CELTIC MEETING AND SUPPER AT ORMOND.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 316, 16 October 1875, Page 2

CELTIC MEETING AND SUPPER AT ORMOND.

Pursuant to advertisement, a public meeting of Highlanders and others, took place at the Ormond Hotel, Ormond, on Wednesday evening last, for the purpose of aiding the movement, inaugurated by Professor Blackie, about two years ago, to raise funds (£10,000) w herewith to endow a Professorship for the study of the Celtic languages in the University of Edinburgh ; and also to take steps for establishing a Celtic Club in Poverty Bay. There was a large attendance, and great interest was manifested in the proceedings. Amongst those present we noticed the Rev. W. H. Root, Messrs. A. Graham, W. Adair, H. E. Webb, P. Breingan, J. McDougall, M. Hall, J. Hay, A. Blair, S. M. Wilson, (Argyll Hotel), J. Dick, A. C. Pratt, W. Boylan, E. P. Ward, C. Smith, (of Grahamand C 0.,) T. Duncan, J. Clark, D. McKay, D. Fraser, H. Harris (of Harris and Ferguson), McLeod, P. Barrie, Ferguson senior, Ferguson Junior, A. Skillicorn, J. Brodie, G. Saunders, Captains Trimmer (Tologa Bay) McCabe, (Agnes Donald), and Roach (Effie Meikle.) Air. Hay was voted into the chair. The Chairman gratefully acknowledged the honor conferred upon him by being called upon to preside on the present important occasion. It was originally proposed that the proceedings should be conducted in Gaelic ; but perceiving, as he did, that there were many present who did not understand that language, it was found necessary that the proceedings should be conducted in English, especially as all the Highlanders present could understand, English as well as Gaelic. He was much pleased to see so large a gathering, of not only Highlanders, but Lowlanders, Englishmen, and Irishmen, totakepart in the proceedings of a meeting having for its express object the raising of funds to aid Professor Blackie’s praiseworthy scheme for the endowment of a Celtic Chair, iii the University of Edinburgh. Hitherto no provision had been made in that University for the education of Highland students, which was a recognised desideratum. Efforts to establish a Gaelic Professorship were repeatedly made during the past ninety years, but from lack of energy on the part of those who took the matter in hand such efforts signally failed; and it was now left to Professor Blackie to accomplish what others had given up as a hopeless undertaking. No one was so competent to cope with the work as Dr. Blackie, and he (the Chairman) was glad to find that success had attended his efforts in this direction ever since he held the first meeting on the subject in Edinburgh. In the Highlands of Scotland, no less than upwards of four hundred ministers officiated in Gaelic every Sabbath —Gaelic being the only language understood by a large number of the people. In Canada, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, and other British Colonies, Gaelic was also regularly preached; and as these Colonies principally received their supply of ministers from Scotland, there was a necessity for imparting academicalinstruction, in that language, to the students who annually attended the Edinburgh University, from the Highlands, and who wished to qualify themselves for Gaelic preaching. From want of a Celtic Chair those students had hitherto to study their native language in a private class, which Dr. McLauchlan, of the Free Gaelic Church, Edinburgh, had taught during- the last 25 years. The Chairman then adverted, at some length, to the antiquity of the Gaelic, which was introduced into the British Isles in the third century, and between which and the Greek and Latin languages there was much similarity. An old friend of his in Glasgow, (Mr. Lachlan McLean) published a book many years ago, in tried to prove that. Gaelic v™ B the language epv4a.cn* Uj Adtiin and jSvc m paradise. He (the Chairman) would not, however, venture to go this length with the antiquity of the Gaelic. Gaelic literature was cultivated in Ireland from the third to the eighth centuries more than it was in the Highlands of Scotland, during that period. St Patrick, who was a Scotchman, (although Irishmen were not inclined to believe this,) wrote and preached in Gaelic, and so did St. Columba —the great apostle of the Highlands—who, in the fifth century emigrated from Ireland to the far famed island of

