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 Electric
Scotland's Weekly Email Newsletter
Dear
Friend
The weekend
is nearly here and so it's time for your weekly newsletter from
Electric Scotland :-)
You can view what's new this week on
Electric Scotland at
http://www.electricscotland.com/rss/whatsnew.php and you can
unsubscribe to this newsletter by entering your email address in the
form at the foot of this newsletter.
See our Calendar of Scottish Events around the world at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/calendar_help.htm
CONTENTS
--------
Electric Scotland News
Scotland on TV
The Flag in the Wind
Article Service
The Scottish Nation
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1845)
Book of Scottish Story
Good Words - Edited by the Rev Norman MacLeod
Clan Information
Poetry and Stories
Sketches of The Character, Manners, and Present State of the
Highlanders of Scotland
Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland
1881
Household Encyclopaedia
Antiquarian Scottish Books in Adobe Reader format
The Scottish Tradition in Canada
Information from the St. Andrews Society of Singapore
Fallbrook Farm
VoteStop
ELECTRIC SCOTLAND NEWS
----------------------
This is the first newsletter from our new software so hope you all
get it ok :-)
I've had some time out from email this week due to us trying to move
to a new email server. It seems our domain is being attacked by
spammers and so the move to a new server did not go well and we've
had to backtrack while we seek a solution to our problem.
I've also been active on getting our new FAQ help system up and
running and I have managed to answer some of those Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ). You can see the new help system at
http://www.scotchat.org/help
I've also been mired in paperwork having had to finalise by Company
tax which is now all done and then my car lease had expired so
needed to make the final payment to actually own it along with
having to get a safety certificate and emissions certificate for it.
As April is almost upon us it's also time to pay the annual car and
house insurance and on top of all that now having to prepare my
Canadian tax return. I do hate paperwork!!! And so I've been running
all over the place this week.
ABOUT THE STORIES
-----------------
Some of the stories in here are just parts of a larger story so do
check out the site for the full versions. You can always find the
link in our "What's New" section at the link at the top of this
newsletter or on our site menu.
Scotland on TV
--------------
Visit their site at
http://www.scotlandontv.tv
"Scotland on TV HQ is in Glasgow and spring has officially sprung
here in the west of Scotland. This week saw the official first day
of spring, and - despite forecasts of snow for the Easter weekend
ahead - we're celebrating the sunshine, spring flowers and lighter
evenings.
We've been out and about looking for signs of new life in
preparation for this Easter weekend in Glasgow. In Pollok Park on
the Southside, the visiting baby animals are the star attraction,
but Easter wouldn't be complete without eggs, so it's time to get
creative with decorative paint too. The buds are on the trees in
Glasgow's leafy West End, and the Botanic Gardens is awash with the
colour of daffodils, crocuses and blossoms - a promise of warmer
days to come! A snapshot of spring in and around Glasgow can be
found by clicking on this link:
http://www.scotlandontv.tv/scotland_on_tv/video.html?Channel=SeeScot%20Places&vxClipId=1380_SMG1943
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
This weeks Flag is compiled by
Richard Thomson in which he has two stories, one Science Fiction
story and the other about Council Tax. I enjoyed the picture of the
cat sitting outside No. 10 :-)
In Peter's cultural section he is discussing Easter Eggs...
The custom of giving eggs at the time of the Spring Equinox was
known to the early Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Gauls and
many other people. This ancient fertility symbol was adapted by
early Christianity in connection with the miracle of the
Resurrection and the Feast of Eggs became attached to the
celebration of Easter. In Scotland eggs were also used in the
Beltane rites ( 1 May ), and like bannocks, were rolled downhill in
imitation of the movement of the sun. In Christian times, the
rolling of the egg is supposed to represent the rolling away of the
the stone from the tomb of the risen Christ.
The practice of colouring the eggs is also ancient. The Persians
dyed theirs red, and still use coloured eggs representing the
flowers of the field. In Scotland, country bairns used to gather
whin blossoms and other growing things with which to dye their eggs.
Commercial Easter Eggs seem to dominate now-a-days but it is far
more fun for bairns, of all ages, to make the real thing! Eggs are
traditionally given out on Easter Sunday and lets revive the
practise of rolling your Pasch ( Scots for Easter ) Egg.
