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For the latest news from Scotland see our ScotNews feed at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/
Electric Scotland News
I got in a copy of "Project Cheer 2" which is a pdf file of things to be cheerful about in our Brexit process. You can download this at:http://www.electricscotland.com/inde...jectcheer2.pdf
The USA is surely having a bad time these days with Florida and in particular the Caribbean islands being hit very badly. It seems to me that somehow the building codes need to be upped dramatically but of course the cost will be high but it probably beats having to rebuild your home every other year. I note that Beth Gay in South Carolina lost power for most of the day and also lost phone service for a while so obviously this spread beyond Florida in the USA.
Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
Note that this is a selection and more can be read in our ScotNews feed on our index page where we list news from the past 1-2 weeks. I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines. I might also add that in newspapers such as the Guardian, Scotsman, Courier, etc. you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish.
Economic facts have become SNP's enemy
The reaction of the SNP and their pro-independence outriders to the latest Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures has laid bare the astonishing paucity of their economic arguments.
Read more at:
http://chokkablog.blogspot.ca/2017/0...nps-enemy.html
British military deploying a task group to provide support to the Caribbean
It comes after the government’s initial reaction to the hurricane which was the worst to hit a British territory since the 1920s was criticised as disgraceful and pathetic.
Read more at:
https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/...ort-caribbean/
Why the GERS figures finish off nationalist economic case
By Murdo Fraser in Think Scotland.
Read more at:
http://www.thinkscotland.org/todays-...ead_full=13283
Perth man’s enthusiasm for croquet club ‘at fever pitch
A Perth man is keen to stir interest in croquet after being surprised to find there are no clubs in the area to cater for the sport.
Read more at:
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news...t-fever-pitch/
Popeye
An intimate family portrait of a Noberl Prize-winning Scotsman
Read more at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...r/orr_john.htm
Why Sweden is close to becoming a cashless economy
Sweden is the most cashless society on the planet, with barely 1% of the value of all payments made using coins or notes last year.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41095004
What does the future hold for Scotland’s space industry
Did you know that Glasgow makes more satellites than any other European city?
Read more at:
http://www.scotsman.com/business/man...stry-1-4556773
Britain beats Europe in global power index
The UK is the most geopolitically capable country in Europe according to a new report on global power.
Read more at:
http://brexitcentral.com/britain-bea...l-power-index/
Education, GDP and life expectancy slump sees wellbeing fall
Falling education standards, poor economic performance and low life expectancy have seen Scotland slump to 20th place in a global table of wellbeing.
Read more at:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/educati...fall-1-4557168
Ignore the pessimists
Britain is still a major power and Brexit was the decision of a confident people
Read more at:
http://brexitcentral.com/ignore-pess...fident-people/
New US ambassador to UK Woody Johnson defends Donald Trump
The United States will continue to be a strong ally of Britain regardless of Brexit, the new US ambassador to the UK has said
Read more at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017...itain-despite/
This Vegetable Is the Future of Milk
With $44 million in funding, Ripple products prepare to take over refrigerators.
Read more at:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-s-milk-recipe
£2m global appeal to save an ancient clan seat
The Clan Hannay Society wants to save the 16th Century Sorbie Tower in Wigtownshire and bring it back into use for future generations.
Read more at:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/the-2m-...seat-1-4558212
Electric Canadian
Forest and Stream Weekly Journal
Added volume 3 which you can read at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...tandstream.htm
Musical Canada
Added Volume 3 which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...cal_canada.htm
William Christie
The Largest biscuit maker in Canada.
I've added a wee bio of him which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/make...ie_william.htm
Industrial Canada
Issued by The Canadian Manufacturers' Association.
I found some copies and have added volume 1 to the page at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...rial/index.htm
Conrad Black
I've always had a lot of time for Conrad Black and so as he writes from Canada on a number of issues of interest from around the world I'm intending to include links to his writings for you to view.
