Book Description

Excerpt from Celtic Britain and the Pilgrim Movement The growth Of religious thought, Ethnic, Hebrew, or Christian, besides being Of supreme moment, is Of an interest so perennial that no apology should be needed for presenting any evidence not hitherto easily accessible. It has been my custom for some years, whilst occupied with the study Of ecclesiastical history, to jot down, or at least to make a mental note of anything that seemed speciallv to bear upon Wales, Cornwall, Ireland, or Scot land and as I pursued my investigations (begun solely for the satisfaction Of my own curiosity) the cultural Significance Of the pilgrim movement was strongly borne in upon my mind. Whether we consider its many-sided character, its human elements, its doctrinal import, its intellectual fertility, or the tenacity Of this irrepressible instinct throughout the ages, it appears to challenge comparison with any other field Of enquiry; and after a considerable amount Of material had accumulated, it was more than once pointed out to me that the publica tion Of what I had garnered might serve a useful pur pose; a suggestion in which the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion readily acquiesced. The pleasure which the preparation of the work has afforded me, during years of enforced exile, will be enhanced tenfold, if it proves that my expatriation has not prevented me from rendering Wales some service by throwing light upon an Obscure and neglected phase Of her religious and mental evolution. Whilst the work was being shaped, the question Of method cost me much thought. Assuming that manyreaders would be unfamiliar with both the Celtic and the ecclesiological aspects of the subject, I was obliged to steer between the Scylla of redundance and _the Charybdis of compression and baldness. Just as I was speculating how to escape-from this dilemma, I had an opportunity-oi discussing the main lines Of procedure with an historian and literary critic, on whose long ex perience I could confidently rely, and he confirmed my views. When the work had been revised, he was kind enough to read through portions of the manu script which might still be in doubt, and, as the follow ing letter shows, saw no reason to change his Opinion Upon every occasion your method of proceeding has been fully justified on two grounds. The contents of the book are, in many cases, such as to require a careful pre liminary preparation for what is to follow, and the work contains hardly anything that could be spared without detriment to the whole. You are obliged to give in formation for want of which the work would be positively unintelligible to most people. Though I am not unac quainted with ecclesiastical history, Often found the sort of focussing of general principles, before adducing the new evidence in which the work abounds, of great assistance in forming a comprehension of the fresh material. On the other hand, it is certain that among those whose keenest attention will be directed to its Celtic features, there will be many as ignorant of ecclesiology as others are of Celtic history. The Celtic scholar's need of some guidance, when ecclesiastical history is put before him, is in fact not only excusable, but a phenomenon that will appear natural to anyone who has ever seriously studied anything. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com