PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1900.

THE ANNUAL MEETING.

The Society held its annual meeting on Thursday evening, Jan. 18, at Sherry’s, Forty-fourth street and Fifth avenue, New York city. Hon. Thomas J. Gargan of Boston, the president-general, occupied the chair, and Thomas Hamilton Murray of Woonsocket, R. I., the secretary-general, attended to the duties of the latter office. The following is a copy of the notice for the meeting:

THE AMERICAN-IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND BANQUET.

Dear Sir: You are hereby notified that the annual meeting and banquet of the American-Irish Historical Society will be held at Sherry’s, Forty-fourth street and Fifth avenue, New York city, on Thursday evening, Jan. 18, 1900.

The annual meeting will be called to order at 6:30 o’clock. Officers will be elected for the ensuing year, the annual reports presented, and such other business transacted as may properly come before the meeting.

The official headquarters during the day will be at the Murray Hill Hotel, where a meeting of the executive council of the Society will be held at 4 p. m.

The banquet at Sherry’s will take place at 8 p. m., following the annual meeting. Tickets for the same will be three dollars each. They are now ready, and may be obtained of the secretary-general, whose address is given below.

Hon. Thomas H. Carter, United States senator from Montana, has announced that he will be present.

Addresses are also expected from Hon. Robert A. Van Wyck, 20mayor of New York; Hon. John D. Crimmins, New York city: Hon. William McAdoo, recently assistant secretary of the navy; Hon. Patrick A. Collins, Boston, Mass.; Hon. John C. Linehan, state insurance commissioner of New Hampshire; Gen. James R. O’Beirne, New York city; Hon. Franklin M. Danaher, Albany, N. Y.; Mr. Joseph Smith, Lowell, Mass.; Mr. James Jeffrey Roche, editor of the Boston Pilot; Thomas Addis Emmet, M. D., LL. D., New York city; Rev. James H. O’Donnell, Watertown, Conn.; and Judge Wauhope Lynn, New York city.

There will be present as guests, a delegation from the New York Knickerbocker Transvaal Committee. The event will likewise be characterized by other features of more than usual interest.

A large attendance is desired, each member being at liberty to bring with him as many personal guests as he wishes.

If you intend to be present, kindly notify the secretary-general at the earliest possible moment, so that proper arrangements can be made.

Fraternally,

Thomas J. Gargan,

President-General.

Thomas Hamilton Murray,

Secretary-General (77 Main St., Woonsocket, R. I.).

Dec. 31, 1899.

The business session was well attended, several states being represented.

Thomas Hamilton Murray, secretary-general of the Society, presented the following annual report:

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL.

The American-Irish Historical Society is on the threshold of its fourth year of existence. We are strong in numbers, representative in character and devoted to a patriotic work.

Our growth as an organization has been rapid, but not unstable; widespread, but healthy; vigorous, and of permanent value.

We have solid reason to be proud of what the Society has accomplished during the three years it has been in the field. We have been accorded a generous welcome from historical societies long in existence; our advent has been hailed with satisfaction; our motives praised; our publications eagerly sought.

To-night we meet in New York city for the third time, and for 21the third time we are indebted to our New York members for unbounded hospitality, kindliest service and tireless efforts to make our annual gathering a success.

During the year just closed, ninety-two new members have been admitted to the Society, and ten of our brothers have died. These deaths of the year removed from our ranks the following: Hon. Patrick Walsh, Augusta, Ga.; Col. Patrick T. Hanley, Boston, Mass.; Hon. John H. Sullivan, Boston, Mass.; Hon. Eli Thayer, Worcester, Mass.; Dr. William F. Cummings, Rutland, Vt.; Mr. Joseph J. Kelley, Cambridge, Mass.; Mr. William Slattery, Holyoke, Mass.; Rev. George W. Pepper, Cleveland, O.; Rev. Denis Scannell, Worcester, Mass.; and Mr. Edmund Phelan, Boston, Mass.

Since our last annual gathering in this city, meetings under the auspices of the Society have been held in Providence, R. I., Newport, R. I., and Boston, Mass. In each instance great interest was manifested in the mission of the organization, and new members were secured.

Among those in attendance at the Providence meeting was Hon. John D. Crimmins, our esteemed general vice-president. On that occasion he subscribed $500 to forward the interests of the Society, this being the largest individual gift the organization has thus far received. Among the speakers at this meeting were the Rev. S. B. Nelson, an Irish Presbyterian clergyman, and Rev. Frank L. Phalen, a Unitarian.

At the Newport meeting, the mayor of the city, Hon. Patrick J. Boyle, a member of our Society, presided and delivered an address of welcome. Addresses were also made by Hon. Charles E. Gorman of Providence; by Rev. Louis J. Deady, a Catholic rector of Newport; by City Solicitor Brown of Newport; by Dennis H. Tierney of Waterbury, Conn.; by Hon. John C. Linehan of Concord, N. H., and other gentlemen.

