Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Dec. 1, 1856
  • Page 3
Current:

The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Dec. 1, 1856: Page 3

  • Back to The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Dec. 1, 1856
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article ON THE RELIGION OP THE CELTS, AND THE CU... ← Page 3 of 7 →
Page 3

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

On The Religion Op The Celts, And The Cu...

particularly favoured the doctrines of the Druids . For the same reasons , rivers have been attributed by classical writers to a divine origin : Apollonius Bhodius represents the jRhone as issuing from the sanctuary of Eternal Night , and Tacitus has reckoned the Rhine among the deities of Germany . This system of worship , mounting up to the most remote antiquity , betrays itself by the vestiges remaining in our days .

Thus , it is considered lucky to drink the water of a fountain at midnight on the last day of the year ; and if the draught is taken from seven sources or springs , there is a supposed efficacy in some diseases . The ancient Celts were accustomed to throw small masses of gold and silver into brooks and rivers , and on opening the sulphureous baths at Baden , in Argovie ( 1420 ) , an immense number of "Roman coins were found in the water . It is said to be not

unusual in Hungary to throw pieces of money into the Danube in honour of a river which is of such benefit to the country . - * . Amongst trees , the oak obtained the highest estimation , a custom which may perhaps be traced even to the days of Abraham . In the Alps , where this tree rarely grows , the pine or fir has been

substituted . Hence is derived the usage of planting on the first of May a sapling of fir before the doors of houses where the unmarried girls were residing , or in front of the fountains of the village , and of hanging up garlands of flowers , and sometimes newly-laid eggs . The Maypole of England and the Christmas-tree of Grermany may thus

trace their origin from the religion of the Druids . As the Celtic doctrines attained to permanency from a longer standing , and became more extended throughout Europe , they degenerated from their former simplicity , and different names were given to the respective attributes of the deity , which were thus personified . Hence arose a multiplicity of divinities , of whom there is considerable difficulty in ascertaining the exact character and offices , as amongst the Druids tradition supplied the place of written documents , and their disciples were taught by verses , which were solely committed to memory , so that nothing has been handed

down even by hieroglyphics or otherwise . In the " Pharsalia" of Lucan these tenets are particularly mentioned . As all information relating to their religion is of interest , we have given the following list of their deities , as taken from the work before- mentioned : —

" First . —Theutates or Taut . He was the supreme god or father , and seems to have combined the attributes of Jupiter with those of Mercury , as he was held to be the inventor of arts and a guide to travellers . The word ' taut' is still preserved in Switzerland , as applied to a lofty rock , near Montreux , which was probably an object of Druid Leal worship . ' Tout , ' in some parts of England , is still the name of the highest point in a range of hills .

' Secondly . —Heaus , the strong and powerful , the representative of Mars , the god of war , carnage , and bloodshed . In the German patois of Switzerland , lice ' s still signifies a violent and quarrelsome person . It has been supposed hy some writers that this deity was pictured with the head of a dog . If so , it must refer to the Egyptian mythology , as * the barking anuhis ' ( latrator anubis ) .

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1856-12-01, Page 3” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 9 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/frm_01121856/page/3/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
ON THE RELIGION OF THE CELTS, AND THE CUSTOMS THENCE DERIVED. Article 1
LA VENDEE. A DRAMATIC POEM. Article 7
REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS. Article 10
A LOVE-TOKEN". Article 11
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 12
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 16
METROPOLITAN. Article 28
PROVINCIAL. Article 34
EOYAL ARCH. Article 49
THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. Article 51
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. Article 51
MARE MASONRY. Article 52
SCOTLAND. Article 52
IRELAND. Article 57
COLONIAL. Article 59
INDIA. Article 61
AMERICA. Article 63
SUMMARY OF NEWS FOE NOVEMBER Article 64
Obituary. Article 68
NOTICE. Article 71
TO COEEESPONDENTS. Article 71
Page 1

