F O R EW O R D

Th e erectio n of a m o n um e n t at Scotc hfort to com m e m orate the arr ival of the first Sco tt ish Catho lic im m igran ts ar n n n t t hat dese rves m ore i n Pr in ce Edw d Isla d, is a e ve

n i So losel is it o n ne te d w ith the b est t ha n pass in g o t c e . c y c c r i n s o Cath oli it in this ou n tr that it deserv es to t ad tio f c y C y , be n shri n in th e m em or o all w h o ar e im resse d w ith e ed y f , p the influ en ce the Catho lic Chu rch has ex e rcised in m ou ldin g s th v in th e destin ie of e Pro ce .

Fo r th is r easo n th e Co m m ittee in char ge of the m atte r “ " de e m e d it adv isable to pu blish a M em or ial V o lu m e con ain in an a ou n t o the en tire ro eedin s a n d at the sam e t g cc f p c g , tim e sett in or th th e aim s an d as irat ion s r stalliz ed in g f p , c y the S o ttis h Catho li reu n ion o Ju l 19 th 1 92 2 c c f y . .

The v o lum e thus p resen ted t o the pu blic co n tain s in de tail h r he rst o tt is h ath e m i ra n ts It t e sto y of t fi Sc C o lic g . recoun ts the t ryin g circum stan ces that fo rce d th e m to leav e their n ati ve la n d a nd om e t o s eek h o m es in Pr in e Edw ard , c c Islan d It des ri bes th e on d it io n s the m et o n th eir arriv al . c c y an d the s ubsequ e nt trials an d diffic ulties they w ere fo rced to u n de r o The br i htest a e i n the v o l um e te lls o the her o g . g p g f is m an d dev o tedne ss o th e ear l M iss ion ar ies who with t f y , he on stan o liIar t rs stoo d at t he ir ost o dut and la bored c cy f y p f y . t o rese rv e the Fait h am id in r dib e ri at p c e l p v ion s .

While the m o n um en t sta n din g at Sco tc hfort will speak t o the asser b o thi n s wr ou ht o r an d ou n tr this p y f g g f G od C y, little v ol ume will bear the sam e sto ry of dev ot e dneé s th rou gh o ut w ide r areas a n d to la r er n u m b ers This is the o b e t g . j c “ ” of the M em o rial V o lum e th is the wish of

Th m m ittee e Co .

r Cha lottet own , g l 9 32 . July th , 1

SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISIA ND

CHAPTER I

Few events in the history of civilized nations compare in interest and pathos, with the attempt made in the middle of the eighteenth century by Prince Charles Edward Stuart, f to recover the throne o his ancestors . n From his landing in Scotland o July 2 3 rd 174 5 , till his h final escape into France , his pat way lay through so many vicissitudes of success and failure , of hope and despondency, that the story of those few months seem to belong to the f realm of romance, rather than to that o true history .

e a One trait howev r, stands forth cle rly from the back ground of doubt and obscurity, and shines like a thread of gold throughout it all, and that is , the unswerving attach ment and loyalty of the Catholic Highlanders to the person of the unfortunate Prince. With only, little regard for con sequences , they flocked to his standard, on the memorable day when its waving folds blessed by Bishop M cDonald were flung out on the breeze at Glenfinnan . They pledged the ir wealth , their homes , their lives , to his cause . They were ready to go with him , to fight for him , aye and die f f or him with a tenacity o purpo se, that seemed begotten of of not calm reason but thoughtless infatuation . And e t d arly did they pay , for heir devotedness . Terrible indeed, was the retribution that followed their espousal of the

Stuart cause and for years they were forced to pay the pen alty amid incalculable trials and sufferings . It is true that the Penal Laws had been in force in

Scotland, for years prior to the coming of Prince Charlie ; s e but , with the lapse of time, they had lo t much of th ir fi well earlier severity, and it often happened , that of cials SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLA ND

o disp sed towards their Catholic countrymen, would allow a v of the l tter, inter als comparative peac e . But after Cullod ’ a was en s fatal day when the Stuart c use ruined forever, t he authorities laid dee per plans to harass the poor High landers , so that henceforth their existence became a verit able Egyptian bondage . Any leniency hitherto exercised in i of was o the adm nistration the Laws o l nger tolerated . ( n N ew te rm statu s , surpassing all fo er ones in ferocity, were a en cted, and orders went forth enj oining stricter vigilance l in dealing with the Catholic peop e . Nothing was left un done to make their lives miserable, and it would seem that the po licy of the day was nothing less than a plan well ou to thought t , glut the vengeance of the House of Hanover. “ According t o a mode rn writer : more than a thousand per m sons were transported fro the Country, the Highland e Clans were decimated and disp rsed, the Catholic Chape ls l destroyed, the Seminary at Sca an plundered and burned,

Missals and Vestments publicly committed t o the flames ,

‘ l er cut e s ri and Priests and peOp e p se d with mercile s gor. The vigilance of the authorities was directed in a special manner against the Bishop of the Highland District , Right Reverend M D n l ho wa d Hugh c o a d, w s force to flee the Country and spend some time in retire me nt in France . ( Geddes)

e o fi e of Another circumstance , that add d t the dif culti s the times was the conduct of the Landlords, upon whose e n estates the Catholic people were settled. Th se la ded of gentry , taking the ir one from the Government the day , u treated their tenants with heartless severity, and purs ed

~ r el in their regard a po licy of petty persec ution, sca c y less trying than the iniquitous laws of the Country . Howsoever on matters stood with the poor tenant, his rent must b e paid

’ well or demand . Whether his crop yielded was a failure , d t whet her his circumstances were good or ba , the collec or “ neve r failed t o come t o his door insisting upon the pound ” or for of flesh , and threatening seizure eviction the luck

l t o . less one , who found himse f unable meet his obligations Oft-times failure to pay the rent was hailed with undisguis who t o ed pleasure by the haughty proprietor, pretended

6 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

find therein some shadow of excuse fer proceeding to ex

treme measures. Occasionally these evictions were carried

out on a ge ne ral scale , and for no other reason than that t he L andlord would be able to unite a number of small hold

ings in a park , which he could stock with game for the amuse ment of himself and his friends during the hunting

season .

One of the most heartless and bigoted of these landed Donal propri etors was Alexander Mc d of Boisdale, in the n i l Weste r Islands . Or ginally a Catholic, he gradually fe l n away from the Faith , mai ly through the influence of his no t wn wife, who was a Prote stant, and t conten with his o t cowardly pe rve rsion , he s rove by all me ans in his power to drag his tenantry with him , as if by abandoning their re ligion they would furnish him a quasi-j ustifaction of his own miserable weakness in that regard . It is said of him that on a ce rtain Sunday, he posted himself at the junction of two roads and brandishing a sto ut cane trie d to keep the people from the Catholic Church and force them to his own t place of worship , a circums ance which gave rise to the epithe t Credimh a bhata which they contemptuous ly applied to his particular style of evangelism . Meeting nothing but failure in his attempts t o pe rvert the older people , he turned his attention to the children in the hope ss that he might here realize a larger measure of succe . He e st ablished schools in his neighborhood, where instruction would be gratuitously furnished , and exhorted the parents to profit by the advantages thus supplied by his generosity .

Soon however , it was discovered that the Faith of the little ones was be ing tampered with by ultra zealous Protestant e wh teach rs , o found many occasions to inculcate doctrines and opinions contrary to the spirit of the Catholic Church , of a and, should this state ffairs continue , the plastic minds of the children would be gradually turned away from the f t o . Faith heir Fathers The parents therefore, apprised of this cowardly attempt at perversion at once removed their S children from the chools , and would not permit them t o “ T R eli ion of th ” g e yellow staff. SCOTT ISH CATHOLIC S IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

. L return The aird thus thwarted in his designs , was more than eve r enraged with his tenants and more than ever determined that they should of necessity come over to his wa of y thinking . He serv ed notice on them to attend a meet in r h g on a ce tain day, and ex ort ed all to be present as he had of t o matters great importance announce t o them . They ac cordingly assembled on the appointed day, and of the i e one was nterested p rsons not absent. They came, all the m ore eagerly, that it had begun to be rumored about , that Bo isdale having grown weary of his work of persecution, was now convinced of the futility of severity in treating with a people unswerving in their loyalty to religion ; and t hat now he was gradually coming around t o gentler m f ethods o dealing with his tenants . Imagine their sur prise and chagrin , when the Landlord, having addre ssed them in his usual overbearing manner, produced a document e written in th ir native Gaelic , containing practically a re nun ia i n c t o of their faith , and a promise that they would h old no further intercourse with priests of the Church , and t his document he asked them to Sign under pain of be ing driven from their lands and deprived of their homes . With the spirit of the early christians every man refused to Sign , and this unanimous decision was not the result of long de liberation, but a spontaneous outburst of refusal , showing a de termination that could never b e broke n . The alternative of being deprived of their homes seemed to those devot ed people but a paltry affair compared to the pricele ss boon

to . o f Faith , which they were called upon sacrifice From the date of this meeting they began to talk of now was emigration . Matters had reached a crisis , and it plain that the passive resistance of former years was no longer sufficient to save the situation . The older people, it is

~ t he or . true, did not fe ar f themselves They possessed firm conviction that, by the grace of God, they would persevere i ous and triumph over the pre t ensions of an inqu t master, but how would it fare with their children ! Would they in turn be able t o cope with the stress and tyranny of a system that grew more effective as it increased in cunning, until , ! it might well be called expert in its methods of perversion 8 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Would these young and innoce nt souls persevere amid such n “ trying circumstances , or would they perhaps weake in the “ r - for of st ruggle, and sell their bi th right a mess pottage So the cry bec ame more and yet more insistent : Let us go out from here ! Let us go to a land beyond the seas , where the Upas tree of Landlordism has never taken root , where the sun shines upon a people free as the air they breathe , and where our Childrenand our children’s children may live in pe ace and security and adore G od according to the dic t ates of their conscience . Thus they talked the matter over was among themselve s . Whereve r they came together it the main subj ec t of conversation . Particularly at their i i n e Ce ll dhs in the long winter e ve ings , when n ighbors met s for a heart to heart talk, the question of emigration wa e l n sur to come up , and not infrequently some strol ing se an achie , his soul fired by the consciousness of present wrongs , would re hearse the trying circumstances which they patient l y endured, while the free land of America was calling t o them , aye imploring them to come across the seas and share in the peace and prosperity of the N ew World. In this way emigration became their one dominant idea, until they seem ed to have no other purpose in life , but to go out from their native land and seek homes in America. f But many and great were the dif iculties in the way . To bid adieu to the land of their birth , to sever ties that seem ed as it e wer a part of their very lives , to abandon homes wherein they had spent so many years , and in which they had hoped to close their earthly career, these were in de ed formidable barriers in their way ; yet they seemed comparatively small compared to the difficulty of devising ways and means of defraying the expenses of such a jour

‘ ney . Some of the people possessed a little means , and for e t he thes undertaking was feasible , but a great majority were comparatively poor and to these it seemed an utter im possibility . The rent roll of years had eaten up the re sult s of their labo rs , and they had merely eked out a bare subsistence for themselves and their familities, so that w nothing as put by for the proverbial rainy day ; and hence,

9 ‘ when the rainy day came in the form of emigration, the poor tenant had nothing to meet the extraordinary expe n dit ur F n e thus entailed. or him it se emed t hat he must co n t tin e o endure his wrongs in patience, and await a brighter ’ lay, when in God s own goo d time he would find a relief. But fortunately there was a man on the spot who was able t o dominate the situation and procure the funds re ‘ h Ma Donald quired by t e poorer people . Captain John c , f Laird o the Glens , took up the ir cause and by enlisting the

‘ f n h kindly sympathy o other powerful pe rso ages, e succeed ' ed in collecting sufficient money to defray the expenses of the voyage. He placed himself in communication with - and Bishop Hay, Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District, with Bishop Challoner ofL ondon , through whose influence subscriptions were taken up , and a goodly sum raised to mee t the needs of the emigrants . Captain John himself mortgaged his vast Estate s in Scotland to enable him to purchase land in Prince Edward Island, whereon the emi grants would settle ou their arrival in the new Colony . 1 71 and This purchase was effected in the year 7 , forthwith he despatched labo rers ahead t o make the necessary pre t he parations for the arrival of he emigrants, who , hoped , would be ready t o leave Scotland early in the following year. t e In the month of March , 1 772 , he char ered a v ssel called “ ” the Alexander in Greenock . Thence she went North to of s for Uist Island , and early in the month May she set ail

Prince Edward Island with t wo hundred and ten emigrants , r a and ré of whom one hund e d we re from Uist Isl nd , the r mainder from the mainland . Of these by far the la gest n group was composed of MacDo alds, but there were also a he rn M acKenz ies M cPhees goodly numbe r of MacEac s, , , MacRae s MacIntoshes Campbells , Beatons , Gillises , , , Mac m s Kinnons and probably others , whose na es e cape the writer

at this time .

10 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLAND

This first immigration of Catholic Highlande rs to Prince re Edward Island was well organized in every respect . P r i n pa at o s for the same had been carried on for a long time, and by wise and prudent oversight everything that would be n th h needed o e Ocean voyage ad been provide d, and also i i much that would be require d by the imm grants , part cularly during their first y ear in the new Colony . All , without ex i n e cept o , did eve rything that lay in t h ir power t o help the h matter along, and t e success that crowned their efforts was due under G od to the united action of men bound by a n f si gle purpo se , and determined that by no fault o theirs e would that purpo se come to naught. The r were three men , e e howev r, whose names stand forth more promin ntly, and who for the part the y played in connection with the move ment de serve more than a passing notice . They were Rev erend t a M a Donald Ma D n Fa her J me s c , Captain John c o ald M on and Doctor Roderick acD ald.

M D nal Father James ac o d, the central figure on board “ ” t he e M D l Alexand r , was a cousin of Captain John ac ona d, and was thirty- six years of age at the time of the immigra t ion . He made his earlier studies in Scotland, and in his e t ighteen h year was sent t o the Scots College in Rome , e e e a 1 5 wh r he r m ined eleven years . In 76 he was rais e d to the Priesthood and returned t o his native land, where he at once took up the work of the Ministry, and continued the same for about seven years, having his headquarters at h Drummond in t e Highlands . ’ At the time when Boisdale s afflicted tenants were prayerfully trying t o make up their minds to go out to n America, o e of the obstacles that stood in the way of their prompt decision and kept the project in abeyance for a con

11 SCOT TISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

side rable was time the fact , that there was no Priest re s iding in Prince Edward Island, and should they come hither they would be necessarily cut off from many of the practices of their religion , as were the few Catholics the n residing in To the Colony . be obliged to share in this spiritual abandon ment was not a pleasant prospect for the intending im and migrants , hence they hesitate d long before taking the

. u s final step When their cr el landlord had in isted that, they should hold no furthe r intercourse with the Priests of the

Church , they rej ected with disdain his heartless proposal , and declared themselves ready t o endure every kind of hard ship rather than consent to a measure, that aimed at noth in e h of g l ss t an the absolute ruin their Faith . N owho w ever, they are face to face with a proposition of equal c danger, be ause it meant going out t o a land where inter o course with Priests was imp ssible , and where in reality their last state would be worse than the first .

For, be it remembered that despite the difficulties they e e experi nc d in Scotland, they were never deprive d entir of n f ely the consoli g ministry o the Priesthood . In the darkest days of persec ution in Scotland the Priests never fl abandoned their ocks , but secretly went from place to place bringing succor where it was most needed, and buoy ing up their afflicted people by the consolations, that t he e n m true Catholic ev r fi ds in his holy religion . Hiding fro

the public eye throughout the day, and going forth only f under cover o night , saying Mass in remote recesses that

must have recalled the traditions of the Catacombs , leading r lives eve r shadowe d by the possibility of violence , o perhaps

of death , in this way did the Catholic Clergy in the High

land Districts preserve the Faith amongst their people . As “ a modern writer tersely puts it : While John Knox thund ered his heresy from the window of his house upon Edin ’ e of a burgh s High Str et, and listening crowds fanatics p ’ a plaude d him to the echo ; away beyond Arthur s Se t , far t he up in the recesses of the Trossachs , outside cities and

‘ ri s in the deep glens of the Highlands , the Catholic p e ts t o were stealing along, in fear and trembling, pay their vis

12 SCOTT ISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

its to the sick, to hear the confessions of the faithful moun “ n rs o t a f tai ee , r o ch nt the Mass or the tartained children of ” the Mist.

! 1s Ah it a grand, an inspiring, a noble history that of the Catholic Faith in Scotland ! With the tenacity of t o the Celt did they cling their Cross , and with the endur ance of Highland strengt h did they resist the persec utions t o t which hey were subj ected . The mad fury of the Covenant “ ers , the frantic bigotry of Clave rhouse and the Lords of ” Convention , the wild and maniac ravings of a host of Hab akkuk Mu klewraiths h c , the fire and t e stake , all were vain f e forts to quench the flames of Catholicity, that burned in ” the hearts of that gallant race.

But even this precarious ministry was not to be found t in Prince Edward Island, and little wonder therefore , tha the prospective immigrants he sitated long before com mit ting themselves t o a course of action t hat might spell

spiritual ruin for themselves and their children . Be tter far, m e w are e l thought t he y, t o re ain wh re e , wher Priests wil

come to us from time t o time and minister to our ne eds , r than go t o a Country where priests a e unknown , and where n e a h w we must live o , d r knows o long, without the Holy f h e t Sacrifice o t e Mass , without the Sacram nts , and withou the thousand and one Spiritual helps which Mother Church e so bountifully supplies t o h r faithful children .

These considerations took deep hold of the minds of n e so t o the people , and soo bec am serious an obstacle the for the e e immigration , that it seemed a time as if ntir

scheme would have to be abandoned .

e a e and e He re it was , that Fath r J mes st pped in sav d n c e t he the situatio . He de id d to join immigrants , and in making known t o them his de cision he promised not me rely e he to go out with t hem t o Am rica, but that would remain t e e with th em , sharing in t heir hardships tha th y might hav

the consolations of R eligion in their home s beyond the seas.

13 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

was r This most ag eeable news for them all . It dispelled i all the r hesitation , removed their doubts , and contributed perhaps more than any other factor to their store of firm determination , without which the undertaking could never have succeeded .

It were well perhaps, to stop here and consider how s much this decision must have co t the man of God. He did not act hurrie dly and did not fail to give the matter H due deliberation . e conside red well the hardships he t must necessarily encoun er, and yet they deterred him not . That he must live in separation from brother Priests did not stay the ardor of his charity ; the sad prospect that death itself might find him alone , with no one near to ad minister to him t he last rites of Holy Church did not dis or e hearten discourage him ; th se considerations , depressing as they must have be e n , instead of holding him back only

- served to fire his martyr like enthusiasm , and he leaned with confidence on t he arm of Divine Providence ; knowing the f m en o full well , that whatever may be ways o , G d is t e never ou done in generosity . Accordingly he board d the “ ” ~ Alexande r with the other immigrants , and was their com fort and j oy on the voyage across the Ocean .

Another prominent passenger aboard the Al exander D n l im was Doctor Roderick M ac o a d, who accompanied the

- ffi H migrants in the capacity of medical o cer. e too, was a cD na d e near relative of Captain M a o l , and rend red the latte valuable assistance in organizing the immigration . Like e e the others he was a Highland r, and had mad his medical e di studies in Edinburgh , where he graduated in m cine at a e e to comparatively early ag . He then return d the High lands and took up the practice of his profession among his n e kindred, and wh e they decid d to go to Prince Edward Island he made up his mind to accompany them and con tinne his ministrations to them in the new Colony .

Captain John MacDonald did not sail with the immi h of e grants , although he did more t an any them to promot of two E in the movement. He was proprietor large states

14 , s Co'r'risn CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Scotland, that of Glenaladale and that of Glenfinnan , whence “ came the name by which he was familiarly known Fer an " G hlinne or Laird of the Glens , and being an officer of high standi ng in the Army he enjoyed considerable prestige in t he community . He was moreo ver a man of excellent e e ducation having spent som years at Ratisbon in Germany , r wh ere he made a complete cou se of studi es . At the time of the Stuart rising he was a mere boy , t oo young to unde r stand the meaning of the stirring events transpiring round about him ; but his fat her deeply sympathized with the as f e Prince , whom he regarded his law ul Sover ign , and e e a n consequ ntly, follow d him throughout the entire c mpaig , from the raising of his Standard at Glenfinnan till it drop ’ a e pe d forever on Culloden s f tal fi ld . Captain John , grown ’ e t o men s estate, succe ded his father at Glenaladale and

Glenfinnan , and for the time, freed from the clash of arms , m of he enjoyed the co fortable life a country gentleman.