lona, in the Western Hebrides. The Gaelic —as some supposed—was not dying out; and it was his (the Chairman’s) firm belief that it would never become extinct. It was now cultivated more than ever, and periodicals in that language were being multiplied in Scotland. Highlanders in all parts of the world were greatly attached to their native vernacular, and ho could not conceive how it was possible for any of them to forget it. An Englishman, after a residence of 20 or 30 years in France, or any other foreign country, would, doubtless, feel ashamed to acknowledge that he had forgotten his mother-tongue; and, reasoning from this analogy, Highlanders ought also to feel ashamed of their losing their language. They might not, after a long, absence from home, speak it with the wonted fluency of their juvenile days'; but, notwithstanding, they ought to be able to talk it tolerably well. It was a most expressive language, and according to the late Rev. Dr. McKay, of Harris, the best preaching language in the world. As it was intended to form a Celtic Club in Poverty Bay, soon, he (the Chairman) hoped that all present, who were not Celts by birth, but who apparently sympathised with the movement for the endowment of the Celtic Professorship, as well as for the establishment of the Celtic Club, would take out letters of naturalisation that evening, and thus, as it were, become Celts, in the sense in which foreigners became British subjects by a similar process. After supper, when it was expected that every man’s heart would he in the right place, subscription lists would be submitted and he felt sure every gentleman present, he he Celt or Saxon, would contribute liberally to the endowment fund, and that they would be able to make a handsome remittance to Professor Blackie, from Poverty Bay. The subscriptions would he advertised so that every contributor would know what became of his money. Some might perhaps, say that too much was being made in this distant part of the world of Professor Blackie’s scheme, but he (the Chairman) did not think so. Every one carried his nationality with him, wherever he went, and the Highlanders, in particular, were notable for this characteristic. They were as attached to their native land as the Jews were to Jerusalem. Air. Duncan Frazer then addressed the meeting in Gaelic, and as his remarks were most pertinent and to the point, we reproduce them in that language for the sake of our Highland readers —some of whom expressed a wish that they should* appear in their native garb. They were as follow:—

Fhir na Cathrach, agus adhaoine uaisle : —Anns a eheud sanas a chaidh a chuir a mach anns a Phaipeir Naigheachd mu thiomchioll na coinneamh so, chithear na briathran so, “ Lean gu dlu ri cliu do shinnsear, ’8 na diobair bhi mar iadsan.” Tha mi toir creidas do dh’fhear na Cathrach, a rinn feum dhe na facail so bho chainnt bhlasda Ossian, a chionn iad a bhi cho freagarach airson a ghnothaich a tha ’n drast’ na’r beachd. Cha ’burra a bhi na bearr na, “ Lean gu dlu ei cliu do shinnsear.” Tha mi ’n dochas gur e sin iarrtas gach duiue anns abheil boinne de dh’fhuil nan Gaidheal a ruith na ’chuislean. Bhitheadh e na mhasladh oirn fein agus air a chinneach dha ’m buin sinn, agus air cuimhne na’n laoch bho ’n dth’anig sinn, agus na encoir air a chloinn nach deachaidh th’fhaghast a bhreith, na’n leigeadh sinn bas do chainnt ’ar duthcha—a chainnt bhlasda bhinn, anns a 'u do labhair bail'd agus suinn, agus Righrean anns an am bho shean. Be iarrtas na’m bard’s na sonn anns gach linn, gn’n cumadh anluchdduthcha suas cliuan t-shinnsearachd bho’n dth’anig iad,imnambens agusannangniomhara euchdach. Chaneil mi radh nach eil iad a deanamh sin, ach tha mi a radh gu bheil iad a leigeil a’n cainnt gu truagh air dhearmad, ni a tha na naire dhaibh ; agus is e aon ni araidh a tha air aire na coinneamh so, a chainnt sin a chumail a suas, agus argiod a chruinneachadh air ball airson Cathair Fear Aidmheil Foghlum Gaelic a steidheachadh am an Ardtigh Foghlum Dhuneidin; agus an t-argiod sina chuir adh’ionnsuidhan duine uasailainmeilsin,ant-Olla Blackie —duine a chuir cheana moran argiod ri cheile airson Fear Aidmheil do’n Ghaelic fhaotinn. Air an aobhar sin, is coir dhuinn uile a bheag na mhor a chruineachadh a dheanamh ris, agus a bhi moran na cbomain air son a shaothair. Cha ruig duine’s am bith a leas naire a bhi air airson Gaelic a bhruidhinn am fianuis duine’s am bith ; ach's coir do dhuine air bith naire a bhi air, ma bhios e ga th-aicheadh agusi aige. Tha daoine foghlumte anns a Ghearmailt a meorachadh air cainnt a bhaird as sine a th’ againn, agus a cuir am barachd meas air a chainnt sin na th’-flnair i riabh bhuainne. Bu choir dha sin flhein sinne a bhrosnachadh a chum a chuis so a chuir airaghart, agus acuir anns ant-shuidheac-headh anns am bu choir dhi bhi; oir chaneil cainnt sam bith is dluithe a thig ri cridhe duine na a chainnt fhein—na a chainnta chluinnear ann an laithean oige. Tha cuid do dhaoine ri faidhhdearachd gu faidh a Ghaelic bas nadurra ; ach be ’tn iarrtas-sa nach tachradh sin am feasd’. Ach a nise faodaidh sinn a radh le einnteas mach tachair so am fad sa mhaireas an Crunßreatanach.

