THE NEW BISHOP OF ABERDEEN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 8, 23 February 1899, Page 31

THE NEW BISHOP OF ABERDEEN.

A DESCENDANT OF THE CATHOLIC MACDONALDS.

In a recent issue of the N.Z. Tablet there appeared an item of news to the effect that Mgr. Chisholm, rector of Blairs College, Scotland, had been appointed by the Pope Bishop of Aberdeen. The Right Eev. Bishop Chisholm is a kinsman of the late Bishop of the See and also of the present primate of Scot! and, his mother being a Macdonald of Glenaladale, a family who through the most troublous times and at very great sacrifices clung to the Catholic faith. The following particulars of the Macdonalds of Glenaladale, abridged from the History of the Mardonaldx and Lords of the Isles, will be of interest at the present time. The progenitor of the family was lan Og Macdonald, who lived some time about the end of the sixteenth century. He had an only son, Alexander, who, being of a restless disposition, went over to Ireland for adventure. His father lost sight of him for many years, and concluding that he had been killed in battle, made over his Glenaladale possessions to Allan Macdonald of Clanranald. Alexander, however, returned from Ireland after his father's death, but found himself without an inch of property. He determined to obtain possession of his father's lands, and with that bject mustered a resolute band of adherents to drive the intruders out by force. Clanranald seeing that Alexander was determined, and that he had a strong following, brought the matter to an amicable settlement by restoring the lands to the rightful owner, and adding thereto Glenginnan, as an outpost against the Camerons of Lochaber, noted for their cattle-lifting propensities. Alexander soon after married Letitia, daughter of Clanranald, with whom he got as dowry Langal. There was issue of this marriage Roderick and Alexander. The first named succeeded to the chieftainship, and by his marriage with Miss Macdonald of Kinlock Moidart had three sons — Angu«, John and Alexander. Angus, who became a priest. was heir. Hitherto the family possessions were held by the ancient right of the sword ; but this man of peace thought the time had arrived when it would be prudent to fall in with modern practice, bo he procured the first charter ever possessed by the family of the lands of Glenaladale and Glenginnan. Before his death he made over his property to his younger brother. We pass over a fewholders of the title until we come to Alexander, who in 17 to joined Prince Charles and afterwards fought with him at Falkirk and Preston Pans, and later still at the fatal battle of Culloden. It was at Glenaladale Charles first unfurled his Hag, a monument now standing there to mark the spot. Alexander had three sons— John, the heir, Austin, and Donald. John was sent to Ratis-bon, in Germany, to be educated. After finishing his studies at that famous Catholic seminary, he returned to his native country, where he was considered the most accomplished young gentleman of his generation. Austin was sent to the Scots College. Rome, where he studied for the priesthood and was ordained in lTd'.l. In 1 77(t a violent persecution against the Catholics broke out in the inland of South Uist, when Macdunald of Bois<lal<> abandoned the roll gion of his forefathers and tried to compel .iU hit* dependencies To follow his example. After many acts of opprosion he f-unnnoned *11 hitenants to hear a paper read to thtm containing a renunciation of their religion, and a promise, uudi r orth. mAer mine to hold < o-n-munication with a Catholic pru st. Boisdale actually trud to dm e his tenants, with a sturdy walking stick, to the Proti-t.uit Chun h, as if they were a flock of sheep. Their uiuunmoas resolution \\ato starve rather than submit. From this incident the new religion was designated the religion of 'the jellow stick.' Hearingof the pitiable condition of these people. Glenaladale determined to expatriate himself, and before the end of 1771 he purchased a large estate in Prince Edward Island, to which he took his persecuted fellow-Catholics of South Uist. Later on he took an active part in the War of Independence, and formed a regiment the lioyal Highland Emigrants, with whom he performed many deeds of valour, not the least of which was the taking of an American man-of-war and bringing her as a prize to Halifax. As