The Slow Inexorable Death of Racism
http://www.conradmblack.com/1331/the...eath-of-racism
Electric Scotland
Edinburgh and South of Scotland Trades Directory
Including the Counties of Berwick, Edinburgh, Haddington, Linlithgow, Peebles, Roxburgh, and Selkirk and also a Gazetteer of Scotland (1900) Published by Trades' Directories Limited
You can study this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...outhof1900.pdf
Inveresk Parish Lore from Pagan Times
By R. M'D, Stirling (1894) (pdf)
THE LATE MB R. M'D. STIRLING, MUBSELBUBGH
Yesterday morning, Mr R. M'D. Stirling, an eminent and much respected Musselburgh gentleman, died in his sleep in the house of a niece in Edinburgh, where he had been on a short visit. He was in his 78th year, and had been in failing health owing to a bronchial affection for some years back, but the near approach of his end was not apprehended, and the news of his death caused a display of sympathetic interest in Musselburgh during the day. Mr Stirling was a man of unflagging energy displayed in a great variety of channels. In business he was a partner of the firm of Stirling Brothers, grocers and wine merchants, and only retired from trade a few years ago. In public affairs he took an active part, having served on Musselburgh Town Council, Inveresk Parochial Board, and Inyeresk Parish Council. An enthusiastic Volunteer in his younger days, he commanded for a time the Musselburgh Rifle Company. Among the youth of the town, particularly at the "halflm" stage, he did good work, not only as conductor of Bible classes and the like, but in carrying on after business hours in his own premises evening classes in commercial subjects. He was an elder and session clerk of the important Parish Kirk of Inveresk, posts which he held for some forty years till his death. Antiquarian and local historical research constitute his chief hobby, however, and on these subjects he wrote much. His essays were models of painstaking accuracy, and their literary merit was considerable. In 1894 he published his principal work namely, "Inveresk Parish Lore from Pagan Times" and this, a goodly-sized volume, has attained a high degree of popularity. It was to him a labour of love in historical subjects to unravel tangled skeins of fact and fiction, and as often as not he had such work on hand which had been given him to do by friends who had neither time nor skill to do it for themselves. He was acknowledged and popularly known as the historian of Musselburgh, and his marvellously retentive memory was ever at the disposal of his friends. Withal he was of a kindly and courteous disposition.
You can read this book at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/Inveresk.pdf
The Justice and Necessity of the war with our American Colonies examined
A Sermon Preached at Inveresk, December 12, 1776 being the Fast-Day appointed by the King, on account of the American Rebellion by Alexander Carlyle, D.D. Minister of Inveresk, and Almoner to his Majesty (1777)
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...niessermon.pdf
Carlyle and the London Library
Account of its Foundation: Together with unpublished letters of Thomas Carlyle to W. D. Christie, C.B.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...eandlondon.pdf
Shetland Islands
Added a video on the Shetland Islands which you can view at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/shetland.htm
The Leaper
A novel by Lorn MacIntyre
Got an email in from Lorn asking me to give a plug to his new book which I'm happy to do and you can read a bit of it at:http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/leaper.htm
Our Nation and Financial Future
Address of the Hon. Hugh McCulloch, Secretary of the Treasury at Fort Wayne, Indiana, October 11, 1865 (pdf)
Just another example of a Scots descendant doing good work in the USA.
You can read this address at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../ournation.pdf
Poems by the Late John Bethune
With a Sketch of the Author's Life by his Brother (1841) (pdf)
I've added a link to this book from our book page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/tales/
Doctors and patients unaware diabetes can be reversed
Diabetes UK said type 2 diabetes is generally considered incurable, but evidence was growing to refute that.
