Original Correspondence. The Men of Moidart, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 27 August 1853, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114835028:

(To the Editors of the Freeman's Journal.)
Gentlemen,—Moidart is situated on the west coast of the Highlands of Scotland. It is a rugged, barren, and mountainous country, and the only portion of Scotland whose people most faithfully withstood the persecution of the reformation. An amusing account of the way in which a kinsman of Clanranald undertook to maintain the Catholic religion appeared about two years ago in your Journal. Not only have the people of Moidart been renowned for their adherence to the Catholic doctrine, but they were also the first in arms to restore Prince Charles Steward to what they considered his lawful right, the Crown of England. The romantic gathering of the Clans took place at Glenfinnon, in the upper region of Moidart, where a beautiful monument is built, in commemoration of the gathering and the Prince. The people of Moidart are kind, affectionate, and hospitable, and enthusiastically attached to their country, barren and unyielding as it is. During the late years of famine, owing to the failure of potatoes, their usual chief sustenance, the people of Moidart suffered dreadfully, faring much worse than any other district in the Highlands, and a lucky opportunity showing itself, nearly all of them have emigrated during this and last year, and the remainder are still coming—the whole locating themselves in Port Phillip. The majority of these poor people are unable to speak a word of English, and such of them as are advanced in years are very unlikely to learn any. They feel, therefore, by removing from their native country, as if they had exchanged spiritual for temporal advantages, as they are unable either to make a good confession to their Clergy or understand his exhortations. They, on that account, find themselves in a very forlorn condition for the want of a Highland Clergyman. The pastor whom they have left behind, the Rev. Ranald Rankin, is now without a flock, and he would be most happy to follow them to Port Phillip, provided he had the means and permission to do so. They are therefore at the present time making preparations to petition the superior Clergy to assist them in this undertaking. They are also making subscriptions in order to bear his expenses out. But what can these poor people do without the countenance and assistance of their Bishops and Clergy. Their hearts would rejoice and a spiritual want would be removed from them if they could be gratified in having a Highland Priest. D. McDonald.
Maneroo, August 13th , 1853

[We beg respectfully to call the attention of the Lord Bishop of Melbourne to this very feeling and charitable communication, as it alluded to a case that concerns a portion of the Catholics committed to his spiritual care. There can be little doubt but the Catholic Association of Victoria will look upon this appeal to their sympathies as coming within the proper sphere of their valuable and Christian Institution.]—Eds. F.J.

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Advertising, The Argus, Melbourne, 25 October 1855, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4821703:

The Rev. Ronald Rankin, from Moidart, Invernessshire, Scotland, has arrived in Melbourne, per ship James Baines.

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Domestic Intelligence. Highland Games, The Argus, Melbourne, 27 December 1855, p 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4826655:

In our advertising columns will be seen an advertisement announcing that the manly Highland game of Shinty will be played at Kyneton on New Year's Day, under the auspices of Captain Chisholm. We doubt not that the announcement will call together a numerous assemblage of the sons of the Gael, who will avail themselves of so favorable an opportunity of engaging, in a distant land, in the athletic sports of their youth, and so associate the commencement of the new year with many pleasing as well as sad reminiscences of their own, their native land. We learn that the Rev. Mr. Rankin of Moidart in Invernessshire and some other Highland friends, are on a Christmas visit to Captain and Mrs. Chisholm at Kyneton, so that the assembled Highlanders will thus have an opportunity of seeing several well-known and respected fellow-countrymen.

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Married, The Mercury, Hobart, 20 April 1861, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8797752:

April 8, 1861, by the Rev. Ronald Rankin, of the Little River, Geelong, James, third son of Mr. John Ryan, of Oatlands, Tasmania, to Elizabeth, fifth daughter of Mr. Thomas Fleming, of Oatlands, Tasmania.

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Deaths, The Argus, Melbourne, 16 February 1863, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6483458:

Rankin.—On the 14th inst., at his residence, Little River, the Rev. Ranald Rankin, of dysentery, in the sixty-seventh year of his age.