Page 1

1 Article
Page 2

Page 2

1 Article
Page 3

Page 3

1 Article
Page 4

Page 4

1 Article
Page 5

Page 5

1 Article
Page 6

Page 6

1 Article
Page 7

Page 7

2 Articles
Page 8

Page 8

1 Article
Page 9

Page 9

1 Article
Page 10

Page 10

1 Article
Page 11

Page 11

1 Article
Page 12

Page 12

1 Article
Page 13

Page 13

1 Article
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

1 Article
Page 16

Page 16

1 Article
Page 17

Page 17

1 Article
Page 18

Page 18

1 Article
Page 19

Page 19

1 Article
Page 20

Page 20

1 Article
Page 21

Page 21

1 Article
Page 22

Page 22

1 Article
Page 23

Page 23

1 Article
Page 24

Page 24

1 Article
Page 25

Page 25

1 Article
Page 26

Page 26

1 Article
Page 27

Page 27

1 Article
Page 28

Page 28

2 Articles
Page 29

Page 29

1 Article
Page 30

Page 30

1 Article
Page 31

Page 31

1 Article
Page 32

Page 32

1 Article
Page 33

Page 33

1 Article
Page 34

Page 34

2 Articles
Page 35

Page 35

1 Article
Page 36

Page 36

1 Article
Page 37

Page 37

1 Article
Page 38

Page 38

1 Article
Page 39

Page 39

1 Article
Page 40

Page 40

1 Article
Page 41

Page 41

1 Article
Page 42

Page 42

1 Article
Page 43

Page 43

1 Article
Page 44

Page 44

1 Article
Page 45

Page 45

1 Article
Page 46

Page 46

1 Article
Page 47

Page 47

1 Article
Page 48

Page 48

1 Article
Page 49

Page 49

2 Articles
Page 50

Page 50

1 Article
Page 51

Page 51

3 Articles
Page 52

Page 52

2 Articles
Page 53

Page 53

1 Article
Page 54

Page 54

1 Article
Page 55

Page 55

1 Article
Page 56

Page 56

1 Article
Page 57

Page 57

2 Articles
Page 58

Page 58

1 Article
Page 59

Page 59

2 Articles
Page 60

Page 60

1 Article
Page 61

Page 61

2 Articles
Page 62

Page 62

1 Article
Page 63

Page 63

2 Articles
Page 64

Page 64

1 Article
Page 65

Page 65

1 Article
Page 66

Page 66

1 Article
Page 67

Page 67

1 Article
Page 68

Page 68

2 Articles
Page 69

Page 69

1 Article
Page 70

Page 70

1 Article
Page 71

Page 71

2 Articles
Page 3

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

On The Religion Op The Celts, And The Cu...

particularly favoured the doctrines of the Druids . For the same reasons , rivers have been attributed by classical writers to a divine origin : Apollonius Bhodius represents the jRhone as issuing from the sanctuary of Eternal Night , and Tacitus has reckoned the Rhine among the deities of Germany . This system of worship , mounting up to the most remote antiquity , betrays itself by the vestiges remaining in our days .

Thus , it is considered lucky to drink the water of a fountain at midnight on the last day of the year ; and if the draught is taken from seven sources or springs , there is a supposed efficacy in some diseases . The ancient Celts were accustomed to throw small masses of gold and silver into brooks and rivers , and on opening the sulphureous baths at Baden , in Argovie ( 1420 ) , an immense number of "Roman coins were found in the water . It is said to be not

unusual in Hungary to throw pieces of money into the Danube in honour of a river which is of such benefit to the country . - * . Amongst trees , the oak obtained the highest estimation , a custom which may perhaps be traced even to the days of Abraham . In the Alps , where this tree rarely grows , the pine or fir has been

substituted . Hence is derived the usage of planting on the first of May a sapling of fir before the doors of houses where the unmarried girls were residing , or in front of the fountains of the village , and of hanging up garlands of flowers , and sometimes newly-laid eggs . The Maypole of England and the Christmas-tree of Grermany may thus

trace their origin from the religion of the Druids . As the Celtic doctrines attained to permanency from a longer standing , and became more extended throughout Europe , they degenerated from their former simplicity , and different names were given to the respective attributes of the deity , which were thus personified . Hence arose a multiplicity of divinities , of whom there is considerable difficulty in ascertaining the exact character and offices , as amongst the Druids tradition supplied the place of written documents , and their disciples were taught by verses , which were solely committed to memory , so that nothing has been handed

down even by hieroglyphics or otherwise . In the " Pharsalia" of Lucan these tenets are particularly mentioned . As all information relating to their religion is of interest , we have given the following list of their deities , as taken from the work before- mentioned : —

" First . —Theutates or Taut . He was the supreme god or father , and seems to have combined the attributes of Jupiter with those of Mercury , as he was held to be the inventor of arts and a guide to travellers . The word ' taut' is still preserved in Switzerland , as applied to a lofty rock , near Montreux , which was probably an object of Druid Leal worship . ' Tout , ' in some parts of England , is still the name of the highest point in a range of hills .

' Secondly . —Heaus , the strong and powerful , the representative of Mars , the god of war , carnage , and bloodshed . In the German patois of Switzerland , lice ' s still signifies a violent and quarrelsome person . It has been supposed hy some writers that this deity was pictured with the head of a dog . If so , it must refer to the Egyptian mythology , as * the barking anuhis ' ( latrator anubis ) .

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 2
  • You're on page3
  • 4
  • 71
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy