Scotch Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 20, 7 September 1888, Page 3

Scotch Notes.

A statue of Sir William Wallace was unveiled at Aberdeen on Saturday, June 30, by tbe Marquis of Lome. The statue, which stands on a ca'rn, is a bold and commanding figure, and appears to do justice at least to the person of the great hero. As to the likenes?, it must of course be taken en trust. But a handsome effort of the imagination may be preferred to many works of art whose very faithfulness to the original disfigures them. Judged by the memory of his deeds we should picture Wallace as the flower of mankind.

The sporting record of the year in Scotland has not so far been Very brilliant, and it is feared that the prospects of what is to come are not much better. Salmon fishing ha? been very indifferent. That in the Shin, one of the best rivers in the country, is considered an almost complete failure. It is said, besides, that the late snow has destroyed the young grouse on the upland moors. But perhaps a hint that sport is not the only object that should be sought in dealing with a country"may not be without its effect on the minds of ieflective Nimrods — if such there be.

According to & statement made in the general assembly of the Free Church, spiritual sinecures have prevailed to a great extent in connection with the Established Cburch. The calculation was that since the separation, some forty-five years ago, a total sum of about £1,800,000 had been so expended. This state of affairs shows more likeness to what was the rule under Establishment in Ireland than might have been looked for. The statement gives another blow to the already tottering life of the Established Church. A proposal made in the assembly of the Establishment that in consequence of the reduced stipends of ministers celibacy should be introduced among them struck iX the raison d' etre of the Church. Needless to say it was made in jest.

The nude among the works of art in the Glasgow Exhibition is causing some discussion. The friends of high art defend it as all that it should be, and are loud in accusing of indelicate minds those who condemn it. The matter, however, has too suspicious a past not to cause uneasiness to prudent people, and the state of the world from which it baa been handed down in a lesser though growing development is a sufficient justification for any fears that may be entertained. Purity is best observed by those who place due guards ■round it. Whatever the disciples and admirers of high art may say, the node should be kept under cover.

The Duke of Sutherland, who seems to have some more enlightened ideas than are usual among bis class as to the duties of land-holders, has appointed his son, the Marquis of Stafford, head factor over the family estates in the North of Scotland. Tbis is the second attempt made by bis Grace to introduce a better system of management than that carried on by the ordinary factors. Hia first effort failed, owing to the opposition of these time-honoured officials,

| whose privileges were threatened in a way mo3t displeasing to them. Tae present experiment will be watched with interest. It is, however, too late to item t&e tide of land-reform demanded, and the Duks of Sutherland, whatever may be his good will, must eventually share the fate of his class. It was the fault- of his fathers that were visited on the innocent head of King Louis XVI.

Several members of the priesthood, as well as the Archbishop o£ St. Andrew's, have shown a most undesirable prejudice against the Irish national cause. This is very much to be regretted n*>w that a movement in favour of the cause is so general among the non -Catholic population. It is not wise of Catho.ic priests to throw th«ir people exclusively on the sympathies of those who are opposed to them in religion. Still less wise is it. for Catholic ecclesiastics to take any course that gives colour to the common accusation that the Cburch is an aristocraiic institution aod opposed to evi;ry popular cause. To confirm this falsehood now in the days of the inevitable advance of tbe democracy is an insane policy in those who have the interests of the Church at heart. It is true that the Pope, by bis teaching, as in tbe encyclical just issued by him, may contradict such assumptions, but nine- tenths of the non-Catholic world will not hear the Pope's teaching, bat will be guided in their notions of Catholicism by the part taken before their eyes by Catholic ecclesiastics. Woe to him through whom the scandal cometh.

And the sympathy in Scotland with Ireland is very general and very sincere. In Glasgow, for example, on Baturday July 7, a great meeting was held to protest against coeicion,and,especially to condemn the treatment given to Mr. John Dillon. It was a genuinely Scotch meeting, and its action was most important and impressive. Similar meetings have since been held in other places. But must not the soul of the Irish Catholic be tried who reflects that Presbyterianism can teach its adherents such brotherly-love and sympathy for the oppressed as this, while Archbishops and priests of the Catholic Church fail to find such principles in their holy faith ? We can only say again, Woa to him through whom the scandal cometh.

Catholic schools in Scotland are well sustaining the reputation they justly command wherever they are established. Of the six Maxwell School Bursaries recently competed for in Glasgow, Miss Annie Quin. the pupil of a Catholic Bchool, and among 35 competitors the only Catholic, gained one. Four of seventeen bursaries, moreover, contested by 160 candidates from the principal schools of the town in question were won by Catholic boys— pupils of St. Mango's Academy.

For the first time since the so-called Reformation, an abbot has been installed ia Scotland . The ecclesiastic referred to is the Very Rev. Leo Linse, Abbot of tbe Benedictine Abbey of Fort Augustas, who was installed by Mgr. Peraico on Thursday, July 5. Such a mark of Catholic revival and progress is most cheering.

It seems to be the fate of the heiress ultimately to marry, however long she may pauee io prudent hesitation, and, as we may suppose, with the suspicion that her money-bags form the attraction. All fashionable Scotland is now agog because of the approaching marriage of Miss Niabet- Hamilton, of Biel, the richest spinster in the United Kingdom, and who has remained a spinster even until mature middle-age. Tbe lady, who shows her good sense by choosing for her husband a man as old as herself, is said to have rejected whole legions of lovers, and amon? them a Sereae Highness, now married to a Royal Princess of Great Britain. All kinds of iaterestmg things are told about the lady, chiefly ceatriag ia the extent and abundance of her possessions. Sha is, however, a lady of great family, as well as of great wealth.