Last Thursday’s Glengarry Historical Society’s meeting was very revealing. Before a respectable crowd of over 50, local historian David Anderson hypothesized why the late Dr. John A. MacKechnie accepted a call from the Dunvegan church’s ‘Pastor Nominating Committee’ to be the congregation’s teaching elder or minister. As David enumerated them, it was crystal clear that the man’s scholarly credentials were truly staggering. In terms of academic degrees alone, he had an M.A., a B.D., a B.L. and a LL. B. He was also fluent in every one of the Gaelic languages… Irish, Scottish, Manx, Welsh, Cornish and Breton. In addition, when he accepted the position in Dunvegan, he was committed to finishing his definitive, three-volume Catalogue of Gaelic Manuscripts.
As I understood it, David’s postulation was that the ‘MacKechnie Affair’ was largely one of mismatched expectations. On the one hand, Rev. MacKechnie was looking for a quiet locale “to complete his magnum opus,” as David put it. On the other, the Kenyon Presbyterian Church’s choice may have been overly swayed by MacKechnie’s fluency in Gaelic. As Royce MacGillivray wrote in his Dictionary of Glengarry Biography in his entry on John A. MacKechnie, “…few people in the community knew more than a few words of Gaelic, but the reverence for the old language remained strong, and all who valued the traditions of the area were glad to find a fluent Gaelic speaker among them.” Unfortunately, it would appear that they downplayed his scholastic roots. They expected the type of hands-on pastoral attention they had enjoyed with other, less academically minded ministers.
The confluence of the congregation’s disappointment in their choice of pastor and the understandable cultural clash that resulted from the influx of ‘peace & love’ newcomers to the community, combined to create a perfect storm. As a result, both MacKechnie, and the “hippies,” were swept away.
Disappointingly, few Dunvegan residents came out for Thursday’s talk. And, to my knowledge, no member of the Kenyon Presbyterian Church from the period under discussion was in attendance either. However, one of the tumultuous period’s lightening rods, Steve Merritt, was there. And his recollections were instructive. It would have been informative to hear the other side of the story. However, when I mentioned this to my son, Brendan, his immediate response was, “were they invited?” And he’s right. I don’t believe they were… and that was a real oversight, resulting a lost opportunity.
Mouth-watering Saturday
Let’s stay with the Dunvegan kirk, but fast-forward from the 1970s to 2017… this coming Saturday, April 22nd to be precise. That’s when the Kenyon Presbyterian Church Women’s Association will be holding their 6th Annual Spring Breakfast. And the event promises to be delicious.
From 8:00 to 10:00 AM, church volunteers will serve up fluffy scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, succulent sausages, hot hash browns, baked beans, buttered toast, fresh fruit, yogurt, juice and hot tea or coffee. The price per diner is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children aged 5 to 12. (Kids under 5 are free.) The breakfast will be served in the church hall. However, instead of waiting outside in a line for a seat, the stone church will be pressed into service for ticket sales and as a waiting room. So report there first.
Please attend this important fundraiser. The proceeds will be used for the on-going maintenance of the church property. Not a member of the Dunvegan congregation? Don’t worry. The breakfast is open to one and all.
Have broom, will travel
After breakfast, interim curator of the Glengarry Pioneer Museum, Renée Homiak, would be thrilled if you had time to help out with the museum’s annual Spring Cleaning Bee. The goal is to get the GPM ready for the new season by sweeping out the buildings and tidying up the grounds. It’s the perfect opportunity for the whole family to spend some quality time together… contribute to the community… and meet some of your neighbours. Refreshments will be provided. Please let Renée know if you if you can help by calling her at 613-527-5230.
Euchre & AGM share Friday
I wanted to remind you that this coming Friday, April 21st will be a busy day at the DRA Hall at 19053 County Road 24. To begin with, from 12 noon to around 3:30, euchre enthusiasts from far and wide will flock to Dunvegan to enjoy the April edition of this popular event. Linda Burgess and I both hope you’ll stop by for homemade sandwiches and sinful sweets… and an afternoon of cards and camaraderie. Admission for all this slice of fun is only $5.00. Come one. Come all.
Then, as the euchre dust settles, volunteers from the Glengarry Pioneer Museum will rush in to ready the Hall of the museum’s Annual General Meeting and Potluck Supper. The question in my mind is which will be the bigger draw: the groaning table of homemade victuals or archivist Allan J. MacDonald’s keynote address entitled “Don’t Throw it Out.” I’m leaning in the A.J. direction. A Pioneer Award and two Volunteer Awards will also be presented to three worthy recipients: Kent MacSweyn, Trevor Stanton and Thelma MacCaskill.
The event gets underway at 5:30 with a “meet & greet.” Then, at 6:00 PM, the dinner bell will be rung. Sixty minutes later, as dessert and coffee are being enjoyed, a short business meeting will be held to approve the budget and the new Board of Directors.
The meeting is open to anyone who wants to attend… assuming you come bearing a main dish, salad or dessert, of course. Like the euchre, the AGM will be held at the Dunvegan Recreation Hall, 19053 County Road 24.
Leech alert
Because of Easter, the Dunvegan Recreation Association moved this month’s Saturday Night at the Movies event from last weekend to this coming Saturday, April 22nd at 7:00 PM. The DRA is also taking a break from comedies and going with a classical drama: African Queen. Directed by John Huston in 1951, this film is set in Africa during World War I.
It stars Humphrey Bogart — who won an Academy Award for best actor — as a gin-swilling riverboat captain who’s persuaded by Kate Hepburn, playing a strait-laced missionary, to use his boat to attack an enemy warship. (Trigger warning: if you have a problem with leeches, one of the scenes may give you the willies.) Also keep your eyes peeled for the “gun goof” in the scene where the stars are passing the German fort. Google tells me the Germans and Askaris are using British Long Lee Enfield rifles, not German Mausers.
Event organizer, Laurie Maus asked me to remind you to “bring your own refreshments and comfy cushion. We will provide popcorn and cookies.” There’s no entrance fee, but donations are always appreciated.
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