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AFTERNOON,
Business meeting of enrolled
members of the Society at the Monongahela House.
The House was called to
order, at 3 o'clock P. M., by President Bonner.
The President called for
the report of the Executive Committee, which was read by Rev. Dr. Mcintosh,
of Philadelphia. The report was as follows:
THE SCOTCH-IRISH SOCIETY OF
AMERICA - SECOND CONGRESS.
Pittsburg, May 29, 1890.
Report of the Executive Committee for the year ending Hay, 1890.
At Columbia, Tenn., this
Society was duly inaugurated and organized by a series of singularly
successful meetings, at which there was adopted a Constitution. Under the
same Constitution there was established an Executive Council, consisting
of a President, two Vice-Presidents at large, a Vice President for each
state and territory, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Historian and
Registrar.
By this Executive Council
there was called together a special meeting for consultation and
arrangement in New York City, July 11, 1889. This meeting was largely
attended, and spent considerable time in advising together concerning the
interests of the Society. Among its more formal decisions was a resolution
constituting an Executive Committee. It was felt by the Council that it
was impossible to gather together its members as frequently as the
necessities of the Society demanded; it was further felt that such
frequent and intimate consultations as became necessary were' only
possible on the part of a body smaller than the Council, and hence a
Committee consisting of nine members was appointed, to whom were delegated
all matters in connection with the general arrangement—the propagation of
the organization, publication, and finances—special arrangements being
made for the two latter departments under the supervision of the Executive
Committee. At this meeting of the Council it was resolved that in the mean
time the salary of the Secretary of the National Society shall be one
thousand dollars a year, with necessary traveling expenses. The advising
and selecting of a badge and seal for the National Society were also
considered and referred by the Council to the Executive Committee.
The annual dues payable by
the members of the Society were fixed by this meeting of the Council at
two dollars a year, payment of this sum to constitute full membership in
the Society, and to entitle each member to the receipt of one copy of the
annual publication. Many other matters were considered and discussed by
the Council, the final disposition of which were referred to the Executive
Committee.
Upon the separation of the
Council, the Executive Committee met immediately and considered the items
of business referred to it, and arranged to meet the following morning.
July 12, 1889, the
Executive Committee met, considered, and decided upon a form of
application for membership; appointed a Committee on publication ;
selected a sub-committee to advise with the Application Committee ;
determined upon the name of the annual publication, which is, "the
Scotch-Irish in America." This publication, "The Scotch-Irish in America,"
consisting of the addresses delivered at the Congresses, the historic
documents forwarded to us and considered worthy of incorporation, and all
matters relating to the history and achievements of our race, will form a
series of annual volumes not inferior in interest to any of those
attractive and instructive memorials issued by kindred societies in this
country. The preparation of such a series is, of course, only a means to
an end ever clearly kept in view by the Society in general and its
Committee in particular, viz., the formal historic and philosophical
description of the characteristics and actions of the Scotch-Irish race
upon this continent. The lack of such a complete and exhaustive statement
has been long felt, and its supply is now urgently called for.
Your Executive Committee
determined to commit the publication of the annual volume to Messrs.
Robert Clarke & Co., of Cincinnati; the Publishers to be in communication
with and under the supervision of the Publication Committee of the
Society, consisting of Messrs. A. C. Floyd, Lucius Frierson, and Robert
Pillow, M. D.
An earnest invitation was
presented to the Executive Committee by the citizens of Pittsburg, Pa., to
hold the next annual Congress in their city, as one of the chief centers
on the Scotch-Irish race in America. Though several pressing invitations
from other important cities were presented to your Committee, it was felt
wise to accept the invitation from Pittsburg; and it was resolved that
upon the formal request of Pittsburg being forwarded to the Secretary, he
should be authorized to formally accept it on the part of the Society.
Having committed to the
special care of the Secretary and Dr. Mcintosh a considerable number of
details in regard to circulars, plans of book, further organization, and
the general interests of the Societv, the Committee adjourned to meet at
the call of the Chairman.
