The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1903-06-13
THE SACRED ISLE
Duke OF Argyll sells T~ona-Hissery
Of she Famous Island.

OF she Fsmou. Island
The Duke of Argyll has sold the Is
land of Iona, the resting place OF the
Kings of Scotland. to the Carthusisn
Monks. recently expelled by France
from the Monastery of the Grand Chart
reuse. It is understood that the terms
OF the sale provide for the preservation
oil the sacred and historical relics and
associations of the island.
Iona is q bit of an island in the He
brides. just of the promontory of Null
and south of the Island Of Staffa. 1t is
about three and q half miles long by
one aud a half miles wide, containing
some 1900 imperial acres. about 600 Of
which are under cultivation. But its
history and legends give il q fame far
beyond its size or geographical i'm
%portance.
ssThat man is little to be envied
whose patriotism would not gain force
upon the plain of Marathon, or whose
piety would not grow warmer among
the ruins Of Iona" So wrote Samuel
johnson in his journey to the West
ern Islands" For Iona is the far
famed sacred isle" from which Colum-
ba first carried Christianity to the Scots
and Picts in 563. There the Druids
previously held their bloody rites and
ceremonials, and there for over athous-
and years were buried many Scotch.
Irish, Norwegian and even French
kings.
In Macbeth" the island is called
Colmes-kill. and both Macbeth and
Duncan are buried there. The island
has also been called 1, by and Icolm-
kill, but in poetry it has held the name
Iona. Campbell, in bis Pleasures of
Hope" thus alludes 10 the legend that
st. COLUMBIA appears on the monastery
towers to count the islands of the He
brides. the Ultima Thule of the ancient
world:
As Iona's saint. a giant form.
Throned on his towers, conversing with the
storm,
Counts every waye-worn isle and mountain
boar
From Kildea to the green Ierne's shore.
"More than 1900 years." says John
l.. Sto6dard when on our English
speaking race the light of Christianity
had securely dawned. and when Great
Britain was still largely peopled with
savages, there one day approached this
island from the coast Of Ireland a frail
boat made of hides stretched over ribs
of wood. The little skif contained
COLUMBIA, q Celtic missionary, and
twelve disciples. who subsequently,
founded here a monastery which was
for centuries q monument of learning
and religion, the spiritual light OF the
northwestern world. towering like a
beacon light above the sea Of ignorance
and barbarism, and causing Iona to be
revered throughout all Europe as the
holy Isle.'
"Time and again the Scottish coast
was ravaged by Norwegians pirates.
who usually had no respect for either
piety or learning; but such were the
ssnctity and fame of Iowa that it was
the only place in Scotland spared by
the northern chieftian. Msgnus III. in
his career of plumber, and from the
portal Of Columba's church be is said
to have recoiled with superstitious fear.
not daring TO enter the sacred edifce
The principal structure now remaining
was erected more than 800 years ago.
and marks the spot on which the earliest
church vas built.
"Before the Reformation put an end
to the wealth and power of Iona, there
were many monolithic crosses on the
island, marking the graves OF kings.
Few of these remain. but one, fourteen
feet high, cut from q single block ol
red granite and covered with Runic 10.
scriptions, is in q very fair state oil
preservation. The cathedral of Iona is
the most venerable sacred ruin in all
Scotland, and there repose Columbus
remains"
For some little time it has beer
known that Iona was for sale 'by d.
rection of his Grace, the Duke Of
Argyll" so there was little surprise,
says the London dispatch. when it was
told that the expelled Carthusian
monks had decided to make theV home
there.