“SCOTLAND FOR EVER”

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 6, 2 October 1937, Page 7

“SCOTLAND FOR EVER”

Spirit Of Caledonia

WANGANUI GATHERING

Dominion Special Service

Wanganui, October 1

“To visualise Scotland aright she should be regarded from her three aspects: first, there is the land and. its people: second, the spirit which inspires it, and last, but what should be the most important to all Scots to-day, the message it has to deliver for the good of humanity,” said Mr. D. McLaren, Wellington, in the course of an address entitled “A Breath from off the Heather” at the annual gathering of Scottish elans in Wanganui lust night. More than 360 people from different parts of the North Island attended, and the event, the second of its kind to be arranged by the committee of the Wanganui Highland Pipe Band, was a •success from every point of view. “Scotland, In area, is almost insignificant when compared with such countries as America, Canada, Russia or Australia,” said Mr. McLaren. “We must remember, however, that physical ■size in the world’s history is of little moment —ancient Greece, whose glory lightened modern civilisation, was but a small country; ancient Rome, though small, led the world in law, civil order and administrative power. Scotland has given inspiration in thought, speech and action to the enrichment of humanity as a whole. This little spot on earth, Scotland, in many parts rugged and infertile, poor at first in material wealth, has yet within it inherent qualities which lead to such greatness as attracts the world’s attention.

“Of its people, it may be said they were born in comparative poverty, nurtured by adversity and afterward made great by the hard blows of fate which seemed likely to destroy them. The Scot was hammered out on the anvil of hardest circumstance to the fineness of tempered steel, that he might prove the fitter in the world's battles for liberty, justice, honour and truth. Scotland may be no more beautiful than many others, yet has the 'land of brown

heath and shaggy wood, land of the mountain and the flood,' enchained the affections of many peoples not Scotch. This is what is said of it by an English writer: ‘Romantic grandeur, rich and varied beauty, picturesqueness and sublimity are the distinctive features of the scenery of Scotland.’ “I could easily present the naiu > of hundreds of great Scots, men and women, Highlanders and Lowlanders, who have given up their talent, industry and genius to the enrichment of the world. I will content myself with naming only one great. Scot —Stanley Baldwin. I do this in order that we may thank him for ills great service, to Britain. I will be told Baldwin is English, yet the fact is. on his mothers sid< — often the most important—he is Scotch. If any have a doubt they may mars the canniness with which this great man met the periods of great crisis. ‘Be Britains still to Britain true, Among ourselves united; For never but by British hands Shall British wrongs be righted.’ “Thus wrote Burns, and so wrought Baldwin. The spirit is Caledonian, for so we love our country. What is the message Scotland, through its sons and daughters, has to deliver to a muchdistressed world, as it is to-day? Surely it is a message of tolerance and goodwill —that the world have more of justice, freedom and love.”