A CATHOLIC MEMORIAL IN THE HIGHLANDS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 47, 22 November 1900, Page 10

A CATHOLIC MEMORIAL IN THE HIGHLANDS.

In the remote cemetery of Kilfinnan, situated under the shadow of the sombre hills which guard the picturer-que shores of Loch Loehy and in close proximity to tne battle-field ot Blar-na-leine, there has recently been erected (says the Glasgow Catholw JlrraUl) a simple monument which cannot fail to be of interest to Catholic Highlanders. In that lonely spot, some hundred and twenty-seven years ago, the remains of Bishop Hugh Macdonald were laid to rest This prelate was one of the mo*t noteworthy Catholic Bishops of post-reformation times in Scotland. A son of the Laird of Morar, Hugh Macdonald was ordained priest by Bishop Gordon in the year 172.";, and six years later was consecrated Bishou, to act as lirnt Vicar Apostolic of the Highland district. Since the extinction of the ancient hierarchy in the person of Archbishop Betoun. of Glasgow, who died in Paris in 16(M, the needs of Scottish Cath"hcs were provided for by Prefects Apostolic and afterwards by Vicars Apostolic.

A Vicar Apostolic is nn ofTu i il acting immediately on behalf of the Pope, in countries iVv>i<l of lo •! ee< L Musticn.l self-govern-ment, c g., China at the pivM nt tune. This ay^e-i obtain- din S( otland from the year lli'.tl till I^7^. when Pope Leo Xlfl re-^tabl^h'-d the Hierarchy, i.e., restored to tho Church in Scotland its normal form of government by B'sln^-s, having looal titles and ruling their dioceses, in their own right, subji ct. ot course, to the Holy Nee.

During his term of oflicn as Vicar \postolie. Bishop Hugh's connection with the Rising of '("> brought on him the active displeasure of the Government, and he was, in consequence, compelled to live long in hiding. At one time he was concealed on Loch Morar in company with Lord Lovar. and w.is eventually dtuerht and imprisoned. At the trial which followed he was found guilty of being a" Popish priest,' and sentenced to pi ipeuial bani-thmt-nt This sentence, however, was never enforced, but the Bishop l>ad to live for sev- ral years outside the limns of his Vicanate vi«ifmg the Highlands every *urnmer. Thi- veneranle man died in Glengarry on March 12. 1 77.4, and wih bum d in the cesreti ry of Kiitiuna'i. Associated with Bishop Macdonald in hi-« last resting pi ice arc two other priest* who labored in the distmts ot Glen .More and Glengarry — Bey John Lamont and Rev Donald Walker. Father Lamont dn d in January, IX2O. Father Walker was a young priest, first scviii^ in Glasgow in l^.U. In th' 1 same ye,»r he was remove ito the district of Glengarry, where he (hs h-uged his priestly dutit 8 for the space of four years. In ls'.',s h * atunded the nee Is ot a sick mi mhi r of his scattered flock in Str it oerrirk. On his return to F >rt Augustus a severe chill supervened, and lie died on October 27, l.s 5\ aj>i d 33 years.

To perpetuate the ire miry <<£ tlu«e venerated cli rtrv. upon whose graves in Kilfinnan no tombstone h id ever bi en rai~ed.it w is recently re olved to provide a suitable monument. Umier tho patronage of tho Fathirs of Fort Augustus A obey a committee was formed for the purpose of collecting funds. Owing to the genero-itj lof the Catholics ot Glengarry and their friends a bufticient sum was raided for the monument, which has taken the form of a Celtic cio>s in polished granite with appropriate carving ; also an iron railinground the grave suppoited on blocks of sandstone. On the base of the cross is read the following inscription :—: —

Of your charity, pray for tho Right Rev. Bishop Hugh Macdonald, Vicar Apostolic of the Ilighl-ind District. Died March 12th, 177.?. Al?o of Rev. John Lamont riitu January, I^2o. And of Rev. Donald Walker, died October 27th, IS3.S. Priests of Glengarry. ' Remember your Prelates who have spoken the word of God to you

This atone was erected by the Catholics of Glengarry and v. strict in grateful memory. A.D. 1900.