Edward Faraday Odlum
Encyclopedia
Edward Faraday Odlum was a Canadian geologist, educator a businessman. He studied the ethnography
of the people of Australia and Northern Europe, and investigated the Stone of Scone
.
He taught college in Ontario and Vancouver. He installed the first electric arc light
ing and the first telephone in Vancouver and authored A History of British Columbia in 1906. He invested in real estate in Grandview–Woodland area and used the proceeds to finance his ethographic expeditions. Odlum shared the British Israelite
beliefs and was a lay Methodist
preacher.
He died on May 4, 1935 in Vancouver, Canada.
A lesser folk legend holds that Robert the Bruce gave a portion of the stone to Cormac McCarthy, king of Munster
, in gratitude for Irish support at the Battle of Bannockburn
(1314). Installed at McCarthy's stronghold, Blarney Castle
, it became the Blarney Stone
. Although colourful, this folk legend cannot be true if the stone was removed from Scotland 18 years before Bannockburn. Some people think that the stone which Edward removed was not the true stone as it did not well match existing descriptions such as not being hollowed out. In that case, a false replacement stone would probably have been local stone. There is no evidence one way or the other on this.
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
of the people of Australia and Northern Europe, and investigated the Stone of Scone
Stone of Scone
The Stone of Scone , also known as the Stone of Destiny and often referred to in England as The Coronation Stone, is an oblong block of red sandstone, used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland and later the monarchs of England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom...
.
Biography
He was born November 27, 1850 in Tullamore, OntarioTullamore, Ontario
Tullamore is a community in Ontario....
He taught college in Ontario and Vancouver. He installed the first electric arc light
Arc Light
Arc Light is the debut novel by Eric L. Harry, a techno-thriller about limited nuclear war published in 1994 and written in 1991-2.As China and Russia clash in Siberia in June 1999, nuclear missiles strike the United States. The U.S. retaliates against Russia, and World War III begins...
ing and the first telephone in Vancouver and authored A History of British Columbia in 1906. He invested in real estate in Grandview–Woodland area and used the proceeds to finance his ethographic expeditions. Odlum shared the British Israelite
British Israelism
British Israelism is the belief that people of Western European descent, particularly those in Great Britain, are the direct lineal descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. The concept often includes the belief that the British Royal Family is directly descended from the line of King David...
beliefs and was a lay Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
preacher.
He died on May 4, 1935 in Vancouver, Canada.
Stone of Scone
Odlum made microscopic examinations of the Stone, comparing it to similar stone from Scotland (including Iona and the quarries of Ireland) and found them dissimilar, and intrigued with the idea of a Palestine source investigated and discovered a stratum of sandstone near Bethel, a geological match. A series of requests were made by him for a sample of the Coronation Stone for more rigorous chemical tests, but all were denied.. Identification of the original Bethel is also an issue. http://www.ancientdays.net/bethel14.htm#bible.A lesser folk legend holds that Robert the Bruce gave a portion of the stone to Cormac McCarthy, king of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, in gratitude for Irish support at the Battle of Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
(1314). Installed at McCarthy's stronghold, Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland, and the River Martin. Though earlier fortifications were built on the same spot, the current keep was built by the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, a cadet branch of the Kings of Desmond, and dates from 1446...
, it became the Blarney Stone
Blarney Stone
The Blarney Stone is a block of bluestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney, about from Cork, Ireland. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of the gab . The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446...
. Although colourful, this folk legend cannot be true if the stone was removed from Scotland 18 years before Bannockburn. Some people think that the stone which Edward removed was not the true stone as it did not well match existing descriptions such as not being hollowed out. In that case, a false replacement stone would probably have been local stone. There is no evidence one way or the other on this.