User:MtcPlym/sandbox

The Charitable Irish Society of Boston was founded in 1737 by "several gentlemen merchants, and others of the Irish nation, residing in Boston." Society founders sought to provide financial assistance and support to any Irish immigrant who suffered from poverty, sickness, or old age, or who were incapacitated in some way due to accidents or other infirmities.

Initially, membership was open exclusively to Protestant Irishmen. - --note to self: add in o'day material here re: Prot immigration in the early 1700s!-  --

Catholics admitted in 1742 [SOURCE: Catholic Encyclopedia] It's interesting to note that any Irishman who was invited to join, but did not, would later be refused charitable assistance. Member James Boyd noted in 1837 that such rules reflected the feeling of the original founders that "founders evidently considered it a disgrace for an Irishaman, who possessed the ability to contribute, to keep himself " from assisting those in need! [Boyd, p 6]

Orignally: 26 members who contributed 17 LBS 10 S [Boyd, 7] MOTTO: "Fostered under thy wings, we will die in thy defence." [Boyd 37]

the Society organised the first observance of St. Patrick's Day in the Thirteen Colonies. Surprisingly, the celebration was not Catholic in nature, Irish immigration to the colonies having been dominated by Protestants. The society's purpose in gathering was simply to honour its homeland, and although they continued to meet annually to coordinate charitable works for the Irish community in Boston, they did not meet on 17 March again until 1794. During the observance of the day, individuals attended a service of worship and a special dinner.