DISCUSSION CONTINUED—THE ENGLISH CATHOLIC COMMITTEE—INNOVA­TION DREADED—ANNUAL MEETING OF 1787—INCREASE OF CHURCHES—MR. MATHIESON—DUNDEE MISSION—STATE OF SCALAN—MR. ANDREW DAWSON, RECTOR—BISHOP HAYS RETURN TO EDINBURGH—SLOW TRAVELLING—THE PROGRESS OF RELIGION A GREAT PLEASURE TO THE BISHOP—ANXIETY CAUSED BY CONTINENTAL POLITICS—BISHOP GEDDES FOSTERS THE GLASGOW MISSION—“THE MERCHANT PRINCES” FRIENDLY—THRIVING INDUS­TRIES—IRISH IMMIGRATION.

It is in order now to hear opposition. Its arguments, as urged by Bishop Geddes, may be summa­rised as follows: There was no great difference of opinion between the Bishops on general prin­ciples.

On two points only did Bishop Geddes insist on his own views. He held that persons of very humble origin were less fit to be selected for the priesthood, and surely his long experience, both at Scalan and Valladolid, gave great weight to his opinion.

There was much inequality in virtue and temper and ability in every rank of life; and Bishop Geddes had remarked that persons born in very low circumstances were liable to certain disad­vantages which it was not easy to overcome; such as a littleness of mind, a timidity of temper, a vulgarity of sentiment and, too often, the grossness of vice. It was also a help to the success of a missionary priest that his family and near connections should be respected, and although objections on this ground might be counterbalanced by other considerations, a judicious supe­rior ought unquestionably to take them into account in deciding as to the eligibility of a candi­date for the ministry. We thus behold the man of humble origin, the son of a small and obscure farmer, arguing against the selection of candidates for the service of the Church, from the class to which he himself had belonged, whilst the man of ancient family and aristocratic connection vigorously supported the popular side of the question.

Bishop Hay appeared to think that considerable advantage belongs to the commencement of ecclesiastical training at the age of twenty and upwards.

Bishop Geddes, on the other hand, thought that such advantage is much diminished by increased difficulty experienced at that age, in undertaking a long course of study, and by the novelty of the mode of life. A special gift of perseverance and more than ordinary grace were necessary, he believed, to ensure the constancy of an adult candidate. It was manifest, both from reason and experience, that children and boys were trained to the observance of exact discipline more easily than men whose habits of liberty had become formed, and who were naturally inclined to consider the exactness of seminary life unnecessary. “In this matter,” said Bishop Geddes, addressing the senior Bishop, “you cannot judge solely from yourself. You had been accus­tomed to a studious life, and you may believe me, to the generality of grown up men, to be tied down every day, to some fixed task, appears a great confinement and a kind of slavery, espe­cially if the first fervour should cool.” Allusion was made to one or two points more in regard to which an adult student laboured under peculiar disadvantages, and then the learned Bishop concluded by stating, in his usual gentle style, that what he had said was not mere speculation, but the result of his own observation and of that of many others. Hence arose the desire of supe­riors of colleges in general to have young boys sent to them, whom they may train up in their own way. There are exceptions to what I have here said; but I think I have given the general rules, which I could illustrate with many examples, but it might be too long and otherwise incon­venient.”