But though living in comfort himself , he was not indiffer e nt to the circumstances of his countrymen ; and as was natural to a man of his character and education he sym z e e pat hi ed with th m in their troubl s , and hence when they began to talk of emigration he took up the ir views and threw himself heart and soul into the movement . By his position i e he naturally became ts lead r, and henceforth the arrange ments and the general work of preparation lay pract ically in e s e his hands . When all arrangem nt had b en completed “ ” and the Alexander was ready to set sail Captain MaoDon ald w f as detaine d in Scotland by business o importance, and did not come to America till the following year.

15 SCOT TI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

” The voyage of the Alexander across the ocean was

. a comparatively uneventful The weather w s fine, no ser w ri n ious storm as expe e cd, and the good ship made her way slowly it is true but comfortably towards her destin

ation . There were no mishaps of consequence t o be record no ed , sickness to cause alarm , and only one death occurred, that of a little child whose frail form was committed t o the e f deep in the pr sence o its bereaved mot her. Doc tor MacDonald was busy among the passengers , and thanks t o

his skill and devotedness , the usual epide mics experienced

on immigrant ships were happily avoided.

Father James , t oo , helped by his pre sence to kee p or

der am ongst the passengers , and though the ship was great l e of y crowd d good cheer constantly prevailed , and a spirit ' kindly fellowship went a long way t owards beguiling the o h e o h tedium f t e voyage . After six we ks n t e water, and

well up towards the end of June, one clear morning some o n o thing like a blue cloud, lying l w o the horiz n was des e crie d from the de ck of the vess l , and soon the inimitable coast line of far famed A be gwit sprang forth from the haz e e that enveloped it , as if eager t o me t them half way . There n e were some who gazed o it in absolute silence , render d

mute by the depth of th e ir feelings , whilst others , their

eye s stre aming with tears , thanked God, whose guiding hand had led them safe ly through the dangers of the oce an V of e voyage . There lying in full iew was the land th ir of as ir adoption , henceforth the scene all their hopes and p c e tions . There it lay with its primeval forest stret hing of t he down to the waters edge, mingling the green spruce with the red of the native clay in pictures formed by the glorious sunlight in the limpid waters of the surrounding sea.

16

(You Have Gone From Us Forever)

A Hebridean Fare well

’ e e e n n e e Wh r wid Atla tic s lo g reverb rant wav , e on t he e Br aking am g slumbrous H bride s , low e e By many a gr n wave , Though Love shall cling t o many a haunte d shore ’ ’ e o n o er t he dark nin a Whil ye g fari g g s e s , Y e e n shall r turn o more .

Y e t e e the e e t t , wh th r d s r s s re tch around, O t e n e n r hrough dull citi s , go your wa d ri g feet , How shall t hat slee ple ss sound Which fille d your night s and days since ye we re born n t he of e t a ne s b e a Upo door dr ams hrough d rk s t , And wake your he art s forlorn !

’ in h of e n Or, t e shadows lif s passi g days , r e e n n Or wh e n the st ars a e dim with w pi g rai , Once more the misty bays n e e e Shall rise t o your reme mbra c , wid and lon , ’ - n a You ll se e the pe at smoke wi dward drift gain, n A nd h e ar the grey se as moa .

o our We stward t he b re e ze s b ear you fr m sight , o o B e yond the dark horiz ns sinking sl w , Far past the ve rge of Night ; e Y a a t e a t who e e e u , e t , v li n h r s , w r in n ed most tr ’ and e e e e When ye ars drift by , Tim s tir d puls b ats

low, ou We shall rememb er y . Watt SCOTT I SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLAND

on The good ship continued her course, ke eping all the e as whil near the shore as possible, so that the passengers might have a chance to contemplate at le isure the beauties of the land henceforth to be the ir home . Up Northumber n r e la d St ait they mad their way , past Point Prim , where the clearings made by the exiled Acadians were still plainly s t he e of visible , pa t H ad Hillsboro Bay, whe re fourteen ear e f y s befor , ships o war lay in the offing demanding at the ’ cannon s mouth t he surrender of Fort L aJoie ; past the two s u headland stretching o t into the waters , as if eager to clasp hands across the entrance t o the harbour ; past the t e an hree tide s , where the East , W st d North Rivers mingle n their wat e rs o t heir way t o the Gulf, and as the immigrants gazed enraptured by the beauty of what they saw , the

Captain brought his vessel to, and soon she was riding at t anchor at a point direc tly opposite he sloping ground, f where on stands today the City o Charlottetown .

Needless to say that in 1772 Charlottetown did not re of semble in any detail the City today. In fact at that date t is it was nothing more han a City in embryo . Its site , it e e true , had been well chosen and it had b n carefully laid t n n out with wide stree t s intersec ing at right a gles . It co f o t aine d military barracks o s me pretensions , a residence h e e for the Governor, w o had arriv d only two y ars previous , a hotel or t wo that scarcely surpassed the standing of ordin t t o c c ary tave rns , priva e residences accomodate a s anty civi e population ; so that taking it all in all , it was only a mer it w s e of me village, t hough a the centr Govern nt , and the principal scene of busine ss activity for the entire Colony. e t o The immigrant s , however, had not much tim study r so r these things ; as their stay here was only sho t, eage o the r were they all t o continue their journey . So n ancho “ ” he e t he was we ighe d once more , and t Alexander glid d up L the Eas t River till they reache d o t 3 6 , where lay lands M D n purchased in t he previous year by Captain ac o ald. s r n Here the final stop was made, and the pa senge s leavi g the Ship landed on the North side of the Hillsborough River, ” at a point known for some time as The Portage .

17 SCOTTI SH CATHOLIC S IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

This name had come down from the time of the early

French Settlers , who on their journeys from Fort L aJoie to

St . Peters , were accustomed to go up the East River in or boats canoes , land at this point and portage across coun t r B y to the head of Tracadie ay, whence they could continue by water to their destination . From this time the name ” Portage gradually fell into disuse, because it necessarily lost much of its application by the changed conditions that followed the arrival of the immigrants ; and furthermore , because the y deemed it advisable to select a name for the loc ality that would serve to recall memories of the Motherland beyond the seas . As they were coming up the river they saw on the North bank, the remains of a Fort erected by t the French , which gave t o the neighborhood around abo u it the name French Fort . Guided by this circumstance they decided to give their new settlement the name of Scotch fort , and this name it has continued t o hold till our day.

Here then , was the end of the great journey that had a occasioned so many months of nxious preparation , and had e ntailed so many sacrifices , trials and tears . Here was the land they had so often desired, so often dreamed of, and which in many moments of despo ndency the y feare d they e f might never see . Here at last they had reach d the goal o e their wishes , and as they gazed around them , mingl d fee l ings of fear and discouragement welled up within them , and found outward expression in grave forebodings with re gard to the future . Around them were the lands , cleared h t by the labors of the French settlers , w o were driven ou 1 5 after the fall of Louisburg in 7 8 , but now these cle arings were gradually disappe aring unde r the vigorous growth of f fourtee n years . The cellars and foundations o the houses they had occupied were still quite visible, and these ruins tend to recall to the minds of the new immigrants the pain ful memories of their own expatriation . Near by could be seen the charred ruins of the old French Church of St .

Louis , which had shared in the destruction wrought at the h e Conquest , and right beside it t e Cemetery , wher lay the bodies of the Acadian Pioneers who had been spared by a

18 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

timely death from witnessing the ruin of their homes .

‘

No wonder then, that amidst such surroundings the new immigrants should be sad and dej ected ; no wonder in e e n d d , that as the y stood o the River bank , in the midst of the e h i ir poss ssions just removed from t e s h p, and scattered n about in distracting confusion o the shore, their he arts should be fille d with sombre melancholy and sigh again for t ’ “ ” Sco ia s rugged hills . h But , t e tall form of Father James move s amongst

e . a th m He spe ks words of trust in the Providence of God . He of e n has a word che r for this o e , of sympathy for that e oth r, or of kindly reprimand for a third, and his Pri e stly e e e o t e t pr s nc s o h s heir troubles , allays their anxieties , calms e e a th ir f ars , and fills their f iling souls with a spirit of de iffi ultie - termination to face all d c s with hope and courage . So they turn the ir fac es to the future and with abiding

trust in God, they begin to measure the possibilities of the s t i uation.

e Some pr paration had been made for their coming, by the labore rs se nt out in the previous year by Captain Mac

n . o Do ald The forest had bee n felled in places , primitive l g cabins had bee n e rected which now stood in readine ss t o c n wel ome their first occupants . In o e of these Father e Jam s said his first Mass in Prince Edward Island, sur rounded by as many worshippe rs as could find access within it s h narrow walls , and thus did t e Son of G od come down a e e amongst his f ithful peopl , amid circumstances of pov rty t n h and desti utio , that might well bring bac k to t eir minds the t ouching story of his coming on the first Christmas n - ight in the stable of Bethle hem .

The straitene d circumstance s of that first Mass were n e of o ly an ind x the privations , which the immigrants would a e t o h v endure in every phase of their new life . It was p lain t o all that many hardships were in store for them , and h looking forward with what hope they would, t ey could not expect t o be able to do more than eke out a mere subsistence at e l ast for many years to come .

19 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWA RD ISLAND

e ffi It would inde d, be di cult to picture conditions in n 1 7 Prince Edward Isla d in 7 2 . The changes wrought by a hundred and fifty years of steady pro gress have so oblit er r of ated the landma ks the past , that it is p ract ically im t o t of possible realize the sta e the Colony at that date . The soil was still covered by the primeval forest e xcept in a few c pla es , where attempts at per manent settlements had

e . of be n made Much the clear lands , abandoned by the Fre nch was gradually disappearing under a fresh growth of n you g trees , that had sprung up to surprising heights in the years succeeding the Conquest .

There were scarcely any roads in the country exce pt di of some ru mentary attempt s at such , in the vicinity e Charlott town , and in consequence travelling was difficult ri and often dangerous . The p ncipal highways were the rivers , and over these the travellers proceeded in boat s or n canoes if the season was summer, and on foot or o skates when winter’s frost had covered their bosoms with a coat f ice o . When the waterways failed it was necessary to r travel the forest guided usually by a pocket compass , o by a blaze or mark cut on the tre es t o indicate the direction o e f f the route . Of the ordinary n cessaries o life the Colony h ad neve r more than a scanty supply , and owing to the difficulties of communication from place t o place they were c e at times well nigh impossible to pro ure . The mod rn con v eniences that in our day obtain in all civilized communities n had not yet reache d Prince Edward Island, and in co at i se quence , the inhabitant s were almost always the r wits e nds how t o devise ways and means of meeting the most ordinary problems that arose in their daily lives . SCOT TI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLAND

This backward state of the Colony was due in a great me asure to the unsettled conditions in the Countries of For Europe . a long time France and England had been almost continually at war, and as may well be supposed the Colonial posse ssions of the rival Nations shared in the ups of and downs the Mother Countries . Hence, though t he claim is made t hat Prince Edward Island was discove red by the English as early as the year 14 97 no attempt was made for e to colonize it many y ars after that date . It was not till Franc e claimed it as forming part of the discoveries made by Ve raz z ani in 15 2 3 t hat a real determined effort was put n forth to bri g immigrants to its shores .

A process of gradual development was the n inaugurated and continu e d wit hout interruption for abou t thirty- five r r years , du ing which time the population g adually increased n t e in numbe r . The French Gover ment s ood ver behind the n i work of colonization , a d not for self sh mot ives either ; because the movement s ee med always as much religious as e r h e it was national . For this r ason , the Chu c was ve r in the fore ground and parochial arrangements kept pac e with the work of civil establishment .

In this way Parishes with resident Pastors were est ablished at Fort LaJoie near the entrance t o Charlottetown

ot hf rt . e on Harbour, at St . Louis near Sc c o , at St P ters the Mal e ue on Nort h side of the Island , at Point Prim , and at p q o the shores of Richmond Bay . It is estimated that the p p in ulation had grown well beyond five thousand, when, 1 75 6 war was again declared between England and France and the Colonial possessions of the two rival Nations enter ed upon armed hostilities. The strongest position held by

2 1 SCOTTI SH CATHOLIC S IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

the French in America was Louisburg on Cape Breton

Island , and to this the English laid seige in the Spring of 1 5 7 8 . In less than two months the fortress was re duced of and fell into the hands the invaders . Encouraged by this success the English commander dispatched a portion of his fl eet under Lord Rollo to Prince Edward Island, with strict orders to destroy all property belonging to the French , and t o out drive the inhabitants .

out t o These orders were carried the letter. Lord Rollo with h is ships of war appeared at the entrance of the Charlotte town Harbour and summone d Fort L aJoie t o e surrend r. The garrison at the Fort was t oo weak t o offer ’ resistance , and soon the Saint John s Island of the French passed out of their hands to become in after years the of Prince Edward Island the British . Thus the work of deve lopment , inaugurated during the French occupation m e t o an e nd for e t ca , and the y ars tha followed, that is n till the comi g of the Scottish Catholics in 1772 , little or nothing was done to improve the conditions of the little B of e 1 763 Colony . y the Treaty Fontainbl au in Prince

Edward Island was formally ceded to Great Britain , and was pl ace d for the time under the Government of Nova a Scotia . In the following year Captain Holland was p pointed to make a survey of the British possessions in of 1764 ar North America , and in the month October, he rived in Prince Edward Island and forthwith began Oper on ations. Within a year from that date his work the

Island was complete , and he was able to furnish the British authorities with a very accurate and full description of in Prince Edward Island . With this information their for e possession , the authorities evolved a plan the settl ment of the Colony, which was probably conceived in good faith , and with the very best intentions ; but which unfort unat t o m ely faile d in accomplishing it s purpose, owing circu stances that might easily have been foreseen at the time . The plan adopted was this : According t o the survey made by Captain Holland the entire Island was divided i nt o sixty- seven townships containing each about twenty thous

2 2

SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLAND

carry out the terms with regard to the s ettlement of the “ country . On this point a write r observes : Thus it ap pears that in the first ten years after the commencement of the settlement only nineteen of the sixty- seven Town e ships were att mpted to be settled, and of these only the of 18 2 1 2 8 3 1 3 4 6 5 2 proprietors Lots , , , , , 3 , , 5 7, 5 8 , and 5 9 e ver brought any considerable number of pe ople to the ” Island .

Of the effects of this neglect on the part of the pro “ priet ors the same writer has this to say : It may easily be conceived that so many of the proprietors neglecting their lands was very injurious to the Island , and extremely discouraging to the few who had commenced the settle~ ment on the faith of the whole taking their j ust proportion of e the burd n thereof , and in fact , the active propri etors f e were all great suf erers , though at this day I b lieve there is no person acquainte d with the Island , but that will readily adm it that if the whole of the proprieto rs had been equally active all must have been great gainers by the Colony, which by this time would have been a populous well settled country This very extensive defalcation on the part of so many of the proprietors in performing the terms of settlement was very distressing and severely felt by most of those who had engaged therein . They had to r of begin mostly on new lands , and to impo t a great part their daily subsistence from other count ries , they were scattered in small settlements at a gre at distance from each other, in a country totally without roads , and many n or of the first sett lers either from the ir ow ignorance, that of those by whom they were se nt to the Island, were lan ded without provisions or any means of support , and many on that account were obliged t o abandon the settle ment which brought most unjust odium on the Colony, t o i for, as often happens , men were willing attr bute their failure to anything but their own misconduct or imprud ence . Though a good many people were thus lost to the e a t e re Island , industry and perseveranc en bled hos who mained gradually to surmount their difficulties . and as they

2 4 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

e e acquired experienc of the climate and soil, th y became ” more firmly attached to the country . (Stewart) In these circumstances it is not surprising that the

Colony made slow progress , and the few settlers who had taken up lands here and there were absolutely powerless t e to remedy condi ions over which th y had no cont rol . Up till now Prince Edward Island was subject to the G overn ment of Nova Scotia, and being far from the centre of aut hority with means of communic a tion exceedingly pri mi iv e e t e many abuses might aris , many inconvenienc s exist that could easily be remove d . if persons invested with competent authority we re at hand . On this account an agitation sprung up in favor of securing a s eparate Gov rnm n a e e e t for Prince Edward Island, nd a petition mbody ing this desire was numerousl y signed by the inhabitants and forwarded to London . The prayer of this Petition 1 was granted, and in 769 the Island became an independent

Colony separated from Nova Scotia, and in the following year the first Governor, Walter Patterson , Esquire arrived in the Colony with all the officers necessary to establish the machinery of Government in Prince Edward Island.

2 5 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

The total population of the Colony at this time did not surposs one hundred and fifty families , and these were

th - settled here and there, generally near e sea coast , just as the ir notions of personal conve nie nce would lead them t o on - of e locate . About e third the inhabitants wer Roman of of Catholics , almost entirely made up French Acadians , whom about fifty families lived principally in the ne igh rh f on bo ood o Malpe que in Prince County . Prior to the C ln 1 fl quest 75 8 , there had be en a ourishing Parish in that

s . locality, with a comfortable Church and a resident Pa tor LaJoie M al e ue When the British troops attacked Fort , p q , thanks t o its distance , virtually escaped annoyance . The work of destruction carried out in other places did not ex e tend so far west, and hence when the oth r Churches were given t o the flames it would seem that the Church of Mal in peque remained intact, and whilst the other Clergy were the of st antly deported t o France , Father Dosquet , Pastor to M al e ue , was able t o make his way Quebec , where he p q . arishoners spent t he remainder of his life . His p , however, m we re in mortal terror, not knowing what ight happen of wa from day t o day , and many them made their y to the

mainland, whilst others hid in the woods until they found n t o e all danger past , when they retur ed take up life an w

amid the changed conditions that had fallen upon them . ' From that time the y had lived in comparative se c ausion t ah without a Priest to supply their Spiritual wan s , and xiously awaiting the day when the kind Providence of G od

would send them one t o lighten the gloom of their exist ence . This abandoned condition of the Acadian people had been discussed by the immigrants before they set out from

Scotland, and was one of the motives that induced Father we James to accompany them across the sea. This learn

2 6 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

from a letter of Bishop Hay written on the 2 4 th of Nove m 1 71 h ber, 7 , at t e t ime that Captain John M acDonald was negotiating for the purchase of an estate in Prince Edward h “ Island . His Lords ip write s in part : M acDonald of Glen aladale is h ere in orde r to treat of a place of se ttle me nt t e wi h Lord Advocat , Henry Dundas , who has large tract s of the of land in Island St. John , in the Gulf of St . Law e e e n r nc , a most xcellent soil and fine climate , a d who, so n though a man much of the Governme t, is most willing e e to give them all ncourag me nt , and their being Roman e w Catholics is far from b ing an objection ith him. There ar l e , he says , about fifty families of the o d French inhabit n f ants upo the Island, o whom His Lordship has rece ived nt he t a most favorable accou , and is glad to think hat this proposal may be t he means of getting a Catholic Clergy f r e e e e man t o the Island o th ir b n fit. Inde d a friend of e e t e ou min , a Pr sby rian Minister, who went t there last a summer as a teacher and f ctor, and who is himself very we ll disposed towards us , wrote me this harvest a most ef i a t o e e fect ng lette r bou the po r Fr nch Catholics th re, re h e pre se nting the ir case in t e most moving t rms , and beg ging that I would se e to get a Catholic Churchman sent amongst them : Upon which I wrote about their Situation e a t o to Rome , t o Rev rend Robert Gr nt , desiring him see and provide one wit h a sufficient knowledge of t he Fre nch me of e e language, and he tells he is in hopes g tting a v ry pious and good man . By this I hope the French pe ople ” o out or n t will be supplied whether our people g o .

In view of these conside rations, the missionary heart of Father James went out in pity to those long abandoned a people, and he determined that on his arriv l in the Colony e e he would take up their case , and do whatso v r lay in his

to t em bral. power add t o their comfort , both spiritual and p e Scot chfort Accordingly , having seen his frie nds s ttled at he se t ou f r M l t o a pe que , where his advent was hailed with feelings of j oy more easy t o imagine than describe . Here he spe nt his first winter in Prince Edward Island, and here he made his first attempt to communicate with the Bishop

2 7 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

o f u Q ebec , an attempt however, that failed , as his letter neve r reached its destination .

M al e ue on Before setting out for p q this occasion , Father James dire cted the people of Scotchfort t o commence pre parations for the erec tion of a house of worship for them selves . The mate rials for the same were provided during e the winter, and in a Short tim they succeeded in putting up a little Church , dedicated to St . John the Evangelist , and f which served as a place o worship for about thirty years .

