180 Druidism in connection with Wiltshire. 
connected with such a structure of stones, we inquire whether some- 
thing similar were not the character of Gilgal, so often and so 
solemnly mentioned in holy writ—the ‘ quarriss,? which may 
perhaps receive explanation from Druidical remains still extant in 
this island. Was Abraham a Druid? He was as fond of the oak 
as any Druid could be.2 Was Joshua a Druid? He certainly 
conformed to that character, when he raised a great stone under 
the oak, at which stood the tabernacle at Shechem; and when 
he observed that the venerable stone “had heard the words of 
the covenant,” &c.2 Was Samuel a Druid ? When he erected his 
Ebenezer,’ his ‘stone of help,’ he did that which a Druid would have 
done. Did Moses forbid the use of iron, the contact of which would 
be a pollution to the stones of the altar? The same did the 
Druids; they also might say, ‘an altar of earth, or of rough stones, 
stones in their natural state shalt thou raise.’ ’” 
The twelve stones taken out of Jordan, and erected by Joshua 
after the passage of the Israelites and entrance into Canaan, were 
evidently placed in a circle, and were intended for a memorial of 
this event. “ When your children,” says Joshua, “ask their fathers 
in time to come, saying, what mean ye by these stones? Then ye 
shall answer them, that the waters of Jordan were cut off before 
the ark of the Covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, 
the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a 
memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.”® The name Gil-gal 
signifies rownd, or circles; and the yearly circuits of Samuel 
to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh, all of which were pillars or stones 
of commemoration, imply a sacredness attached to these erections as 
places of public assembly, courts of justice, or stations of sacrifice and 
worship.’ This we afterwards learn was the case, as burnt offerings 
and peace offerings were dedicated at Gilgal :* Saul was made king 
by the Israelites “before the Lord” in Gilgal,*—the very Stonehenge 
of the Hebrew nation: Agag was destroyed by Samuel “before the 
' English translation. 
2Gen. xii. 7, 8. xiii. 4, 18. xxi. 33. 3 Joshua xxiv. 27. 41 Sam. vii. 12. 
5 Exodus xx. 25. 6 Joshua iv. 5, 10, 20, to the end. 71 Sam. vii. 16, 
§1Sam. x.8. 91 Sam. xi. 17. xiii. 7. 