Easter Eggs - take as many eggs as necessary, 1 pt of water, 2
teaspoonfuls salt and for decoration: onion skins, flower petals,
cochineal or other colouring matter for dyeing. Put eggs, dyeing
material and salt in a pan - bring to the boil slowly and simmer for
about 20 minutes. The dyed eggs can be further decorated with paint
and crayons with drawings and patterns. Just use your imagination.
Sinsyne awa an rowe yir Pasch Egg!
You can read the Flag, listen to the Scots Language, enjoy the Scots
Wit and lots more at
http://www.scotsindependent.org
Christina McKelvie MSP's weekly diary is available at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/mckelvie/080320.htm
The Article Service
-------------------
Lots of interesting articles in this week. One was about a
50-year-old painting of Christ’s Crucifixion by cartoonist Dudley D
Watkins, creator of The Broons and Oor Wullie, has been discovered
at a private house in Lochgelly in Fife.
We got articles on Highland Games,
views of a 6 year old, some poems, recipes, views on physical
education and lots more to enjoy.
See these at
http://www.electricscotland.com/article
The Scottish Nation
-------------------
My thanks to Lora for transcribing these volumes for us.
We are now onto the M's with Marr, Marshall, Martin, Martine, Mary
Queen of Scots, Masterton, Maule, and Maxtone added this week.
Here is how Mary Queen of Scots starts...
MARY STUART, Queen of Scots, celebrated for her beauty, her
accomplishments, her errors, and her misfortunes, was born at the
palace of Linlithgow, December 8, 1542. She was the daughter of
James V., by his queen, Mary of Lorraine, of the family of Guise.
Her father dying when she was only eight days old, she became queen,
and was crowned at Stirling, September 9, 1543. After an ineffectual
attempt on the part of Cardinal Bethune to obtain the regency, the
government of the kingdom was, during her infancy, vested in the
earl of Arran. The two first years of her childhood were spent at
Linlithgow, under the care of her mother; and the following three
years at Stirling, under the charge of the Lords Erskine and
Livingstone. Owing to the distracted state of the country, she was
subsequently removed, for a few months, to the priory of Inchmahome,
a small island in the beautiful lake of Menteith, Perthshire, where
she had for her attendants and companions four young ladies of noble
rank, all named like herself Mary, namely, Mary Bethune, niece of
the cardinal; Mary Fleming, daughter of Lord Fleming; Mary
Livingstone, daughter of one of her guardians; and Mary Seton,
daughter of the lord of that name. At the age of six she embarked at
Dumbarton for France, where she was instructed in every branch of
learning and polite accomplishment. Besides making herself mistress
of the dead languages, she spoke the French, Italian, and Spanish
tongues fluently, and devoted much of her time to the study of
history. Through the influence of the French king and her uncles,
the Guises, she was married, April 20, 1558, to the dauphin,
afterwards Francis II. of France, who died in 1560, about sixteen
months after his accession to the throne. On her marriage she had
been induced, by the persuasion of the French court, to assume, with
her own, the style and arms of queen of England and Ireland, an
offence which Elizabeth never forgave, although, as soon as Mary
became her own mistress, she discontinued the title.
The widowed queen soon found it necessary to return to Scotland,
whither she was invited by her own subjects, and arriving at Leith,
August 19, 1561, she was received by all ranks with every
demonstration of welcome and regard. At first the committed the
administration of affairs to Protestants, her principal advisers
being her natural brother, the Lord James Stuart, prior of St.
Andrews, and Maitland of Lethington, and so long as she abided by
their counsel her reign was mild, prudent, and satisfaction to her
people. In August 1562 she made a progress into the north, where, by
the aid of her brother, afterwards created earl of Moray, she
crushed the formidable rebellion of the earl of Huntly. In February
1563 occurred at St. Andrews the execution of the young and
accomplished French poet Chatelard, who, having fallen deeply in
love with his beautiful mistress, had twice intruded himself into
her bed-chamber, for the purpose of urging his passion. It was the
wish of her subjects that the queen should marry, that the crown
might descend in the right line from their ancient monarchs, and she
had already received matrimonial overtures from various foreign
princes. The ardour of youthful inclination, however, rather than
the dictates of prudence, led her to prefer her cousin, Henry Lord
Darnley, to all her suitors. This young man, whose only
recommendation was the elegance of his person and manners, was the
eldest son of the earl of Lennox, who had been forced to seek refuge
in England, in the reign of James V., and Lady Margaret Douglas,
daughter of the earl of Angus and the queen dowager Margaret, sister
of Henry VIII.; and after Mary herself, he was the nearest heir to
the crown of England, and next to the earl of Arran in succession to
the crown of Scotland. The royal nuptials were celebrated July 29,
1565, in conformity to the rites of the church of Rome, of which
Mary was a zealous adherent, while the majority of her subjects were
Protestants.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/mary.htm
You can read the other entries at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/index.htm
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1845)
------------------------------------------
The first volume I am dealing with is the one on Aberdeenshire.