The Secretary and Dr.
Mcintosh met at Spring Lake, New Jer-sev, and continued in conference for
several days, during which the form and subject-matter of the general
circular to be issued, setting forth the aims and designs of the Society,
were resolved upon. Much time was spent and considerable care given to the
determination of the form and contents of the first volume of the
Society's publication. Arrangements were made for entering into
correspondence with representative members of the Scotch-Irish race over
the United States, first, with a view of enlisting themselves as members
of the Society; secondly, of securing their assistance and advice in the
prosecution of our general work; and, thirdly, with a view of forming
special local or state organizations, to be, in due time and under proper
conditions, allied with the National Society.
Arrangements for Present
Congress.
our Committee, being
informed that a Local Committee had been selected at Pittsburg, and
desired to meet with the Executive Committee of the National Society, it
was resolved, in order to meet the wishes of the friends at Pittsburg,
that the Secretary and Dr. Mcintosh be delegated to go to Pittsburg as
representatives of the National Society, and confer with the Local
Committee. A special invitation having been issued to Dr. Mcintosh and the
Secretary by the Local Committee, to meet them at Pittsburg, January 29,
1890, the representatives of the National Society met in Pittsburg on that
date, and spent several days in discussing all matters connected with the
public meetings, the selection of speakers, place of meeting, and
continuance of Congress. At this joint conference it was agreed and
resolved that the Local Committee should appoint a General Manager or
Secretary, to whom should be committed for decision all matters of detail;
that the general Secretary should have associated with him two members of
his Committee for advice upon all ordinary matters, and that subjects of
special importance and difficulty should be referred to the entire Local
Committee. It further arranged that there should be ten speakers of
national reputation to deliver the formal addresses before the Congress;
that of these ten speakers, three should be chosen by the Local Committee
and seven by the National Committee. It was decided that the Local
Committee should provide for the transportation and entertainment of the
special speakers; also of the National Committee, and, in addition, for
twenty-five particular guests to be chosen by the Executive Committee of
the National Society. Arrangements were also made that the Local Committee
should enter immediately into correspondence with the railroad systems to
secure special rates for all persons attending the Congress. It was
further arranged that circulars containing a general invitation and a
statement regarding the forthcoming Congress be sent by the local
Secretary to at least two thousand newspapers over the country, and that
special invitations be addressed to representative members of the
Scotch-Irish race; that the place of meeting shall be large, easily
reached, possess good acoustic qualities, and be well seated. It was
announced by the Local Committee to the representatives of the National
Society, that special services, upon Sunday, June 1st, were contemplated,
as being particularly interesting to the members of the Scotch-Irish race
in Pittsburg and the immediate neighborhood. The whole arrangements in
connection with these special Sunday services were left in the hands af
the Local Committee, as it was felt that this was a matter with which the
National Society should not interfere. Many other matters of detail, such
as special reports, meeting of the Congress, selection of music, local
excursions, badges and medals were left for future consideration, and a
further meeting was arranged for to be held in the month of February or
March.
March 13th, Pittsburg. Dr.
Mcintosh and the Secretary being invited by the Local Committee to meet
them once more, proceeded to Pittsburg, and held several interviews with
the Local Committee, examining the work already done in connection with
the Congress in May, and conferring in regard to all matters not disposed
of at the former meeting. The reports were handed in on the part of the
Local Committee and the National Committee as to special speakers and
their topics. The number of badges and medals to be prepared for the May
meeting being decided upon, their form and the preparation was committed
to Messrs. Caldwell & Co., Chestnut street, Philadelphia.
