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Annual Assembly.
(Cheers.) You must romonibfr, if it had not been for this and
kindred Societies, Highhmd education would never have received
the attention whicli it now does, and I think therefore it is incumbent
on us all to do what we can to help and increase their prosperity.
In conclusion, let me add that though 1 have briefly referred to one
or two of the main objects which this Society has in view, one of
the most imjjortant of them—notwithstanding that you will not find
it in its constitution ; for it is supposed to be so well understood
and so engrafted in our hearts, that it was unnecessary to put it
into print—is, that it is desirous above everything to encourage
kindly feeling among all classes, and to promote the welfare and
happiness of everyone ; that it is not only our business to see to
the preservation of the language and customs, but to maintain all
that is elevating and noble in the character of the Celt at home
and abroad ; and that we wish to uphold that character for honour
and right feeling which has always hitherto been characteristic of
Scotland, and which has enabled her to enroll in the most brilliant
pages of history so many of the names of her sons— (Cheers)—and
I earnestly trust that some of the able and influential Gaelic
speakers who belong to this Society will, even at some self-sacrifice,
ti'y and instil this important object into the minds of the people,
and let them understand that our great desire is, not to set class
against class, but to recruit in our ranks all men, whether they
be rich, or whether they be poor, so that in time those who may
be in need of either advice or counsel may come to look upon this
Society as a sure place to obtain it. (Loud cheers.)
Rev. Archibald Macdonald, Logie-Easter, delivered the Gaelic
address. He was received with loud and hearty cheers. He said
— Fhir na Catlirach, a mhnathan uaisle, agus a dhaoin uaisle,
— :
Tha mise an comain Comunn Gaidhlig Inbhirnis, air son gu 'n do
ghabh iad a leithid de dheagh bharail dhiom 's gun do chuir iad
romham beagan bhriathran a labhairt 'n 'ur eisdeachd 's an ionad
so anns a' chanain a tha ro dhluth do chridhe gach fior Ghaidheil
—canain bliinn, mhilis nam beann. Agus a nis b'fhearr leam gu'n
robh air a thiodhlacadh orm a h-aon de na teangaibh sgoilte bha
aig na ciad Chriosduidhean a chum, ma tha feadhainn an so aig
am bheil cluasan Sasunnach gu 'n cluinneadh iad mise labhairt
riutha 'nan canain fein. Ach o nach gabh sin deanamh, dh'
iarrainn air gach aon fa leth misneachd a ghlacadh car beagan
mhionaidean, agus cuimhneachadh gu faigh foighidinn furtachd
agus gur searbli a' ghloir nach faodar eisdeachd rithe. 'Nuair a
sgi-iobh an Run Chleireach thiigamsa ag innse gu 'n robh 'n dleasnas
tlachdmhor so air a chur romham dh'fheoraich mi dliiom fein,
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