The Evening critic., 1882-05-23
ST. GEORGE.
NINTH CONVENTION OF THE UNION

OF North America - welcomed by
Commissioners Dent-BriIIiaut md
Interesting Address of MIR. George
Francis Dawson, President of the
Union-Iist of Delegates Present
They visit the President and the
British Minister Programme for
the Ensuing Days.
Tho first session OF the ninth Convention OF
the North America st. Georges Union was
held at Willard Hall last night. 1t was
simply a "welcome meeting in honor Of the
delegates who had already arrived. The
visiting delegates present were Mr.. John
Lucas, president OF the Sons OF st. George of
Philadelphia, with Messrs. John A. Carr,
Edward Darby, George Dixon, William Gads
den and W. II. II. Waller, OF that society;
Messrs. William King, John L. Lawson, Joseph
Lees and John f. Smith, of the Philadelphia
Albion Society; W. D., Stroud, OF Montreal;
Mcssrs. Byron Cumberland, J. Herbert Mason,
]. L. Pell and Samuel Trees, OF Toronto; ]. II.
Barons and J. d. Cox, of London; J. @. W.
Bailey and George L. Gooch, of Chicago, and
| J.IT. Brill and James Hewer OF Guelph. Many
other delegates who were on the road sent
| letters and kilograms announcing their pro
| gress toward Washington, some OF them re.
| porting that two delegates from winnipeg,
In Manitoba, were en- route, with an invitation
| for the holding of the next convention In that
town.
| Commissioner Dent was introduced by Mr..
| George Francis Dawson, tho president of the
| Union, and made n brief speech of welcome.
| President Dawson followed Judge Dent In an
nal poem entitled the I" Old Land and the
New" Other speeches followed, after which
the delegates repaired to st. Georges Hall
and had good old-fashioned social time.
TO-DRy's Session.
Tho convention met at st. Georges Hall at 10
| o'clock this morning. Rev. Mr.. Fair asked
which President Dawson began the ei reading Of
his address as follows:
Address.
Gentlemen Of the North America 50. Geoy1e'S
| Union, in concentioa assembled.
1t affords me sincere pleasure to meet you,
| onlcially, at the Capital of the United States
OF America.
| The last convention, which 1 was unable to
attend, unanimously elected me to the exalted
position Of president OF the North America st.
Georges Union. This great and unsought
| and unexpected honor was, and Is, most highly
| priced. Falling far short Of my own concep-
tfons OF the requirements of that eminent
| cessor in 1t one who Will more fully meet
| them.
It was my purpose to have called the conven-
tion together early last autumn, but in view
| OF the terrible calamity which at that time
| shadowed this city and nation as with pail,
and sympathetically thrilled and. saddened
| every Anglo-Saxon heart on the globe-from
| the proud but tender-hearted Queen of Eng
land to the lowliest Of her subjects, and the
poorest of American citizens-I felt that we
must choose more appropriate time for its
meeting. In this view, the Executive Com
mittee unanimously concurred-and 1t was
subsequently determined, under the advice Of
| the same committee, to issue the call under
| which you are now sitting.
This convention, when those on the way have
reached us, will be the largest held since the
organization Of the st. Georges Union, COM
prfsing more delegates, and also representing
| moro st. Georges Societies, than ever before.
| Some of those societies number over six hun
dred members. Many Of them, owing to bust
ness or other exigencies, and the great expense
| involved in travelling long distances, are
| represented by but one delegate. Others, again,
are content to aflliate without any delegated
| representative in attendance. Thus while to
some 1t may seem that we have a small attend
ance as compared with many other conyen-
tions that are held in this city, yet we really
represent very many thousands Of English
Canadians and English-Americans banded
together In societies, for purposes benevolent
ana pniian,hropic and patriotic to both the
and which we love so dearly.
AS 1t is the largest yet held of all our union
conventions, SO let us determine, here and
now, God helping us, that 1t shall be the best
the most useful.
To assist you in your labor to this end I deem
itmy dutYto recommend for your considera-
tion and action various measures which in my
Judgment will largely increase tho usefulness
of the St. Georges Union, should this conven-
tion, in Its wisdom, adopt them.
Before doing so, however,, brief review OF
me history OF this organization may prove In
teresting and suggestive.
The St. Georges Society OF Onondaga, New
York, took the initiative by calling together
at Syracuse, New York, In the autumn Of 1872
st. Georges Societies for "mutual recog
milton and "to advise on subjects of general
interest" =" AT that conference 1t was decided
to call "general convention Of delegates, y
to meet at the same city February 81, 1873
That concention met and organized under the
name Of "the North America st. Georges
Union,' adopting what were known as the
"eight organic resolutions" none of which de.
clared the objects Of the organization, but left
them TO be inferred, but which, none the less,
formed tho basis OF our present constitution.
The Second Annual Convention
was held at Utica, N. Y, September 1, 1874,
with twenty.seven delegates representing
spoke expressed the hope that this union
would prosper ''and be productive of goodwill
1874, declares that the st. Georges Union
does not contemplate that it "shall govern or
in any way attempt to control the separate
societies.; on the contrary, the functions
OF tho union, unless specially delegated, can
only be expressive and advisory" The same
address made several very sensible sugges
tions, which have since been adopted by the
union, TO witt That the St. Georges societies
are for the most part onlcially unknown to
ence is impossible; that ''there are no proper
means by which one society can advise an
yse@ fs By WSah Of he WUsS
can be commended on route from one
to be printed lists published annually by this
Onion Of the names of all the societies known
IN America, so that when member travels
call on his fellow-countrymen tn whatsoever
city he may happen to visit"-consideration
| which, "together with the undying affection
| that We all cherish for the land OF our fathers
| ought TO be allsufllcient Inducements for per
| petuating a Union of Britons and their chill
dren In North America.
The Third Annual Convention,
held at Buffalo, N. Y, September z, 1875
included IL societies. Travelling cards OF mem
bership were ordered TO issue to each affiliat
ing society, and committee was appointed t
show TO the Legislature OF New York tho pro
priety OF restoring the capitation tax on immi
grants at the ports OF New York from S1.50 4
$3.50 per capita, so as TO prevent the Gripping
| OF the New York Commissioners OF Emigra
| tion.
The Fourth Annual Convention,
held at Hamilton, Canada, September 5
1876, comprised 10 societies and 80 dele
| gates. An initiatory ceremony was adopted
Tor the use OF any society desiring one. The
| president, In his address, declared tina
"a common purpose animates us all.
Is 10 rekindle tho hallowed memorie
OF Fatherland, TO cement still closer the bond
mat should ever bind Britons togethe
| throughout the North American continent aud
all over the world, and "to promote and main
| tain sentiments OF respect, of peace, and o
| fraternal regard between the two great Englisl
| speaking races" This convention appointe
| a committee TO cooperate with the British AZ
| ISOLATION OF Virginia in the international cele
{ | bration OF the Queens birthday at Petersburg
) | Va, on May 21, 1877, which subsequenti
took place With great eclat. Some complain
| was made that there mad been taken SsnO steu