contemplation and words. My knowledge of the history of the Clan leads
me to the conclusion that most of its distinguished members were men of
deeds rather than words, and that they lived at times and under
circumstances when deeds rather than words had value--men like Sir
Alexander, who fought by Robert Bruce's side at Bannockburn, or that
other Sir Alexander Mackenzie Fraser of the last century, described by
contemporaries as "mild as a lamb and strong as a lion," who had said to
him in public by his General, "Colonel Fraser, you and your regiment
have this day saved the British army," or the Fraser who fought with
Wolfe before Quebec, and a host of others. These men did not write
literature, but perhaps they were better employed. I think they were,
but at any rate they are the men who furnish the basis for
literature--heroism, fidelity and devotion.
The Clan has, however, not been wanting in scholars and writers, nor in
those who patronized and furthered learning. What think you of a
Fraser--Sir Alexander of Philorth--who in the 16th century built a grand
University? It is getting to be the fashion now for rich men to build
and endow seats of learning, but a man with such foresight and
generosity in those early times in Scotland is surely deserving of all
praise.
Although not a few of the early Frasers won fame by the sword, some
wielded to good purpose that mightier weapon, the pen. Such was James
Fraser of Brea, in Ross-shire, who wrote copiously on theology, and who
went to prison, by orders of Archbishop Sharp, as a preacher at
conventicles. Another divine and scholar was James Fraser, of
Pitcalzian, in Ross-shire, a son of the manse; a famous controversialist
he was, and wrote a book against the Arminianism of Grotius that has
kept its ground in Scotland till the present day, although he died as
long ago as 1769.
These are some of our older literary celebrities. Time will not permit
me to mention all those who belong to the present century, or whose
lives extended into it. There was Archibald Campbell Fraser of Lovat,
38th McShimi, who died in 1815. As a school-boy he saw the fight at
Culloden, and was afterwards Foreign Consul in Barbary, and was author
of the "Annals of the patriots of the family of Fraser, Frizell, Simson
or Fitzsimson." It must in truth have been a mighty book if it recorded
them all. A curious piece of literature from his pen was the very long
and very laudatory epitaph for his own tomb erected by himself.
Robert Fraser, of Pathhead, Fifeshire, lived up till 1839. He was an
ironmonger, but of such remarkable literary and linguistic tastes that
in leisure moments he acquired Latin, Greek, French, German, Italian
and Spanish. His poetry, which I regret is not accessible to me, was, it
is said, characterized by fine feeling and nicety of touch. Truly a
remarkable man. His ruling passion was strong in death, for he passed
out of life dictating some translations of Norwegian and Danish poems.
There are other ways of making literature besides writing it yourself.
James Fraser, an Inverness man, was one of those who have made
literature by proxy. Who does not know Fraser's Magazine? that pioneer
publication in this field of literature, dating from 1830, with its
famous contributors like Thackeray, Carlyle, J. A. Froude and Father
Prout. This Fraser was also a famous publisher, a man of taste and
judgment, and did more to advance literature than almost any man of his
time, notwithstanding Carlyle's reference to him as "that infatuated
Fraser with his dog's-meat tart of a magazine."
Contemporary with Fraser of the magazine was James Baillie Fraser, also
an Inverness man and a famous traveller who explored the Himalaya
Mountains, and who was the first European to reach the sources of the
Jumna and Ganges. He came home, and wrote an account of his travels. A
little later he donned Persian costume, explored the larger part of
Persia, and wrote a two-volume account of his journey. Turning to
romance, he wrote "Kuggilbas," a tale of Khorasain; and this was the
first of a long list of Eastern tales, histories and travels, the mere
enumeration of which would take us on pretty far towards to-morrow
morning.
A beautiful and sympathetic literary figure is that of Lydia Falconer
Fraser, the wife of Hugh Miller. Here are some lines from a poem of
hers on the death of their first-born child:
"Thou'rt awa, awa, from thy mother's side,
And awa, awa, from thy father's knee;
Thou'rt awa from our blessing, our care, our caressing,
But awa from our hearts thou'lt never be.
* * * * *
Thou'rt awa, awa, from the bursting spring time,
Tho' o'er thy head its green boughs wave;
The lambs are leaving their little foot-prints
On the turf of thy new-made grave."
