THE AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Notice of the Annual Meeting and Dinner.
Dear Sir: The annual meeting and dinner of the American Irish Historical Society will take place at the Hotel Manhattan, Madison Avenue and Forty-Second Street, New York City, on Wednesday evening, January 29, 1908.
A reception will begin at 5.00 p. m., to be followed at 6.30 p. m. by a business meeting. The line will be formed for dinner at 7.30 p. m.
The reception committee as designated by the Executive Council of the Society comprises: T. P. Kelly, John F. Doyle and T. Albeus Adams of New York; P. F. Magrath, Binghamton, N. Y.; James L. O’Neill, Elizabeth, N. J.; John F. O’Connell, Providence, R. I.; Hon. Thomas J. Gargan, Boston, Mass.; D. H. Tierney, Waterbury, Conn.; James O’Sullivan, Lowell, Mass.; Hon. William Gorman, Philadelphia, Pa.; Hon. P. T. Barry, Chicago, Ill.; Hon. Thomas Z. Lee, Providence, R. I.; Hon. John Hannan, Ogdensburg, N. Y., and D. J. McGillicuddy, Lewiston, Me.
Tickets for the dinner are now ready at $3.50 each. They can be obtained by addressing T. P. Kelly, Esq., chairman of the Dinner Committee, 544 West Twenty-Second Street, New York City. Make checks payable to the American Irish Historical Society, and forward to Mr. Kelly at the address given.
Music will be furnished at the dinner by an orchestra and by a vocal quartet. There will be other features of an entertaining nature designed to make the occasion one of more than ordinary interest.
Members are at liberty to invite personal guests, and a large attendance is cordially desired. Kindly inform us as soon as possible whether you intend to be present on the twenty-ninth.
Fraternally,
John McGowan,
President-General,
Washington, D. C.
T. H. Murray,
Secretary-General,
911 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass.
A goodly number of members responded to the notice, and the sale of tickets gave evidence that a large gathering would be present.
The Reception Committee was early in attendance and rendered much valuable service. It greatly assisted the Secretary-General, who was ill, in the performance of his duties, introduced the new members as they appeared and arranged the seatings of members for the banquet.
At 6.30 p. m. the annual meeting was called to order by Hon. Thomas Z. Lee, in the absence of the President-General and Vice-President-General, and, upon being elected President-General pro tem, presided throughout the business meeting.
Treasurer-General Dooley announced through the Chairman that the funds of the Society were deposited in the Union Trust Company, Providence, R. I., at the time of its suspension, and that a plan for its reorganization had been suggested, but not yet adopted. The funds were therefore not available for our use and he could not tell when they would be. In order that the Society might have its funds subject to its disposal and not be obliged to await a more or less indefinite reorganization of the Union Trust Company, Mr. Dooley had drawn his personal cheque for the total amount of our detained funds and deposited same to the credit of the Society. He asked that we give him an assignment of our money in the Union Trust Company in order that he instead of us might do the waiting and take the chances of being repaid.
Mr. Dooley’s generous offer was most cordially accepted, and a committee appointed by the Chairman for that purpose immediately executed the assignment of our detained funds as requested.
Upon motion of Mr. Dennis H. Tierney, a vote of thanks was extended Treasurer-General Dooley for the transaction above mentioned, and remarks of a most complimentary nature were made by several previous to the adoption of the vote.
The annual report of the Secretary-General was read and it was ordered that the same be received and placed on file.
The annual report of the Treasurer-General showing receipts, disbursements and balance on hand was read, and it was ordered that the same be received and placed on file.
A number of new members were elected, some of whom were present later at the banquet.
The election of officers for the ensuing year was called for, and the following gentlemen, having the unanimous endorsement of the Executive Council, were by ballot duly elected to the following offices:
President-General,
Francis J. Quinlan, M. D., LL. D.,
New York City.
Vice-President-General,
Hon. Franklin M. Danaher,
Albany, N. Y.
Secretary-General,
Thomas Hamilton Murray,
Seaview, Plymouth County, Mass.
Treasurer-General,
Michael F. Dooley,
Providence, R. I.
Librarian and Archivist,
Thomas B. Lawler,
New York City.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
The foregoing and
Hon. John D. Crimmins, New York City.
Hon. William McAdoo, New York City.
Hon. Thomas J. Gargan, Boston, Mass.
Patrick F. Magrath, Binghamton, N. Y.
Rev. John J. McCoy, LL. D., Worcester, Mass.
Thomas Addis Emmet, M. D., LL. D., New York City.
Edward J. McGuire, New York City.
John F. O’Connell, Providence, R. I.
James L. O’Neill, Elizabeth, N. J.
Stephen Farrelly, New York City.