This concludes the report
of your Committee as to its conference with the Local Committee in
Pittsburg. Your Executive Committee has had considerable correspondence
Within its own membership as to proposed changes in the Constitution,
number and functions of officers, time of meeting of the Congress, and the
terms and conditions upon which state organizations are to be allied with
the National Society. Dr. Mcintosh was authorized to devise and submit a
coat-of-arms for the Society, and when this was so prepared, to submit it
for approval to the Executive Committee. This work was performed and the
proposed arms was submitted to each member of the Executive Committee, and
having been by each member approved, Dr. Mcintosh was authorized to make a
contract with Messrs. Caldwell & Co., to prepare, first, a seal to be used
by the National Society; and secondly, a national badge or button to be
the formal emblem of the Scotch-Irish Society of America. This seal and
this badge or emblem have been prepared and formally adopted.
Formation of State
Societies.
Early in last October,
Colonel McClure, Vice-President for Pennsylvania, and Dr. Mcintosh
conferred together frequently in regard to the formation of a state
Society for Pennsylvania. After several meetings, first private and then
public, arrangements were made for the organization of the Scotch-Irish
Society of Pennsylvania. In a short time quite a number of representative
and public men in Philadelphia and throughout the state allied themselves
with this organization. The Society has steadily grown, and in last
February held, under the most auspicious circumstances, its first annual
banquet,, when a constitution and by-laws for the government and extension
of the Society were adopted. This state Society is rapidly progressing
through the effective and vigorous efforts of Mr. C. W. Mc-Keehan, its
Secretary.
Early in the year a meeting
was held by Dr. Mcintosh in Cincinnati with leading citizens, and measures
there taken for the formation of a state Society for Ohio.
The Organization in the
South.
Several requests having
been preferred to the Secretary of the National Society that means should
be taken to organize Societies in the southern states, arrangements were
made, in accordance with which Dr. Mcintosh visited Virginia, North
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Public
meetings were held in Richmond, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham, and
Nashville. Private conferences were held in New Orleans, Louisville, and
other places. Great enthusiasm and wide spread interest were called forth
by these meetings, and very vigorous associations have been formed.
Your Executive Committee
rejoices to inform the Society that in addition to the associations just
reported an exceedingly promising and flourishing state Society has been
formed for California under the Presidency of Mr. Alexander Montgomery, of
San Francisco, with Mr. R. J. Alexander as Secretary.
May, 1889, there was no
organization of the Scotch-Irish of America. May, 1890, we have a
successful National Society, and state organizations stretching from Ohio
and Pennsylvania around the Atlantic and the gulf, and reaching the shores
of the Pacific. If in one year and by the. efforts of a few earnest
spirits, thus much has been done, what, with our wide spread organization
and its numerous affiliations, can be done in another twelve months by
more concentrated effort and more wide spread activity. The work of the
past year has been simply limited by the want of means and time to push
the organization.
In relation to these state
organizations, your Committee felt constrained to leave open for decision
at this meeting of the Congress the terms and conditions upon which state
Societies should be affiliated with and have representation in the
National Society and its Congress and various meetings. The regulation of
this association will be submitted in due time on the part of the
Executive Council.
Finances.
Your Committee would ask
the special attention of the Congress to the Treasurer's statement
herewith annexed. Having heard this statement of account, the Congress
will perceive that it was impossible for the Executive Committee, during
the past year, to prosecute very extensively the work of organization. It
was not possible to pay salary in full, much less was it possible to so
circulate literature and publications, to visit districts asking that
representative members explain the objects of the Society, to operate
through the public press as extensively as was desirable, or to purchase
historical volumes, or pay for historical articles as the interests of the
Society in its opening years imperatively called for.
Your Executive Committee
believe that measures should be adopted at this meeting of the Congress,
to provide for the next year a sum not less than $3,500.
Recommendations.
I. Your Executive Committee
recommend to the attention of the Society the preparation of a Charter;
and strongly urge that immediate steps shall be taken to obtain it. Our
unanimous opinion is that our Charter should be national, and that the
Board of Managers should be authorized to discover the necessary steps to
the securing of such Charter, and, when duly informed, be directed to
proceed in the proper manner to have the Charter issued.
