PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE SOCIETY

(Sir) David Taylor 1868-70 Colin Lagan 1926 The Belfast J.M. Calder 1871 W.B. Lowe 1927 Jas. Aiken 1872 Angus Kennedy 1928 (Sir) Robert Boag 1873 Robt. Andrew, M.P.S.N.I., F.C.S. 1929-31 Benevolent Wm. Weir, Jun. 1874 A.H. Muir 1931-33 Wm. Moffatt 1875 L.C. Gray 1933-35 (Sir) Robert Boag 1876 A.T. Allan 1935 J.A. Bulloch 1877 Rev. A. Wylie Blue 1936 Society Robt. Carswell 1878 H.C. Watson 1937 Thos. Fraser 1879 Duncan Graham 1938-46 W.B Lowson 1880 J.M. Dunn 1946 A. Doag 1881 Thos. Forbes 1947 John Findlater 1882 Jas. Armour 1948-50 W.W. Brydon 1883 P.T. Watson 1950-52 Robt. Jamieson 1884 Andrew Hunter 1952 Wm. Wood 1885 James Walker, C.B.E. 1953-55 F.E. Beck 1886 Robt. Aiken 1956-58 Jas. Inglis 1887 John McAuslan 1958 Jas. Jenkins 1888-89 John S. Taylor 1959 A.M. Blackhall 1890 A.T. Elder, M.D. 1960 (Sir) Geo. S. Clark 1891-92 John P. Brown 1961 D.C. Kemp 1893 Rev. Don Fraser, M.A. 1962 Wm. Fair 1894 W.J. McNab 1963 Jas. Dewar 1895 B.J. Proudfoot 1964 James Crawford 1896 R. Campbell Brown 1965 Wm. Campbell 1897 Alistair McAuslan 1966 W.W. Cleland 1898 John Anderson 1967 Geo. McIldowie 1899 James M. Dow 1968 Abram Combe 1900 John Landells 1969 Wm. Brown 1901-02 John M. Weir 1970 (Sir) Jas. Henderson, D.L. 1903 Malcolm Brodie, M.B.E. 1971-73 John Boyd 1904 John C. Brow 1973 Walter Archibald 1905 Donald A. Macniven 1974-75 John McKellar 1906 W.F. Dennis 1976 J.A. Bulloch 1907-08 G.S.N. Hawthorn 1977 of Peter Galloway 1909 G.I. Raffan 1978 David Purves, D.D. 1910 R.J. Anderson 1979 J. Syminton, F.R.S. 1911 Alistair Gray 1980 Thos. G. Sheriff 1912 G.D.B. Harkness 1981 St. Andrew Wm. Hunter 1913 J. Allan Gray, M.B.E. 1982 John Connell 1916 Alan S. Watt, J.P. 1983 James Taylor 1917-19 R.B.S. Robertson 1984 Robt. Watt, M.B. 1919 Ian M. Paterson 1985 Robt. Veitch 1920 Charles Logan 1986 Walter Knox 1921 John B. Bell 1987 James A. Clelaned, D.L. 1922 John F. Kerr, F.R.I.C.S. 1988 “Our ain ills aye hae strength to bear, William Strahan 1923-25 David J. Allardyce 1989 Ald. J.A. Duff, J.P. 1925 Prof. Joseph B. Fitzgerald 1990 Anither’s aye hae heart to feel”

PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE SOCIETY

Donald Robb 1991 Angus J. Brow 1992 Prof. Kenneth Brown 1993 Bruce A. Carnegie 1994 Gordon I. Raffan 1995 Lt. Col. A.E. Montgomery 1996 David P. Gibson 1997 John A. Hamill 1998-1999 Rev. Dr. A.A. Sleith 2000 Barry Lowry, M.B.E. 2001 Dr. Ian Duncan 2002 Colin McCallum 2003-2004 Graeme Kerr 2005-2006 Tony Phillip 2007-2008 Graham Gibson 2009-2010 David P. Gibson 2011 Hugh D. Wilson 2012-2018 David Pratt 2018