There are some 85 parishes in this volume and a write up on each.
This week have added...
Parish of Birse at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/statistical/birse.htm
Here is a bit from the account...
Name.—The name of the parish is derived from a Gaelic word
signifying bush, and seems to express what was formerly the general
appearance of the district in which it is situated.
Extent, &c.—The parish is of great extent, being on the south side
along the top of the Grampians, and on the west side from the top of
the Grampians to the river Dee, about ten miles long-On the north
side, it is about eight miles long, and on the east it is about six
miles. This parish forms the south-east point of Aberdeenshire; and
is bounded on the east by the parish of Strachan, which is in the
county of Kincardine, and along the Grampians; on the south, by a
part of the same parish, and by Loch-lee, in the county of Forfar;
on the west, by a mountain rang of the parish of Aboyne, which
extends down to the river Dee; and on the north, partly by the said
river, and by a section of Aboyne, which stretches to the south of
the Dee.
The ancient history of the parish is involved in much obscurity,
like that of many others. The multitude of tumuli, however,
scattered in all directions on the mountain sides, would indicate
that it was the scene, in former days, of battle and of blood. One
immense cairn exists in the woods of Finzean, though now much
beneath its original size; and on the adjacent hill are to be seen a
great number of smaller cairns or tumuli; while a little farther
eastward a long granite stone, such as was used in ancient times to
mark the grave of some eminent person, was dug up a good many years
ago, and now stands on the top of the hill of Corsedarder. These
appearances taken in connection would lead us to the belief of some
serious battle having taken place, and that a chief had been killed
on the spot alluded to. But whether that chief was, as has been
said, an ancient king or prince of Scotland, named Dardanus, cannot
now be ascertained. It is far from unlikely that many of the tumuli
every where visible, mark the resting-place of individuals slain in
some highland foray for cattle into the lowlands; for which the
upper districts were at one time so famous. On such occasions, the
hills and mountains of this parish, lying as they do betwixt the
north and the south country, must often have been the scene where
the fugitives and the pursuers encountered each other, and disputed
the prize; and these tumuli would indicate that the encounters did
not always pass over without blood. This idea derives some
probability of truth, from the circumstance, that there is a
mountain pass leading through this parish, across the Grampians, to
the south country, known to this day by the name of the "Cattrin
road," or perhaps "raid,"—a clear proof that this district was at
one time well known to, and frequented by, the "Cattrin," in their
excursions from the higher and more northern districts to and from
the south.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/statistical/birse.htm
On the index page of this volume you can see a list of the 85
parishes and also a map at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/statistical/volume12.htm
Book of Scottish Story
----------------------
Our thanks to John Henderson for sending this in for us.
This week have added...
The Battle of the Breeks by Robert Macnish
And here is how the story starts...
I often wonder when I think of the tribulations that men bring upon
them-sels, through a want of gumption and common independence of
speerit. There now was I, for nae less than eighteen years as
henpeckit a man as ever wrocht at the loom. Maggie and me, after the
first week of our marriage, never forgathered weel thegither. There
was something unco dour and imperious about her temper, although, I
maun say, barring this drawback, she was nae that ill in her way
either,— that is to say, she had a sort of kindness about her, and
behaved in a truly mitherly way to the bairns, giein them a' things
needfu' in the way of feeding and claithing, so far as our means
admitted. But, oh, man, for a' that, she was a dour wife. There was
nae pleasing her ae way or anither; and whenever I heard the bell
ringing for the kirk, it put me in mind of her tongue— aye wag,
wagging, and abusing me beyond bounds. In ae word, I was a puir,
broken-hearted man, and often wished myself in Abraham's bosom, awa
frae the cares and miseries of this sinfu' world.
