THE ANCIENT DRUIDS

Shannon News, 25 June 1929, Page 1

THE ANCIENT DRUIDS

In studying Draidism in early Britain we find a curious similarity between that religion and the ancient Hebrew faith. Druidism had its rise in the East. With this somewhat mystic faith must always be associated the mystical form of circles, cromlechs and kist-vaens which are to be traced from Palestine across Europe into Britain. The system of rasing stone "heaps" was a Hebrew one. for the patriarchs are also known to have raided "heaps" and "stones of witness.''' Druid-ism differed essentially from the pagan religions of the past. It laid great stress, for instance, on the fact, that the soul never perished. They worshipped a Supreme Being who had a Trinitarian, nature represented by three persons —Belemi3, Taranis, and H.esus. The Druid 3 were intensely patriotic, nevertheless their teaching was such, that it discouraged one i) a Lion wilfully making war on another. Their religion in its ceremonies, ritual, teaching and garb was nearly akin to the Hebrew faith. The Atcli Druid was clad in a white robe, breastplate and gold tiara surmounted by the Supreme name. Compare with the Vestments commanded for Aaron, the high priest of Israel. (Exodus XXVIII). The sacred symbol of the Druids, the three rays or rods of light —the Divine name survives in two forms: In the three "feathers" of the Prince-of Wales, and the broad arrow of the British Government. Edward 111 adopted this symbol, the sign of spiritual and..temporal power of the ancient Keltic kings and priests, as the cognisance of his son, the Black Prince. • In the form of three ostrich feathers, the three golden, rays have been borne since that time by each successive Prince of Wales. In our own day we find the Awen, or Holy Wings, stamped by the Ordnance Survey as a landmark (in the form of the Broad Arrow), alike upon solitary mountain peak and kerbstone of crowded alley—the sacred symbol that proclaims from generation to generation the national faith in the overshadowing of the Divine Wings. The sign is still most sacred among at least half of mankind. It is called the "Sul" throughout Judaa. In India it is found employed as a caste mark, the tri-sul. In earliest days every Druid wore the symbol -of the ineffable name of the Deity, in. gold rays on the frqntof his linen mitre (see Prehistoric London, by O. Gordon). This faith must have been brought into Britain by the earliest settlers of the Hebrew, Iberian or Sakian' race. The Irish Druids differed slightly from the British, holding the yew as their sacred tree, while the British held the oak in veneration; like the Israelites of old. It is utterly false to accuse the Druids of practising human sacrifices. No human remains have ever been found at any place where sacrifices are known to have taken place, only the- remains of animals have been traced. Druid teaching was in every way opposed to such a practice. The fact that they believed in the immortality of ,the soul w r ould make human sacrifice impossible. They taught, however, the doctrine of the atonement, brought from their eastern Palestinian homeland —that is, the sacrifice of one for the sins of all, and.it was this teaching that to Pagan Rome, falsely im plied an orgy of Pagan human sacrifices. The' Druid Ritual, their Tei; Commandments, their Laws, were prac tically the same, as those laid down by Jehovah for the use of Israel. The duties as Priest, Scribe and Doctor were identical. Now comes the interesting question: Were the Druids ol Britain and the Levites of Israel re lated to each other? From history we know that the Israelites ■ were from earliest age's notable travellers and colonists/ 0. Gordon, in "Prehistoric London" writes: The Druidic religion was brought into Britain it is said by the Gomeridac. Possibly they brought what was known as Druidism with (hem when they reached the British Isles some 200 or 300 years after the Flood—about 2000 B.C. If from ancient days the Druid faith was established by the descendants of Shcm probablv'some of the Levites accompanied the" other tribes of Israel in their migrations, and linked up with their priestly brothers already there. It is said that Jeremiah on his arrival in ' Ulster with the Princess Tea Teplro (about 680 8.C.) found his own language and a high state of civilisation. At the coming of Christian missionaries shortly after the death of Jesus Christ, the whole of Druidism was expecting the Messiah. As a result, in a very short space of time, the British Druids and their followers were; converted, while in the reign of Lucius Kin"- and Missionary, Britain was the first" nationally Christian Kingdom of the world. Druidism recognised Jesus Christ as the Messiah for whom they were waiting, and He was identical with their looked for one—Hesus ot Yesus. The following is the Druid prayer reputed to be as old as the Institution:—Translation:

"Grant, 0 God. Thy Protection;" And in Protection, Strength And in Strength, Understanding:. And in Understanding, Knowledge: And in Knowledge, the Knowledge of Justice

And in the Knowledge of Justice, the Love of i-t; And in that Love, the Love of all Existences And in the Love of all Existences, the Love of Goa, God and all Goodness.