What gentleness and sweetness in these lines! One of her prose works,
"Cats and Dogs," still holds its own as one of the minor classics of
natural history.
Rev. Robert William Fraser, a Perthshire man, succeeded Rev. Dr. Guthrie
in St. John's Church, Edinburgh, in 1847, and was a learned and eloquent
divine and a diligent pastor. He found time to write all but one of a
dozen of important works on divinity, history, physical and natural
science. He was a solid man.
I must not omit William Fraser, the educational reformer who helped
David Stow to carry out his training system for teachers in Scotland,
and who later investigated Scottish education, and wrote an important
book on the subject of which the results were afterwards embodied in
legislation. He died in 1879.
Along with him may well be mentioned the late James Fraser, Bishop of
Manchester, a very famous man from Forfarshire, one of the Frasers of
Durris, of whom it has been said that there has not been in this
generation a more simple or noble soul. He interests us especially for
his work in education, and forms a connecting link between our school
system and English educational reform, for he visited Canada and the
United States in 1865, and drew up a report which his biographer,
Thomas Hughes, calls "a superb, an almost unique piece of work." It was
the basis of the Foster Act of 1870, by which enormous changes were
introduced in the direction of the American system.
Worthy of being put by his side was Rev. Donald Fraser, D.D., who died
two years ago, of whom we should hear more under the head of theology.
He received part of his education in old Knox College, Toronto, and was
pastor of the Cote Street Church, Montreal, from which he was called to
Inverness, thence to London, England.
In my mass of material, I had almost forgotten Patrick Lord Fraser, who
died only five years ago. He was a very great man of the law, one of
Scotland's greatest, and wrote extensively on legal subjects.
The Frasers, however, were not all heavy writers. Many of us remember
John Fraser, who met his death by accident in Ottawa in 1872. He was
best known as "Cousin Sandy." He had been a chartist before coming to
Canada. He was a tailor by trade, and laid aside the needle for that
other sharp pointed instrument, the pen. Most of his work was
controversial and sarcastic. Here is a sample of his rollicking verse,
reminding one strongly of the Ingoldsby legends:
"William Blyth was a scape-grace--as many boys are--
Who with prudence and forethought was always at war;
His genius was active; I've heard, or have read,
That his grandma was nervous; his father was dead;
And his mother, released from connubial vows,
Brought home to her dwelling a second hand spouse,
Who gave her a heart, somewhat hard and obtuse,
In exchange for her furniture ready for use.
Now William like others, without leave would roam,
And be absent when lather the second came home;
So he of the step, which step-father should be,
Said 'To save the lad's _morals_ we'll send him to sea.'"
The boy was confined in a water-cask for bad conduct.
"And the wave cleared the deck of the vessel, and she
Like one half 'seas over' rolled about in the sea.
Then a shriek was heard, and the boatswain roar'd
'There's Bill and the tub gone overboard!'"
He floated to shore after an interview with a shark, a cow switched her
tail against the tub, and Bill caught it while the cow fled, and wrecked
the tub, but saved Bill's life, although he remained unconscious.
"But was roused from his swoon by a beautiful Yankee
Who brought dough-nuts and tea, it was genuine Twankay.
An angel of light in the garb of humanity,
And that garb of the Saxony's best superfine,
What her countrymen term the 'real genuine.'
Bill was charmed and concluded, with some show of reason,
That to her annexation could never be treason."
And he was annexed in due time.
We have some poets still living, Gordon Fraser, John W. Fraser, and
others; on them I must touch lightly. Gordon is a writer on "Lowland
Lore," and writes good ballads of his own, like the one beginning:
"'Twas an eerie nicht, an' the storm-cluds lower'd,
An the lichtnin's glent was keen,
An' the thunner roll'd, but nane were cower'd
I' the clachan till-hous bien."
It is a fearsome ghost story well told.
John W. is a very charming writer. His ballad of the courtship of "Bell"
is first-rate, and it begins:
"Sin' Bell cam' to bide in our toun,
The warl' has a' gaen ajee;
She has turned a' the heads o' the men,
And the women wi' envy will dea.
O, but Bell's bonnie!
Dink as a daisy is she;
Her e'en are as bricht as the starnies
That shine in the lift sae hie."