An interesting article which I can confirm from personal knowledge. You can read this at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-41256454
The Presbytery of Ross and Sutherland 1693 - 1700
By the Rev. Professor Donald Maclean, D.D.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/bibl...sutherland.pdf
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Got in the October 2017 section B edition which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft/index.htm
The Story
The Druids
The religion of the Picts before their conversion is supposed by the majority of writers on this subject to have been that which prevailed in the rest of Britain and in Celtic Gaul, Druidism. The incredulous Burton, however, if we may judge from his History of Scotland, as well as from an article of his in the Edinburgh Review, seems to believe that the whole system of Druidism has been elaborated by the imaginations of modern historians. That the Picts previous to their conversion had a religion, and a religion with what may be called priests and religious services, cannot be doubted, if we may trust Tacitus and Adamnan, the biographer of Columba; the former of whom tells us that, previous to the battle of the Grampians, the union of the various tribes was ratified by solemn rites and sacrifices, and the latter, that Columba's efforts at conversion were strenuously opposed by the diabolical arts and incantations of the Magi. It appears from Adamnan that fountains were particularly objects of veneration; the superstitious awe with which many fountains and wells are regarded at the present day, being doubtless a remnant at the present day, being doubtless a remnant of the ancient Pictish religion. Tress, rivers, and lakes, as well as the heavenly bodies, appear also to have been objects of religious regard, and not a few of the customs which exist in Scotland at the present day have been inherited from our Pictish ancestors. Such are many of the rites performed on Hallow'en, Beltane, Midsummer, &c, and many every-day superstitions still prevalent in the country districts of Scotland.
"Druidism is said to have acknowledged a Supreme Being, whose name was synonymous with the Eastern Baal, and if so, was visibly represented by the sun; and such remnants of the ancient worship as are still traceable in the language of the people, would indicate its having been a species of sun-worship. To this day the four leading points of the compass bear, in the terms which designate them among the Gael, marks of this. The east is ear, like the Latin oriens, from the Gaelic eiridh, 'to rise'; the west is iar, 'after', used also as a preposition; the south is deas, and the north tuath; and it is in the use of these terms that the reverence for the solar luminary chiefly appears. Deas, 'the south', is in all circumstances right; it is the right hand, which is easily intelligible, from the relation of that hand to the south when the face looks eastward; and it is expressive of whatever is otherwise right. Deas also means complete, trim, ready' whatever is deas, or southerly, is just as it should be. Tuath, 'north', is the very opposite. Tuathaisd is a 'stupid fellow'; Tuathail is 'wrong' in every sense; south and north, then, as expresed in the words deiseal and tuathail, are, in the Gaelic language, the representatives of right and wrong. Thus everything that is to move prosperously among many of the Celts, must move sunwise: a boat going to sea must turn sunwise; a man or women immediately after marriage, must make a turn sunwise. There are relics of fire-worship too; certain days are named from fire-fighting; Beallteine, or 'the first day of winter', the former supposed to mean the fire of Baal or Bel, the latter closing the saimhre, or summer period of the year, and bringing in the geamhre, or winter period, are sufficient evidence of this. There are places in Scotland where within the memory of living men the teine eigin, or 'forced fire', was lighted once every year by the rubbing of two pieces of wood together, while every fire in the neighbourhood was extinguished in order that they might be lighted anew from this sacred source.
Many of the antiquities which are scattered over the north of Scotland, such as stone circles, monoliths, sculptured stones, rocking stones, &c, are very generally supposed to have been connected with religion. From the resemblance of the circles especially, to those which exist in South Britain and in France, it has been supposed that one religion prevailed over these countries. As Druidism is so commonly believed to have prevailed among the Picts as well as among the other inhabitants of Britain, we shall here give a brief account of that system, chiefly as we find it given by Caesar of the character and functions of the Druids:-
"They attend to divine worship, perform public and private sacrifices, and expound matters of religion. A great number of youths are gathered round them for the sake of education, and they enjoy the highest honour in that nation; for nearly all public and private quarrels come under their jurisdiction; and when any crime has been committed, when a murder had been perpetrated, when a controversy arises about a legacy, or about landmarks, they are the judges too. They fix rewards and punishments; and should any one, whether a private individual or a public man, disobey their decrees, then they exclude him from the sacrifices. All these Druids have one chief, who enjoys the highest authority amongst them. When he dies, he is succeeded by the member of the order who is most prominent amongst the other, if there be any such single individual; if, however, there are several men equally distinguished, the successor is elected by the Druids. Sometimes they even go to war about this supremacy.
