“NEVER HAD A CATHOLIC TO HANG”—THE ROTHESAY CICERONE—“A SACRA­MENTAL SATURDAY”—THE STORY OF WITHERINGTON—MR. SCOTT, BISHOP-BOTH PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT UNDER HIS CARE—GREAT LABOURS—CHURCHES PROVIDED IN HIGHLANDS AND LOWLANDS—BISHOP SCOTT’S LEGAL KNOWLEDGE—SETTLES A LONG PENDING DISPUTE— CHURCHES AND MISSIONS MULTIPLYING—CONSEQUENT INCREASE OF EPIS­COPAL DUTY—CONVENT OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD—SACRILEGEOUS THEFT— REV. JOHN MURDOCH, COADJUTOR—BISHOP SCOTT RETIRES TO GREENOCK— HIS DEATH ON 4TH DECEMBER, 1846—RIGHT REVEREND JAMES KYLE, FIRST BISHOP OF THE NORTHERN DISTRIC—HIS LEARNING—RETIRED LIFE—GOLDEN JUBILEE—DIED AT PRESHOME IN 1869, AGED 80.

An execution was about to take place. Mr. Scott attended the condemned man and prepared him to meet his fate. When the day of execution was near at hand, it occurred to a Presbyterian minister and to the magistrates that it would be contrary to use and wont, as well as to propriety, if a Catholic priest were seen publicly on the scaffold. The priest was nowise disposed to leave the soul of his parishioner to “heretical care” in his last moments, and objected to the services of the minister on the occasion, firmly declaring that “he would never consent to any such iniq­uity.” A magistrate was then, after serious consultation, deputed to remonstrate with the refrac­tory priest. The Bailie’s (alderman’s) odd reasoning was in the following terms: “Mr. Scott,” he said, “I have never in all my life, known of a Catholic priest being on the scaffold at an execu­tion.” “For this reason,” replied the undaunted Mr. Scott, “that you never had a Catholic to hang yet.” “But if you persist in this determination, it will cause much talk, give great offence, and not one shilling more will be subscribed by any Protestant to your new chapel.” “Nae mater; I canna help that, nor the like’o’ that; I maun dae my duty; and you’ll alloo me to tell ye that I sall dae it tae; na, nae threats ‘ll frichten me, Bailie.” The good priest kept his word; and it may be stated, as showing what narrowness still prevailed at Glasgow, no Protestant ever after contrib­uted a sixpence.

In familiar lectures to his congregation, Mr. Scott exposed the calumnies which Protestants usually indulged in. In connection with this practice, the following anecdote is related: A man named Gillis, the cicerone of St. Mary’s ruined church at Rothesay, was wont to play on the credulity of tourists. In pointing out the holy water stoup this man informed inquiring travellers that the Papist Bishop of Glasgow came, every year, and washed his face in it. One day that Dr. Scott was at Rothesay, he accompanied some friends to see the interesting ruins. As the cicerone talked, he listened patiently, and, giving a hint to his friends, he said to Gillis: “Aye; and dae ye ken the Papist Bishop O’Glasgae?”—“Hoot aye, fine that, when he comes, he winna lat me see what he is gaun to dae, but tells me to stan oot by there till he’s dune.” “A weell man,” quoth the Bishop, “ver this day in a snorl; for I’m the Papist Bishop you’ve sae atten seen come to wash his face, an tauld the folk aboot; here’s a saxpence for yer trouble.”

It happened that some members of the congregation had their shops open or did some work about them on a “Sacramental Saturday.” On this account they were summoned to the police office. Mr. Scott undertook their defence, and disposed of the case in a manner that was at once summary and satisfactory. When he appeared at the bar of the police court he reminded the magistrate that the “sacramental fast” was imposed by nothing more than Ecclesiastical Law and that any violations of it could be punished only by Ecclesiastical pains and penalties. He, therefore, called on him to inflict only such punishment. To this kind of infliction Catholics could have no objection.

