The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-10
SPRUNG OF NOBLE STOCK.
A CONGRESS OF sCOTCH-IRISH
BLOOD IN LOUISVILLE

Piling Up Matter for an Interesting
historical Work-Notable Aen o
Yesterday and To-day.
(CopY-ightl
NEW YORK, May 9-The city of Louis
vile will entertain distinguished visitor
this week. On Thursday will assemble
there the third annual congress Of the
Scotch-Irish Society of America, and it il
certain that the gathering will be notable
not only for the number, but for the promi
nence Of those who attend.
The invitation of tine city is extended
through her representative bodies the loca-
Scotch Irish Society 1.-The board Of trade and
the Commercial Club. The exercises will be
held in the Masonic Temple theater, large
audience chamber situated in the heart OF
the city, and also in the great Auditorium.
These exercises will consist of reports Of
officers and committees, the annual election.
and many addresses, some of which will
be Of a historical nature, and others de-
voted TO the immediate prosperity of the
society.
Among the notable men who will be heard
on this occasion are Gov Buchnsr Con-
gressmen W. c. p. Breckenridge, j. Proctor
Knott, Henry Watterson. Judge William
Lindsay of Kentucky, the Rev. DIR. John
Hall of New York, the Rev J. H. Bryson
OF Alabama, a. Z. Stevenson of Illinois;
the Rev. John s. Mcintosh Ct Pennsylva-
mia, the Rev Stuart Atcheson of Toronto,
Canada, and Francis D. Ward, ex -presi-
dent of the Chamber Of Commerce of Bel
fast, Ireland, who will attend as delegate
from that body.
The congress proper will be held on the
mornings and afternoons Of May IA, Is aud
16. On Sunday evening, May II, an old
time Scotch-lTish religious service will be
held and Dr. John Hall will preach tie ser
mon. Everything will be done to make
this service the counterpart of those which
were held 100 years ago. Rouse's version
of the psalms will be used, and the
hymns will be lined of" in the old style.
Such q service was held at the socIety's
convention last year in Pittsburg in Mes
chanic hall, which seats 5000 people Some
idea of the interest it awakened may be OBJ
tanned from contemplation of the fact
that just about as many people were turned
away as we're able to find places In the vast
auditorium.
This enormous and unexpended avoca-
ton resulted in some amusing complica-
tions. 1 recently had the pleasure of hear
ing some anecdotes of the occasion from
Robert Bonner Of New York, who is presl-
dent of the society.
ain company with the Rev. DR.. Bryson,n
said Mr.. Bonner, Il came before the door
of the great hall just fifteen minutes before
the hour at which the meeting was to open
according TO the announcements we had
made. We found the fire marshal at the
door, and he refused to let US in, because
the law compelled him to provide against
the danger OF panic in case OF fire, and the
building already held as many people as he
thought might safely enter it. Well as
for me- said l to the marshal, you may do
as you like, but DR.. Bryson is simply
obliged to get in, for he is to deliver the
second address, We then introduced our
selves more formally, and the marshal de-
cidad that we might enter.
'Ien minutes behind us was DR.. Hall,
who was to take charge Of the meeting. he
had been dining at the house of a lady well
known in Pittsburg for her many charities.
This lady and her daughter were with DR..
Hall, but they had to go home again; the
marshal could not let them in. And DR..
Hall himself had to present the necessities
OF the case very strongly in order to gain
admittance. Idon't believe that there ever
were SO many people in Pittsburg before
besieging the doors Of the house OF wor-
ship
No doubt there will be similar scenes at
Louisville. The success of the meeting
may be taken as typical of the society's
career. The idea of its formation origi-
l..
Wright, then e merchant in Pensacola, Fla,
but now resident of Nashville, Tenn. This
was little more than three years ago. He
wrote to eX-Gov. then GOVERNOR TAYLOR
of Tennessee, suggesting the organization
and received an enthusiastic affirmative re-
Spouse. The men OF Scotch-Irish descent in
Tennessee took hold of the plan with eager.
ness. Prominent among them were Mayor
Pillow of Columbia, Tenn, and Mr.. A. G.
Floyd young lawyer Of that city, now
secretary of the society.
1t was from Gov. Taylor that Mr.. Bonner
and other notable men of Scotch Irish de-
scent in the east heard of the project There
was an extensive correspondence, by means
of which Scotch-Irish people all over the
country heard what was going on, and the
result Of it was that the convention, or more
properly mass meeting in Columbia, Tenn,
in May, 1889, was attended by about s, 1000
persons, so many, in fact that nc building
in the city would hold them. and they were
obliged to hold their meetings in great
tent on the public green.
1t was one of the most harmonious and
enthusiastic gatherings ever held in this
country. An organization was formed
which, strong in the beginning, has grown
steadily and rapidly, resulting in the for
NATION Of local societies in many states and
cities, and bringing together IN the national
body vast hunter Of men. When the
oNCloIN dlLdl0h llS Iull NATURAL PROPORTIONS
nd becomes thoroughly unified it will no
doubt De one Of the most powerful organi-
cations in the country.
Although everybody knows the prepon-
derance of Presbyterian proolivities among
the Scotch-Irish, the society is absolutely
non~sectarian. 1t is also non-partisan. Its
present object is the collection of material
for history of the Scotch-Irish race, and
to that end it invites contributions from all
who have appropriate data at command.
Already an immense amount of valuable
matter has been obtained; an Incredible
number of the men who have moulded the
destinies of this country have been proven
to have sprung from this indomitable race.
Among them are Patrick Henry. Thomas
Jefferson, John Witherspoon. John Paul
Jones, James Madison, John Marshall,
Andrew jackson, James K. Polk, James
Buchanan, Lincoln and Grant. Then there
was stout old Davy Crockett and Sam Hous-
ton, the Washington Of Texas; Robert Full
ton and Horace Greeley; and that remarka-
BILE family, the Perrys.
In regard to the last named / will quote
from a letter which President Bonner re-
Gently received, because it shows the man
ner in which material for the Scotch-Irish
history is coming in ell the time A lady
writes from Connecticut city as follows:
81 beg to mention among the sailors of
New England, of Scotch-Irish blood. my
n