received an invitation to be present at what he might truly describe as
a gathering of his own clansmen. It was well known that in Scotland, as
in other countries, men were often named after the occupations which
they followed, and it was not a mere tradition but a fact within the
knowledge of his immediate forebears that they were of pure Fraser
stock. They had worn the Fraser tartan, and had always taken a deep
interest in whatever pertained to the affairs of the Clan. When the
Chairman, in giving the toast of the Clan, had referred to the places
associated with the name, he was brought back in memory over a long
period of time. At his age, the sweep of memory to boyhood's days was a
long one, and he could well recall the events in the Highlands of
Scotland over sixty years ago. He had a loving and familiar recollection
of scenes, than which there were none more beautiful under the sun, and
of people who had animated these fair surroundings. The Fraser estates
were among the finest in Britain, affording examples of beauty
calculated to leave a very vivid impression on the youthful mind, and
during his long life his early impressions had ever remained fresh and
green. He remembered the time when the succession to the chiefship and
estates was in hot dispute, and he knew how deeply the clansmen were
moved by that contest. Down to that day the feeling of the clans was as
strong as of old, and doubtless if occasion arose, it would prove to be
strong still. At that time there were various claimants for the honors
and possessions of the ancient house of Lovat, and as a boy he saw a
good deal of those who were prominently concerned in the case. The
Frasers were very anxious that the true heir by blood should succeed,
and much was privately as well as openly done on behalf of the various
contestants, according as the clansmen believed in the various claims
put forward. As to the main object of their re-union that evening, he
could do nothing but express his sincere hope that a strong association
of the Frasers would be formed. There was no reason whatever why such an
organization should not flourish in Canada, where those bearing the name
could be numbered by thousands. He had the good fortune to know not a
few Frasers in Canada, and he could honestly say that none of them, so
far as he knew, ever did anything that in any way tarnished the good
name of the Clan. He had great hopes of the success of the movement from
the enthusiasm of the gathering, and from the fact that those who had
taken the matter in hand were men of energy and capacity. He could now
only thank them for having honored the toast in such a hospitable
manner, and wish them all success in the projected organization.
"THE CLAN IN CANADA."
MR. R. LOVAT FRASER, Vice-chairman, in proposing the toast of "The Clan
in Canada," said: The Clan in Canada is not, of course, as important as
the Clan at large, but it has an importance altogether its own, and has
a record not unworthy the parent stem. It is a branch of a goodly tree,
and bears fruit of the finest quality. No clan has done more, if as
much, for Canada as the Clan Fraser. Coming with the famous
Seventy-Eighth regiment they did their duty at Louisburg and Quebec, and
stamped the Clan name indelibly on the history of Canada, from ocean to
ocean. Not only did they render services in the east, but in pioneer
work helped to open up the west by travel, trade and commerce. A
distinguished clansman and a relation of my friend on the right
(Fraserfield) was the discoverer of the Fraser River. To those of us who
highly prize the integrity of the British Empire it must be a source of
pride to know that the part taken by the Seventy-Eighth in Lower Canada
helped very much to keep the American continent for the British Crown.
The history of that time clearly proves that had the fortunes of war
been adverse in Canada to the British arms, the French would have been
in a position to overrun and seize the whole of North America. This is a
fact which is sometimes lost sight of, but is one of much satisfaction
to us as clansmen. To those whose names have been coupled with this
interesting toast, I must leave the duty of dealing at length with it,
and I rejoice that both of them are gentlemen thoroughly familiar with
the subject and of recognized ability as speakers. I refer to Mr. E. A.
Fraser, barrister of Detroit, and our worthy friend, Mr. G. B. Fraser,
of Toronto.
