord "We are not four but Five;He who protects is here.'Come! Al-Muhaimin' now will blind their eyes;Enter, and have no fear."
The band drew nigh; one of the Koreish cried,"Search ye out yonder cleft,I see the print of sandalled feet which turnThither, upon the left!"
But when they drew unto the cavern's mouth,Lo, at its entering in,A ring-necked desert-dove sat on her eggs;The mate cooed soft within.
And right athwart the shadow of the caveA spider's web was spread;The creature hung upon her web at watch;Unbroken was each thread;
"By Thammuz' blood," the unbelievers cried,"Our toil and time are lost;Where doves hatch, and the spider spins her snare,No foot of man hath crossed!"
Thus did a desert bird and spider guardThe blessed Prophet then;For all things serve their maker and their GodBetter than thankless men.
Pearls of the Faith.
There came before our Lord a certain oneWho said, "O Prophet! as I passed the woodI heard the voice of youngling doves which cried,While near the nest their pearl-necked mother cooed."Then in my cloth I tied those fledglings twain,But all the way the mother fluttered nigh;See! she hath followed hither." Spake our Lord:"Open thy knotted cloth, and stand thou by."But when she spied her nestlings, from the palmDown flew the dove, of peril unafeared,So she might succor these. "Seest thou not,"Our Lord said, "how the heart of this poor bird"Grows by her love, greater than his who ridesFull-face against the spear-blades? Thinkest thouSuch fire divine was kindled to be quenched?I tell ye nay! Put back upon the bough"The nest she claimeth thus: I tell ye nay!From Allah's self cometh this wondrous love:Yea! And I swear by Him who sent me here,He is more tender than a nursing dove,"More pitiful to men than she to these.Therefore fear God in whatsoe'er ye dealWith the dumb peoples of the wing and hoof."
There came before our Lord a certain oneWho said, "O Prophet! as I passed the woodI heard the voice of youngling doves which cried,While near the nest their pearl-necked mother cooed.
"Then in my cloth I tied those fledglings twain,But all the way the mother fluttered nigh;See! she hath followed hither." Spake our Lord:"Open thy knotted cloth, and stand thou by."
But when she spied her nestlings, from the palmDown flew the dove, of peril unafeared,So she might succor these. "Seest thou not,"Our Lord said, "how the heart of this poor bird
"Grows by her love, greater than his who ridesFull-face against the spear-blades? Thinkest thouSuch fire divine was kindled to be quenched?I tell ye nay! Put back upon the bough
"The nest she claimeth thus: I tell ye nay!From Allah's self cometh this wondrous love:Yea! And I swear by Him who sent me here,He is more tender than a nursing dove,
"More pitiful to men than she to these.Therefore fear God in whatsoe'er ye dealWith the dumb peoples of the wing and hoof."
Pearls of the Faith.
Verily there are rewards for our doing good to dumb animals, and giving them water to drink. A wicked woman was forgiven who, seeing a dog at a well holding out his tongue from thirst, which was near killing him, took off her boot, and tied it to the end of her garment, and drew water in it for the dog, and gave him to drink; and she was forgiven her sin for that act.
Table Talk of Mohammed.
It is recorded of the Prophet, that when, being on a journey, he alighted at any place, he did not say his prayers until he had unsaddled his camel.
Poole'sMohammed.
By these dumb mouths be ye forgiven,Ere ye are heard pleading with heaven.
By these dumb mouths be ye forgiven,Ere ye are heard pleading with heaven.
Pearls of the Faith.
Of all and every kind of sin which I have committed against the creatures of Ormazd, as stars, moon, sun, and the red-burning fire, theDog, theBirds, the other good creatures which are the property of Ormazd, if I have become a sinner against any of these,I repent.
"If a man gives bad food to a shepherd Dog, of what sin is he guilty?"
Ahura Mazda4answered:
"It is the same guilt as though he should serve bad food to a master of a house of thefirst rank."
"The dog, I, Ahura Mazda, have made self-clothed and self-shod, watchful, wakeful, and sharp-toothed, born to take his food from man and to watch over man's goods.
"I, Ahura Mazda, have made the dog strong of body against the evil-doer and watchful over your goods, when he is of sound mind."
He who, seeking his own happiness, does not punish or kill beings who also long for happiness, will find happiness after death.
Dhammapada.
Whoever in this world harms living beings, and in whom there is no compassion for living beings, let one know him as an outcast.
Sutta Nipata.
