by Rev. Aeneas McDonnell Dawson

MR. JOHN REID ATTACKS THE BISHOP—AIDED BY A ONCE FRIENDLY MINISTER—KINDNESS OF BISHOP HAY TO THE CLERGY—HE COMPLETES “THE DEVOUT CHRISTIAN” ABBATE GRANT IN SCOTLAND—DEATH OF MR. J. PATERSON, PRESIDENT OF SCALAN—NEW LEASE OBTAINED—THE SCOTCH COLLEGE OF ROME—CATHOLICS OF THE HIGHLANDS 3,000 MORE THAN AT THE FORMER VISITATION—BISHOP HAY DOES PAROCHIAL DUTY FROM DEE TO DEVERON—THE LATE MR. GODSMAN—THE CHIEF GORDON FAMILY STILL FRIENDLY—MR. BURKE AT EDINBURGH—THE NEW CHURCH, ST. MARGARETS’ OPENED—THE BISHOPS MEET AT SCALAN—A NATIONAL RECTOR FOR ROMAN COLLEGE STILL INSISTED ON.

It is not to be wondered at that a man like Lord George Gordon should have uttered rash words against the character of Bishop Hay; but it is, indeed, surprising that any of the clergy in whose cause he laboured so assiduously, and, it must be added, with so much success, should have spoken hardly of him. This was done, however, and in a very marked manner, by Mr. John Reid. This priest having heard a rumour that the bishop intended to reside at Preshome, wrote an indignant remonstrance to Bishop Geddes, deprecating such a purpose, and indulging in most bitter invective against Bishop Hay on account of various alleged foibles and errors. It was less astonishing that he should be disliked by Presbyterian ministers. The concluding chapters of his “Sincere Christian” account for this dislike. One of these ministers, who had been his friend, Mr. Geo. Grant, of Rathven, wrote, at the same time as Mr. Reid, to Bishop Geddes, a fault finding letter which was, indeed, calmer in tone, but equally bitter, inveighing against Bishop Hay, his bigotry and the spirit of his recent controversial work. There is some excuse for the minister, as the odium theologicum must have been stirred up in no ordinary degree. But the Bishop’s tender solicitude for the welfare of the clergy shows that he was wholly undeserving of the reproaches of Mr. Reid. There are numerous instances on record of his kindness to priests who were disabled from age or infirmity. The case of the chaplain at Traquair, the aged Mr. Cruikshanks, is one among many. The family of Traquair were about to break up their estab­lishment with a view to reside, for some time, abroad. Bishop Hay, hearing of this arrangement, wrote a kind letter to Mr. Cruikshanks, desiring to know how he could serve him in the circum­stances. The venerable priest had promised to see Bishop Geddes and consult with him. “This, however,” wrote the senior Bishop, “does not entirely satisfy me, because I wish to have the pleasure myself of showing my affection for you in the present emergency; and, therefore, I beg you will let me know what would be agreeable to yourself and what it is in my power to do for you. I do not propose your having any charge; your state of health and infirmities prevent that; but would you wish to be here with me? I shall make you very welcome. Would you wish to stay with your niece at Clochin? I shall help to make that easy for you. Only let me know, my dear sir, what would be agreeable to you, and be assured that I shall be happy to show my affec­tion and regard for you, as much as I can, to your satisfaction.”

Bishop Hay spent part of his time, this summer, 1783, in completing his work, “the Devout Christian.” He also undertook journeying on foot to the northern parts of his district. He was favoured with fine weather; and his health improved so much that he became fond of this way of travelling. He visited the Enzie, and then proceeded to Aberlour, Sheuval and Scalan, where Bishop MacDonald was to meet him about the middle of August. About the same time Bishop Geddes left Edinburgh in order to join the Bishops at Scalan, their usual place of meeting. Meanwhile Abbate Grant arrived from Rome in order to visit his relatives; and he accompanied the Bishop on his northern tour. The agent was largely acquainted with the nobility and gentry of Scotland, to whom he had shown civility at Rome. Together with the Bishop, he paid a visit at Belmont castle, the seat of the Lord Privy Seal. This statesman entertained them very cordially and showed them his gardens and fine observatory. Here the Bishop took leave of Abbate Grant and pursued his journey alone.

This year, when the Bishops met at Scalan, occurred the death of the worthy president of the seminary, Mr. John Paterson. When on his death-bed, he held a long conversation with Bishop Geddes, and earnestly advised him to secure a renewal of the lease of Scalan. The Bishop lost no time in acting on this advice. The Duke of Gordon, who owned the property, was, at the time, staying at his shooting lodge of Glenfiddich, not far from Scalan. Bishop Geddes repaired to that place, saw the Duke of Gordon, and obtained from him a renewal of the lease. On his return next day, August 20, he found Mr. Paterson worse,—so ill as to have had the last rites administered to him. The tide of life was ebbing fast; but he was still cheerful and possessed of all his faculties throughout the day. In the afternoon he fell into a lethargy and passed away between ten and eleven o’clock at night. Mr. Paterson had been greatly esteemed by the bishops and the clergy generally. He was, accordingly, much regretted. Bishop Hay shewed his sympathy and regard by the way in which he spoke of him. When intimating the good priest’s death to the young man who accompanied him on his journey, he shewed extraordinary regard and affection. Wringing his hands, he exclaimed: “O John, John we have lost our head!”

