Bishop George Hay

“ After a few days Bishop Hay returned to London, and, through the interest of Mr Burke and other influential friends in Parliament, succeeded in obtaining some indemnification for the sufferers in the riot. The erection of another chapel and chapel-house in Edinburgh, however, was retarded for many years. Dr Hay deemed it prudent to continue in his humble dwelling in Blackfriars Wynd, and to use the upper floor as a chapel. It was not till 1814 that St Mary's, Broughton Street, was built by his successor, Bishop Cameron. ”

“ Since the religious revolution of the sixteenth century, to no man has the Catholic Church in Scotland been so much indebted as to Bishop Hay. He is pre-eminently her bishop of the last three hundred years. ”

“ Alexander Cameron. From personal acquaintance with this gentleman, he had formed a high idea of his virtue and talents; and that idea had been confirmed by the ability which Mr Cameron had displayed in the government of the Scotch College in Spain. The appointment gave general satisfaction, and Dr Hay applied to Rome for the Papal Briefs. On the 13th of August 1797 he informed Mr Cameron himself of his promotion, conjuring him to hasten to his assistance, and to relieve him of a burden which he was no longer able to support. ”

“ They travelled through France and embarked at Dunkirk; but knowing that the greatest vigilance was exercised by the British Government to prevent the ingress of Catholic priests, they avoided the principal ports, and landed at Burntisland on the eve of the Assumption, 1759. Next day they presented themselves to Bishop Smith at Edinburgh, and Mr Hay was appointed to assist Bishop Grant, coadjutor in the important mission of Preshome, Banffshire. ”

“ His peace rested on God, and nothing earthly could permanently disturb it. It may readily be supposed that the claims of the poor were not disregarded by such a man as Bishop Hay. They received due attention at his hands. ”

“ Thus commenced that system of emigration which eventually depopulated many parts of the Highlands, and laid the foundation of a powerful and prosperous Catholic colony in North America. The brave exiles transmitted their faith to their descendants, and taught them to revere the memory of their benefactor. Bishop Hay. ”

“ His desire to have the Statuta Missionis approved and printed furnished a pretext for the journey, and he set out for Italy in the summer of 1781. Passing through Germany, he visited the Scotch Benedictine monasteries at Wurtsburg and Ratisbon, and. arrived in Rome about the middle of October. Cardinal Antonelli, Prefect of Propaganda, received him with marked distinction, and soon after he was admitted to a private audience of the Holy Father. ”

“ He took full time for mature deliberation, proceeded to the Mediterranean, completed his engagement there, and it was not till the 10th September 175 1 that he entered the Scotch College in Rome — nearly two years after he had embraced the Catholic faith. There he found only nine students, but that little band contained no less than four persons who were afterwards well known by their services to religion — the Rev. ”