Such are some of our literary men, and they are very creditable
specimens. I know that I have left out more than I have given. I have
not said a word about all the Frasers in Gaelic literature, whose name
must be legion, because I cannot follow them in that language.
Our Clan has a good proportion of the literary in it, and I believe we
are all literary critics. I never knew a Fraser yet who had not
excellent literary taste and judgment. The reasons why more literature
has not been produced is very clear to my mind, and depends on a
prominent characteristic of the Clan--great modesty. This must be thrown
aside if you are going to rush into literature. Many a Fraser has had it
in him to produce the highest sort of literature, who from this cause
has never written a line for the public. When the Clan succeeds in
throwing off this defect, we may expect the production of literary works
on a par with the best that has been written.
* * * * *
The reply to the toast of "Frasers in Theology" was entrusted to the
REV. MUNGO FRASER, D.D., of Hamilton, who had to leave by train for home
before this toast was reached. His reply summarised is as follows:
"There are many clansmen who stand high in theology, if we be allowed to
understand by that term the wider and more comprehensive sphere of work
in the Church of Christ. In the memory of those who admire subjective
writings of an extremely searching character, the name of the Rev. James
Fraser, of Brea, will occupy an undying place. To those who give the
highest rank among ministers to pulpit ability, the Frasers of Kirkhill,
for three generations, will afford examples of eloquence and those gifts
of oratorical power that appeal so irresistibly to the popular ear. By
those who regard the administrative functions of the pastor as of
importance, the name of Bishop Fraser, of Manchester, is justly
esteemed, and in a less prominent, but not less important degree, the
name of Dr. William Fraser, for a long period the senior clerk of the
Presbyterian Church in Canada; and theological literature finds a writer
of ability and copiousness in Dr. Donald Fraser, at one time of Montreal
and afterwards of London, England. The Clan contributed a great many
names to the roll of distinguished clergymen, men who, in their
different spheres, rendered noble service to the cause of Christ. And
among them are men, some of whose names have been mentioned by the
Vice-chairman, of ability, of high character, whose personal influence
over the people was strongly felt. In Canada the name of Fraser has an
honored place among the ministers of the churches. They are doing their
duty nobly and well, and if the names of some of them be not widely
known outside of their own country, it must not be forgotten that a
clergyman's best fame and best reward is his good name among those for
whom he directly labors, and for whose welfare he gives his best
endeavors. Did time permit, it would be comparatively easy to speak at
length of those who have held their own in the theological sphere, but
sufficient has probably been said to indicate that the Clan has done its
duty in one of the most interesting and important fields of human effort
open for the welfare of man.
* * * * *
The part of the toast dealing with "the Frasers in War," was replied to
by MR. ALEXANDER FRASER (of Fraserfield, Glengarry). He said: After what
we have heard of the Clan this evening we must come to the conclusion
that it has always been distinguished for its military spirit, and I
regret on that account, all the more, that the duty has fallen upon me
to reply to the "Frasers in War." Not that I do not appreciate to the
fullest extent that spirit which distinguished them and probably in no
small degree share it, but I am not a man of words, and I feel I shall
not be able, even in a small way, to do justice to this theme.
Undoubtedly the military character of the Clan goes back to its very
origin, for if the Frasers did come from Normandy, they must have been
selected on account of their military ability, for those were the days
when length and strength of arm and good generalship were the most
valuable qualifications a man could possess. But, coming down to the
earlier times in Scotland, we find our clansmen heading the warlike and
chivalrous nobles of that country, in their devotion to the Crown, and
in their exploits in the field in defence of country and patrimony. I
need not enter into a detailed description of the times when the Lowland
Frasers served their country and their king with an unswerving devotion
whose lustre time will not dim, nor the researches of modern historians
tarnish. Down through history in the Highlands they have ever shown
themselves to be a brave and warlike race, furnishing individuals of
conspicuous ability and distinction in arms. No treatment of this toast
would be complete that should omit a reference to Fraser's Highlanders
that embarked under the command of the Chief of the Clan in 1757, and
took part with Wolfe's army in all the engagements, from Louisburg to
the close of the war. At Quebec the Frasers distinguished themselves in
an especial manner. In the struggles which took place early in the
century, between the Canadians and Americans, the Frasers did their
duty, proving that down to our own times they maintained their old
reputation. In the British army, from the formation of the Highland
regiments, in 1739, to the present day, the Clan has given many
distinguished officers and many brave men to its country's service, and
I know I can speak with truth when I say that the old spirit still
prevails, whether you look at home or abroad. So true is this that I may
conclude these remarks in the stereotyped words of the after-dinner
speaker by saying that should the occasion ever demand it, the Frasers
will be ever ready to draw their claymores and shed their blood in the
country's service as of yore.
