Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

and composite races
Well- Worship, 239
there came under the moral influence
of oriental visitors and rulers, who had known in their
native lands the want of rain, the value of wells. So deep
was this respect, that by some the Irish were known as
the People of IVelis.
In remote ages and realms, worship has been
celebrated
at fountains or wells. They were dedicated to Soivi in
India. Sopar-soma was the fountain of knowledge.
Oracles were delivered there. But there were Cursing as
well as Blessing wells.
Wells were feminine, and the feminine principle was the
object of adoration there, though the specific form thereof
changed with the times and the faith. In Christian lands
they were dedicated, naturally enough, to the Virgin Mary.
It is, however, odd to find a change adopted in some
instances after the Reformation. Thus, according to a
clerical writer in the Graphic, 1875, a noted Derbyshire
well had its annual festival on Ascension Day, when the
place was adorned with crosses, poles, and arches. All
was religiously done in honour of the Trinity, the vicar
presiding. Catholic localities still prefer to decorate holy
wells on our Lady's Assumption Day.
It was in vain that the Early Church, the Mediaeval
Church, and ev^en the Protestant Church, sought to put
down well-worship, the inheritance of extreme antiquity.
Strenuous efforts were made by Councils. That of Rouen
in the seventh century declared that offerings made there
in the form of flowers, branches, rags, &c., were sacrifices
to the devil. Charlemagne issued in 789 his decree
against it—as did our Edgar and Canute.
As Scotland caught the infection by contact with Ireland,
it was needful for the Presbyterian Church to restrain the
folly. This was done by the Presbytery of Dingwall in
1656, though even worse practices were then condemned ;