The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-20
TIE H1BERzIAn SOCIETY.
SIYTESEERNTH ANNIVERSARf.
THB BANQUET AND THE ToAsTs'
SPEECHES AND SENTIMENTS.


sixty-seyen wears ago-on the 18th OF March,
1sO1-thirty-fye of the citizens Of Charleston,
stirred By that social impulse which never lies
dormant in the heart of the true Irishman,
formed the association now known as the "Hl-
bernian Society,"" Last evening, their de-
scendants, even to the fourth generation, sat
around the hospitable board and celebrated
the honored anniversary.
The object of the association as declared In
the original bond Of union was "true enjoy
ment and useful benevolence. But as benef-
cence too widely diffused ceases to be virtue,
the society considers some specific object ne
cessary to be adopted, and as among the num-
ber of cases on which beneyolence may be
worthily exercised, the assistance OF distressed
emgrants from Ireland appears most proml-
nert, the society does adopt relief to this de-
scription of persons as their primary object.
Intimately connected with this, is their wish to
promote social harmony and social intercourse,
thus blending the happiness Of assisting others
with the promotion and diffusion of felicity"
To this declaration the original members
appended their names as follows: John s..
Adams, Joseph Anthem, Edward Courte-
nav, Joseph Crombie, John Connolly, John
Grow, Thomas Denny, Rev. s. E. Gallagher,
D. D., William Hunter, ,<James Hunter, D..
A. Hall, T. B. Harvie, Robert Henderson, Peter
Kennedy, John Logan, Thomas Malcolm,
Humphrey Minchen, Charles McKenna, Fran
els Mulligan, Dennis McGowen, VIM. P. McKiI-
vey, Timothy Mccormick, Henry O'Hara, Cor
nelius ODonnen, James Pennel Henry Peyton,
E. M. Philon, James Quin, John Queny, Thos.
Reilley, NJ. D., Andrew Smyle, Wm. Stewart,
O'Brien Smith, VIM. Smith and VIM. Yeadon.
AS time progressed, the society increased in
strength, wealth, numbers and usefulness.
The best and best beloved Of our State, the
most distinguished citizens of Charleston, felt
| honored in connecting themselves with the
'sHibernians," and, to-day, one of the most In
teresting relics OF the past, is the antique vol
ume in which are recorded the autographs Of
men whose previous memories still inger In
tie hearts of our people. Indeed, antiquity is
| written on every page of the history of the
society. Old-fashioned pictures hang around
the nall; old-fashioned dress, with it's ruffied
wristbands and extravagant shirt fronts, carry
us back to other generations, while the we'll
preserved portraits of e1-presidents and MEM
bers OF the association, recall the sturdy men
of eye olden time" The very gavel which
raps the Hibernian appetite to its monthly
lunches aud yearly feasts, is carving from
whales tooth, with the inscription thereon
presented to the Hibernian Society of Charles
ton, by ]. G. Kenner, of Dublin, 1885," Every
thing is in place and keeping with the original
object of the founders-s'true enjoyment and
useful benevolence," and the "Irish harp"
every where typifes the character OF the 80
ciety-from the backs Of the old-time chairs to
the beautiful emblem in gold that gistens
above the doorway of the hall
THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
This is usually an occasion Of much interest,
and yesterday it proved no exception to the
rule. 1t is the season not only for making such
changes in the management as may be neces-
sary or desirable, but for settling up old scores,
paying back dues and starting the new year
with clean record.
The rooms were throng gedfom twelve o'clock
to two by members, and their friends, all Of
whom enjoyed for the time being the pleasant
associations connected with reteshment Of
body and soul. AS an evidence Of the esprit du
CORPS which characterizes the Hibernians, and
has made their society so popular, we may state
here that during these two hours the treasurer
received in dues alone, the sum Of s14O0. The
initiation fees Of q score or more OF new MEM
bers, swelle6 the amount to still greater pro-
portions.
At the hour appointed the meeting was call
ed to order, Vice-President John F. O'Nein be-
ing in the chair. A motion was made and
carried that the rules be suspended and
those applying for membership be elected by
acclamation. Twenty-one additional members
then enrolled their names on the books of the
society. MIR. W. L. King offered preamble
and resolutions OF respect to the memory of
their late Treasurer, Mr.. J. L. Patterson.
This was feelingly seconded by NJ. P. OCon-
nor, Esq, in few appropriate remarks. The
report Of the Committee on Finance was then
read by the chairman, C. q. Simonton, ESQ.,,
The committee appointed to draw mp men,
orial of the late ". d. Gililand, Esq, then
presented their report through their chairman,
General James Conner, which was read and ac-
cepted. After the preliminary business Of the
meeting had been concluded, the society went
into an election for officers for the ensuing
wear, which resulted in the choice of the fol-
lowing ticket:
John F. O'NEuL. President.
tGeneral JAMES CONNER, Vice-President.
tTHOs. O'BRIEN Treasurer.
| SW. A. KELLY, Secretary.
JOHN BURNS Hall Keeper.
Committee on FInance.-B O'Neill c. q. Simon
| ton A. P. Caldwell. James McConkey, Edward DAILY.
Committee ON Relief-M. P. O'Connor, W. a..
Houston, G. A. Bowman, j. n. Mulvaney, c. G.
| Irumbo.
| Committee on Letters.-James Cantweu, J. A. Muir
rel, John Kenny ". E. Rowland, VIM. Knox.
*Vice ". q. Gilliland, deceased.
tVice John +. O'Neill, elected President.
tVice ]. L. Patterson, deceased.
! sVice Thos. O'Brien, elected Treasurer.
THE BANQUET.
At precisely six o'clock the assembled
company, consisting of about one hundred
and sixty persons, filed through the folding
doors, and took their seats around the banquet
tables. President O'Neill, presided at the
main table, supported on the right by the Rev.
F. ]. Shadler, on his left by His Honor Mayor
Cogswell, vice-Presidents Gaillard and O'Neill
presided respectively at the two extremities of
the same table. Prominent among the invited