Dr Peter Carruthers of Holmains
24 December 2024
Dear Clan and Family,
This year 2024 has been an especially momentous one for the Carruthers.
In August, almost exactly five years after my confirmation as Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers by the Lord Lyon, we held my formal Inauguration as Chief. The ceremony took place in Annan, Dumfriesshire, at the heart of our historic homelands, and was combined with our first clan gathering.
It was wonderful to see so many Carruthers and guests come together for these events. As well as Carruthers from Scotland and other parts of the UK, we were joined by clans folk from France, South Africa, Canada and the USA, along with several other clan chiefs. In addition, as it was held at the Annan History Festival, many people from the immediate locality joined us for the Inauguration. It was a remarkable and unique weekend, which will stay in my memory for many years to come.
We met many people in person we had hitherto only met online, made new friends, built new connections, and enjoyed conversation, eating and drinking together. For some, this was their first visit to ‘Carruthers country’. It was very moving to realise my family had suddenly expanded; as I have often said, like the Tardis, the Carruthers clan is ‘bigger on the inside’.
You will already have read George’s report on the events and my message afterwards, so I won’t repeat the details therein, except to reiterate my immense gratitude to all those who made it all possible, most especially George Carruthers for all his work in bringing us to this point and Michael Carruthers for masterminding the gathering itself.
My inauguration was a once-in-a-lifetime event. But, we can look forward to many more annual clan gatherings. Plans are already underway for the next one in August 2025 – once again in Annan.
The turning of a year is always a time to look both back and forward. At such times, I am always reminded of the famous words of Dag Hammarskjöld, the second secretary general of the United Nations: “For all that has been, Thanks; for all that is to be, Yes.” As a clan and family, we can look back on the past years with much gratitude, and look forward to celebrating and strengthening our Carruthers identity and heritage in the years to come.
These words are also particularly poignant for me just now, as last week I reached the watershed age of seventy! And the Carruthers made my day, with many greetings and good wishes from clans folk via WhatsApp messages and video clips. The latter were collated by my son, Asher, into a fantastic video compilation.
Psalm 90 describes the “days of our life” as “seventy years”, or “by reason of strength eighty”, going on to pray that God will “teach us so to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom”, and asking Him to “prosper the work of our hands” (in other words, to bless the everyday things of our life).
With respect to this sentiment, in preparing for my Inauguration, I re-read some of the tributes to my great-grandfather, the Rev’d William Mitchell-Carruthers, published just after his death in 1931. One described how, just after he left school, he spent some time with a clergyman friend of his tutor. At the end of his stay, as he was getting into his carriage, the vicar said to him, “Remember, you only have one life to live, and if you mis- spend it, God will never send you back into the world to live it over again.” That remark revolutionised his life. He became a Christian minister and impacted many lives for good. For me, he is a wonderful example, but a hard act, to follow.
Advent and Christmas is also a time to look back and look forward. We remember and celebrate the coming of God into the world as a human being to serve and save, and we anticipate and prepare for His promised return to rule and reign. In the meantime, we seek to ‘number our days’ and use our time wisely, especially in our relationships with others. I hope, and believe, that being part of the worldwide ‘ready and faithful’ clan and family of Carruthers’ can help us to do this.
Have a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a blessed new year. I very much hope to see you in Annan next August!
Holmains
I need help tracking my Carothers roots from Scotland to Pennsylvania…to Bardstown, Ky. Does anybody in the family clan have these types of records? There are sooo many James Carothers in Bardstown, Ky. (1800’s to present) that it’s a complex and confusing task. Thank You!
Frank, you need to trace your family back to your immigrant ancestors, then you can look in Scotland records. There are many pitfalls with immigrant ancestors in the US. The spelling of your name tells me that. I might be able to help a bit, it depends on what information you have. You can contact me through the FB page.
Thank you! I appreciate your kind and quick reply to me. Merry Christmas!