The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-27

Minnesota Irish Immigration So.
clety.


According to notice, there was meeting OF
Irish citizens on Wednesday evening, april
18th, } held at the brick building adjoining the
Bishops residence, for the purpose OF organiz-
ing an Irish immigration Society in this city
On motion made and seconded, the Rev.
John Ireland took the chair, and Dillon OBrien
acted as Secretary.
The chairman in q few lucid remarks eX-
planned the object for which they had met, and
pointed out the good he felt convinced could
be achieved by the proposed society, both to
the State of Minnesota and the Irish imm-
grants He also read the following letter from
the Right Rev. DR.. Grace:
Rev. John Ireland:
Rev. DEAR SIR: The object proposed in the
call for meeting Of our Irish citizens of Saint
Paul. this evening, meets with my warmest
appreciation. 1t is an object which have long
desired to see carried into effect, convinced as
1 am that its advantages to the immigrant
people of Ireland, in every conceivable aspect,
material, civil, social and religious-cannot
be overestimated.
It will afford me sincere joy to hear of your
success in organizing the society, and 1 shall
er to help it on in its mission of promoting the
best interests and greatest good of the Irish
immigrant to this country.
Believe me to be, with sincerest regards.
Yours faithfully in Christ,
THOMAS L. GRACE,
Bishop of st. Paul.
st. Paul, May 1S, 1864.
After the reading of the Bishops letter, the
Secretary read the constitution and by laws of
the new society, which were approved of by
the meeting.
The following is the preamble to the Con-
stitution:
The Minnesota Irish immigration Society is
organized for the twofold object of encourage
| ing Irish immigration to the State of Mnneso-
ia and assisting Gas far as its ability will per-
mit) the immigrants on their arrival. While
| this embraces wide field to labor in, the
Society will, from its organization, endeavor
to keep within practicable grounds. For in
| stance. in its infancy it cannot be expected to
be able to do more than to afford information,
advice and protection to the immigrant. If he
is fitted to 60 upon the land, to advise him to
do so, and to be prepared to point out to him
| o good location. If on the other hand, he
| requires immediate employment, to assist him
in procuring it. A few honest and jealous
men can in this way accomplish much good,
both for their State and fellOw-cOuntrymen !;
but, at the same time, the Society does not
expect always to confine its usefulness within
these limits. As it advances in age and stand
| ing, SO will it advance in usefulness.
| In view of the fact that our countrymen
crowd the eastern cities, while the rich lands
of the west lie open to receive them, it has
| been presumed that their inclinations lead
them to prefer settling in the former; but far
| truer causes can be shown for the fact alluded
| to, such as the necessities which compel a poor
| immigrant to seek Immediate employment,
his inability to proceed inland, his ignorance
of the country, his unwillingnesS to leave the
| friends who surround him to seek home in
what appears to his imagination an almost
UNEMPLOYED wilderness.
| To combat and cOunteract these causes which
have materially retarded Irish immigration to
| the West; to encourage and assist our cOun-
| trvmen at home when they do emigrate, to
| come out direct to the West; to assist our
| countrymen already in this country to abandon
the foul moral atmosphere of the large eastern
cities for free, virtuous, happy western homes
to elevate our people to that power, influence,
and position, which possession of the land can
give them; in fine, to labor to bestow upon
| them Gas far as in us lies) q country for one
| they have been compelled to flee frOnl-these
| are the great objects for which the Minnesota
| Irish immigration Society is organized, and
| for the success of which we humbly implore
| the assistance of Him who can make the weak
strong and the powerful feeble. Believing that
| God in his goodness has beautifully interviewer
the destiny of the Irish race with His holy reli.
| gion, we have not failed to submit the objects
and rule of our society to our revered bishop,
the Right Rev. DIR. Grace, and to solicit his APP
| probation and aid. Not alone have we obtain
ed these. bat SO deeply interested is he in our
| society that we may presume to say, it starts
under his auspices.
Here follow the rules, seventeen in number,
by which the society will be governed. The
first sets forth that the government of the so
ciety will consist of board composed of one
president two vice presidents, one acting sec
rotary, one corresponding secretary, and one
treasurer.
After the reading of the constitution the
meeting was addressed by three or four speak
ers and the constitution signed by majority
of those present 1t was then agreed upon by
the members thus enrolled, that they should
meet again at the same place on Tuesday
evening, (May 24th) to elect officers and re-
ceive new members. This will be the last
evening on which members can be admitted
without being proposed and voted for.
On motion, it was agreed upon that the pro-
ceedings of the meeting should be published
in the st. Paul PIONEER and Press.
DILLON O'BRIEN, Scc'y. pro tenn.