306
AN GAOḊAL.
been formed to cultivate the ancient language. It
was their object in Montreal to bring together
ALL BRANCHES OF THE CELTIC FAMILY;
none but literary subjects would be discussed.
There were great numbers of Highlanders in the
North West as well as in Ontario and the Lower
Provinces. They had plenty of material for a very
successful society, if each did his part. He con¬
cluded by moving the adoption of the constitution
and by-law.
These were read by Mr. McKerchar, honorary
secretary. It was provided that the membres should
be persons who by authorship or public addresses
or otherwise had shown interest or eminence in
Celtic literature; also corresponding, honorary,
and life members; the annual fee to be, life
members to pay $25. It was decided to admit la¬
dies, Dr McNish referring to MacKellar, of Edin¬
burgh, as second to none in her Gaelic poetry.
Any surplus funds are to be spent in forming a
library of Celtic works. Monthly meetings will be
held from October to March. Prizes may be offer¬
ed for competition by essays or examinations:
Prof. Campbell suggested that a Bard was a very
important officer of such a society.
The Rev. Dr. R. Campbell said that the Rev. E.
MacColl, bard of Kingston Society, objected to be¬
ing elected, saying that bards could not be so cre¬
ated, he was accordingly elected a permanent
officer.
The Rev. Dr. MacNish thought that the bard,
once chosen, should hold his office as long as he
wished. This was agreed to:
Mr. Lewis moved, seconded by Dr. MacNish,
that the minutes be written in English instead of
Gaelic. Mr. Drysdale suggested both languages.
Dr. MacNish thought that, though the debates
might be in any Celtic language, the minutes should
be in one that all could understand: This was a¬
greed to by a vote of 15 against 14 for the Gaelic
minutes.
On motion of Rev. R. Campbell a by-law was
added that, if it were deemed advisable, the Socie¬
ty's transactions should be published periodically.
Mr. Drysdale then seconded the adoption of the
constitution and by-laws. Carried unanimously.
The Rev. R. Campbell submitted a first list of
officers, remarking that they wished all branches
of Celts to be represented, and he would be glad if
alterations in the list were suggested. The officers
elected for the year were as follows: Honorary
President, Mr. John Maclellan, ex-M. P. for Glen¬
garry ; President, the Rev. Dr. MacNish, Corn¬
wall ; Vice-Presidents, the Rev. Principal MacVi¬
car and Mr. John Lewis; Bard, Mr. McKillop;
Rec. Sec., Mr. C. Mackerchar, Presbyterian Col¬
lege; Cor. Sec. Mr. J. C. Martin; Treas,, the Rev.
W J. Day, M. A., at the College (to whom mem¬
bers' subscriptions may now be sent) ; Executive
Committee, Messrs. J. W. Macken ie, M. C. Leitch,
J. H. McTaggart, J. K. Ward (from the Isle of Man)
A. H. Maclennan and Prof. Coussirat. In speak¬
ing to his motion, the Rev. R. Campbell said that
if Prof. Blackie thought it worth while to devote
his wonderful energy and activity to founding a
chair in Edinburgh University, surely the same
reason should make them give an impulse to Cel¬
tic studies in this country. Referring to
MR. M'KILLOP, THE BARD,
Mr. Campbell said that there would have been no
limit to that gentleman's work in this field if he
had not lost his sight in early life.
Mr. McKillop, said that for many years he had
wandered up and down this country, and owing to
his recommendations many were now studying the
Gaelic language, and many who were losing it are
again speaking and reading it. Let them unite to
restore and study these old tongues, and they
would be conferring a blessing on those who
should take their places. The language of the
heart should not die, it outlived every tyranny.
The bard concluded by reciting the following
Gaelic poem, written for the occasion, remarking
that he could not put the word Montreal in Gaelic
except as "the city of the royal mountain" :—
COMMUNN OSSIANACH AN AM BAILE A
CHNOIC RIOGHAL.
An am baile a chnoic-rioghal, tha gadheil ro-dhi¬
leas
A deanamh an dichioll, le colas nach gann;
A cantuinn, 's a lenghach na canain
A labhradh an Eden, si ghaelic bh' ann.
A luchd teagasg na beurla, bith 'ibh tosdach le
cheile,
Tha communn air eirigh 's an t-saoghal so mum
thuath,
Commann Ossianach aluinn, a teagasg na gaelic,
'S iad fior chlann nan gaedheal a chumas i suas.
Nac seall sibh mu'n cuairt air ard sgollairean
uasal.
'Sa ghaelic na buanachd a thuigsinn gach cainnt;
A dhionnachadh Greigis, Eabhra Laidin's beurla,
A chionn gur i freumh do gach canein a 'tha 'ann.
Biodhan t aineolach tairail, mar 's minic a bha iad
Theid a chaint a bha'm Parras a chumail an aird:
Anns an duthaich a d'fhag sinn, tha moran d'air
braithrean
A seinn, anns a ghaelic, cliu Ossein am bard
Biodh an commann so dileas, 's laidir es lionmhor,
'Sbi moran r'a innseadh le firinn 's r'a luadh.
Muna beachdan a sgaoil sinn, a lionadh an t-saog¬
hal so
Le Gaelic ro-fheumail, 's'e eolas bith's buan.
Agus cluinneadh na h-altain a thig in air deigh'ne
Marasgriobh, 's mar leugh sinn a chanaies 's fearr,
A's nuair a chuireas sinn crioch air gach dleasdan¬
as a ni sinn.
Innsidh eachdraidh fhirinneach c'uin, a's c'aite,
Le "ciad mile failte" do gach aon a tha lathair,
A chum onoir na Gaedhlic a mhaires gach re,
iodh a baile chnoic rioghail na bheannachd le
do mhiltean
Agus canain nan gaedheil cho mairean rin fein.
Montreal Daily News.