It was a Simple log building covered by a roof of f thatch , and though it fell far beneath the modern ideas o h f Church arc itecture it was a veritable j oy or the people, e who could worship within it s walls in p rfect freedom, with ‘ out fear of annoyance from any quarte r. 1 — t The monument e re ct ed at Scot chfort point s out t he sit e of h Churc .

2 8 SCOTT ISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

A S already stated, Captain John M acDonald did not e to com Prince Edward Island with the immigrants . His business connections in Scotland were considerable at the time , and in conse quence , it took him a long t ime t o com plet e the ne cessary arrangements before quitting his nat iv e He land forever. accordingly entrusted the manage ment of his affairs in Prince Edward Island t o a young er e e M a Don l brother, Li ut nant Donald c a d, to whom he gave all the legal powe rs nece ssary to se ttle definitely all ffi e di culti s , that might happen to arise between the im m igrants and their absentee proprietor.

But t hough absent in body he was always present in t t h Spiri , and never forgot e immigrants , and the Autumn afte r their departure he chartered a ve ssel in Scotland, which he sent out to Prince Edward Island laden with food ff i f r stu s and othe r ne cessar es o their use . This ve sse l h e . e w however, never reached her d stination S as eithe r e lost at sea or take n by a private r , and her failure t o turn up was a serious blow t o the immigrants whose stock of provisions was fast running out , and who in existing cir o il r cumstances could n t e as y p ocure another supply . On his way t o Prince Edward Island in the following ye ar Capt ain John touched at Boston and it was there he learn e d the fate of the ve ssel he had sent out in the previous he e of the o s autumn , and re alizing that t n eds C lonist must e e b e very gre at , he at once se cur d another v ssel , loaded her with provisions and despatched her to their relief with the

Shortest possible delay. He himself soon followed, and f reache d Charlottetown a Short time a ter the ve ssel .

2 9 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

On his arrival at Scotchfort he found affairs not to his Th . e f liking hardships o the previous winter, accent uated by the scarcity of provisions had created much discontent amongst his tenants , and in consequence loud murm urs e were heard on every side . Mor over, they were not at all satisfie d with the relations existing between them and the was proprietor . The very thought of having to pay rent exceedingly distasteful to all without exception ; while the uncertainty of t he land tenure was a source of grie vous n h disappoi tment , particularly to those w o had been led to

expect better things in America .

This question of rents had reached an acute stage , so that it was practically impossible to find a solution satisfact f ory to all . Captain John of ered to give leases for nine hundred and ninety years upon what he considered very re asonable te rms ; but as matters stood no concession made

in these circumstances would satisfy all persons concerned .

re Before passing judgment on the case , it is well to he member, that t immigrants , when leaving Scotland,

looked forward to the possession of free lands in Ame rica .

They hoped to be done forever with a system , which to r them was a synonym of tyranny and trouble . They we e looking for ward t o a day whe n a greedy proprietor with or an odious re nt roll would never again molest them , claim

tribute under pain of seizure or eviction . In fact , the

ide a of Landlordism was so hateful to them , it called up not so many galling memories , that they could harbor the thought that an exotic so pe stilential Should be allowed to

taint the pure air of the N ew World . Hence very early in of im their experience of Prince Edward Island , some the

migrants decided not to remain , but made up their minds

to cross over to Cape Breton Island, where they hoped to

deal dire ctly with t he Gove rnment , and others left the Estate of Captain John and moved further East particul t o t con arly to Lot 3 8 , hoping be able thus to better heir Prominent amongst these latter was Hugh Ban ditions. Eachern who MacEachern and a brother Donald Mac , took

3 0

SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

him . It is not surprising therefore , that his strength de cline d in early life , and that he broke down at an age when h i f t e ordinary man is in the pr me o manhood, and able to f give his most ef icient service .

e 1 The end cam to him in the year 785 , when he had a e of - reached the g forty nine years . Perceiving his strength to be failing he retired to the home of Colin MacKenz ie of Scot chfort , and there made his solitary preparation for death . This was in very truth the saddest experience of the devoted Priest . In the very best circumstances death is a terrible reality, and few there are, who can contemplat e its approach without fear and trembling. But God in his f wonderful love or mankind, has robbed it of much of its te rror ; be cause by the ministrations of Holy Church t he dying Christian is so buoyed up , that he looks with calm and hopeful composure upon the hour of his final dissolut i n e d o . At the time of his great st need Mother Church stan s th e at his bedside in the pe rson of e Priest . He rais s his t e hand over him in absolution , he streng h ns and comforts f his soul with the bread o Angels , he anoints him with Holy Oil that like a valiant athlete he may fight the good Win fight , keep the Faith and the imperishable crown , and as thus strengthened , encouraged, and it were raised up above himself he is able to exclaim with Holy exultation : “Oh death where is thy victory ! Oh death where is thy sting ! ” But Father James lying on his bed of death had none t o e of these consolations . He had fac death unaided and was for had alone . No Priest near to do him What he so m fi often done for others , a id many dif culties and sometimes

For h m was nf s , at the peril of his life . i there no Co es ion i o no Viaticum , no Extreme Unction , no Spir tual cons lation t o whatsoeve r , except what he was able draw from the wealt h of Faith , Hope and Charity that dwelt in the depths ad of his own priestly h e art ; and so he die d without the ministration of a brother Priest, and surrounded by only ot the few friends who would gain access t o the narrow c z ie tage of Colin M acKen .

3 2 SCOTTISH . CATHOLICS IN PRINCE ED WARD ISLAND

Tradition long cherished by the pe ople tells a wonder ful of his w . as story last hour He apparently dying, the sw of e a hi eat death stood out in larg be ds on s forehead , his was breathing slow and labored, his voice had complet ely faile d and he lay unconscious slowly descending the e f . ew e dark vall y The watchers k pt close t o his bed , and watched in prayerful pity his wan features rendered visible the i by l ght of a candle that flickered near his head.

Suddenly his face seemed t o brighten up with the loolg of other years ; he ope ned his eyes and turned upon his friends a glance of recognition ; for an instant there seemed t o hove r on his lips a suspicion of a smile ; he raise d himself up on his elbow and in a voice so cle ar and strong that it en e new kindl d hopes in the hearts of those who knelt near, “ ” e : e s he xclaimed Pr erve ye the Faith , and as the echoes of his words dissolved into silence he sank back on his

pillow dead .

It would be Impossible to picture a sadder scene than h t e burial of Father James . The stalwart men of Scotch ol e fort bore his body to the d Fr nch Cemetery, where it m e was laid to rest a id rev rential silence , broke n onl y by h of ri e t e sighs and sobs the g ef stricken p ople . But no P e fi i rie st was there to chant the R quiem , no o i c al repre sent

ative of Mothe r Church to unfold the Sple ndor of her ritual ,

and when the grave had bee n filled up , as dust had returned he e r t o its kindred dust, t p ople c ushed down by a feeling e o f utter helplessness , fell on th ir knees around the grave t hat h e ld forever the remains of him who so long had been “ ”

e e . their guide , th ir counsellor and fri nd When all was f o ver and they arose to go away, a horrible sense o lone of line SS came upon them , as if life were Shorn all ambition ;

and nothing now remaine d that was worth while . An aching void was at every heart and a feeling of utter de had e solat ion , such as they not exp rienced since that sorrow w ful day when afloat on the waters of the Ocean , they sa the blue lines of their native land fade from their gaze forever.

3 3 But alas for human affection and human gratitude ! How Ho weak and frail they are . w Slender is the thread they Cf u weave into the tissue o r daily lives . Father James lying w in the grave as soon forgotte n . The generation that had known him passed away, another took its place , the cares and preoccupations that appeal to worldly minds usurped e im c h . the pla in their memories , that belonged by right t o

Even his lonely grave ceased t o be a place of interest, and in course of time so passed out of memory that no one now out ,can point with certainty the spot where he lies at rest.

f r ro Had he sought only o the applause of men, in all p i bab lit y they would not have so completely forgotten him, f r had he labored o the world, pe rhaps he would today fill a niche in its temple of fame . But he was moved by higher an d holier motives , he sought t o lay up treasures in Beav en , where neither the rust nor moth doth consume , and thieve s do not break through and steal , and being at rest with God , he may well forego the fickle praises of men.

But in these latter days a great change has taken place h in this respect . The name of Father James as come forth f t o a la from the oblivion o years , t ke its rightful p ce in the of o e f . history o the Country The descendants the pe pl , n or am ongst whom he lived , a d f whose sake he sacrificed S not be for all earthly things , are determined that he hall not die gotten , that his name shall , but that it shall sur vive in the minds of men despite the vicissitudes of time F w of and change. or he as in very truth , a real Confessor we the Faith in the ope ning years of our history , and would indeed be recre ant t o our duty did we not enshrine in em grateful memory the story of his heroism . It would se that God himself de sires this recrudescence of sympathetic i of a appreciation , for, with the approbat on Holy Church , monument now stands at the central scene of his Priestly n r us activities , to carry dow to future generations the glo io e for memory of his life and labors . It stands , let us hop , d all time to proclaim to the world that Prince Edward Islan ,

34 SCOTT ISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISL AND

though pe acefully won to the Faith , has had heroic men who would dare all things for Jesus Christ : men, whose one to absorbing passion was be Of service t o their fellowmen, - i and men, who making choice of a self infl ct ed, martyrdom f h followed closely in the footsteps o Him , w o choo se the

‘ cross upon which to die for the salvat ion of the

3 5 SCOTT ISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Mention has already been made of Doctor Roderick MacDonal h d, w o held a prominent place amongst the emi Of 17 2 grants 7 . On his arrival in the Colony he took up a tract Of land at Scotchfort , and built on it a residence which he continued to occupy till his death . His home, “ ’ ” “ ’ long known by the name of Doctor s Farm and Doct or s ” House was among the best country re sidences to be seen anywhere in the Colony at that early date , and was the scene of many mee tings and reunions on the part of the people , who always found the latch string hanging out in Th t i true Highland hospitality. e Doc or h mself spent much f o his time travelling from place to place, according as his professional services were required by the people, and in this particular he closely imitated the devotedness Of his n on illustrious relative Fathe r James . It was o e of these j ourne ys he met his death . He was crossing the ice in the h was Springtime , near t e Head Of Tracadie Bay, and going e along apparently unaware Of any danger, wh n suddenly his horse broke through the ice and carried the driver with him.

There was no one near to render assistance , and the e Doctor, unable to extricate hims lf from his perilous pos ition, met his death in the waters Of Tracadie Bay. His body was soon recovered and was laid to rest in the French cemet ery at Scot chfort . His wife , two sons and four rw daughters survived him . In a short time afte ards the ’ Scotchfort . sons , grown to man s estate , decided to leave The uncertainty of land tenures had never proved satis was factory to the Doctor, and now that he dead, they de

3 6

SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

in i of War ouse man Scotland he marr ed Miss Gordon dh , who die at son , d an early age, together with her infant the of e only child th ir marriage . Sorely tried by this bereave M ment , Captain acDonald made up his mind not t o re marry, and chose his younger brother, Donald MacDonald, h is to be heir ; but this brother, who was a Lieutenant in the British Navy , lost his life in an engage ment with the t French , and Cap ain John , finding his plans thus over e e turn d, decid d to marry again , and selected for his second w ife , Margaret MacDonald of the Ghernish branch of the

Clan . She survived her husband for some years , and after his death was known amongst the people as the Queen of

Tracadie .

Of this second marriage we re born four sons , viz e n Donald , Rod rick , William and John , and o e daughter

Flora . Donald , the elde st succeeded his father as proprietor th e Of e Tracadie Estat , and was in his day a person of some importance in the community. Roderick took up a N a f aval career, in which he chieved a certain measure o f success . He serve d in di ferent places throughout the Em - f pire, and died while on duty as Pay master o the Bri tish forces at a Military Station in the Ionian Islands . William , o n when only a young lad, was dr wned at Sea o his way t o e r England t o enter College . John sp nt some yea s in a

Catholic College in England, whence he went to Paris for the was o study of Theology , and there he raised to the H ly i Priesthoo d in the year 182 5 . After his ord nation he lab ored for about five years in Scotland on the Missions in the of Diocese of Glasgow, and at the expiration that time he t h organized an immigration of Irish Ca olics , whom he brought to Prince Edward Island and settled upon his fam f o ily Estate on the South side o the Hillsb rough River, at

a place to which he gave the name , Fort Augustus . During t he e arlier years Of this new settlement he li ved with his as t o mother at Tracadie , and w thus able keep in constant t a t ouch with his tenantry . But af er the de th Of Bishop M acEachern he was appointed to the Scottish Missions in r n Kings County, and made his headquarters fi st at Lau ch

3 8 SCOT TISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLAND

a e ing and latterly at St . M rgar ts or Bear River. At the e tim of his stay at this latte r place , disagreement between the people and t he proprietors had reached an acute stage n throughout Pri ce Edward Island, and in consequence con i rabl s de e discontent prevailed in the community. Father n r John bei g more o less involved in these disputes , owing the t t a w s t to fac h t he a an ex ensive land owner, found him e m self som what compro ised in the eyes of the people , e amongst whom he lived and labor d , and so the Church e h e t authoriti s Of t e day decid d , tha it would be better for him t o re tire from the administration Of the Mission ‘ of e which he was in charge . He accordingly l ft St . Margarets e and we nt back to England, wh re he lived in comparative retirement till his death .

e wa Flora, the only daught r of the family, s educated at the Ursuline Convent at Quebec , and soon after her re turn McDonnell f Don l home marrie d Alexander , Esquire, o a dst on, and died in Charlottetown at an advanced age .

3 9 Captain John MacDonald died at his home at Trac adie 1 11 in the Autumn of the year 8 , consoled by the Spiritual of e M E h ministrations his kind fri nd Father ac ac ern. By his Will he divided his Estate betwee n the members of his family, making ample provision for his wife who survived him . His last instructions t o his children, written in his

e own hand make int resting and edifying reading, and Show forth the spirit of Catholic piety that animated his last days . Here in part is what he wrote “Morning and evening ” “ a prayers ne ver omit . Get copies Of Short ej culations , r which you will address t o G od through the day . Neve i Omit Confe ssion and Communion once a month . Thus w ll you have a good chance of saving your souls . Without Confession and Communion you will not obtain the grace and strength that are necessary for saving your souls . This is so true that every Christian on re aching the years of discretion is bo und t o prepare for the due reception of this ut of he Bread Of Life , and if o his power to receive it t o must, as a means of Salvation , at least implicitly desire e partake of this Divine Bread of Angels . If you negl ct it, you will continue passionate and quarrelsome , you will fall be into serious difficulties and, perhaps , into grievous sins e t o sides disobedience . The frequent and due recours the Sacraments is the best cure and preservative against such ” things . Having prescribe d a list Of pious books which they “ e : c of were t o procure and read, he continu s In onsideration t o ou one of the prope rty I bequeathe d y , I require each ou to for you , as long as y live , have five Masses celebrated me every year. SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SL AND

The Masses t o be Offered up for my soul are t o be ord inar L OW y Masses for the dead . These and the one hundred s t o r S Mas es entrusted my dea pouse to have celebrated, with out delay, are t o be for the intentions I now have in mind, — own i viz for my soul , for my former wife , brothers , S s ters , all my ance stors , for my various Confessors, all of n n ‘ whom but o e are ow dead ; in a word, for all the departed, ” e spe cially for those I am bound t o pray for.

Captain John was buried in the Old French Cemetery at cot chf rt nt S o , in a family plot, where stands a mounme e rected by some of his descendants many years after his e death . He had a brother in the Prie sthood, R verend Aug in M D n l ust e ac o a d, who had spent upwards Of thirty years on the Missions in Scotland, and who finding the infirm l m ities Of O d age growing fast upon him , decided to co e to

Prince Edward Island t o spend the remainder of his days .

He lived about five years at Tracadie, making his home with his brother Captain John , whom he predeceased by about t o thre e years . At his death his remains were laid rest be f side those o his cousin, Father James in the French cemet hf ery at Scot c ort .

4 1 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

The ' death Of Father James was a sad loss to the im

n . r migra ts It ushered in the ve y state Of affairs , which they dreade d SO much when they had first made up their minds to emigrate , and which kept the proj ect in abeyance for so long a time . N ow the y have no Priest t o minister t o e th ir Spiritual wants . They have been deprived Of the t Sain ly Pastor, who was their consolation and their j oy throughout the darkest days of their exile , and whose pre s e nce and fathe rly counsel bore them bravely over the most e e H h e t trying xp riences Of their isolation . e ad liv d wi h them and labored with them when conditions were at the n w worst , he had Shared in their wants and privations , and o that a brighter era was dawning for them , and his life growing more comfortable, he is called away as his feet were about to press the threshold Of comparative ease and e comfort . Ind ed a great change had taken place in the condition Of the people during the thirtee n years of his e was stay amongst them . The small thatched log hous e giving place t o more cornmodious dwellings , roads were b ' h r fcrt o f i ing Ope ned up from place to place, t e p y the earl er years was now a thing Of the past , and in its stead the people enj oyed a compete nce and in some instances even e the plenty . G od in His Goodness had wonderfully bless d immigrants in the new country , and encouraged by the ex pe rience s Of the past they faced the future with a fi rmer hope and a more settled assurance of happiness to come . m But now the greatest loss of all has come upon the , and they feel it the more , that look upon it as they may, e r they find it in every sense irreparable . For a numb of

4 2 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND ye ars they had been in corresponde nce with their friends in

Scotland, and had held out to them many inducements to come t o Prince Edward Island. They told the m Of the success they had b een able to achieve in the new Colony, and contrasted the same with the untoward conditions in the Motherland, which had force d them to emigrate. Their d frien s in Scotland too , were talking of emigration . They had taken up the idea as the only solution for the problems that faced them at home under the Penal Laws .

A S a matter of fact, the state of the Catholics in Scot i land, though somewhat improved, was still far from sat s factory, and there were many who were longing for the day wh e n the y would be able to emigrate and join their i e n k ndr d beyond the seas . But ow that Father James was dead Prince Edward Island held out no inducement to would be Catholic emigrants . In Scotland, their circumstances might indeed be precarious ; but they could at least see a r Priest from time to time , whereas in Prince Edwa d Island this great privilege would ne cessarily be denied t hem . o t Hence in such circumstances , emigration was u of the t o question , and the poor people were forced nurse their disconte nt as best the y could until more favorable con F r on ditions would pre vail . or five yea s things went in this c way , when Go d in His Providen e , raised up another Apostle ri to minister to His needy flock in P nce Edward Island.

4 3 ” A mong the passengers on board the Al exander was M acEachern i Hugh Ban of Kinloch , M o dart , in Scotland, who with his wife and nine Of his children had decided to e try his fortun in the N ew World. Two of the family re d — maine behind in Scotland, viz a daughter, Margaret who ri had mar ed a Short time prior t o the emigration , and

Angus Bernard, the youngest child of the family, who was e M D n left in charg Of Right Reverend Hugh ac o ald, Bishop n Of the Highla d District . Angus Bernard, who was fourteen of u years age when his parents set o t for America, made

his early studie s in Scotland, under the direction of the w Bishop , and later as sent t o Spain , t o the Royal Scots e n College at Valladolid where he Sp nt several years , a d

where he was raised t o the Priesthood on August 2 0th, 1 787.

He Immediately went back to his native land, and took n up the work of the Holy Ministry, dividing his time betwee

the mainland and several of the adj acent Islands . The people am ongst whom he lab ored were at the time decidedly of e i dissatisfied with their lot , and many them w re f lled i with the idea of emigration . They had received glow ng accounts Of the comfort and happiness Of their kinsfolk in t o Prince Edward Island, and were looking forward the day when they would be able to j oin them in their adopted of f on con country . This condition af airs had gone for a side rable time ; but the death of Father James changed the

aspect of things , and went a long way towards cooling the

ardor of their desires .

. N ow however, new hopes rose up within them They thought within themselves ; why could not Father Mac as Eachern come with them t o America , did Father James was now in the case of the first emigrants . He in the

4 4

SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

new his missionary career in the Colony . He took up the same round of arduous duties that had sapped the energies

Of the lamented Father James , and brought him down t o i an early grave . In fact these labors were more diffcult now, ' because the people were more numerous and were spread r e on out over la g r areas, for many of them , leaving the Tracadie Estate had settle d in remote places t o which access f M acEacher was very dif icult . But Father n quailed not at the Sight Of labor. He was above all things else a man Of duty imbued with the true missionary spirit , and neither labor nor difficulty could stay his ardor, and so without de lay he took up the work interrupted five years previously

' by the untimely death of Father James, and by the bless r on m ing Of God , he was able to ca ry the sa e without rest - l or pause for a period of forty five years . Wonderfu changes took place in Prince Edward Island in those forty he not five years , but throughout them all changed , he of ever remained the same gentle , humble follower the e t Divine Master whose life he strove t o imitate , as He w n ” about doing good .

