The Irish standard., 1898-12-24
THE CUSTODIANs OF LEARNING AND
KNOWLEDGE IN ERIN.
THERE At A REMOTE PERIOD
THE DlVINES AND INTERPRETERS or
THE HEATHEN GODS.
IN GREATEST ESTEEM ANo ViRERA1I0N
LOFTY AND SUDIIME RELIGION or
THE PAGAN IRISH.

The name Druid" according to many
interpreters, is derived from the Greek
Drus-an oak, because the oak tree was
generally venerated by the Druids. Ac-
cording to others, it is derived from the
Irish Druid, which signifies magical wis
dom or knowledge, because the Druds
were the custodians of ancient knowl-
edge and learning. Druidism is gener-
ally supposed to originate among the
Eastern nations, and from the most re-
mote antiquity, says Mrs. Reynolds in a
lecture before the Womans '9S club.
1t is believed that the Magi or wise
men from the East, who came to adore
and offer their gifts to the newborn
Savior, belonged to the Druid profession.
Druidism is generally supposed to be the
same religion anciently professed by
Tyre and Sidon, by Carthage and her col
onies in Spain. 1t also existed in Gaul
and Britain. At what remote period it
found its way into Ireland is not definite
ly Known, but it is generally admitted
that 1t existed there at least 1000 years
before he birth of Christ According to
our ancient writings and traditions, the
earliest colonizers Of the country were
the descendants of Japhet, one of the
sons of Noah. Parthalon is recorded to
have come from Migdonia or Middle
Greece to Ireland with small colony
about 800 years after the deluge.
Amongst them were three distinguished
Druids named Fios. Eolus and Foch-
marc. which, according to the etymology
of the words, mean intelligence, knowl-
edge and inquiry.
The next colony, called the Nemidians.
under the leadership of Nemid and his
four sons, came to Ireland from Scythia
about 800 years after the landing of Par
thalon and his colony of sea-rovers,
known in ancient annals as Fomorians.
They, too, had with them several OF the
Druidic profession. They took possess
sion of Tory islnd, on the northwest
coast of Donegal. A fierce conflict arose
between the Nemidians and Fomorians,
in which the Druids and Drudesses of
both parties tried to outdo each other
In wonderful feats of magic skill and
witchcraft. The Nemidians, under the
leadership Of Reilbeo, daughter of the
king of Greece and wife of Nemid, at
length succeeded in defeating the Fo-
morians. About $50 years aftcrward
history tells us that Ireland was invaded
successively by the Firbolgs and Tu-
tina De Danann. Each of these colonies
came accompanied with their Druids
and Druidesses, who were wonderfully
skilled in divination and perfectly ac-
complished in philosophy and all the Sc
crets and mysteries of occult sciences
We now come to the great Milesian COL
ony. which, according to the annals of
the -Four Masters, landed in Ireland from
Spain about ! $50 years before the birth
Of Christ. They fixed their seat Of gov
ernment at Tara. Druidism was much
cultivated amongst the people, and their
Druids were held in the greatest esteem
and veneration. The high place at the
kings right hand, and the best fruits of
the earth and the waters were theirs.
Old age venerated them, women wor-
SHIPPED them, warriors paid court to
them, youth trembled before them.
Princes and chieftains regarded them
as their elder brethren. The Druid or
der or profession was divided into three
degrees or classcs-Druids, bards and
brehons. The Druids, properly so-called,
belonged to the sacred order, the bards
and brehons to the secular or prOfanc
The Druids were the great divincs and
interpreters of the gods. They cultivat-
ed the study of theology astronomy,
moral and natural philosophy and divin-
cd by the appearance of the sun, moon
and stars. by meteors, by the appearance
and the flame and smoke Of fire. Others
who resided in the Sacred groves OWNED
by the motion of the leaves, by the
blowing and moaning of the winds, and
Wy pS'uildl olIDo vi WOuu CuL lIOUl ull-
forent trees. Others, again, divned by
the croaking and flight of the raven and
other birds, by the entrails and flowing
blood Of the victims sacrificed by the
names and tombs of heroes, and by
dreams and visions Of the night. The
bards were poets, historians, satirsts,
orators and musicians of Ireland. To
them belonged the study Of oratory, his
tory, laws, poetry and music. They
were the heralds of the people, and the
distant attendants of the chiefs in bat
tie marching at the head of their armies,
clad in white flowing robes and boards,
and singing martial strains to the conf
pany Of the harp The bards were held
in the greatest respect, and even after
Christianity replaced Druidism in Ire
land they were still retained In the