The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-14
RITES OF THE DRUIDs.
Reaction in the Beliefs Cencernfnt
the Ancient Religion
(FTom the Gentleman's Nagazine.l

tFrom the Gertlemau's AagaxiEe.)
That the Druidic rites as praetieed in
Ireland and Scotland were neither Celtic
nor Semitic. but Turanian In origin, ap-
pears to be highly probable. The bsIisf in
hruidism has undergone some violent fuc-
tuations. Two hundred years ago il was
rampant; Toland and his wild theories
were received with open arms. A huCdrld
years ago & complete reaction set in. and
some critics refused to accept the Druics
at any price; no such organization. they
argued, ever existed. In a modified degree
this is the modern attitude. but the mod
fcation is OF some Importance It is gen.
orally accepted as 4 settled point that the
so-cslled Druidie eirc..ss were by origin
grave Enclosures. but II is also freely adj
nittsd thst at Subsequent period Druidlo
or other religious rites may have been
performed within some. at least. OF the
groups Of standing stones
The Roman historians distinctly affirm
the prevalence OF Druidisn In Britain. and
Irish and Highland traditions alike apps ar
to offer confirmation OF their accounts. 50
far as Ireland and Scotland are concerned
II is quite reasonable to give some deg.es
Of eredeace to these evidences. without
accepting the elaborate system Of Dru15Ism
which some writers have evolved from
their inagilatiols- We may believe ttaG
a comparatively purs form of Partheisni.
4
Crept, may have prevailed. and that its
rites may have been conducted in conss-
Grated groves, and later. possibly. within
the grave circles. The latter were Ger
tainly used in historic times for judicial
and similar functions. II may be rema. kei
that the SagzS deScribs the primitive
Thor > temple as a structure similar TO the
grave circles OF this country; the DOM
rings OF Scandinavia are supposed TO gave
be- ~ for Tha Efva Of Il
also not impossible OF credence that the
doctrine Of the RECONSIDERATION OF souls and
other tenets OF religious eTeeds in modern
times may have been held BY tn Druids
But ii is clear that the most noteworthy
feature of the Druidie religion was its
claim to magic arts. The word Druid is
probably derived from the Sanscrit root
druh. which according 10 Prof. Max Null
Ter means mischief" or '.power OF dark
ness hence the Anglo-Saxon form Of dry,
a magicIzn.= The Irish Fingalian legends
are full Of the magical exploits OF the
Druids. They were reputed TO have the
power to raise or sliay tenpests al their
pleasure. and 10 develop themselves or
Others in a magical fog thicker even than
that which eonceals their own history. 81.
Patrick in ireland and St COLUMBIA in
Scotland are related 10 have had many
encounters with their magical arts. from
all OF which. OF course. the saints emerged
victorious We are told By Adamnsn that
the Pictish kings were the patrons in Sect
land OF these magics=ns. The Irish Fioa
himself Was a wizard not 20 be Ges9E ed
By sucking the thumb which had pressed
the salmon OF knowledge" he could sea
every cozcurrent event in Ireland The
poor Druid Fiou. whom the youthful son
OF Cumhail robbed both OF his name and
his 'Sslmenscope." is deserving OF our
syupsthy The Daraans WIN sreoriirg
to Irish t-sSss4itti'.=s cane . Ireland # m
Denmark and Sweden. were mighty magf-
clans They elected their kiusSoIk. the
FiTbolss. from the Island and were thera-
selves subsequently, deprived OF their pss-
sessions By the Nilesian Scots. against
whom their Druidic arts ultimately proved
unavailing We are told that the Danaans
taught the simple tG0thiel Seandinavi&as
their black magic
Il We examine the primitive religion Of
Scandinavia as set forth IN the Eddas.
we ind 4 close similarity between Il and
the fras-snta-y traditions OF DFIifss11
which have been preserTF4- The E5i3s.
supnlemsatsd By the Sag4S. gives US a
picture OF magic similar 70 tia, Of tie
Druids. Of giants. ghosts. fairies. witch
craft. and second sight. which is faithfully
reflected in Scottish and Irish legends AL
supers,itioas- Even the -nistletoe. whi=h
IS exclusively associated With the n-ni lie
religion % BritAzs - with is accretl5as.
must perhaps so to she ersiI, @ Scsniina-
via for We Ana that Il was this apparently
insignificant bat actually potent alaus hat
vas the instrument Of the death q Dsljsr.
odin's son. whose memory even al tha
present nay be uawi;tinsly ps-peta2tet IN
Soaie parts ~ the Highlands by he May
Day dres which were. anS perhaps sin ara.
liz on the hiRtoqs