MR. E. A. FRASER said: Mr. Vice-chairman, Chairman and Clansmen,
although hailing from the other side of the line, I am a Canadian-born
clansman, my native place being Bowmanville, near this beautiful Queen
City. I passed my younger days in this province, attended the schools
here, and am as familiar with the affairs of the country and with our
clansmen in the country as those who have not left it to reside under
another flag. I can therefore speak with confidence to this toast, but
you will excuse me if I speak briefly, as the honor was unexpected, and
I do not wish to make it appear that any words of mine that may come on
the spur of the moment would be sufficient to lay before you, in proper
form, what our Clan has done for Canada and the position which it
occupies to-day in the affairs of the country. It is easy to speak of
Louisburg and Quebec; it is easy to dilate on the names of distinguished
clansmen familiar to us all for the prominent positions they have taken
among their fellows, but the work performed by the Clan in Canada would
not then be half told. We must go back to the hoary forests, to the
backwoods, where the early settlers bent their energies to the opening
up of the country. That noble pioneer work in which our clansmen shared,
and shared in large numbers, it seems to me, has an importance that is
not as often recognized as it ought to be. It is difficult for the
imagination even to grasp the peculiar task that lay before the early
settlers of this vast, heavily-timbered, unbroken, unopened, untravelled
country. Now that we can take a seat in the railway car at Halifax and
leave it at Vancouver, we can form but the very faintest conception of
what this country was one hundred years ago, when those hardy
mountaineers ranged themselves alongside the Lowland Scot, the
Englishman, the Irishman, the German and the Frenchman, to hew down the
lords of the forest, to turn the wilderness into well cultivated fields,
to turn the log cabins into the mansions that now adorn the plains, and
to form, as they do, a sturdy peasantry second to none in the world.
When the pen of a genius has dealt with those times, a chapter will be
written for the civilized world more interesting, probably, than any yet
penned. We have to leave the high places of military fame and
statesmanship and enter the factory and the counting-house to trace
there the career of the pioneers of industry and commerce, and among
them we find our clansmen performing those duties which the necessities
of the country demanded. If we turn to the professions, our Clan is
found to hold its own. To the church, to law, to medicine, to art, to
politics, we have given men of whom we are proud. The walk of life in
Canada that has not been trodden by a clansman would be only an
undesirable one for any man to tread. If I may be permitted to say
it--coming as I do from the great State of Michigan--I would say that in
that State, where our clansmen are very numerous, they not only hold
their own, but have attained to eminence in business and in the
professions. We have men of distinguished ability at the head of the
legal fraternity of our State; we have men whose genius in business has
secured them wealth and position; we have men who in humbler spheres
have rendered patriotic services to the State, and who, one and all,
show that they have not lost the characteristics of the Clan in new
associations and callings. Before sitting down I should like to express
the great pleasure I have experienced at this gathering of clansmen. I
would have come twice as far to be present, and trust that the
organization, the formation of which will undoubtedly be sanctioned here
to-night, will be the means of bringing us together frequently to enjoy
ourselves as we are now doing.
MR. G. B. FRASER, of Toronto, followed, in response to the same toast.
He said: Mr. Vice-chairman, Chairman and Clansmen, I frequently have to
regret my lack of ability to discharge a duty of this nature to my own
satisfaction. The subject allotted to me is one with which I cannot
claim to be unfamiliar. It is a subject of great interest, and on such
an occasion as the present, a subject which ought to be treated with
some detail in order to perpetuate the names and deeds of clansmen who
have done their duty nobly and well by this the land of our adoption. I
find myself, however, not lacking in material, but in that
ability--which seems to be born in some men--to place my information
lucidly and briefly before you. Some speakers have already referred, and
others will, later on, refer to the origin of the Clan Fraser in Canada.
I shall not trespass on that part of the subject, but coming down to
this century we find a clansman whose name will ever live in Canada. I
refer to Simon Fraser, the discoverer of the Fraser River, whose life,
when it comes to be written, will certainly shed lustre on the Clan
name. He was descended from a cadet family of the Lovats, came with his
parents to Canada from the Eastern States, and settled at Glengarry. His
worthy relative, Fraser of Fraserfield, sits here on my right, and proud
I am to welcome him to this feast. John Fraser de Berry, the founder of
the New Clan Fraser, was a man of extraordinary personality, whose
acquaintance I first made at the time of the Trent affair. I happened to
be in Montreal at that time, and received a telegram from De Berry that
he wished to see me. He came from Quebec city, and we met in the St.
