hymns, Hymnum dicat turba fratrum," is in the ancient Antiphonary of Bangor; and Bangor, let it be recalled, was the mother-house of St. Gall, and its methods and musical traditions were continued at the latter place by the founder. Moreover, the "Hymnum dicat," in its Greek original, was the sunrise hymn of the Christians of the Apostolic Churches in Phrygia and Bithynia,39 and there Hilary learned both words and music during the time of his deportation. St. Gall enjoyed an inheritance of sacred verse and music that stretched into a distant past. It is foolish for any to argue that this long-continued culture of music had no efflorescence in the ninth century Community at St. Gall. Roman Churchmen have made earnest efforts to find a Roman basis for the ninth century music and verse of St. Gall; but, even when reinforced by the "Romanus and Peter " fables, these efforts end in caricature of historical fact. Previous to the settling of the " barbarians "Rome was not in a position to influence the Celtic Churches in music or anything else. Rome derived more from the Celts of both provinces of Gaul, and from the Eastern nurseries of music. and praise, than she ever contributed to them before the ninth century. Even if these things were unknown those Roman Churchmen who seek to deny a very perfect system of Church praise to the Celtic Church must first seek to get rid of the " Hallelujah Chorus " of the British Celtic monasteries, the Antiphonary of Bangor in Ulster, Gallic hymns, other than Hilary's, such as those, perfected later, that formed the ground-work of Te Deum laudamus. The denial of the musical inheritance of the Celtic Church and its development by Celts necessitated the denying of the schools of the Celtic Church, where music was taught along with literature, not to mention agriculture. Where these schools have not been denied they have been belittled. Yet there was not a Bangor, or daughter-house, on the Continent, in Britain, or in Ireland, in which the School was not one of the conspicuous features of the organization. A greater number of illustrious scholars are known to history as having been educated at the Bangors or kindred Celtic monasteries than are known to have come from the institutions that succeeded them after the Viking invasions. The Celtic Communities never asked more than the credit due to them for their pioneer work in Christianising the West. That credit they deserved, along with recognition of their fidelity to education, of their preservation of music and literature, of their improvement of agriculture, and of their provision for the sick and poor. NOTES. 1 Monk of Reichenau, died 824 A.D. 2 Preserved in Codex 265. 3 The date 535 which some give was due originally to the displacing of the correct figures. S. Gall left Bangor with S. Columbanus in, or about, 573. Sigebert, who received S. Columbanus, was assassinated in 575. S. Gall was quite young at this time, much younger than Columbanus. -4 Codex 553. 5 One transcript has " Unnchun." 6 Previous to 227 A.D. 7 On the authority of Jonas. 8 They were clad in the long cuculla of natural wool. They carried their belongings, and refreshment for the way, in the leather bag (pera) and in the leather flask (ascopa). The (capsa) satchel for manuscript, and the (capsellae) reed-case and medicine-box were also part of their outfit. A modern writer has taken some pains to argue that the capsa was a reliquary," but the Celts of this period carried no relics, of the sort he means. 9 Some had been baptized. V.S.C., Jonas, cap. xxvi. 66 10 Probably a former pupil of one of the Celtic monasteries that had sent out many such lonely workers. 15 Ps. 132. 14. 16 Not to be confused with an Ab of St. Gall of later date. Jonas, 18 And, according to Walafridus Strabo, from Bangor and elsewhere in Ireland. 19 The date 627 is also given; but Magnoald was ten years with S. Gall after 615-16, and it was in the tenth year, 625-26, that he saw S. Gall's strength beginning to fail. Manifestly it must have been in the Spring of 625 that the deputation from Luxeuil visited S. Gall. 20 From the end of 613 he ruled over Burgundy, Austrasia, and Neustria. 21 W. S. Vita S. Galli, Lib. i., C. xxvii. 22 Ps. 69. 8. 23 From a very early date (time of Ekkehard IV) Romanists tried to credit the origin of music at St. Gall to certain Romans called "Petrus and Romanus." That story, and later elaborations, are fable. In all the Celtic monasteries music was taught and practised; and the art came to them not from Rome but from The Studion, and elsewhere in the East, where the Perpetual Praise was maintained. 