The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-10-14
TIE BISHOP HAY CENTEN-
AIRY.

TIE BISHOP HAY CENTEN-
AIRY.
During the past month the Cath
olic Church of Scotland celebrated
the centenary of the death of the
illustrious Bishop Hay. The cele-
hration took place in the Benedic-
tine Abbey in the little village Of
Fort Augustus in the heart Of the
Highlands. The Fort which gives
it's name to the village was built
in the eighteenth century to curb
the restlessness Of the highland
clans who remained loyal to the
exiled Stuarts. After the restor-
alton Of peace the fortress came
into the possession of the Benedic-
tines who erected the beautiful
Abbey which crowns the old forti-
fications.
The centenary brought together
a large number Of Bishops and
priests from all parts of the Brit
ish Isles to do honor to a great
Bishop who played very import
ant part in the restoration of Cath
olicity in Scotland after the Refor-
nation. 1t is largely through the
efforts Of Bishop Hay that the
light of faith now CLOVIS brightly
in the land Of the heather and
that Catholics are no longer forced
to worship in the Businesses Of the
Highlands or in obscure quarters
Of the great cities. Splendid tenn
Piles have replaced the rude huts
wherein the Catholics of other
days kept alive the faith of the
Apostles.
Bishop Hay was born in Edin-
burgh in 1929 and died in 1911. He
was destined for a medical career
and for that purpose entered the
University of Edinburgh; but
when barely sixteen years Of age
he was summoned to attend the
wounded soldiers on the battle
field Of Prestonpans. He was ar
rested for having participated in
the rising quelled in the decisive
battle at Culloden and kept pris-
oner in London for twelve months.
During that time Catholic book
seller gave him his first insight
into the true faith. After his re-
lease he was received into the
Catholic Church in 1749. His ac-
quaintance with the great Bishop
Challoner turned his thoughts
towards the priesthood and, after
completing his course in Rome, he
1 was ordained in 1853. On his re-
turn to Scotland he was appointed
to assist Bishop Grant who in 1766
succeeded Bishop Smith as Vicar
Apostolic Of the Lowlands. In
. 1859 Father Hay was consecrated
: Coadjutor to Bishop Grant.
In addition to his episcopal la.
: bors Bishop Hay found time to
devote himself to literary work
!, He published the first English
Catholic bible printed in Scotland
| He is best known as a religious
writer by his complete course OF
, Catholic doctrine in three parts en-
titled "The Sincere, Devout ano
Pious Christian which was pub
lished at intervals between 1871
and 1886 and is still regarded as Z
work of unusual merit. The Bish
ops personal life was an illustra
ton of the lofty teaching inculcat
: ed in this treatise. He was emin
emily fitted for the difficult mis-
/ sion entrusted to him among TIT
) prejudiced people who lived il
Scotland at that time. He bore
with patience the persecution in
) separable from his position as {
Catholic prelate in penal times
' His holiness of life attracted tn,
5 more thoughtful of his compatriot
and brought many thousands int
E the Church. His last public worl
: was the foundation of a seminar,
: at Aquhorties in Aberdeenshir,
t where he died at lineage Of eighty
e two.
Since his time Catholicity ha
q made great progress in Scotland
t and it is fitting that the Church O
e Scotland should recall the memor,
t of him who labored so successful,
: for the propagation of Catholi
q truth in the face of difficultie
8 which would have daunted any bu
/ the most courageous follower o
the Savior.