The salient work of the organization must be its publications. The more we have of these the better for the cause we have at heart. While a dinner, now and then, is desirable, the organization must never deteriorate into a mere dining club. Too many societies, started with the most comprehensive program, have done this and lost sight of their original purposes. Our Society differs from others in that it is established for historical purposes, to make original research into the records and documents of the past and to place the result of its researches in permanent, tangible form. Careful and frequent publications will enable us to do this.
A great deal depends upon the continued issuance of the annual volume of the Journal of our Society. That work has thus far been, and will continue to be, of the greatest possible utility. It gives the Society a recognized standing in the community that would be difficult to obtain by any other means. Its advent, year by year, therefore, is of prime importance.
Speaking incidentally, I may say that I would like to see special attention given during the year to a study of the material bearing upon the reputed voyages to these shores of the Irish missionary, Brendan. These voyages, attributed to a period many centuries preceding Christopher Columbus, appear to be fully as well authenticated as those of the Northmen to Vinland. Indeed, the Norse sagas mention remote Irish comers to these shores and duly credit a land here once known as Great Ireland. De Roo, in his recent work, the History of America Before Columbus, goes into this subject in a very entertaining manner. As a rule, our school text-books on history, while accepting implicitly the narratives relative to the Northmen and Vinland, find no room in their pages to even allude to Brendan and his voyages, although, as I have intimated, the latter seem to rest upon as secure an historical basis as the former. Mr. Justin Winsor and other distinguished writers, however, make special mention of the subject and treat the latter with respect.
The history of the early Irish in Virginia is also deserving of our special attention. Irish names are found in the Old Dominion prior to the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, while in the Plymouth colony itself, Governor Bradford tells us, numbers of Irish arrived a few years after the coming of the Mayflower. The war against the Indian king, Philip, 1675–’76, found Irish enlisted on the side of the colonists, showing that at that period sons of old Hibernia were numerous and active here. These and other early periods and movements furnish our Society ample material for consideration.
As American history progresses, the material increases in volume and is greatly multiplied as the Revolution eventuates. But these facts are well known to you and require no lengthy narrative of detail on my part. I merely briefly refer to them in order, by way of review, to indicate the abundance of material awaiting development at our hands.
I am delighted with the project now under way by the Society to erect a bronze tablet in the Rhode Island state capitol to the memory of Maj.-Gen. John Sullivan. The idea is a most felicitous one and deserves the heartiest commendation. Sullivan was one of the great soldiers of the Revolution. The placing of the forthcoming tablet will be a merited tribute to his patriotism and military skill while in command of the Rhode Island department and during the entire period of the war.
There are many other great Americans of Irish blood who deserve like honors, and doubtless the Society will, from time to time, erect tablets to their memory or commemorate them in some other worthy manner. The suggestion that the occasion of the dedication of the Sullivan tablet be made a field day by the Society is a happy one, and will, I trust, be fully carried out.
As our Society grows in numbers and prosperity, the question of permanent headquarters will demand consideration. Books and pamphlets will accumulate by gift or purchase and a place will be needed where these can be displayed for consultation by the members and others engaged in historical research. Where these headquarters shall be located is a subject for future action. A number of cities are deserving of consideration. In many respects, Washington, the national capital, would be the ideal place, while, New York, Boston, Philadelphia and other cities, also present special advantages. But this whole matter can be fully considered at some future time.
The Society recalls with pleasure its visit to Washington a few years ago, when it was cordially received at the White House by our distinguished fellow-member, President Roosevelt. I hope that during my term as head of the organization the Society will again have occasion to visit the national capital and once more partake of Washington hospitality.
Again expressing my gratitude for the honor you have conferred upon me and hoping that I shall have, while president-general, the generous assistance of every member of the Society, I remain