Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

16G THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
month adding to the fund of our literature? And let me also specifically mention ob(
BTiost valuable item of Mr Mackenzie's work in the augmeritation of the store : I mean
his recently published History of the Clan Mackenzie — the most important and the i
handsomest work ever issued from our Northern press. (Applause.) In conclusion, Mi, ,i
Chairman, I don't think I am out of |>lace in referring to an honoured member of oui. 1
Society who, though by nativity and ancestry perhaps, a Saxon, or at least a Lowlauder
has exerted an immense influence in the formation of opinion on this subject — guiding
thu niinds of young and old among us, and inviting into exercise those powers wliich aie
known to be latent in the Celtic character — and who is, I am sorry to sny, about to leart* r
our neighbourhood. Indeed but for this circumstance, I would not in his own presence
have ventured to make this reference. I mean our excellent friend Mr Jolly. (Cheers,"_
Why, sir, the very mention of his name at a gathering of the Gaelic Society of Invernegi
renders any eulogiums on my p^rt perfectly superfluous. (Applause.) Mr Jolly, sir,
is a genuine Celt— (hear, hear)— and though neither speaking our tongue, nor wearing,
our Highland garb, yet in heart, and life, and work, he is the " noblest Roman of ua
all." (Great applause.)
Mr Ross, architect, iiroposed "Kindred Societies," the object of which, as well asr
of this society, is the preservation of records, the elucidation of our early history, and,
the perpetuation of all that is good and worthy in the nation. (Applause.) Unfortun-,
ately, much of the early history of Scotland, especially before the tenth century, is en-
Teloped in darkness and obscurity, and we have but faint rays of light in the incidental'
references of Roman and other writers. "We are thus left to grope about as we best can, '
These occasional lights or beacons, faint and distant though they he, serve as a start i
ing point, and daily through the instrumentality of zealous individuals and the en-,
couragement of this and kindred societies, obscure points are being cleared up, and our'
knowledge of the early history of our native land extended. (Applause.) When we'
look at our Transactions, now extending to eight goodly volumes, one feels that the tirae'
of this Society has not been misspent, and that in the departments of folk-lore, philology,'
and song, good work has been done. (Applause.) I am not one of those people that'
believe that Gaelic is destined long to survive as a commercial language; but it'
is not dead yet, and will not die out in our time, and it is necessary to the very ends
of history, to which I referred, that its hones should be preserved, and for this reason I.
hail with pleasure the successful accomplishment of Blackie's task — the gathering of,
funds for the endowment of the Celtic Chair. (Cheers.) So far back as 1836 this
scheme was taken up by the Gaelic Society of London and others. Mr Ross here pointed i
out what otlier societies had done in collecting the scattered fragments of arch. vological
remains and folk-lore of the people, and continued — I am glad to sec that the songs and'
folk-lore are receiving special attention from the members of the Inverness Society, and '
from their situation in the heart of the Highlands they can, or ought, to do more than !
almost any other. There are, I am glad to obseive, many other stations where societies
have been established, notably at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greenock, Oban, Perth, and I '
confess I should like to hear more of similar societies in the colonies, (\pplauge.) Ii
am not aware of what has been done, or that anything definite has been done in this I
direction — though social clubs are no doubt plentiful. I have yet to learn that they hare I
undertaken any definite work. Mr Mackenzie, in his late rambles through Canada, re- '
ferred to fine libraries of Celtic literature and enthusiastic scholars. Surely they may 1
do something to forward the work. I am glad to say we have more than one society in I
Inverness devoting its energies to the investigation of the early records and history, !
and also to the collecting and stoiing of every trace of archaeological remains that can
be found, and I hope when we have the benefit of our new Museum and Library, to see
them both enriched by a full complement of Celtic relics and literature. They ought to
be a crowning feature of our collection, and I trust they will be so. (Applause.)
When we look around, and find that even within the memory of many here, societies
having those special objects in view which we now possess, have grown and passed away, U
and what is still more sad, their collections perished, we ought to make every effort to '''
preserve what is left to us, and I do hope that with the adoption of the Free Libraries Act,
and the establishment of a permanent museum, we shall be able not only to recover, but i
to preserve every atom and object of interest in Highland history, (Applause.) When |
I said that many societies and members thereof have passed away, I am glad to be able I
to point to one exception, and he is a notable one — I mean Mr Colin Chisholm, for many {
years President of the Gaelic Society of London, and whose kindly face and reverend
appearance, at our annual feast here, adds much to the character and pleasure of the
evening. (Loud cheers )
Mr Colin Chibholm said— Having been attached for the greater part of my life to
kindred societies in the south, I may be permitted, at the outset, to express my opinion
—as the result of observation and long experience— that it would be both desirable and
beneficial for a young man from the Highlands to join a society of his countrymen in any
town in which his lot may be cast in the south. The one I joined, the Gaelic Society of
London, the oldest of all Scottish societies in London, was a source of much pleasure and
information to me. It is now venerable, having celebrated its centenary three years ago.