The Belfast Benevolent Society of St. Andrew

The Society’s Burial Ground, Belfast City Cemetery

The Society has its own burial ground in the Belfast City Cemetery. It is the final resting place of Mr. William McKay, grandson of Flora McDonald, who was buried there on 30 June 1880. PRESIDENT’S CHAIN—The central oval medal in silver is inscribed on the reverse: The burial ground is available to any Member of the Society. “Presented by Thomas Fraser, President, 1880”. The centrepiece of the main chain is inscribed, again on the reverse: “James Taylor, 1917-18, 1918-19”. Each plaque bears the name of one President on the front and one on the back. To accommodate the number of plaques the chain was re-designed in 1986 to form a double row.

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA St. Andrew’s Society of the City of Albany Illinois St. Andrew’s Society of the 150 Washington Avenue Scottish Old Peoples Home Albany 2800 Desplaines Avenue New York 12210 North Riverside, Illinois 60546-1851 Extract from the Belfast News-Letter dated 7th November 1810 St. Andrew’s Society of Baltimore St. Andrew’s Society of the State of (fifty years before we began) PO Box 4114 New York Timonium 150 East 55th Street, 3rd Floor Maryland 21094-4114 New York, NY 10022 “ST. ANDREW’S DAY St. Andrew’s Society of the Eastern Shore St. Andrew’s Society of San Francisco of Maryland 1088 Green Street The Festival of St. Andrew, the Tutelar Saint of Scotland, will be celebrated at the PO Box 1364 San Francisco Easton California 94133-3604 Donegall Arms on Friday, November 30, 1810. Dinner on the table at five o’clock. Maryland 21601

The St. Andrew’s Society of Philadelphia St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit ֍ 215 South 16th Street 2363 Rochester Road Philadelphia Troy PA 19102 Michigan 48083

30th NOVEMBER The St. Andrew’s Society of Kansas City St. Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles PO Box 411304 18435 Keswick Street Kansas City #20, Reseda The stewards give this general invitation to all Scotch Gentlemen who may find it Missouri 64141-1304 California 91335 convenient to attend and they require the honour of the Company of such Irish St Andrew’s Society of Oakland St. Andrew’s Society of Washington DC Gentlemen as incline to be of the party. 4300 Black Avenue #189 PO Box 7849 Pleasanton Washington DC 20044 California 94566

Tickets—three crowns each—to be had at the SOUTH AMERICA Donegall Arms on 28th November 1810”. The St. Andrew’s Society of Rio de Janeiro St. Andrew’s Society of the River Plate c/o British & Commonwealth Society Peru 352

Rua Real Grandeza C1067AAH Buenos Aires 99 Botafogo Argentina ֍ Rio de Janeiro RJ 22281-034

We echo the sentiment MALAYSIA SINGAPORE Selangor St. Andrew’s Society The Singapore St. Andrew’s Society and invitation PO Box 6210 PO Box 49 Pudu Post Office Ghim Moh Estate Post Office 55720 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Singapore 912732

INDONESIA NEW ZEALAND The Java St. Andrew Society St. Andrew Society of Otago J1. Pejaten Barat 111/12A 24 Arawa Street Jakarta Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin 9001 Indonesia New Zealand 2 15

CORRESPONDING KINDRED SOCIETIES

SCOTLAND The St. Andrew’s Society (Glasgow) St. Andrew’s Society of Aberdeen 249 West George Street 17/18 Golden Square Glasgow G2 4RB Aberdeen AB9 8NY

ENGLAND The Scots’ Society of St. Andrew, Hull Harrogate St. Andrew’s Society c/o 8 Linden Avenue, Cottingham 14 Park Avenue North Humberside HU16 4HJ Harrogate HG2 9BQ

The St. Andrew’s Society of Manchester Westmoreland St. Andrew’s Society 185 Ashley Road, Hale, Altrincham 18 Copperfield Lane, Kendal St. Andrew Cheshire WA15 9SQ Cumbria

