The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-12-22


three guineas agreeably to the follow
ing description: On the right Hiber-
mia, on the left America, in the center
Liberty, joining the hands of Hibernia
and America, represented by the usual
figure of Il female supported by harp
for Hibernia, an Indian With his quiv-
er on his back and his bow slung, for
America; underneath, Unite. On the
reverse st. Patrick trampling on a
snake, cross in his hand, dressed in
pontificalibus- the motto 'Hiar." The
motto "Hiar," or, without the aspirate,
lar" in Gael means West, and from
''Iar' comes Ere, Erin, Ierna and Hi
hernia.
This medal the members We're
obliged to wear at the meetings of the
society, under the penalty of u.s. Cd.
for neglect to do SO ON st. Patrick's Day
and 5s. on the days Of the quarterly
meetings. The dies for the medals
were made in London ut a cost of ESQ,
and were left there in order that med
ais could be struck off and sent out as
ordered.
When General Washington was
adopted member of the society,
and it was resolved to present him
with q gold medal Of the society,
Jnmoc Nfooco rox,o 1,;e MODAL co., +l,, l.
purpose, and after the war n new one
was imported for Mr.. Mease from Eng
land. Ten honorary members We're eli
gible. The qualifications for ordinary
members We're that the applicant
should be of Irish birth or descend
ant of Irish parents on either side in
the first degree, or descendant of Il
member lad infinatum" Honorary
members excepted). Honorary men,
bers could not vote, and We're not sub
ject to fines. These were the principal
rules, and We're doubtless pretty strict
ly adhered to. There is, however, one
remarkable departure from them.
When it was proposed to elect Cen
cral Washington a member it was
found that neither of his parents We're
Irish. 1t is true he might have been
elected an honorary member, but
whether the constitutional number of
ten was already full, or, what is more
likely, desiring closer or more init
mate fellowship with him than they
enjoyed with honorary members, and
wishing him to have all the privileges
of a genuine Son of st. Patrick, the
fertile ingenuity of some of the men,
bers invented plan by which General
Washington could be converted into
an Irishman and thereby at once rem
dered eligible.
They reasoned in this way. We our
selves have no American blood in our
veins, yet, by adoption, we have be-
come members of the young republic
of America, and thereby Americans.
Why, then, may not the Society of the
Friedly Sons of ST.. Patrick make Gen
eral Washington an Irishman by
adoption?
This process of reasoning seems to
have been satisfactory, and removed
all scruples regarding a violation of
their rules and "His Excellency, Cen
eral Washington" Ito use the language
Of the minutes of the 18th of Deem
Der, 17S1), was unanimously adopted"
mot electeD member of the society.
The meetings of the society contin-
ued to be regularly held, sometimes at
Duffy's, sometimes at Smiths, some
times at the Wigwam, afterwards Ev-
ans and again at the City Tavern, till
December, 1875.
At this time the revolutionary feel
ing had become intense, and the side
which the members of the society had
taken is very unequivocally indicated
by the record Of their proceedings at
the meeting of December II, 1915.
A motion was made and seconded
chat Thomas Bait, member of this
society, should be expelled for taking
an active part against the liberties of
America
He was expelled by unanimous vote.
There were present twenty-one men,
bers, among them Generals Wayne,
Shee and Nixon, and several of the
First Troop of Philadelphia cavalry.
The minutes of the society came
down regularly to the meeting of June
II, 177G. Here there is a gap until
September II, ITS. with this only en-
try: '.rhe State of Pennsylvania hav-
ing been invaded, and the City of
Philadelphia taken by the British
army, under the command of General
Sir William Howe, in September, 1777,
the society had no meeting until Sep
TENDER. ITS" .
The meetings from September, ITS,
until the end of the war We're regular
ly held, and "absent at sea-" "absent
at camp" are frequent entries oppo-
site the names of members.
In order that the members of the
society serving as officers in the army
should have an opportunity to attend
the banquet on st. Patrick's night,
1850, General Washington authorized
the following order to be issued:
Morristown. N. j., March 16, 1850.