Cyrus Townsend Brady, LL. D., Toledo, O.
Hon. Thomas J. Lynch, Augusta, Me.
Gen. Phelps Montgomery, New Haven, Conn.
Hon. Thomas Z. Lee, Providence, R. I.
Hon. Patrick Garvan, Hartford, Conn.
Major John Crane, New York City.
Col. John McManus, Providence, R. I.
Hon. William Gorman, Philadelphia, Pa.
Col. C. C. Sanders, Gainesville, Ga.
John F. Doyle, New York City.
STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS.
Maine—James Cunningham, Portland.
New Hampshire—Hon. James F. Brennan, Peterborough.
Vermont—John D. Hanrahan, M. D., Rutland.
Massachusetts—M. J. Jordan, Boston.
Rhode Island—Thomas A. O’Gorman, Providence.
Connecticut—Dennis H. Tierney, Waterbury.
New York—Joseph I. C. Clarke, New York City.
New Jersey—John F. Kenah, Elizabeth, N. J.
Pennsylvania—Hugh McCaffrey, Philadelphia.
Delaware—John J. Cassidy, Wilmington.
Virginia—James W. McCarrick, Norfolk.
West Virginia—John F. Healy, Thomas, Tucker County.
South Carolina—W. J. O’Hagan, Charleston.
Georgia—Capt. John Flannery, Savannah.
Ohio—John Lavelle, Cleveland.
Illinois—Hon. P. T. Barry, Chicago.
Indiana—Very Rev. Andrew Morrissey, C. S. C., Notre Dame.
Iowa—Rt. Rev. Philip J. Garrigan, D. D., Sioux City.
Montana—Rt. Rev. M. C. Lenihan, D. D., Great Falls.
Minnesota—Hon. C. D. O’Brien, St. Paul.
Kentucky—John J. Slattery, Louisville.
Kansas—Patrick H. Coney, Topeka.
Utah—Joseph Geoghegan, Salt Lake City.
Texas—Gen. A. G. Malloy, El Paso.
California—James Connolly, Coronado.
MR. JOHN J. LENEHAN,
Of New York City.
A Life Member of the Society and Chairman of the Committee on Membership, under whose intelligent efforts nearly 300 new members have been admitted to the Society since June, 1908.
OTHER VICE-PRESIDENTS.
District of Columbia—Hon. Edward A. Moseley, Washington.
Oklahoma—Joseph F. Swords, Sulphur.
Canada—Hon. Felix Carbray, Quebec.
Ireland—Dr. Michael F. Cox, Dublin.
Mr. Willis B. Dowd spoke at length concerning our next annual meeting and banquet and then moved that it be held in Washington, D. C. Mr. T. Vincent Butler seconded the motion and spoke in support of Mr. Dowd’s views. The motion was unanimously adopted.
The new President-General, Francis J. Quinlan, having arrived, the Chairman appointed Rev. John J. McCoy, LL. D., T. Vincent Butler, Esq., and S. J. O’Sullivan, Esq., to wait upon the incoming President-General and escort him to the chair.
The Committee retired and presented Doctor Quinlan, who thanked the Society in a few well chosen words and immediately began his duties.
At 7.30 p. m. the line was formed for the banquet, and a large number of members and guests took seats at the tables.
President-General Quinlan presided and grace was said by Rev. Dr. John J. McCoy.
Music was furnished by a male quartet and an orchestra, and throughout the evening they led the Society in patriotic American and Irish songs.
The tables were handsomely decorated with plants and flowers and presented a pretty picture. During the evening a flashlight photograph of the diners was obtained with satisfactory results. The menu was all that could be desired.
ANNUAL DINNER
OF THE
American-Irish Historical Society.
Hotel Manhattan, New York. Wednesday Evening, January 29, 1908.