MR. W. P. FRASER spoke for "The Frasers in Politics." He said: Mr.
Chairman, Vice-chairman and Brother Clansmen, it would seem that the
toast of distinguished clansmen is quite an inexhaustible one. Much has
been said of our clansmen in the various ranks of life, but I believe no
more than is deserved. As a matter of course the Frasers have ranked
high in politics. We have not had a Prime Minister of the name in the
Dominion of Canada, but we have given to the Legislatures of Ontario,
Quebec, and the Lower Provinces, many of their most useful members,
their most eloquent speakers, and their most responsible statesmen. We
have borne our share of public duty in this country, both in the rank
and file of political workers, and as leaders. I do not need to go far
afield to find some of the more striking examples. There is one name so
long and honorably associated with the fortunes of this Province that it
merits premier recognition. I refer to that of the Hon. Christopher
Finlay Fraser, who would have responded to this toast himself to-night,
were it not that he has been suffering from severe illness for some
time, and has not sufficiently recovered to take his place among us.
Reference has been made to his letter of regret, and I feel sure that
every word in it is true--that it is the outcome of his sincere
feeling; for Mr. Fraser is as much a clansman as he is a politician, and
has ever manifested the same deep interest in matters connected with his
Clan, as he has displayed in the public duties which he is called upon
to perform. The position which he occupies, the services which he has
rendered, his wide sphere of influence, his sterling honesty and
unblemished record--these lie as an open book before you. For me to
expatiate upon them would be quite superfluous. His name will go down in
the annals of our statesmen as one of the most competent Ministers of
the Crown who ever held office in this Province, as one of subtle
intellect who served his country and his party in great crises, as one
who gave his talents generously and disinterestedly to the welfare of
his fellow-beings, and in a peculiar manner helped to lay the
foundations of a great nationality in this country. Another of our
clansmen, whose telegram of regret shows that he has been intercepted on
the way from the far east to our gathering, has made the name famous in
the politics of Canada, and is likely to attain to still greater
eminence in the future. At his home in Nova Scotia he has long been
known as a man of probity, ability, and capacity for public duty. It is
not so long ago that he was first heard of in these western parts, but
already he has sprung into notice, and his services are in request at
many public gatherings. I am sure we all regret the absence of Mr. D. C.
Fraser, M.P. for Guysboro', to-night. He is not only a politician but a
patron of learning and celtic literature. To his generous heart and open
hand many a struggling Highlander owes much, and through his
encouragement not a few scholarly productions have seen the light of
day. Were I to venture beyond Canada I should find Frasers playing a
prominent part in the field of politics in South Africa, in the
Australias, in the East Indies, and even in South America. It was only
the other day we heard of a clansman born in Nova Scotia, but of good
Inverness stock, who had been appointed delegate to the Inter-colonial
Conference to be held in Ottawa this summer. I refer to the Hon. Simon
Fraser, of Victoria. I have no doubt his clansmen here will be glad to
welcome him, and to wish the utmost success to his mission. I must
refrain at this hour from any reference to what Frasers have done in
political life in the old land. The chiefs of the Clan numbered among
them many men of eminence in politics. Of these we have heard something
already to-night, and when the call of public duty comes, I feel sure a
Fraser will be ready to step forward to perform his part in a worthy
manner.
ORGANIZATION.
A resolution was carried in favor of the formation of an organization of
clansmen in Canada, having for its main objects the promotion of social
intercourse among the members, the collection of facts from which to
prepare a biographical album of the members and other clansmen, and the
promotion of objects which may be of interest to the Clan; and that
those present form a general committee to act in the matter, the
Committee of this gathering to act as an Executive Committee, for the
purpose of drafting a constitution for the Clan to be submitted to the
next gathering of the Clan.
The Clan song, composed by request, for this gathering, by Mrs.
Georgina Fraser Newhall, and set to music composed by Mr. J. Lewis
Browne, will be found, with a biographical sketch and portrait of
the authoress, on pages 93 to 97.
