by Rev. Aeneas McDonnell Dawson

SICKNESS AND MR. AUSTIN M’DONALD—A SUBSIDY—TWO STUDENTS TO BE RECEIVED AT PROPAGANDA—MR. CAMERON IN STRATHAVON—BISHOP GRANT IN BETTER HEALTH—AT A VISITATION, SAYS MASS AT 3 O’CLOCK P.M.— GENERAL DISTRESS—STRAITS OF THE MISSION—BISHOP HAY’S SISTER BECOMES A CATHOLIC—CONVERSIONS FROM TIME TO TIME—DEATH OF BISHOP HUGH M’DONALD—THE MISSION LOSES ITS TEN JESUITS BY THE GENERAL SUPPRESSIQN OF THE ORDER—BISHOP HAY ON USURY—FEW CLERGY AND GREAT LABOURS—MR. CRAW’S LIBERAL BEQUEST, 1775—BISHOP HAY ON MIRACLES—HIS CONTROVERSY WITH DR. ABERNETHY DRUMMOND— THE WORK ON MIRACLES HIGHLY PRAISED BY BISHOP CHALLONER AND OTHERS—CONVERSIONS—GREATER LIBERALITY OF EDINBURGH MAGIS­TRATES—SOME CHANGES.

About this time Bishop Hay, in a letter to Principal Geddes, communicated to him the thanks of the Bishops for the pecuniary aid given and promised by himself and his companions to the funds of the mission. In the same letter the Bishop mentioned the mortality which had lately prevailed in some parts of the country and spoke of a pious missionary priest, Mr. Austin Macdonald, who, on the dreaded sickness appearing in his locality, had exhorted his people to prayer and fasting, as a means of averting the threatened calamity, and had prescribed certain prayers to be said, and set apart two days for fasting. After that none of his people died but one, who had been very ill before. “He is a truly valuable missionary,” adds the Bishop, “and minds nothing in this world—neither brothers nor sisters, nor any earthly affair—but his duties to his people only. I wish we had numbers such!”

The goodness of Cardinal Castelli made up in some measure for the failure of Bishop Hay’s recent visit to Paris in order to obtain a benefice for the poor missions of Scotland. The Cardinal procured a subsidy for the missions, and in remitting it informed the bishops that two places in the Urban College of Propaganda had been assigned to Scotch students, between the ages of twelve and eighteen years.

We now hear for the first time of Mr. Cameron, afterwards so distinguished as a bishop. On returning from his studies, he was appointed to the mission of Strathavon on account of his knowledge of the Gaelic language. He soon acquired reputation as a preacher and was in great favour with Bishop Grant. Bishop Grant was at this time in such good health as to be able to continue the visitation of the northern parts of his Vicariate. We learn on his authority, that he was very much edified with the willingness and earnestness of the good people in coming to be confirmed, some travelling six or seven, and one in particular, no less than sixteen miles. At one place it was full three o’clock in the afternoon before he was ready to commence the public duties of the day. Nevertheless, by a presumed permission from the Holy See, he even ventured, and without scruple, to celebrate Mass.

This year, 1772, the mission was poorly supplied with clergy, but not without hope for the future, there being numerous ecclesiastical students in the colleges abroad. There was great distress throughout the country in consequence of the frequent bankruptcies that were occur­ring. Money was not to be had at any rate; families of good standing were diminishing the number of their servants; trade of every kind was at a stand, and trades’ people, consequently, parting with their workmen. Such a state of things greatly increased the number of poor, and worse than all, filled both countries, England as well as Scotland, with robbers. Bishop Hay complained, as Procurator, that the mission suffered at the same time in its funds, and the building of a new and better church at Aberdeen added to its difficulties. Such was the distress in the best agricultural districts, such as Strathbogie, Auchendown and the Enzie, that many families resolved on emigrating to America, as long as any means remained to them.

