ТОП просматриваемых книг сайта:
The Clan Fraser in Canada: Souvenir of the First Annual Gathering. Fraser Alexander
Читать онлайн.Название The Clan Fraser in Canada: Souvenir of the First Annual Gathering
Год выпуска 0
isbn
Автор произведения Fraser Alexander
Жанр Зарубежная классика
Издательство Public Domain
9. That the sister provinces of Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick be respectfully requested to organize themselves, and to send delegates to the meeting at Ottawa, on the fourteenth of May next, that time having been selected because in all probability the parliament will still be in session, and the members may attend the session before dispersing.
10. That all proceedings be respectfully submitted to the "Fraser" family, which is one of the most ancient, one of the most noble, one of the most influential, and one of the most numerous families of the Dominion of Canada.
11. That all the newspapers throughout the Dominion of Canada, who have subscribers of the name of Fraser, are requested to publish the proceedings of this meeting.
After which the meeting proceeded to the nomination of the following officers, who were unanimously elected:
I. To be the Chief of the Province of Quebec:
The Honorable John Fraser de Berry, Esquire, one of the members of the Legislative Council of the said Province, etc., being the fifty-eighth descendant of Jules de Berry, a rich and powerful lord (seigneur) who feasted sumptuously the Emperor Charlemagne, and his numerous suite, at his castle in Normandy, in the eighth century.
II. For the following electoral divisions:
Lauzon, – Thomas Fraser, Esquire, farmer, of Pointe Levis.
Kennebec, – Simon Fraser, Esquire, of St. Croix.
De la Durantaye, – Alexander Fraser, Esquire, farmer, of St. Vallier.
Les Laurentides, – William Fraser, Esquire, of Lake St. John, Chicoutimi.
Grandville, – Jean Etienne Fraser, Esquire, Notary.
Green Island Stadacona, – Alexander Fraser, Esquire, Notary, St. Roch, Quebec.
The meeting having voted thanks to the President and Secretary, then adjourned.
There was a good response to the call for the general meeting, letters having been sent broadcast over the Dominion. As chief of the Frasers of British North America, the Hon. James Fraser de Ferraline, in the Province of Nova Scotia, was elected. He was a scion of the Ferraline and Gorthlic families of the Clan. One hundred and eleven subordinate chieftains of provinces and districts were elected and Mr. John Fraser de Berry was appointed Secretary to the "New Clan Fraser," as it was called. For various reasons, chief among them being, probably, its elaborate constitution and the intangible purposes for which it was called into existence, the organization did not make satisfactory headway and in the course of not many years it failed to attract any public attention whatever, and ceased to exist. In its brief career it gathered some interesting information about the clansmen. In a report drawn up by the Secretary, De Berry, whose exertions on its behalf were unwearying, it is stated that there were then over 12,000 persons, men, women and children of the name Fraser, some speaking French, not one of whom was a day laborer, or "earning daily wages," but all in comfortable circumstances, many in positions of honour and trust.
FORMATION OF THE CLAN FRASER IN CANADA
Although Mr. John Fraser de Berry's scheme failed it was believed that there was room for a less pretentious and more practicable clan organization in Canada. There was little diminution of the clan feeling; the desire of those having the same origin and name, the same glorious clan history, in common, to enjoy a friendly intercourse, was natural and reasonable, and at length it assumed a practical form. Early in the spring of 1894 a meeting was held in the office of the Toronto Daily Mail, at which there were present: Messrs. George B. Fraser, commission agent; Robert Lovat Fraser, barrister; Alexander R. Fraser, druggist; Dr. J. B. Fraser, physician; Alexander Fraser (of Fraserfield, Glengarry), Secretary to the Boiler Inspection Company; W. H. Fraser, Professor of Languages at the Toronto University; W. A. Fraser, civil engineer and contractor; W. P. Fraser, clerk, Dominion Bank; Andrew Fraser, commercial traveller; and Alexander Fraser, of the editorial staff of the Daily Mail. The last named, descended from the Clan Mhic Fhionnlaidh sept of the Struy Frasers, was appointed chairman of the meeting and Mr. W. A. Fraser, also descended from good Strathglass stock, was appointed Secretary. All agreed that a clan organization ought to be formed and as a first step it was thought well to test the feeling of the clansmen at a family dinner, which it was decided should be held on May 5th, 1894. Those present formed themselves into a committee to make arrangements for holding the dinner and the chairman and secretary of the meeting were appointed chairman and secretary of the committee. Invitations were sent to every member of the Clan in Ontario, Montreal, New York, Buffalo and Detroit, whose name the committee was able to procure, and about three hundred replies were received, in which, without exception, an earnest hope for the success of the proposed organization was expressed. The dinner took place as had been decided upon, on May 5th, 1894, at Webb's Restaurant, Toronto, and an account of the proceedings will now be given.
THE CLAN DINNER
A chuirm sgaoilte; chuaias an ceol
Ard sholas a'n talia nan triath.—
"Smeorach Stratharaigeig; uiseag an urlair." —
"She wrought her people lasting good."
"Tostamaid ar ceann a cinnidh;
Mac-Shimi mor na Morfhaich.
"Master, go on, and I will follow thee
To the last gasp, with truth and loyalty."
"I tell you a thing sickerly,
That yon men will win or die;
For doubt of deid they sall not flee."
"'N uair 'thig an cinneadh Frisealach,
Tha fios gur daoine borb iad."
"Sir, you are very welcome to our house."
"Kindred alike, where'er our skies may shine,
Where'er our sight first drank the vital morn."
"Of singular integrity and learning,
Yea, the elect o' the land."
(a)