there ever was a real St. Patrick. Thus the name must
be accepted only in its Fatherly sense, and with the fall of the man
Patrick all the miraculous and sudden conversions of the kings, lords,
and commons of Ireland must vanish."(156)

156) Rivers of Life, vol. ii., p. 417.

The Irish Church bishoprics differed from the Romish in that they were
held by hereditary succession, after the custom of ancient nations. All
bishops were married.

Prior to the introduction of the Christian system in Ireland the Sabian
ceremonial had been succeeded by the Druidical, upon which had been
engrafted that of the Culdees, and notwithstanding the fact that the
Romish Church gradually usurped the ecclesiastical functions in Ireland,
the last named people who for ages had been regarded as the depositaries
of the ancient faith and the ancient system of laws, were highly
respected by the people for their sanctity and learning. Many of the
Greek and Roman writers who have dealt with this subject agree in
ascribing to the Druids a high degree of scientific knowledge and
mechanical skill. The principles of justice set forth in their judicial
system, their love of learning, and the standard attained in the
sciences and arts, prove the early people of Ireland to have been equal
if not superior to any of the early historic nations.

In referring to the number and magnitude of the monumental remains in
Ireland, and while commenting on the mechanical skill of the Druids, the
Rev. Smedley says:

"I was present at the erection of the Luxor Obelisk in Paris, and yet
I think that I would have felt greater emotion if I had witnessed the
successful performance of the old Celtic engineer who placed on its
three pedestals of stone the enormous rock which constitutes the
Druidical altar here at Castle May."

It is believed that this people understood the art of mining and that
they were acquainted with the use of iron. The following is an extract
from one of Hamilton's letters on the Antrim coast:

"About the year 1770 the miners, in pushing forward an adit toward
the bed of coal, at an unexplored part of the Ballycastle cliff,
unexpectedly broke through the rock into a narrow passage, so much
contracted and choked up with various drippings and deposits on its
sides and bottom, as rendered it impossible for any of the workmen
to force through, that they might examine it farther. Two lads were,
therefore, made to creep in with candles, for