The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-08
lhe EiStoddfOd: H;ynsss,:s; Hs Ss;x,e sGa re,n,nr
The Robert Morris Eisteddfod rockingham, ay H. 1907

Through the efforts of the Robert
Morris lodge, a grand eisteddfod will
be held at the rockingham next Tues
day, May H.
The eisteddfod is one Of the most
ancient institutions of the Welsh ma
tion. 1t may have received its inspir-
alton from a more remote nation than
the Celtic Cymri-Greece, Rome or Sy-
racuse, possibly, but in its present
form, from the Welsh only.
AS early as the time of the tyrant
Dionysius of Syracuse, great assem-
blies of international contestants met
10 vie with one another in public sports
and contests. At times they were ex-
allied in nature, and of a distinctively
literary character. II was one Of the
redeeming traits, If he had any, of
that strange monarch, that he loved to
excel in literature.
The Studrts of England devoted much
time to literary attainments. indeed
there have been many instances of lit
erary monarchs. and many princes
have given their aid and encourage
ment to the eisteddfods held in the
once proud Celtic kingdom. The liter
airy festivals in which monarchs have
participated in the contests have been
frequent: and, either the Welsh nation
has been the progenitor OF the exalted
custom. or 1t may have been simply
imitator of the ancient game and liter
airy contests of primitive times. How
ever this may be it has survived the
ravages of time, the rise and fall Of
nations. the disintegrating force of rev
olutions, and has been a nucleus,
around which have gathered the NOR
ally good, the intellectually great, and
the religiously devout Of the sons and
daughters of Gwalia and others.
Time has rather frightened the an
cient and holy custom of the fathers,
and Tuesday next IN the metropolis of
the anthracite coal regions of Penn
sylvania, once the beautiful home
of the red man. the Welsh nation
al convention is to be held. The
Damascus of the Plains is to crystalize
the custom with celebration fun of
ancient and aesthetic accomplishments
1t has required labor and eXpendi-
ture of money to keep alive this most
ennobling national institution.
PATHOLOGICAL MEANING.
The genealogical meaning of the
word eisteddfod is "a sitting "scs-
sion" a synod" a conventions" ami
the more modern significant definition
"a literary and musical festival"
The word, so difficult to most persons
of pronunciation, is a compound word,
composed of two words, "estedd," to
Sit and "fod," to be; which rendered
in the compound meaning means "a
sitting to be-" It's primitive meaning
was a sitting or synod composed of
bards and minstrels.
The so-called GOrsedd Of the l5ards
is usually regarded as one of the relics
of the Druidic period, and is mentioned
in the Welsh Triads as the highest as
sembly of the Isle of Britain. This Is
a strange ceremony, yet not more 80
than what may be seen within the
halls of any secret order. At the 10
gan Stone" (Maen Llog), the arch
Druid stands. Twelve stones and
twelve bards at stations in a circle first
chant the Gorsedd prayer, which is
feebly expressed in the English as fol-
lows:
Grant, 0 God, thy projections;
And in protection, strength:
And in strength, understanding;
And in understanding, knowledge:
And in knowledge, knowledge of the just; ;
And in knowledge of the just, the love of
it;
And in that love, the love of all existence;
And in the love of all existence, the love
of God.
God and all Goodness"