USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > An Historical sketch of the origin and progress of the Society of the Sons of St. George : also the charter, by-laws, and permanent resolutions, together with an alphabetical list of the members and associates, list of officers, etc., for one century, from April 23, 1772 to April 23, 1872, to April 23, 1897 > Part 11
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A religious service was held at St. George's Hall on Sunday evening, April 18th, 1880, commemorative of the 108th anniver- sary of the Society, when Rev. E. W. Appleton, D.D., preached the sermon. The music was by ladies and gentlemen of the choir of the Church of the Epiphany.
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GEORGE DIXON
Steward, 1885 to 1888 and 1881 to 1883 Secretary, 1888 and 1889 Vice-President, 1890 and 189t President, 1892
Y
At a special meeting of the Society held on April 20th, 1880, the thanks of the Society were unanimously tendered to Dr. Ap- pleton for his excellent sermon; also to the clergy who so kindly assisted in the service, as also the choir.
The Entertainment Committee made a report of the three en- tertainments held in the Hall, showing a balance of $42.05, which was paid over to the Society.
At the stated meeting, held at 4 o'clock on April 23d, 1880, the Secretary reported another donation from Sir Edward Thorn- ton of $50. At this meeting Mr. James Gartside presented to the Society a copy of the first By-Laws printed in 1772, for which a vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Gartside for the same.
The 108th anniversary banquet was held at 6.30, when the members and invited guests partook of a very excellent bill-of- fare. Before the toasts the Secretary was requested to read the following letters:
British Legation, Washington.
My Dear Sir: I regret to say that I find it impossible to be away from Washington on the 23d inst., and so must beg you to excuse me to the Society of the Sons of St. George, whom I am sorry that I am deprived of the pleasure of meeting.
I am glad that it has been able to do so much good to our countrymen who arrive in this country, and who perhaps are more in want of assistance and are more worthy of it than at any other time. I enclose my usual little contribution to help in so useful a charity.
Believe me, very truly yours, EDWARD THORNTON.
WILLIAM UNDERDOWN, Esq., Secretary, No. 1034 Spruce Street, Philadelphia.
April 9th, 1880.
My Dear Sir: I am greatly indebted to you for your kindness in conveying to me the invitation from the Society of the Sons of St. George to attend their banquet on the 23d inst., and on that occasion to respond to the toast of the " United States."
Pray convey to the Society, on my behalf, an expression of my
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regret that I am unable to avail myself of their very flattering invitation.
With sentiments of high respect, I am, very truly yours, JOHN WELSH.
WILLIAM UNDERDOWN, Esq., Secretary,
No. 1034 Spruce Street, Philadelphia.
My Dear Sir: With a grateful sense of the kind consideration implied in your invitation from the Society of the Sons of St. George for the 23d, I write to express my regret that I cannot have the pleasure of accepting it. I am under a promise to de- liver a lecture on that evening in West Philadelphia. Had it been otherwise, I should have been glad to be the guest of a Society which connects England and America by a philanthropic bond.
Very faithfully and much obliged, J. S. HAWSON.
WILLIAM UNDERDOWN, Secretary.
The Secretary then read his annual report, showing what had been done during the past year.
The toasts were then given, and ably responded to by the fol- lowing gentlemen.
" The Day We Celebrate." Response by the President, William Waterall, Esq.
" The Queen." Music, " God Save the Queen."
" The President of the United States." Music, " Hail, Col- umbia."
" Her Majesty's Representative in the United States." Re- sponse by George Crump, Esq.
" England: Land of the beautiful, home of the free; thy chil- dren may wander far from thee, but never forget thee." Re- sponse by John Lucas, Esq.
" The United States: We rejoice to see our adopted country restored to prosperity, and bid her God-speed in the path of progress." Response by Francis Well, Esq.
" Pennsylvania: Nature hath laid her foundation of coal and
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iron broad and deep, on which to build a great Commonwealth." Response by John L. Lawson, Esq.
" Philadelphia: The foremost manufacturing city of the Union, and yet famed for its cheap and pleasant homes." Response by His Honor Mayor Stokley.
" The Armies and Navies of Great Britain and the United States. The voice of history speaks for them; united they could command the world." Response by General R. Patterson.
" The Pulpit, the Bench, the Bar, and the Press." Responses by Hon. W. S. Peiice, M. J. Mitcheson, Esq., and Joel Cook, Esq.
" Our Sister Societies." Response by Daniel Hendrie, Esq. " Our Departed Brethren." Drank in silence.