"The Druids take no part in warfare; nor do they pay taxes like the rest of the people; they are exempt from military service, and from all public burdens. Attracted by such rewards, many come to be instructed by their own choice, while others are sent by their parents. They are reported to learn in the school a great number of verses, so that some remain there twenty years. They think it an unhallowed thing to commit their lore to writing, though in the other public and private affairs of life they frequently make use of the Greek alphabet. Beyond all things, they are desirous to inspire a belief that men's souls do not perish, but transmigrate after death from one individual to another; and besides, they hold discourses about the stars, about the size of the world and of various countries, about the nature of things, and about the power and might of the immortal gods".
Among the objects of druidical veneration the oak is said to have been particularly distinguished; for the Druids imagined that there was a supernatural virtue in the wood, in the leaves, in the fruit, and above all in the mistletoe. Hence the oak woods were the first places of their devotion; and the offices of their religion were there performed without any covering but the broad canopy of heaven. The part appropriated for worship was enclosed in a circle, with which was placed a pillar of stone set up under an oak, and sacrifices were offered thereon. The pillars which mark the sites of these places of worship are still to be seen; and so great is the superstitious veneration paid by the country people to those sacred stones, as they are considered, that few persons have ventured to remove them.
Besides the immunities before-mentioned enjoyed by the Druids, they also possessed both civil and criminal jurisdiction, they decided all controversies among states as well as among private persons; and whoever refused to submit to their awards was exposed to the most severe penalties. The sentence of excommunication was pronounced against him; he was debarred all intercourse with his fellow-citizens; his company was universally shunned as profane and dangerous; he was refused the protection of law; and death itself became an acceptable relief from the misery and infamy to which he was exposed.
And that's it for this week and I hope you all have a great weekend.
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com/
Electric Scotland News
I got in a copy of "Project Cheer 2" which is a pdf file of things to be cheerful about in our Brexit process. You can download this at:http://www.electricscotland.com/inde...jectcheer2.pdf
The USA is surely having a bad time these days with Florida and in particular the Caribbean islands being hit very badly. It seems to me that somehow the building codes need to be upped dramatically but of course the cost will be high but it probably beats having to rebuild your home every other year. I note that Beth Gay in South Carolina lost power for most of the day and also lost phone service for a while so obviously this spread beyond Florida in the USA.
Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
Note that this is a selection and more can be read in our ScotNews feed on our index page where we list news from the past 1-2 weeks. I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines. I might also add that in newspapers such as the Guardian, Scotsman, Courier, etc. you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish.
Economic facts have become SNP's enemy
The reaction of the SNP and their pro-independence outriders to the latest Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures has laid bare the astonishing paucity of their economic arguments.
Read more at:
http://chokkablog.blogspot.ca/2017/0...nps-enemy.html
British military deploying a task group to provide support to the Caribbean
It comes after the government’s initial reaction to the hurricane which was the worst to hit a British territory since the 1920s was criticised as disgraceful and pathetic.
Read more at:
https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/...ort-caribbean/
Why the GERS figures finish off nationalist economic case
By Murdo Fraser in Think Scotland.
Read more at:
http://www.thinkscotland.org/todays-...ead_full=13283
Perth man’s enthusiasm for croquet club ‘at fever pitch
A Perth man is keen to stir interest in croquet after being surprised to find there are no clubs in the area to cater for the sport.
Read more at:
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news...t-fever-pitch/
Popeye
An intimate family portrait of a Noberl Prize-winning Scotsman
Read more at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...r/orr_john.htm
Why Sweden is close to becoming a cashless economy
Sweden is the most cashless society on the planet, with barely 1% of the value of all payments made using coins or notes last year.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41095004
What does the future hold for Scotland’s space industry
Did you know that Glasgow makes more satellites than any other European city?