EUROPE St. Andrew was Christ’s first disciple. He was a fisherman, and after the Crucifixion he St. Andrew’s Society of Lisbon St. Andrew’s Society of Malta travelled abroad preaching and was himself crucified in Greece in 60AD. Feeling that he Ville Rose, Birune Road Rua Aniceto de Rosario 19 San Paul tat Targa Cascais was unworthy of the same end as Christ, tradition has it that, at his own request, he was Near Naxxar, Malta Portugal tied to a crux decussata (which we now know as the cross of St. Andrew) instead of being nailed on a classical cross as Christ was. CANADA St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg St. Andrew’s Society of Vancouver PO Box 596 775 Esquimalt During the 8th century, King Hungus McFergus of the Picts, who was already a Christian, Winnipeg West Vancouver Manitoba R3C 2J3 British Columbia was said to have been inspired to victory over the invading Saxons by a vision of St. Andrew, who assured him of success. Following the battle the king proclaimed the white St. Andrew’s Society of Petrolia Ontario The North British Society in Halifax cross of St. Andrew on a blue field as the national flag of the Picts. It remains to this day as Box 1090 PO Box 5125 the flag of Scotland. Petrolia Armdale, Halifax Ontario NON 1R0 Nova Scotia B3L 4M7

St. Andrew’s Society of St. John St. Andrew’s & Caledonian Society of The Apostle’s final resting place is at St. Andrew’s in Scotland. It was once the New Brunswick Victoria British Columbia ecclesiastical capital of Scotland; its religious traditions began in the 6th century with the PO Box 1061 PO Box 35064 founding of a Celtic settlement. By the 8th century this had a new church dedicated to St. Saint John Victoria BC Andrew. Relics of the Saint, believed to have been brought to the site by the monk V8T 5G2 New Brunswick E2L 4E6 Regulus in the mid-8th century, brought such fame to the community (formerly known as

The St. Andrew’s Society St. Andrew’s Benevolent Society of Mucross, then Kilrymont) that it became known as St. Andrews. PO Box 151 Hamilton Black’s Harbour PO Box 3082 New Brunswick Station Q, Hamilton Our Native Land has the distinction of being the only country to claim St. Andrew as Ontario L8H 7S3 patron saint although St. Andrew’s Day is observed in New Zealand as a statutory bank

St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal holiday. A fitting state of affairs in a country containing so many people of Scottish 1195B Sherbrooke Street West St. Andrew’s Society of Ottawa Montreal 711 Cezanne Crescent, Ottawa extraction. Quebec H3A 1H9 Ontario K4A 2A7

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HONORARY SECRETARY’S BADGE—Made in silver, the badge depicts crossed quills with the Coat of Arms of the City of Belfast above with the figure of St. Andrew below. It is inscribed “Presented by D. Wightman, 1883”.

Lundie G. Temple Dr. Reverend The Right

opened on Saturday 5 October 1974 by the then Moderator of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Ireland, in Church Presbyterian of The Moderator then by the 1974 October 5 on Saturday opened Part of the St. Andrew Denegarth Bungalow Complex at Mallusk, Co. Antrim. The bungalows were officially officially were bungalows The Co. Antrim. Mallusk, at Complex Bungalow Denegarth Andrew St. the of Part HONORARY TREASURER’S BADGE—Made in silver, the badge depicts St. Andrew with his cross in bas-relief in gilt. The reverse is inscribed “Treasurer’s Badge. Presented by William W. Cleland, President 1898-99”. The badge is surmounted by a half-sovereign dated 1892.

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HONORARY CHAPLAIN’S BADGE—Blue and white enamelled on gold, the badge shows St. Andrew with the saltire and includes the name of the Society and the motto “Nemo

me impune lacessit”. The reverse is engraved “Presented by Robert Andrew MPSNI, FCS, (President) 1929-30”.