Lawrence Hall. I was very much impressed with the singular interview
which took place between us. Of course he was full of the project of his
Clan Fraser, full of the history and genealogy of the Clan. He was an
enthusiast, and in common with many enthusiasts could look but with
impatience on the practical, prosaic side of things. With due formality,
acting by what he believed to be his authority as a chieftain of the
Clan, he invested me with power to raise a company of Frasers, in an
allotted district in Western Ontario, which was delineated on a military
plan in his possession. I could not do otherwise than accept the
commission, which was that of captain, from this venerable-looking and
earnest chief. Had I been able to withdraw from business, I have no
doubt that I should have been, in a very short time, at the head of a
company numbering at least one hundred stalwart clansmen, who would have
given a good account of themselves in the field. But, as you are aware,
the occasion for defence quickly passed away, and no more was heard of
the proposed regiment of Frasers, of which my company was to have formed
a part. The most remarkable fact which impressed itself upon me then,
and one that I yet consider remarkable, was the manner in which De Berry
had the Province divided into military districts on his maps, the exact
information which he had regarding the locations in which the clansmen
resided, and the mass of details with which he seemed to be perfectly
familiar. I could not understand how he acquired all this information,
but have been informed since, by some who were associated with him, that
he spared no means to trace out every Fraser in the country, through the
voters' lists, the township registration books and the village
directories. The amount of work involved in such research must have been
enormous, and I can well believe that for many years De Berry devoted
his time, as a man of leisure, to this project. He also appointed me as
one of the one hundred and eleven chieftains of the New Clan, the chief
of which was a descendant of a cadet of the Lovat family, residing in
Nova Scotia, but the organization was too unwieldy, and its objects were
rather vague for practical purposes. For a number of years meetings were
held in Montreal of a very interesting character, but with De Berry's
death and that of a number of those more prominently associated with him
interest died out, and now we hear of the New Clan no more. We can
profit by their experience in our own undertaking, and doubtless we
shall be able to form an organization which will live, and which will
perpetuate the name and traditions associated with the name and with
this new country. I have practically confined myself to De Berry's name,
not because there is a lack of clansmen on my list, whose memories
deserve to be perpetuated, such as, for instance, the founder of the
Fraser Institute, in Montreal; John Fraser, the author; John A. Fraser,
the artist; Judge Fraser and Colonel Fraser, of Glengarry; but because
some of these will doubtless be alluded to by other speakers, and,
because having devoted so much time to a man whose name and personality
I cannot but regard as of peculiar interest to us, I have left myself
but little time to refer to those clansmen whom I held, and still hold,
in high esteem, and in whose name I thank you for the toast proposed and
honored in such a fitting manner.
"DISTINGUISHED CLANSMEN."
MR. R. L. FRASER, the Vice-chairman, then proposed the toast of
"Distinguished Clansmen in Art, Science, Literature, Theology, Arms and
Politics." He said: I had almost concluded that all Frasers are
distinguished clansmen, and distinguished in the highest sense of the
word, though it were better, perhaps, to be more modest, and hence the
division into which this toast has been divided. While we rightly draw
much of our inspiration from the seat of the Clan across the sea, it is
well that we should remember, and remember generously, those of our Clan
in this country who have secured high positions in life. Among our
artists the name "Fraser" takes high rank. Some of the Fraser artists I
have known personally, and can bear testimony not only to their fame,
but to their personal qualities. Canadian art owes much to Mr. J. A.
Fraser and Mr. W. Lewis Fraser, now sojourning in Europe. Literature
claims the names of James Lovat Fraser, the distinguished classical
scholar, of John Fraser, of Donald Fraser, and others well known in
Canada. Science also has its devotees and distinguished students,
especially medical science and theology. Frasers both in Canada and in
the old land have taken front rank in the profession of arms, and have
distinguished themselves from the time of Sir Simon Fraser, the compeer
and companion of Wallace and the savior of Scotland, down to the present
day. In politics the Clan has certainly won its share of such honors as
the public delight to bestow. The reply to this toast has been entrusted
to a splendid array of able clansmen. For clansmen distinguished in
arts, Ex-Mayor Fraser, of Petrolea, will reply; for those in science,
Dr. J. B. Fraser; for those in theology, Dr. Mungo Fraser; for those in
literature, Professor W. H. Fraser; for Frasers in war, Mr. Alexander
Fraser (Fraserfield); and for those in politics, Mr. W. P. Fraser.
[Illustration: Ex-MAYOR JOHN FRASER, 2ND VICE-CHAIRMAN.]