I was just saying that folk often rin their heads into scrapes for
want of a pickle natural spunk. Let nae man tell me that gude nature
and simpleecity will get on best in this world; na—faith na. I hae
had ower muckle experience that way; and the langer I live has
proved to me that my auld maister, James Currie (him in the Quarry
Loan), wasna sae far wrang when he alleged, in his droll, gude-humoured
way, that a man should hae enough o' the deil about him to keep the
deil frae him. That was, after a', ane of the wisest observes I hae
heard of for a lang time. Little did I opine that I would ever be
obligated to mak use o't in my ain particular case:—but, bide a wee,
and ye shall see how it was brocht about between me and Maggie.
You can read the rest of this story at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/story41.htm
The other stories can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/index.htm
Good Words - 1860 Edition
-------------------------
Edited by Rev. Norman MacLeod
You should note that as this is a weekly publication you'll find
larger articles are continued week by week.
This week have added articles on...
Dr Wichern and The Rauhes Haus (Pages 377-380)
Penny Savings Banks (Pages 381-383)
Good Words for Every Day of the Year (Pages 383-384)
St. Columba (Pages 385-389)
A Summer's Study of Ferns (Pages 390-391)
The Grave (Page 391)
Here is how the account of "St. Columba" starts...
Hy, Y, Iona, Icolumkill, Isle of Colum of the Cell, to the outward
eye one of the least noticeable of the Hebrides, has to the inward
eye a beauty and a sanctity which belong to no other Scottish
ground. From our childhood the very name has been invested with an
old ideal reverence, which, unless scared away by vulgarising
steamboat visits and tourist crowds, lives on still when we are
grown men. We think of it as a beacon burning all alone, but bright
and blessed, in the deep midnight of Celtic heathenism; or rather as
a solitary peak, already struck golden by the coming day while deep
darkness lay yet unbroken on all the mainland and islands of Albyn.
And the impression is not decreased, but deepened by the contrast we
feel when, thinking of its old sanctity, we gaze on its now forlorn
abandonment. Elsewhere, the spot on which some first missionary
settled has grown, in time, into cathedral town, commercial mart,
even into metropolitan city. But Iona— though the fight first
kindled there is not yet disowned, yea, rather has been growing and
spreading till now—Iona has become as utter a desolation as if it
had been some heathen oracle long gone dumb, or the shrine of some
out-worn religion.
To those to whom it has long been a cherished imagination, one
cannot but feel apprehensive lest all that can be advanced of fact
and illustration should only mar its ideal consecration. But to
others, who may have gone there without thought, and returned
without interest—laughing, perhaps, at all things they heard there
as fictions of Highland story-tellers, at best disregarding them as
intangible myths—something I hope may be adduced to convince them
that Iona had a real history, compared with which its oldest
existing ruin is but modern, and that Columba stands out in
tolerably clear outline, by several centuries the earliest human
figure we can descry against the dim dawn of Scottish history.
For of him we possess, what we have not of any other Scot for five
centuries afterwards, two lives, which may be called contemporary,
written by two monks of his brotherhood, who had every means of
knowing the truth. One of these is a short Latin life by Cumin,
supposed to have been written about sixty years after the saint's
death; the other, composed about eighty-five years from his death,
is the longer and well-known life by Adamnan, which has been lately
edited by Mr Beeves, an Irish antiquary, with a rare fulness of
erudition and accuracy of Hebridean topography. Perhaps there was no
man in Europe of Columba's time of whom we have so authentic a
record—certainly no native of Scotland till after the year 1000.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/goodwords184.htm
You can read the other articles at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/index.htm
Clan Information
----------------
Clan Home Association has a new web site at
http://www.clan-home.org/
Poetry and Stories
------------------
Further articles have been added to our Articles Service where the
likes of Donna have been adding poems and recipes at
http://www.electricscotland.com/article/
Got in "Unburdened Through Song" another doggerel in from John
Henderson but this time in English which you can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel253.htm
Sketches of The Character, Manners, and Present State of the
Highlanders of Scotland
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Major-General David Stewart (1822)
We have now moved on to Volume II and the next several chapters are
now covering the Fencible Regiments.
This week we've added...
Dumbarton, 1794
Reay, 1794
Inverness, 1794
Fraser, 1794
Lochaber, 1799
Clan Alpine, 1799
Regiment of the Isles, 1799
Here is how the account of Regiment of the Isles starts...