THE SNUFF BOX—The snuff box is of chased silver and measures 10cm x 6.8cm x 2.9cm deep. It is engraved on the top “To the Belfast Benevolent Society of St. Andrew from one who has had the honour of being a guest at 12 anniversaries. E.J.H. 1887”.

“E.J.H.” was E. J. Harland, the co-founder of Belfast’s shipbuilding company Harland & Wolff Ltd.

HONORARY PHYSICIAN’S BADGE—The Physician’s Badge matches the Honorary Chaplain’s Badge but includes the coiled serpent and staff instead of the open Bible. The reverse is engraved “Presented by Mr. William Hunter, JP, (President) 1913-14”.

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THE AIMS OF THE SOCIETY JOHN P. BROWN The aims of the Society shall be: 16 April 1905—22 July 1990 (1) To alleviate distress among Scots and their dependants in Northern Ireland Jack Brown came to Northern Ireland before the Second World War to enter business (2) To assist such charitable or other objectives as may be deemed suitable for as an executive in the textile trade. After being recalled to Scotland during the war years, support he finally settled in the Province in 1946. (3) To afford opportunity for social meetings among the members He was a foremost Irish authority on Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, and was President of the Belfast Burns Association in 1958. MEMBERSHIP Born in Dumfries and brought up in Glasgow, he was related to Cedric Thorpe Davie, the Scottish musician and composer, and for 30 years was a committee member of the The Society shall consist of Members, Honorary Members and Associate Members. Northern Ireland Opera Trust. Members shall be of Scottish nationality by birth or have a parent or grandparent born in Scotland.

A Member who has given notable service to the Society may be admitted an Honorary Member in recognition of this service. Such Honorary Member shall retain his right to vote and hold office and shall be excused further subscription.

Any person who does not qualify as a Member may be admitted an Associate Member of the Society subject to the approval of the Committee. Such Associate Member shall not be eligible to vote or hold office other than those described in Rule 6 of the Society. THE ORIGINS AND HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY

The origin of the Society was due to the efforts of two Scotsmen, or Scotchmen as they liked to call themselves then, David Taylor from Perth and John Arnott from Auchtermuchty. They arrived in Belfast in the early 1860s and together founded Arnott’s Stores, well known for many years. Subsequently John Arnott proceeded southwards to found another business in Cork. In due course David became Mayor of Belfast and John, Mayor of Cork and they were both subsequently knighted. Together they proposed the formation of a Society of Scotsmen in Belfast for charitable and social purposes. David Taylor became its first President and John Arnott its first Patron. The first Minutes of the Society were recorded in the Belfast Athenaeum, then a private library standing in what is now 22 Castle Place, Belfast, on 14th November 1867. They contain, in the rather florid style so beloved of the Victorian era, the news that “A meeting of Gentlemen favourable to the formation of a St. Andrew’s Society in Belfast was held this evening, Mr. Alexander Gibbs in the Chair”. At a meeting held one week later, the first Rules and Bye-Laws of the fledgling Society were produced. In what was clearly a busy month, the first Annual Meeting followed in the Ulster Hall, Belfast, on 30th November 1867, appropriately St. Andrew’s Day. He joined the Belfast Benevolent Society of St. Andrew in 1946, becoming President in 1961, and for 27 years served as Honorary Secretary to the Society. On his retirement he These first Minutes also contain a marvellous description of the aims of the Society. It is was elected Honorary Life President in recognition of his services. worth relating these words as a present-day statement, not only of what the Society stands for, but what the Society does not represent in terms of a narrow provincial and The Society’s centenary celebrations in 1967 were supervised by him and he was one of nationalist perspective. the kingpins in the activities organised to raise funds for the construction of ten bungalows as part of the St. Andrew-Denegarth Complex at Mallusk in County Antrim. This is that extract: Jack was also Northern Ireland Representative of Friends of the Phoenix, an organisation This Benevolent Society of St. Andrew, which we now bring before the notice of our which organised visits to Belfast for charitable purposes of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir and countrymen, is intended to supply a desideratum long felt by the Scotchmen in Belfast, its successor The Phoenix, and he toured the United States with them. and was originated by a few gentlemen who had witnessed the good effects resulting