The Chairman interpreted Mr. Fraser’s speech to the meeting, but want of space precludes our giving a translation of it here. Mr. Blair rose to propose the first resolution. He was glad to see so many present to aid the noble movement inaugurated by Dr. Blackie, and felt sure that they would be able to raise a considerable sum towards the endowment of the Celtic Chair. He did not altogether agree with the Chairman that it was impossible for a Highlander to lose his Gaelic. He, himself, was a living witness of something to the contrary. He lost his native language by long residence from home, but was, notwithstanding, still partial to it, and wished to do all he could to proesjablishment of a Gaelic Professorship, which was impersnreij for the proper education of Gaelic, Students studying for the Ministry. In the Highlands it was indispensably necessary topreach Gaelic, as thousands of the people there understood no other language. He would now move the following resolution :— That this meeting recognises the importance of endowing and establishing a Professorship in the University of Edinburgh, for the study of the Celtic languages, and pledges itself to aid the movement inaugurated by Professor Blackie towards the accomplishment of that object; and, further, that subscrip-

tion lists be now opened for the purpose, and that a committee, consisting of Messrs D. Fraser, D. M'Kay, J. Ferguson, J. Clark, A. Blair, A. Buchanan, and J. Hay be appointed to receive the contributions—Mr Hay to be Secretary, Mr Blair to be General Treasurer, and Mr Buchanan to be Local Treasurer. Mr. D. Fraser seconded the resolution, which was carried by acclamation. Mr. Duncan M'Kay proposed the second resolution, to which he, in a neat and most appropriate speech, did ample justice. He exhibited consummate knowledge of the history of the Celtic race, from their emigration from Southern Europe to the British Isles, and even up to the present time. He characterised the Gaelic as a most expressive language, and spoke of the attachment of the Highlanders to it, whether at home or aboard. The resolution he had to propose was— That the cordial thanks of this meeting be tendered to Professor Blackie for his praiseworthy efforts to establish a Gaelic Professorship in the principal Scottish University, as well as for the valuable services rendered by linn to Highlanders throughout the world by his translations of Gaelic into English, and English into Gaelic. Mr. M'Dougall seconded the resolution, which, like the first, was carried by acclamation. The Chairman then introduced the subject of the formation of a Celtic Club in Poverty Bay, upon the same principles as those upon which similar Clubs were established in America, Australia, and Dunedin. Were such a Club to be formed, Caledonian games would, doubtless, be introduced in connection with it; and at the new year these games might, be celebrated in Gisborne as they were in Dunedin. After some discussion, in which Mr. M’Dougall, Mr. D. Fraser, and others took part, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Dick, seconded by Mr. M'Leod — That a Committee, consisting of Messrs John Dick, D. M'Kay, P- Breingan, J. Brodie, and J. Hay, be appointed to make preliminary arrangements for the formation of a Celtic Club, and bo empowered to convene a public meeting for that purpose at Mr Buchanan’s Ormond Hotel, Ormond, on the evening of the first Wednesday iu December —Mr Hay to be convenor. Subscription lists were then submitted, and nearly £5O was subscribed in the room inafewminutes—aliberality