No name could be more appropriate for a regiment, commanded by a
Macdonald, having a number of officers and men of the same name, and
nine-tenths of both composed of Islanders, than the "Regiment of the
Isles." In the traditions of the Highlanders, the Isles are so
associated with chivalry, deeds of valour, and chieftainship of a
superior order, that their imaginations are immediately thrown back
to those days when the Lords of the Isles, assuming sovereign
authority over their insular domains, frequently entered into
treaties, and contracted alliances, with the Kings of England. But
their possessions were not confined to the Islands. They held
extensive domains on the Mainland of Scotland, great part of which
is to this day possessed by their descendants, Glengarry, Clanranald,
Glenco, and other families of the clan. It was in the Isles,
however, where they could not be so easily attacked, that they
possessed their principal power. There, as petty sovereigns, they
supported a sort of regal state, being equal in power to several
states in Germany, and certainly exceeding many Continental
principalities in the number of disposable men at arms.
It was in Islay, the most southerly of these insular possessions,
that the Macdonalds had their principal residence. A small island in
Loch Finlagan, in Islay, was "famous for being once the court in
which the great Macdonald, King of the Isles, had his residence. His
houses, chapels, &c. are now ruinous. His garde-de-corps, called
Luchtach, kept guard on the lake side nearest to the isle. The walls
of their houses are still to be seen there. The high court of
judicature, consisting of fourteen, sat always here; and there was
an appeal to them from all the courts in the Isles. The eleventh
share of the sum in debate was due to the principal judge. There was
a big stone of seven feet square, in which there was a deep
impression made to receive the feet of Macdonald; for he was crowned
King of the Isles standing in this stone, and swore that he would
continue his vassals in the possession of their lands, and do exact
justice to all his subjects; and then his father's sword was put
into his hand. The Bishop of Argyle and seven priests anointed him
King, in presence of all the heads of the tribes in the Isles and
Continent who were his vassals."
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sketches/highlandsketches103.htm
You can read the other chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sketches/highlandsketchesndx.htm
Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland
1884
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This week have added annother large account of The Agriculture of
the County of Dumbarton and here is how it starts...
Dumbartonshire is a small county, lying chiefly on the western
seaboard of Scotland. Though twenty-fifth in respect of size, it is
one of the first Scottish counties in respect of interest and
importance, possessing as it does features of note for intelligent
men of every class. To the historian, it presents, besides much
else, clear intimation of Roman supremacy and civilisation; to the
geologist, it exhibits a variety of rock formations, and one or two
special phenomena, such as Dumbarton Castle rock and the ancient
sea-margins of Roseneath and Cardross. The economist can find in it
an epitome of all the industries; the tourist will remember it as
the county of Loch Long and Loch Lomond; and the agriculturist will
be interested to note that it combines, as perhaps no other county
does, three principal branches of his profession, viz., sheep,
dairy, and arable farming. It is chiefly in the last capacity that
we mean to treat of the shire at present. Our purpose is, to give an
account of the various modes of farming pursued within it, and
report on the progress made by the agricultural and other industries
during the last five-and-twenty years. To this end, we will commence
with a few general notes and statistics. The county covers,
exclusive of water and foreshores, a space of 154,542 acres, and
comprises twelve parishes. Unlike most other counties, it is not an
undivided whole, but consists of two portions, removed apart six
miles. The western, or principal portion, containing ten parishes,
lies along the waters of the River and Firth of Clyde. In shape it
rudely resembles a segment of a circle, cut off by an irregular
broken line; and in length, between extremes, it measures about 35
miles, in breadth 18 miles. Its boundaries are - on the north,
Perthshire; on the east, Stirlingshire and Loch Lomond; on the
south, Lanarkshire, and the River and Firth of Clyde; and on the
west, Loch Long and Argyllshire. Of the 138 miles, which measure the
bounds of its landward portion, 82 are along water—a circumstance
having an important agricultural bearing, as it infers a great part
of the land to lie on the slope, and, in so far as the water is
sea-water, it implies an amelioration of the winter climate.
The eastern, or smaller division of the county, containing two
parishes, is an irregular, somewhat oblong tract of land, covering
19,030 acres; its length 12 miles, and its breadth averaging 4½
miles. Its boundaries are—Stirlingshire and Lanarkshire, the former
enclosing on the north, the latter on the south.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/page66.htm
The other articles can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/index.htm
Household Encyclopaedia
-----------------------
I have added a few more pages to the B's which you can see at
http://www.electricscotland.com/household/b.htm
The index page of this publication can be seen at
http://www.electricscotland.com/household/
Antiquarian Scottish Books in Adobe Reader format
-------------------------------------------------
I said I'd do my best to add a book each week and so this week I've
added...