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With the passage of time the calls on the Society’s benevolence have gradually changed. from similar societies in other parts of the United Kingdom. Since the Second World War direct calls for aid by or to individuals have decreased, and Apart from the immediate object it has in view, it is hoped that it will be the means of to an ever greater extent the Society has been able to assist various charities and bringing together in closer communion Scotchmen who, while cherishing a lively regard organisations directly, in accord with the second part of its Aims. for the country they live in, are yet desirous of showing they do not forget the land which Towards the end of the 1960’s, however, members felt that the Society might well have gave them birth. a more specific interest, and the purchase of a suitable house on the outskirts of Belfast for conversion to an Old Folks’ Home was proposed. Several properties were viewed, but It is not, however, a Society for the encouragement of mutual esteem, or for the coincidentally at that time a large country house in Mallusk, Co. Antrim, was bequeathed fostering of that sort of nationalism which loves to dwell on the meaner and provincial to The Presbyterian Church in Ireland for a similar purpose. The house was known as attributes of a country, or at best to elevate it to the comparative detriment of another. ‘Denegarth’ and was set in several acres of grounds and gardens. In the present age, it is thought neither just nor expedient to erect strong barriers of demarcation between nationalities. Nevertheless, one may fondly cherish the endearing After several meetings between the Society and the Presbyterian Residential Trust it was associations of his early home, and the traditions and memories of his fatherland, agreed that the Trust would convert the house itself for residents requiring considerable without forgetting what is due to the feelings and prejudices of his neighbours. care, while the Society would fund the building of ten bungalows in the grounds for Patriotism is a great incentive to noble action, intensifying the love of all that is elderly residents who, while being able to look after themselves, might require some memorable in the historical, physical, moral and intellectual features of one’s native help. The total cost of the Society’s work in this venture was estimated at some £45,000, land: but it is truest and worthiest when it also inspires charity and goodwill towards of which Government funding might produce some £25,000, leaving the Society to raise fellowmen of all ranks and nations. In seeking out, and generously affording assistance £20,000 – a not inconsiderable sum in the early 1970’s. to those whom misfortune severely presses, Scotchmen will best evince their devotion to A final decision to proceed was agreed by the Society on Friday 30th June 1972, and on their native land; and in extending the sphere of their beneficent usefulness by helping that date the St. Andrew’s Denegarth Project was born. Like many new infants, it had a deserving institutions around them, they will best prove that they are not unmindful of difficult start to life: Frustration and delays plagued it, and many times hopes were the hospitality and friendship of those among whom they reside”. raised only to be dashed down. Problems loomed like Everest with building costs soaring, and with the political situation showing little or no sign of improvement many Thus was the Belfast Benevolent Society of St. Andrew inaugurated. From an initial doubted that the Society’s new baby would reach maturity. membership of 79, the Society eventually reached a record of over two hundred. The Annual Dinner, held of course on St. Andrew’s Day, regularly attracts between 200 and Dedication and hard work by many members of the Society, however, overcame each 300 Members and their Guests, many of them prominent in the Northern Ireland obstacle in turn, and steady determination coupled with tremendous help from the community. This is the oldest of the Belfast Scottish societies. The first President, Mr. business community and the banks in the Province – and particularly the Scottish (later Sir) David Taylor, Mayor of Belfast, occupied that position during the Society’s first community – ensured the final completion of all ten bungalows, each having a living/ four formative years. The City Hall was again represented in 1873 and 1876 with Alderman dining room, a double bedroom, kitchen and bathroom with excellent storage space and Boag (later Sir Robert Boag). hot press. The professional expertise both to design and supervise the construction of the dwellings came totally from within the Society’s membership, and was given at no Through the years many famous names have been associated with the Society either as