The cold strangeness of a new home seemed to mellow even 
     
     Protestant/ Roman Catholic differences. All pulled together for the sake 
     
     of the whole group and bonds of kinship grew and became a source of 
     
     encouragement and security. By these bonds: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Experience...was rapidly communicated among people thus 
     
     concentrated; emulation was kept alive; and, when anyone 
     
     was inclined to despondency, the example and society of his 
     
     friends kept up his spirits. To their families, this social style 
     
     of settlement was a comfort of the utmost importance for 
     
     cheering their minds, and preventing them from sinking 
     
     under the gloomy impressions of the wilderness.” 
     
    
   
   
    
     As a community, a united people, the Scots were able to find 
     
     comfort, support and encouragement and to retain their traditions, 
     
     culture, and mannerisms. In this is embodied all the expectations of the 
     
     founding fathers of the Scottish association. In this is also embodied 
     
     their faith in themselves and in each other as Scots, as kinsmen, as sons 
     
     and daughters of ‘auld Caledonia’. 
     
    
   
   
    
     10