ANXIETY CAUSED BY THE FRENCH REVOLUTION—INCENDIARY FIRE AT STOB­HALL—ORDER AGAINST MUSIC IN CHURCHES ENFORCED—ADESTE FIDELES— INSANITY—HIGHER STUDIES AT SCALAN—DEATH OF THE DUCHESS OF ALBANY—FIRST UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BISHOP—PROHIBITION OF MUSIC RELUCUTANTLY OBEYED—A CATHOLIC SOCIETY—VISITING THE MISSIONARY PRIESTS—DANGER OF MUSIC IN CHURCHES AROUSING LATENT HOSTILITY—EDUCATION OF THE POOR—LIBERALITY OF THE MAGISTRATES ON OCCASION OF AN EXECUTION—CARDINAL ALBANI MORE FRIENDLY—NO APPROVAL BY BISHOP GEDDES OF DR. A. GEDDES’ SCRIPTURES—BISHOP GEDDES MISREPRESENTED.

Mr. Thomson, writing to Bishop Geddes, augured the worst consequences from the incipient revolution in France. Many eminent statesmen and patriots in England, meanwhile, were exulting over the fall of the Bastile and the extinction of despotism. Mr. Thomson showed himself more penetrating by his sinister predictions than Edmund Burke, who could not see the extent of the tragedy and overthrow that were in progress, until the forced return from Versailles to Paris, of the unfortunate king, in the hands of the Parisian populace. Bishop Geddes, on his return from the meeting, visited his old friends in the Enzie. He found the new Church at Preshome well advanced. The slaters were busy roofing it. The Earl of Findlater had presented a fine painting of Gregory the Great, a masterpiece of, one of the Caracci.

From the 18th to the 19th of August an incendiary fire occurred at Stobhall. The priest’s servant and another man having been awakened by the smoke, gave the alarm and called Mr. Macpherson. Some of the neighbours cheerfully gave their assistance in extinguishing the flames; others stood by or passed on unconcerned. But for the calm weather the whole premises must have been consumed. As it was, the fire was subdued, whilst only the thatch on one side of the chapel was destroyed. The fire having been willfully raised, and so many of the neigh­bours declining to aid in extinguishing it, there could be no doubt that the evil spark was still alive, and that the greatest caution was necessary to avoid any step that might fan it into a flame. On this account Bishop Hay considered that they were justified in the joint resolution which they had taken of putting a stop to the singing scheme, and he entreated his coadjutor to see it acted on without delay wherever singing was found to be in use. The Bishops at their recent meeting had concluded against singing in the churches. It was not, however, easily put down. Mr. Robertson informed Bishop Geddes that the orders relative to music had been received with all due submission, but that it was impossible all at once to get rid of their teacher. His friend, Mr. Menzies, on the other side of the street, had some hopes that the order against music would be recalled. He had none. But as it had been confided to the prudence of each missionary priest, he intended to let it dwindle away gradually, rather than stop it suddenly. It is said to be due to Mr. Menzies and his Highland congregation that the popular Christmas hymn, Adeste Fideles, was introduced into Scotland. It rapidly became the fashion in the city; apprentice boys whistled it in every street. It was even said that the black birds in the squares joined in the chorus. It is not a little remarkable that this Catholic hymn is now to be found in almost every collection of Presbyterian Church music, under the name of the Portuguese hymn.

Mr. Thomson feared lest the severe climate of Scalan should prove injurious to his friend, Bishop Hay. “Bishop Gordon, indeed,” he wrote, “resided there frequently, during the latter days of his life, but only to retire from the hurry of business and enjoy a little respite from his apostolic labours. He chose that place because he had been the founder of it, always had a partic­ular attachment to it, and treated it with peculiar favour.” It was by no means certain that it would prove equally favourable to the health of Bishop Hay. A friend at Rome had requested the agent there to ascertain what books or other things the Bishop would like to have for his own private use, in order that this good friend, known to have been a Mr. Waters, might have the pleasure of sending them to him.

There were but few cases of insanity among the clergy. That of Mr. Gordon, brother of the prin­cipal at Paris, has been already alluded to. Another melancholy instance occurred in the person of Mr. James Cameron. This priest’s mind became so affected that he wandered about the country for several months. It was finally arranged that he should reside with Mr. Macpherson at Stobhall.

If one may judge from a list of books at Scalan, a higher class of studies was now pursued there, under the auspices of its episcopal president. The books referred to which were sent from Edin­burgh, were, among others, Altieri’s Italian and English dictionary, Schrevilius’ Lexicon, Eachard’s classical dictionary, Knoxes’ history of Scotland; two copies of a translation of the Mass, lately made by Mr. Robertson, priest at Edinburgh, and Buchan’s medicine, a new edition of which was soon to appear, when it also would be sent. Besides these books, there was a Gunter’s scale, a terrestrial globe and a ring dial, or astronomical ring of Bishop Geddes’ own manufacture, and which he took pains to describe as designed for the old style. A set of purple vestments was also sent at the same time. Bishop Geddes, on occasion of sending these things, informed his right rev. friend, that a form of faculties which he had been preparing, was not yet printed. He asked the Bishop whether he would recommend that their form should be limited “till they are recalled,” or to a certain number of years, say two or three? He was himself in favour of the former way. He could not conclude his letter without entreating the Bishop, and it was not till after serious consideration of the matter, to permit the singing of some hymns at Edinburgh and Aberdeen, on Sunday afternoons.

