The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-02-22
A VALIANT SCOTCH CATHOLIC.
Captain John Macdonald, Laird of
GlengarrY. Leader of the Clan.

apparently an easy victim to the Pro-
testant Reformation, yet there were
Highland clans, powerful ones, too
who resisted it, and preserved the an
cient faith in its purity. Prominent
among these is the elan of the Mac
Donalds. TO which, in later years, the
new world became indebted.
a modern hero of this clan, Captain
John Macdonald, laird of Glenaladale
and Glenfinnan, and leader of the
Scotch Catholic exodus to America, is
the subject of a biograph sketch by
Miss Anna Macdonald of Boston in
the Messenger of the Sacred Heart for
January entitled. "A Knight Errant of
the Eighteenth Century"
The MacDonalds were, as we have
noted, loyal Catholics. They were also
devoted adherents of the house of
Stewart.
Young John Macdonald in dearth of
suitable schools at home. was sent to
the Jesuit university al Ratisbon, Ger
many, in 1754, being then l. years of
age. He took his degree at Ratisbon,
having made an especial success as a
linguist. He married in due time
daughter of the famous Gordon family,
was made "Cashmer" or guardian of
MS Cldll. anu SeIllBu uONIl ~ d uSSLul
and benefiCent life on his estates.
But the misdeeds of a degenerate
kinsman provided a greater career for
him. This man, Alexander Macdonald
of Boisdale, married a Protestant and
forsook the faith. He went further,
and tried to Coerce his tenants into
apostacy. AS Miss Macdonald puts it:
One of his fatherly acts was to drive
his people by a vigorous plying of MS
stout yellow cudgel to the Protestant
church"
Failing with the adults, he was dex-
ferrous in his attempt on the children
faith. He offered for them the privt-
lege of instruction from the tutor of
his own sons, and the education loving
Scotch people eagerly awaited them
selves of the opportunity. But they
soon saw what this affected bounty
meant and withdrew their children.
The apostate landlord, in revenge, sent
home their priest, Father Wynne, to
his native Ireland. Then, as the inter
esting chronicle before us relates:
He had paper written in their own
Gaelic tongue read to his assembled
tenants To sign this document meant
an absolute retraction of their religion
and promise under oath never again
to have any dealings whatever with a
CathOlC priest, TO reIllSe Was W looC
everything, homes and land, and to
bring direct ruin upon themselves.
There are countless heroes and mar
tyrs little known, and surely these no
BILE people deserve to be numbered
among the glorious army who have
for their faith. Not one fall
tered, all declaring they. would endure
any hardship rather than accept such
Infamous conditions. Dispensing. they
home to prepare for the jour
ney into the unknown world. whittier
they were forced to go to seek free
1om to worship God Baffled at this,
agreed to leave his tenants in
peace if they would consent to have |
heir children brought up Protestants. !
This proposition received the indignant |
'eply from the Islanders, that their I
,hildren's souls were as dear to them |
rs their own
The example of the Lord of Boisdale !
stirred up other landlords against |
heir Catholic tenants; and so bitter |
vas the persecution that Bishop Grant, /
Ticar apostolic of the Highlands. and |
'ther eminent churchmen, urged on by |
he faithful John Macdonald, locally
'Glenaladale," decided that to save |
hese poor Catholics, immigration was
he only resource. They proceeded to
aise money, Captain Macdonald also
aising money on his own estates and
aking charge of the exodus. He
fought a large estate on what is now
Prince Edward island, and in 1772 the
ersecuted Catholic tenants sailed for
heir new home. The next year Cap
ain Macdonald joined them and cast
is lot with them for good. He was
ever able to redeem his Scotch es-
fell into the hands of the
insman who had advanced the money
nor even to develop his Prince Ed
ard island property; he died compare
lively poor. He lived till 1911, long
nough to put his colony on a firm
)oting and to set the example of an
ieal landlord. He gave all those who
ettled on his estate all the advantages
lease of 999 years. Devotion to
eligion and disinterested generosity to
is fellow men were the shining traits
the character of this noble High
.nder.
The colony which he brought to the |
ew World multiplied, prospered and
ept the faith. The name of MacDon-
ID is in veneration among the people,
ut only for their brave leaders sake,
ut also for those of his blood who
day bear it worthily in Church and
ate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Miss Macdonald of Boston, who. by
lie way, is making name in litera-
ire. received the facts of Captain
acDonald's career from an aged
ansman, while she was visiting her
lcestors' home in Sc>SIand and has
rtainly fulfilled his expectati ton of
'esenting them in forcible and grace
i style.-Boston Pilot.