4 6 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

In a preceding paragraph mention was made of the i c e d s ont nt , that prevailed amongst the early settlers at hfort Scotc .

Besides the hardships and inconvenience incidental t o n w life in a e country, they were greatly dissatisfied with the system of land tenure, that obtained upon the Tracadie

Estate, and grievously disappo inted in the fact that the expectations they had formed and the roseate dreams they had care ssed when leaving Scotland showed no Signs of

z . e reali ation H nce it was that many , as already stated , took advantage Of the first opportunity to leave the neigh borhood of Scotchfort , and go elsewhere in search Of homes . This movement began almost immediately after the com ing of the first immigrants , some Of whom crossed over t o t o o so far Cape Breton Island , whilst others not wishing g m e on 3 7 3 fro th ir kindred took up lands Lots and 8 , in r places contiguous t o Scotc hfo t .

In a Short time Lot 3 7 attracted a considerable popul t a ion, and its steady growth seemed to indicate that it would eventually surpass in importance the original se ttlement. This fact did not e scape the kee n vision of Father MacEach fl an ern , who was alive to every interest of his ock, d as the almost ruinous condition of the primitive Chapel at Scotc h fort made it impe rative, that it should be replaced by a i larger and be tter ed fice , he made up his mind that the original site Should be abandoned and the new Church er ect ed at a place more t o the Eastward , where it would be convenient t o a greater number of people .

n n . This plan however, did ot please all concer ed

4 7 SCOT TISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISL AN D

Captain John M acDonald of Tracadie was strongly op

posed to it . He did not wish t o have the Church any far fii ther from his home, and he had su cie nt influence with his tenants to bring many of them around t o his way of

thinking . Personal considerations entered thus into the

f matter, and as often happens in such cases , the interested persons were not sufficiently unselfish t o appreciate aright M E h rn the real motives of the change . But Father ac ac e

was not a man to take hasty action . He patiently left the , matter in abe yance till the coming of Bishop Denaut of h t of Quebec , w o made a Pastoral visi ation Prince Edward 1 0 Island in the year 8 3 . His Lordship , when seized Of all ’ Of MacEachern s cont en the facts , saw the wisdom Father

tion and accordingly gave it his entire approbation .

hfort He forbade the further use of the Chapel at Scot c , new as a place of worship , and selected a site for a Church farthe r up the river and near the Eastern boundary of Lot e M acEachern 3 7. He direct d Father to commence building

Operations without delay , and chose for Titular Of the ‘

ne w Church the National Patron Of Scotland, St . Andrew e t the Apostle . In the following y ar the Church was buil the and put in shape for the celebration of Holy Sacrifice, and for upwards Of fifty years it served the people of the e i neighborhood as a house Of worship , and at the sam t me

gave its name to the entire settlement . T

A separat e Mission was subsequently established at

Tracadie a little to the West of Scot chfort . About the year 1 83 8 ground was broken for a Church near the Head Of

O d e . Tracadi e Bay , on the ld Glenala al Estate This build f r ing having been in use as a house of worship o upwards of Sixty years was conve rted into a Parochial Hall , while

close by was raised an imposing edifice , the present beau

tiful Church of St . Bonaventure .

th riv er ice to harlott et own T This Church was haule d don e C 1 4 in the month of March 86 .

4 8

SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

The immigrant s of 1790 following the example set e e e e befor th m by th ir pred cessors , did not settle perman

‘ ently on the Tracadie Estate , but took up lands in Othe r localitie s , according as special conditions appealed to their a e M a h rn f ncy , and Fath r cEac e , wisely foreseeing what n would tur to their ultimate advantage, e ncouraged them to do SO, though he fully realized the additional labor their dispe rsion would entail upon himself . In the last decade of the eighteenth Ce ntury , the ye ars immediately following Ea the coming of Father Mac chern, this movement of pop i n ir n i e r ble n ulat o acqu e d co s d a p roportions , and Settleme ts

n t e - were formed here a d her throughout Kings County, e which eventually gr w into flourishing Parishes, and the same is true of Prince County away to the westward of cot chfort was the Province . In this way S , which usually the point t o which the early immigrants made their way on n f t heir arrival o Prince Edward Island, became or the time e being a sort of distributing c ntre for the Colony, and from the re immigrants we nt forth ye ar afte r year t o establish home s for t hemselve s in whatsoever locality best suited two their inclinations. Altogether there were principal im of 1 migrations in the e arlier days , that 772 in charge of M Donald 1790 t Fathe r Jame s ac , and that Of under he direc M a E ch rn tion Of Fathe r c a e .

t O her immigrations there were, but on a comparatively ho small scale , and usually consiste d of a few families , w taking advantage of the chance voyage Of a trading ship e e a w mad th ir w y to Prince Ed ard Island . But wherever hfort they landed, they were almost certain to come to Scot c , w here they were sure of a hospitable reception, and where

4 9 S COTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND they usually remained until they had made up their minds with regard to their final destination.

In this way a settlement was formed at Launching c Pla e in Kings County about the year 1796, composed of MacDonalds M P , ac hees, M ac Cormacks and Walkers , all of h whom ad come from Scotland with Father MacEachern, h and had spent the intervening years at Scotchfort . In t e year 18 02 they built a little log Church close to the shores of c Laun hing Bay, which served them as a place of wor ship for a quarter of a century , when it was replaced by one of larger propo rtions , erec ted about a mile to the Northwest of T w al the original site . o this in time as added a Parochi a D n house, where Reve rend John M c o ald of Tracadie t ook up his residence in th e year 183 6 , and whence he looked after all the Missions of Eastern Kings County .

The o settlement at Launching soon attracted other set l r f t e s t o the neighborhood, and in a Short time a number o M acCormacks M acDonal ds M acInnise s and Morrisons!: , , , f on h Campbells arrived , some o whom settled the Nort eastern side of Grand River at a place called Little Pond, thus forming the beginnings Of the present Mission of St. ar Francis de Sales , where a Church was built in the ye 1863 ; whilst to the Westward of Launching along the Car digan River settlements were formed by MacLeans, Mao

L ds and a . Phee s, MacLellans, Mac e o , Steeles C mpbells About forty years later M acCormackS and MacDonalds se ttled far c ther up the Grand River, at a place alled Narrows Creek, a L llan who and to these were added se veral families of M c e s, with MacIntyre s and others formed portions of an immigra 1 the tion that came t o the Colony in the year 84 8 . About m s ito sam e time a number Of Ca pbells , who e progen rs had ’ come to the Island in 1772 and had settled at Johnston s m u and e e River on the Tracadie Estate, ca e to D ndas s ttl d at the Head of Grand River where their descendants are found at the pre sent day.

a By this influx of population , it w s brought about that

5 0

SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

v elo e d was p and land being cleared further t o th e rear, it c m s a e to pa s , as in the case Of Launching, that the Church was situated on one Side of the Parish t o the great incon v enience t h Of e people . This condition of affairs continued until the year 1894 when the pe ople under the guidance of e M L th ir Pastor, Reverend Alexander P . ac ellan, decided that it would bette r serve the interests of the whole Parish, if t he nd Church we re hauled farther from the shore, a placed in a position more accessible to all , who worshipped w it s c ithin walls . This task once begun was successfully a e and ad complished, and the Church , the Parochial hous j oining buildings were detached from th eir foundations and transporte d about a mile further inland . Here they a e it were fitt e d up new , and all put in excell nt cond ion , par t icularly th e Church that seemed like an entirely new build e ing. R enovate d and remodelled it app ared as if it should serve the congregation for many ye ars ; but during the summer o f 1 82 1 _ severe forest fires ravaged that portion Of the coutitfy , and amongst the ruins left in their wake were ’ the Churizh and other Parochial buildings Of St . Margaret s . t ’ Th e settlement formed around the Shores of St . Pe er s c n Bay, was at first somewhat s attered and u stable, and hence was a considerable time without a place of worship . It was only in the last years of the Episcopate Of Bishop MacEachern that the question of building a Church be came a live issue in that locality ; and the matter had a scarcely passed the incipient stage, when the s intly Prelate

was called to his e ternal reward . However the work once e begun went on with becoming d spatch , and under the

‘ guidance of Father John MacDonald they built a small ” Church which continued t o be their House of Prayer for 1881 was e ce well nigh fifty years . In the year it r pla d by the present sacre d e difice built by Right Reverend Bishop n M acInt yre , and which risi g Over his grave stands a fit

ting monume nt t o his zeal and devotedness .

About the year 1818 a Colony of Scottish Catholics , s M acLellans MacKinnons compo se d mainly of M acPhee , , and

5 2 ' scom sn r cnrnomcsIN PRIN CE EDWARD ISLAN D

a alon the Campbells settled ne r the shore g , Southern bound m of t 4 5 4 6 we r o . e s on y Lo s and They . j oined by others , and thus was begun a small settlement , that in course of the f time grew into populous Parish o Souris . Their first 1 Church was put up in the year 83 8 , and in it the first

Mass was said by Father John M acDonald in January, 183 9 A f . ew years later it was destroyed by fire together with the small Parochial house that had j ust be en com l d P ete . M he e p Father Pius ac , who was in charge of the i e M ssion at the time , comm nce d without delay, the con f struction o a new Church , which was ope ned for Divine

1 4 . t r worship in the month of November, 8 9 This lat e Church was in use for many y ears till replaced by the pre h 1 01 sent stone edifice, which was commenced in t e year 9 and completely finished in a short time .

In the year 180 6 Andrew M acDonald of Arisaig, Scot land came to Three Rivers , Prince Edward Island, with the He intention of remaining permanently in that loc ality. ’ had a large family of boys , who , as they grew t o man s estate se ttled here and there , and whose immediate de scend ants occupied prominent places in the Civil and Political h a e o m life of t e country . He purch s d the whole f Pan ure

Island, and having settled there with his family immediately f r of opened a general store , that was o years the centre business activity for that section of the country. About 1 t the year 82 4 a small Church was built on his Esta e , and fi e in it Bishop MacEache rn of ciat d, when his Missionary M a Donald labors brought him to the neighborhood . Mr. c

1 n s » died in the year 83 3 , and soon after, his so Hugh tran ferred the busine ss to Georgetown , where it would be more conveniently locate d .

About this time lands were taken up near Georgetown; M Ph s Ma A ula s by Scottish Catholics composed of ac e e , c y , i MacDonalds and Morrisons , and t see med that the neigh borhood would become in the near future a place of consid h on Pan erable importance . Accordingly t e little Church n mure Island was transferred to Georgetown , where it co

5 3 SCOT TISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

1 5 2 t inne d in use till the year 8 , when it was enlarged and MacDo remodelled by Father Francis nald. It served the purpose of Parish Church for almost seventy years after n wards, and was finally replaced by the present ew Church of St . James .

54 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

The year 1822 is memorable in the annals of the Scot t of ish Catholics Prince Edward Island. It witne ssed the or i f f d nation at Quebec o the first o their number, and the f irst native Islander t o be raised to the holy prie sthood. hi T s was Reverend Bernard Donald Macdonald, son of A li r n Angus Macdonald of l sa y , o e of the ori ginal immi g rants .

Father Mac Eachern fully realizing the scarcity of l C ergy in his time, had made it a practice, as he went from l place t o place, t o ca l the attention of the people to the nec i e ss ty of their doing something, to provide themselves with priests , so that whatever contingencies might occur b y death or sickne ss , there would always be some one t o mi nister to their spiritual wants . The people impressed w ith the truth of his words , agreed t o contribute to this worthy obj ect and accordingly he selec ted t wo boys of in g ood disposition , whom he fancied he saw the early f M D signs o a divine vocation . They were Ronald ac onald, ’ e a nativ of Saint Margaret s and Donald Macdonald, of Saint A ’ ndrew s .

n As there was no college near at ha d, they were sent t o the Seminary of Quebec , where they entered upon their 1 1 s tudies in the autumn of the year 8 2 .

Ronald was a brilliant student, who soon forged t o the ‘ front in his classes ; but unfortunately he did not perse vere in his original intention , and grievously disappointed his b enefactor and friends , by abandoning his studies and t aking up a secular career in the City of Quebec . Donald

5 5 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLA ND

on the other hand, never wavered in his inclinations, but went steadily forward , and having completed his studies w as ordained priest in the month of June 182 2 . He then f returned to his native Province, and took up the work o the i minist ry , in which he was able t o achieve a splend d meas of O Bosho MacEachern r ure success . f him , p once w ote “ m re Revere nd Bernard Donald Macdonald, whose unifor lari n gu ty of deportment , and disengagement from everythi g in but his duty, renders him dear and respected the com munity .

- e1n t n rie st ' he was l jB g he first ative p , a so the first nat who was chosen t o succe ed to Charlottetown on the death of Bishop MacEach ' ‘ i ern n the year 183 5 .

56

BOAT USED BY BISHOP M ACEACHERN

S o i ( e e ppo s t e page . )

! IV

Whilst throughout Kings County centres of popu lation n were being formed , and ew homesteads e volved from the ‘ P e primeval fore st , rince County in the w st of the Province, joined in t he gene ral activitie s and welcomed bands of n Scot ch Catholic imniigra ts, whose inclinations led them t o wards. that section of the Colony.

t oo for They had suffered their Faith in Scotland, and had experienced the blighting effects of Landlordism ; and only whe n conditions had grown intolerable did they make up the ir minds to seve r the ties that bo und them to the

Motherland and emigrate to America . f Very early in the history o the Colony, in fact only a short time after Captain John M acDonald organized the Scotchfort one of s emigration to , his cousin in Scotland, l M Don f Rh tlan Captain A lan ac ald o e d, had his thought s turne d towards Prince County as a suitable place for coloni i for z at on. He obtained from the Crown military service Lo 2 ten thousand acre s of land on t 5 , in the settlement now , of known as Bedeque . On receipt this extensive grant he e the m of Lo decided t o purchas re ainder the t , and bring a to number of his countrymen settle upon it . But unfort unately at the very time that he was negotiating the pur r at chase , he was d owned sea, as he was returning from a visit to one of the neighboring Islands . His children were young at the time and there was no one that would take the o a i matter up , and s by his de th his plans of colon zation came to naught.

Some years later one of his sons named Alexander came '' ‘ SCOIIISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

to Prince Edward Island ; but apparently did not find the ac t o k n pl e his li i g, for beyond apportioning a tract of land to t hree of his Aunts he does not seem t o have made a a of s t I perm nent disposition the E ta e . n this way it almost se o all pas d to ther people, and today only two home steads remain in the hands of descendants of the original pro 1 pr etor. One of his descendants somewhat later secured a of on Lot 4 7 P wa grant land near East oint, and s the pro of s who genitor tho e people reside there today, and who are familiarly known as the Rhetland M acDonalds. Subsequent attempts at colonization in Prince County a chieved more definite results . In the early years of the nineteenth century two vessels arrived from Scotland, bring ing bands of immigrants made up of Gillises , M acN eills, M acLe llans M acDou alls M acKinnon , g , s, MacDonalds, Mor MacInt r s risons , Camerons and y e . According to a tradi tion prevailing amongst some of their descendants, their intention on leaving Scotland was not to come t o Prince a Edward Island , but make their w y t o Glengarry, Ontario, where a Colony of Scottish Catholics had already been est ablished; but as they were nearing the entrance t o the Gulf of e e e St . Lawrenc th y became env loped in a dense fog, and the Captain , eithe r by accident or design, missed his course and landed his passengers at a point near Charlottetown . Here they were met by the propriet or of Lot Eighteen in

Prince County , who placed before them a pretty picture of the advantages the y would reap by settling on his particular he e Township . By multiplying inducements finally p rsuad ed them to try their fortune in that part of the country and they accordingly went westward and settled some at m r on Indian River, so e at Grand River, whilst othe s settled MacDonalds Mac L ot 2 6 , where with other emigrants , , ev Innise s, and Campbells they formed a settlement , that e ntually became the Parish of St . Peters at Seven Mile Bay. In this way were formed in Prince County three im portant centres of Scottish Catholic activity , from which settlers went forth year after year, whose descendants are

5 8 still to be found at Brae , Kildare , Montrose, Palmer Road, and a other pl ces throughout the County . These early se t t lers encounte red the same trials and hardships that fell t o the lot of all the pioneers ; but they were men of sterling a ’ char cter, who quailed not at the sight of hardships, and so they manfully took up the burden of their trying existence in the Colony, and bore it unflinchingly throughout t he years . Father MacEachern visited them as often as he found it possible to do so, and his presence amongst them went far to reconcile them to the hardships of their con dition . With the devotedness of a true Apostile , he seemed to grow ubiquitous as he multiplied his efforts to reach all t h e U e p ople , who were in need of his Spiritual care . nder his dire ction small Churches were put up at an early date at Grand River, Indian River, and Seven Mile Bay, which , though rude in construction and small in proportions were nevertheless dear to the hearts of the people, who looked f upon them as holy places , set apart for the worship o

Almighty God, and hallowed by the sacrificial presence of

His Divine Son on the Altar.

A brighter era dawned for the pe ople residing in this 1 4 2 part of Prince County in the year 8 , when Father James

M acDonald, recently ordained t o the Holy Priesthood, came t o them as their resident Pastor. He went to live at In t o dian River, and forthwith began administer to the Spir fl itual wants of the scattered ock committed t o his care . One of his first acts was to build a new Church at Indian

River to replace the primitive house of worship, that had The n be come t oo small for the congregation . ew Church , which was a large and elegant edifice was erected in the 4 of year 18 3 , and filled the role Parish Church till the

a r . year 1896 , when it w s dest oyed by fire Father James found similar needs throughout his other Missions and he nce we find him at this time completing a Church at

Grand River, that had been commenced by Right Reverend M D nal who of th B . D . ac o d, became Administrator e Diocese M E h rn 1 5 on the death of Bishop ac ac e in 83 . This Church

59 “ " was entirely - remodelled and enlarged during the pastorate of e M acDo l Rever nd Laughlin J . na d, and still stands over looking the valley of the Grand River, linking up the ease and prospe rity of the pre sent generation with the trials i and privations of their forebears in the Fa th .

. The District of Seven . Mile Bay also required similar ' n i n e att e t o , but the pe opl were few in number and matters n n t there aturally proceeded with less celerity, a d it was no till the year 185 6 that steps were taken t o replace the orig inal Church by another more in keeping with the improved r was l condition of the people . This Chu ch twice en arged M Donal on by Reverend John J . ac d, and in its improved c i dition gives ample accomodat on t o the congregation .

60 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS -IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

The foregoing pages contain an account of the prin ci al t p Scottish Ca holic settlements , formed throughout e Princ Edward Island in the early days of the Colony. It would be impossible within the limits of this small Volume to enter into the history of the various families , or t o de i lineate the details of the various happen ngs , that marked their evolution from poor and obscure be ginnings t o the ir religious and civil development , that challenges our adm e w h ation at the pre s nt day . But if e listen to t e echoes of the past, each se ttlement will tell its story of determination and endurance on the part of the devoted people , who, ex iled from their Motherland for conscience sake , crossed the stormy oce an and forced the wilds of Prince Edward Is land to lay aside their terrors , and yield up a home and a living to these hardy adventurers .