No notice of the Rev. Andrew Scott would be complete without the following story. It is found in all the memoirs of the illustrious Prelate and related on his own authority: A man named Witherington, a native of the north of Ireland and an Orange Protestant, having lost what prop­erty he owned at home, came over to Scotland, and by ill luck fell into the company of thieves and depraved persons, some of whom were nominal Catholics. As for himself, he had never once been in a Catholic chapel. He dreamt one night that he was chased by devils along the salt market of Glasgow, and ran for shelter into a house where on entering he found a man who he afterwards understood was a priest, engaged in saying Mass. Hearing the noise of Wither­ington’s sudden entering the priest turned round and bade him be comforted, for as soon as he had finished he would accompany him home. This he did, both of them walking together along certain streets of Glasgow towards Witherington’s lodgings. He awoke before reaching them. He thought little of the dream at the time, but, nevertheless, related it to his companions. Some­time after he was persuaded by two or three of them to accompany them to the Catholic chapel in Glasgow, which was the only one at that day, and served by Mr. Scott, the only priest. With­erington and his companions seated themselves awaiting the entrance of the priest and the beginning of the service. When the sacristy door opened and Mr. Scott came out, Witherington started, uttered an exclamation, and whispered to his companions that he saw the man in the strange dress whom he had seen in his dream. He listened attentively to all that was said, and recited his own prayers with some devotion. He was so far impressed as to take a resolution to amend. In a week or two, however, his good purpose was forgotten and he returned to his evil courses. Some time later, he was arrested for an aggravated robbery, committed between Ayr and Kilmarnock, and was conveyed to Edinburgh, to be tried. He was convicted, and, according to the custom of the time, condemned to death. It was determined that he should remain in the jail of Edinburgh till the day before the execution, when he was to be taken back to Glasgow and thence, on the fatal morning, to the spot where the robbery had been committed. His route through Glasgow to the jail was the same as he had taken when flying from the devils in his dream. His way from the jail was the same as that by which the priest had conducted him towards his lodgings. Witherington’s accomplice in the robbery, also under sentence, was a Catholic. The Rev. Alex. Badenoch, one of the priests of Edinburgh, attended him. Wither­ington begged to be instructed. As the day of the execution approached it was arranged that Mr. Scott should accompany the convicts out of Glasgow, and that Bishop Paterson, who was then in charge of the Paisley mission, should take his place and attend them on the scaffold, as the place of execution lay in his mission. The day before their last the prisoners were removed to Glasgow. Bishop Paterson and Mr. Scott visited them in the jail. Witherington’s cell was a dark one; but the moment Mr. Scott entered it the convict accosted him by name. When asked if he knew the priest, he replied although he had never before spoken to him he should know his face among a thousand. On learning the arrangements for next morning Witherington burst into tears. When pressed to tell the cause, the poor fellow with difficulty related his dream and entreated Mr. Scott to go with him all the way. To this the good priest consented, and encour­aged and comforted the humble penitent at intervals on the awful journey, finally inspiring him with the hope to obtain mercy from the Eternal Judge.

Whilst Mr. Scott laboured with astonishing success in promoting the cause of religion, he was, at the same time, its brightest ornament. A true and faithful shepherd, he was always at his post and ever watchful to guard his flock when danger arose, and vigorously defend its members when ungenerously attacked, as was often the case in those days of ignorance and  narrow-mindedness. Such merit as his could not be overlooked. It was resolved, accordingly, that he should be elevated to Episcopal dignity. The advancing years of Bishop Ranald McDonald rendered it necessary that in his extensive district he should have the aid of a coadjutor. His brother Bishop of the Eastern District joined with him in petitioning to this effect, and the Holy See, acceding to their wishes, in 1827 appointed Mr. Scott Bishop of Eretria and coadjutor, with right of succession, to the Right Reverend Bishop McDonald in the newly constituted Western District. The consecration took place in St. Andrew’s Church, Glasgow, Bishop Paterson offi­ciating, assisted by Bishops McDonald and Penswick.

The new Bishop continued to reside in Glasgow, advancing, with his usual energy, the work of religion in the Lowland portion of the Western District, which may truly be said to have been the result of his own indefatigable labours. Towards the end of 1832 the management of the whole district devolved on him, in consequence of the death of Bishop McDonald. He was not less mindful of the Highland than of the Lowland portion of his charge. Churches were needed in many parts of the Highlands; and the ever-active Bishop lost no time in providing them. This important work cost him many journeys and much labour. But meanwhile North Morar, Glen­garry, Morven, South Uist and Benbecula, Badenoch, Fort Augustus, Arisaig, and last, but not least, Glencoe, were supplied with suitable churches. In alluding to the last-named place, Bishop Gillis, in his funeral sermon, recalling a too memorable fact of history, thus spoke of the celebrated valley: “To thee, also, he gave an altar of expiation, red vale of mourning, long widowed Glencoe!” It must not be supposed, however, that the Highlands, so dear to the Cath­olic heart, absorbed all the care and energy of the Apostolic Bishop. New missions at the same time were springing up throughout the Lowlands. Religion, freed from her cruel bonds, appeared to be resuming possession of her ancient strongholds. New churches arose in Airdrie, Newton Stewart, Houston, Barrhead and Duntocher, whilst many others were improved and enlarged. So much successful work was, in great measure, due to the Bishop’s wonderful ability in the transaction of business. Nothing was overlooked or omitted by him that required his care and judicious consideration. Disputes and difficulties were avoided by the pains which he took in writing contracts. They were submitted, moreover, to the scrutiny of his “man of business” (legal adviser), although his own knowledge of law was, not unfrequently, found to surpass that of his learned attorney.

Bishop Scott’s knowledge was great; his soundness of judgment, if possible, greater still. His sense of justice was no less complete; and these qualities being universally recognized throughout England and Ireland as well as Scotland, it was considered safe to appeal to him in cases of the greatest difficulty. The long standing dispute between the English secular clergy and the powerful Benedictine Order was referred to him for final settlement. He took the whole case into consideration, and after mature deliberation gave his decision, which was accepted without a murmur by both seculars and regulars.