GEORGINA FRASER NEWHALL.
AUTHORESS OF "FRASER'S DRINKING SONG."
[Illustration: MRS. GEORGINA FRASER NEWHALL]
"The Frasers of Stratherrick, where are they?" To this pensive question
by Charles Fraser Mackintosh comes an oft echoed and lusty answer from
many distant lands. Indeed the question is, "Where are they not?" for it
is safe to say that there is no country where the English language
to-day prevails, in which Stratherrick may not claim a son. Their new
homes have not the historical charm of the old, but wherever the Frasers
have gone, away from the home of their fathers, they have acquitted
themselves well. A scion of a Stratherrick house was James George
Fraser, who many years ago settled at Galt, Ontario. Like his brother
Capt. Charles Fraser, now residing in Glasgow, Scotland, he was attached
to a Highland regiment in his younger days, but withdrawing from the
service, he came to Canada with his young wife, Christina MacLeod. At
Galt was born a family of three sons, William, Charles and Andrew, and
four daughters, Christina, Jessie, Elizabeth and Georgina, the youngest
of whom is the subject of this brief sketch. On the maternal side her
descent is traced from the families of Lochend and Braemore. Her
great-grand parents were George Mackenzie, second son of John Mackenzie
I. of Lochend (of the Gairloch family), and Christina, daughter of
Captain Hector Munro of Braemore. George Mackenzie was a distinguished
officer, and attained to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel of the famous
Rosshire Buffs, the 78th Highlanders. His daughter Christina married
Angus MacLeod of Banff with issue, two sons, Donald and George, and
several daughters, of whom Christina, as already stated, married James
G. Fraser of Galt, Ontario.
Georgina Fraser was born about the beginning of the sixties, and was
educated in the public and high schools of her native town. After the
death of her parents she removed to Toronto, and taking up the study of
shorthand entered upon the life of an amanuensis and teacher of
stenography. She taught large classes in the towns surrounding Toronto,
and in Victoria University, when that institution was located at
Cobourg. She was the first woman in Canada to adopt this profession as a
means of self-support, and to her belongs the honor of adding a new
vocation to those upon which Canadian women may enter. In addition to
these duties Miss Fraser undertook journalistic work, and was the first
lady writer in Toronto to conduct the department devoted to woman's
interests, now so important a weekly feature in the great dailies in
Canada.
In 1884, while occupying the important position of Assistant Secretary
to General Manager Oakes of the Northern Pacific Railway at St. Paul,
Minn., she became the wife of Mr. E. P. Newhall, of the Pacific Express
Co. in Omaha.
Notwithstanding household cares and ill-health Mrs. Newhall still finds
time to indulge in her old taste for literature, wielding an earnest pen
in advocacy of those reforms which most interest women of advanced
thought. She has achieved considerable fame as a writer of short
stories, and her compositions of verse bear the mark of the true poet's
touch.
As a clanswoman Mrs. Newhall is fond of claiming the right to call
herself a "black" Fraser, nature having endowed her with that darkness
of hair and eyebrow which is supposed to stamp all the possessors
thereof as "true Frasers."
FRASER'S DRINKING SONG.
(The Fraser Motto is "JE SUIS PREST"--"I AM READY.")
Words by GEORGINA FRASER NEWHALL. Music by J. LEWIS BROWNE.
[Illustration of musical score of Fraser's Drinking Song]
FRASER'S DRINKING SONG.
1
All ready?
Let us drink to the woman who rules us to-night--
To her lands; to her laws; 'neath her flag we will smite
Ev'ry foe,
Hip and thigh,
Eye for eye,
Blow for blow--
Are you ready?
2
All ready?
Then here's to the mothers who bore us, my men;
To the shieling that sleeps in the breast of the glen
Where the stag
Drinks it fill
From the rill
By the crag--
Are you ready?
3
All ready?
Fill your glass to the maid you adore, my boys;
Wish her health, wish her wealth, long life, and all joys;
Full measure
(May it swim
To the brim)
Of pleasure--
Are you ready?
4
All ready?
And here's to the country we live in, my lads;
It is here we have struggled and thriven, my lads?
God bless it,
May Beauty
And Duty
Possess it--
Are you ready?
5