The fact that this debate continues among many Neo-Druids even today, is sadly not amazing to me.
TDK.
STATE OF LEARNING IN IRELAND BEFORE ST. PATRICK.
by JOHN HEALY, Dublin (1902).
>>
It has been said* by some writers that druidism
--------------------------------------------------------------
* 'See Dr. O'Rorke's excellent Hxttory o/Sligo,rol. ii., page 7. A
was a philosophy rather than a religion ; but this statement
cannot be admitted against the express testimony of Caesar,1
who must have often seen the Druids both in Gaul and
Britain. He asserts5 most distinctly that they attended to
religious worship, offered sacrifice both in public and in
private, and also expounded omens and oracles. Caesar's
htatement in this single sentence offers a text for our obser
vations. We must bear in mind what he says of the
Druids of Gaul, as well as of the British Druids ; because it
is quite evident that the Druids of the three great Celtic
nations about this period had practically the same religion.
He says that they had exclusive charge of public worship,
sometimes even offered human sacrifice ; and we shall show,
notwithstanding O'Curry,5 that they did the same in Ireland
also. A similar long course of instruction, generally extending to twenty years, was required for their disciples
in Ireland as in Gaul. As judges, too, the Druids enforced
their decisions by a kind of social excommunication, which
few people dared to despise. It is curious how the Celtic
races, even to this day, have recourse to similar excommuni
cations, both in things social and political. The Druids of
Gaul were subject to an Arch-Druid, who was, like the
Jewish High Priest, elected for life. But above all, the
Druids of Gaul taught the immortality of the soul, as also its transmigration, and appeared most anxious to inculcate
these doctrines on all their disciples. This is the one saving
doctrine of druidism, which thus prepared the way for
Christianity.
There were Druids amongst all the Celtic tribes of France, Britain, and Ireland. The British Druids in the
time of Caesar were very famous both as priests and scholars ;
so that it was customary for the young Druids of Gaul to be
sent over to Britain to finish their education in the colleges
of the British Druids. Their chief establishment was in the
Island of Anglesey, anciently called Mona ; so at least it is
called by Tacitus, although Caesar seems to give that name
to the Isle of Man. During the period immediately pre
ceding the arrival of St. Patrick in Ireland, it seems highly probable that Mona was occupied by a colony of the Irish
Celts.
TDK.
STATE OF LEARNING IN IRELAND BEFORE ST. PATRICK.
by JOHN HEALY, Dublin (1902).
>>
It has been said* by some writers that druidism
--------------------------------------------------------------
* 'See Dr. O'Rorke's excellent Hxttory o/Sligo,rol. ii., page 7. A
was a philosophy rather than a religion ; but this statement
cannot be admitted against the express testimony of Caesar,1
who must have often seen the Druids both in Gaul and
Britain. He asserts5 most distinctly that they attended to
religious worship, offered sacrifice both in public and in
private, and also expounded omens and oracles. Caesar's
htatement in this single sentence offers a text for our obser
vations. We must bear in mind what he says of the
Druids of Gaul, as well as of the British Druids ; because it
is quite evident that the Druids of the three great Celtic
nations about this period had practically the same religion.
He says that they had exclusive charge of public worship,
sometimes even offered human sacrifice ; and we shall show,
notwithstanding O'Curry,5 that they did the same in Ireland
also. A similar long course of instruction, generally extending to twenty years, was required for their disciples
in Ireland as in Gaul. As judges, too, the Druids enforced
their decisions by a kind of social excommunication, which
few people dared to despise. It is curious how the Celtic
races, even to this day, have recourse to similar excommuni
cations, both in things social and political. The Druids of
Gaul were subject to an Arch-Druid, who was, like the
Jewish High Priest, elected for life. But above all, the
Druids of Gaul taught the immortality of the soul, as also its transmigration, and appeared most anxious to inculcate
these doctrines on all their disciples. This is the one saving
doctrine of druidism, which thus prepared the way for
Christianity.
There were Druids amongst all the Celtic tribes of France, Britain, and Ireland. The British Druids in the
time of Caesar were very famous both as priests and scholars ;
so that it was customary for the young Druids of Gaul to be
sent over to Britain to finish their education in the colleges
of the British Druids. Their chief establishment was in the
Island of Anglesey, anciently called Mona ; so at least it is
called by Tacitus, although Caesar seems to give that name
to the Isle of Man. During the period immediately pre
ceding the arrival of St. Patrick in Ireland, it seems highly probable that Mona was occupied by a colony of the Irish
Celts.