Could the screen artist of the present day go back one hundred and fifty ye ars and reproduce the scenes , that met the ir gaze on their arrival on Prince Edward Island ; could he picture their landing at Scot chfort amid the gloom and loneline ss that surrounded them ; could he show us the pion c ers of Prince County making their way westward, the speaking stillne ss of the primeval forest beckoning them farther and still farther into its disheartening obscurity : above all could he make those actors speak and tell us what were the feelings that welled up within them , what were their misgivings, their doubts , their anxieties and fears , whilst every hill and brook and tree seemed to speak of hardships and toil and want to be endured even until death and all this not for their own sake but for the sake of their be descendants , that peace and plenty and comfort might

61 scom sn CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISL AND

their birthright in the land of their adoption : what a glor ious panorama he would unfold . What a sermon more elo ’ quent than the most thrilling passage of the world s great

. r est orators . What a sto y he would tell of unswerving at t hm n ac e t t o parental duty, of keen appreciation of holy religion , of unselfish devotion t o G od and Country , virtues ’ stamped over the entire face of Prince Edward Island, by the martyr- like devotedness and heroic tenacity of pur pose, that characterized its Scottish Catholic

62

SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

. c n ever Hen e , when G enna y threw down the gage of bat “ to tle the world, and the cry went forth for men and still ” more men , none responded t o the call with more genuine enthusiasm than the Scottish Catholic young men of Prince an Edward Island, lineal descend ts of the early immigrants . In that time of stress the injustice from which their fore f bears had su fered, the persecutions they had endured , the ill treatment that drove them exiles t o America were all forgotten , and these young men went forth t o the succor f l o the o d land , ready t o fight and re ady t o die for the cause she had made her own and today many of them bear in maimed bodies dist re ssmg trophies of their encounter with the enemy, whilst many others made the supreme sacrifice, “ and are sleeping their long las t sleep in Flanders Fields ” where the poppies grow .

In this way does the spirit of the pioneers survive in their descendant s , and the country is richer, nobler, better i by the fact . Church and State have evidently recogn zed no of this truth , and this is why there is position trust in to one or the other that they have not filled, with credit t themselves and profit t o t heir fellow citizens . The mos honorable positions in the Church have come t o them, the t o most responsible political offices have also been theirs , and on the discharge of the duties thus imposed them , they n brought sple ndid qualities of mind a d heart , whose origin they are pro ud to trace back to the virile v irtues of their forefathers .

64

REVEREND FRANCI S JOHN MACDONALD ’ t . n re olle e or aine prie First st udent of Saint A d w s C g d d s SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

During the years , when these centres of population e e wer b ing established throughout Prince Edward Island, the one e a grand outstanding figur , th t was ever at the of the e h n back mov ment, and t e o e that particularly e licits our re spect and admiration is Right Reverend Angus Ber na M acEache rn o rd , first Bishop f Charlottetown . On his shoulders lay t he burde n of providing for the spiritual e f e welfar o all the Catholic pe ople , not only of those, whos coming to the country we have just been describing ; but also of those who were settle d along the Gulf Shore of Nova n e Scotia and Cape Breton Isla d . These latt r people had e e grown quite numerous , esp cially during the latter y ars, n and o that account claim ed much of his attention, for he visite d them as ofte n as he could ste al away from the pious im n portu itie s of his flock in Prince Edward Island .

In late r years whe n he became diocesan bishop , his e sphere of activity was considerably enl arge d, and besid s the e e n xt nsive re gion above mentio e d, he travelled the whole of n of New Bru swick , which at first formed part the D iocese of Charlottetown .

1 1 In the year 8 9 , after he had spent twenty nine years n s two as a missio ary prie st, he wa appointed bishop , and years late r he was able to mak e his way to Quebec , where

17th of e 182 1 . he re ce ive d episcopal consecration , on the Jun , not e diffi This additional dignity, however, did reli ve the c ulties of the situation in which he was placed, nor did it in h e e t he l essen . t e smalle st d gre sum total of the labors

n . t hat fell to his lot . Bei g only an auxiliary bishop , without independent jurisdiction , he was still subj ect to the Bishop

65 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLAND

of x Quebec, and therefore his hands were tied to a great e tent , and he was not in a position to introduce the reforms or u or inaug rate the works , that he might de em useful i essential to the welfare of religion throughout the reg on, in which he lived and labored .

1 h 1 n It was not till August 1 t , 82 9 , that Charlot te tow ff e an was cut o from Quebe c, and rais d to the standing of

- independent diocese . This was in very truth a red letter f r h day o the Church in Prince Edward Island. It us ered in an era of progress and prosperity, that happily continues in ever increasing vigor until our day .

’ It is characteristic of God s providential care for His w h people , that He selects for their guidance , men endowed it special aptitude t o cope with the particular needs and f s dif iculties of their times . To these chosen leaders He open on the treasures of His own wisdom , and bestows them f qualities of mind and heart, that make them fit and e fect ive instruments for carrying out the designs of His Provid was A ence . Such a man, without any doubt, ngus Bernard f of M acEachern, pioneer bishop o the Diocese Charlotte f saw and d town . He was a man o vision , who understoo ho s the the possibilities of the situation , and w , gra ping e all and opportunit ies of his tim , turned them into ways means of promoting the interests of souls . f The one great drawback to the advancement o religion, with which he was confronted during his missionary days a of is in Prince Edward Island, was the l ck priests , and th out a great want he had ende avored, in season and of se son, to impress upon the minds of the authorities at Quebec . But his efforts in this matter had hitherto proved unavail or e t n ing, and little nothing had b en done to relieve the e was o 1t sion of the situation . Hence, no sooner he in a p s th e ser ion to act for himself, than he took up matter in a de ious and determined manner, and forthwith began to who vise ways and means to educate a native clergy, would supply the future wants of the missions entrusted t o

66

SCOTT ISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND w e h n through the changes wrought by time, it was found i t o nadequate the growing needs that arose, it gave place t o ’ t he n D n w . u st n e e St a s, found d by the immediate successor of M a E h rn Bishop c ac e , and which working along the same lines , has been blessed with a wonderful measure of suc c ess .

f r The Bishop lived at the College o some years , until a e e new resid nce, he had commenc d at Savage Harbor had been completed . It may be said, however, that he spent ’ n f e o ly a small portion o his time at Saint Andr w s , because t he duties. of his office kept him almost continually travelling H from place t o place . e continued t o visit the settlements as he had done in his earlie r days , administering the sacra e e m e nts , visiting the sick , cat chising the young r genera t e ion, s ettling disputes wh e re such xisted, and spreading n e e the of abroad amo gst the pe ople , whom he s rv d , aroma i n e h s ow p ersonal sanctity . We will n ver know , and there fore can neve r fully appre ciate how much the cause of

Catholicity owe s to his zeal and devotedness, particularly in he e o those days , whe n singly and alone bor al ft the banner f n e le d e e out o religion , and like a other Mos s , his p opl from the bondage of e arly want and privation into the Promised e Land of progre ss and hope ful de velopme nt . A tru Apostle e l of was he , who in the ar y days our diocesan history , lab e e of ored with a spirit of devote dness , and a singl n ss aim on fe of a nd purpose, that w forever the love and af ction his

A writer, who well remembered him , thus describes his

‘ ’ * last visit to the Mission of Saint Mary s at Indian River “ Bishop M acEache rn visite d Indian River for the last time 1 4 d e in June 83 , when he baptized all the young chil r n , and a of con on June 2 4 th , the Fe st Saint John the Baptist, he of b e firm e d all who were prepared, the writer this sketch ing among the number. After Mass , he preached the first

Gaelic sermon , I ever heard , and which I remembered for m any years .

w out on After the ceremony was over, the people ent

68 SCO’I'I‘ISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

t he e gr en before the church door, and when the Bishop came out he addresse d one of the parishoners saying “ d ” Ro erick I think you were late for Mass . The man ans “ e e t e w r d hat they had a saying in Scotland , that, Lat ” ploughing was better than no ploughing at all . The Bishop then told them that this was his last visit to Indian River, as he had only a short time to live . The man above men “ tione d said to him z— when you die see that you put in a ” goo d word for us The Bishop replied that he would make a no r sh promises , as he did not know how his own case would stand . He then made them all kneel , and he blessed them , and made the Sign of the Cross over the four cor of ners the parish , on their houses and belongings . The “ people began to lament and say z— When you are dead we will be as badly off as eve r for a Gaelic speaking “ — of priest . He said You now complain of the scarcity priests , but the day may come when there will be complaints e that there are t oo many to support , and that they will tak ’ ” the children s bread from the hearth . He told them , when he would be gone , Reverend B . D . Macdonald would administer to them in their own tongue . He then bade them farewell .

’ The saintly Bishop s premonition of his impending l death was on y too fully realized . In the following spring, ’ ’ as he was on one of his missionary j ourney s through King s f f County, he su fered an attack of paralysis at the home o ’ Dugal d Macl saac at Saint Pet er s Bay . A few days after, n he was take n t o his home at Savage Harbor, where he li g ered in a semi-conscious condition until the 2 2 nd of April 1 3 5 it s 8 , whe n the soul of the beloved Prelate passed t o eternal reward.

The news of his de ath spre ad rapidly throughout the country and brought deep sorrow into every Catholic home . for He was mourned by all without exception , he was with out any doubt the best known and most esteemed person in n of the entire country . He was beloved not only o account the principles which he held and inculcated , but more so by

69 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWA RD ISLAND

reason of the many excellent qualities of mind and heart him out that marked a prince amongst men . Even those not of e of e e e the hous hold faith r v r d his memory, and re cognized in him a wonderful influence in the cause of right ’ and j ustice . He was the chosen repository of his people s e no on confid nce, and e went t o him , that did not come away t e t h e H be t r by e intervi w. e possessed a marvellous in sight into the motives and thoughts of people, and could disce rn with almost uncanny assurance their innermost thoughts and desires . The Go vernment of the day recogn e izing thes traits in his character, appointed him Justice of the Peace, so as to give legal value to his decisions in mat ters of dispute , and this appointment whilst a great saving h to t e people added not a little to his labors and anxieties . n Usually , o his missionary j ourneys to the various settle ments , one of his most impo rtant duties was to hear com plaint s and adj ust whatever matters were in dispute , and no a t o one ever questioned his decision . Everyone w s ready admit that what he said was true and what he did was s right , and this absolute confidence in his sen e of truth and j ustice was the outc ome of a conviction begotten in their d of minds, through the personal sanctity and devote ness

a . his life . He was in truth their great benef ctor He for seemed to live only for them . For them and their salvation he made and was daily making untold sacrifices , has and it was impossible for them not t o trust him . One f o r but t o read his letters t o the Bishops o Quebe c , t eal ize how complete was his interest in the welfare of the in people , and how his only personal gratification consisted promoting their spiritual and temporal welfare. He came od into each neighborhood like a benediction from G , and revaded loc when he left , an air of peace and holiness p the ri e o s e of re ality , as if his spi t still hover d ver the c ne his cent labors . No wonder therefore that he was sincerely loved by young and old, and mourned when he died with a feeling a no sense of personal loss . It may be truly s id that such e IS universal sorrow, had ever been felt in Princ Edward

70 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

t h e e t land, as at occasion d by his d a h . To t he olde r people , it recalle d t he grief that followe d the death of the late t e e Fa h r Jam s Macdonald, fifty years be fore . At that time, e it is tru , the people were more helpless in their grief, for e was t e no pri st left, t o whom h y could apply in case of e e n ff n d ; but ow re ligious a airs , thanks t o the efforts of t he e e r in e e d c ase d Bishop, a e b tt r condition . There are e e e t thr pri s s to atte nd to their immediate wants , whilst quite a numbe r of young men are already well advanced in e th ir preparation for the holy priesthood .

But still the grief occasioned by the death of Bishop M acEa h rn n c e was o less deep and Sincere . He had been so long the ce ntral figure in the community, he had bap tiz ed confe sse d instructed so many who were now grown e to manhood and were the h ads of families , in each neigh h n bor ood, he had wo his way so triumphantly into their hearts , that they came to look upon him as one who Should not die , but continue indefinitely their guide and counsellor and friend, and hence when he died it seemed as if all their hopes and aspirations were blotted out , even as the sun f sometimes su fers eclipse, in the height and beauty of its noontide splendor.

The history of the Scottish Catholics in Prince Edward Island is rendered forever illustrious by the name and mem E n ory of Bishop Mac acher . If their emigration from f of Scotland had no other e fect , but t o prove the occasion his coming to this country , that alone Should make the

Catholics of Prince Edward Island thank God, who led them through so many tribulations t o found a diocese , blessed by the labors of this heroic man of G od. For he “ n fed the flock of G od, taking care of it , ot by constraint, ’ r s but willingly according to God, not for filthy luc e s ake but voluntarily : Neither as lording it over the clergy , but ”

P t . being made a pattern of the flock from the heart . (I e

V. 2 .

71 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

XVIII

It may perhaps be a moot question whether the Scot tish Catholics living in Prince Edward Island today are al re ly equal in worth t o their ancestors . They undoubtedly enjoy greater advantages ; but has there be en a steady de v elopm ent along the line of character building Since the days of the first settlement ! Whatever may be the gen n eral co clusion by comparing the present with the past, it is safe to say that the people of today have gone back, at n least in o e very important particular. They seem t o have h lost t e ene rgetic initiative and courageous agressiveness, ne that made the first emigration possible . If there be o defect more evident than all others in the Scottish Catholic f r o today, it is a lack of self assertion . Their cha acter has m m e llowed out almost to the point of apathy , and they see inclined t o follow the line of least resistance, leaving things t o take their course and adjust themselves as best they may . til This dispo sition , though by no means universal , is s l not t oo much in ev idence, and as is quite clear , it does no e make for healthy progress , r does it furnish the need d stimulant for due part icipation in the affairs of the Country .

It was mainly to combat this pernicious tendency, ’ that the Saint Andrew s Society was founded. This organi z ation aims t o unite Scottish Catholics along the lines of to religious and civil development , and seeks attain that end by educative methods . As set forth in the Constitution , its objec ts and purposes are to unite fraternally all persons r r of e entitled t o membership , fo the pu pose improving th ir social intellec tual and moral condition . It does not inter f no s fere with the work of other Societies , and of ers oppo

72 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC S IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

itiou to the legitimate aspirations of other Nationalities . e e It r cogniz s the fact, that in this great free country the childre n of all nations may mee t on a common level with equal rights and equal privile ges , and work togethe r har moniousl for y the attainment of the common good . Its aim is not to pull down but to build up, and while seeking own e its nds by all fair means at its command, it is ready e to w lcome and approve every movement , that has for it s obj ect the aggrandizement of Mother Church and the wel of fare our common country .

It owes its origin to the chance meeting of a fe w per h sons , w o we re e njoying an outing together in the Sum of 192 0 mer . Whilst discussing social conditions in Prince

Edward Island, they happened t o refer to the relative pos itions occupied by the various groups that composed its population, and t he fact forced itse lf upon their attention that the Scottish Catholics were the only people, who poss e ssed no system of organization t o promote t heir spe cial in t ere st s . All othe rs were steadily forging to the front, thanks to spe cial Societie s that directed thei r energies the n along li e of concerted action, while the Scottish Cath olics se eme d de stine d t o trail in the wake of social pro e e n e gr ss , through lack of union in th ir ra ks . Th y there e a t o n f or for c me the co clusion , that some such system o aniz ation a g was vit lly necessary, if the latter people were t o e e hold th ir prope r place, and do th ir part in promoting e f the int re sts of the Country . The practical results o this ’ casual conversation was the founding of Saint Andrew s t Socie y . It is as yet only in its infancy , but it has well n t started o a career of usefulness , and bids fair o fulfil in time the most rose ate dreams of its founde rs . From it s very inception it set the Scottish Catholic people think e ing , and th y began to be impresse d with the fact, that they posse ssed a history that was really worth while , a history that ran back through a long line of men and women , whose achievements in Prince Edward Island are interwoven with a e the best traditions of the country . In this w y they l arn

73 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN ‘ PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

ed t o appreciate more fully the advantages they now en o how owe t j y , and much they o the heroic pioneers , who laid the foundation on which stands the solid fabric of pre e sent prosp rity, and gradually the idea began t o take root that some thing should be done to commemorate in a fitting min a co t o r . m nner their g ‘ Prince Edwa d Island Many years had en th eb o o be woven into e w f ur Island history, Since on our they landed shores , many anniversaries had come and gone , and yet nothing had been done t o enshrine in memory the touching story of their exile ; and thus it fell to the ge neration of the present day to remove from the escut cheon of an apathetic pe ople a stigm a of longstanding neg lect .

74

SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

M Inni . I Mr John A. c s, Selkirk, P . E sland. A c M Ph t r hibald C . c ee , S . Margarets , i M L Roder ck J. c ellan, St . Georges , m E M D n Ja es . c o ald, Little Pond, M D n A . A . c o al d, M . D . Souris ,

Roderick J . M cDonald, St . Peters , M il John J . cG lvray , Vernon River, M Kinn n Daniel c o , Brae , L M Kinnon eo c , Brae ,

John D . McDonald, Lo t 7, ’ Pius Sutherland, St . Peter s ,

James M cKinnon, Rollo Bay, M Inni Andrew J . c s, Charlottetown ,

James Campbell, Charlottetown , M D nal t John A . c o d, Charlot etown , D l Alexander Mc ona d, Charlottetown , M Millan w W . J . P . c , M . D Charlotteto n , M D nal Daniel J . c o d, Charlottetown ,

W . D . Gillis , Charlottetown,

L eo M cDonald, Charlottetown, t Alban M cDonald, Charlot etown , n Ray McDo ald, Charlottetown , M rma k George J. cCo c , Charlottetown , M Mil lan e L . B . c , Charlott town , n Sixtus M cL ella , Charlottetown , M cMillan Thomas M . , Charlottetown , cA am A . J . M d , Charlottetown ,

James McIsaac, Charlottetown , M Donald a Frank J. c , Ch rlottetown , n George McCormack, Charlottetow , n d Bennet M cDo al , Charlottetown , M Donald Louis J. c , Charlottetown ,

in . Arthur Mc nis , Charlottetown

Thomas V . Grant , M . D . Montague ,

M rmack . e Bernard J . cCo , St Georg s,

A . Daniel M c ulay , St Peters ,

Emanuel M cLellan, Richmond, n David Ca mero , Richmond,

76 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

M L ll Cornelius c e an, Arlington P . Island.

Frank Gillis, Bayside , M Don l John E . c a d, Souris , e James A . M cN eil], Summ rside, e M n Be de u Dani l B . cDo ald, q e , e M cIn r Jam s P . ty e , St . Andrews ,

John C . McDonald, Redford, M cN il] William e , Summerside,

The Executive of the General Committee was made up of the following persons

’ — L r t Rev a . Patron Righ . L . J . O e y , Bishop of Charlottetown Hon R v M D n l . e . e o Pr s V ry e . D . M . c a d, Tignish , H on. e e Re v Pr s . V ry . D . J . Gillis , Indian River, Hon R M L n . e . e ev . c a Pr s V ry J . C . e , Souris . M cDonald Be de ue Acting Pres . D . B . , q , - n D r e . e J M n l Vice Pr s (Pri c County) Rev. J . c o a d, Summe side

- t e M D n n e e . e e s Vic Pr s (Qu n Coun y ) Al x . c o ald, Charlottetow e M cDonal Vice . Pr s . (Kings County) R . J . d, M . D . St . Pet ers . e e R Don l S cr tary ev . William V . M c a d, Hope River — , ec . M Don ld Asst . S J . A . c a , Barriste r, Charlottetown, e M Mill n D Tr as . W . J. P . c a , M . . , Charlottetown

The Gene ral Committee thus appointe d and officered enter

ed upon its dutie s without delay, and soon evolved a pro fo h e gramme r t e proposed c lebration, which was duly ex plaine d in a booklet be aring the title

CELEBRATION OF THE LAN DIN G of the SCOTTISH CATHOLICS

on Prince Edward Island in

A . D . 1772 , after.

Amongst other things this Booklet set forth A Movement has been inaugurated t o commemorate in a fit

77 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLAND

15 0 h n ting manner the t , an ive rsary of the landing of the first Scottish Catholic settlers in what is now the Province of Prince Edward Island .

But it is the intention t o commemorate the arrival not f f alone o those who made their landing at Scot ch ort , but also in subsequent immigrations t o various parts of the

Province , and for that re ason a monument is to be erecte d to the memory , in common , of all those original Scottish ” Catholic settlers .

The monument is to be erected at or near the Site of the first Church , near the present Railway Station at ” Scotchfo rt .

The tentative programme is , that proceedings Shall e t o comm nce with Pontifical High Mass , in the open air, be celebrated by one of the Bishops whose ancestors were numbe red amongst those pioneer settlers . The monument shall then be unveiled with becoming ceremony and this Sh all b e followe d by a general celebration, embracing High ” land games and other amusements .

This tentative programme was somewhat modified at u s bse quent meetings , and in its final state provided that Pontifical High Mass would be celebrat ed in the Open air ’ n L ear by Right Revere d Louis J . O y , Bishop of Charlotte town ; that a Se rmon befitting the occasion would be of preached by Right Reverend Jam es Morrison, Bishop of Antigonish , N . S. ; That the unveiling the monument would take plac e in the afternoon , with speeches by pro s of minent men , representing the Civil and Religiou life of the Country . The remainer the day would be passed as ff who an ordinary picnic , thus a ording the people , were ex f pect e d t o come from the remotest parts o the Province, an excellent oppo rtunity of mee ting old acquaintances .