charge – a contribution which was greatly appreciated. Members or Honorary Members. Viscount Brookeborough, Lord Craigavon, Sir J. M. St. Andrew’s Denegarth was officially opened on Saturdayth 5 October 1974 and handed Andrews and Lord O’Neill, all Prime Ministers of Northern Ireland; many Northern Ireland over to The Presbyterian Residential Trust free of debt, becoming probably the first Government Ministers; the Earl of Aberdeen, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; Lord Erskine sheltered housing complex in Northern Ireland, and with the design and concept being of Rerrick, Governor of Northern Ireland; Lord Grey of Naunton, the last Governor of honoured with several awards in the following years. Northern Ireland, and many others have all graced the Society with their presence at the Annual Dinner. A frequent guest was Sir E. J. Harland, the co-founder of the famous After such an exhausting project as “Denegarth” it is understandable that the Society shipbuilding firm, who presented the Society with a handsome silver snuff box inscribed played a quieter role for a number of years, although many charities and organisations “From one who had the honour of being a guest at twelve Anniversaries”. The Annual benefitted from donations. In 1987, however, it was agreed by the then committee that Dinner has a special significance, because at this function the President brings before the the Society should focus its fund-raising efforts each year principally on one, or at most Society and its guests the importance of its work, its aims and objects. The Society’s two, charities. In that year the comparatively new Northern Ireland Hospice was assisted Centenary Dinner was celebrated on 30th November 1967 in the Grand Central Hotel, by a substantial donation. Belfast, the venue for this popular occasion for many years. Mr. John Anderson was In the following year, 1988, the Society’s attention was drawn to The Royal Caledonian President, the Patron was the then Governor of Northern Ireland, Lord Erskine of Rerrick, Schools in England and the Chest, Heart and Stroke Association in Northern Ireland, and and the Hon. Secretary was Mr. John P. Brown. it was agreed that these should become the nominated charities for that year. The former organisation, founded in 1815, is a residential home for children of Service The Society’s benevolence in the past covered a wide range. Apart from the payment of personnel, either orphaned or whose parents are serving in locations abroad which are rent to beneficiaries, the Society regularly provided coal allowances and sent gifts at unsuitable for children. The only qualifications for entry are that the child is in need and Christmas time. Help in the past was also given to provide spectacles, purchase boots, buy that one parent is Scottish. It is the school’s proud boast that no child in need has ever workmen’s tools out of pawn, find places for beneficiaries in hospital. During the years been turned away. 1907-1930 assistance was given to numerous casual cases, frequently of Scots who had come to Northern Ireland seeking work and, having been unsuccessful, were left destitute. In the Presidential year 1989 support was given to The Beaconfield Marie Curie Nursing Travel tickets and the cost of meals en route during the return to Scotland were provided. Home and the Haematology Unit of The Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, and in 1990 to A great deal of service was given to the community, particularly by the Honorary Chaplain The Samaritans, Belfast. and Honorary Physician in the days prior to the National Health Service. There has, of The Society hopes in future years to continue, and to expand, its benevolence to various course, been less need for these services in a practical way recently, but holders of these charitable bodies. offices are still prepared to perform any duties required of them.

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PAST PRESIDENT’S BADGE—The badge, which is presented to each Past President, THE SKEAN DHU—This ceremonial knife bears the inscription “The Belfast Benevolent is in silver with dark blue enamelling. It is worn with a neck garter with the words Society of St. Andrew. Presented by John F. Kerr, FRICS, President 1988”. The skean “Past President” on a separate base. dhu is used to cut the haggis at the annual St. Andrew’s Day Dinner.

THE BLOCK AND GAVEL—Made in polished walnut and brass, the block has a central THE QUAICH—This two-handled drinking cup is inscribed with the name of the Society medallion inscribed “The Belfast Benevolent Society of St. Andrew. Presented by and “President’s Quaich, Presented by David Allardyce, 1990”. It is used as the W.J. Macnab Esq. President 1963”. winner’s trophy for a Society golf competition.

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