About the end of February, 1773, Bishop Grant and his coadjutor addressed a memorial to the agent at Rome, Abbate Grant, representing the great straits of the mission, and requesting, provided he could obtain the sanction of Cardinals Castelli and Albani, that he would endeavour to interest in its favour all who at Rome might be friendly or charitably disposed towards the mission. They took care to urge that the field for missionary effort was improving, as shewn by the building of a better church at Aberdeen, whilst this undertaking, together with the hardship of the time, increased their pecuniary needs.

There were conversions from time to time; among the rest, that of Miss Hay, the Bishop’s sister, which took place at Auchentoul. Bishop Grant, congratulating the junior Bishop on this happy occurrence, expresses, at the same time, his wish that he would visit the North, spend a few weeks in Strathbogie and Cabrach; encourage the people by his presence and learn, at the same time, everything concerning their wants and condition. Complaints the chief Bishop had heard from Buchan rendered it desirable that his coadjutor should travel through that district.

The Lowland Bishops were now deeply affected on hearing of the death of the venerable Bishop Hugh Macdonald at Glengarry. The sad intelligence was communicated to them in a letter from his nephew, Bishop John MacDonald, dated March 18th, at Bourblach, on the west coast of Inverness-shire. The deceased Bishop was able to converse with the friends around him till within a few minutes of his death.

Bishop Hay at this time was oppressed with labour and anxiety. He ardently desired the assist­ance of his able friend, Mr. Geddes, the Principal at Valladolid, and had some correspondence with him on the subject. His cares were increased by the impending suppression. of the Society of Jesus. The members of the Order, although only ten in number, formed a considerable and important portion of the diminished clergy of Scotland. The mission could ill afford to lose their services, which, hitherto, had been so efficient. The Scotch College at Rome was under their able direction. It could be so no longer. Abbate Grant, so long agent for the mission at Rome, offered himself for the rectorship, and was accepted by the Bishops. The college, meanwhile, was otherwise provided for by the authorities at Rome.

A discussion on usury having arisen, Bishop Hay took up his pen, and in seven masterly letters, successfully showed that usury must be condemned, whilst a reasonable rate of interest on loans is perfectly lawful. In trading nations, particularly, such as Great Britain, the practice of lending money at interest may be considered an almost essential element of commercial success. The seven letters were published in London by Mr. Coghlan, under the title: “Letters on usury and interest; showing the advantage of Loans for the support of Trade and Commerce.

The Scotch College of Douai appears to have been, at this time, 1774, in a tolerably prosperous, condition. There were within its walls, besides Mr. Robert Grant, the principal, and his assistant, twenty-two individuals. Three of these were ex-Jesuits, still young men. One of them was Mr. John Chisholm, afterwards Bishop of the Highland district, who went this year from Dinant to Douai, in order to prepare for serving on the Scotch Mission. Aeneas Chisholm, John’s brother, who also became a Bishop, was received a student at the Scotch College of Valladolid.

The missions were now suffering from want of sufficient spiritual superintendence. Age and infirmity had incapacitated so many of the clergy that only five or six priests in the Lowland district were fit for duty. Bishop Grant himself, now almost seventy years of age, was very infirm. In addition, notwithstanding, to his duties as Chief Bishop, he managed also to discharge those of a Parish Priest. Bishop Hay was younger, but of a weak constitution. He, nevertheless, did double duty, attending, as coadjutor Bishop, to the affairs of the whole mission and minis­tering to a numerous congregation.

The Bishops for some time. experienced many of the difficulties that arise from the want of money. This unpleasant state of things was so far modified by the liberal bequest of Bishop Hay’s wealthy and most pious friend, Mr. Craw, who passed, 1775, to the future life, at the advanced age of 91.

