se who have given us laws and philosophies that
we employ to-day and whose works are taught in all our leading colleges
and schools.

It is a well-known and undisputed fact that the philosopher Anaxagoras
not only taught but practised this study. We also find that Hispanus
discovered on an altar dedicated to Hermes a book on Cheiromancy, written
in gold letters, which he sent as a present to Alexander the Great, as "a
study worthy of the attention of an elevated and enquiring mind." Instead
of it being followed by the "weak-minded," we find, on the contrary, that
it numbered amongst its disciples such men of learning as Aristotle,
Pliny, Paracelsus, Cardamis, Albertus Magnus, the Emperor Augustus, and
many others of note.

This brings us down to the period when the power of the Church was
beginning to be felt outside the domain and jurisdiction of religion. It
is said that the early Fathers were jealous of the influence of this
old-world science. Whether this be true or not, we find that it was
bitterly denounced and persecuted by the early Church. It has always
been, that the history of any dominant creed or sect is the history of
opposition to knowledge, unless that knowledge come through it. This
study, therefore, the offspring of "pagans and heathens," was not even
given a trial. It was denounced as sorcery and witchcraft; the devil was
conjured up as the father of all such students, and the result was that
through this bitter persecution, the study was outlawed, and fell into
the hands of vagrants, tramps, and gipsies. In spite of this persecution
it is interesting and significant to notice that almost the first book
ever printed was a work on Palmistry, _Die Kunst Ciromantia_, printed in
Augsburg, in the year 1475.

In examining this subject it will be found that in the study of mankind
it came to be recognised that, as there was a natural position on the
face for the nose, eyes, lips, etc., so also on the hand was there a
natural position for what is known as the Line of Head, Line of Life, and
so on. If these were found in some unnatural position they would equally
be the indications of unnatural tendencies. It doubtless took years of
study to name these lines and marks, but it must be remembered that this
curious study is more ancient than any other in the world.

In the original Hebrew of the Book of Job (chap. xxxvii., ver. 7), we
find these significant words: "God caused signs or seals on the hands of
al