' " Woman: Man finds his highest conception of the angel in thee." Response by Samuel Lees, Esq.
The gallery was filled with ladies and gentlemen friends of the members, to whom light refreshments were served. All left the beautiful hall at a late hour, having enjoyed a very pleasant even- ing.
At the meeting held July 23d, 1880, Mr. Arthur Chambers donated $50 to the Society, with a letter of explanation, which was accepted with thanks.
October 23d, 1880, the Treasurer, Mr. Samuel Lees, re- ported having received the legacy of $500 from the estate of Mr. Holden, being payable after the death of Mrs. Holden.
The delegates to the North American St. George's Union re- ported having been very kindly received by the Society at Ottawa, and also by Brothers D. Batchelor and Isaac Wiffen, at Utica, on their way home.
November 6th, 1880. A special meeting of the Society of the Sons of St. George and the Albion Society was held at St. George's Hall to take suitable action on the death of our fellow- member and second President emeritus of the Society, Lewis Thompson.
On motion of Mr. John Lucas, a committee of six were ap- pointed to prepare suitable resolutions, and report at this meet- ing. The chair appointed Messrs. John Lucas, William Massey, John Baird, Samuel Lees, William Elliott, and William King, the committee, who retired to discharge the duties assigned them. After the committee had retired, addresses were made, expressive
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of the high appreciation of Mr. Thompson as a man, a citizen, and a friend, and the great loss these societies and city had sus- tained, by W. T. Wilkins, Dr. Suddards, W. H. Lucas, William Waterall, John L. Lawson, and William Underdown.
The committee on their return reported the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, The Society of the Sons of St. George and the Al- bion Society of Philadelphia, having learned with deep sorrow of the death of their fellow-member, Lewis Thompson, Esq., late the President of the Sons of St. George;
Resolved, That in his death these Societies have lost one of their most active, zealous, and liberal members, one who, though a resident in this city for forty-seven years, never ceased to love the land of his birth, and was ever ready with a willing hand to assist and relieve his distressed fellow-countrymen. He was faithful in the discharge of every duty in the various offices he had during his long membership of about 34 years. The mer- cantile and manufacturing classes of Philadelphia have lost in him an enterprising, honorable, and faithful citizen. His court- eous manners and manly deportment made him honored and be- loved by all, his very presence at our meetings being a source of pleasure.
Resolved, That while we submit reverently to the will of God, as he did in death, in the weakness of nature, we mourn his loss, as we think of the manly form and noble presence that we shall see no more on earth, and as we miss his genial qualities of mind and heart that are gone from us, to be unfolded in a higher sphere of life.
Resolved, That a committee of six be appointed by the chair to present a copy of these resolutions to the afflicted and bereaved family, with the assurance of our condolence in their loss; and that the rooms of this Society be draped in mourning for ninety days as a token of respect to his memory.
Mr. John Baird moved that these resolutions be engrossed before being presented to the family. Unanimously adopted.
Further remarks were made by Messrs. John Lucas, William Massey, John Baird, Samuel Lees, William Elliott, William King, and Edward Matthews, all expressing their great sorrow in the loss we have sustained by the death of Mr. Thompson.
His funeral was attended by his many friends, who could not
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refrain from paying a last tribute of affectionate esteem for one they loved so well. After the service was held at the house the numerous friends took a last look at the remains. The body was borne by ten of the employees of the firm of Lewis Thomp- son & Co., who had been in the service of the Company for twenty-five years and upwards. This was a sad and touching sight to see these men carrying the remains of him they had served so many years, and who had always been to them a friend as well as employer. The pall-bearers were selected from his most intimate friends, eight in number, and consisted of Messrs. John Baird, William Massey, Joseph Allen, John Lucas, William H. Lucas, Benjamin Homer, Jr., William Waterall, and William Underdown.
At the quarterly meeting, held January 24th, 1881, Captain Robert C. Clipperton, British Consul Resident in Philadelphia, was unanimously elected an honorary member by acclamation.
Mr. John Lucas, chairman of the committee, appointed to have the resolutions on the death of the late Lewis Thompson, second emeritus President of the Society, engrossed and pre- sented to the family, reported that they had performed that duty. The resolutions were neatly bound in black morocco, lined with purple silk, with gilt letters, which was considered by the com- mittee the most acceptable form to hand down to their children and children's children. All expenses connected therewith had been paid by the committee. The resolutions were signed by the committee, and the President and Secretary.
