The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-06-09


The Puritans and the Dutch had their
historical associations, and Colonel
Wright thought that the Ulster men,
who swarmed into the American colonies
in great numbers just previous to the
Revolution and who helped to throw off
the yoke Of King George, should have
their deeds recorded also In 1889 a call
was issued for a meeting which was
held at Columbia, Tenn. Here the soci-
ETY. was organized and Robert Bonner,
the well known publisher, was chosen
president and has held the Office ever
since.
From a small beginning the assOcia-
ton has grown to be one of great prOml-
hence and numbers on its rolls some of
the most distinguished men Ill the coun-
try. Each succeeding congress has been
better attended and more interesting
than it's predecessor. The objects of the
association are purely historical and So
cial 1t is nonsectarian and nOnpOllt1-
cal body, and the one requisite for MEM
bership is the possession of Scotch-Ir1sh
blood.
The work of collecting historical facts
about the race has been done with en-
thusiasm and care, and the results have
been surprising, even to the Scotch
Irish themselves. No less than nine
presidents of the United States have
come of this stock, and a long list of
distinguished names has been added
to the honor roll of the association.
Some of the prominent members of the
society today are Vice President Steven
son, Governor Mckinley, General An
son Or. McCOOk, Secretary of the
Navy Herbert, Ex-Governor Campbell, a
dozen senators and as many governors
and ex-governors.
At each congress papers of histOr-
ical character are read and speeches of
a like nature delivered. These are often
interesting and valuable. They are pre-
served in the records of the association
and published in pamphlet or book form
for distribution among the members. At
the coming congress addresses will be
delivered by Governor Hastings of
Pennsy lvania, who will welcome the
delegates to the city and entertain them
at the executive mansion; by Colonel
William II. Hunter of Steubenville,
O., ON 1.-THE Great American Scotch
Irish Journalists by DIR. William II.
Egle, state librarian of Pennsylvania
and historian of the association, on
Landmarks of Early Scotch-Irish Set
Elements In Pennsylvania" by John
F. Meginnes, historian of the west
branch, on 1.-THE Scotch-Irish of the
Upper Susquehanna by Robert Nc
Meen, ON "The Scotch-Irish of the Ju-
niata Valley" and by Rev. DR.. Nor
cross of Carlisle on 1.-The Scotch-Ir
and Their Influence In the Cumberland
Valley Several college presidents
will also read papers ON subjects of in
terest to the race, and Colonel Wright,
who will be present, will be called up
on to tell again something about the
history of the organization.
DR.. Macintosh of Philadelphia, who
has written some very instructive artl-
Giles about the characteristics of the
ScOtch-Irish race, tells how, in some of
the more unchanged parts of counties
Antrim and Down the country folk will
TO this day proudly assert, We're no
Eerish, bot Scoatch. F."
'Our American term, the Scotch
Irish, - he says, sis not known even in
Ulster save by the very few who have
learned the ways of our common speech.
The term by which he is known in Brit
ain is the fisherman, and in Ireland
it is the sturdy northern, or at times
the black northern. There is a Pc
culiarity in the patriotism of the Scotch
Irish This land is his only true land
and his one country. He lost his father
land in Scotland; Ireland was not al
lowed to become a motherland TO him,
and 50 his great, strong heart has given
itself up almost without memory to
these western shores with fierce, fond
joy"
Besides the regular sessions at the
Harrisburg congress there will be many
social features connected with the gath
ering. There will be picnic in the
grove at Paxtang church, which was
erected 145 years ago by the Scotch Irish
Covenanters. The programme also in
cludes an excursion to the battlefield Of
Gettysburg. JOHN F. WILLoUGHBY