THE HEART OF BRUCE

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1929, Page 3

THE HEART OF BRUCE

MISSING HISTORIC RELIC. CASKET THAT WAS MISLAID. A proposal that the heart of Robert the Bruce should be conveyed to the Holy Land for burial, the Bruce’s dying request, has led to a strange discovery. The suggestion, it is understood, was made by the Rev. Dr. Christie, who has been stationed in Palestine for many years as a missionary of the United Free Church of Scotland. After a holiday in Scotland Dr. Christie has returned to the Holy Land for the opening of the new Scottish Memorial Church at Jerusalem. It isdiis ambition to have the Bruce’s heart conveyed to Palestine in connection with the inauguration of the church. But it has now been discovered that the ' present whereabouts of the Scottish king’s heart is unknown. Eight or nine years ago, during excavation work at Melrose Abbey, a casket containing what was believed to be the heart of the Bruce was unearthed by the workmen, and was placed in the custody of the Public Works Department in Edinburgh. In the interval, apparently, the relic has been mislaid. The interesting suggestion has been made that, if the heart of the Bruce is found and sent to the Holy Land, the bearer of the relic shall be the Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale, son and heir of the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, a descendant of Sir James Douglas, who was entrusted with the'’original; mission.