Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1916-03-17
Only Qualification For Membership
Was Fidelity to American
Cause.
Gave Twelve Officers and Numer-
GUS Officers of Lower
Rank.
GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMBER.

The Friendly Sons of st. Patrick
dates its origin from September II,
1771. when seventeen persons,
nearly all of them among the mer-
chants of Philadelphia and all be-
longing to the Hibernian Fire
Bucket Brigade, and all of them
Irishmen or sons of Irishmen, met
in Burns Tavern in that city and
formed the organization now so
famous. The object was friendly
and social intercourse.
From its inception in 1771 its
roll comprised one hundred mem
bers, viz, one adopted member, Gen.
George Washington; sixteen hon.
orary members and eighty-three
members. No equal number in the
thirteen colonies contributed more
to the success of the American
Revolution than did the Friendly
Sons of st. Patrick. Nearly every
man was engaged in the strife for
independence at one time or another
on land or sea.
Charles Thompson, Secretary OF
the Continental Congress, q mem
Der, wrote the first copy of the
Declaration of Independence from
the draft received from Jefferson.
Col. John Nixon, member, was the
FIST to read it to the people from
the second story central window OF
independence Hall. John Dunlap, a
member and publisher of the first
daily newspaper in the colonies, was
the first to print and publish it.
The Friendly Sons of st. Pat
rick gave twelve Generals to the
army of the Revolution besides nu-
merous officers of lower rank. The
most conspicuous members were
Gen. Stephen Moylan, Gen. Walter
Stewart, Gen. William Thompson,
Gen. William Irvine. Gen. Anthony
Wayne, Gen. Thomas Robinson, Gen.
John Shee, Gen. Edward Hand and
Gen. Henry Knox, afterward Secre-
tary of War when Washington be-
came President. Among its hon
orary members were Gen. George
Cadwalader, Robert Morris, Com
madore John Barry Gather of the
American navy. Col. Ephrtan
Blaine grandfather of James G.
Blaine) and Col. George Meade
grandfather of Gen. Meade, OF
Gettysburg fame).
III lnt VI
when the American army lay starv-
ing and freezing at Valley Forge,
Robert Morris, an honorary member
of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick,
started a subscription to raise
ten thousand pounds sterling, which
was followed by Blair McClenachan
for like amount, and in few
hours there was subscribed, among
that small body of men Cat that
time not exceeding over fifty mem
bers) the sum of one hundred and
three thousand, five hundred pounds
sterling ($517,50O).
On December IS, 1881. the so
ciety adopted Gen. Washington as a
member. He was the only adopted
member. On being notified he
wrote as follows:
To George Campbell, Esq, Presi-
dent of the Society of the Friendly.
Sons of st. Patrick, in the city OF
Philadelphia-Sir: l accept with
singular pleasure the ensign of so
worthy a fraternity as that OF the
Sons of st. Patrick in this city--a
society distinguished for the firm
adherence of its members to the
glorious cause in which we are en-
barked. Give me leave to assure
you, sir, that / shall never cast my
eyes upon the badge with which
am honored, but with grateful re-
membrance of the polite and atfec-
tionate manner in which it was pre-
scented. 1 am with respect and es-
TEEN, sir, your most obedient serv-
ants. George Washington.
The records and the original sig
natures of its membership are pre-
served in Independence Hall, Phila-
delphia. It's member were com
posed of Quakers, Catholics, Eptsco-
palians and Presbyterians, the only
qualification being fidelity to the
American cause.