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The Late Rev. Ronald Rankin, Geelong Advertiser, 20 February 1863, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article148906224:

The funeral of the late Rev. Ronald Rankin took place on Monday last. The deceased expired on Saturday, the 14th inst., at his residence, Little River. The body was brought into town early on Monday morning by the majority of his Catholic parishioners, and was met by the Rev. Mr Hoyne at the entrance of St Mary's, Yarra-street. The coffin was placed on tressels at the bottom of the church, near the baptismal font, and was covered with a black velvet pall, on it were placed the stole and baretta, emblems of the sacerdotal character. At seven o'clock in the morning the first mass was said and served by acolytes from Little River, who were accustomed to assist the deceased clergyman. At eleven o'clock a solemn requiem high mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. Dean Hayes, assisted by the Rev Mr O'Dwyer, as deacon, and the Rev. Mr Hoyne as sub-deacon. The Rev. Mr Downie acted as master of ceremonies. At the commencement of that part of the office called Laudes, six tapers, three at each side, were lighted and placed round the coffin as emblems of the faith in which the deceased laboured. Mr J. B. Downing presided at the organ. The choir rendered the solemn parts of the music selected for the occasion with great taste and deep feeling. At the conclusion of the service the officiating clergymen proceeded in procession from the altar, preceded by the Rev. Mr Hoyne, as cross bearer, who was followed by eight acolytes carrying lighted tapers; the clergymen then ranged themselves round the coffin of their deceased confrere, and the very Rev. Dean Hayes read that portion of the ritual set apart by the Roman Catholic Church for the repose of the soul of the departed, in tones that drew tears from the most stolid. At two o'clock the funeral cortege formed in the church grounds. Eight clergymen preceded the hearse, then followed the mourning coaches in which were four sisters of the deceased, his nephews and other relations. About 400 mourners followed on foot; sixty vehicles in which were most of our leading townsmen then brought up the rear; the procession moved down Moorabool-street, round the Market-square and proceeded thence up Yarra and Ryrie-streets, past the Hospital. The coup d'œil from this point was very imposing; and not the least interesting feature was the number of poor women and children, who though not forming any portion of the cortege, trotted along by the side of the hearse. On arriving at the Cemetery, East Geelong, the procession formed six deep, and the body was carried by Little River parishioners to the Mortuary Chapel, erected in memory of the late Rev Mr O'Brien, of Geelong. The clergy and the choir chanted a portion of the burial service as the solemn cortege moved on. The grave was dug in close contiguity to the spot where the remains of Father O'Brien rest. The coffin, after the customary prayers, was lowered to the sod-bed, where the cold clay of Father Rankin now reposes.

"The throng that mourned as their dead favorite passed—
The graced respect that claimed him to the last,"
Gradually melted away, and left him with soft sighs." The late rev. gentleman was born at Fort William, Invernessshire, Scotland, in 1796. His father, Donald Rankin, was the descendant of one of the martyrs of Glencoe, and his mother, Elizabeth McDonald, one of the sisters of the beloved "Fair Flora." He belonged to the major branch of the McDonalds, the Keppoch family. He was left an orphan at an early age, and on him devolved the duty of watching over his bereaved brothers and sisters. In compliance with the earnest desire of his dying mother be became a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and his four sisters soon after followed his footsteps. In 1816 he entered the Highland College of Lismore, and in 1820 he proceeded to the Scotch College at Valladolid, to complete his theological course. The sudden change from the cold and bracing airs of his Highland home to the hot and enervating climate of a Spanish summer affected his health, and after two years he returned to Scotland with a shattered constitution. The invigorating breezes of his mountain home reasserted their power, so much so that in November, 1824, he was sufficiently recovered to take the mission oath and receive minor orders, and in four years afterwards he received the order of priesthood from the hands of his kinsman the Right Rev. Ranald McDonald, Vicar Apostolic in the Highlands of Scotland. His first mission was Badenoch, where he ministered for a period of nine years to the spiritual wants of a sparsely inhabited mountain district. Thence he was translated to Moidart, a parish of about fifty miles in diameter, where he remained twenty years. While he was attached to this mission he translated several devotional works from the French into Gaelic. He also made a rendering of the First, Third and Fourth Books of Virgil into the same language. In the terrible famine of 1847 his flock was almost decimated; he raised his voice on their behalf, and so powerful were his appeals, and so earnest his language, that even the calculating politician melted, and the emigration office of Park-street opened its doors to the famishing shepherds of the Western Highlands; they left, but did not forget their devoted pastor. Soon after the second arrival of Mrs Chisholm in Victoria, in 1852, the Highlanders held a meeting in Melbourne, and drew up a petition to Bishop Murdoch, of Glasgow, to permit Mr Rankin to come to this colony; the prayer was refused, and it was not till Cardinal Antonelli had been memorialised that Mr Rankin received his exeat. He arrived on the 27th October, 1855, and has continued to minister principally among the sons of the Gael who
"Shall long keep his memory green in their souls."