A religious service, commemorative of the 109th anniversary of the Society, at which time the Rev. Matson Meir-Smith preached the sermon, taking as his text, Colossians 3: 12-17, " Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bonds of mercies, and whatever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." The sermon was an able exhortation urging the Society to go on in their work of benevolence.
The 109th annual banquet was held in the Hall on Saturday, January 23d, 1881. Captain Clipperton presented a large Union Jack, which was displayed on the flagstaff over the Hall, together with the Stars and Stripes.
After full justice had been done to an excellent bill-of-fare, Mr. William Underdown, Secretary, was called upon to read the annual report, from which we make a very brief extract:
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The Stewards have relieved 1,344 cases, representing about 3,000 persons; 1,178 have been provided with meals and lodg- ing; total amount received during the year, $3,416.67; expended, $3.565.78; 10 members elected, II deaths, 3 resigned; a legacy of $500 had been received; a donation of $500 in stocks from W. Massey Robinson, and $100 in stocks from W. W. Lucas, and $25 from one whose father was assisted by the Society. Sir Ed- ward Thornton, in his letter of regret, enclosed another check for $50.
The usual toasts were then given, and were all ably responded to by W. Waterall, Captain Clipperton, George Crump, General Robert Patterson, Hon. Judge Finletter, Joel Cook, and John Lucas.
A meeting of the officers was held on Monday, June 13th, 1881. The subject of tendering a banquet to Sir Edward Thorn- ton was discussed, and unanimously agreed to, all present sub- scribing a sufficient amount to bear the expenses thereof. The following is the correspondence with Sir Edward Thornton:
Philadelphia, June 13th, 1881.
Dear Sir: The officers and members of the Society of the Sons of St. George, having heard with deep regret that you are soon to leave Washington for another post of honor in Her Majesty's service, and wishing to express our appreciation of your generous liberality and valued services to our Society, we desire to tender you a reception and banquet at St. George's Hall before your departure, at any time that you may be pleased to name. While we are glad to know that Her Majesty has been pleased to ap- point you to a higher post of honor and responsibility, in recog- nition of your eminent services, we do feel that this country will lose a friend, one who has done much to bring closer together. the country of our birth and the country of our adoption.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servants, WILLIAM WATERALL, President. WILLIAM UNDERDOWN, Secretary.
SIR EDWARD THORNTON, K.C.B., H. B. M. Minister, etc., Washington, D. C.
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British Legation, Washington, June 15th, 1881.
Dear Sir: I feel highly honored by the kind proposal of the Officers and members of the Society of the Sons of St. George to tender me a reception at St. George's Hall, on the occasion of my leaving the United States. I am extremely flattered if my conduct has merited the approval of my countrymen and Ameri- cans generally, and I can assure them with all sincerity that my great object has been that we may be always friends, and that two such nations with such free institutions as we possess may be at the head of the civilization and progress of the world.
You will easily conceive, that after thirteen years' residence in this country, I have a great deal to do, and my time is now short. I am afraid therefore that I must ask you to forgive me if I beg you to excuse me from accepting your kind invitation, which, however, I do with much regret, for I should have been glad to have told you in person how much I appreciate the kindness which the Society has never failed to show me.
Believe me, very truly yours,
EDWARD THORNTON.
WILLIAM WATERALL, Esq., etc.
At the meeting held July 23d, 1881, on motion of Mr. S. C. Collis, a committee was appointed to draft resolutions in refer- ence to the late attempted assassination of President Garfield, which was unanimously agreed to, and the resolutions were for- warded to Secretary Blaine.
At the meeting held October 24th, 1881, Mr. Samuel Lees re- ported that the $50 appropriated at the last meeting toward en- abling Mr. John G. Kershaw to get into the Old Men's Home had been paid, and Mr. Kershaw was expecting to go into the Home this day.
Rev. Dr. Suddards said that he had received a letter from Mr. Henry Hems, of Exeter, England, enclosing $10, having heard when in Philadelphia of the good done by this Society, and wished to be a contributor of $10 annually. On motion, Mr. Hems was declared an honorary member.
On the arrival of the successor of Sir Edward Thornton, K.C.B., Hon. Lionel S. Sackville-West, as British Minister at Washington, the British Societies tendered him a reception and banquet at St. George's Hall on November 4th, 1881. The
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event will long be remembered by all who participated in it. The following were the committees under whose management it was conducted:
Reception Committee .- John Baird, Charles Spencer, William Brice, Granville E. Fryer, Thomas M. Thompson.
Finance Committee .- Dr. Casper Wistar, John Lucas, William King, A. C. Ferguson, Evan Rudolph, William Underdown.