The Bishops were now engaged in the discharge of their episcopal duties, adding not infre­quently, parochial labours, when news reached them of certain proceedings of the English Cath­olics, which caused them much concern. At a general meeting in 1782, a committee, called “The Catholic Committee,” had been appointed for five years, having for its object “to promote and attend to the affairs of the Roman Catholic body in England.” This committee, when first consti­tuted, consisted of Lords Stourton and Petre, Mr. Throckmorton, Mr. Stapleton and Mr. Thomas Hornyold. They seem too have limited themselves to the devising of a plan for the restoration of the hierarchy in England. But when they came to consult the four Bishops on the subject, they found such a variety of opinion, that the measure was dropped. As their power expired in 1787, a new committee was appointed at a general meeting of the English Catholics on the 3rd of May, in this year. It was then resolved that the regulations under which the former committee had acted should remain in force, and that the new committee should consist of ten members instead of five. Half their number were to be elected by the general meeting and the other five returned by the gentlemen of the four ecclesiastical districts and by those of Lancashire and Cheshire as a fifth ecclesiastical district. It was further resolved that they should meet annually on the first Thursday of May, and that Mr. Charles Butler should act as their secretary. Many of the clergy felt uneasy at the prospect of innovation which arose. Bishop Hay shared in this feeling, and applied to Bishop Talbot for information as to the proceedings decided on at the meeting. The Bishop replied, stating that, much against his will, he had been induced to attend the meeting; and that he had found the committee full of sanguine hopes for their projects, but openly declaring, at the same time, that nothing should be done without the concurrence of the clergy; and, indeed, nothing was determined on as regarded their future operations, and the whole ques­tion was postponed for a year. On receiving this reply, Bishop Hay concluded that nothing would ever be done if the intentions of the committee corresponded with their promise of acting in concert with the Bishops. Bishop Geddes, like his venerable colleague, and the rest of the clergy, was alarmed at the idea of innovations devised and introduced by unauthorized laymen. It was, indeed, no slight beginning of innovation that those decemvirs should take it upon them­selves to regulate the affairs of the Church, even although they promised graciously to allow the clergy to concur with them. The learned Bishop evidently dreaded lest their action should result in schism. “I am alarmed as well as you,” he wrote, “at the thoughts of innovations among our friends in England. I wish they may have a prudent agent at Rome. I wish there may not arise divisions at home...Whatever comes we must remain particularly attached to the centre of unity. This is surely the safest method for us.” Bishop Hay also feared that evil would arise from the proceedings of the English Committee. “Who knows,” he writes to the agent at Rome, “the influence of their intrigues or their plans?” The agitation at Rome regarding national colleges may have tended to originate this state of things. One result of this agitation was a scheme to establish, by general contribution, a school at home for the education of youth, the masters of which should be chosen by the contributors. Bishop Hay was apprehensive that the carrying out of this scheme would be attended, if not with absolute schism, at least with serious divisions, which would. be highly detrimental to the cause of religion.

There does not appear to have been any business of great importance before the annual meeting of the Bishops, which was held this year, as usual, at Scalan. In the account of matters which they prepared for Propaganda, they could give a favourable view of the progress of religion. The spirit of persecution had greatly diminished, as was shown by the greater number and better style of churches which the Catholics were enabled to erect, Such important places as Huntley, Glenlivat, and Strathdown were now to possess churches, so steadily was the light of religion spreading from the private dwelling and the hidden chamber, to the more public places of the land, and edifices devoted to its celebrations, where all men could come and experience its consoling influences. The churches now built were not of a high style of architecture; but were solidly constructed and roofed with slate—not with humble thatch, as at a less prosperous epoch. Mr. Geo. Mathieson had, this year, enlarged the chapel at Tynet, adjoining the park of Gordon Castle, greatly adding to the commodiousness and beauty of the building, which his predecessor, Dr. Alex. Geddes, had begun. It may be mentioned, as indicative of the moderate spirit of the time, that the ducal family of Gordon, now Protestant, allowed the slates belonging to the deserted chapel of St. Ninian to be used by Mr. Mathieson for his new building. The Bishops congratulated themselves on the happy circumstance that churches were increasing “beyond what could have been dreamed of some time ago.” (Bishop Hay.)

From this year we must date the commencement of the now flourishing mission of Dundee. It had, until the time referred to, been indebted to the priest of Stobhall for occasional assistance. When Stobhall was vacant, which not unfrequently was the case, it had recourse to Edinburgh, the Catholics of Dundee, still few in number, availing themselves of the good services of the Edinburgh clergy. The first resident priest was Mr. William Pepper, a religious of the Benedic­tine Order, from Wirtzburg, and who had been employed about a year as private tutor at Fetternear (Mr. Leslie’s.)