Scotch-Irish in New England
A short 55 page book by the Rev. A. L. Perry published in 1891.
It starts of by saying...
The Scotch-Irish did not enter New England unheralded. Early in the
spring of 1718 Rev. Mr. Boyd was dispatched from Ulster to Boston as
an agent of some hundreds of those people who expressed a strong
desire to remove to New England, should suitable encouragement be
afforded them. His mission was to Governor Shute, of Massachusetts,
then in the third year of his administration of that colony, an old
soldier of King William, a Lieutenant-Colonel under Marlborough in
the wars of Queen Anne, and wounded in one of the great battles in
Flanders. Mr. Boyd was empowered to make all necessary arrangements
with the civil authorities for the reception of those whom he
represented, in case his report of the state of things here should
prove to be favorable.
As an assurance to the governor of the good faith and earnest
resolve of those who sent him, Mr. Boyd brought an engrossed
parchment twenty-eight inches square, containing the following
memorial to his excellency, and the autograph names of the heads of
the families proposing to emigrate:
"We whose names are underwritten, Inhabitants of ye North of
Ireland, Doe in our own names, and in the names of many others, our
Neighbors, Gentlemen, Ministers, Farmers, and Tradesmen,
Commissionate and appoint our trusty and well beloved friend, the
Eeverend Mr. William Boyd, of Macasky, to His Excellency, the Eight
Honorable Collonel Samuel Suitte, Governour of New England, and to
assure His Excellency of our sincere and hearty Inclination to
Transport ourselves to that very excellent and renowned Plantation
upon our obtaining from His Excellency suitable incouragement. And
further to act and Doe in our Names as his prudence shall direct.
Given under our hands this 26th day of March, Anno Dom. 1718."
To this brief but explicit memorial, three hundred and nineteen
names were appended, all but thirteen of them in fair and vigorous
autograph. Thirteen only, or four per cent of the whole, made their
"mark" upon the parchment. It may well be questioned, whether in any
other part of the United Kingdom at that time, one hundred and
seventy-two years ago, in England or Wales, or Scotland or Ireland,
so large a proportion as ninety-six per cent of promiscuous
householders in the common walks of life could have written their
own names. And it was proven in the sequel, that those who could
write, as well as those who could not, were also able upon occasion
to make their "mark".
You can read this book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/scotch_irish_new_england.htm
The index page for this section can be reached at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/index.htm
The Scottish Tradition in Canada
--------------------------------
Edited by W. Stanford Reid
This week have added three chapters...
Patterns of Settlement in the East K. J. Duncan
Scottish Settlement of the West Alan R. Turner
The Highland Catholic Tradition in Canada R. MacLean
Here is how The Highland Catholic Tradition in Canada starts...
The largest groups of Scottish Catholics settled in the Glengarry
district of eastern Ontario, Prince Edward Island and eastern Nova
Scotia. Though there were other pockets of settlement in Ontario,
Quebec, at the Red River, and other western communities, it was
mainly in the above-named regions that their traditions developed.
While it may be risky to write on a tradition it must also be borne
in mind that history must include attitudes and impressions, the
material from which traditions are made.
Canadians have usually referred to the Scottish presence in Canadian
history without making any strong distinctions between Highlander/
Lowlander or Catholic/Protestant. The general effect of this lack of
categorization has been beneficial, for it has largely ignored
certain aspects of the Scottish historical past which might possibly
have led to a re-opening of old wounds in the New World.1 For most
Scots in Canada it has been sufficient that they be known as Scots
or as Canadians of Scottish origin. The common homeland bound them
together, regardless of their former geographical or religious
situation in Scotland. Yet for anyone who has made any attempt to
understand the Scottish-Canadian character it is quite evident that
there are definite differences among those of Scottish background
and that such distinctions have in part determined their attitudes
and roles in Canada. In effect, they have helped to mould views
concerning man and his role in Canadian society. They should not
therefore be lightly dismissed.
One of the most obvious differences in those with a Scottish
background has been the factor of religion, particularly the views
held by Presbyterians and by those of the Roman Catholic faith.