Hall Committee .- William Massey, William H. Lucas, Joseph Lees, W. T. Wilkins.
Banquet Committee .- Dr. J. W. Gadsden, Samuel Lees, John Thornton, George Dixon, John L. Lawson.
The Hall was beautifully decorated with flags, plants, and flowers, and after the elaborate bill-of-fare was disposed of, the following toasts were given:
I. "The Queen."
2. " The President of the United States."
3. " The Hon. Lionel S. Sackville-West, Her Britannic Ma- jesty's Minister-Envoy Extraordinary, and Minister Plenipoten- tiary to the United States."
4. "England."
5. " United States of America."
6. " The City of Philadelphia."
7. " The State of Pennsylvania."
8. " The Press."
The reception was a very warm one, and highly appreciated by Minister West and his Government.
As an interesting memento of the occasion, Mr. J. H. Gold- borne conceived the idea of executing a pen portrait of all the proceedings, which was done with admirable success. The or- iginal copy was presented to Mr. West in the following corres- pondence :
Philadelphia, December 31st, 1881.
THE HON. LIONEL S. SACKVILLE-WEST,
Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States, Washington, D. C .:
Dear Sir: Desiring you to possess in some tangible form a record of the hearty reception tendered you at Philadelphia on the 4th of November last, not only by members of the various British Societies, but by the representative men of our city, we take
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JOHN SARTAIN President, 1893 (Elected a member of the Society April 23, 1840)
pleasure in presenting you with the full report of the proceedings engrossed.
With every assurance of profound respect, we remain, dear sir, your obedient servants.
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This letter was signed by the committee of arrangements and also by many prominent men of the city who took part in the reception.
The following is the reply of Minister West:
British Legation, Washington, February 18th, 1882. To the Members of the British Societies and Representative Men of the City of Philadelphia :
Gentlemen: I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your courteous letter of the 3Ist of December last, presenting to me so pleasing a memento of the kind and hearty reception accorded to me upon my arrival at Philadelphia as Her Majesty's repre- sentative in the United States. The honor then conferred upon me by the various British Societies and the representative men of your great city was an unmistakable manifestation of the cor- dial feeling which animates the United States towards their Eng- lish-speaking sister, and it has now been accorded by you, gen- tlemen, in a manner which, considering historical associations, is peculiarly gratifying to me as a private individual.
In conveying to you, therefore, my sincere thanks for your esteemed presentation, I have the honor to remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
L. S. SACKVILLE-WEST.
At the meeting, January 24th, 1882, the Secretary reported having received the following donations and legacies:
Mr. L. S. Mason
$15.00
Mr. Theodore Cade
75.00
St. George's Hall, scrip from 23 members. 1,120.00
Legacy, Lewis Thompson, scrip
Ten shares stock 25.00
500.00
Legacy, B. Gartside 250.00
Cash from W. H. Lucas, to adjust even share 2.50
Scrip purchased from B. Gartside 37.50
John T. Smith, 20 shares stock. 1,000.00
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At this meeting the Hon. Lionel S. Sackville-West, Her Ma- jesty's minister at Washington, was unanimously declared an honorary member.
The following officers were then elected:
President, John Lucas; Vice-President, William H. Lucas; Treasurer, Samuel Lees; Secretary, Henri C. King.
Trustees, William Massey, William King, Joseph Lees.
Stewards, Charles Day, John Thornton, William T. Wilkins, Edward Darby, W. Hemingway, George W. Elkins, George Dixon, Thomas P. Rhoads.
Counsellors, M. J. Mitcheson, W. McGeorge, Jr.
Physicians, Dr. W. C. Hornon, A. Hewson, and W. W. Lamb.
Chaplains, Rev. W. Suddards, D.D., Rev. E. W. Appleton, D.D.
Messenger, Joseph Lancaster.
At the same meeting at its close, Mr. William McGeorge moved the following resolutions, which were duly seconded and unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the Society recognize and appreciate the faith- ful, intelligent, and painstaking manner in which our retiring Secretary, Mr. William Underdown, has performed all the du- ties pertaining to his office during his long term of service; and
Resolved, That the Society tender to him for his valuable labors in their behalf their most sincere and grateful thanks; and further
Resolved, That these resolutions be entered in full upon the minutes of the Society.
(Signed) HENRI C. KING, Secretary-elect.
A special meeting was held on February 16th, 1882, for the consideration of the subject of holding social gatherings, which was fully discussed by many members present, after which, on motion of Mr. William Underdown, it was unanimously resolved that social gatherings be held on the first Monday of March, April, and May, at 8 p.m. The President appointed a committee of eight to take charge of these meetings.
