The Clan Cameron Gathering
Celtic Monthly
March 1898
|
|
| The Annual Re-union of the Clan Cameron Society was held
in the Queen's Rooms, on 3rd Feb. (1898), Donald Cameron, of Lochiel, in
the chair. Among the others on the platform were: - Mr. Donald Walter
Cameron, Yr. of Lochiel; Mr. Allan Cameron, of Lundavra; Major Allan W. Cameron;
Mr. Allan Gordon Cameron, of Barcaldine; Ex-Provost John Cameron,
Kirkintilloch;
Mr. Patrick Cameron, Corrychoille; and Mr. Jas. Cameron, Hamilton.
The Chief, in his opening address, said the Clan Society was in a most
flourishing condition. This was the eighth year of its existence, and
the membership exceeded 350. The clan feeling which was so strong in
more warlike times was still a distinguishing feature of Highland character.
Highlanders had shown by the formation of Clan Societies that a spirit
of loyalty still animated them. Why was recruiting in the Highlands
at a standstill? It could not be for the want of population. At
the present time the people were more crowded into small corners, where they
were not so happy or so comfortable as they were in the old times. He
would be the last to say that the people of the Highlands should be made
food for powder, but he thought the Highlands should provide their quota
of men and no more. Let the people see a little of the pomp and
circumstance of war, let them see recruiting parties going round with drums
and pipes and all the other paraphernalia of a soldiering life, instead of
an odd recruiting sergeant here and there. Then they would be spared
the humiliation of being constantly told that those who lived in the Highlands
did not take their share in the defences of the country. (Applause.) |
|
 |
|
|
|
| Continuing, Lochiel referred to the coming of age of
his son, Donald Walter Cameron, yr. of Lochiel, to whom the Society were
to present an address. The mark which distinguished the clan system
from the feudal system was the headship of the clans. The Clan Cameron
had been very fortunate in this respect. For twenty-five or twenty-six
generations the chieftainship had descended from father to son in a direct
line. (Applause.)
The coming of age of his son had evoked unbounded enthusiasm in Lochaber,
an enthusiasm which, he hoped, would be given expression to later on.
This, in his opinion, falsified the prediction of those who said that
the land agitation might weaken the ties which existed between chief and
clansmen. This was not so at all events in Lochaber.
(Applause.) |
|
 |
|
|
|
| Afterwards Mr. Allan Cameron of Lundavra, Assistant
Adjutant-General R.I.C., read the congratulatory address, and presented it
to Mr. Donald Walter Cameron. Mr. Cameron, who was received with loud
cheering and the singing of "Hail to the Chief," replied shortly. He
also referred to the strength of the clan attachments, and expressed his
deep gratitude to his fellow-clansmen for their loyalty to the chief and
their kindness to himself. He had been, he said, a year and a half
in Her Majesty's service, and he hoped before long to be sent to the front
if there were fighting to be done. He was in the same regiment as his
grandfather had served in at the Battle of Waterloo. He would always
endeavour to live up to the traditions of his position, and would ever remember
the affectionate sympathy he had met with at the outset of his career.
Ex-Provost John Cameron, Kirkintilloch, author of an interesting work
on The Clan Cameron, to whom we are indebted for the excellent portraits
which appear with this notice, also delivered a rousing address, and moved
the usual votes of thanks.
A concert and assembly followed. |
|
 |
|
