Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-25

~ vival OF Celtic learning. which
- is the most notable feature of
Welsh and Irish life of the pres
cnt day, is due the rise of a great Pam
Celtic movement on the continent of
Europe. Continental peoples. who
called themselves Latins or Teutons,
are beginning to remember with pride
their origin in the great and glorious
race which formerly dominated the
whole of western Europe.
All over the continent of Europe
Celtic literature is now studied, not as
the product of an archaic tongue but
as a living and glowing force which
races possessing the Celtic strain must
comprehend and utilize for the de-
velopment of their own powers. In
like manner the study of Celtic history
and archaeology has been taken up in
earnest as something quite as neces-
sary as the study of the history and
art of Greece and Rome.
The German, Fronch and Spanish
scholars who are most occupied with
Celtic studies, naturally turn their eyes
towards Ireland, the pre-emlnently Gel
tic land, for the elucidation of every
point In the development of Celtic
genius and Celtic civilization. Taking
advantage of the general interest, and
of the sympathy OF Europe, a group
of Irishmen. resident on the continent.
founded last year a Celtic union with
the object of uniting representatives
of every Celtic nation in a common ef-
cause. Brussels was chosen as the
headquarters of the Celtic union be-
cause there the readiest welcome is
given to societies formed for racial
advancement and for the spread of
knowledge.
BELGIANS ARE CELTS.
The Belgians arc among those who
boast Of their Celtic descent One
half the population Of tho country, the
Walloon. is purely Celtic; the other
half. the Flemish. though claiming to
be of Teutonic origin, admits q large
admiXture of Celtic blood by inter-
marriage. and has wide Celtic SYM
pathies- Walloons and Flemlngs alike
have entered into the spirit of the Celtic
movement. The Belgian government
looks on it with favor. and tho new
Celtic union. known on the continent
as L'Union Celtique. has obtained its
official patronage for great Pan
Celtic congress which it has arranged
to hold in Brussels during the holiday
season of 1910.
The Celtic association. a union of
Irish. Scotch. Welsh, Breton. Manx
and Cornish Celts. presided over by
Lord Castletown of Upper Ossory, in
ireland, has accepted the invitation of
L'Union Celtique to cooperate In or
gani2lng the Celtic congress. The as
sociation already has held Celtic cor
crosses in Dublin. Edinburgh, and
Carnarvon. each of which WAS a sue
cess, and it is anticipated that n,
congress of Brussels will be a stn
greater success than any Celtic con
gress which has been held up to the
present time. L'Union Celtique which
Will organize its slttings. with the as
sistance of the Belgian government.
which has placed one of tho Brussels
palaces at Its disposal. does not mix
in the war OF sccts It makes no DO
litical profession; but 1t realizes that
ell living movements must be national.
and 1t Will give full play to the great
national sentiments of every Celtic nn-
tion represented at the congress.
HISTORICAL EXHIBITION.
In addition to the congress it is or
gambling great Celtic historical ex
hlbition to be held In Brussels in 1910
as separate, but a chief part of the
Brussels international exhibition Of that
year The Belgian government again
coming to Its aid. its exhibits will be
placed in a separate. fire-proof build
ing This exhibition will be the first
purely Celtic exhibition ever held. 1t
will be illustrative OF the development