Cape Cod Cocktail
Cream of Celery
Celery Nuts Olives
Planked Whitefish, Manhattan
Cucumbers Potatoes, Parisienne
Filet of Beef, Cheron
French Peas Stuffed Artichokes
Kirsch Punch
Roast Stuffed Squab, Jelly
Salad, Excelsior
Cafe Parfait Fancy Cakes
Coffee
Cigars Cigarettes
Apollinaris
There were present:
Rev. Fr. Curtain; Michael F. Dooley, Providence, R. I.; John F. Kehoe, Newark, N. J.; Hon. P. T. Barry, Chicago, Ill.; John F. O’Connell, Providence, R. I.; Hon. Patrick Garvan, Hartford, Conn.; John J. Rooney, New York City; Hon. Joseph F. Daly, New York City; P. H. Garrity, Waterbury, Conn.; J. J. Daly, New York City; James O’Sullivan, Lowell, Mass.; Dennis H. Tierney, Waterbury, Conn.; David Healy, New York City; T. P. Kelley, New York City; Dr. M. F. Sullivan, Lawrence, Mass.; John F. MacDonnell, Holyoke, Mass.; Joseph Geoghegan, Salt Lake City; T. Vincent Butler, New York City; James L. O’Neill, Elizabeth, N. J.; William T. Cox, Elizabeth, N. J.; John F. Kenah, Elizabeth, N. J.; Hon. Patrick J. Ryan, Elizabeth, N. J.; Hon. Matthew P. Breen, New York City; Henry J. Breen, New York City; John Jay Joyce, New York City; Nathaniel Doyle, New York City; T. H. Murray, Boston, Mass.; Hon. Thomas Z. Lee, Providence, R. I.; J. Duncan Emmet, M. D., New York City; Stephen Farrelly, New York City; S. J. O’Sullivan, New York City; Dr. Bryan DeF. Sheedy, New York City; Judge Lorenz Zellar, New York City; Judge James J. Walsh, New York City; Michael F. Farley, New York City; Philip Bloch, New York City; William Crowley, New York City; Roswell D. Williams, New York City; M. F. Laughman, New York City; Col. Charles F. Crowley, New York City; William Cahill, New York City; Peter J. Crotty, New York City; Sidney Williams, New York City; J. A. Lyons, New York City; William H. Breen, New York City, and many others.
President-General Quinlan opened the proceedings, and the Rev. Dr. John J. McCoy said grace.
A most eloquent speech was delivered by Mr. Henry J. Breen, son of Hon. Matthew P. Breen, and he was followed by Hon. John F. O’Connell of Providence, who spoke concerning the Sullivan Memorial and the work of the Society in Rhode Island.
Rev. Dr. John J. McCoy was then introduced, and his discourse was graceful, eloquent and learned, and a beautiful tribute to the work of the Society.
Hon. Patrick J. Ryan of Elizabeth, N. J., told in a most interesting manner of the growth of New York and of his experiences as a boy romping about on the present site of the hotel where the banquet was held.
Mr. T. Vincent Butler of New York made a short speech about our fellow-member, President Roosevelt, and proposed a toast to his health, which was drunk amid much enthusiasm.
Dr. M. F. Sullivan of Lawrence, Mass., gave a number of very practical suggestions as to how the membership of the Society could be increased and the sphere of its work extended.
Mr. David Healy of New York spoke of the supreme importance of the work of the Society in centering the light of organized, intelligent and painstaking research upon Ireland’s part in the making of American history; of her contributions to America’s greatness, and the proud place which has been honorably won by her children as an integral part of American life, American ideals, and American nationality.
“One of the great disadvantages with which the Irish element in American life has had to deal,” said Mr. Healy, “has been the fact that histories and school text-books, current in the English speaking world, have been too largely the product of minds influenced and prejudiced by inherited anti-Irish animosities and pro-English traditions.
“The Irish have been considered as pre-eminently a martial race because of their persistent and unconquerable struggles for a score of generations to vindicate the principle of Irish nationality.
“It is true that the Celtic race has also been universally awarded an exalted place in the realm of poetry, oratory and song, as well as in devotion to family and in faithfulness to principle. It remains for the American Irish Historical Society to show other and equally important and admirable characteristics of the Irish race, and to point to other fields wherein Irishmen have distinguished themselves in meeting the current and pressing problems of America’s rapid and unparalleled development.
“It remains for us to realize and to show to others that not only was it the Irishman’s pick that brought the earth’s hidden treasures to the surface, his shovel that made ready for the iron rail across the continent, but it was Irish brain and enterprise largely that developed the mines and constructed the steel pathway between the East and the West, thus making a national unit qualified and competent to deal with the nations of the world.
“In the great life current of American nationality, the rich red blood of the Celt has been a dominant and fructifying tributary.
“It also remains for us to realize our shortcomings and to aim for the highest ideals, not to be content with a leading place in the world of military renown, financial, industrial and commercial enterprise. We should earnestly seek correspondingly high places in the realm of philanthropy, moderation and universal brotherhood.”
During the evening the Sullivan Memorial Committee having in charge the erection and dedication of a bronze memorial at the State House in Rhode Island to Maj.-Gen. John Sullivan, made a report through Judge Lee, its chairman, showing substantial progress and an intention to dedicate the memorial some time during the present year.
Mr. Dennis H. Tierney made stirring remarks concerning “The Star Spangled Banner” as a patriotic song taken as a whole, and deplored the disposition of so many public bodies to leave out parts of it.
After remarks by other members the company dispersed, having participated in one of the most entertaining and instructive banquets ever held by the Society.
Thomas Hamilton Murray,
Secretary-General.