In a letter of 28th Nov., 1789, Mr. Thomson, informed Bishop’ Geddes of the death of the Duchess of Albany at Bologna, on the 17th Nov., 1789. The agent states in his letter that “she died in an edifying manner, and was much regretted.” She left the Cardinal, Duke of York, her heir. There is also in Mr. Thomson’s news the nomination of the first American Catholic Bishop of Baltimore, in the person of Mr. Carryl (Carroll.) He was mistaken, however, in stating that the United States had refused to receive a Vicar Apostolic with the title of Bishop in partibus. On the contrary, they declined all interference in the matter.

It would appear that Bishop Geddes concurred reluctantly in the peremptory prohibition of music which Bishop Hay had issued. He now according to promise, prepared his reasons for requesting that the prohibition should be so far modified as to admit of some hymns being sung in the churches of Edinburgh and Aberdeen, after Christian doctrine on Sunday afternoons. Great advantage, he insisted, would accrue to religion from the use of suitable music; and such had been sanctioned by the Church in every age. Music was mentioned by St. Justin, as part of divine worship, even at a time when the Christians were obliged to assemble in the catacombs. As to danger, from all that Bishop Geddes could observe, there was not the slightest fear of anything arising in consequence of the use of music in the churches. The great majority of the Catholics wished it, and they could not be made to understand why the Bishop should not encourage the practice. The prohibition was obeyed prudently and by degrees. But for this wise moderation, there certainly would have been scandal. The Bishop gave great weight to the following consideration: Sunday afternoons and evenings were times of peculiar danger to young persons. It was, therefore, a matter of great importance to attract them to chapel to Chris­tian doctrine and devotion. In forwarding this desirable object, music would be a powerful influ­ence. Its practice would also be a distant preparation for having High Mass sung on some festivals, which will tend greatly to the edification of the faithful when it shall be found to be expedient. “Your predecessor,” he concludes, “was very desirous of seeing this; and what he said to me on the subject was one of the reasons which I had for causing Church music to be taught at Valladolid. I wish the same were done in all our houses abroad. I beg you will consider all this; and I hope you will give a favourable answer to our petition. You shall hear of and see the good effects of it.”

Catholics could now associate, and in the most public manner, for mutual benefit. So early as 1785 a burial society called “St. Andrew’s Catholic society” was formed in the congregations of Edinburgh. It was so far successful that in November, 1789, its statutes, laws and regulations were made public in order to attract attention to it, and, in consequence, rendered it more effi­cient. Only Catholics of good moral character and sound constitution and whose age was not over thirty-six years could be admitted as members. A member, after five years of membership, was entitled to receive five shillings weekly, in the event of his becoming indigent. The expense of funerals was provided for from the funds of the society. The society was managed by a pres­ident, six directors, a treasurer and a clerk, who were elected annually. There were also three arbiters for settling such disputes as might arise between members. From their decision no appeal was permitted to any court of law. Parties who gave donations became honorary members. This society continued in full operation for many years. It was finally wound up, from thirty to forty years ago, and its capital divided among the members.

As appearances indicated severe weather at Scalan, it was thought best to appoint that the holy oils should be blessed at Edinburgh.

The Bishops were agreed as to the advantage of their visiting each missionary priest once in the year. This, however, although desirable, could not be done. The small number of priests rendered it necessary that the Bishops themselves should often attend to parochial duties. Hence, considering also their episcopal functions throughout each district, it was impossible for them to visit the clergy frequently, or reside with them any length of time. Their presence, there­fore, must be dispensed with except in cases of business which could not be transacted by letter.

This year, 1790, the Bishop, notwithstanding the representations of Bishop Geddes, still held to his determination of prohibiting music in the churches. He had a more lively sense than his coadjutor of the lurking danger which existed. In some places, no doubt, Mr. Mathieson’s mission, for instance, which was under the powerful wing of the Dukes of Gordon, any amount of music and singing would have been perfectly safe. But it would not have been so throughout the missions generally, where much less than a musical celebration of Catholic worship might, at any moment, have roused to activity the latent spark which was far from being extinguished. It was still alive, indeed, at a much later epoch, when the spirit of the age condemned it to inac­tivity.