Read more at:
http://www.scotsman.com/business/man...stry-1-4556773
Britain beats Europe in global power index
The UK is the most geopolitically capable country in Europe according to a new report on global power.
Read more at:
http://brexitcentral.com/britain-bea...l-power-index/
Education, GDP and life expectancy slump sees wellbeing fall
Falling education standards, poor economic performance and low life expectancy have seen Scotland slump to 20th place in a global table of wellbeing.
Read more at:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/educati...fall-1-4557168
Ignore the pessimists
Britain is still a major power and Brexit was the decision of a confident people
Read more at:
http://brexitcentral.com/ignore-pess...fident-people/
New US ambassador to UK Woody Johnson defends Donald Trump
The United States will continue to be a strong ally of Britain regardless of Brexit, the new US ambassador to the UK has said
Read more at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017...itain-despite/
This Vegetable Is the Future of Milk
With $44 million in funding, Ripple products prepare to take over refrigerators.
Read more at:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-s-milk-recipe
£2m global appeal to save an ancient clan seat
The Clan Hannay Society wants to save the 16th Century Sorbie Tower in Wigtownshire and bring it back into use for future generations.
Read more at:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/the-2m-...seat-1-4558212
Electric Canadian
Forest and Stream Weekly Journal
Added volume 3 which you can read at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...tandstream.htm
Musical Canada
Added Volume 3 which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...cal_canada.htm
William Christie
The Largest biscuit maker in Canada.
I've added a wee bio of him which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/make...ie_william.htm
Industrial Canada
Issued by The Canadian Manufacturers' Association.
I found some copies and have added volume 1 to the page at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...rial/index.htm
Conrad Black
I've always had a lot of time for Conrad Black and so as he writes from Canada on a number of issues of interest from around the world I'm intending to include links to his writings for you to view.
The Slow Inexorable Death of Racism
http://www.conradmblack.com/1331/the...eath-of-racism
Electric Scotland
Edinburgh and South of Scotland Trades Directory
Including the Counties of Berwick, Edinburgh, Haddington, Linlithgow, Peebles, Roxburgh, and Selkirk and also a Gazetteer of Scotland (1900) Published by Trades' Directories Limited
You can study this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...outhof1900.pdf
Inveresk Parish Lore from Pagan Times
By R. M'D, Stirling (1894) (pdf)
THE LATE MB R. M'D. STIRLING, MUBSELBUBGH
Yesterday morning, Mr R. M'D. Stirling, an eminent and much respected Musselburgh gentleman, died in his sleep in the house of a niece in Edinburgh, where he had been on a short visit. He was in his 78th year, and had been in failing health owing to a bronchial affection for some years back, but the near approach of his end was not apprehended, and the news of his death caused a display of sympathetic interest in Musselburgh during the day. Mr Stirling was a man of unflagging energy displayed in a great variety of channels. In business he was a partner of the firm of Stirling Brothers, grocers and wine merchants, and only retired from trade a few years ago. In public affairs he took an active part, having served on Musselburgh Town Council, Inveresk Parochial Board, and Inyeresk Parish Council. An enthusiastic Volunteer in his younger days, he commanded for a time the Musselburgh Rifle Company. Among the youth of the town, particularly at the "halflm" stage, he did good work, not only as conductor of Bible classes and the like, but in carrying on after business hours in his own premises evening classes in commercial subjects. He was an elder and session clerk of the important Parish Kirk of Inveresk, posts which he held for some forty years till his death. Antiquarian and local historical research constitute his chief hobby, however, and on these subjects he wrote much. His essays were models of painstaking accuracy, and their literary merit was considerable. In 1894 he published his principal work namely, "Inveresk Parish Lore from Pagan Times" and this, a goodly-sized volume, has attained a high degree of popularity. It was to him a labour of love in historical subjects to unravel tangled skeins of fact and fiction, and as often as not he had such work on hand which had been given him to do by friends who had neither time nor skill to do it for themselves. He was acknowledged and popularly known as the historian of Musselburgh, and his marvellously retentive memory was ever at the disposal of his friends. Withal he was of a kindly and courteous disposition.