regards hie military virtues and abilities, General Small, writing to the Enelish Government, speaks in the most eulogistic terms. Prior to settling in America he sold the esaate of Glenaladale to his cousin and nearest heir, Alexander, second son of John the fifth. The British Government offered him the Governorship of Prince Edward Island, but owing to the oath of allegiance necessary at the time, he, as a Catholic, was obliged to decline this high office. Austin, the priest, went to Prince Edward some time about the beginning of this century, where he was greatly beloved by his people. He had the reputation of being a profound theologian, an eloquent preacher, and a highly cultured scholar. Captain John Macdonald had five children. Donald, the heir, who was educated at Stonyhurrtt, and afterwards took a prominent part in the public affairs of Prince Edward Island until his death, which occurred about forty years ago. William, the second son, was drowned on the coast of Ireland, whilst proceeding with Donald to Stonyhurst. John, the third, became a priest, exercising his sacred calling in Glasgow for many years, and subsequently in Prince Edward Island. He died at Brighton, England, in 1874. Roderick, smother son, was educated at Montreal and Paris with his brother the priest, and eventually became paymaster in the British army. He saw a good deal of service, and died in Greece nearly fifty years ago. John of Glanadale died in 1811 in his adopted country, and was succeeded by right of purchase of the Glenaladale and Glenginnan estates by Alexander Macdonald of Borrodale. He was succeeded in turn by his son Alexander, who, dying unmarried, was followed by his cousin, German John Macdonald, the eleventh, who married Jane, daughter of Macnab of Inishewen. There were eleven children of this marriage, of whom six died young. Of the remainder, Angus, the heir, married, in 1836, Mary, younger daughter of Hugh Watson, of Torsance, Midlothian, the issue of the marriage being : John Andrew ; Hugh Joseph, Superior of the Redemptorists, Kinoull, Perthshire, and later on Bishop of Aberdeen, and whose death we chronicled a short time ago ; Angus (B. \. London), at one time Bishop of Argyle and Isles, and now primate of Scotland, and two daughters, one of whom became a nun. Alexander, the third son, became a wine merchant in Inverness, and a1?o married a daughter of Hugh Watson of Torsance. There were eight children r-sue of this marriage, the eldest of whom (John) came to New Zealand, and is now an officer of H.M. Customs in Dunedin. Hugh was ordained priest, and laboured in Glasgow. James was proiessor at the Scotch College of Vallodolid. Mary, the youngest, took the veil. John, the fourth son of John the eleventh chief, joined the army and saw a good deal of active service, especially distinguishing himself during the Indian Mutiny, when he displayed the most undaunted courage under extremely trying circumstances. The historical record of the Mutiny bears ample testimony to his intrepidity, coolness, and bravery, at a time when the discipline of the native troops was undermined by treasonable societies. For his promptitude and courage on one occasion he received the personal thanks of Sir Charles Napier, and his general promptitude and presence of mind at various times during the mutiny were atterwardh held up as an example to brother officers as 'to how they should act in cases of emergency. Another son, Donald, was ordained priest, and had charge of Glenfinnan, but died some ytr'.xr* ago. Margarot. sister of Colonel Macdonald, married Colin 1 ('niskolm, solicitor of Inverness, and died in 186 M. Mr. Chisholm died in 1^77. lea\ ing s-k children, of whom the second, ./Eneas, became a prie-t, ;m<l worked for a number of years in Banff, and, ,n we wit; informed by our Home files, has now been made Bishop of Abenic. v. It will bo thus seen that Bishop Chisholm is a cousin of the present primate and also of the late Bishop, whose See he now fills, lie comes of a grand old Scottish stock, who stuck to the faith through times of trial and persecution, and who, as we have , ->hown in this necessarily brief sketch, gave up all their worldly 1 possessions and left their country rather than they should sacrifice ! their conscientious convictions, aud give up that which was dearer I to them than life itself .J i .