Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-10-15
Scotch Clan Meets.

Inc american descendants OF the Gre90r
clan of Scotland met on Friday of last
week in Washington city to found society
in this country to be known as THE
American Gresor Clan" Numerous de-
scendants of this famous clan are natives
of this county, and number of them at
tended the meeting. DR.. Stuart Muncaster,
a prominent oculist of Washington, D. c.,
and native of Rockville, entertained the
assemblage at luncheon.
The following account of the proceedings
is taken from the Star:
"'If they rob us of name
And pursue us with beagles,
Give their roofs to the flame
And their flesh to the eagles,
| While there's leaves in the forest
And foam on the river
MacGregors, despite them,
Shall flourish forever
when Jack Bowie came to the end of
the great clan song, The MacGregors' Gath
ering, in the National Hotel this morning
hundred American descendants of Scot
fish Highlanders stood up and cheered
The occasion was the gathering of the
Gregors, the MacGregors. the Gregorys, the
Magruders, the MacGruthers and all the
rest of the clan Gregor to organize an
American society of the great clan.
THE movement was started by DIR. Jesse
Magruder Ewell, of Ruckersville, Va, last
spring. In June meeting was held at
Charlottesville. Va. when temporary Or
ganization was perfected, with DIR. E. M
Magruder, of Charlottesville. as president
The organization called the meeting that
opened at the National Hotel this morning
for the purpose of establishing a perma-
nent society.
REVIEW OF CLANS HISTORY.
DIR. Magruder. who presided today. gave
an interesting review of the history of the
Gregor clan, which was an outlaw clan in
Scotland from the time Of Robert Bruce to
the reign of George iii, period covering
nearly 500 years. In the first place they
were involved in the opposition to Robert
Bruce in the fourteenth century, and he,
partly for this reason and partly because
he was jealous of the Gregors on account
of their claims to royal lineage, prosecuted
them persistently Roberts persecution
was followed by his son. David II, who
gave the Gregor property to the Campbells.
THE Gregors. or MacGregors, as they
came to be called, went into the mountains
and waged continual warfare. usually with
disastrous results to themselves. until
George iii of England in 1774. repealed
the acts under which their persecution had
been carried on. History shows nothing,
DIR. Magruder said. to equal the trials of
the MacGregors.
Among the things they were prohibited
to do was to gather in parties of more than
four; to carry any weapon but blunt
knife, or to defend themselves from attacks.
Many of their severest sufferings were at
the hands of the Stuarts. but the Mac
Gregors asked no quarter and fought to
the end.
causes OF TROUBLE.
Three causes, DR.. Magruder told his au-
dience, were responsible for the troubles of
the MacGregors. The jealousy of Robert
Bruce was the first cause, he declared. Then
came the killing, by three MacGregors of
government forester named Drummond,
whom they believed to be trespasser. The
clan met and, over the dead body of Drum
mond, swore to make clan cause of the
affair, every MacGreeor assuming RESPONSE
bility for the deed.
Again, at the battle of Glen Fruin, 200
MacGregors met to fight the allied forces
of the Buchanans and Calhouns. number
ing 800. Before the battle body of stu
Fearing they would join the allied forces,
the MacGregor chief ordered them bound
and taken to nearby church until after
the fight, when he intended to release them.
But the man set to guard them got weary
and, drawing his dagger, deliberately muir
dered all the students.
This act was not sanctioned by the
MacGregor clan. In fact the chief, Alex
ander MacGregor. said at the time that the
MacGregors would live to rue the day it
happened. In the Glen Fruin fight the
MacGregers utterly routed their ADVERSE
ries and killed 200 of them. losing only
two men themselves.
In spite of the hardships they went
through, the MacGreeors hOurished. They
were of tough fiber, as they had to be to
withstand the prosecutions of 500 years.
"SIR MALCOLM SENDS GREETINGS
Or Magruder said that he had received
a letter from Sir Malcolm MacGregor. who
is now the head of the clan. encouraging
the American movement and giving many
valuable points on clan etiquette. The
head official will not be called chief. but
president.
1.-THE society membership will be open to
women and descendants in the feminine
line, as all those who discussed the matter
at this mornings meeting were against the
organization of society for direct descen-
dants in the male line only.
Other speakers today were DIR. Jesse
Magruder Ewell and C. C. Magruder, ST., of
Annapolis, and the Rev. Ivan M. Green, Of
Clifton Forge, Va. who delivered the open
ing prayer and also participated in the
general discussion.
"OBJEcTS OF THE SOCIETY.
The objects of the society will be to per-
petuate the name of MacGreeor and to as
sist members of the clan to trace their
genealoey."
Death Of Mr. VIM. A. Gassaway.