The addition of the Highlands and Western Isles to his Episcopal care greatly increased his apostolic labours; and he never shrank from them, meeting them all with his wonted energy. Neither the most fatiguing journeys by land, where no conveyance could be used, nor the waves and storms of the wild Atlantic, were any hindrance to his unconquerable activity. He beheld only the desolation of many Highland missions, and used every effort to render them prosperous and flourishing. His solicitude for the Highlands did not, however, diminish his care of the Lowland country. As has been seen, missions and churches multiplied through his zeal; and the progress which he inaugurated is still a remarkable feature of the West of Scotland. There was wanting, as yet, an Ecclesiastical Seminary. The Bishop, anxious that there should be a suffi­cient number of clergy trained at home, purchased the estate of Dalbeth, near Glasgow, with a view to establish there a College for his Vicariate. There was on the estate a finely-situated mansion house, which, the Western District having its share in the College of Blairs, together with the other two districts, is now devoted to a more urgent want, that of the Convent of the Good Shepherd.

The Bishop in the midst of his success met sometimes with serious mortifications. Such was the sacrilegious theft of the chalice of Iona, which he had inherited from his predecessor, Bishop McDonald. One night that the safe for keeping the altar plate of St. Mary’s Church was left unlocked, thieves broke into the vestry, and carried off the precious relic. It was afterwards found, but, cut to pieces, ready for the melting-pot. (See Cap. on Bishop McDonald, and Sir Daniel Wilson’s Pre-historic Annals of Scotland.)

From 1833 Bishop Scott enjoyed the aid of a coadjutor, who was no other than the Right Reverend John Murdoch, whose career, afterwards, as Vicar-Apostolic, was so brilliant. By 1836, the venerable Bishop’s health was so much impaired that he felt himself to be unequal to the ever-increasing business of Glasgow and the surrounding country. In order to obtain some relief he retired to the less laborious field which the town of Greenock presented. He continued, nevertheless, to devote himself to the care of his numerous flock. But the duties which he still performed were too arduous for his decreasing strength, and, finally, broke down his vigorous constitution. The illness which proved to be his last, was of long duration. It is believed to have originated in the damp vestries of his church at Glasgow, when, as yet, but newly erected. It could not be otherwise than unwholesome to remain for hours in those vestries, hearing confes­sions, after great exertions in the pulpit every Sunday. But the danger of illness could not deter him from giving the comfort and consolation of his ministry to his numerous penitents. Years and labours at length did their fatal work. The good Bishop sank gradually to his rest, giving no sign of intellectual decay save, occasionally, a slight and momentary wandering of the mind. He was perfectly resigned to the will of God, and made over, without a murmur, the staff of his authority to his successor, begging, at the same time, his forgiveness for leaving him so much to do. This was, indeed, although he thought it not, pronouncing his own eulogium. He died at his residence, Shaw street, Greenock, on the 4th December, 1846, aged seventy-four years and ten months. His funeral took place at St. Mary’s Church, Glasgow, Bishop Gillis preaching on the occasion an appropriate and eloquent sermon.

All Bishop Scott’s sermons, admonitions, warnings, and exhortations to his people were deliv­ered in the old Scotch dialect. He must have done so for greater edification, for none could write or speak better English, as is shown by some sermons of his composition which are preserved at Greenock.

The first Bishop of the Northern District, the Right Reverend James Kyle, was born at Edin­burgh on the 22nd of September, 1788. He studied at the Seminary of Aquorties from 1799 till 1808, when he was appointed to a professorship in that Institution. He was promoted to the priesthood on the 21st of March, 1812. During the long period that elapsed between that time and January, 1826, he continued to act as a Professor at Aquorties, He was then stationed at St. Andrew’s, Glasgow. He was not long engaged in that laborious mission when his Superior next caused him to be called to the Episcopal office. On the 13th February, 1827, were received in Scotland the Briefs by which he was nominated Bishop of Germanicia and Vicar-Apostolic of the newly-constituted Northern District. His consecration took place at Aberdeen in September of the. following year. He lived to enjoy his golden jubilee; and, what is not a little extraordi­nary, it was celebrated in Glenlivat, and not at Preshome, his favourite residence, and which had been so long the chief seat of the missions of Scotland. All the time that could be spared from the faithful discharge of his Episcopal duties he devoted to the collection of manuscripts and printed papers connected with the history of the country and the Church. He enjoyed the repu­tation of being one of the best antiquaries of his time. It is matter for surprise that, with all his ability and knowledge, he never gave any writing to the public. The writer has heard him say that his only contribution to the annals of the land must be facts; and that he left it to those who should come after him to present them in the attractive style of finely-written history.

The long and useful career of this learned Prelate came to an end at Preshome in 1869, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty.