History of the St. Patrick's Society of Montreal
St. Patrick's Society and the Irish in Montreal
The Irish were in Canada from the earliest times. Apart from, in all probability, having discovered North America years before the Norsemen, the Irish came to Canada in the service of the Kings of France. Although many changed or disguised their names for obvious reasons, the War Office in Paris lists over 400,000 Irishmen who served in the Armies of France from the midseventeenth to mid-eighteenth centuries.
Some of these "Wild Geese" were undoubtedly sent to New France in various French Regiments, and we know for certain that the distinctive uniform of the Irish Brigade, red faced with green was seen in Montcalm's Army for several years before the Battle of Quebec in 1759. Many formed connections with the French settlers and took up residence here.
After the Conquest, Ireland was represented in Canada by members of the British Army who often followed the lead of their predecessors and settled in Quebec. The first recorded St. Patrick's Celebrations in Montreal were held by the various Regiments garrisoned here, organized by the large number of Irishmen serving in them. With the resumption of trade and commerce with British North America, Irish merchants, principally from the Province of Ulster, arrived in Montreal and set up shop, establishing businesses and· commercial dynasties that, in many cases, exist to this day.
By the first third of the 19th century, realizing the rapid growth of the Irish population of Montreal and their ethnological and cultural importance, a group of Montreal citizens decided, after mutual consideration and much deliberation, that it was incumbent upon them to form an organization which would be indicative of their value to the community, but which was of greater importance, to maintain their ancient traditions.
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From these discussions arose on March 17th, 1834, the society hereafter to be known as St. Patrick's Society of Montreal. The society was to be in no way a political organization but largely charitable and national in purpose, and principally social and educational. Their first president was Mr. John Donnellan, a prominent Montreal citizen. The Society would be non-sectarian.
The formation of the Society was closely followed by the St. Jean Baptiste Society in June 1834, the St. Andrew's Society in February 1835, the St. George's Society whose first regular meeting was held on April 27th, 1835, and later St. David's Society and the Caledonian Society. The beautiful spirit of friendliness and cooperation between the various National Societies since their inception has been notable and has persisted throughout the years. The National qualities and purposes of the various bodies were warmly commented upon by the Honorable Peter McGill, first English-speaking Mayor of Montreal at a dinner given by St. Patrick's Society on the evening of March 17th, 1836.
The headquarters of the Society previous to the erection of St. Patrick's Hall in the year 1865, was the Albion Hotel on McGill Street, and at other 2 times in the old St. Lawrence Hall. Later, when St. Patrick's Hall was completed, the Society formally took over the premises, the building occupying the site bounded on the North by Craig Street; West by Victoria Square; and South by Fortification Lane.
It was a matter of great regret that some of the minutes of the Society from its inception appear to have been destroyed by fire in the month of September 1872. These annals would undoubtedly prove of great historical value to the City of Montreal. Hence, no comment can be made as to the attitude taken by the Society during the fateful years of 1837 and their aftermath, the years of the uprising of the body known as 'Les Fils de la Liberte', culminating in the burning of the Parliament Buildings in Montreal, then (1849) located in the vicinity of Youville Square-McGill Street.
Such are the strange vagaries of history. Had it not been for the incident referred to in this memorial, Montreal would likely have been chosen as the capital city of the Dominion, and we might have witnessed the Parliament Buildings on the slopes of Mount Royal. Again, in spite of the absence of the writtenrecord to indicate the activities of the Society, it is a matter of pride that the Society took a prominent part in endeavoring to alleviate the sufferings of the Irish immigrants who flocked to Canada in the thousands in an endeavor to escape the ravages of a famine-infested land during the years 1846-1848. They came hoping to find new homes in America, only to find death in one of its worst forms, the fearful plague oftyphus, (better known and referred).
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