The Scotch College at Rome appears to have been the chief subject of the deliberations of the Bishops at their meeting. This institution, which ought to have been highly advantageous to the mission, was still in a very unsatisfactory condition. Strong representations were addressed to the Cardinal Protector and the Cardinals of Propaganda; but, as formerly, they prevailed not. No wonder if the Bishops now seriously entertained a measure they had, some time ago, had in contemplation,—that of declining to send any more students to the College.

The statement by Bishop Macdonald of the condition of the Highland district afforded a more cheering subject for consideration. He had the pleasure to report that there was an increase of three thousand in the number of Catholics in his vicariate, since his last visitation.

Bishop Hay now appears as the donor of a fund for the relief of the poorer clergy; and writes to his coadjutor, discussing the distribution of this fund as if a Mr. Neiluad (Daulien) had presented the same. He was indifferent as to whether the coadjutor or himself should have the credit of making the donation. If it appear to come from the former and attract to him the affection of the priests deriving benefit, he will be as well pleased as if the gift were known to proceed from himself, as the same amount of good would be derived from the clergy being attached to the coadjutor as to himself. This is more than the revilers of the Bishop could have expected. It shows, however, like all the rest of his conduct, how unjustified they were in their attack upon him. It would even be more gratifying to him, he wrote, if the good he hoped for appeared to arise from attachment to the coadjutor, as he considered himself unworthy of being an instru­ment in the hands of God for doing any good.

Early in November of this year, the new house in Blackfriars’ Wynd was ready for occupation. It only remained to remove the furniture from Bishop Geddes’ residence in Dickson’s close. This was speedily done, and on the 7th November the Bishop enjoyed the comfort of his new dwelling. The house was tolerably commodious, there being three rooms with fire places, as many well-lighted closets and a good kitchen on one floor. The Chapel, Sacristy and, Library were on the floor above; and there was a good garret. The Chapel could not be ready for use sooner than the following summer. Bishop Hay wrote to impart his blessing and wish his coad­jutor much joy in the new house.

So numerous and pressing were the occupations of Bishop Geddes at this time, that he was obliged to decline taking charge of Bishop Hay’s accounts. It was now necessary that Abbe Paul McPherson should take charge at Stobhall. This change laid on Bishop Hay the parochial duties of Aberdeen. He undertook them cheerfully, his time no less than his money being always so employed as best to serve the cause of religion.

The failing health of Mr. Robert Grant, the Principal of the Scotch College at Douai, induced him to repair to London in order to consult the physicians there. His brother, the Abbate, who had gone from England to spend the winter at Douai, accompanied him. Notwithstanding all that was done for him, he became daily worse, and at last, having received the sacraments of the dying, he departed this life in the house of Dr. Alexander Geddes, his brother, the Abbate, assisting him in his last moments. He was very much and justly regretted. He was distinguished by his piety and good sense, whilst to his gentleman-like accomplishments was chiefly due the success of his negotiations for the recovery of the College at Douai. It was difficult to find a competent successor. A Mr. Young was mentioned; but he positively declined to accept. Dr. Alexander Geddes was proposed and had the active support of the Abbate Grant. As may be supposed, however, he was not acceptable to the Bishops. Finally, the election fell on Mr. John Farquarson, who was, at the time, President of Scalan. Mr. Alexander Farquarson, recently arrived from Rome, replaced him in the Presidency of Scalan.

There was question now of having a general dispensation at the beginning of Lent as was the recognized practice among the English Catholics. Their circumstances, however, were so different from those of the Scotch Catholics, that the Bishops judged it expedient to authorize the priests to grant dispensations in private as might be necessary. At this date, we meet with the first mention of the “boy Andrew Carruthers”—who preceded Dr. Gillis as Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District. There was question of sending him to Douai and he was sent there accordingly.

Bishop Hay was averse to granting any dispensation when it could be avoided. In the case of a proposed mixed marriage, Mr. Reid of Preshome, asked for one. In according it the Bishop desired that Mr. Reid should explain to his congregation that it was granted because the woman was poor, and dependent for her support on her own exertions. It was also made a condition that the husband should offer no hindrance to her in the exercise of her region, and that he should let her have the children, or at least the daughters, if he can be induced to do so. There is greater strictness even than this in Canada. It is absolutely required, in such cases, that all the children should be brought up as Catholics. It was remarked, as a characteristic of this faithful pastor, that he was more ready to grant dispensations to the poor than to the rich. A notable instance of this disposition is on record. A gentleman of Galloway, a friend of the Bishop, applied for a dispensation in favour of his chaplain, who was an aged and infirm ex-Jesuit. He pleaded the age and infirmities of the good priest and the difficulty in this part of the country of obtaining fish and other abstinence food. He accompanied his application with a request on his own behalf for a similar indulgence for himself and his family. It must be observed that this gentleman was stout and healthy. So, the Bishop, in his reply, willingly allowed what was asked for, in favour of the aged priest; but said, at the same time, that he knew no one more likely than his friend to derive benefit from occasional fasting and abstinence.