II. We recommend that a
Certificate of Membership should be prepared in accordance with the
objects of the Society and the terms of the aforesaid Charter to be
obtained.
III. We believe that steps
should be at once taken to issue a quarterly or monthly bulletin, giving
the members of the Society information concerning its progress, and a
statement of fresh matter interesting to our members.
IV. We would respectfully
direct the attention of our members to the Society badge prepared by
Messrs. Caldwell & Co., and now on sale by them.
V. We recommend that
immediate steps should be taken to carry out the suggestions and
recommendations of the Committee in connection with the finances of the
Society.
ROBERT BONNER, Chairman,
JOHN S. McINTOSH,
GEO. McLOSKIE,
T. T. WRIGHT,
ROBT. PILLOW,
LUCIUS FRIERSON,
A. C. FLOYD,
Committee.
The foregoing part of the
report was adopted without change, and while that which follows was
amended in several particulars, important in effect, the bulk of the
matter in both the original and amended instruments was substantially the
same ; and, in order to prevent needless repetition, we have published it
as adopted, with an explanation given below of what changes were made.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS AS
AMENDED AND ADOPTED AT PITTSBURG.
Constitution.
Article I.
The name of this
Association shall be the Scotch-Irish Society of America.
Article II.
The purposes of this
Society are the preservation of Scotch-Irish history and associations, the
increase and diffusion of knowledge regarding the Scotch-Irish people, the
keeping alive of the characteristic qualities and sentiments of the race,
the promotion of intelligent patriotism, and the development of social
intercourse and fraternal feeling.
Article III.
Any person above the age of
twenty-one years, who is of Scotch-Irish descent, shall be eligible to
membership in this Society.
Article IV.
The officers of the Society
shall be a President, Vice-President General, a Secretary and a Treasurer,
with Vice-Presidents for each State, Territory and Province, and the
District of Columbia.
Article V.
The President,
Vice-President General, Vice-Presidents at large, Secretary and Treasurer,
shall be elected by ballot at the annual sessions of the Congress. The
Vice-Presidents for the States, Territories and Provinces, and the
aforesaid District, shall be chosen in such manner as each Congress shall
direct.
Article VI.
There shall be a National
Council of the Society, composed of the officers named in Article IV.
Article VII.
During the Congress at
which their terms of office begin, the National Council shall choose an
Executive Committee, to consist of the President, Vice-President General,
Secretary and Treasurer, and seven other members of the Society.
Article VIII
The annual Congress of the
Society shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the
Executive Committee.
Article IX.
This Constitution may be
altered, amended or repealed only by a majority vote of the members of the
Association present and voting at the annual Congress, or at a special
meeting called for that purpose after twenty days' notice in writing to
the members.
Article X.
The Executive Committe
shall have authority to establish by-laws, rules and regulations for the
government of the Society, subject to the revision of the annual Congress.
By-Laws.
Section I.
1. Any person eligible to
membership may send his application to the Secretary with suitable
reference and annual dues, and, upon a favorable report of the Membership
Committee, shall become a member of the Society.
2. The annual dues up to
January 1, 1891, shall be $2.00, but thereafter shall be $3.00, for which
each member shall be entitled to the annual volume and other publications
of the Society.
3. The payment at one time
of $100.00 shall constitute a life member, who shall be exempted from all
annual dues.
4. The financial year of
the Society shall end the 31st day of March of every year. Any member
whose subscription shall remain unpaid at that date, no satisfactory
explanation being given, may be dropped from the roll after thirty days'
notice. Such members shall be restored upon fresh application and the
payment of all sums due the Society.
5. The Executive Committee
may, by a two-thirds vote of their number, suspend for just cause, or
remove altogether any person from the roll of the Society.
Section II.
1. A majority of the
members who shall have reported their arrival to the proper officer at the
place of meeting, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the
business of the Congress.
Section III.
1. The President, or, in
his absence, one of the national Vice-Presidents, in the order named,
shall preside at all meetings; but should all these officers be absent, or
from any reason be unable to act, a Chairman shall be chosen for the
special occasion.