Tiger, tiger, burning brightIn the forests of the night,What immortal hand or eyeCould frame thy fearful symmetry?In what distant deeps or skiesBurnt the fire of thine eyes?On what wings dare he aspire?What the hand dare seize the fire?And what shoulder and what artCould twist the sinews of thy heart?And, when thy heart began to beat,What dread hand forged thy dread feet?What the hammer? what the chain?In what furnace was thy brain?What the anvil? What dread graspDare its deadly terrors clasp?When the stars threw down their spears,And watered heaven with their tears,Did He smile his work to see?Did He who made the lamb make thee?Tiger, tiger, burning brightIn the forests of the night,What immortal hand or eyeDare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Tiger, tiger, burning brightIn the forests of the night,What immortal hand or eyeCould frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skiesBurnt the fire of thine eyes?On what wings dare he aspire?What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder and what artCould twist the sinews of thy heart?And, when thy heart began to beat,What dread hand forged thy dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?In what furnace was thy brain?What the anvil? What dread graspDare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,And watered heaven with their tears,Did He smile his work to see?Did He who made the lamb make thee?
Tiger, tiger, burning brightIn the forests of the night,What immortal hand or eyeDare frame thy fearful symmetry?
William Blake.
Nobody doubts their general value, as nobody doubts the value of sunlight; but a more practical appreciation may be felt of their moneyed value if we look at that aspect of the question in some of its details.
We quote from a hand-book published for the South Kensington Museum:—
"CLASS I.—Animal Substances employed for Textile Manufactures and Clothing.Division I. Wool, Mohair, and Alpaca. Division II. Hair, Bristles, and Whalebone. Division III. Silk. Division IV. Furs. Division V. Feathers, Down, and Quills. Division VI. Gelatin, Skins, and Leathers."CLASS II.—Animal Substances used for Domestic and Ornamental Purposes.Division I. Bone and Ivory. Division II. Horns and Hoofs. Division III. Tortoise-shell. Division IV. Shells and Marines. Animal Products for Manufacture, Ornaments, etc. Division V. Animal Oils and Fats."CLASS III.—Pigments and Dyes yielded by Animals."—Division I. Cochineal and Kermes. Division II. Lac and its applications. Division III. Nutgalls, Gall Dyes, Blood, etc. Division IV. Sepia, Tyrian Purple, Purree, etc."CLASS IV.—Animal Substances used in Pharmacy and in Perfumery."Division I. Musk, Civet, Castorem, Hyraceum, and Ambergris. Division II. Cantharides, Leeches, etc."CLASS V.—Application of Waste Matters. Division I. Entrails and Bladders. Division II. Albumen, Casein, etc. Division III. Prussiates of Potash and Chemical Products of Bone, etc. Division IV. Animal Manures—Guano, Coprolites, Animal Carcases, Bones, Fish Manures, etc."
"CLASS I.—Animal Substances employed for Textile Manufactures and Clothing.Division I. Wool, Mohair, and Alpaca. Division II. Hair, Bristles, and Whalebone. Division III. Silk. Division IV. Furs. Division V. Feathers, Down, and Quills. Division VI. Gelatin, Skins, and Leathers.
"CLASS II.—Animal Substances used for Domestic and Ornamental Purposes.Division I. Bone and Ivory. Division II. Horns and Hoofs. Division III. Tortoise-shell. Division IV. Shells and Marines. Animal Products for Manufacture, Ornaments, etc. Division V. Animal Oils and Fats.
"CLASS III.—Pigments and Dyes yielded by Animals."—Division I. Cochineal and Kermes. Division II. Lac and its applications. Division III. Nutgalls, Gall Dyes, Blood, etc. Division IV. Sepia, Tyrian Purple, Purree, etc.
"CLASS IV.—Animal Substances used in Pharmacy and in Perfumery."Division I. Musk, Civet, Castorem, Hyraceum, and Ambergris. Division II. Cantharides, Leeches, etc.
"CLASS V.—Application of Waste Matters. Division I. Entrails and Bladders. Division II. Albumen, Casein, etc. Division III. Prussiates of Potash and Chemical Products of Bone, etc. Division IV. Animal Manures—Guano, Coprolites, Animal Carcases, Bones, Fish Manures, etc."
From a table of the value of imports of animal origin brought into the United Kingdom in the year 1875, we take a few items:—
"Live animals, £8,466,226. Wool of various kinds, £23,451,887. Silk, manufactures of all kinds, £12,264,532. Silk, raw and thrown, £3,546,456. Butter, £8,502,084. Cheese, £4,709,508. Eggs, £2,559,860. Bacon and hams, £6,982,470. Hair of various kinds, £1,483,984. Hides, wet and dry, £4,203,371. Hides, tanned or otherwise prepared, £2,814,042. Guano, £1,293,436. Fish, cured or salted, £1,048,546."
"Live animals, £8,466,226. Wool of various kinds, £23,451,887. Silk, manufactures of all kinds, £12,264,532. Silk, raw and thrown, £3,546,456. Butter, £8,502,084. Cheese, £4,709,508. Eggs, £2,559,860. Bacon and hams, £6,982,470. Hair of various kinds, £1,483,984. Hides, wet and dry, £4,203,371. Hides, tanned or otherwise prepared, £2,814,042. Guano, £1,293,436. Fish, cured or salted, £1,048,546."
