The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-09
Our Em,grant Societies.
ST. GEORGES, THE IRISH EMIGRANT AND ST. A
pREWS,

Our Emigrant Societies.
ST. GEORGES, THE IRISH EMIGRANT AND ST. AN
DREws.
We always exerted all our influence to amelio-
rate the condition OF our poor adopted population,
and to expose the numerous and cruel frauds that
are constantly prnctised on emigrants Our efforts
in their behalf have not been Intellectual. But the
good that has been accomplished through our agency
hitherto is insignificant when contrasted with the
amount Of evil that still exists. For every active
friend Of the exile in midst there exists at least
a score of his energetic enemies--of men, we mean
who speculate in hotels or forwarding commissions
and whose fortunes are made by defrauding the
fricndless foreigner. The great number of slch
frauds that are successfully practised every day,
demonstrates either that our laws insufficient fol-
the emgrant's protection or it proves the incompe
tency of the officers who are entrusted with their
execution. Certain it is that severer laws, or a
stricter enforcement Of existing statutes, is impera
lively demanded.
But besides additional legislation additional in.
dividual exertions are required. The emigration
societies that exist at present are not sufficiently
numerous or wealthy to meet the demands that are
constantly made on them. In this article we will
describe the different emigration institutions of
New York, in order that our citizens may see what
philanthropy has done and is still doing for the
exile, and what also still remains to be accomplished
Of such institutions there are six THE st.
Georges and British Protective the st. Andrews,
the st. Davids, the Irish, the French, and the
German.
THE ENGLISH.
The st. Georges Society of New York was estab-
lishcd in 1856. 1t arose, says member of the So
ciety, from the congenial feelings of some native
English then settled here, who felt that though
this country was to be their permanent residence
they could not restrain the gratifying recollecons
of their native land, or be unmindfu of the condi
tion of any who might resort to their vicinity in
state of indulgence or distress. They formed band,
who showed delight in periodical meetings with
the view OF cherishing social intercourse among
themselves, and deyising means for the relief and
happiness of others.
The object of the st. Georges Society is stated in
its constitution to be to 'aford relief and advice to
INDECENT natives Of England or to their wives
widows, or children, in the city of New York and
Brooklyn, and to promote social intercourse
amongst its MEMBERS
AT avery early period Of its history this post
revolutionary st. Georges Society was amalga-
mated with antireyolutionary association of the
same name. Since that time it has gradually in
creased its sphere OF usefulness from the constan
accession Of new members; and until recent al
iteration Of the constitution from the generous con-
tributions OF many gentlemen OF the first consider
alton in the State, who, though not natives of the
parentland lost foreign prcjudices in the diffusion
of pure benevolence."
The British Protective Emigrant Society was es-
tablished in 1874, and was opened early in the fol-
lowing year. Its object is the protection of emf
grants from fraud and imposition, by furnishing
them free OF charge, with correct information rela
rive to routes and expenses of travelling and on all
subjects connected with their future prospects in
their adopted country These two associations have
been ANAL gamated.
During the year 1858, there were eight hundred
and tytour applicants for relief to the st. Georges
Society. OF this number there were three hundred
and twelve heads OF families, of whom one hundred
and forty-iive were widows with orphan children,
sixty-seven unmarried women, eighty-nine unmar-
ried men, one hundred and twentythrce married
men with families, and four hundred and sixty chill
dren. Or these eight hundred and ftty-four appli-
cants, seyentyfive were provided with good situa
tions, thirtyiour were furnished with the means Of
cmigrating to tie interior, twenty-five received Pc
cuniary aid to enable them to return to Eng gland,
seven hIndTed were relieved, and sixty were found
TO be unworthy Of rclicf
During the same period, the British Protective
Branch provided situations for eleven hundred and
twenty-tour persons, of whom five hundred and Sc
NtHty were ThBiiSil, tDuf Qunafeu ana nlty-ionr
irish, sevcntyiye Scotch, ana twenty-five Welch:
and it impaired also important information to up.
wards OF ten thousand eXes from the British Islands.
In addition to these disbursements must be added
the sums regularly paid to inyalids and infrm per-
The entire income, IN fact, OF this philaathro-
pic society is expended for strictly charitable pur-
poses" The average amount thus expended may
be gathered from the following account of the dis
bursements OF the charitable committees for the
last five years, from which the expenses of the Bri.
fish Protective Society have been deducted :-lS45,
345 applicants relieved, 81 l67 90 amount disbursed
lS4o 374 relieved, 81 237 81 dsbursed 1850 446 re-.
eved 81 3l2 "a dsbursed; 1851 $50 relieved 81 9l5
rs disbursed; 1852 $50 relieved. 81 $50 dsbursed
The Society is supported partly by the interest Of
the permanent funds of the institution which is an
nualy augmented by the admission fees, partly by
the annual subscriptions of its members all OF whom
are either natives or grandsons Of natives of
England, or of her colonies dependencies or Bri
fish officers and their sons wherever born.No others
are eligible. The admission fee is SO and the an
nual subscription s.. The members meet quadrant
ally and dine together Oh ST. Georges day at their
personal and not at the Societys expense
The permanent fund and property of the society
amounts to upwards of $4,000.
BY clause in the bylaws of st. Georges Society
which are what the Scotch would call articles of
Union-persons not qualified to become members OF
the st. George Society may become members and
officers Of the British Protective.
In view OF the amount of good that is accom-
plished by these associations, and of the greatness
of the evils that emigrants endure, we hope that
those Engishmen in midst who have not hitherto
aided in ameliorating the condition of their exiled
countrymcn, viii embrace the earliest opportunity
of doing so by becoming members OF the ST. Georges
Society; for, in the language of its Secretary =
Their institution rears its structure upon the basis
OF benevoence and love OF country, and ought to be
supported by every native of character who lands upon
the American shore 1t l. their determination to dis
pense what good may be in their power and while
meritorous inhabitants Of the country they have adopted
they cannot to venerate that of their oreathers
or to rejoice in holding up the viruols Characters to
whom II has given BIRTH "a examples for emulation
The present President OF st. Georges Society is
William Young, Esq. it motto is -
Let mercy be our boast, and shame our only fear.
Office, Sc Greenwich street.
1.-THE SCOTCH.
in l756 number of gentlemen natives of s, cot
land orof Scotch descent, assembled in the little
city OF New York, for the purpose OF forming phi
lantropic patriotic society. They founded the ST
Andrews Society, by which, duiiag the following
twenty years. social and friendly Intercourse among
the natives of Scotland, their connections and de.
A -