EX-MAYOR FRASER, replying for the "Frasers in Art," said: Mr. Chairman
and Gentlemen,--Your committee, in selecting me to speak for our
clansmen in Art, acted of course on the assumption that I possessed the
necessary qualifications for the task. At the outset, however, I must,
in justice to all concerned, but more especially to the Frasers who have
won distinction in art, confess that my attainments in that department
are hardly such as to entitle me to a hearing in response to this
important toast. But I am to some extent emboldened and sustained by the
reflection that, as this is in a sense a family gathering, the
shortcomings of a Fraser will pass, if not unobserved, at least without
provoking unfriendly comment. Permit me then, on behalf of the artists
of our Clan, to thank you for the cordial and enthusiastic manner in
which you have received this toast. Among the many distinguished
clansmen who have, in almost every sphere of human endeavor and
usefulness, shed unfading lustre, not only upon our Clan, but upon
humanity in general, our artists have secured an honored place. Of
necessity, those of our Clan who have excelled in art are few in number;
indeed, the artists of the world and of the ages might almost find
standing room in this banquet hall. But our Clan has perhaps produced
its quota, and some of them have taken high rank. It is not my purpose
to mention the names of all; in fact, I am unable to name more than two,
viz., Charles Fraser and John A. Fraser. The former was a distinguished
portrait painter of South Carolina who died in 1860 at the age of 78
years. He left a large number of portraits, all of which are said to
have much artistic merit, and some of which have acquired considerable
historic value. Of Mr. John A. Fraser it is hardly necessary to speak
here. By his works we know him. A collection of Canadian paintings
without one or more of his masterly representations of Canadian scenery
would assuredly be incomplete. Let that suffice for our modern artists.
It occurs to me, as it must have done to us all at one time or another,
that our Clan must have produced great artists in the bygone ages.
Assuredly Greece and Italy did not produce _all_ the old masters. The
Fraser Clan nourished then and was of course represented in art; but,
just as in the newspaper--the product of the "art preservative"--there
is to be found an occasional artist who, impelled by modesty or an
exaggerated regard for his personal safety, uses a _nom de plume_--for
instance, "Junius," _Vox Populi_ or "A Disgusted Subscriber"--so there
were, I fancy, in the days of long ago, Frasers in art who unmindful of
posterity or perchance distrustful of their own powers, as genius so
frequently is, worked under cover of such names as Raphael, Leonardo da
Vinci, Michael Angelo, Canova, etc. A slight effort of the imagination
will enable a Fraser to accept this theory.
The Fraser has ever been great on the "tented field." There, indeed, he
has won renown, for his "fierce, native daring" has never been
surpassed. But there are still victories to be won, infinitely greater
than any achieved in battle. The grandest painting is yet to be painted,
and we who are the first in Canada to assemble in honor of our ancient
and beloved Clan shall ever fondly cherish the hope that the first place
in art will be occupied by a Fraser. But from whatever clan or country
the master shall come, the Frasers will be among the first to do him
honor.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, for the patient hearing you
have given me.
* * * * *
The reply to the part of this toast referring to "Science" was made by
DR. J. B. FRASER, M. D., C. M., R. C. P. and S. K., Toronto. He said:
Mr. Chairman, Vice-chairman, and Brother Clansmen, it gives me a great
deal of pleasure to meet such a representative gathering of the old and
distinguished "Clan Fraser" as we have here to-night. It arouses one's
enthusiasm to think of the leading position our forefathers took in the
history of Scotland, and the many deeds of valor performed on the battle
field; and although they were pre-eminently noted as warriors, still we
have many instances in which they shone in the realms of science. In
replying to the toast of "The Frasers in Science," allow me to give you
a few brief biographical sketches of a few of our ancestors.
Sir Alexander Fraser, of Philorth, was born in 1537, and died in 1623.
He succeeded his grandfather to the estates in 1569, and at once began
to improve the estate and advance the welfare of his clansmen. At this
time Philorth was the baronial burgh, and boasted of a commodious
harbor; but after the improvements referred to he changed the name to
Fraserburgh. Having conceived the idea of founding a university, in
spite of the strenuous opposition of the town of Aberdeen, he obtained
powers to build a university at Fraserburgh, with all the privileges of
the older universities. The remains of this building still existed in
1888. On account of his interest in education and high scholastic
attainments he was knighted in 1594. His motto was "The glory of the
honorable is to fear God."
John Fraser, F. L. S., was born in 1750, and died in 1811. He was a
noted botanist, and visited North America five times in search of new
and unknown specimens. He collected a great many plants in Newfoundland
and later on at Charleston, Virginia. In 1796 he visited St. Petersburg,
where he was introduced to the notice of the Empress Catherine, who
purchased his entire collection of plants. In 1798 he was appointed
botanical collector to the Czar Paul, and by him sent to America for a
fresh collection. As a tribute to his ability he was elected a Fellow of
Linnean Society (F.L.S.)
Sir Alexander Fraser, M. D., belonged to the Durris branch of the
family. He was educated at Aberdeen University, and having risen by his
skill high in the ranks of physicians and surgeons he was appointed
physician to Charles II., whom he accompanied in his travels through
Scotland. Spotswood, in his history of Scotland, speaks highly of his
learning and skill. He died in 1681.