At the Boston meeting, President-General Gargan presided, and there were addresses by Hon. Patrick A. Collins of Boston and a number of others.

Nor, during the year, has the Society been idle in the field of research. Of our members: Mr. Edward Fitzpatrick, Louisville, Ky., has contributed a paper on “The Irish Settlers of Kentucky”; Mr. Daniel M. O’Driscoll, Charleston, S. C., has written on “David Hamilton, an Irish Soldier of the American Revolution”; Mr. Thomas F. O’Malley, Somerville, Mass., has devoted much investigation 22relative to “The Early Transportation of Irish Men, Women and Children to the West Indies, to Virginia, and to New England”; Hon. John C. Linehan, Concord, N. H., has prepared a paper “On the Irish Pioneers of Texas”; Mr. M. E. Hennessy, Boston, Mass., on “Men of Irish Birth or Extraction Who Have Attained Distinction in American Journalism”; and Mr. Joseph Smith, Lowell, Mass., on “The Irish Brigade of Rochambeau’s Army in the American Revolutionary War.” Mr. Thomas Carroll, Peabody, Mass., a member of our Society, recently delivered an historical address at a church anniversary in that place.

Two of the leading works by our members during the year are those of Rev. John J. McCoy of Chicopee, Mass., and Rev. James H. O’Donnell of Watertown, Conn. The former has written a history of the Catholic diocese of Springfield, Mass., and the latter of the Catholic diocese of Hartford, Conn. Both these productions are rich in reference to early Irish settlers, that of Rev. Father O’Donnell being practically a history of the Irish in Connecticut.

The annual bound volume of our Society is now in press. It will be larger than the book we issued last year, will be illustrated and will contain many papers, addresses and other matter of historical and literary value.

At our last annual meeting, the matter of a publication fund was discussed and referred to the council of the Society for action. The council subsequently decided to issue a circular letter inviting contributions to said fund.

It was decided to send out these circulars immediately after some important gathering under the auspices of the Society, when they would be likely to attract special interest. The launching of the United States torpedo-boat O’Brien, at Elizabeth, N. J., was finally decided upon as such event.

Owing to unavoidable delay, however, this launching has not yet taken place, and thus a desirable opportunity has not, up to this time, presented itself to formulate the circular. I would suggest, however, that this meeting possesses the desired prominence as a Society event, and that the circular can now be sent out within the next week or two.

During the year, Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet of this city has voluntarily subscribed $100 toward the publication fund, and four New York gentlemen—Mr. Myles Tierney, Mr. Stephen J. Geoghegan, Mr. James McGovern and Mr. John J. Lenehan—have each forwarded 23a check for $50 in payment of life membership fee. Mr. William Gorman of Philadelphia, Pa., has also become a life member.

In April next, the historic town of Lexington, Mass., is to have a great celebration of the anniversary of the battle of April 19, 1775, and our Society has been invited to be represented on that occasion.

Some months ago, a Franco-American Historical Society was organized at Boston, at which an official of our Society was present and made an address of congratulation. The new organization will devote itself to the French chapter in American history.

In conclusion, I desire to say that the correspondence of the Society has already become of considerable volume. Inquiries from all sections of the country are being constantly received. The writers seek information or data of an historical nature relative to the Irish and their descendants in the United States. These inquiries are promptly answered, and, in return, we receive much valuable material.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas Hamilton Murray,

Secretary-General.

The foregoing report was accepted and adopted.

REPORT OF THE TREASURER-GENERAL.

The treasurer-general of the Society, Hon. John C. Linehan of Concord, N. H., then presented his annual report. It showed the total income for the year 1899 to have been $2,228.50. Cash balance on hand Jan. 1, 1899, $518.60, thus making the total financial resources of the Society for the year $2,747.10.

The expenditures for 1899, as set forth in detail in the report, were $2,008.86, leaving a balance on hand of $738.24.

Joseph Smith of Lowell, Mass., for the auditing committee, reported having examined the books and vouchers of the treasurer-general and found the same correct.

The treasurer-general’s report was thereupon accepted and adopted.

A communication to the society was announced from Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, governor of New York, in which he 24invited the members to be his guests at the executive mansion in Albany.

The invitation was appreciatively received and acknowledged, and the president-general was authorized to appoint a delegation to represent the society by a visit to the governor.

The president-general announced that he would do so, and state the make-up of the delegation later.

Hon. T. A. E. Weadock of Detroit, Mich., an ex-member of Congress, presented the names of several applicants for membership in the Society, and the said applicants were unanimously admitted.

Various other gentlemen also presented many applications for membership, and the same were all favorably acted upon.