In June, 1775, Bishop Hay’s famous Treatise on Miracles was placed in the printer’s hands. This work originated in a controversy which arose between the author and a non juring Episcopalian minister who was afterwards known as the celebrated Bishop Abernethy Drummond. At the end of the second volume, there is an appendix on the subject of Transubstantiation. This shorter essay was occasioned by the following circumstances. A master baker and a master shoemaker thought of enquiring into the truth of the Catholic religion. They were both Episcopalians and members of Mr. Abernethy’s congregation. For better information they sought the acquaintance of Bishop Hay, who gave them all necessary explanations. The minister was now had recourse to; and he promptly made out in writing answers to the Bishop’s remarks. The point chiefly discussed was Transubstantiation. Mr. Abernethy wrote at great length on the Catholic Doctrine, urging the usual weak objections against it. The young man laid his writing before the Bishop, who made a suitable reply. This was not all. The non juring minister called on Bishop Hay and challenged him to publish in print all he had to say on the Catholic Doctrine, promising to prepare and publish a reply. This led to Bishop Hay’s “Appendix,” in which he explains the doctrine itself and exposes the weakness of Mr. Abernethy’s arguments against it. This writing caused our enquirers to come to a decision. They left the non jurors, and became “sincere and promising converts to the Catholic Church.” The Protestant pastor was enraged at this conclu­sion, and, very little to the credit of a professed minister of the gospel, threatened the good men with ruin and misery before the end of the year. He then turned to his theology, such as it was, and got ready his reply. The non juring Bishop easily favoured it with his approval. Another friend of the author, who was more familiar with philosophical discussions, pronounced it inde­fensible. Accordingly, it was remodeled; but failed to be made unanswerable. In January, 1776, Bishop Hay issued a suitable reply under the title “Explanatory Remarks, etc.” There is a copy of this able paper at St. Mary’s College, Blairs, 12mo. pp. 96, It was followed by an anonymous reply, which was so weak and devoid of anything like argument, containing only the usual oft-refuted stories, that the Bishop took no notice of it and allowed the controversy to drop.

The work on Miracles had a successful sale. Bishop Challoner showed his appreciation by ordering thirty copies. It was greatly valued in Spain, among the friends of Mr. Geddes, at Madrid and Valladolid. Several copies were sent to Rome, and an elegantly bound volume presented to the Pope. The evil days, so trying to the Catholics of Scotland, appeared to be now passing away; and conversions becoming more frequent. “We have the consolation,” says Bishop Hay, writing to Mr. J. Geddes, January 3rd, 1776, “of several converts just now. Our loss is want of time to attend to them properly.”

It has been remarked, and evidently by a well informed Catholic, that the “Scripture Doctrine of Miracles” must be regarded as Bishop Hay’s greatest work. It may justly be said to exhaust the subject, with a depth and a closeness of reasoning, and a familiar acquaintance with the written Word of God unsurpassed by any other Catholic writer in the English language. It may, perhaps, be permitted us to regret that the style is wanting in those attractive graces which recommend even abstruse subjects to the attention of ordinary readers, a want which Dr. Hay with singular modesty acknowledges in his preface. In consequence of this deficiency his work on Miracles has never attained the popularity of some of his other writings; its circulation for the most part, having been confined to the use of students in theology. All this notwithstanding new editions of the able work are, in our day, published from time to time.

Protestants, whilst acknowledging its consummate ability, pronounce it “a dangerous book in which (Scot’s Mag.) truth is artfully mixed up with, falsehood, and sophistry with argument.” The same writer admits, however, that “the plan is happily conducted, the topics judiciously and artfully disposed, and the reasoning throughout invincible, specious and dangerous.” (Scot’s Mag., 1776.)

It may be mentioned here, as a circumstance indicating the improving spirit of the time, that the magistrates of Edinburgh afforded Bishop Hay every facility in attending two Irish soldiers who were sentenced to be executed for a street robbery in the city. These unfortunate men were very penitent and resigned to their fate.

The clergy of the mission were recruited occasionally from the colleges abroad. Thus we find the Rev. Mr. Gordon, who had been stationed at Aberdeen since his recent return from Rome, on being appointed to Rev. Allen McDonald’s vacant Prefectship at Valladolid, was replaced by Rev. Mr. Oliver, a young missionary priest, who had studied at Douai. About the same time Rev. Robert Menzies returned from the college there, and entered on a course of unobtrusive usefulness at Edinburgh.

    


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