which augurs well for the movement.. On the motion of Mr. M'Dougall, a vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman. Thb Supper. Supper being announced, about forty gentlemen sat down to a sumptuous repast, which for both profusion and variety of viands, reflected no small credit upon the catering capabilities of the host and hostess —Mr. and Airs Buchanan. Mr. Webb was moved into the chair; andgrace having been said by the Rev. W. H. Root, the good things under which the tables groaned were discussed in right down good earnest. a After the removal of the cloth, the Chairman, in a very appropriate speech, in which he made a happy allusion to Her Majesty’s having the interests other Highland subjects at heart to such an extent, as to have taken the trouble of acquiring a knowledge of Gaelic, proposed the first toast on the programme, namely, —“ The Queen and the Rqyal Family,” which was enthusiastically drunk. Mr. Hay, proposed—" Success to the projected Celtic Club.” He appealed to the well known enthusiasm of Highlanders in national matters, and expressed a hope that a Clubi. worthy of the name would be established in the district, and that a large number who were not Highlanders would join it; and, moreover, that all the members thereof would provide themselves with Highland dresses, even to the brogues and sporran. The Club would be open to all nationalities as far as membership was concerned. A good bagpiper would be required. The toast was drunk with Highland honors, and duly responded to. “ Highlanders all over the world,” was proposed by the Rev. Mr. Root, and responded to by Air. Hay. The next toast from the chair was — “ The Shipping and Commercial interests, with which were coupled the names of Messrs Graham and Adair.”

Mr. Graham suitably responded. He expressed a hope that both these interests would continue to be promoted in Poverty Bay. The Rev. Mr. Root proposed —“ The health of Professor Blackie,” whom he characterised as not only a learned, but a most industrious and witty man, whose services in furthering the Celtic Chair scheme were such as to merit the highest commendation. The toast was drunk amidst enthusiastic cheers, and with Highland honors. “ The Agricultural and Pastoral interests,” was proposed by the Chairman, and responded to by Air. M'Dougall, whose remarks were well applauded. The next toast was—“ The Ladies.”

Mr. Duncan M'Kay responded to this toast, and did ample justice to it. His observationsindicatedhis decided aversion to abachelor’s life, and an implied intention of leading some fair one to the Hymeneal altar at no distant day. The Rev. Mr. Root proposed—■“ The Press,” which was responded to by Air. Hay, who briefly pointed out the uses and abuses of the press. He inculcated the propriety of supporting the local press, as an institution with which the interest of every one in the district was inseparably bound up. The Chairman then proposed—“ The health of Mr. Duncan Fraser,” with whom the idea of aiding Professor Blackie’s movement first originated in Poverty Bay, and who was consequently entitled to no small praise. The toast was enthusiastically received and drunk with Highland honors. Mr. Fraser feelingly responded in Gaelic, his address being interpreted by Mr. Hay. A hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings about half past one o’clock in the morning. Daring the evening several English and Gaelic songs were sung, whilst at Jnfnmrnln, -Ure rrrtnrro, of Terpsichore tripped it on the light fantastic toe to the melodious strains of the violin.