Tree-worship has indeed been very fully explored, from the point of view of both anthropology and folklore, by many modern writers, and I can do little more than make use of their investigations, and, from an archæological point of view, plead for the continuance and revival of customs which, stripped of their old pagan associations, are innocent and harmless enough in themselves, and of real practical advantage to the community. Bastian, in 'Der Baum,' and Mannhardt in his 'Baumkultus,' have gathered a vast store of facts from all parts of the world, which prove the universal prevalence of "Tree-worship" among primitive peoples in all ages, and of the facts collected by them Mr. Frazer makes large use in ‘The Golden Bough,' as also does Prof. Tylor in his Primitive Culture.' The latter adduces the facts to support his theory of primitive "animism; the former carries the investigation further, and, by means of his demonstration of the idea of the "Treespirit," enters the region of Polytheism.

Bötticher has written a long and elaborate treatise on Tree-worship among the Greeks,' and Dr. Arthur Evans, by his wonderful discoveries in Crete, has demonstrated the existence of the same worship among the Cretans of the Mycenaean and preMycenaean ages. To these I shall refer more fully in the course of my argument. Our investigation to-night is more especially concerned with what may be learnt as to primitive Tree-worship from its relics among ourselves, and we shall only make use of the wider researches of the writers named, and of others who have dealt with the subject, to illustrate the fact that customs still to be found in England

and Scotland and Ireland to-day go to prove the truth that so universal a form of worship has its roots deep in the mystic past of our race. These customs, floating like wastrels on the sea of time, meaningless in themselves, and apparently confused and shapeless, are yet full of instruction as to the origin and significance of Tree-worship to the careful observer. As long as they are regarded separately and apart their meaning is hidden-each one, like the Cyclops in Virgil, if the illustration may be used, is just "monstrum, horrendum, informe, ingens, cui lumen ademptum;" as it is with the facts of natural science, so it is with the facts of anthropology and folklore: arrangement and co-ordination cause the light to spring forth.

Few, for example, would at first sight associate the customs connected with May Day and the Vernal Festival with "Tree- and Pillar-worship," at least in its most primitive form. They have been explained as survivals of the old Floralia of the Romans, without, at least until recently, any attempt being made to carry the investigation any further back into the dim past of our race; and yet, when they are examined with attention, they will be found to be eloquent of the old worship of trees, with which was intimately connected, though as a later development, the worship of pillars, whether of wood or stone-a worship which has come down to us from Neolithic ancestors as it did to the Babylonians, Canaanites (from whom it passed to the Israelites), Cretans, Greeks, and Romans of old.

The customs connected with May Day are too well known to be described in detail. A general account

will suffice, together with certain pregnant details drawn from separate localities. In their later development, as they were practised down to the days of our fathers, and are still in some quiet country villages not yet disturbed by the whistle of the locomotive or the hum of the motor-car, these customs consisted in the gathering of the villagers on the green in the early morning. There they proceeded to erect, in the centre of the green, the Maypole. This was a tall young sapling from the forest, stripped of boughs and leaves, but gaily decked instead with garlands of flowers, and hung with many-hued ribbons and strips of coloured paper. Round this the young people, carrying branches, the maidens also crowned with garlands, danced to the strains of lively music, and the rite was not complete until one maiden, chosen as the fairest of them all, was proclaimed Queen of the May.

This is merely a rough generalisation. We will now look at some details belonging to the celebration, taken from places in our own country in which they may be found still extant.

In a paper read before the British Archæological Association in 1899 by Mr. Chas. Dack the following interesting account is given of old May-day customs at Peterborough, together with examples of the May Songs, and these may be compared with the customs in other parts of Northants described in the East Anglian' for April, 1902:

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May Day is still a great day with children; from early in the morning till the afternoon you see groups of children carrying garlands carefully covered with a white cloth. These garlands are made with hoops and half-hoops, gaily

decorated with flowers, foliage, ribbons and coloured paper, and in the centre, generally, the best doll to be had. The structure is fastened to a pole, and two girls carry it. The little girls are gaily dressed in their Spring clothes, with wreaths of tissue-paper roses and streamers on their heads, and also coloured tissue-paper trimmings and streamers on their dresses. Then there are their attendants, also similarly dressed; but the most important is the young lady who carries the money-box, who is keenly watched by several pairs of interested eyes. They come round to the various houses, and when the door opens they begin to sing their songs (several of which I have copied), and uncover the garland, and the money-box is rattled. Generally, the doorway is filled with all the family, and a penny is usually given, and off the party trudge to the next house and the performance is continued; sometimes, for a larger gratuity, more verses will be sung. In the afternoon their mothers take the money, and a high tea is provided; and, if fine, the children still sport their finery, and a very pleasant evening is spent.

On old May Day the custom is repeated; but it depends. for its success upon the state of the weather on May 1st.

May-day Garland Songs.

I.

Good morrow, Lords and Ladies!

It is the first of May,

We hope you'll view our garlands,

They are so bright and gay.

Chorus-To the greenwoods we will go,
To the greenwoods we will go,

To the greenwoods we will go, go, go,
To the greenwoods we will go.

This bunch of May it looks so gay,
Before your door it stands;

It is but a sprout, but it's well spread out
By the work of our Lord's hands.

Chorus-To the greenwoods, etc.

The cuckoo sings in April,

The cuckoo sings in May,
The cuckoo sings in June;
In July she flies away.

Chorus-To the greenwoods, etc.

II.

Come, see our new garland,
So green and so gay;
"Tis the firstfruits of spring
And the glory of May.

Here are cowslips and daisies,
And hyacinths blue,
Here are buttercups bright,

And anemones too;

Here are pansies weary,

And hawthorn so sweet,
And the violets fragrant
Together do meet.

But yet there's no garland

That we may entwine,
Like the garland of virtue
Entwined divine.

III.

Awake, awake, good people all,

Awake, and you shall hear;

Awake, awake, lift up your voice,

And pray to God in fear.

Hallelujah! to the Lamb, who died on Mount Calvary, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! to the Lamb.