The question of music being, for the time, disposed of, the Bishop gave his attention to another subject of great importance, the proper education of the children of the poorer classes. A Mr. Fleming kept a charity school near Scalan, at a place called Badevochla, causing such of the children to pay as he thought were able to do so. He obliged them to learn his Protestant cate­chism on Saturdays, threatening to expel all who refused. Mr. James Carruthers, the priest of the place, could not fail to see the injury that was thus done to the children of his congregation. Their heads were filled with erroneous ideas, the very opposite of what their parents and pastor taught them. They also became confused in their minds and were prevented from learning their own catechism, their time being given to Mr. Fleming’s. Mr. Carruthers found a remedy. He brought from Galloway a young man, a native of Ireland, who had come to Scotland with a view of obtaining a situation as school master. His qualifications appear to have been superior to those of Mr. Fleming. He could teach reading, writing and arithmetic. He was, besides, a good Latin scholar, and was superior to Mr. Fleming as a penman. The people were much pleased, procured for him a school room and sent their children to him, preferring to pay a teacher who could instruct their children according to their own principles. Mr. Fleming and his friends, as may be supposed, were much offended and threatened to memorialize the society at Edinburgh for propagating Christian knowledge. As a Catholic school master was still proscribed by law in Scotland, Bishop Hay, apprehending evil results from the memorial and the misrepresenta­tion and exaggeration which would probably accompany it, requested his friend and coadjutor to use his influence with a gentleman who was a member of the Propagation Society in order to counteract the bad effects of the Fleming appeal.

The delicate position in which the Catholics and clergy, and even the higher magistrates stood, at this time, is well illustrated by.the circumstances of a capital execution. The town council resolved to permit any Catholic clergyman to assist the culprit publicly on the scaffold. The Lord Advocate, on being consulted, declared that he saw, in this no impropriety. Bailie (alderman) John Hutton, a friend and former school-fellow of Bishop Hay, communicated the resolution of the magistrates to Bishop Geddes. The Bishop, however, dreading lest some of the rabble should raise a noise, declined the kindly meant offer with thanks, considering it sufficient to attend the unfortunate man to the last moment, in prison, and to be stationed during the execu­tion, in a window close at hand; and so it was done. The magistrates invited the Bishop to dine with them after the dread ceremony. He could not but decline the invitation, whilst acknowl­edging their politeness. It would have been very unpleasant for him, on such an occasion, to accept, and would, besides, have made choice news for the populace. Bailie Hutton and Mr. Donaldson desired to be most kindly remembered to their old school-fellow, Bishop Hay. So also did his highly esteemed friend, Dr. Alexander Wood.

A change, at this time, came over the mind of Cardinal Albani, and he showed an inclination to be more friendly to the Scotch College. In view of the prospect which this better feeling afforded, Bishop Hay wrote to congratulate Mr.Thompson. It would appear that Bishop Geddes had given offence to some of their English friends by showing friendship to Dr. Alexander Geddes, and by so doing had injured himself and the Scotch mission. Bishop Hay remarked this in his correspondence with Mr. Thompson, and stated that he had remonstrated with his coad­jutor. It is not, however, said that Bishop Geddes expressed any approval of Dr. A. Geddes’ erroneous comments accompanying his translation of the Scriptures. He countenanced him as a distinguished man of letters, whilst, by breaking with him, he would have destroyed the best hope there was of the erring writer’s reconciliation.

The great popularity of Bishop Geddes did not save him from misrepresentation. Some busy bodies among the Catholics of Edinburgh were pleased to circulate the rumour that Bishop Geddes, contrary to the prohibition which he and Bishop Hay had issued, allowed singing to take place openly in the Bishop’s chapel; that a new teacher of music had been engaged at a salary of £35 a year; and that Bishop Hay was blamed for refusing a similar permission to Mr. Menzies, on the other side of the street, a partiality which seemed to favour Bishop Geddes’ chapel, on account of the rich people who frequented it. Bishop Hay, not knowing what to think of this rumour, wrote to his coadjutor for information. The latter, in his reply, remonstrated in the most spirited manner against such unfounded accusations. He writes at some length. It would be superfluous, however, to quote more than a few words of his letter. “Since our orders prohibiting it, there has been no music in this chapel, any more than in the other, excepting only one Sunday’s afternoon, that in my absence at Glasgow, and that without any the least concur­rence of mine, they had in this chapel a trial of their music, at which a good many persons of both congregations were present.” There was a school of music. The Bishop continues: “It was represented to me that this school might be useful to the children, and might be a preparation for the time when we should see proper to introduce music into our chapels, which we ourselves were inclined to do as soon as we should see it prudent. The only proper answer that I thought I could give to this was, that they might have as many schools of music as they pleased, but that there would be no music in the chapel, until we should have our superior’s full approbation. And to this, you may be persuaded, I have most strictly adhered, which was, certainly, no more than my duty.” Bishop Hay in his reply acknowledged that he had been falsely informed, and that the coadjutor’s “explication of the matter was perfectly satisfying.”