Washington sentinel., 1901-05-25
TIE I'D SENTINEL

annals LnaL WnCn lnG MlASSlduS
FIRST landed in Ireland (about 1000
B. c J the standard which they bore
was a serpent on a crossed staff;
and it is said that this device was
stamped by their King, Emma the
Second, on the first coin of that
country. Like all ancient stand
ards, it was their palladium, pro-
tecting from evil and insuring vic
tory over enemies, and as such
borne before them in battle and
placed over the entrance OF their
dwellings, like the later White
Horse OF the Saxons and Green
Dragon OF Wales. The sacred
standard Of the people was, in TACT,
simply the representation or sym.
Dol OF some idol or deity in whose
protective power they trusted; and
that the Serpent, as we'll as Bel,
or Baal, was worshipped by the
PAGAN Irish we have sufficient
proof.
Serpent worship was one Of the
earliest and most universal relig-
ions OF the world. The character
and attributes OF the reptile-its
stealthiness and maleVolence, its
Venomous power and mysterious
gift OF charming, possessed by no
other creatuTe-invested it with
powerful fascination for a primi-
tive people, and it is probable that
divine honors were first paid it as
a means OF propitiating formida-
bic enemy. But its most wonderful
attribute was its seli-renovating
power. When old and inirm, deaf,
blind, and incapable oil defending
itself, it would suddenly cast off its
woTn-out covering, and emerge in
rainbow colors and all the vigor
Of renewed life and youth. Thus
il came to be regarded as the SYM
Dol OF supernatural wisdom, heal
ing and never-ending life.
1t was probably in the character
of healer that the serpent was re-
garded by the Milesians, since
most Of the localities Of Ireland
connected with traditions oil these
reptiles destroyed by St. Patrick
were esteemed places OF healing.
To these spots, generally holy
wells, the people of the poor and
ignorant classes still resort as
pious pilgrims seeking relief from
their in6rmities. They drink of
the sacred waters, and circle about
the iount on their knees while re-
pea ting their prayers; and it is q
curious fact, as we are informed
by an old time traveller in Ireland,
that this circling was formerly
done "grovelling on hands and
knees, or even lying fiat on the
ground and wrigpling along like
a snake. ," This must undoubtedly
have been a relic Of the ancient
rites, though the people had not
the slightest idea OF its origin, or
even that such a religion had ever
existed IN their island. In the
same way they still on Beltane
Eve kindle bale fires" on the
summit oil every hill, and send
flaming wheels rolling down their
sides, though ignorant that they
are celeb, ating day consecrated
tosBel, or Baal, by their Phoeni-
clan and Irish ancestors, who OBJ.
served it in a precisely similar
manner.
When St. Patrick was sent from
Rome by Pope Celestine as a mis-
sionary to pagan Ireland, all other
religions Of that country had in a
great measure yielded to or become
merged in Druidism. The Serpent
worshippers were at this time evil
IDENTIFY a diminished or decadent
sect, practising their mysterious
rites in the most remote and soli-
tary places--as did the Druids
when they had lost their prestige
and power. The good Saint did
his mission boldly. He traversed
the island, preaching the gospel
and destroying the pagan idols. |
He overturned the Druid altars |
and converted the sacred oaks into |
fuel. He extinguished the perpet
ual fires, and used the waters OF |
the holy wells for ablutions. He |
overthrew the great idol. Crom, on
the "Field Of Howling," and with
his staff he smote and broke to |
pieces the serpent images before
which the people had bowed, iorc-
ing them to seek refuge in remote
and uninhabited places, where
they might practise their secret
rites undisturbed. Many who
were thus driven out resorted to
the desert islands OF the western
coast.
Herein we discern the true sig
nihcance OF that marvellous story
Of St. Patrick and the Snakes. It
was not serpents, but Serpent
WoTshippers whom St. Patrick
drove out OF Ireland. Strange, that
in the fifteen centuries which have
ella apsed since then, and in the var
ious disputes and controversies
upon the subject, this simple ex-
7lanation has never presented it.
self.
For that this is the true solution
Of the mystery one cannot doubt
who thoroughly considers the sub
ect. That we have no written or
information concerning
Il may be accounted tor in the fact
that Bishop Patricius (too often
-oniounded with ST. Patrick } when
be came to Ireland some centuries
after the latter, devoted himself to
eTadicating the last traces ofpagan
worship, and blotting outfits very
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