The day chosen for the celebration was Wednesday,

of . July 19th , 192 2 , the Feast St . Vincent de Paul This choice of a day was singularly appropriate inasmuch as the

78 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLAND

e t of e Soci y Pri sts founded by St . Vince nt , had rendered an e e in i vali t s rvic the H ghland Districts of Scotland, dur the of ing trying days religious pe rsecution . When the at o e was C h lic r ligion proscribed in Scotland, when it was no e t permitte d t o have Coll ges , when S eminaries were

e an - pillag d and burned, d when the well springs of Priestly vocations were in immine nt danger of completely drying up, the of e t o of priests St . Vinc nt de Paul came the succor ff e o the a lict d people , and under G d were the means of pre serving the Faith in t he western Highlands .

To make adequate preparations for carrying out this programme entailed considerable work ; and to facilitate matters , it was deemed advisable to divide up the General

- Committee into a numbe r of sub committees , each having e a sp cial purpose , and a certain well defined Share of the wa arrangements to attend to . In this way it s hoped that r every nee d would be provided fo , eve ry e me rgency fore seen , and nothing left undone t o make the proposed cele bration in every respect a great success . The se several Committees were as follows

A MONUMENT COMMITTEE , whose duty was to decide what form the monument would take , and to attend to its construction and e rection .

AN ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE, in whose hands was the furnishing of entertainment for the people pre sent .

A FINANCE COMMITTEE , whose duty was to look after the management of the funds .

A PUBLICITY COMMITTEE , to advertise the Cele of bration , and bring it to the notice people at home and abroad .

A TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE , to make the fo of necessary arrangements r trains , and other means n transportatio .

A CATERING COMMITTEE , to provide the food and e r freshments that would be required for the occasion .

79 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLAND

The m embers of the Monument Committee lost no time in entering upon the duties , for which they had been o app inte d . Th e y de cided that the Monument Should b e Of e Scotch granit , and in the form of a Celtic cross with an e inscription s tting forth the object , which it was intended t o r e commemo at . In making this selection they Showed a due e of f f in appr ciation the fitness o things , or it was deed appropriate that the Monument raised to the mem or of the ne e S y pio rs , hould be brought from the land, from e e which th y the ms lve s had come, and Should be in the form of o f a cr ss to symbolize the Faith , for the sake o which e A or nl th y made so many sacrifices . cc di y plans were se e f r cur d from Mr . J . M . Hunter, Architect, o Cha l n ott et ow , and the contract placed with Sir James Taggart of e ho th e f h Aberd e n , Scotland, w in e xecution o t e same fully sustained the reputation of his well known establish h n ment . T e monum e t completed and ready to be put up f f arrive d at Scot ch ort towards the end o June , in ample h time for t e ce lebration . f In the m e ant ime a plot o land , embracing the Site of the little log Church ere cted by the pioneers at Scotch M cDonal d fort, was purchased from Mr. John A . , and here t he Monume nt was duly place d in position, and left suit Of ably drape d awaiting the ceremony its unveiling .

Ne ar at hand a place was pre pared for the Open air e e Mass , whilst round about booths wer erect d wherein me als would be s erved, and other refreshments provided e t o t o mee t the needs of the peopl , who were expected honour the occasion by their presence . The preparations through n o out were oh a elaborate scale, the vari us Com mitt ee s did their work with a full sense of respo nsibility, and it seemed as if nothing were left wanting to make the

n . occasion, o e that would linger long in memory

80 EDE UE M D . B DANIEL B . AC ONALD ( Q )

f the eleb rat ion of Pre sident of the G ene ral C ommit t e e in charge o c

h 192 2 . July 19t ,

S T T SH T S I D S D CO I CA HOLIC N ~ PRINCE E WARD I LAN

e ne 19th 1 92 2 W d sday July , , the day set apart for the n Th Celebration , daw e d amid clouds and gloom . e Sky was e a n overcast, and the sun refus d to shine . It w s ot a day e e to allure p opl from the ir homes , and yet from an early a h hour crowds wende d their w y to Scotc fort , and it is e stimate d that not le ss than five thousand persons we re e n r h ass mble d o the g ounds , at the hour set for t e opening

Ceremony.

It was a striking proof of . the interest taken in the t movemen , by all classes and creeds, and furnishes a wide margin for conj ecture as to what would have been the attendance, had the we ather been more favorable . About ’ e leven o clock heavy rain began to fall, and in conseque nce, e e the open air Mass had of n c ssity to be abandoned . The rain continued till well up in the afternoon ; but the people remained through it all, apparently roo ted t o the spot by h e t e memori s of the anticipations , which they had cherish e d weeks and months prior to the day .

The best of good humor prevailed on all Sides . The r e p omoters , themselve s , though gri vously disappointed at the turn things had taken , made a virtue of ne cessity , and accepted the situation with the utmost equanimity. Groups of perso ns huddled together under dripping umbrellas vied with one another in contests of wit at th e expense of the weathe r, while many old saws anent scottish mists and scottish drink we re resurre cted and filed anew, to help cut down the tedium of the occasion .

’ e Betwe n two and three o clock in the afternoon , the sun suddenly broke through the clouds , and its welcome rays f inspired one and all with the hope , that the main feature o the programme, the unveiling of the monument, might still

8 1 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLAND

’

out . be successfully carried At three o clock Mr. D . B . Mc e e of Donald, Pr sid nt the General Committee , announced that e e l the c r mony would at once be proceede d with , and ca led M D n ld upon Rev . John J . c o a , P . P . of Summerside, Chair of man the Monument Committee t o pre side . A platform e had be n erected in front of the Monument , and from this point of vantage the Reverend Chairman addressed the e n pe ople , xpre ssi g his appreciation of the honour of pre n n sidi g o such an important occasion . He shared in the n n ut ge eral re gret occasio ed by the unfavorable weather, b

said it symbolize d very faithfully t he live s of the pioneers, whos e coming to this country was the occasion of the days e e e e e c l bration . Th y began th ir car er in the Colony he said, amid gloom and discouragement : but in course of time the

clouds rolle d by and sunshine and comfort cam e t o them . f Providence has its own wise way of disposing o things , and n no doubt whe n rain began to fall this mor ing , there were ’ many who felt discouraged and dish e art ened ; but God s sun i H e for e is still n is sky, and the main obj ct which this c le ‘ out in a bration was conceived , may now be carried manner,

’ H here d I . e which trust , will prove satisfactory to all calle B D . upon Right R e ve re nd James Morrison , D . , ishop of

Antigonish t o de dicate the Monument . Bishop Morrison stepping t o the front of the platform began his remarks b y a refe re nce t o t he Obj e ct of the celebration and continuing “ said We can all feel satisfied that the pioneers have done their part in the upbuilding of this gre at Count r v and if upon our part we commemorate their lives with this do r Memorial , it is but the least that we can to honour thei n t e memory, o only as a debt to the past , but as an inspir of in ation for t he future . We all stand in need this e for spiration . The se pion er settlers came to Canada free u t dom of conscience , and that word freedom m s stand out

we . in our national life , if we are to prosper as should

While we erect this Memorial t o honour the Scottish

Catholic settle rs of one hundred and fifty years ago , at the t o same time we are to remember, that these people came this country t o cast in their lot with the rest of the future

82

SC TT S T S IN I S I P E D A A " N O I H CA HOLIC R NC E W RD I L ND

M ee onument that has just b n unveiled, commemorates the n first landing of Scottish Catholics o Prince Edward Island, one e a o hundr d and fifty years g . Its form , a Celtic cross , e d carries us back w ll nigh fourteen hun red years , t o the e of h Bl ssed Isle Iona and to St . Columba w o came thither, having the be st blood of the Kings of Ireland in his veins t he f and Faith and Charity o Christ in his soul , and , from that holy isle as a ce ntre with his faithful co- laborers t christianized the nor hern part of Scotland. Our fore fathers were ever loyal to the Faith delivered to them by

St . Columba, and for its sake became voluntary exiles in the wil of ds America .

No higher motive ever throbbed in human heart or moved human will than the one which prompted those emig r t ants to come t o these shores , for they sought and sough

only for freedom to worship G od. Let us try to understand

the sacrifices they made for the Faith . Besides under going all the hardships incident to pioneer life in those re mote days there was the pang of parting forever from their

native land .

They left forever the land of their birth , the land of n the mountain and the flood, and t o o other heart is the

parting from his native land such a sore trial , as t o the heart c S of the Gael . It was the land Where their an estors lept, hal

lowed by their dust, with traditions and memories extending m far beyond a thousand years , faith q y handed down fro n r or o r or o father to so . Not a mountain crag o glen m o l ch u of or ford, b t had its history , telling them their glorious

victory in war and triumphs in peace . There were still the of for remains of the temples , that the ages Faith had built now the worship of G od. And they must leave this land

foreve r and face the unbroken forests of the N ew World.

How fittingly the feelings of these exiles in their new homes , have been depicted by the poet : “ Fair these broad meads—these hoary woods are grand ’ But we are exiles from our fathers land, From the lone sheiling of the misty Island

84 SCOTTISH g THOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLAND

Mountains divide us and the waste of Seas Y et t the n he s ill blood is stro g, t he art is Highland, ” we e e And in dr ams b hold the Hebrides .

Inscribe d on t his Monument is the name Of Fathe r M cDonald James , the he roic Prie st who accompanied the immi r g ato n of 1772 .

of a h Ten years his youthful life w s spent in Rome , t e e of e n centr culture , l ar ing and Christianity , where he com let ed p his education and was ordained to the Priesthood. r Then he retu ned to Scotland . When the proj ect of emigra tion was set on foot he volunte ered to accompany the emi to ! grants America . What a prospect lies be fore him His

early education was in the sunny land of Italy, at the source of i ae and fount his religion, his da ly associ t s Priests and e n h l R ligious , but ow e is ready to forsake al this and go ne alo into the wilds of Ame rica , with the prospect of never e P e again m eting a brother ri st ; and indeed, save for the he 1 77 e visit paid to Quebec in 3 , we have no c rtain know ledge that during the remaining twelve years of his life he e ever again met a fellow Priest . Tradition among the pe opl e for whom he broke t he br ad of life , and for whom his young life was sacrificed fondly relates the closing scene of n his life . The e d was nigh , no ; Priest was there to give

him the rites of his Church.

He lay still and motionless and save for his breathing, l h e e e which was S ightly audible , e might s m to have pass d e away. His faithful people fully r alizing that he was dying, im n and with no prospect of a Priest to succeed h , knelt a d wept and prayed by his bedside.

Suddenly he opened his e yes and slightly raising him self he looked for the last time on his beloved people at the —“ same time utt ering those memorable words Keep the ” ! or the e nt e e Faith , keep the Faith in g le acc nts of the Ga lic “ — i rei imh umi in which it was spoke n Cum bh an c d , C bh ” of an creidimh ! The n he fell back and died. The soul w t he heroic Priest had gone to its Creator, ho no doubt

85 SCOTTI SH CATH OLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND rewarded his faithful servant for his heroic virtues and sacrifices .

’ This was Father James last sermon, the outpouring of his generous soul , which was at the same time a prayer and an exhortation .

How has his prayer been answe red ! I call t o witness the multitude that has assembled here today, hundreds o f whom have come thousands of miles to be present on this me morable occasion ; and bear undying witness to the cause for which he sacrificed himself . The glorious pages that the descendants of these pioneers have written in the annals of fi this Diocese , bear testimony to the ef cacy of his prayer. f The Hierarchy o Canada bears witness to it .

of N In the Province ew Scotland, and in that part of it that projects farthest as it were, to meet and break the t h billows of e mighty and misty Atlantic , there presides ove r the Church in the person of Right Reverend James

Morrison , the illustrious Bishop of Antigonish , a descend on ant of those pione ers ; and again the West, where the h Pacific laves the golden sands , in t e Diocese of Victoria, M cDonal whose Bishop, the Right Reverend Alexander d is who n another de sce ndant of the exiles , o e hundred and ‘ fifty years ago built the Church and worshipped on this n w Holy ground, where on o stands this Monument . These of two Bishops , both descendants these people, one at the extreme East of this vast Dominion and the other at the extreme West, stand guard and sponsor for the Faith and

Church , for which their forefathers became exiles in this ’ land . Truly has Father James prayer been answered, and in him have the words of the Royal Psalmist been fulfilled : “ ’ — Thou hast given him his heart s de sire : and hast not ” withholden from him the will of his lips . (Psalm XX, “ The other name , inscribed on this monument, is that E h rn of Right Reverend Angus Bernard M ac ac e , first ri Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown . He came to P nce

- Edward Island in 1790 , and during forty five years , thirty one of which were spent as a missionary priest , and the

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SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

e b st known to the Scottish pioneers , and the one , in which e e they gave xpr ssion to their feelings , as they hailed, for the the first time , beautiful and picturesque shores of ri P nce Edward Island .

nH e f The Honorable Joh . Bell , L ader o the Govern e e e m nt having b n introduced by the Chairman, spoke on e of b half the Province .

A S f He said Premier o the Province, it is my priv t o e ilege ext nd t o all visitors assembled here, and especially to all visitors of the good old Highland stoc k a most cordial

. e welcome The Province also ext nds a welcome . Our — visitors will notice that Dame nature no doubt in honor f o the occasion , has donned her richest dress, her most attractive holiday attire .

n Nowhere else o the face of the Globe , will you find a W e Sk SO land h re the y is blue , the climate so invigorating, S e O the flowe rs SO be autiful , the fields O gr en , the crops S promising and the leaves on the forest trees so luxuriant .

And the people of the Province also bid you welcome .

This is the land noted above all others for it s hospitality. Prince Edward Island and hospitality are synonymous o of terms . He re to our visitors from abr ad the door every to home is Ope n , every hand extended welcome you , every table spread for your refreshment and every heart to be e we cheered and honored by your visitation . Som times are e n called upo n to honor a distinguished visitor, and w co fer We we do . upon him the free dom of the City. Here more confer upo n all our visitors from abroad the freedom of every home and the welcome of every heart .

This Pro vince is deeply indebted t o the Highland im n m igrants . In his native land the Highla der possesses ' a certain characteristics and National virtues . These ch r , ' act e ristics and virtues he brought with him across the Seas and implanted them and developed them in our midst . He came to this neighborhood a hundred and fifty

88 M UM E T TO THE P EE S ON N ION R ,

re t e at Sco t chfort ul 19t h 192 2 ommem oratin i E c d J y , , c g the arr v al in

. . land of t he fir t S ot ti h at holi e i P E Is s c s C c m grant s, in 1772

SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD I SLAND

a o . years g He found it a Wilderness without a road, a bridge , ea n e n r a cl ri g, a dw lli g, a school , a Chu ch . With indomitable e e t e n rgy he a tack d and felled the fore st s , cle are d and cul t iv at e d t h e e fi lds , built the dwellings , const ructe d roads e e e e and bridg s , stablish d schools and er cte d Churche s . e Thes re sults of his labo rs , these blessings of civilization

he transmitted to his poste rity, and thanks to the High land emigration we are in the enjoyment of these blessings

today .

The Highlander is a Patriot in the highest sense ; he

has profound respe ct for duly constituted authority . Be fore t he Union with England he was devoted to the cause of Prince Charlie ; after the Union he is equally devot ed to t he f British Crown . Once he was proud o Bonnie Scotland . He i is still proud . But after the Un on he became prouder f f o it, and o that Empire of which Scotland forms so im

portant a part , proud of that Empire, whose flag floats on e the seven Se as , whose drum b at s reverbe rate around the

IS there diffi cult and dangerous fighting to be done ! e r the Highlander is usually select d fo the task . The Heights

of Quebec must be scaled : the World held this impo ssible.

Yet the Highlander accomplished the impo ssible, climbe d n f the Heights , co quere d Montcalm on the Plains o Abraham , b ri h s em and won for the Empire Canada, the g e t g in the

British Crown .

Is fight ing still to be done ! Is the very existence of the Empire at stake ! Is th ere a hurried call from across the Se as for help ! Who re sponds promptly voluntarily ’ heroically ! N ot the old Highlander ; the Highlander s sons . nl Prompted by the Patriotic spirit of his race , he e ists , finds

- to ad his way to the battle front , is the first over the p, re y . eve r ready to pour forth his blood- nay to yield up his life ’ for the Empire s cause .

Do you ask for proof ! Look at the long list of M cDon who S alds, and other Highland lads who never returned, leep

89 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

their last Sleep beneath the poppies and the rows of white on he crosses t fields of France and Flanders . Th e Highlander is re ligious , is deeply devoted to his h Church , honors t e empty foundation of it with a mag nifi ien Y s t c t Runic Cross . e he is olerant, has respect for the religious convictions of his neighbours . It is this spirit of toleration that has contributed so much to the neighbour i l ne ss and concord , that happily prevails in this Province today .

Here is presented an obj ect lesson to the rest of the W e orld . Here all classes , all s cts , all nationalities , the S English , Irish , Scotch and French labor together houlder — “ t o Shoulder, or as the man with the kilt would say Knee ” t o kne e for common interests and for the general welfare u one of our belove d Canada . The Highlander has one fa lt , of weakness . The moment he removes from the influence e his native hills and his highland hom , that moment be become s unse ttled , restless , disposed to wander wide over

Y ou e . the face of the Earth . meet him ev rywhere He Y ou migrates eve n from this fair Province . find him in Boston and in the New England States ; in the Canadian

West and on the Pacific Coast .

Happily the Scot has betimes a homing instinct . The in . feeling is in the air . It becomes epidemic Under its

dst ance , fluence , he despises long and loss of time and great expens Back he come s by hundreds to the land of his e .

of old , birth , to the Island , back to grasp the hands friends one back to the spot , where his ancestors landed hundred a t o h and fifty years ago , b ck see where their first C urch was erected, back to the Old Cemetery where the honored t o bones of his forefathers repose , back take a prominent t part in the erection and unveiling of this noble Monumen . Yes to all these visitors from abroad we again extend of Provmce the cordial welcome of the Government, the ”

. It seIf nd of all the people of the Province ‘ o oul t President of the Benev lent Irish NaPeter M cC »

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SCOTTISH CATHOLICS- IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

understand the bitter trial it was to those good people t o of e To be thus bereft th ir faithful guide and counsellor. e - b forced t o bid adieu to their mist clad mountains , bonnie — glens and sunny braes to sever the ties of friendship and x er kinship and face pioneer life was, indeed, a hard e p i n e ce , but it was not to be compare d with the loss of their e belov d Pastor. In this dark hour it would seem their praye rs ascended to Heaven that some day in the future a fitting tribute would be paid by their descendants to the memory of their lamente d Pastor. Their thoughts must have been in harmony just then with the lines of Thomas n d Moore , in o e of his b eautiful Sacred Songs which rea s

As down in the sunless retreats of the Ocean Swe et flowers are springing no mortal can see So deep in my soul the still prayer of devotion

Unheard by the world rises silent to Thee, ” My G od trembling to Thee .

The years sped on without a Mo nument being erected his Mill D . until Rev . J . C . M c an, D . , in History of the Diocese of of r of Charlotteto wn , broke the Silence the long vigil thei descendants by calling attention in his first volume t o their “‘ t the still of appare nt ne glec , with the result that prayer ” out devotion was heard, and blossomed by the erection and f unveiling on this hollowed spot, o this beautiful and endur o ing tribute t o t he memory of a brave little C lony, whose s courage and steadfastness has Since been , and will alway prove an inspiration to all who have heard or read their history .

Permit me t o say a few words on the Scots generally. We all know that Scotch men and women are proverbial the not t world over for their hospitality . I need quo e history id of m d . I d to prove this . It is a matter com on knowle ge not reside in Kings County for several years in the midst of the sons of the heather Without learning the truth of my statements .

Taking a broader Vi ew of the subj ect , I think all will

92 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISL AND agree that the pages of history do not furnish the names of brave r warriors or abler Statesmen than Scotland has

e - produced . Ther is no great modern battle field in the world that has not resounded with the military tread of conquer ing Scots .

e m , While all th se claims are freely ad itted, I think if there is one thing more than another that Sheds glory on he of he Auld Scotia, it is t patriotism r sons . This in my opinion is due to their language and their literature . Where can you find such patriot ic sentiments as are breathed in ’ “ ” ’ Burns Scot Wha Hae or Sir Walter Scott s anathema on the man without a country, Let me quote him

Breathes there a man with soul so dead,

Who never t o himself hath said, “ ” n ! This is my ow , my native land ’ Whose heart hath ne er within him burned, As home his footsteps he hath turned From wandering on a foreign strand ;

If such there breathe, go mark him well ; For him no minist rel raptures swell ;

High though his titles , proud his name, Boundless his wealth as wish can claim ;

Despite those titles power and pelf ,

The wretc h conce ntered all in self,

Living shall forfeit fair renown , And doubly dying shall go down

To the vile dust, from whence he sprung, ” Unwept , unhonoured, and unsung.