Those within Presbyterian-ism have been numerous and have occasioned
remarks on the propensity of Presbyterians to dispute fine
theological points.2 It may also be argued the tensions within this
denomination3 have been creative. Certainly there was, in the
Presbyterian fold, an opportunity for the concerned individual to
express his views. The organization allowed for a greater
participation in church affairs through the realm of debate and
discussion. Such was not the tradition in the more
tightly-structured church of the Roman Catholics; the hierarchical
pyramid distributed authority from the peak downward and assembly
meetings were not a part of the system. They were, however, assured
of security and therefore had little compulsion for debate and
discussion. This basic difference in style and orientation, it is
suggested, had a definite influence on the subsequent roles played
by Presbyterians and Roman Catholics in Canada.4 Often criticized as
being motivated by the cult of success, the individual Presbyterian
would be described by some as the typical Canadian. This is both
unfair and inaccurate, for while Presbyterians have made an enormous
contribution to Canada's historical development, other groups of
different religious and ethnic backgrounds have counterbalanced this
stereotyped Presbyterian projection. One such group has been the
Roman Catholic Highlanders.5 Like other Scots, they are found in
every province and territory of Canada.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/tradition/tradition8.htm
You can read the other chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/tradition/index.htm
Information from the St. Andrews Society of Singapore
-----------------------------------------------------
I'd like to thank the St. Andrews Society of Signapore for arranging
to send in various bits of information about Scots activities in
Signapore including some scans of some very old issues of the
Signapore Chronicle from 1836. The account starts with...
Origins of the Singapore St Andrews Society
First formal public celebration of St Andrews day in Singapore was
1835.
Second formal public celebration of St Andrews day in Singapore was
1836.
A meeting of patriotic Caledonians took place at the Reading Room on
Tuesday the 24th of November 1835 where it was determined to give a
public dinner in honour of St Andrew. The dinner was to take place
on the following Monday 30th November 1835 at half past Six. The
venue was the upper apartments of the Court House and the numbers
expected would be no less than seventy(1).
At the St Andrews Dinner, Dr Montgomerie and Mr William Napier
presided, and Messrs. Spottiswoode, Lorrain, Carnie and Stephen were
Stewards(2). The dinner was a great success and was reported that
the party did not break up till daylight (3).
By the following year in 1836, Mr Napier had been elected chairman
and Mr Duncan, Croupier, while Messrs. Lewis Fraser, Charles
Spottiswoode, Drysdale and Davidson were the Stewards(4). There was
a public invite in the 26th November 1836 edition Singapore
Chronicle. The following week edition of the Singapore Chronicle
mentioned that contrary to expectation there were less people than
the previous year. This was however not down to a lack of people who
wanted to attend but rather down to the fact that there were no
public buildings large enough to accommodate so many people(5).
Although the reporter from the Singapore Chronicle did not attend it
was reported that “The company finally broke up at sunrise after
having partaken of a third supper, when they parted with the upmost
harmony and good fellowship” (6).
You can read all the information sent into us at
http://www.electricscotland.com/asia/singapore.htm
Fallbrook Farm
--------------
We've had more updates in on this conservation project and if you'd
like to help you just need to email them your support as the more
emails they can produce in support of the project the better chance
they have in making it happen.
One wee quote in this week is...
"Life was not easy in those years but they were fortunate to live in
a community of relatives who were noted for helping each other when
needs arose"
"I knew the family to be one most highly regarded and respected in
the community, good old Scottish presbyterian stock, who with a
number of other families, formed a nucleus of the community of
Ballinafad, that was the very bedrock of society. He and his family
carried on the tradition of gracious hospitality of the McKay family
of the previous years. The pictures of Donald and Jessie are very
significant."
Do visit their page and keep up to date with their findings and
activity at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/fallingbrook.htm
VoteStop
--------
As a final article to this newsletter might I direct you to a fun
site called VoteStop where you can do loads of polls and find out
what other people think on a whole range of topics.
This is the site of Verity Crewe-Nelson who is the daughter of
friends of mine in Toronto and I think she's done an outstanding
job. She's even added some polls on Scottish subjects under her
travel section. You'll find polls of current events, news, music and
all kinds of other topics.
You can visit the site at
http://www.votestop.com
And that's it for now and I hope you all have an enjoyable Easter
break :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
OUR NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
-----------------------
You can see old issues of this newsletter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/newsletter/index.htm
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