At the first gathering, held March 6th, 1882, it was moved by Mr. William Underdown, that in view of the late at- tempt at the assassination of the Queen, that this meeting do convene itself into a special one, to pass suitable resolutions, congratulating Her Majesty upon her escape. The motion was duly carried, and, upon the President of the Society, Mr. John
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Lucas, assuming the chair, he appointed as a Committee on Resolutions, Messrs. William Massey, Edward Darby, John L. Lawson, William Underdown, and Dr. J. W. Gadsden, who, af- ter deliberation, reported the following copy of cablegram to the Queen :
To Her Majesty the Queen of England, Windsor:
The members of the Society of the Sons of St. George, Phila- delphia, at meeting this evening, tender to your Majesty their heartfelt congratulations for your Majesty's escape from the late cowardly attempt at assassination.
(Signed) JOHN LUCAS, President.
The following resolutions were adopted and sent to Hon. Lionel S. Sackville-West, H. B. M. Minister at Washington, D. C .:
WHEREAS, This Society having learned of the late wicked at- tempt on the life of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, near Windsor, England; therefore be it
Resolved, That the officers and members of this Society deeply deplore the attempt on the life of the illustrious Queen of our native land.
Resolved, That the officers and members desire to express to her Majesty their feeling of thankfulness that an overruling Providence preserved her from harm in this as in former at- tempts on her life; also
Resolved, That the officers and members of this Society assure her Majesty of their attachment to her and the land of our birth, and their gratitude for her long and illustrious reign.
" God Save the Queen " was then sung most heartily.
The IIoth anniversary of the Society was celebrated on April 24th, 1882, on which occasion Mr. William H. Lucas, on behalf of Mrs. Lewis Thompson, with some pertinent remarks, pre- sented to the Society a handsomely framed oil portrait of her late husband and our late President emeritus, Lewis Thompson, Esq., and also her check for $1,000 for the Charity fund of the Society, and was accepted by the President, John Lucas, Esq., on behalf of the Society, and a committee, consisting of William Waterall, William H. Lucas, and Henri C. King, were appointed
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to draft suitable resolutions of thanks to Mrs. Thompson for her generous gift. There were other gifts reported at this meeting, which will be found in the list of donations at the close of this sketch.
At the meeting held October 23d, 1882, the Secretary reported having received the legacy from the estate of Mrs. Maria Smith of $1,917.33, which had been paid to the Treasurer.
At this meeting the Committee on Resolutions of Thanks to Mrs. Anna M. Thompson, beloved wife of the late Lewis Thomp- son, reported having fulfilled their duty, and a copy of the resolu- tions, etc., were ordered spread on the minutes,
Also at this meeting the subject of the reading-room and library was taken up and considered, and the Secretary was in- structed to forward letters of thanks to all contributors of books, etc., to said library.
January 23d, 1883. Many more books were reported donated to the library, and thanks tendered for the same.
The death of Isaac Muff, formerly a messenger of this Society, was very feelingly noticed at this meeting.
April 23d, 1883. The death of our esteemed Chaplain, Rev. W. Suddards, was reported, and a suitable notice thereof made on the minutes of the meeting.
The Library Committee reported that 251 volumes were now in the library, and a cash balance of $162.79. Rules governing the library now in course of preparation. A complete list of books can be found in the register of contributions.
At this meeting Mr. M. J. Mitcheson, on behalf of a friend of Mr. William Massey, Joseph Lees, presented 80 shares of St. George's Hall stock, and stated that 20 shares more would be hereafter donated. Suitable votes of thanks were tendered to Mr. Joseph Lees and his unknown friend. (The 100 shares,. we are now permitted to say, was the gift of our dear departed friend, Mr. William Massey.)
Also at this meeting a letter was read from John C. Allen and Israel H. Johnson, informing the Society of the death of Richard M. Wistar, who had bequeathed to the Society $20,000, which will be found in full on the minutes of this date.
A special meeting was held June 4th, 1883, for the considera- tion of the trouble that is liable to occur by the similarity of the names of the order of the Sons of St. George and our Society in
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the event of a legacy, etc., and resolutions passed relative there- to, to be found in full on the minutes, page 57, of July 23d, 1883.
A special meeting was held on September 24th, 1883, to take action on the death of our esteemed friend and fellow-member, Mr. Charles Day, at Hastings, England, on the 19th inst., which will be found in full on the minutes, and a copy of the resolutions presented to the family on their return from England.
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