This striking passage gives us a clear idea of how an unpatriotic Scot is regarded by his fellow countrymen , and tells us how they have been taught their well-known love of ” Country .

Mr. McCourt then referred briefly to the present turmoil in Ireland and predicted that ‘ it would soon pass away and be followed by a new era of peace and prosperity.

93 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

not Ireland was alone in waging Civil wars . England has had her Civil wars in ple nty : France has had hers : Germany t oo , had many bitter family fights , and the United States had her four long years of internecine strife . It seems to b e f the fate o every country, that possesses a virile and progressive population . M Concluding his Speech Mr. cCourt expressed pride in of a the, growing national sentiment C nada and her immense re sourées e s e and assur d pro p rity . He also held that Canada has a great advantage in being governed in her infancy as r — a Nation , by four of the g e atest races in the world viz he h t English , t e French , the Irish and the Scotch , whose sons , if we may j udge by their performances during the r o e Great War, a e re ady and able t take th ir part in de f fending the Thron e and Crown o Great Britain .

M I f Mr . James c saac spoke in behalf o the Scottish

Catholic laity, who were particularly interested in the e f h a cel bration o t e day . His address w s as follows The celebration in which we participate today is of profound We e Significance and sacred character . are ass mbled to commemorate , in a spe cial manner, the virtues , the labors, and the sacrifices of two apostolic men . After inaugurating ’ the day s ce lebration by religious exercises , prayer, thanks n e of giving and fitting e ulogy , we ow assist at the cer mony solemnly dedicating a monumental shaft as a perpetual memorial of these illustrious dead .

The holy Bishop and Priest , whose names are inscribed on thi s monume nt, were born in Scotland , that land des “ ”

and . crib e d by the po et as , Caledonia stern wild It is true that Scotland is a land of rugged hills and heathery ‘ ’ of le ScOt dales , of lochs and firths , mountain and g n ; but land can boast of much more than her unrivalled natural scenery . In proportion to population , probably no country of Europe has produced so m any great men , whether in n the mechanical arts , or in the learned professio s ; in s Scholarship and Philosophy, in Literature and State man

94

SCOTTI SH CATHOLIC S IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

— conditions in Scotland about this period one hundred and fifty years ago .

This was one hundred and Six years before the restor of ation the Scottish Hie rarchy. Bishop Hay had been conse crated and had entere d upon his Episcopal labors three years previously ; the poet Burns , was thirteen years of

n - age , and had ot yet begun t o Sing, and Sir Walter Scott was ne ol but a child o year d. The period was approximately synchronous with the rising under Prince Charle s Edward 1 4 5 h in 7 , and t e disastrous culmination of that emprise at ' ' B l f i 1 4 the att e o Culloden n 7 6 .

The Highlanders and Islanders had the Scourge applied “ to them pretty severely for their devotion to Prince ” n t n Charlie . They did o stop to consider whether or ot what they were doing was wise or politic . They were actuated by one sentiment ; they followed the King of the ” Highland hearts , Bonnie Princ e Charlie .

h now T ose young Priests turned their faces westward, our and in vision contemplated lonely Island, as the place of their future missionary labours . The prospect was not alluring : Here was a sparsely populated region, almost completely covered with forests and enveloped for half the year in a mantle of snow . But they had knowledge that some of their fellow countrymen and others in this distant n n land, yearned for the bread of life and had o o e t o break u on it t o them . They set o t their mission with undaunted n courage a d apostolic zeal , wearing the breastplate of j us of a tice, their feet shod with the Gospel peace , and be ring the torchlight of Faith , which illuminated their path like a m bright orifla e . i The story of their miss onary labours , their apostolic zeal and saintly lives in this Island, has bee n eloquently unfolde d to you , and I need not make any further refer ence thereto . It is in every way fitting that the monolith , crowned by the Celtic Cross , here erected to their memory, should be formed of the granite of their native land, and

96

SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

S s hould be fa hioned by Scottish artisans . The Poet Horace, t m t con e pla ing what he had written, and realizing the in was to x for all fluence it destined e ercise future time, ex claimed

Exegi monumentum ae re perennius

I have erected a monument more enduring than brass. With gre ater truth can this be said of those t o whose i memory the monument we have today ded cated, is erected. f The monument o love , veneration and homage implanted in the hearts of all who are the beneficiaries of their apo st n olic labors a d sacre d ministry, will surely endure from

generation to gene ration down the corridors of time.

I have no doubt this will be come a place of pilgrimage, n e e e c and that the , mo um nt h r ere ted will continue a per petual memorial of sacred duty well done ; priceless service ‘ generously rendered and pure st self-sacrifice nobly con ” summate d .

The next speaker t o address the audience was Hon orabl e Aubin E . Arsenault, Assistant Judge of the Supreme u f Co rt o Prince Edward Island. He Spo ke in the name of the Acadian People of the Province , of whom a great num “ e — I ber was present . His addr ss was as follows am much pleased, indeed , t o be present on this occasion , and t o witness the enthusiasm , that accompanies this celebration . I am particul arly ple ased at having been asked t o take part in t he n proceedi gs t hat mark with fitting solemnity, the unveil ing of this beautiful monument , and I desire publicly to e in i thank the Committee, for their kind and flatt ring v t ation.

The celebration of this day, though organized by the n Scottish Catholic citizens of the Province , is o e that ap a e peals to the sympathie s of all cl ss e s and cr eds . This is abundantly shown by the great numbe rs , who despite ad he verse conditions, have graced t occasion with their pre e in sence. I may say howev r, that it possesses a special t erest for us Acadians , because, there has existed from

97 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND ~

early times , a strong bond of sympathy, between the A c adians - and their Scottish Catholic fellow citizens , and as s year go by, this spirit of sympathy seems to grow in e depth and int nsity . In the old countries across the sea we find the beginnings of this mutual sympathy, and it is there no fore, t surprising that it should have been transported a cross the ocean, and cherished in this new land by the im migrants Of both races .

Mary Queen of Scots , whose meteoric career has ting f ed the history o Scotland with a glow of golden romance, received her education at the Court of France, and when She e n r turned to her ow Kingdom , French in sentiment , in a i langu ge and culture , She was able t o w n the love and admiration of her pe ople, and she would doubtlessly have f continued t o hold that esteem and a fection , if it were not for the fact, that She admitted to her councils , unworthy men, who for selfish interests , were willing to betray their

Queen and their country .

The Scottish Highlanders , who fought under Wolfe at i the taking of Quebec d d conquer the French on that day, but they in turn fell victims t o the charms and fasc inations of the French Canadian maidens , and hence many of them married French Canadian wives , settled down in Quebec , and became in course of time more French than the French themselves

It is easy to trace a great Similarity of experience b e tween the Scottish Catholic immigrants and the Acadian e Pionee rs of this Province . The early Acadian suffer d ’ sorely for conscience s sake . He has borne persecution and ex ile in his steadfast adherence to that Faith . that is dearer s lot im t o him than all beside . A imilar befell the Scottish t o m igrants . They t oo , had to bear testimony their love t o i to of religion . They were forced bid ad eu home and of friends , sever the ties country and kindred , that they might preserv e for themselves and their childre n the price less gift of Divine Faith . On their arrival in this country of they were welcomed with open arms, by the remnants

98

SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISL AND will thus prove a stimulant to the present and future gen e rations to , walk steadfastly in the path blaz ed by devote d and e ancestors , as long as they pers vere in that path , they will of a surety be a splendid factor in moulding the BESt of destinies Church and Country.

e Short sp eches were also delivered by Mr . Crosby, Am n erican Co sular Agent at Charlotteto wn , representing t he nt e M D n . o al U i ed Stat s , by D A . c d, Esquire, represent ing the Intercolonial Club Of Boston and John Sark of of - Lennox Island, Chief the Mic Mac Indians . The last mentioned was dressed in the picturesque costume of an

Indian Chief, and presented a fine and imposing appear ance . He be gan his remarks in English and having spoken

for - thus a while ended in the Mic Mac tongue .

At the close of the Speeches a goodly number began to wend their way homeward , whilst others remained on the grounds until comparatively a late hour. After tea those prese nt we re treated t o an enjoyable concert by the pipe band of the Cale donia Club and by the Band of the League of l the Cross . As the Shadows of evening began to fal , Piper McKenz ie of the Caledonia Club standing in front of “ ” the monument played Lochaber no more, the air usually played in the old days . on the docks of the Old country, as the emigrants ships rele ased from their moorings , started on their melancholy voyage to the N ew World ; and as th e plaintive strains of the Old familiar air welled up in the hush of the fading twilight , wood and clearing, hill and fen valle y , verdant bank and marshy grew resonant under the Spell , and se nt back a thousand speaking echoes , that s e emed to bridge the chasm of a hundre d and fifty years, and gently died away at the foot Of the monumental block, SO recently hewn

“ From the hills our fathers trod.

Then the crowd finally dispersed, and the celebration f 92 2 k e of o 1 its plac among the things the past, and went t o swell the long list of Scottish Catholic achievements in Prince Edward Island .

100 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Whilst our thoughts thus go back to the early days of our Country, and lovingly dwell upon the coming of our forefathers , it is right that we glance over present condit ions , and endeavor to understand the relationship that Sho uld exist between the Scottish Catholic celeb ration of 19 2 2 and the future of our Country as a whole . It was not for a idle show, nor to indulge a feeling of empty v nity that th e movement was proj ected . It was rather to give practical expre ssion to the feelings of gratitude, that dwell in the hearts of the present gene ration, and at the same time t o teach the lesson that no people , who hope t o live in history f can afford to leave in oblivion the memory o those, Whose early sacrifices prove the foundation of their present great ness .

A country Without monuments is often a country without real national ambition . It is lacking in at least one t of the s rongest incentives , that go to create an active public Spirit ; and perhaps this is the reason , so many of t he present generation in Prince Edward Island are so slow in assumng the burden of true citiz enship, and in contribut ing according t o their opportunities , towards the upbuilding of our common country . Monuments se rve an excellent fl purpose in this regard . They re ect the glories of the past ; they fire t he enthusiasm of the present ; they furnish lofty ideals begotten of what is best and noblest in our his tory, and stimulate to greater achievements by the example

Of those , whose name s enshrined in stone and marble bid n defiance to time a d change .

“ For t o live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. SCOTTISH CATHOLIC S IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

new i in This is as yet a country, comparat vely spe ak g, and with the exception of the family headstones that deck our cemeteries , we are a people practically Without monu ments . Until latte r years our people were so engrosse d with f the cares and dif iculties of making a living, that they had little time to give t o recording or commemorating the deeds nd of the past. But now, that a brighter era has dawned a easier circumstances prevail , it is right and just that they Should turn their minds t o a consideration of the various agencies , that have conspired t o bring about the material and social development that obtains in the country at the present day ; and in this way they will naturally be moved t o revere the memory of the men and women of the past , whose whole - souled devotedness and spirit of sacrifice as to the made present conditions po ssible . Theirs it w fell t o a forest , and clear the land amid circumstances that weaker race would have been intolerable ; and surely it is ’ h e the bounden duty of those , w o reap in comfort the harv st they sowed amid incredible privations , t o cherish their fair S l not ad m fame , and to see to it that their memory ha l f e fro

to a c . the land, that owes SO much their generous s crifi es

102

SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD

Lastly, we have a large and influential body of Irish e of ho peopl , originally the same stock as the Scot ch , and w came thither unde r like conditions of persecution at home in and hopes Of religious freedom abroad. They are an dust ri u - o s progre ssive and God fearing people , who have prospered well in this country, and have formed themselves fl uri hin i r a into o s g par she s, Where they are a powe ful f ctor f r i o good , in the civil and relig ous life of the community.

In the hands Of all these people lies the future Of the n Catholic Church in Prince Edward Island, and o their united action it depends t o make that future grand and u glorio s .

The history of the evolution of this prosperous Pro Vince from humble and obscure beginnings is an interesting f na wt of the and asci ting story , whilst the steady gro h ke Catholic Church in the face of many odds , ever eping e C o t not s i i and pac with ivil devel pmen , is les nterest ng m ad irable. impro vement prepares the way for further improvement that the development of one age ' leads up t o the great er ook de velopme nt of succeeding ages ; then may we not , l forward t o wonderful progress in the next one hundred and fifty years . “ ” The publishers of this Me rnorial V olume fondly c ha s athoil n herish the hope , t t the Scotti h C cs of the ext t o he r i of hei race and d t o e h t best t adtions t r , that b e g t er t of Oth al ie t do e a t with hose er nation it s , hey will th ir p r F well and rion for Faith and atherland . If m the dark and

a v t we not e of much , what greater chie emen s may exp ct d w them , now that the clou s have rolled a ay, and religious - o e fre edom like th e sunin it s noon day splend ur, Sh ds its i vivifying rays upon all their ac tiv ties . n an May the little mound at Scotchfort , upo which st ds

SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWA RD ISLAND

the monument to the pioneers , become in future years a trysting place for Scottish Catholic thought and sentiment ; may the descendants of those pioneers from all over the country, come thither in spirit to reinvigorate their ener n gies , by a meditation on the deeds of the past, and may o e ll and a find in that hallowed Spot , an inspiration urging them ever onward t o higher and nobler achievements . Such a w s the dominant thought in the minds of those, who or aniz e 1 g d the celebration of 92 2 , and such is the idea cry st alliz ed in the monument erected t o the memory of the early emigrants .

Remember the days of old, think upon every genera tion ; ask thy Father and He will declare t o thee ; thy eld ” “ 7 e ers and they will tell thee . (Deut . XXXII. ) We hav o r he ard , 0 God, with our ears : u fathers have declare d t o us .

The work thou hast wrought in their days, and in the l F r n f h days of o d. o they got ot possession o t e land by their own sword : neither did their own arm save them.

But thy right hand and thy arm, and the light countenance : because thou wast well pleased with P ( S. XLIII. 2 . 3 . seq. )

105

SCOTTI SH CATHOL ICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

REVEREND JAMES MACDONALD

Born in Scotland. Made his early studies at home . l e Went to the Scots Co leg in Rome , where he was raised t o th e h a 17 9 holy Priest ood in the ye r 6 . Labored on the Mis of sions Scotland for three years. Came to P . E . Island with the immigrants of 1772 and remained with them till his 1 5 death in 88 . His remains lie in an unmarked grave, in ol the d French cemetery at Scotchfort .

RIGHT REVEREND ANGUS BERNARD MACEACHERN

First Bishop of Charlottetown. Born in Scotland . f St udied with Bishop Hugh Macdonald, Vicar Apostolic o e the Highland District . Finish d his studies at Valladolid n s 1 in Spain , where he was ordai ed prie t in the year 787. A

missionary in Scotland for three years . Came to P . E . e 1790 Island with immigrants in the y ar . Bec ame Auxiliary

1 1 182 1 . Bishop in 8 9 . Consecrated Bishop at Quebec in 1 2 Became Bishop of Charlot tetown in 8 9 . Died at Savage Harbor in the year

RIGHT REVEREND BERNARD DONALD MACDONALD

i of Second Bishop of Charlottetown . F rst native e o Prince Edward Island raised to the pri stho d. Born at l di Allisary , near Mount Stewart. Made principa stu es at e e 1 82 2 th e Seminary of Quebec . Ordain d th re in . Labored on the missions of the Dioc ese of Charlottetown for about

MacEachern 1 83 6 . thirty seven years. Succeeded Bishop in ’ Consecrated Bishop in St . Patrick s Church Quebec, in ’ O Dunstan s e ctober 183 7. Die d at Saint Coll ge, on the e 3 oth of December in year 185 9 . His r mains lie under the ’ Dunstan s h . sanctuary of St . Cathedral , C arlottetown

109 SCOTT I SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

REVEREND AUGUSTINE MACDONALD

of . M Brother Capt John cDonald of Glenaladale .

. O s Born in Scotland rdained prie t in Rome . Spent over thIrty a on P ye rs the missions in Scotland . Came t o rince old Edward Island in his age, and went to live with his brother at Tracadie, where he remained till his death .

REVEREND JOHN MACDONALD

Son of M of Captain John acdonald Glenaladale . Born T i . at racad e Made his primary studies at his home . Later, u i n st d ed in E gland, and finally went t o Paris for the study of Theology , and there he was ordained priest in the year 182 5 . Spent five years on the Missions of the Dioce se of Glas w in s go Scotland. Returned to P . E . I land, in the year 1 0 83 , bringing with him the original settlers of Fort Aug ’ ustus . Spent eight years on the mi ssions of King s County.

Afterwards went to England, and lived at Brighton near 1 74 n 8 . Lo don, where he died in the year

REVEREND FRAN CIS JOHN MACDONALD

’ t o the First student of St . Andrew s College raised priesthood . Born at East Point . Made his early studies in ’ e the district school . Entered Saint Andrew s Coll ge soon afte r it opened . Went to St . Hyacinthe College in the t of Province of Quebec , and la er to the Seminary Quebec , 1 4 0 where he was ordained Priest in the year 8 . In the fall of that year came t o Launching and for the next Sixty ’ years had charge of many of the missions of King s County . ’ 1900 Die d at Saint George s in the Month of August .

VERY REVEREND JAMES MACDONA LD

’ t o Born at Saint Andrew s . One of the first students ’ t e s enter Saint Andrew s College . Comple d his tudies at the was Seminary of Quebec , where he ordained priest in the

n 2 6th of 184 2 . Cathedral , o the June Spent a short time

110

SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

REVEREND PIUS MACPHEE

’ Born at St . Margaret s . . One of the earlier students ’

St . e at Andr s College . Continued his studies at the a f in Semin ry o Quebec . Orda ed at Rustico by Bishop Mac ’ Served on the missions of King s ’ ’ St . Andrew s and St . Peter s . He 2 n 1 n die on the d of July 889 , a d was ’ in the parish cemetery of Saint Bonaventure s i Tracad e .

REVEREND DANIEL MACDONALD

’ of A native Saint Andrew s Parish , where he com mence d th 4 4 his studies . When e College was closed in 18 , he se t for e e the PIo a an e out Rome , ent r d p g da Coll ge , and t o n 5 t 1 1 was raised the priesthoo d , o the h of April 85 . On his return to Prince Edward Island he was appointed assist t o the In h r ant Bishop t e Parish of Rustico, and Hope Rive . ’ Later he had charge of the most eastern missions of King s as t for County . W parish priest in Charlotte own some ’ years . Aft erwards professor at Saint Dunstan s College, l o n d In be and finaly pastor at Ge rgetow , where he ied the 1 e ginning of t he year 886 . He liesat r st , in the cemetery

h f . of t e Parish o St . James , Georgetown

REVEREND ANGUS MACDONALD

’

u P . e . Born in th Parish of St Col mba s , East oint Made

y studies at the Central Academy in Charlottetown . at e one Entered the Seminary Queb c , but after year was oblige d w return home on account of bad health . Made private Studies with Bishop Macdonald at Rustico , and was z 1 st 1 5 5 there ordained priest on November , 8 . First Rec ’ o for t or of St. Dunstan s College , a p sition he held almost ’ a fifteen years . P stor at Fort Augustus , Baldwin s Road t and Cardigan Bridge . Spent some time as assis ant at in r A 2 9th 1 889 Rustico . Died Cha lottetown pril , and was ’ a . buried in the cemetery of St . Dunst n s , Charlottetown

1 12 RIG HT REVEREND DANIEL JEROM E G ILLI S

orn a M ’ t i ou he De c . 4 th 184 2 . M ad hi tu i B sc c , e s s d e s at St . Dunst an s olle e and M ont re al Se m nar r C g i y . O dained p riest in M ont real ’ M a l st 1870 . urat e fo om e m n h o t at . t i y , C r s s St Pa r ck s , M ont real . ’ ’ a t or at St . ndr w s e St . e t e r a o n n P s A , P s , E st P i t a d Indian Riv e r. am e d om an re lat e b o L ! N R P y P p e e o III . Spe cial b ene fact or t o M onument F n u d.