Bishop Hay, after the meeting of the Bishops, prolonged his stay at Scalan during the whole of August in order to inquire into the affairs of the seminary. It had not been in a thriving condition under the management of Mr. Alex. Farquarson. On inspection the Bishop found everything in great confusion—many accounts remained unpaid; nearly all the provisions were exhausted, and the new building unfinished. His first measure was to call Mr. Andrew Dawson (grand uncle of the writer) from the Shenval mission, to take charge of the seminary, and to send the incom­petent president to supply his place in the Cabrach. The incessant rains were an impediment to putting things in order out of doors. There was, however, no worse inconvenience than some delay. Only a sufficient supply of peats for one year had been carried in—a quantity deemed inadequate, it appears, by provident house-keepers. Within doors the Bishop gave great atten­tion to the state of the books. They were all placed in order in the new part of the building. Those in ordinary use among the students were much worn, particularly Butler’s Lives of the Saints, the English Bibles and Challoner’s Meditations, all of which it was necessary to renew. The Bishop stayed a week more at the Seminary. Mr. Dawson willingly adopted his views of economical reform. In the second week of August, he hoped to be able to leave for the Enzie. The subject of Scalan occasioned great concern, both to the Bishop and his coadjutor. Never­theless, they thought they saw the hand of Providence in all that had happened, as the means necessary and appointed for placing that house of ecclesiastical training on an efficient footing for the time to come. The expense incurred in reforming the Seminary caused the Bishop to contract considerable debt. Time only was wanting, however, for retrieving his financial condi­tion. He enjoyed the satisfaction, meanwhile, to reflect that he had succeeded in clearing the Seminary of all its liabilities; and whatever he had sacrificed in so doing, he cheerfully presented to the institution. In addition, as increased “ways and means” to the Seminary, he was pleased to devote to it for a time the profits arising from the sale of his pills. So much for the material aid the Bishop afforded. At the same time he failed not to offer that moral assistance and encouragement which under the circumstances, were peculiarly valuable. This he did, chiefly through his coadjutor, begging of him to correspond with Mr. Dawson and encourage him in the fulfilment of his arduous duties. Mr. Dawson was necessarily disspirited by the sad state in which he found the Seminary. He had no reason, however, to despair. Bishop Hay had done much for the removal of difficulties; and now Bishop Geddes, by his friendly correspond­ence, helped greatly to reassure him and give him confidence. It was also cause of satisfaction to him, as well as a support of his authority, that the senior Bishop laid down regulations, in writing, which indeed were nothing else than the discipline of the house as originally estab­lished. Advice from an instructor of youth of such large experience as Bishop Geddes was also of great value to him. The prelate who had been so successful at Valladolid recommended that the newly-appointed president should be much, with the students, not only during school hours, but also at dinner and recreation time. He would be well repaid for this attention by the more rapid proficiency of the boys, and the personal comfort it would afford him when once he became accustomed to it. Bishop Hay wished, moreover, that he should be advised to attend particularly to his own religious affairs—meditation, spiritual reading, etc.

This year Bishop Hay revisited Edinburgh after an absence of six years from that Capital. He enjoyed there for a short time the society of his friend and coadjutor. He met also a gentleman, Mr. Heneage, who desired particularly to consult with him. His journey, according to the ideas of our time, was a tedious one. He travelled in a sort of stage coach, called “The Fly” (Incas a non lucendo,) probably because it did anything but fly. It took a day and a half from Aberdeen to Edinburgh, a distance which is now got over in six hours. It was no small pleasure to the good Bishop to witness THE PROGRESS RELIGION HAD MADE; the greater number of Catho­lics, their freedom from persecution, and the better state of their church accommodation. After twelve days’ sojourn at the Capital, he returned, in improved health, to the north. On his return to Aberdeen he subscribed, together with some of his friends there, for The Edinburgh Adver­tiser, in order to see “how the threatening embroils on the continent might turn out.” The polit­ical aspect was such that he was very much inclined to be of Pastorini’s opinion. But he was confident that our Lord would prepare him and all our people for what might be coming, and “enable us to act our part so as to please Him.”

It is highly interesting to note the pains which Bishop Geddes took with the infant mission of Glasgow. He little knew at the time what a giant he was so carefully nursing. In December of this year he spent ten days there in order the better to ascertain the wants of the small congrega­tion and devise means of making some provision for them. One result was an arrangement with some of the chief people of the flock “to begin a little fund” for defraying the expenses of the priest who visited them from time to time. Not only did he ask nothing for himself, but also paid from his own resources the expenses of the visiting priest. He hoped that by summer the fund subscribed would amount to £20 (twenty pounds sterling). A society was formed for the purpose of forwarding the subscription; and a small house was to be leased in which the Catholics should meet on Sundays for prayers and spiritual reading, and where also the priest should lodge on occasion of his periodical visits. The zealous Bishop entertained the best hopes; and not without good grounds. The merchant princes of the western capital had shown friendly feeling; and the thriving industries of the place were already attracting that Irish immigration which was destined to increase so rapidly as to form, in a comparatively short time, about a sixth part of the entire population. The hopes of Bishop Geddes have been more than realized. It is only to be regretted that he did not live to enjoy the satisfaction of beholding at least a fair commence­ment of the great developments which have given to Glasgow so high a place in the Catholic world.