Grace Notes 1 Nov. 2006 GRACE N TES Vol. 22, No. 11 Nov. 2006 St. Andrew’s Day Tea Once upon a time, a verra long fond memory. Once again the Society patrons many long-denied amenities time ago, mony years indeed, the will host the event, with some of the which are considered de-riguer by congenial folk of the Memphis Scot- cherished elements of the earlier teas coffee drinkers – the beverage pre- tish Society met in a gracious gather- sented at the table ing at the end of each November to already brewed, honor St. Andrew, the Auld Country’s second or multiple patron saint. This genteel affair took cups as part of the the form of an afternoon tea with pots original order, se- of hearty brew, fare suitable to the lections of blends, occasion, some characteristically and de- Scottish entertainment, and proceeds caffeinated alter- donated toward the Scholarship Fund. natives. This, the St. Andrew’s Day Tea, is Crumpets’ full- being recalled from the misty realms of cream-tea meal will be served, and some new elements as well. featuring Taylors of Harrogate The tea will be held on Thursday, blends, overlaid by the performance November 30th from 2:30 pm till 5 pm at of favorite Scottish tunes. Alas, due Crumpets Restaurant, 262 S. Highland to the diminuitive size of the Street. A number of MSSI members restautant, seating is limited to have discovered this lovely small res- YOUR MSSI BOARD twenty-five. Tickets are $25 and taurant and can attest to its elegant President include a donation to the MSSI Schol- Ben Kemker............. 386-9909 ambiance and excellent cuisine (ask arship & Grant Fund. Contact Mary [email protected] Sue Malone, Mary Clausi, or Mary Ann Lucas at 725-1879 or Vice President Ann Lucas, amongst others). Addi- [email protected] for tick- Mary Ann Lucas.......725-1879 tionally, it affords to its tea-drinking ets or more information. [email protected] Treasurer October 24, 2006 John Simmons...........272-9240 To: Seldon Murray, Chairman, Nominating Committee [email protected] Mary Ann Lucas, Editor, Grace Notes Secretary From: Dick Bevier, Member, Nominating Committee Dena Warth..............837-1413 Subject: MSSI Board Nominations [email protected] As of this writing, as decreed by Section 8, Article VII, of the Bylaws, Members at Large as revised, the duly appointed Nominating Committee shall recommend to Emily Smith..............683-6416 the members at the November meeting the following slate: [email protected] President: John Schultz Vice President: Mary Ann Lucas Bill Halliday..............682-8297 [email protected] Treasurer: Cheryl Noland Secretary: Mary Clausi John Schultz ............754-2419 Members at Large: Sue Malone, Janet Mandanna, Sammy Rich [email protected] Further affiant saith not. -- DB/sr www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes 2 Nov. 2006 Scottish Connection Nowadays, everybody is con- ings), responsible for tending a wind- process. The process quickly proved cerned about fuel conservation, but ing engine. He was apprenticed as an its worth through significant savings long before it became popular to hug engineer two years later. In 1817 he in fuel consumption and was rapidly a tree, did you know that fuel conser- was appointed manager of the newly adopted by the iron industry through- vation had a Scottish Connection? established Glasgow Gas Company, out the west of Scotland. Frequently Not for the green movement, how- a post he was to hold for forty years. challenged as the inventor of the hot- ever; for that most Scottish of values, During the 1820’s he was invited blast, Neilson successfully defended economy. In 1828 James Neilson to correct a fault which had devel- his claim in a number of actions. He developed a method of blowing hot oped in a blast furnace at the Muirkirk became a rich man and a keen advo- rather than cold air into the blast Iron Company. On inspection it oc- cate of technical education. furnace, decreasing the quantity of curred to him that he could increase So, next time you’re re-fueling fuel required for smelting. the force of the blast by passing hot your car, stop crying long enough to James Beaumont Neilson was rather than cold air through the red- remember James Neilson’s fuel con- born in Shettleston, a village three hot vessel. He set about conducting servation and its Scottish Connec- miles east of Glasgow, on June 22, experiments in the smithy at the Gas tion. 1792. After leaving school at age Works, where he proved his theory - from the Texas History Celtic fourteen he went to work at a colliery to be correct. After further trials at a Connection website and (a coal mine and its associated build- foundry, he patented his hot-blast Wikipedia. Scotland,Ho! w/Ed Miller The basic aim of these tours is to Highlands. This is NOT a search for Thanks to Kathy Schultz for this: