The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-07-26
ISLE OF IONA.
An Early Seat of Christian Endeavor-The
Historic Isle Revisited-Cromarty, the
Native Place of Hugh Miller-Island of
Staffa,
Especial correspondence

| Especial Correspondence
During my late tour in Scotland Wis
tied Cromarty, the native place of the
| celebrated Hugh Miller. This is town
which tourists seldom see on account of
it's location, it being difficult of access.
Being specially interested in geology,
! and having very high admiration of him
as scientist and author, thought 1
could not leave Scotland without making
pilgrimage to his birthplace. The
house in which he was born is still stand
ing and kept in good tepair. A fine
monument has been erected to his mem
| DRY in the town. As time advances his
name and memory will become more
prominently associated with Cromarty.
1t was here he laid the foundation of his
eminence by the study of the best au-
thors and of the rocks.
spent some time among the rocks
which he had spent so much time in in
vestigating, collected some specimens,
and ran narrow risk of falling in as
cending one of the sandstone cliffs. His
townsmen often spoke of him as being
| out of his mind in breaking stones and
| pickingup fragments as if they were gold
| The region was exceedingly favorable as
could readily see for his work. Not
! only the geological formation, but the
external scenery with its beauty and
grandeur tended to improve his taste as
| we'll as to increase his knowledge and
| discipline his powers of thought. He
| truly found tongues in trees books,
in the running brooks, sermons in stones
| and good in everything
The Island of Iona,
/ Among the Hebrides. had for years
a strong desire to visit. ] was there
| twice, having spent about week the
last time. This is only three miles long,
and a mile wide. Much has been writ
ten about it, but it never loses its inter
est. Poets, historians and biologists
have written about it, and will continue
to do so. The name of St. COLUMBIA is
specially associated with Iona. He
came from Ireland where he had been
trained under the influence of St. Pat
rick. The latter was a native OF Dunn
barton, and thus the light reflected in
| Ireland from Scotland through Patrick
became reflected back through Column
| ba. About the time of the death of the
apostle of Ireland in 563, an osier-built
boat made it's way from the Irish coast
| in the direction of the Argyleshire noun
tains. The fragile craft bore little
company of earnest Christian men, the
leader being Columbia. They moored
/ their little vessel at a place still called
Port-na- Curagh, the harbor of the wicker
boat. These men, led to the little island
| by COLUMBIA, had great thought. They
put up rude cabins and after time Co
| lumba made his way through forests,
| over mountains and rivers to the Pic
| fish king Brude, whose capital was on
the river Ness, near where Inverness
now stands. After much difficulty he
| and his people were brought over to the
/ Christian religion, From this time Iona
| became more and more center of light,
not only in North Britain, but in other
parts of the world The monastery es-
tablished was in reality an institution OF
learning. The members were not mop
ing ascetics, too lazy to work, but hard
students in relation toreal work for the
spread of the Gospel. In it the classics
were taught, and the Bible was the CEN
tire around which all studies were made
to revolve. Says the Duke of Argyle
s'We must remember as, a fact that Co
lumba was an agent, and the principal
agent, in one of the greatest events the
world has ever seen, namely, the con-
version of North Britain The same
/ author writes further: "There was nc
symptom of the worship, or 'cultus' OF
the Virgin, and not even an allusion to
such an idea, as that of the universal
Bishopric of Rome, or to any spiritual
authority as seated there" That little
island for long period was the CHIEF
seat of Christian light and learning in
Europe. During that time there is moi
the slightest evidence that Rome had any
control there whatever. SITS. Patrick
| and COLUMBIA and their followers were
no more Roman Catholics than Luther
and Knox.
Iona became the burial place of kings
and mobiles, as well as ecclesiastics.
4 Forty Scottish Kings,
one of France, two Irish kings, and two
of Norway, were inferred there. There
are no visible remains of the period Of
the COLUMBIAN church in Iona. Those
there belong to the period of the Roman
church after its ascendency in Scotland
During the early period churches anc
/ Quiet STRUCTURES WoI0 uOb DuuG VI oIOnOl
either in Scotland or England. The
Chapel of ST. Oran, the most sacred spot
in Iona, dates back to the 18th century.
The style is Norman, but not of an early
date, and is supposed to have been built
by ST. Margaret. 1t was built OF blocks
of red granite and was lighted by two
narrow windows. Under the triple arch,
of some beauty inside, tradition relates
that ST. Oran sleeps. In this is the tomb
of Angus, son of Sir Angus Macdonald OF
Islay the ''Lord of the Isles. This An.
gus was staunch friend of King Robert
Bruce, and fought with him at Hammock.
burn. The most prominent of the ruins
is the Cathedral, which dates back to the
18th century. An eminent traveller who
visited Iona in 1888, speaks OF the altal
of white marble as being entire, except
one corner. There being superstitious
belief that fragments OF it would be
sufficient security against fire, ship
wreck, murder and other evils, it grad
i ually disappeared. When Twas on the
island last there was talk of restoring
this Cathedral, which could be done, as
walls and tower are almost entire.
here quote the expressive lines of Pro
lessor Rlackia.