MEETING OF THE CLAN McRAE Shared by: Myrtle Bridges December 7, 2019
"Meeting of the Clan McRae." Fayetteville Observer [Fayetteville, North Carolina] 28 May 1896 Meeting of the Clan Maxton Chief. Tuesday of this week there assembled fifteen stalwart representatives of the Clan McRae in the YMCA hall, and organized by the Vice Chief of the Carolinas, Col. Murdock McRae, calling Judge James C. McRae to the chair as cheif of the meeting, and Col. E.F. McRae was made the scribe of the meeting. The Vice Chief of the National Clan was then called upon for a speech. He responded by saying that while he did not wish to say it boastingly, that it was a matter of history that the McRae's were good people--don't claim to be better than another people--there was nothing in their story or acts dis- honorable, or disruptable that they were good fighters, especially in the cause of principle and right-- in Scotland they were a formidable clan. Brittain once called for a regiment 1200 strong, all six feet in height. The McRae's furnished the whole regiment. In this country the members of this clan answered the call of '76 and '61 and valiantly did their part in the cause of independence and home rule. Col. Peter McRae mentioned the fact that his grandfather came to this country in the last century and settled about Rockfish, Cumberland county. He mentioned as one of the incidents of the times, that instead of wheels as we have them, circles were sawn from large pine trees and used instead. Mr. James McRae said that the reason the McRaes were found mostly in the up country was that their pluck, energy and perseverence would not allow them to drop upon the lowlands upon landing, hense so large a number are found in Robeson, Cumberland, Richmond, Anson counties and the upper Pee Dee section of South Carolina. Judge James C. McRae said he could remember when Gaelic was spoken on the streets of Fayetteville as commonly as English, and churches in west Cumberland had regularly sermons in Gaelic. He regretted to see a knowledge of this language dying out. It was suggested by Hon. J. E. Payne, who was present and recognized as "being half McRae," that a permanent organization be effected. This was acted upon by taking the name of the Clan McRae of North Carolina. Col. E.F. McRae was made permanent scribe, and Col. M. McRae chief of the clan. The next meeting will be at the call of the chief, and probably about the time of the Institute meeting at Red Springs in July. The meeting of the National Clan will be at Nashville, Tenn, in 1897.
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