THE INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH ON GAELIC LITERATURE
The origins of Celtic literature—Two streams—The Pagan—The
Christian—Influence of the early Celtic Church as patron of
letters—Originates a written literature—Attitude towards the
ancient sagas—Medieval obscurantism—The Dialogues between Ossian
and Patrick quoted and discussed—Their significance—Bishop
Carsewell and the Reformation—The rival influences of Naturalism
and the Church—Decline of Gaelic oral literature—The Nineteenth,
a century of gleaning rather than of creative
work—Reasons—Present-day return to nature—Splendid services of
individual Churchmen 286