The annual election of officers of the Society then took place, the result being the same as given on pages 5, 6 and 7 of this volume.

Upon the conclusion of the business meeting, the members and guests formed in line and proceeded to the banquet hall.

ANNUAL BANQUET OF THE SOCIETY.

The company around the tables numbered about one hundred and thirty gentlemen. President-General Gargan presided. An orchestra was stationed in the balcony. The decorations were profuse, and were artistically placed.

Grace was said by Rev. John J. McCoy of Chicopee, Mass.

At the head table, with the president-general and the chaplain of the occasion, were seated:

Hon. Thomas H. Carter, U. S. senator, Helena, Mont.

Hon. C. T. Driscoll, mayor of New Haven, Conn.

Gen. James R. O’Beirne, New York city.

George E. Van Siclen, of the Boer committee, New York city.

Joseph Smith, Lowell, Mass.

Hon. T. A. E. Weadock, Detroit, Mich.

Joseph I. C. Clarke, New York city.

Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet, New York city.

M. E. Hennessy, Boston, Mass., and one or two others.

In addition to the foregoing, there were also at the banquet the following gentlemen from New York city:

25Hon. Joseph F. Daly.

Hon. William McAdoo.

Hon. Joseph P. Fallon.

Hon. Wauhope Lynn.

Hon. James S. Coleman.

Hon. Thomas M. Waller.

Dr. J. Duncan Emmet.

Dr. William Donovan.

Dr. M. J. Tierney.

Dr. James Moran.

Rev. C. B. O’Reilly.

Rev. T. W. Wallace.

Rev. Wm. St. Elmo Smith.

Rev. Fr. McGolrick.

Col. James Quinlan.

Cornelius B. Mitchell.

Thomas Barrett.

Patrick Tiernan.

Thomas S. Brennan.

Stephen J. Geoghegan.

Joseph G. Geoghegan.

John Goodwin.

Myles Tierney.

John Crane.

J. J. Rooney.

E. H. Daly.

E. T. McCrystal.

A. E. Costello.

R. E. Danvers.

D. E. Lynch.

Thomas F. Fitzgerald.

William J. Bolger.

Stephen Farrelly.

James D. Murphy.

John J. Ryan.

John F. Doyle.

M. A. O’Byrne.

Pierce Kent.

Michael Callaghan.

Nicholas J. Hayes.

John F. Walsh.

Daniel F. Cohalan.

Francis C. Travers.

Vincent P. Travers.

A. F. Travers.

Daniel J. Quinlan.

Stephen J. Richardson.

James O’Flaherty.

Edward O’Flaherty.

James W. McCormick.

F. J. Quinlan.

B. Moynahan.

S. J. Dugan.

L. J. Callanan.

W. J. Mulcahy.

J. B. Manning.

E. J. Curry.

George E. Baldwin.

E. J. McGuire.

Michael Monahan.

T. A. Emmet, Jr.

Robert Emmet.

Charles N. Harris.

J. C. Tierney.

E. O’Meagher Condon.

T. St. John Gaffney.

James Curran.

John H. Cahill.

J. O’Donovan Rossa.

Joseph Kelly.

James G. Johnson.

T. J. Colton.

B. F. Coleman.

E. J. O’Shaughnessy.

Thomas W. Clark.

John O’Connell.

Richard Dixon.

Edward J. Dillon.

James Kearney.

John G. O’Keefe.

Philip A. Smyth.

William Temple Emmet.

John C. Sullivan.

26Present at the banquet, from other places, were:

Hon. John C. Linehan, Concord, N. H.

Hon. Franklin M. Danaher, Albany, N. Y.

Hon. P. T. Barry, Chicago, Ill.

Hon. J. C. Monaghan, Chemnitz, Germany.

Dr. Philip Kilroy, Springfield, Mass.

Dr. C. J. Downey, Springfield, Mass.

Dr. James F. Martin, Springfield, Mass.

Rev. John Harty, Pawtucket, R. I.

Rev. T. P. Linehan, Biddeford, Me.

Rev. Thomas H. Wallace, Lewiston, Me.

Rev. Daniel Coffey, Columbus, O.

Rev. T. P. O’Neill, Westchester, N. Y.

Col. John McManus, Providence, R. I.

Col. J. P. Donahoe, Wilmington, Del.

James L. O’Neill, Elizabeth, N. J.

Edmund O’Keefe, New Bedford, Mass.

James B. Carroll, Springfield, Mass.

Thomas Hamilton Murray, Woonsocket, R. I.

John J. Cadigan, Boston, Mass.

Thomas J. Cummins, Albany, N. Y.

William P. Dempsey, Pawtucket, R. I.

James O’Sullivan, Lowell, Mass.