During the last eighteen months his health has been gradually declining; on the 10th inst. he was taken with a violent attack of dysentry, and on Saturday afternoon he expired in the arms of his eldest sister, after having received all the rites of his church. During the whole of Sunday the inhabitants of the place, of every denomination, thronged to take a last view of the
"Tender traits that streak
The langour of the pallied cheek."
And about one o'clock the body was removed from his old home amidst the "coronach " of his grief stricken sisters.—[Communicated.]

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Death of the Rev. Ronald Rankin, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 28 Feb 1863, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115426716:

(Abridged from the Victorian, Feb. 21)
On Saturday, the 14th inst., this much beloved and honoured servant of God expired, after a brief attack of dysentery, at his residence, Little River. During the last two years his health gradually gave way, and he was frequently compelled to absent himself from his sacred functions. On Sunday, the 8th inst., he celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the last time, in the chapel which he was instrumental in erecting at Little River. Twice during the Holy Sacrifice he had to pause, and it was not till after a painful struggle that he was able to finish it. He was too unwell to read, as was his custom, the sermon from Bourdaloue, selected for the day. On Monday he was much worse, but still refused to keep his room. On the two following days made a rapid progress, and on Friday his medical attendant was summoned from Geelong. The Rev. Father Hoyne soon after followed. Though hopes were after entertained that by judicious treatment he might recover. On Saturday morning, however, a great change for the wors took place, and the Very Rev. Dean Hayes, who had hastened to his bedside, administered to him all the rites of our holy church. He rallied so much after this that Dr. Walsh became more sanguine of his recovery, but in two hour later it became painfully evident to all, that nature's last effort had failed— and that death's icy fingers were gradually creeping over him. With confidence in the mercy of his Creator he prepared to leave this world, and after having taken a final leave of his sorrowing friends, and grief-stricken sister, he, with a smile on his placid countenance, and an invocation on his lips, at half-past five in the afternoon his soul glided away from this world into the awful presence of its Maker. The melancholy intelligence was rapidly wafted through the district in which he so strenuously laboured, and crowd after crowd, of all denominations, thronged during the night, that they might
"Bend themselves o'er the dead,
E'er the first day of nothingness had fled."

The body robed in the sacerdotal vestments of the deceased, lay exposed during the whole Sunday, and early on Monday morning it was placed in the coffin, and, amidst the silent and trembling grief of his four sisters and other relatives, it set out on its last journey to Geelong, followed by the majority of his sorrowing parishioners. It arrived at St. Mary's, Yarra-street, Geelong, at 7 o'clock in the morning, and was met at the porch by the Rev. Father Hoyne, who read the prayers prescribed, and conducted the body into the church, where it was placed on tressels opposite the side entrance. The coffin was covered with a rich black velvet pall, and on it was placed a stole and baretta, emblems of his sacerdotal character. Surrounding the coffin were six lighted tapers. Masses for the repose of his soul were celebrated every hour during the morning, and were served by two acolytes, who, for the last three years, were accustomed to serve mass for the deceased, at Little River. At 11 o'clock, the solemn office for the dead was celebrated by the Very Rev. Dean Hayes, assisted by Fathers Hoyne and O'Dwyer. The Rev. Father Downie, acting as master of the ceremonies. At the conclusion of High Mass, which was beautifully and feelingly rendered by the choir, led by Mr. J. B. Downing, who also presided at the organ, a procession was formed by the Very Rev. Celebrant, and chaunting the Libera, the whole of the clergymen present proceeded to the bottom of the church, where, ranging themselves round the remains of their dear departed friend sung the responsory after the solemn High Mass. After a beautiful prayer offered up by the Dean, in tones that would have melted the hearts of the most stolid, the procession returned to the altar, and the service for the dead was completed.

At two o'clock the funeral cortege formed, and attended by a large number of the clergy and about 500 mourners, the corpse was carried to the mortuary chapel in the cemetery where the burial service was read by the Very Rev. Dean Hayes.