The value of the domestic stock in Great Britain and Channel Islands, in 1875, is stated to have been:—
"Horses, 1,349,691 at £16, £21,587,056. Cattle, 6,050,797 at £10, £60,507,970. Sheep, 29,243,790 at £1 10s., £43,865,685. Swine, 2,245,932 at £1 5s., £2,807,415. Total, £128,768,126."
"Horses, 1,349,691 at £16, £21,587,056. Cattle, 6,050,797 at £10, £60,507,970. Sheep, 29,243,790 at £1 10s., £43,865,685. Swine, 2,245,932 at £1 5s., £2,807,415. Total, £128,768,126."
"When we find," says the compiler of the statistics from which we have quoted, "that the figures give an estimated money value exceeding £331,000,000 sterling, and that to this has to be added all the dairy produce; the poultry and their products for Great Britain; the annual clip of British wool, which may be estimated at 160,000,000 lbs., worth at least £8,000,000; the hides and skins, tallow, horns, bones, and other offal, horse and cow hair, woollen rags collected, the game and rabbits, the sea and river fisheries; besides the products of our woollen, leather, glove, silk, soap, and comb manufactures retained for home consumption, furs, brushes, and many other articles, we ought to add a great many millions more to the aggregate value or total."
Simmonds:Animal Products, p. xix.
The first society formed under this name, or for this object, was the "Royal," of London, in 1825.
The first in America was that of New York, in 1866; that of Pennsylvania, in 1867; and that of Massachusetts, in 1868.
They all sprang from the same Christian root with the other great voluntary organizations for religious and moral purposes which distinguished the century just passed. All helped to widen the consciousness of the world, and to prepare the way for reformations not then thought of.
In this goodly company of voluntary societies, those for the Protection of Animals are entitled to an honorable place. It is not too much to say that any list would be incomplete without them.
But they have gone beyond Europe and America, and are spreading over the world. Among their devoted members are found the professors of many religions.
These "Voices," it is hoped, may impel their readers, wherever they may be, to help on, through such Societies, a long delayed work of justice to the humbler creatures of God. In many countries the young may find juvenile societies to promote the cause in schools and neighborhoods.
But whether inside or outside of organizations, the words of Mr. Longfellow suggest a universal duty,—
"Act, act in the living present,Hearts within and God o'erhead."
"Act, act in the living present,Hearts within and God o'erhead."
Achilles, Horses of
86
Action
55
Ahura-Mazda
246
Aix, Good News to
82
Alexander
50
Allah
64
,
242
-
245
Among the Noblest
62
Ancient Mariner
13
Animals and Human Speech
32
Animals, Feeling for
45
Animals, Happiness
27
Animals, Innocent
50
Animals, Products
248
Animals, Suffering
35
Another's Sorrow
175
Arabs
33
,
64
,
65
Argus and Ulysses
188
Aspiration
46
Asoka Inscriptions
37
Atri in Abruzzo
58
Aziola
138
Baby, Human
22
Bavieca
67
Bay Billy
74
Beaver
21
Bedouin's Rebuke
72
Bees, The
21
,
117
,
176
,
230
Beetle
47
Beggar and Dog
202
Be Kind
54
Bess, Poor
71
Bible
ix, x, xi
Bird and Ship
182
Bird King
181
Bird, Lost
178
Bird of the Wilderness
106
Birds
91
-
184
,
239
,
240
,
241
Birds and Mohammed
243
,
244
Birds at Dawn
162
Bird's Evening Song
164
Birds In Spring
167
Birds Learning to Fly
120
Birds Let Loose
135
Bird's Ministry
165
Birds Must Know
180
Birds, Our Teachers
167
Birds Returning
240
Birds, Shadows of
181
Birthday Address
40
Birth of the Horse
64
Blanco
201
Bloodhound
192
Bluebird
95
,
163
Bob-o'-link
139
,
173
Bride
115
Brotherhood
30
,
39
,
103
Buddhism
36, 37
Butrago, Lord of
73
Cage
108
,
109
,
169
Canary
169
Can they Suffer?
18
Cat
223
,
224
,
225
Cato
86
Care for the Lowest
23
Chick-a-dee-dee
144
Child, Lydia Maria
41
Chipmunk
232
Choir, Hymeneal
105
Choir, Invisible
46
Cid and Bavieca
67
Cock's Shrill Clarion
113
,
133
,
163
Compassion
20
Concord
79
Cormorant
177
Crane
21
Cricket
229
Crow
97
,
163
Cruelty, Effect of, on Man