M. J. Harson, Providence, R. I.

D. D. Donovan, Providence, R. I.

John J. Moore, Springfield, Mass.

Patrick O’Farrell, Washington, D. C.

Edmund Reardon, Cambridge, Mass.

Joseph P. Flatley, Boston, Mass.

M. A. Toland, Boston, Mass.

Fred C. Murphy, Springfield, Mass.

William M. Sweeny, Astoria, L. I., N. Y.

P. J. Garvey, Holyoke, Mass.

Patrick Farrelly, Morristown, N. J.

S. C. Farrelly, Morristown, N. J.

J. A. Hart, Orange, N. J.

F. C. O’Reilly, Orange, N. J.

The after-dinner exercises were of great interest. Vice-President-General John D. Crimmins, who was at Palm Beach, Fla., for his health, sent a telegram regretting his absence, and adding:

27“Our Society should flourish. The field is ripe, and so far the surface is only scratched. When in deeper furrows, forgotten history will be brought forth that will glorify the deeds of the Irish race in building our nation.”

Letters of regret at inability to be present were received from Mayor Van Wyck of New York city, Hon. Patrick A. Collins of Boston, Mass., and other gentlemen.

THE PRESIDENT-GENERAL’S ADDRESS.

President-General Gargan, in rising to open the exercises, spoke substantially as follows:

Gentlemen of the American-Irish Historical Society: In January, 1897, the first meeting to organize this Society was called at Boston. As the reports show, we have now nearly 1,000 members residing in almost every state and territory in the United States, and representing the best elements in the several walks of life.

Our object is to see that history is written fairly and impartially. During the last twenty-five years we have adopted new methods in writing history. The historian who is to write on any epoch no longer accepts as truth the recorded facts of another historian who has written of a former epoch. He challenges every statement made unless corroborated or verified by documentary proof.

We now have access to many valuable papers and letters that throw a new light upon men, their motives and action.

The history of the United States has been largely written by men of English blood, who have unduly glorified the actions of their ancestors. More critical and scientific examinations have shown us that the Irish element contributed very largely to the settlement of the colonies from New England to Georgia, and were an important factor in bringing about the Revolution and establishing the government of the United States.

Our Society is now engaged in searching many of the colonial records, and I suggest that the members in the different states of the Union examine into the origin and ancestry of the prominent men in their states, prepare information and write papers that may be placed in the archives of this Society.

I congratulate the members on the increase in numbers, the continued prosperity of the Society, and urge all who can to contribute 28liberally to the publication fund, for spoken words are often but perishable things, and if the history of the part which our race and blood have borne in upbuilding the Republic is to be preserved, we can only keep alive the record of their sacrifices, their heroism and their patriotism by preserving them in the form of permanent memorials, books and publications of the Society.

THE ADDRESS OF SENATOR CARTER.

Hon. Thomas H. Carter, U. S. senator from Montana, made an eloquent address. In the course of his speech he paid deserved compliments to Hon. P. A. Collins of Boston, Hon. John D. Crimmins and General O’Beirne of New York, and to other members of the society.

Senator Carter showed the absurdity of calling the United States an Anglo-Saxon country, and traced the expansion of the original thirteen states, and the wonderful resources of America. He said in substance:

A new race has sprung up in this country better than Saxon or Celt. The success of the Republic is due to the fact that it unbridles manhood. The special purpose of this association is to ascertain what part dear old Ireland has played in this drama.

I am gratified beyond expression that this Society insists on seeing justice done to the race from which we have sprung. The work must be logical and correct. One of the most remarkable things is the intellectuality of the Irish race.

Wherever freedom’s flag is hoisted you will find an Irishman at or near that emblem. O’Higgins in South America is synonymous with liberty. On every battlefield in North America the Irishman is found, as he also is in poetry, history, arts and sciences. I would not adulate the race. The Irishman forms only a part of the American citizenship. But whether it is in storming Manila or the capital of Great Britain the Irishman will be found doing his work enthusiastically.

I would be delighted to see the Society extended to every state of the Union. There are many, very many, incidents in connection with the Irish race in America I would like to see set down. As a rule the Irish hold the offices, not because they are Irish, but as a recognition of ability and the eternal fitness of things.

29Senator Carter spoke eloquently in praise of Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher, one of the original white settlers of Montana, who died while holding the office of governor of that territory.

Spirited addresses were also made by Hon. Thomas M. Waller, ex-governor of Connecticut; Judge Wauhope Lynn of New York city; Ex-Congressman Weadock of Michigan; Hon. William McAdoo of New York; George E. Van Siclen, who spoke eloquently in behalf of the Boers of South Africa, and Gen. James R. O’Beirne of New York.

Vocal selections were rendered during the evening, and Miss Sullivan of New York gave selections on the harp.

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