Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-12-01
ST. .ANDREW'5sOCIETY OF ALEX
ANDRIA, d. G..

ANDRIA, ID. c..
"When people fall into misfortunes
in any part of the world remote from
the place OF their nativity, it is natural
for them to make known their distress
10 those originally from their own
country. The presumption in this case
is that the love of the native soil, iu-
separsble from every human breast, will
make their countrymen more ready
than others to administer TO their relief;
and that possibly some may be found
among them with whom they are cor-
nected by blood, or who know some
thing Of their relations. For these
reasons the natives Of Scotland, and
those descended of Scots parentsge, in
the town of Alexandris, have agreed TO
form themselves ipto a charitable &C.
cieiy, the principal design of which is
to raise and keep sum OF money in
readiness ior the above benevolent pur-
pose. II the application of this charity
is conf1ed, so is the manner of collect
ing it. Neither will it prevent the So
ciety from acting up to the principles Of
universal charity on other occasions"
These lines preface the "Book of Rules
Of the s.. Andrews Society OF Alexan-
dria, printed by Cotton q Stewart, 1910
The society was organized previous to
November 81, 1909. Ga that day, the
laws, ss revised by committee appoint.
ed for the purpose, were approved and
adopted, with a continuance OF the seal
with the Scotch arms and motto.
None but Scotcbmen or those Of
Scotch descent were admitted as resi-
dent members. The officers were az
nually elected on st. Andrews day
November 3W and in order to promote
social intercourse, the members diDed
together on these occasions, 1t being
recommended that each appear with o
s. Andrews cross or thistle On his
right breast. 1t is not recorded where
they met, but We can imagine that 1t
was at McKniRht's tavern, and doubtless
these assemblies were made coDyivial
by the presence OF many Sco,cbmen
from Norfolk, fredericksburg and Bal
timore.
A full roster shows q large honorary
membership all over the country from
New York to South Carolina with
more than a score from Jamaica with
which island Alexandria bad at that
time considerable trade. From New
Orleans came Captain Gillies, and from
Glasgow Dr.. George Mcleod, while the
name of Dr.. Samuel s. Smith, Of Prince
ton College, appears next TO that OF
Lieut.. Robert Rankin, of the American
navy, sho owing the wide connection AL
exandra had with the outside world
through her Scotch merchants,
For charity first and then for the
pleasures of good fellowship these canDy
Scots banded themselves together.
None but natives or the descendants Of
Sootchmen were the immediate objects
OF their bounty. The treasurer's book
before me contains many quaint entries:
1910 for the relief of starving High
lander :" Cash (s2) for poor Ssol;"
"shoes and hat for Priugle;" Twelve
days board at vaccsri's for Robert Ham
mond." &c. Medical attendance wss
provided, and If poor Sandy died far
away from his native land, friends COM
mitted his body to a decent grave In the
Presby terisn Cemetery.
The social features OF the society ap-
psal to US, as when on st. Andrews
night the ancient, trusty cronies meet
and love each like "vera brlthers. "
iTjs a great occasion, the brewing oil the
nunoh and the "getting fou and unco
nanny of the erstwhils sober husband,
mbn oblivious of the sage advices OF
wife at home, clinks glass with Donald
or Geordie, Just come into port On the
"Matty," with Capt. James Key. from
Barbadoes. They are filled with tne
spirit of mirth and good cheer es the
bapouet proceeds. There Is haggls OF
oonrse. nor is the roast beef OF old Eue-
land neglected, while venieon from
Prince William forests adorns the
hoard where "canvss backs" too cou-
mon to bs considered delicscies, scarce
rival the other products of the Potomac.
Plum pudding 10 10 follow, ard maybe,
"a fine currant bun" with glass OF
scotch whisky, while toasls ring out ana
hsslths are drunk. Doubtless the
streets of Alexandria are enlivened that
NIGHT by the home gangiog Scots.
Bnt thew have all passed away, even
the society exists no longer, ana as l
| look over the register but few
names are familiar. Yet 10" ana
them seem to recall an asec'
dote of Colin Aud or Archiosid Mc.
CIeish or Robert Anderson. hooert
Young was probably the last OF tne
original members of the St. Andrew
Society of Alexandria. He was 6oin
at Dalkietb, Scotland, in 1874 and died
in 1880. There may be some among us
who will read the roster Of 1910 with
| interest. W..
President, James Patton; 1st Vice
President, Andrew Jameson; 2ad
Vice President, James Kennedy. jr.,
Treasurer, Robert Anderson; Secre-
tsry. John Mcleod; Chaplain, Rev.
lanes Muir; Physician, DR.. Charles
Douglas; Alexander Mckenzie, Dan.
iel McOousal, John Ramsay, An
drew Fleming, William Nelson, John
MoIyer. George Darling, James Nc
Kepzie, Colin Hunter, Daniel Camp
bell, Robert Nash, John Adam, AZ
exsnder Lithgow, William Stewart,
| nzcs1 Gtuarf