give people the chance to enjoy and the Scotland of Brigadoon, “Dear Kathy: Many thanks for your learn about Scotland through experi- Braveheart, and the Loch Ness Mon- interest in possibly joining one of the encing its music and landscape. You ster – rather it is a once-in-a-lifetime 2007 Ed Miller Folksong Tours of will meet and hear performers and opportunity to learn about the music, Scotland. The dates for 2007 are June songwriters on their home ground, people, history and landscape of this 16-30 and Sept. 8-22.We will rendez- visit the contexts from which the amazingly varied country in an inter- vous in Glasgow Airport on the morn- songs and music have come, and esting, personal and entertaining way. ing of June 17 or September 9. As in have the chance to enjoy occasional The tentative itinerary includes 3 hikes in both the Lowlands and the past years, the tours will cover many (cont on pg. 3) parts of Scotland, including the Bor- ders, Edinburgh, Fife, Perthshire, GRACE NOTES Angus, the Central Highlands, Skye, Grace Notes is the official publication of the Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. It is published monthly. Glencoe, and Glasgow. Like the Society itself, the credo of Grace Notes is “to foster education and promote understanding of The cost of the tour is $2900 per things Scottish.” person, based on double occupancy. If you have something of interest to readers of this newsletter, please submit a typewritten manuscript to the editorial staff. If the article or notice is very brief (30 words or fewer), just use the telephone. Grace This price covers all transport and Notes will accept and publish good quality photographs (preferably black and white; no Polaroids, please). hotels in Scotland, all breakfasts and The deadline for all submissions is the second week of each month preceding the month of publication. dinners, performers’ fees and entry to Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with each submission, if you want the material returned. Editorial Staff most historical sites. It does not cover Mary Ann Lucas - [email protected] ................................. Editor, (901-725-1879) lunches, tips, single room supplement Sammy Rich - [email protected] ...................................... Publisher, (901-272-7159) ($350) or airfare. Direct flights into Gavin Anderson - [email protected] Editor, (901-682-5485) Melissa Gibson - [email protected] .......................... Line Editor, (901 299-3170) Glasgow and Edinburgh are avail- able. If you plan to use frequent-flyer Please address all correspondence to: Grace Notes to foster education miles towards buying your ticket, The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. and promote please book very early as only a few [email protected] understanding of things Scottish spots are allocated for such programs. P. O. Box 241934 Memphis, TN 38124-1934 www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes 3 Nov. 2006 Cymanfa Ganu We are not the only Celts, of teenth century a tradition called the Friday, and Saturday, there are semi- course. It is good to keep up with Cymanfa Ganu (pronounced cuh- nars, films, Welsh language and sing- what our Brythonic cousins are doing MAHN-vah GAH-nee), which means ing classes, Welsh folk dancing, folk from time to time. Since I probably “a gathering for song.” Due to initial and formal concerts, banquets, times have more Welsh than Scot in me, I consonant mutations in Welsh (don’t of informal singing, a vendor market- guess I qualify as one of those cous- ask), it is usually written Gymanfa place and a Welsh tea room. There ins. Anyway, the first recorded use Ganu. It is considered a worship is also an Eisteddfod, a musical and of Cymraeg (Welsh), “yr iaith y service, though not as formal as a literary competition. This is another nefoedd,” (the language of heaven) regular church service. The invita- Welsh tradition in which contestants was in Scotland, so we have another tion to a cymanfa is “Deuwch, Canwn compete in singing, recitation, and connection there. i’r Arglwydd” (“Come, let us sing to literary composition. On Sunday, While Scotland developed a na- the Lord”). It is also just a great time there is a bilingual church service in tional kirk after the Reformation, of singing the beautiful Welsh hymns, the morning, followed by the after- Wales became strictly nonconform- reminding us of a time when church noon and evening sessions of the ist, with Baptist, Methodist, and Con- life and social life were much more Gymanfa itself. gregationalist chapels springing up. closely connected than they are for I had not been to a Gymanfa for The Great Awakening brought a many today. fifteen years, so this year Linda and flurry of hymn writing in Wales, and Various Welsh churches and soci- I made the trip to Cincinnati.