24 A modern writer incorrectly describes him as an Angler." The author of Fishing from the Earliest Times would have been glad if that had been true. 66 25 According to the 9th century improved" Life, ascribed to Wettin, monk of Reichenau, the Community still lived at this time in the individual cells of the Celts. Otwine drove the monks from their "lowly dwellings." 26 Now Kempten, Bavaria. There was an offshoot from this Community at Füssen. 27 628-638 A.D. 28 Died 25th Nov., 758 or 759. 29 Monumenta Germaniæ Historica, Pertz, ii., 63. 30 Annales Sangallenses, under 830 A.D. 31 Appointed, not elected, c. 841. 32 Moengal died c. 869, and Iso died in 871. 33 In 1204 A.D. Abbot Ulrich was made prince of the holy Roman Empire. 34 The Abbot had been deprived of temporal jurisdiction in 1798. 35 As the spelling in the genetive is Melchombri the name is probably parallel with the Bangor name "Melghaimridh." 36 This prior died in 1153, but his name has been set up as "the patron of Aberdeen," although Mochrieha's name was associated with Aberdeen centuries before Macarius was born. 37 Ekkehard, II., 8.. 38 Bangor was first plundered by Vikings in 822; Maghbile was burned in 823; in 838 Bangor was in charge of its "Chief Scribe." 39 Cf. Kayser's contributions and comments on the Oldest Hymns. SPECIAL MEETING 28th MAY, 1924 Mr Alexander MacDonald presided over a special meeting held this evening for the purpose of electing the following, who had been duly nominated at the previous meeting:-As Ordinary Members Mrs Margaret Polson, 17 Ardconnel Terrace; Rev. Donald Mackinnon, Free Church Manse, Portree; Rev. John Mackay, U.F. Manse, Lochs, Lewis; and Rev. D. MacLeod, U.F. Manse, Tarbert, Harris.. ANNUAL ASSEMBLY 11th JULY, 1924 The annual concert of Gaelic and Scots songs, under the auspices of the Society, was held on Friday, 11th July, in the Wesleyan Central Hall, Inverness. There was a large audience, and the chair was taken by Sir John Lorne MacLeod, G.B.E., LL.D., Chief of the Society, who was accompanied on the platform by the Rev. Neil Ross, B.D.; Rev. D. Connell, M.A.; Mr Wm. Mackay, LL.D.; Mr A. Mackintosh, Fort-Augustus; and Mr Alex. N. Nicolson, Secretary. An apology for absence was intimated from Lochiel. The Chairman said their primary purpose was to enjoy the feast of Gaelic song and music put before them through the medium of the Gaelic Society. Perhaps, however, they would let him say this. He felt it a great pleasure to be present and to occupy the chair. He felt it a high honour when he was elected two years ago Chief of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, because it undoubtedly occupied the premier place among Highland Societies because of its special work and the ability of its contributions to literature. The volumes of the Society were a store-house of learning and research in Highland history and antiquities. The Society had passed its jubilee. That was the 52nd year of its existence, and during that time it had delivered to their countrymen 29 volumes, soon to be succeeded by another volume, and these volumes were a remarkable record of Highland history and Highland antiquities, such as could not be obtained anywhere else, and which were regarded with appreciation in all intelligent quarters (hear, hear, and applause). Some people would say what was the use of all that attempt on the part of the Gaelic Society of Inverness and other Highland Societies to do, as they were doing, everything in their power to preserve Highland music, the Gaelic language and literature, and their ancient traditions. These were people who translated success solely according to the terms of pounds, shillings, and pence. They considered that their efforts, their resolution and determination to preserve the language and to preserve interest in Highland affairs was helpful as a direct contribution to the general welfare of the people of this country-(applause)-because they felt and believed that the Highland factor and element had made a great contribution to the history of the country in the past, and was equally equipped to make a similar contribution in the future (applause). “We are not," went on Sir John, going to let our traditions and our outlook and our characteristics perish, |