SCOTT ISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAN D

REVEREND DUGALD STANISLA US MACDONALD

In erne sshir c Born in v e , S otland. Came t o Prince E s of 1 dward Island about the clo e the year 85 8 . A p a pointed ssistant to Bishop Macdonald at Rustico . Lat er ’ s ni erved at Kinkora and Kelly s Cross and Tig sh . Went t o 1 1 Miramichi early in the year 86 , where a few years later, he met his death by drowning.

REVEREND DUGALD M. MACDONALD

’ Pis ui o Born at q d in the Parish f St . Andrew s. Made his Dun earliest studies in the district school . Entered St . ’ h of stan s College soon after it opened. T e first student ’ n n St . Du st a s to be raised to the priesthood. Studied

Theology at the Grand Seminary of Quebec . Ordained in n 1 Charlott etown by Bishop MacI tyre on November 2 st , 1 61 a o 8 . He immediately took up work in the P rish f Tig nish . Later was appoint ed t o the missions in eastern ’ t o King s County . Some years afterwards he returned

Tignish , where he continues his ministerial labors , despite f o t he infirmities of old age . In the month o N vember 1 886 , he celebrated the silver jubilee of his ordination , and was raised t o the dignity of Domestic Prelate, in rec ognition fi of his long service to the Diocese . Twenty ve years later i he had the rare privilege of celebrat ng his golden jubilee. While still in the active discharge of his duties as parish priest, it was his gre at distinction to celebrate his diamond 1 2 1 anniversary in November 9 .

REVEREND DUGALD J. MACISAAC

a A native of Vernon River Parish . Amongst the e rl ’ u i iest students at Saint Dunstan s College. St d ed Theology e at the Grand Seminary of Quebec . Ordained Pri st by 1 6 Bishop MacInt yre on the 2 0t h of August 8 3 . His first

o . charge was at Tignish , where he spent about f ur years

Left the Diocese , and went to the United States . He never again returned to Prince Edward Island.

1 13 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISL AND

REVEREND DONALD FRANCIS MACDONALD

’ ’ of Native Saint Andrew s . Studied at Saint Dunstan s

College . Afterwards at the Grand Seminary of Quebe c . Ordained in Charlottetown by Bishop M acIntyre November 2 3 r 1 64 d, 8 . Spe nt the first months of his prie stly caree r e with his uncle Ve ry Reverend Jam s Macdonald, Pastor at In o f f dian River . To k charge o the Missions o Souris , Rollo ’ e Bay and Littl Pond, in King s County, and died at Souris on 17 f 1902 an waS P the th o April , d . buried in the arish

cemetery .

REVEREND RONALD BERNARD MACDONALD m Born at Bedegue . Attended the district school for so e ’

Dun n . time. Entered St . st a s College at an early age Fin f ished his studies at the Se minary o Quebec . Ordained 14 1 6 6 . prie st by Bishop MacIntyre on September th , 8 Pro ’ Dunst an s C for . fe ssor at St . ollege some time Pastor at es Miscouche, Wellington and Grand River . Joined the J

uits in the United State s , with whom he remained some e e years . Returned t o his native Dioc se , and having sp nt

some time as Pastor at Rustico and afterwards at Souris, he n re tired from the act ive ministry , a d took up his quarters at t he Charlotteto wn Hospital where he remaine d till his 92 2 death in the month of November 1 . REVEREND RODOLPHUS PETER MACPHEE

’ A native of the Parish of St . George s . Attended the e for m district school . Studied privat ly a ti e under the

a . direction of his pastor Rev . Francis J . Macdon ld Made e his theological course in France . Ordain d Priest , by the

- of St . 2 9th 1867. a Bishop of Evreux, on June , Had ch rge ’ ’ of for . Andre w s and St . Peter s a time Had charge Rus 1888 - e him re tico , till the year , when ill health forc d to

tire . Spent some time in Colorado , whence he returned and e too k up his residence in Charlott town , and later at George 0 HIS 1 0 . e e t he of 9 town , wh r he died in month November remains lie in the Cemetery of his native parish of St. ’ George s . 114

SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

2 3 rd f o O e 1 870 . hea t w the ctob r His l h as, for his friends n of n a co stant source a xiety, and in fact he was never able t o of l take up the work the ho y ministry . He continued t o i ’ l ve at the home of his father at St . Andrew s , and there on 1 1th of 1 he died the August 872 , leaving behind him e for s a wonderful r putation per onal sanctity . His remains n a A d ’ ' lie under the sa ctu ry Of St. n rew s Church , close t o m of i the to b the illustrious and saintly B shop MacEachern.

REVEREND DONALD JAMES GREGORY MACDONALD

’ of A native St . Andrew s Parish . When quite young D ’ . uns an he entered St t s College, and later went t o Rome t o continue his studies . Failing health obliged him t o re r f tu n home, and after a period of orced repose , he entered al the Seminary Of Montre , where he was raised to the holy on the 8t h of O o 1 H i priesthood ct ber of the year 871 . s first employment in the - Diocese was that of assistant t o t ‘ Reverend Peter MacPhee at Rustico . La er he was in r ’ charge of East Point and St . Ma garet s , and from there ’ Fi O he moved t o St . George s. nding the infirmities of ld i min age coming fast upon him , he retired from the act ve ‘ his a ist ry , and is spending his declining days , in priv te

RIGHTR EVEREND JAMES CHARLES MACDON ALD

r Al li r The fourth Bishop of Cha lottetown . Born at sa y ’ in l the Parish of St . Andrew s . Studied at the Centra

Academy in Charlottetown , from which he graduated with ’ ’ - Dunstan s H r . a teacher s license . e afterwa ds entered St u College, and having finished his Classical co rse, he went t o the Grand Seminary of Montreal for the study of theol e of ogy . Ordaine d t o the priesthood, in the Cath dral Char

M Int r on 4 th f 1873 . lottetown, by Bishop ac y e the o July ’ u s e He was for a time PrOfessor at St . D n t n s College, and a e t w somewhat later Pastor of C rdigan Bridg , George o n, and ’ ’ D n n t . u sta s Baldwin s Road. Became Rec or Of St College

116 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

i and whilst hold ng that position was appointed Coadjutor

t o t he Bishop of Charlottetown , t o whom he succeeded on of n ot 1 the death the latter o the 3 h of April, 189 . Ruled

the Diocese, for upwards Of twenty years , and died at the s 1 1 epi copal residence in the Month of Dece mber 9 2 . His re ’ D n mains lie under the sanctuary of St . u st an s Cathedral ,

Charlottetown.

REVEREND MICHAEL J. MACMILLAN

A native of the Parish of Indian River. Spent several ’ l D tan s . years at St. uns College Made his theologica

studies at the Grand Seminary of Montreal . Ordained in

MacIn r 4 th 1873 . Charlottetown by Bishop ty e , On July , Af Spent a Short time at the Cathedral of Charlottetown . t erwards had charge of the Missions of Grand River West, ’

a . e and adj acent Missions . Tr nsferred to St Theresa s , wh re 1 wa he died July 12 , 898 , and s buried in the Parish

REVEREND ALLAN J . MACDONALD

’ of t A n r w s i A native S J d e , where he received the rud ’ Dunst an ments Of his education . Entered St . s College , on and the completion Of his classical course , went t o Mon treal to the Grand Seminary for the study of theology. Returned home and was ordained prie st by Bishop Mac in h 5 th Intyre , t e Parish church Of Indian River, on the of ’ 1 74 D ns July 8 . A few years professor at St . u tan s College , and later was appoint ed to the Parish Of Fort Augustus , i where he is still engage d in the work of the m nistry , after l f a period O forty five years .

A REVEREND L UGHLIN J . MACDONALD

Born in the Parish of Morell . Educated at St . Dun ’ a of st n s College . Continued his studies at the Seminary

Quebec , where he was ordained priest on the 2 4 th Of Feb ruar 1 y 878 . After his ordination he spent some time at

117 SCOTTI SH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Sillery Quebec, and on his return home was appointed as ist ant s at the Cath edral of Charlottetown . Some time later was place d in charge of the Missions of Grand River

” e L W st and ot II, and Brae and continued in that locality till his he alth failed and he was obliged t o retire from the active ministry and take up his residence at t he City HOS t he pital , Charlottetown . During time Of his retirement , he e founde d the Orphanage Of St . Vincent de Paul , n ar Char the on 4 th of h lott e t own . He died at Hospital the Marc 1 wa in 19 6 , and s buried amongst his kindred the cemetery ’ at St . Andrew s .

REVEREND EDWARD WALKER , D . D .

’ A native of Launching in the Parish of St . George s . won Studied in the district school , where he a scholarship e at Prince of Wales College, and later spent s veral years ’ e i al at St . Dunst an s College . Made his th olog c studies at a the Grand Seminary of Quebec. Ord ined Priest by Bishop 9th M acInt yre in the Cathedral of Charlottetown , July , ’ Dunst an s . e 1877. Professor at St . College Appoint d Pas Seeill on t or at Rollo Bay and Little Pond, where he carries

t he work Of the ministry .

REVEREND ALEXANDER MACGILLIVRAY

t o A native of the Diocese of Antigonish . Came the 1 879 Diocese Of Charlottetown in the fall Of the year , and

was appointe d t o the Cathedral in Charlottetown. He

, founded there a branch Of the St . Vincent de Paul Society which continues till this day its charit able work amongst ’ c the poor of Charlottetown . He died at the Bishop s Pala e and was on th e 4 th of July 1883 , buried in the Cathedral d to cemetery , where his friends raise a fitting monument

his memory .

REVEREND RODERICK MACDONALD who Another priest of the Diocese Of Antigonish , Roden ck t was . labored in the Diocese of Charlot etown, Rev

118

SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

E O VERY REVER ND J SEPH C . MACLEAN

’ Born at De Gros Marsh in the Parish of St. George s . Made his early studies under the direction of Reverend ’

. n Francis J Macdonald. Spent some years at St . Dunsta s i College . Fin shed his preparation for the priesthood at i r on the Seminary of Quebec , and received ord nation the e 1 t 1 i and the 3 h Of June 886 . Assistant in his nat ve Parish, 0 agaIn for some time at the Cathedral of Charlottet own.

Appo inted t o the spiritual charge of East Point and St . ’ ’ e he ‘ Margaret s . Thence he returned t o St . George s , wher

a n . was pastor till the death of Reverend Francis J. M cdo ald His next position in the Diocese was Pastor Of Summerw

to a of . Side, and later he was appointed the P rish Souris, where he still lab ors for the honor and glory Of the Divine b ' Master. Was appo inted Vicar General Of the Diocese y ’ ear m His Lordship Bishop Henry J. O L y, and confir ed in that po sition by the present incumbent of the Diocese of

Charlottetown.

REVEREND JOHN JAMES MACDONALD

Au . Born at Glenfinnan , in the Parish Of Fort gustus ’ n Studied at St. Dunsta s College , and afterwards at Mon treal where he was ordained priest on the 2 2 nd of Decem or Of ber 1888 . Was f a time assistant at the Cathedral Charlottetown Afterwards Pastor at Kink ora and Seven he was , Mile Bay, where he spent almost thirty years when transferred t o Summerside , where he still labors with zeal and success for the salvation Of souls .

L A REVEREND JOHN C . MACMIL N

' d e . Born at Dundas in the Parish of St . Georg s Studie n under the direction of his pastor Reverend Francis Joh

of W . Macdonald , and afterwards at the Prince ales College e i to Went t o the Seminary of Quebec , wh re he was ra sed i 1888 . the priesthoo d on t he 2 2 nd o f December Ass stant

12 0 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

’

tw . at St . George s for o years In charge of the Parish of Palmer Road till forced t o retire from active labor owing t o l- il . f health Pastor at Cardigan Bridge , for upwards o t I n twen y years . S now in retirement, a d lives at the Char l ottetown Hospital.

REVEREND ALEXANDER P. MACLELLAN

14 m Born at Grand River Lot . Studied at the Nor al n School in Charlottetown . Taught school for years . E ter ’ t u of ed S . D nstan s College . Later he went t o the Seminary

Quebec, and at the completion Of his studies was ordained 1 at Montreal on the 5 th of June 890 . On two occasions he ’ t f . as a was appo inted Rector o St . Dunstan s College P tor ’ a St . Margaret s and at present P stor of where he caIrIes on the work of the ministry in the interest of

the souls committe d to his care.

REVEREND ALEXANDER MACAULAY

f f ’ A native o the Parish o St . Peter s . Made his studies ’ Dunstan s at St . College , and afterwards at the Seminary of r on 5 t 1 Quebec . Ordained in Mont eal the h of J une 890 . Assistant at the Charlotte town Cathedral and Secretary t o a the Bishop . Appointed P stor at Morell . Later in charge

Of the Mission of Hope River. At present Pastor at St . ’ Peter s , his native parish , where he labors successfully in of o the interest the pe ple under his care.

RIGHT REVEREND JAMES MORRISON

’ a o Born in the P rish f St . Andrew s . Studied at the ’ o Normal Scho l , and graduated with a teacher s license. ’ i e Dun n Spent some t m at St . sta s College , whence he set out for O Rome and entered the Propaganda College. rdain ed priest in Rome on the first of November in the year 1 889 . O rn t o n his retu Prince Edward Island, he spent ’ o Dun tan s me time as Professor at St . s s College, and assist

12 1 SCOTTISH C A THOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

ant at the Cathedral , and afterwards he became Pastor Of r a W Vernon Rive P rish , and hile there, he was appointed

. S r Bishop Of Antigonish In this phe e Of action, he has c a a a hieved a gre t me sure of success, and continues the good work to the j oy and edification Of his flock:

. I A O REVEREND IGNAT US R . A. M CD NALD

‘

h to . his Born at C arlotte wn Made studies at St . Dun ’ stan s College . Complete d them at the Seminary of Que b ec . O rdained priest in Charlottetown on June 2 5 th 1893 . ’ For a time Professor at St . Dunst an s College. Appointed ’

. 1 Pastor of St Theresa s Parish , in the year 898 , Where he still remains , laboring with success in that portion of the

Vineyard Of the Lord.

REVEREND ALEXANDER J. MACDOUGALL

A of native Of the Parish Grand River west . He spent a term at the Normal School in Charlottetown . Taught ’ D n school for a time . Ent ered St . u stan s College . Con ' inue his i r t d higher studies in the Sem nary Of Quebec . O dained priest by Bishop Macdonald in the Cathe dral of 1 m Ch arlottetown on the 5 th Of June 893 . Remained for so e ’

Dun an . years as professor at St. st s College Appointed

Pastor of the Missions of Brae and Lot II . Became assist ant t o Reverend Dugald Macdonald in Tignish , Where he 1 2 s continued till his death early in the year 9 3 . He lie i n buried in the Cemetery Of St . Simon and Judge, T g ish

D REVEREND DAMIEN J. A. MAC ONALD

of . Born at Glenfinnan , in the Parish Fort Augustus ’ n s Entered St . Dunsta College at an early age, and sub sequently went t o the Grand Seminary Of Quebec , Where he

t o i . was ordained. Served as assistant Reverend Franc s J ’ was few . Macdonald at St . George s for a months His health n of 1891 poor all the While, and at the begi ning November ,

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'' ‘ SCOIIISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

' e nt ered the College of the Propaganda in Rome where he continued his studies and was raised t o the holy priesthood ‘ 1 0 4 in the year 9 . He returned to his native Diocese and ’ i as Dun Spent n ne years professor in St . stan s College, and at the end Of that time he left Prince Edward Island, and e O went abroad, settling down in the Dioc se f Calgary, in in of Alberta , Where he is still employ ed the work the sacred ministry . REVEREND TERRENCE CAMPBELL

Born at Millcove near Tracadie and entered the district at school at an early age . He afterwards spent a term the w s Normal School in Charlotteto n , and took up the profe sion of teacher in the public schools of the Province. He enter ’ the of his ed St . Dunstan s College , and at completion e i and classics set out for Rome , Wher he took up Ph losophy h was Theology at the College Of the Propaganda. T ere he 1 raised t o the priesthoo d on the 1 5 th of June 898 . On his ’ Dunstan s Col St . return home, he was named professor at Was for s of m . lege , and later beca e Rector a time Pa tor ’ was e t o Kelly s Cross and Lot 65 , and later transferr d A t o lberton, where he still devotes himself feed the flock Of

Chri st .

O LA . . REVEREND GREG RY J . MACLEL N , D D

’

A native ODSt . George s Parish , where he acquired the rudiments of an education in the district school . He spent wn some time at the Prince Of Wales College in Charlotteto , ’ whence he came forth With a teacher s license , and spent

some time teaching in the public schools . Aiming higher, ’ f Dunst an s o he entered St . College , and at the close his to of W classical course , he went the Seminary Quebec here c o of D he studied Theology, and re eived the title D ctor iv of inity He was ordained priest in the Cathedral Quebec .

. 190 3 . on the 1 7th Of May, in year Professor at St Dun ’ e of stan s College and later Priest in charge at the Cath dral , ’ Dunstan s Later appointed Rector at St . Charlottetown .

of . College a position he still fills to the satisfaction all

124 ’' ' SCOIIISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

E E E R VEREND K NN TH C. MACPHERSON

Of f n r o er. vi A native the Pa ish . Vernon Riv Ha ng begu his education in the primary schools , he graduated with a ’ e ns rm a him teach r s lice e from the No l School , and devoted a self to te ching in the public Schools . He again took up his ’ We Dun n studies and nt for a time to St . st a s College, and w m s after ards to the Se inary Quebec, and having finished hi studies , he returne d home and was raised t o the priesthood w 2 t 190 in the Cathedral of Charlotteto n the 5 h of July 3 . He has been for a time at the Cathedral of Charlott etown and ’ n t t o at St . Du stan s College, and later was appoin ed the ’ Pastoral care of the parish Of St . Margaret s , where he fi e o o still continues t o work ef ci ntly in the interest f s uls .

A D REVEREND PIUS . MAC ONALD

He lenc e . Born at G p , in the Parish Of Vernon River c of studied in the district School , and entered the Prin e ’ He Wale s College where he procured a teacher s license. , ’ Dunst an s taught school for a time and later entered St. of c t o College , and at the close his classi al course, he went e t he Seminary of Montreal . Ordain d priest by the Bishop 0 n of Charlottetown On the 5 th of January 19 8 . He ext and m ! n was engaged at the Cathe dral of Charlott etow , fro

was na s . there went t o Morel] , where he med pa tor Soon War after this latter appointment, the Great World broke a and f e his s e as c o ut , Father Pius at once O fer d ervic s h p of the - as a i c o lain at the front . He w overse s t ll the l se n e st at and m was a ed P s p war, returned ho e and n m ari h ’ d i e St George s . His h ealth faile , wh lst in the str ngth and . d d e the ar ott e vigour of his early manhood, an he i d at Ch l

1922 . town Hospital ih the month of November

12 5 SCOTTISH CATHOLICS IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

E REV REND RONALD J . MACDONALD

’ Born in the parish Of St . Theresa s . Student at St . Dun ’ stan s College, whence he went to the Seminary Of Quebec , i o 1 a o 4 t 1 0 . where he was r sed t o the priesth od n June h , 9 8 In a short time became pastor Of the Missions of the Brae L and ot II, and somewhat later was appointed to the f a spiritual care o the Parish of E st Point . Here he con in t ue s to carry on the good work Of the Lord, amongst the

people committed to his spiritual care .

REVEREND JOHN ARCHIBALD MACDONALD

i . Born at Indian River. Made h s classics at St Dun ’ y a of ec. st n s College . Thence he went t o the Seminar Queb 0 Ordained priest at Souris on the 2 5th of October 19 8 . e Remained assistant at Souris for a numbe r Of y ars , and w L o as appointed Pastor at t Seven , Where he still resides, m and carries on with great success , the spiritual inistration

of his pari sh .

REVEREND BERNARD GILLIS

r e A native of Saint John, N ew B unswick . Studi d at ’ m n n . St . Du sta s College Entered the Se inary Of Quebec , 0 where he was ordained priest on the 2 1 st of May 191 .

- Assistant at East Point for a time, and afterwards pastor. of All Appointed t o the spiritual care of the Parish Saints , W i t Cardigan Bridge , here he s s ill building up the king dom of Christ amongst souls .

REVEREND JOSEPH CHARLES MACDONALD , D , D .

Born at Orwell in the Parish Of Vernon River. A ’ i s n . student of St . Dunsta s College Finished his stud e at

O on 1l th 1916 . Quebec . rdained at Vernon River, June , ’ “

n . L o Professor at St . Dunst a s College ately app inted Pas ’ det ermm t or Of St . George s , where he has taken up with r ation, the good work inte rupted by the untimely death of the late Father Pius .

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