G51 
paving this with the command given in Deut. xii. 3, K Ye shall 
overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn 
their groves with fire," it seems clear enough that, however 
innocent in their first intention, these pillars became idola- 
trous and sinful, when the holy name had been once revealed 
to Israel. It is evident that they were not simple memorial 
stones, and their form would not have permitted them to be 
altars. It is a strange coincidence, to say the least, or rather 
an evidence of uniformity in idea and design, that besides 
" BaBtyli " being the Phenician name for pillars, Dr. Borlase 
states that these pillars were called by the ancient Irish 
"Bothal," "house of God." There was also another name 
applied to them, viz., " Crom-leach," which was derived, 
either from " Crom," to adore, and " leach," a stone ; or else, 
as Toland says, from "leach," a stone, and "Crom," an old 
Irish name for " God." A priest was called " Cromar," or 
" Cruim-thear," a servant of Crom. 
The word " clachan," " stones," is often used for " church." 
The word is still in use for this purpose ; but about eighty 
years ago the Highlanders more frequently said. " Will you 
go to the stones ?" than " Will you go to church ?" In this 
instance, as in some others already mentioned, the old word 
remains, though a very different meaning is attached to it. 
A stone circle in Aberdeenshire was still called the "Auld 
Kirk of Tough;" another at Alford was called the "Auld 
Kirk." 
That the erection of menhirs, or pillar stones, was not 
originally sinful, is shewn by Moses' conduct at Mount 
Sinai (Exod. xxiv. 4) : " Moses builded an altar under the 
hill, and twelve stones, according to the twelve tribes of 
Israel." The same thins: was ordered to be done when the 
people had passed over Jordan, Deut. xxvii. 2, " It shall be, 
that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them 
with plaister : (5) And there shalt thou build an altar unto 
