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Annual Dinner. Ill
rectitmle and morality ami good-will among men, and breaking
up the fallow ground for the advancement of social and commercial
prosperity. (Hear, hear.) The influence they had on society
might be traced in many ways, but perhaps in none more conspicuously
than in the innumerable costly and ornamental, and even
in their ruins, almost everlasting architectural edifices erected for
religious purposes. They had also great influence in moulding the
thought and life of the people by the action and intelligent interest
they had taken in education and literature. The cause of Gaelic
literature was laid under deepest obligation to their order, through
the valuable record of the far oflf centuries handed down to us in
the Book of Deer. (Applause.) The tendency of the present day
was to deny to the clergy the privilege of entering into the discussion
of civil and political reforms, but while he (Mr Campbell)
could not coincide with that view, he believed it depended
very much on the judiciousness with which they treated those
questions whether they could command the sympathies and
support of their peo])Ie on entering into those secular battlefields.
(Hear, hear.) The functions of the clergy were more pastoral
than political, and in their high calling they deserved the highest
regard of the people. Let us be able to say of each of them,
when called to give an account of his stewardship
—
" His head was silvered o'er with age,
A nd long experience made him sage ;
In summer's heat and winter's cold
He fed his flocks and penned his fold ;
His wisdom and his honest fame
Through all the country raised his name."
The Rev. G. Mackay, Beauly, in reply, said he had always
taken a deep interest in all matters aftecting the welfare of the
people of the Highlands, and would always do what he could to
promote their best and highest interests. (Applause.)
Treasurer Jonathan Boss, proposed " The Press," and Mr D.
K. Clark, Inverness Courier, replied.
Mr Mackenzie, Silverwells, said the toast assigned to him
was one which he had the greatest possible pleasure in proposing,
and which he was certain would be received with the cordiality
and enthusiasm it deserved. (Hear, hear.) It was the " Health
of their worthy Chairman and Chief," Kintail. (Applause.) Kin-
tail was always ready to further the interests of all their local
associations, societies, and institutions. As an agricultui-ist, he
had set a noble example to tenants and tenant-farmers, and one
which many of theii- large landed proprietors would do well to