An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 35, October 1939--September 1940

184
AN GAIDHEAL.
An t-Sultuin, 1940.
regard. Within the last year or two death
has deprived us of many of our best
workers—Mrs. Burnley Campbell, Sheriff
MacMaster Campbell, Mr. John Bannerman,
and others—and now another gallant
comrade in the fight has fallen. We can
best honour the memory of these departed
friends by continuing to prosecute with
energy and hopeful courage that work for
Gaelic in which their hearts were so deeply
engaged.
Mr. Marjoribanks spent his professional
life in the Indian Forest Service, which he
joined in 1899, as Assistant Conservator.
He became Divisional Forest Officer in
1903, Deputy Conservator in 1907, and
Conservator in 1922. He retired in 1927.
It is hardly necessary to add that the
heartfelt sympathy of our members goes
out to Mrs. Marjoribanks and her family
in their grief. M. M.
By the passing of Seoras Marjoribanks
An Comunn Gaidhealach and the Gaelic
cause in general have sustained a loss very
nigh irreplaceable. By his inspiration in
founding Comunn na h-Oigridh, by the
tremendous work which he devoted to its
cause, and by the generous way in which
he expended both his personal energies and
the contents of his purse in furthering its
objects, Seoras has earned the gratitude and
appreciation of all true Gaels who love their
native country, its people, and their
language.
To the many Highland girls and boys
who have known his friendship, and who
have enjoyed the hospitality of his summer
camps at Sonachan, there will remain all
through their lives happy memories of our
late lamented friend. No one, however, is
irreplaceable, and it behoves us to look
around as quickly as possible to see whether
a successor cannot be found. Difficult, no
doubt, it will be to find another so
eminently fitted and with the spare time
at his command to fill our friend’s place,
but until such an one can be found we must
all continue to do our utmost to keep the
results of his good work from being lost.
Comunn na h-Oigridh is the most construc¬
tive and promising of all An Comunn
Gaidhealach’s recent activities, and holds
forth high hopes for the future maintenance
of our language. If Seoras Gallda has
passed, we must use his example to inspire
us to further effort on behalf of our native
tongue.
We are in the midst of a totalitarian war
against bloody and ruthless foes, but this
is not the time for faint hearts or flagging
zeal. In spite of our war activities, we must
continue to work unceasingly for the Gaelic
cause, so that when the happy times of
peace return we shall be in a position to
redouble our energies on behalf of An
Comunn and its objects.
W. M.
0
THE LATE REV. DAVID DUNCAN.
An Comunn Gaidhealach also mourn the
loss of a loyal member and true Highlander
in the Rev. David Duncan, minister of
North Esk Church, Musselburgh. Mr.
Duncan died suddenly on 20th July at
Crieff, where he had gone for a short rest.
He was a member of the Executive Council
for several years, and his genial and fine
presence, wise counsel, and splendid
optimism were an inspiration to all members.
His was a beloved personality, and many
Highlanders miss and mourn a fine
representative of their race.
His upbringing was in Islay, and he loved
Islay and its people. His first charge was
in South Uist, and there he widened his
knowledge of a colloquial Gaelic vocabulary
—a vocabulary that was both fluent and
virile. It was a pleasure to hear him
speak at the Executive meetings in Gaelic,
with his direct and easy command of our
language.
He was convener of the local Committee
for the National Mod held in Edinburgh in
1935, one of the most successful Mods we
have had. Much of the success and easy
running of that Mod was due to his genial
presence and wise counsel. He was an
active member of many Highland Associa¬
tions in the capital, and was a help and an
inspiration in them all.
Mr. Duncan saw and knew the best in
our race, and had faith that these qualities
should remain, strengthening and ennobling
the Scottish character. He was inspired in
all his work for our language and people by
his own strong Christian faith, and was
enriched and sustained in all his work as a
minister by his knowledge of what is best
in our Highland religious heritage. Duine
cbir agus fior dhuin-uasal; bidh sinn ’ga
chaoidh is ga ionndrain. We extend our
sympathy to his two sons and relatives, one
of whom a sister, Miss Margrat Duncan, is
so well known as a singer to members cf
An Comunn and to Highlanders generally.
C. McL,