As illustrative of the difficulties and hardships of the comparatively small number of clergy in Scotland at the time of which we are writing, it may be mentioned, that, on occasion of the retirement in consequence of a stroke of paralysis, of an aged and worthy ex-Jesuit, who had laboured for a long time in Buchan, an extensive district in the north of Aberdeenshire. Bishop Hay himself was under the necessity of taking charge of the mission there. It was not long till he experienced the difficulties which awaited him.....On the 1st of March; he was called to baptize a child in Buchan. The journey from Aberdeen was a pretty long one; and the Bishop was obliged to perform twenty-one miles of it on foot, owing to a deep fall of snow, which rendered travelling on horseback impossible. The laborious duty occupied three days. He did not, however, suffer in his health from so much fatigue. But he could not but look forward to similar journeys, as there was none but himself to answer the calls of the parishioners in the whole country, extending between the rivers Deveron and Dee.

In digging a grave for a deceased student who had returned from Paris in bad health .... the parties employed came upon the coffin of Mr. Godsman. Partly from curiosity and partly from affection for their late pastor, the people attending the student’s funeral, caused it to be opened; and wonderful to relate, the body of the venerable priest whom they loved so well was found to have undergone scarcely any change after being fifteen years in the grave. The news spread rapidly throughout the Enzie; and many parishioners came to look once more on the counte­nance of him whom they had revered so much in life. The late Bishop Scott, then about. twelve years of age, whose father’s house at Chapelford was close at hand, was among the number; and in after life related the extraordinary circumstance to his friends. The Rev. Mr. Mathison of Auchenhalrig made a strict examination, and found the body to be in a state of wonderful pres­ervation, showing no sign of corruption except that the lower jaw was fallen down upon the breast. But, does not falling down of the lower jaw always take place immediately after death? The coffin was, still entire. But the linen and the chips of wood within it were all consumed. The dryness of the soil in St. Ninian’s cemetery, it was generally believed, accounted sufficiently for the wonderful preservation of the body. This opinion was fully confirmed some years later when the remains were found to be decaying.

On occasion of visiting his sister in the Enzie, Bishop Hay happened to meet the Duchess of Gordon; and this is a fact connected with the history of the relations of Catholics with Protes­tants, of sufficient importance to be recorded, particularly as the illustrious chief family of Gordon was no longer Catholic. The celebrated lady, Duchess Jane of Gordon, desired to make the acquaintance of Bishop Hay, and politely invited him to Gordon Castle.

As his time was limited, he was obliged to excuse himself. On which the duchess asked him to pay the visit next time he was in the country. It is known that he did so. On one occasion he went with the intention of staying only one night, but was prevailed upon to prolong his visit till the third or fourth day. This was proof of friendly relations. The Bishop did wisely to cultivate and improve them, the more so as the Duke of Gordon had recently renewed the lease of Scalan and, in other ways, showed kindness to Catholics.

The celebrated Mr. Burke, on a journey northward, was at Edinburgh the first week of April. Bishop Geddes went to visit him and was most cordially received. The great statesman asked in the kindest manner for Bishop Hay and desired that his most respectful compliments should be sent to him. He returned the visit of Bishop Geddes on the following day.

It says much for the improved state of feeling at Edinburgh as regarded Catholics, that Bishop Geddes could take possession, without the slightest molestation, of the new chapel in Black­friars’ Wynd. June 10th, St. Margaret’s Day, and also the day on which fell the festival of Corpus Christi, the chapel was occupied, for the first time, by the Catholic congregation. It was called St. Margaret’s, and had cost a great deal. The seat rents, however, were more than suffi­cient to meet the expenditure. They yielded double the usual amount of interest on the money laid out; and, in less than two hours, on the day fixed for letting them, they were paid for the first half year, all but a few shillings.

The time for the meeting of the Bishops at Scalan was now at hand. They deemed it one of their most important duties to insist, in their report to Rome on the necessity of making a change in the management of the Scotch College.

They earnestly represented that nothing could restore it to usefulness but the appointment of a national rector. The scarcity of priests in Scotland was such, Bishop Hay wrote to Cardinal Antonelli, that he (the Bishop) was obliged to spend two weeks out of every six in making a circuit of forty miles among the Catholics of a district in which there was no pastor. The Bishops also wrote a joint letter to Mr. Thomson, directing and encouraging him under the difficulties and trials of his unfortunate position. He had all their sympathy, and that was, so far, compen­sation to him. His pecuniary circumstances were somewhat improved by the temporary absence of the agent. On the death of this worthy person in the autumn, he was still further relieved, having succeeded to the office of agent.

    


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