In June, last, the Society observed its first field day, the exercises taking place at historic Newcastle, N. H. The occasion proved of great interest to all participating. The place for the field day event this year has not yet been selected.
Since our last annual meeting a gathering under the auspices of our Rhode Island members has been held in Providence. It was presided over by Dennis H. Sheahan, recently clerk of the General Assembly of Rhode Island, and was an unlimited success. Among the guests were President Andrews of Brown University, Prof. Alonzo Williams of that institution, and other prominent gentlemen.
The Society is to be congratulated upon the issuance of its first bound volume of Proceedings. The edition numbered 1,100 copies and has been distributed among the members, while copies have also been sent to public libraries, colleges, and historical societies. Of the pamphlet, “Irish Schoolmasters in the American Colonies,” 2,000 copies were issued and disposed of in like manner. The pamphlet on “The Scotch-Irish Shibboleth” numbered 1,500 copies.
The Society has on hand and is constantly accumulating much valuable material relating to the Irish chapter in American history. We are hampered to some extent, however, by the absence of a publication fund. I hope that sooner or later methods will be devised and steps taken to provide for this deficiency. At present the only income the Society has is from the membership fees. The prompt payment of these when due, therefore, becomes a matter of no little importance.
Largely owing to the representations of our friends at Washington, the secretary of the navy has selected the names of three American naval officers of Irish blood for three of the new torpedo craft. These names are O’Brien, Barry and Macdonough. The first is to be applied to the torpedo boat now building at Elizabethport, N. J., and the two others to torpedo-boat destroyers. The Macdonough is now under construction at Weymouth, Mass. The O’Brien is to be launched at Elizabethport probably the coming May.[[1]] I would suggest that the occasion and the place be appropriate for our field day celebration this year.
I cannot close without calling the attention of the society to the continued good offices of Gen. James R. O’Beirne and Hon. John D. Crimmins, both of New York. This year, as last, these gentlemen have been indefatigable in arranging for our annual meeting here, and have spared no effort to make the occasion a thoroughly successful one. Mr. Francis C. Travers, Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet and other gentlemen residing in New York have also shown much active interest, and deserve the gratitude of the society.
The report of the secretary-general, thus presented, was accepted and adopted.
Hon. John C. Linehan, of Concord, N. H., submitted his report for the year. It showed the following aggregates:
| RECEIPTS. | |
|---|---|
| Balance on hand as per last report | $672.96 |
| Three life membership fees at $50 | 150.00 |
| 615 annual membership fees | 1,845.00 |
| From dinner tickets at Providence, R. I. | 80.00 |
| From dinner tickets at New York city | 160.00 |
| $2,907.96 | |
| EXPENDITURES. | |
| Various (as set forth in detail) | $2,389.36 |
| Balance on hand | $518.60 |
An auditing committee, consisting of Secretary-General Murray, James Jeffrey Roche of Boston and Joseph Smith of Lowell, Mass., reported having examined the books and vouchers of the treasurer-general, and found the same correct.