Robt. Fraser, F. R. S., son of Rev. Geo. Fraser, was born in 1760, and
educated in Glasgow University, where he obtained the degree of M. A.,
when he was but 15 years of age. He studied for the Church of Scotland,
and was appointed in an official capacity to the Prince of Wales,
afterward George IV. In 1791 the Earl of Breadalbane asked him to
accompany him on a tour through the Western Isles and the Highlands of
Scotland, undertaken with the view of improving the state of the people.
The Prince of Wales gave him leave, and at the same time stated his
faith in his ability to plan some means by which the people would be
benefited, and wished him success. He succeeded so well that he was
chosen to conduct a statistical survey of Ireland, and was the means of
originating several important works, among others the harbor of
Kingstown, sometimes called Queenstown. He published several works on
agriculture, mines, mineralogy, fish, etc. He died in 1831.
Simon Fraser was an explorer of some note, and was sent by the Hudson's
Bay Company to establish new trading posts, and prospect for minerals,
etc. He wrote many papers from 1806 to 1808. The Fraser river was named
after him.[4]
[Footnote 4: See sketch of his life later on.]
Lewis Fraser was a zoologist of some note, and was appointed as curator
of the Zoological Society of London. He travelled through South America,
studying the character and habits of different animals and birds, and as
the result of his travels published a work called "Zoologia Typica," or
figures of rare and new animals. In 1888 his son was curator of the
Zoological and General Sections of the Indian Museum of Calcutta.
William Fraser, LL. D., was born in 1817 in Banffshire, and was ordained
pastor of the Free Middle congregation of Paisley in 1849. In 1872 the
University of Glasgow conferred on him the degree of LL. D., on account
of his scientific attainments. In 1873, in recognition of his long
services as President of the Philosophical Society, he was presented
with a microscope and purse of sovereigns. He died in 1879.
[Illustration: MR. WILLIAM A. FRASER, SECRETARY-TREASURER.]
Alexander Campbell Fraser, D. C. L., LL. D., was born in 1819. His
father was a minister and his mother a sister of Sir Duncan Campbell. He
was educated in the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and in 1842
won a prize for his essay on "Toleration." In 1859 he was Dean of the
Faculty in Arts, University of Edinburgh, and in 1871 was appointed
Examiner in Moral Science; the same year he received the degree of LL.
D. from the University of Glasgow. Later he was appointed Examiner in
Moral Science and Logic at the India Civil Service Examinations. He was
elected a member of the Athenian Club--without a ballot--for eminence
in literature and philosophy. He afterward received the Degree of D. C.
L., Oxford University.
Professor Thos. Richard Fraser, M. D., F. R. S., was born in Calcutta,
India, in 1841, and graduated in medicine in Edinburgh in 1862. In 1863
he acted as Assistant Professor of Materia Medica, and in 1869 was
appointed as Assistant Physician in the Royal Infirmary. He was
afterward appointed Examiner in Materia Medica in London University, and
was elected Medical Health Officer for Mid-Cheshire; he was also
appointed Examiner in Public Health by London University. He was Dean of
the Faculty in 1880. He is a F. R. S., F. R. C. P., Edinburgh; member of
the Pharmaceutical Society, Britain; corresponding member of the
Therapeutical Society of Paris, and of the Academy of Natural Sciences
of Philadelphia. When the International Medical Congress met in London
in 1881 he was appointed president of one section, and again president
of one section in 1885. His work has been chiefly in the direction of
determining the physiological effects of medicinal substances, with the
view of establishing an accurate and rational basis for the treatment of
disease.
I have now mentioned some of the names recorded in history of Frasers
that were distinguished in Science, and as I have occupied more than my
share of time, I will take my seat, conscious that I have been able to
mention but a few of the many clansmen distinguished for their
scientific attainments. As I said at the outset I have enjoyed a great
deal of pleasure in this gathering of clansmen. In looking over the
record of a few of our brethren distinguished in science, so as to glean
a few facts for this occasion, I recognized more than ever before the
substantial services rendered to mankind by men bearing our name, and
now that we have foregathered a small company, it may be, but a select
one, I feel that you share with me the pride with which we regard our
Clan and name.
* * * * *
PROFESSOR W. H. FRASER, in replying to the sentiment, "Distinguished
Clansmen in Literature," said: Gentlemen,--I thank you heartily for the
way in which you have received this toast, and for the honor you confer
on me in asking me to answer for our distinguished literary clansmen
living and dead.