You can read this book at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/Inveresk.pdf
The Justice and Necessity of the war with our American Colonies examined
A Sermon Preached at Inveresk, December 12, 1776 being the Fast-Day appointed by the King, on account of the American Rebellion by Alexander Carlyle, D.D. Minister of Inveresk, and Almoner to his Majesty (1777)
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...niessermon.pdf
Carlyle and the London Library
Account of its Foundation: Together with unpublished letters of Thomas Carlyle to W. D. Christie, C.B.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...eandlondon.pdf
Shetland Islands
Added a video on the Shetland Islands which you can view at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/shetland.htm
The Leaper
A novel by Lorn MacIntyre
Got an email in from Lorn asking me to give a plug to his new book which I'm happy to do and you can read a bit of it at:http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/leaper.htm
Our Nation and Financial Future
Address of the Hon. Hugh McCulloch, Secretary of the Treasury at Fort Wayne, Indiana, October 11, 1865 (pdf)
Just another example of a Scots descendant doing good work in the USA.
You can read this address at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../ournation.pdf
Poems by the Late John Bethune
With a Sketch of the Author's Life by his Brother (1841) (pdf)
I've added a link to this book from our book page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/tales/
Doctors and patients unaware diabetes can be reversed
Diabetes UK said type 2 diabetes is generally considered incurable, but evidence was growing to refute that.
An interesting article which I can confirm from personal knowledge. You can read this at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-41256454
The Presbytery of Ross and Sutherland 1693 - 1700
By the Rev. Professor Donald Maclean, D.D.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/bibl...sutherland.pdf
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Got in the October 2017 section B edition which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft/index.htm
The Story
The Druids
The religion of the Picts before their conversion is supposed by the majority of writers on this subject to have been that which prevailed in the rest of Britain and in Celtic Gaul, Druidism. The incredulous Burton, however, if we may judge from his History of Scotland, as well as from an article of his in the Edinburgh Review, seems to believe that the whole system of Druidism has been elaborated by the imaginations of modern historians. That the Picts previous to their conversion had a religion, and a religion with what may be called priests and religious services, cannot be doubted, if we may trust Tacitus and Adamnan, the biographer of Columba; the former of whom tells us that, previous to the battle of the Grampians, the union of the various tribes was ratified by solemn rites and sacrifices, and the latter, that Columba's efforts at conversion were strenuously opposed by the diabolical arts and incantations of the Magi. It appears from Adamnan that fountains were particularly objects of veneration; the superstitious awe with which many fountains and wells are regarded at the present day, being doubtless a remnant at the present day, being doubtless a remnant of the ancient Pictish religion. Tress, rivers, and lakes, as well as the heavenly bodies, appear also to have been objects of religious regard, and not a few of the customs which exist in Scotland at the present day have been inherited from our Pictish ancestors. Such are many of the rites performed on Hallow'en, Beltane, Midsummer, &c, and many every-day superstitions still prevalent in the country districts of Scotland.
