Dunedin Gaelic Society

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIX, Issue 35, 7 September 1922, Page 19

Dunedin Gaelic Society

/ ENTERTAIN IRISH SOCIETY. Tho monthly meeting last week of the Gaelic Society held special interest in the presence by invitation of members of the Irish Society and the commingling in happy song and speech of the two nations’ representatives. Piper George Munro played the chieftain of the Gaelic Society (Mr. J. D. Cameron) and the president of the Irish Society (Mr. Ryan), vice-president (Mr. P. J. Wilson), and the Right Rev. Dr. Whyte (patron of the Irish Society) into the hall. Chieftain J. D. Cameron, in his opening remarks, apologised for the unavoidable absence of Chief Dr. McKillop. He welcomed the visitors, and referred to the good feeling that would result from such intercourse, expressing the hope that this function would be the forerunner of many such social gatherings. The chieftain also spoke of. the objects of the _ Gaelic Society in meeting monthly to revive old memories and to foster and keep evergreen the traditions of .their forefathers, to welcome strangers, and to make them feel at home. Later in the evening Mr. Ryan thanked the Gaelic Society for its Highland hospitality, and for the first-class programme provided for their entertainment. He agreed with the chieftain’s remarks that the commingling of the two societies in social intercourse would be to the benefit .of both societies, and would be reflected in the Scottish and Irish community of the city. The president, before resuming his seat, invited members of the Gaelic Society to attend the monthly meetings of the Irish Society. ADDRESS BY BISHOP WHYTE. Addressing the gathering, his Lordship Bishop Whyte said:Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen of the Gaelic Society,—On behalf of the Irish Society, I thank you most sincerely for the very pleasant evening you have enabled us to spend with you. The time has passed so quickly that I might say it flew away-on “Angels’ wings.” The songs and dances have afforded me the keenest satisfaction, and I believe that the other members are no less delighted , with the feast of music than I am myself. If any, of us have had doubts about your being our “cousins,” the singing of those grand old Gaelic songs has settled the question for ever. To me it is a very special pleasure to meet the representative Scotch people of this city, or, rather, the cream of the Scottish community, for so I can regard you, the men with the true spirit of the Gael. As it is only recently I learned of your preference for the title “Scotsmen,” I trust I shall not make the mistake of calling you, you above all others, by the less appropriate title . of “Scotchmen.” Even if I had no obligation; to the early settlers except the fact of their having made this city so beautiful, I should still feel urged to call them “Scotsmen.” Their wisdom and. foresight in preventing wealthy people from usurping the Town Belt appeal to me ■as something for which they should be always gratefully • remembered. I hope that- no vandals will ever lay a barbarian hand on that beauty spot of Dunedin, but that it will always remain as a lung for working people, and never bo used for the sole benefit of their employers. For' my own part,. I am much,indebted to the civic fathers of the past who have given me lovely walks on which I am accompanied by the musical, performance of the birds from their elevated platforms in the native bush. ; ) ■ Another reason why I am always pleased to meet Scots-, men is because I . have always. found • them . sympathetic • with my' own country; : s Some years ago while the Home Rule movement was at its height,' the Scotsmen whom I happened to meet on my travels understood perfectly what the movement implied. Their accurate knowledge of Home Rule gave me to understand that v Scotland had some little f grievances that caused them to have a. - fellow-feeling with their cousins in Ireland. English travellers,, on the. other hand, had given no . consideration to - the matter ,v and hence

the proverbial auger would be needed to get an idea on that subject into their heads.- v ;•' . .' ,» • . '\" / m-You have not got Home Rule yet; and, English) legislators whose view of Scotland is blocked by the Cheviot Hills are still making laws * for a country which alone-! kiioW» its own needs and which alone could pass measures, that would regulate and satisfy its own lawful: requirements. . "v" ■ The Irish Club, in coming here to-night, shows its belief in the old. saying that blood is thicker than water. We don't wish to blame you foranything your ancestors did a thousand years ago. The inhabitants of Ireland were called "Scoti" up to about the 11th century. . The Irish-. men famous on the Continent of Europe were, everywhere called "Scoti." I am afraid that many foreigners were misled, by the name into thinking that those celebrated monks were Scotchmen. As one of such men proved somewhat disobedient and troublesome-. to the Church for a while, and Scotland had to take the blame of it, perhaps we ought to cry quits and forget . a good deal: of our grievance against our sister island. Some great historians claim that St. Patrick was born in Scotland. We feel grateful to you for having sent him to us. We returned the compliment, however, when we sent you St. Columba or Columbkille. What he did in lona, his chief.monastic centre, and.throughout nearly all Scotland iisxs been commemorated by the beautiful tribute paid to his mighty influence by Dr. Johnson: ."That man,'' lie says, "is little to be envied whose patriotism would not gain force upon the plain of Marathon, or whose piety would not grow warmer among the ruins of lona.", A good deal could be said about the intimate relations between Scotland and Ireland, but I have said enough to show that you are our "cousins." It is a great pleasure to me, as a member of the Irish Club, to be/here .to-night, the guest of men and women who love the Celtic traditions and the old Celtic tongue, and who are determined that a knowledge of both shall be encouraged and spread even here, though half the round of the globe separates them from their homes in "bonnie Scotland." . U_ r—444