are still occasionally in evidence, advertising their trade through
the columns of the press. Indeed it is affirmed by the Catholic
Encyclopedia that the growth of occultistic ideas is reintroducing
astrology into society.

_Errors of Astrology_.--Whatever the popularity of this practice in
the past, and whatever its prospective vogue in the near future, it
is to be set down without qualification or hesitation as a delusion
and a snare. To suppose that the heavenly bodies have an influence
on human conduct is in its origin a pagan error, closely allied with
the pagan myth that the sun, moon and stars are presided over by as
many separate deities. Only thus could have originated the delusion
that Jupiter and Venus would procure a blessed destiny, and Mars and
Saturn a troubled one, for the children born at the time of their
rising.

Nor can the cult be justified by an array of the names of those who
have been its votaries. It is true that many astronomers in the
{489} past, including the great Kepler himself, have practised the
astrological art, casting horoscopes for their clients. But in most
cases it would be found, at least in the modern period, that these
scientists merely yielded through tolerance to the weakness of their
age. In true astronomy there is no place whatever for astrology.

Besides being groundless the practice is to be condemned for its
perilous moral tendencies. Distracting the soul from the worship of
the spiritual God, who alone governs the universe, it substitutes
for His action that of mere material objects, stars and planets,
which it thus elevates to the rank of lesser gods or demons.
Pretending to forecast from birth what each man's course in life
shall be, it robs the will of its proper share in moulding human
conduct.

_The Christian Fathers_.--An interesting testimony to the former
prevalence of this erroneous belief is found in one of Sir Walter
Scott's novels, "Guy Mannering," whose whole plot turns upon the
fulfilment of an astrological prediction. Reading the history at
hand the novelist had learned what complete sway the cult had
formerly exercised, almost down to the time of his writing. It would
have interested the celebrated author to know that there was,
however, one long period in which astrology was absolutely and
effectually excluded from Christian Europe. For over a thousand
years Christendom