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The Gael—His Characteristics and Social History. 287
ill one Hi£;hland parish, but tlii.s is the extent of clerical interference,
and the clergy cannot be luld guiltless as regards smuggling.
Highlanders have many things laid to their charge which require
to be explained and justitied. This Society has among its objects
the vindication of the character of the Gaelic peo})]e, and the
furtherance of their interests, and I make no apology for appealing
to you individually and collectively to use your influence and
efforts to free the Highland people fi-om the stigma of lawlessness
and dishonesty, and from the ini^vitable demoralisation which are
24th March 1886.
On this date the following were elected ordinary members of
the Society—Dr Duncan Mackay, Inverness ; Mr J. J. Carter,
Inland Revenue Collector, do.; Mr Arthur Medlock, jeweller, do.;
and Mr Macdonald, Attova, Pensylvannia.
Thereafter the Picv. Alex. Bisset, Stratherrick, read a second
paper on " The Gael—His Characteristics and Social History."
Mr Bisset's paper was as follows :
THE GAEL—HIS CHARACTERISTICS AND SOCIAL
HISTORY.
Part I I. *
When I had the honour and the great pleasure of addressing
you last, the subject I took was " The Gael." Having on
that occasion examined the origin of the Gael and the settlement
of the same in Caledonia, T propose this evening to cull out
some of the leading features in his character as these strike us, as
being more particularly illustrated in the history of this most in-
teresting people. Now, the first point which occurs to me in
looking into the character of the Gael is his deep sense of
religion. When we remember that man was created by God to
know, love, and serve Him, it is assuredly highly creditable to the
Gael to find in him, throughout the whole course of his history, a
lively and keen appreciation of the homage and duty he owes
his Creator.
From the earliest traces we have of the Gael we find him
deeply imbued with religious sentiment, and from the exhaustive
treatment of the subject of Celtic Mythology by Mr Macbain, in
his articles in the " Celtic Magazine," we see how widespread and
—
* For Pari I. vide Transactions, vol. xi., p. 288.