"Druidism is said to have acknowledged a Supreme Being, whose name was synonymous with the Eastern Baal, and if so, was visibly represented by the sun; and such remnants of the ancient worship as are still traceable in the language of the people, would indicate its having been a species of sun-worship. To this day the four leading points of the compass bear, in the terms which designate them among the Gael, marks of this. The east is ear, like the Latin oriens, from the Gaelic eiridh, 'to rise'; the west is iar, 'after', used also as a preposition; the south is deas, and the north tuath; and it is in the use of these terms that the reverence for the solar luminary chiefly appears. Deas, 'the south', is in all circumstances right; it is the right hand, which is easily intelligible, from the relation of that hand to the south when the face looks eastward; and it is expressive of whatever is otherwise right. Deas also means complete, trim, ready' whatever is deas, or southerly, is just as it should be. Tuath, 'north', is the very opposite. Tuathaisd is a 'stupid fellow'; Tuathail is 'wrong' in every sense; south and north, then, as expresed in the words deiseal and tuathail, are, in the Gaelic language, the representatives of right and wrong. Thus everything that is to move prosperously among many of the Celts, must move sunwise: a boat going to sea must turn sunwise; a man or women immediately after marriage, must make a turn sunwise. There are relics of fire-worship too; certain days are named from fire-fighting; Beallteine, or 'the first day of winter', the former supposed to mean the fire of Baal or Bel, the latter closing the saimhre, or summer period of the year, and bringing in the geamhre, or winter period, are sufficient evidence of this. There are places in Scotland where within the memory of living men the teine eigin, or 'forced fire', was lighted once every year by the rubbing of two pieces of wood together, while every fire in the neighbourhood was extinguished in order that they might be lighted anew from this sacred source.
Many of the antiquities which are scattered over the north of Scotland, such as stone circles, monoliths, sculptured stones, rocking stones, &c, are very generally supposed to have been connected with religion. From the resemblance of the circles especially, to those which exist in South Britain and in France, it has been supposed that one religion prevailed over these countries. As Druidism is so commonly believed to have prevailed among the Picts as well as among the other inhabitants of Britain, we shall here give a brief account of that system, chiefly as we find it given by Caesar of the character and functions of the Druids:-
"They attend to divine worship, perform public and private sacrifices, and expound matters of religion. A great number of youths are gathered round them for the sake of education, and they enjoy the highest honour in that nation; for nearly all public and private quarrels come under their jurisdiction; and when any crime has been committed, when a murder had been perpetrated, when a controversy arises about a legacy, or about landmarks, they are the judges too. They fix rewards and punishments; and should any one, whether a private individual or a public man, disobey their decrees, then they exclude him from the sacrifices. All these Druids have one chief, who enjoys the highest authority amongst them. When he dies, he is succeeded by the member of the order who is most prominent amongst the other, if there be any such single individual; if, however, there are several men equally distinguished, the successor is elected by the Druids. Sometimes they even go to war about this supremacy.
"The Druids take no part in warfare; nor do they pay taxes like the rest of the people; they are exempt from military service, and from all public burdens. Attracted by such rewards, many come to be instructed by their own choice, while others are sent by their parents. They are reported to learn in the school a great number of verses, so that some remain there twenty years. They think it an unhallowed thing to commit their lore to writing, though in the other public and private affairs of life they frequently make use of the Greek alphabet. Beyond all things, they are desirous to inspire a belief that men's souls do not perish, but transmigrate after death from one individual to another; and besides, they hold discourses about the stars, about the size of the world and of various countries, about the nature of things, and about the power and might of the immortal gods".
Among the objects of druidical veneration the oak is said to have been particularly distinguished; for the Druids imagined that there was a supernatural virtue in the wood, in the leaves, in the fruit, and above all in the mistletoe. Hence the oak woods were the first places of their devotion; and the offices of their religion were there performed without any covering but the broad canopy of heaven. The part appropriated for worship was enclosed in a circle, with which was placed a pillar of stone set up under an oak, and sacrifices were offered thereon. The pillars which mark the sites of these places of worship are still to be seen; and so great is the superstitious veneration paid by the country people to those sacred stones, as they are considered, that few persons have ventured to remove them.
Besides the immunities before-mentioned enjoyed by the Druids, they also possessed both civil and criminal jurisdiction, they decided all controversies among states as well as among private persons; and whoever refused to submit to their awards was exposed to the most severe penalties. The sentence of excommunication was pronounced against him; he was debarred all intercourse with his fellow-citizens; his company was universally shunned as profane and dangerous; he was refused the protection of law; and death itself became an acceptable relief from the misery and infamy to which he was exposed.
And that's it for this week and I hope you all have a great weekend.
Alastair
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