The Clan Fraser in Canada: Souvenir of the First Annual Gathering

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.

    ALEX. FRASER,
    President.

    OMER FRASER,
    Secretary.

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.—

    Oisean.

Scotch Broth

Boiled Sea Salmon from the Cruives of Lovat

Sgadan beag Poll-a-Roid. Pomme Natural, Anchovy Sauce

Bread and Butter Rolled

Roast Beef. Spring Lamb

Mashed Potatoes. Asparagus. French Peas

Fraser Pudding

Curds and Cream. Oat Cakes. Assorted Fine Cakes

Shortbread. Cheese. Biscuits. Radishes

Neapolitan Ice Cream. Nuts. Figs. Dates

"Smeorach Stratharaigeig; uiseag an urlair." —

    Sean-Fhocai.

"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."

Bagpipe Music – "Morar Sim."

"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."

Bagpipe Music – "Caisteal Dunaidh."

"Sir, you are very welcome to our house."

Bagpipe Music – "Aird Mhic-Shimi."

"Highland Fling," by Master Norman Fraser

"Kindred alike, where'er our skies may shine,
Where'er our sight first drank the vital morn."

Bagpipe Music – "Fhuair Mac-Shimi air ais an Oighearachd."

"Of singular integrity and learning,
Yea, the elect o' the land."
(a) In Art; (b) in Science; (c) in Literature; (d) in Theology;
(e) in War; (f) in Political Life.

"Disguise our bondage as we will,
'Tis woman, woman, rules us still."
"And when a lady's in the case,
You know, all other things give place."

Air (fonn) "Clementine."

Deoch an doruis, deoch an doruis,
Deoch an doruis, 's i tha ann;
Deoch an doruis, sguab as i,
Cha'n eil Mac-na-Bracha gann.

The bagpipe music will be furnished by Mr. Robert Ireland, Pipe Major of the48th Highlanders, Toronto

Although the number that sat around the festive board was much smaller than had been expected, the elements requisite for a successful gathering were strongly in evidence, and, as a matter of fact, the inaugural dinner of the Clan turned out to be a most satisfactory event. Many of the absentees had conveyed good reasons for their absence, and hearty greetings to the assembled company. From a large number of letters it would be difficult to make a selection for the reader and the demands of space would prevent it, although some of them are really worth reproducing. Of special interest were the letters from Messrs. O. K. Fraser, Brockville; John Fraser, Wm. Lewis Fraser and Thomas Fraser, New York; P. M. Fraser, St. Thomas; Donald Fraser, Windsor; R. J. Fraser, Barrie; R. M. Fraser, Goderich; Rev. R. D. Fraser, Bowmanville; Rev. J. B. Fraser, M.D., Annan; John Fraser, Montreal; W. G. Fraser, Buffalo; Hon. Christopher Finlay Fraser, and B. Homer Dixon, K.N.L., Toronto; the last named a Fraser on the maternal side and a gentleman deeply versed in the history of the Clan.

The dining hall presented a very attractive appearance. The table was made beautiful with a tastefully arranged and selected display of flowers and plants, and appropriate to the occasion there were stags' heads on the walls, and the Fraser Clan tartan draped the pillars, doorway and windows. There were a number of articles of interest sent by friends, such as finely executed mezzo-tint pictures of Simon Lord Lovat, beheaded in 1747, and of Brigadier Simon Fraser, the hero of Saratoga; and a water-color of the Clan arms, from Mr. B. Homer Dixon; a map of Inverness-shire, showing the Clan possessions at various stages of its history, with the lands in the hands of cadets of the Clan, a life-size copy of Hogarth's picture of Simon Lord Lovat, the "last of the martyrs," a life-size copy of an engraving of Sir Alexander Fraser of Phillorth, founder of the University of Fraserburgh, sent by the Chairman.