HI. During the Middle Ages, and down almost to the 18th ccnturj', magic was greatly studied in Europe, and could boast of distinguished names, who attempted to treat it as a grand and mj-sterious science, by means of which the secrets of nature could be discovered, and a certain godlike power acquired over tlie " spirits" (or, as we should now say, the '• forces") of the elements. The principal students and professors of magic during the period referred to were pope Sylvester H, Albert us Magnus, Roger Bacon, Paymond Lully, Pico della Wi- randola. Paracelsus, Cornelius Agrippa, Tritliemius,Yan Helmont, and Jerome Cardan. See Horst's Von dtr A l- len itnd Xeuen 3/af/ie, Ursprmif), Idee, Umfang und Ge- sc/tic/i/c (Mcntz, 18-20), and Ennemoscr's Geschichie der M(i/ji CJd edit. Leips. 1844; transl. into English by W. Howitt, 2 vols. Loud. 18r)-l). For an interesting account of the discipKne and ceremonies of the "art," consult the J)o(/iiu' et Rititd de Ik Haute Miu/ie (2 vols. Paris, 1S5G), by Eliphas Levi, one of its latest, adherents. For monographs on the general subject, see Yolbeding, In- dex rriiiirammatum, ]>. 100. jMany curious notices have been ccllccted by Thomson in his rinlosophy of Mar/ic (tj-anslated from the French of Salverte, Lond*. 1846, 2 vols.). See also Jlaury, /.(/ Magic, et l\i strvloffie (Par- is, 1860). The .1 rahiaii Xi<jhts' Entertaimnent.': is well known as a classical text-book on Oriental views of magic. For other literature, compare Necuomancer ; SoKCiOHEi:. For the legendary wonder-working. \\hicli seems to have been the basis of the traditionary fame of free-masonrv, see Soi.o.mon. Alchemy and astrology (q. V.) have Ukewise furni>hed their quota of interest to the subject. For the media-val thaumaturgic prac-
tices, see RosiCRVciANs ; for the later superstitions, see Witchcraft ; for the modem, see Spiritualisji.
Magician (Chald. tii:"in, churtom' ; Heb. plural D'^HDiri, chartummim' , thought by Gesenius, Thesani: p. 520, to be of Heb. origin, signifjing " sacred scribe'^), a title "applied to the 'wise men' of Egypt (Gen. xli, 8, 22 ; Exod. vii, 11 ; viii, 7, 18, 10 ; ix, 11) and of Bab- ylon (Dan. i, 20 ; ii, 2). The word ' magicians' is not in either case properly applied, as the rnagi proper are usually assigned to Persia rather than to Baliylon or Egypt, and should be altogether avoided in such ajipli- cation, seeing that it has acquired a sense different from that which it once bore. The term rather denotes ' wise men,' as they called themselves and were called by others ; but, as we should call them, ' men eminent in learning and science,' their exclusive possession of which in their several comitries enabled them occasion- ally to produce effects which were accounted supernat- ural b}' the people. Pythagoras, who was acquainted with Egypt and the East, and who was not unaware of the unfathomable depths of ignorance which lie under the highest attainable conditions of human knowledge, thought the modest title of philosopher {(bi\6ao<poQ), ' lover of wisdom,' more becoming, and accordingly he brought it into use ; but that of ' wise men' still retained its hold in the East. It is thought that the Egyptian chartummim were those of the Egyptian priests who had charge of the sacred records. There can be little doubt that they belonged to some branch of the priest- hood, seeing that the more recondite departments of learning and science were cultivated exclusively in that powerful caste" (Kitto). See Magi. See Jablonski, Proleg. in Panth. ^flgypt. p. 91 sq. ; Creuzer, Mythologie und SymholiJc, i, 245 ; Wilkinson, Anc. Egyptians, ii, 316 sq. ; Kenrick, Egypt under the Pharaohs, i, 382. See Magic.
Magicians. The early Christians were derided by this name. Celsus and others pretended that our Saviour, because he wrought miracles, practiced magic, which he had learned in Eg^'pt. Augustine speaks of a popular belief among the enemies of the Christian faith that our Saviour had written books on magic, which he delivered to Peter and Paul for the use of his disciples. One of the Roman historians calls the Chris- tians genus hominum superstitionis malijica!, which may be understood to mean " men of the magical supersti- tions." In the martyrdom of Agnes, tlie people cried out, "Away with the sorceress! Away with the en- chantress !"
Magid'do (Maytccw, 1 Esdr. i, 29). See Me-
GIDDO.
Magie, David, D.D., a Presbyterian minister of note, was born in Elizabeth, N. J., March 13, 1795; be- came a subject of renewing grace at the age of eighteen; two years after united with the Presbyterian Church ; soon after entered Princeton College, and, subsequent to his graduation from the theological seminar^', was for two j-ears tutor in the college. In 1821 he was installed pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth, " to which he was bound as by a golden chain, giving them the services of his life, till, with bleeding and grateful hearts, they yielded him, at the call of God. to enter his eternal joy," ISIay 10, 1865. Dr. Magic de- clined many calls to other stations of responsibility and eminence, believing the pastoral relation too sacred to be dissolved but at the unquestionable bidding of the great JVIaster. " He was indeed 'a model pastor.' .... Combining temperance, charity, humility, prudence, sound judgment, simplicity, and earnestness, he was a faithful, persevering, successful laborer in the vineyard committed to his charge. He preached and prayed with a power and unction which sank deep into the hearts of his hearers. None went from any sermon without having had the way of salvation by Christ af- fectionately and clearly presented to them." He was a trustee of the College of New Jersey ; a pillar in the