Over thirty members and friends made thetrip to Raisin River country in mid-June. A mild sunny day greeted travellers at the Williamstown UnitedChurch; after registration by Joyce Richens, and a welcome from John Matheson (who had travelled all the way from Gananoque) it was a pleasant stroll to the Bethune-Thomson house.Touring the various rooms was a little crowded, but curator David Anderson did an excellent job of relating the house and its artifacts to the life and times of JohnBethune, the first Presbyterian minister in the village, and of David Thompson, the early Canadian cartographer.
JayWoolven gave us a detailed tour of the lovely old stone church, explaining the changes in services and village life over the centuries. Some members managed a walk through the churchyard before the excellent light lunch, provided by Dianne Grannary and friends from the Williamstown Social Committee. It was a bit of a family reunion, as one of the catering assistants was Shelley MacNaughton, the niece of Lester McWhinnie, who came with Bob Campbell from Ottawa. Lester is John Matheson's cousin.
After lunch, many decided to walk across the village to the old schoolhouse, whereJoanMacDonald was waiting to welcome usto the Glengarry Nor'Wester andLoyalist Museum. After an exploration of the many detailed exhibits, a lecture theatre was setup in the upper Nor'Wester Gallery and DavidAnderson then explained, in great detail, the life and explorations of Simon Fraser. Although seen as ahero by many, the adventure to find the route of the Fraser River wasa commercial venture that some (including Simon Fraser himself) regarded as a a failure, as the headwaters of the Fraser did not flow to the sea in what is now Washington state: there was expectation that the Columbia's estuary was connected to the Fraser headwaters.The difficulties of travel through the Fraser canyon, whilst an excellent feat, showed to Simon Fraser that his venture was in vain.
Back in the church hall, John Matheson and David Anderson were formally thanked, over a light tea. The Fiddlersof the Glengarry Reel and Strathspey Society then gave a concert in thechurch to a crowd of over one hundred, both young and old: the concert had been advertised to the local community and some had travelled from Hawkesbury, Alexandria and Vankleek Hill.Donaldson MacLeod, the fiddling co-ordinatoris to be complimented in the way he handled the whole situation. Thevoluntary contributions were made using the churches collection plates, and John Matheson made a few remarks to put the past and present into perspective.
When the Group arrived at St Andrew's West, MeganMacDonald was playing her bagpipes in the churchyard to welcome us. DaleDuncan and colleagues from theCornwall Township Historical Societywelcomed us to the older church; Iam told that the rounded end is so that the devil could not hide in the corners. St. Mary's church is an excellent, tall-spired, example of Roman Catholic Ontario architecture.
Some twenty-five of the group stayed for an
excellent dinner in the Quinn's
Inn, just across the road, and
returned home later in the evening. The informal atmosphere
wasappreciated by all. It is planned to run a similar day tour to
another location of Scots interest in
May/June2001.
Whyis
Saint Andrew the Patron Saint of Scotland?
Your Editor and President was askedtabout St. Andrew at a Rotary Club of Ottawa Luncheon in Novcember1999; he had no easy answer. So he "networked" to find out. Casualconversation in Scottish dance circles answered the question. Thetext below was produced by Jenny Morphew, Ottawa for a church presentation; ithas been abbreviated.
As we approach St Andrew's Day, it may beappropriate to discover a little about Scotland's Patron Saint, whowas a Greek. St Andrew is perhaps best known as the Patron Saint of Scotland, but he is also the Patron Saint of Russia. So who was StAndrew and what do we know about him?
The name Andrew comes from the Greek,Andrei, meaning manhood or valour and was a common name among Jews from wellbefore the time of Jesus. We learn from the Bible that Andrew was the son of Jonah (St Matthews's Gospel, ch xvi. 17) that he was born in Bethsaida of Gallilee, and that he and his brother Simon were fishermen. In Johns Gospel we learn that Andrew was originally adisciple of John the Baptist, but when John looked at Jesus and saidBehold the Lamb ofGod, Andrew left John to followJesus. Thus Andrew recognized Jesus as the Messiah (the chosen one )and became the first disciple of our Lord. In the Armenian Church heis known as the "The First Called;" Andrew is also known as"he First Missionary because the first thing he did aftermeeting Jesus was to go and find his brother Simon, later called Peter, and bring him to Jesus.
In the various lists of Apostles found inthe NT, Andrew is always listed among the first four. Also, Mark tells us (Chxiii, 3), that Jesus talked privately with Peter, James,John, and Andrew, on the Mount of Olives. This is at the beginning of Holy Week, several days before the Last Supper - and they all know that something special is about to happen. The disciples question Jesus: He warns them and tries to prepare them for the coming events.We learn from John (Ch vi, 8,9); that it was Andrew who, at the feeding of the five thousand, brought the boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus.
Also in John (Ch xii, 20-22) when certain Greeks questioned Phillip as to where they might see Jesus, Philip referred them to Andrew as one of greater authority, and then theyboth went and told Jesus. The caution was probably due to timing: this was only a few days before our Lord's crucifixion.
Not very much is known about Andrew afterthe resurrection. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, it isbelieved he preached the Gospel both in Byzantium and Thrace, then inthe lands along the Danube, in Russia and around the Black Sea, andfinally in Greece. In Byzantium he installed St Stachys as theirfirst Bishop, and in Kiev he is said to have raised the Cross on highand prophesied a Christian future for the people of Russia.
Andrew was crucified in the reign of theEmperor Nero, by order of the Roman Governor Aegeatus, at Patras; hewas bound, not nailed, to the cross - to prolong his suffering. Thecross itself is believed to be the decussate style - a cross in theshape of an X. Hence the diagonal cross style on the Scottish flag, the St Andrew's cross, or Saltire, which also forms part of the UnionJack.
It is easy to understand why Andrew becamethe Patron Saint of Russia: he was a missionary there - but why Scotland? He never travelled anywhere near Scotland; but legend tellsus that a priest named Regulus carried some of St Andrew's "relics",or small piece of bone, from Greece to Scotland, in the Eighth Century. They are believed to be buried at St. Andrews, Fife - now the golf capital of the world . That is how the town was given it'sname.
BurnsDinner-
2001
There are plans for another Burns Supper, similar in format to the excellent evening held at Britannia Yacht Club in January this year. Tentative dates are Saturday 20th or Thursday 25th January 2001; likely venue: BYC. Stuart Jardine isagain making the arrangements.
The Ottawa Transition Board has proposed three separate design groups for the new, enlarged, city of Ottawa.One emphasizes a "multi-curl" design, with a swan and Canada goose inthe coat of arms. Another shows a sun, three hills and a river withtwo joining tributaries. The third has a wheat theme, with astyleized letter Y.
Two members sent letters to the Citizen,published on 9 September. StromeGalloway suggests that Ottawa'spresent, heraldically correct, coat of arms should be retained.John Matheson, on the other hand, acceptsthe suggestion for a new identity, but recommends that Ottawa's symbolism, arms, flag and badge are too important to be subject to a dateline; he suggests that the entire project be submitted to the Chief Herald for his considered recommendation.