2. The Vice-President
General shall be especially charged with the duty of extending the
membership and influence of the Society, and organizing branch Societies
under the direction of the Executive Committee.
3. The Vice-Presidents at
large shall assist the Vice-President General in the discharge of his
duties, and co-operate with the Secretary and Treasurer to the utmost of
their ability in the fulfillment of their respective duties.
4. The Vice-Presidents for
States, Territories and Provinces shall act as the official heads and
representatives of the Society in their respective territories, and shall
use their official influence in furthering its interests therein.
5. The Secretary shall keep
an accurate roll of the members of the Society; preserve a record of all
its proceedings; conduct its general correspondence; collect its funds;
keep its seal and valuable papers; present at each Congress a necrological
report, and see that its orders are properly carried out. His salary shall
be fixed each year by the Executive Committee.
6. The Treasurer shall have
custody of the funds of the Society; they shall be deposited in some bank
to the credit of the Society, and shall be drawn thence only on the
Treasurer's check for purposes of the Society. Out of these funds he shall
pay such sums as may be ordered by the Congress or the Executive
Committee. He shall keep a true account of receipts and expenditures, and
render report of the same at each annual meeting of the Congress, when his
accounts shall be audited by a committee appointed for that purpose.
Section IV.
The Executive Committee
shall carefully carry out all the directions issued by the Congress; they
shall have full powers in the affairs of the Society, not disposed of at
the annual meeting; they shall appoint whatever committees deemed
necessary; they shall, in conjunction with the Vice-Presidents for the
States and Territories, and also with the Secretaries of branch
organizations, industriously seek out and carefully preserve all
historical materials interesting and valuable to our Society, and, so far
as ability and means will allow,, spread information concerning the past
achievements and present aims and condition of the Scotch-Irish race.
Section V.
1. Branch organizations
whose objects are in harmony with those of this Society, may become and
remain affiliated with the same by the annual payment of a sum equal to
one dollar for each member of such branch Society.
2. Installments of this sum
may be paid at any time to the Secretary of this Society by the proper
officers of branch organizations, and a copy of the annual proceedings
shall be immediately forwarded through him for every dollar so paid.
3. The balance of such sum
shall be paid as provided for in case of the installments, not later than
the first day in April of each year, the balance to be reckoned on the
number of members belonging to the branch Society on the first day of the
preceding March.
4. Every such branch
organization shall, in the annual Congress of this Society, be entitled to
one delegate for every five of its members.
On motion of Mr. Dickson,
of Scranton, the new Constitution was taken up section by section.
No change was made in
Article I.
On motion of Mr. W. O.
McDowell, of Newark, N. J.. the words "the increase and diffusion of
knowledge concerning the Scotch-Irish race," were inserted in Article II.
On motion of Colonel John
W. Echols, of Pittsburg, the word "male" was stricken out, and the words
"any person" were inserted in Article III.
Rev. Mr. Logan's motion to
amend Article III, by making eligible to membership any person whose
children might become members under the rule, was lost.
Article IV was amended by
the insertion of the words ''Province" and "District of Columbia."
Article V was adopted
without change.
Article VI was not amended.
Article VII was amended, on
motion of Mr. McDowell, by striking out the word "expires" and inserting
the word "begins."
Article IX was not amended.
Article X passed without
amendment.
The By-Laws were adopted
without amendment, except as to Sections II and IV.
In Section II the amount
necessary for life membership was changed from fifty to one hundred
dollars.
Section IV was, on motion
of Mr. Montgomery, of San Francisco, amended by adding the words "Such
members shall be restored on fresh application and the payment of all sums
due the Society."
The report was received on
motion of Colonel W. A. Herron, of Pittsburg.
It was adopted, amended as
above shown.
On motion of Dr. Robt.
Pillow, of Columbia, Term., the Congress then adjourned, to meet at
Mechanical Hall in the evening. |
