When return to the north any the poorer-(laughter). M.P.'s came to be elected, we know that a Lord Cassillis was about the first M.P. for Ayr. An Earl of Cassillis has regularly been a representative peer for Scotland. Whenever in our Scottish history there were difficult negotiations to carry through in difficult times, negotiations that needed the iron hand under the velvet glove, as with King Charles at Breda, a Cassillis was chosen for the job, and, needless to say, he did it well. In a recently published book, entitled "Scotland's Mark on America," I find that another ancestor rendered signal service to our country, and if his advice had been taken there might have been no War of Independence and no U.S.A. It was this ancestor who founded the St Andrew's Society of New York. It was a Cassillis who was one of the founders of the Highland Society of London, and thus our Chairman is following the fame of his ancestors in taking an interest in things Highland. These Kennedies have also been warriors. So great was their power in one part of Scotland that there is an old rhyme which runs: "'Tween Wigton and the town of Ayr, Portpatrick and the cruives of Cree, Our Chief is quite as distinguished in war and peace as any of his predecessors. He fought in the South African War, and has, because of his deeds of derring-do there, two medals and five clasps-(applause). He served during the whole time of the Great War, and was mentioned in despatches. He is also a member of H.M. Bodyguard for Scotland. Ladies and gentlemen, you see we have every reason to be proud of our Chief, and I now ask you most heartily to drink to the health and prosperity of the Earl of Cassillis, our Chairman and Chief-(loud applause). The toast was drunk with Highland honours. The Chief having acknowledged, the gathering was brought to a close with the singing of" Auld Lang Syne," "Suas leis a' Ghàidhlig," and "God Save the King.” During the evening Gaelic melodies were sung by Miss Rhoda MacLeod, "Fear a' bhata" and "Tha mi sgith "; Mr Roderick MacLeod, Cumha Mhic an Toisich and "Oran Chaiptein Huisdein "; a couple of Gaelic duets, including the "Eriskay Love Lilt," by Mr MacLeod and Miss MacLeod; and songs by Mr John Maclennan, Strathconan, "Cead deireannach nam Beann " and Thug mi 'n oidhche 'n raoir 'san àiridh " and Mr Grant, of the Strathspey and Reel Society, played a selection on the violin. CULLODEN 18th APRIL, 1925 On Saturday, 18th April, 1925, in the presence of a number of members and friends of the Gaelic Society, the Earl of Cassillis, Chief of the Society, placed a wreath on the Cairn at Culloden Moor. Among those who witnessed the ceremony were Mr and Mrs Horatio Macrae and party, Clunes; Dr and Mrs W. Mackay, Mr and Mrs Nicolson, Mr and Mrs G. Mackenzie, Mr A. Miller, Swaziland; Mrs E. C. Jack, and Mr J. Grigor. Mr Nicolson, Secretary of the Society, deposited a wreath of laurel and poppy heads sent by Mrs J. Black Stewart, Regent's Park, London. The wreath placed on the Cairn by the Earl of Cassillis on behalf of the subscribers to the Culloden Memorial Fund bore the inscription, " An cuimhne air na Gaisgich." The Earl of Cassillis, speaking in Gaelic, said he felt it to be an honour to deposit that floral tribute on behalf of the Society. He had observed whilst in Japan during a recent tour a great tendency on the part of the people there towards ancestor-worship. This cult appeared very much in the Gaels. They not only reverenced their ancestors but had the feeling that the spirit of them was in their thoughts. Those who stood around the Cairn showed by their presence that they were keeping alive the spirit of the old Gaelic motto, which meant Remember the men you have come from." They commemorated that day not only those who fell on Culloden field but those who were most cruelly and barbarously done to death in and around it, and throughout the glens of Scotland as well as in far-off lands. It was after the battle that terror was let loose throughout the Highlands, when fire and rapine destroyed the homes of many. Chiefs found themselves in exile, yet no man would divulge the hiding-place of his master, not for thirty pieces of silver or thousands of gold. He liked to think of the story of one who was captured on the shores of Loch Doig, and allowed his captors to believe he was the Prince. He was slain, while the Prince was enabled to get safely away. Then there were such chiefs as Macpherson of Cluny who, in hiding, were fed by their tenants. Many of these tenants paid two rents, one to the Hanoverian Government and the other to their lawful chiefs. Time brought changes, and they read of Flora MacDonald and her devotion to the Prince; her later devotion when, at the time of the American Revolution, she charged her Highlanders to fight for the mother country. As a reigning race, the Stuart dynasty had passed. So too had the Hanoverians in the figure of Queen Victoria, of glorious memory. To-day, in the person of His Gracious Majesty King George V., we have a King who was beloved of his people, and shared our trials in the time of war. His love of heroic deeds was known, and if any proof were required it lay in the fact that he was to be the donor of the granite for a memorial soon to be erected in the Flora MacDonald College in America. Since the '45 the Gael had proved his devotion to his country in no small measure. During the last war many districts of the Highlands were depleted of able-bodied men who went to fight and to die for King and country. Those men, like Macrimmon, would not return to them. Those who lay on Culloden field would not return, nor would those who died in the Great War. But they lived in hope of going to them. Their love and devotion would ever remain the pride of the Gaelic race whether in this country or scattered in many lands and divers climes (applause). Dr William Mackay thanked the Earl of Cassillis on behalf of the company for his presence, and expressed the hope that, while it was his first visit to the battlefield in the capacity of Chief of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, it would not, by any means, be the last. Piper Finlayson, Cameron Highlanders, played "The Flowers of the Forest," and Mr Morrison, Bogroy, the "Mackintosh Lament." SPECIAL MEETING 8th MAY, 1925 A special meeting of the Society was held on this evening for the purpose of electing new members and nominating. others. The following, who had been duly nominated at. the previous meeting, were unanimously elected :-Captain Leah, Cameron Highlanders, Inverness; Mrs Fridge, 14 Glen-Urquhart Road, Inverness; and Mr A. M. Fletcher, The Estate Office, Stornoway. The Secretary submitted the undernoted letter received by him from the Secretary to H.R.H. The Duke of York,. being a reply to the telegram of congratulations sent him from the annual dinner on the 17th April: "Dear Sir, "" "White Lodge, "Richmond Park, April 22nd, 1925. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York, as Earl and Countess of Inverness, were delighted to receive such kind messages of congratulation on their return from East Africa as that which was conveyed to them by you from the members of the Gaelic Society of Inverness. The Duke and Duchess will be glad if you will convey to the Earl of Cassillis and the members of the Society their warm thanks for this very welcome telegram. "Yours faithfully, "R. H. CARRUTHERS, Secretary." SPECIAL MEETING 29th JUNE, 1925 A special meeting of the Society was held this evening for the purpose of electing members and nominating others for election. The undernoted, who had been duly nominated at the previous meeting, were unanimously elected :-As Honorary Members-Major A. D. Mackenzie, D.S.O., Contin; Bailie George Gallon, Inverness; Mr George Smith Laing, Town Clerk, Inverness; Mr Alasdair Mackintosh Miller, Swaziland, Africa; Mr Charles Iain Fraser of Reelig; and Mr L. C. Sutherland, South Dakota, U.S.A. As Ordinary Members-Mr Eric Birkett, Edinburgh; Mr J. Alasdair Ross, Queen's Gate, Inverness; Mr Seton Gordon, F.Z.S., Aviemore; Mr Duncan Grant, Inverness Citizen Office; and Miss Emily Davidson, Waverley Hotel, Inverness. |