RULES
AND
CONSTITUTIONS
OF THE
SOCIETY
OF THE
SONS OF ST. GEORGE,
Established at Philadelphia,
FOR THE
ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE
OF
Englishmen in Distress.		
PHILADELPHIA:			
PRINTED BY WILLIAM COBBETT,		
OPPOSITE CHRIST CHURCH.		
1797.



AT A MEETING OF THE
SOCIETY of the SONS of ST. GEORGE,
April 23, 1796.
On motion and seconded,
ORDERED, That a committee of three be
appointed to revise the printed rules of
the society, and make such alterations therein
as may agree with the additions and amend-
ments since made to the same, and report to
the next meeting—When Mr. George Davis,
Mr. John Waddington and the secretary were
appointed.
At a meeting, &c. July 23, 1796.
The Committee appointed at the last meeting
to revise the rules and minutes of the society,
and make such alterations therein as may agree
with the additions and amendments made to the
same, reported, that they had revised the
rules and minutes of the society as they at pre-
sent stand, and having made such alterations
and amendments thereto as to them appeared
necessary and right consistently therewith, sub-
mitted to the consideration of the society a new
set of rules and constitutions, which being read
were left over for further consideration at the
next meeting.


( 4 )
At a meeting, &c. Jan. 23, 1797.
The rules and regulations of the society, as
reported by the committee appointed to revise
the same, being read and considered were una-
nimously adopted, and having been carried at
three several meetings of the society are recom-
mended to the adoption of the society at their
next annual meeting.
At a meeting, &c. April 24, 1797.
The Rules and constitutions of the society, re-
commended at the last meeting, being read,
on motion of Mr. John Vaughan the same were
unanimously adopted—also on motion of Mr.
Vaughan, John Waddington and George Davis
were appointed a committee to procure five
hundred copies of the said Rules to be printed,
as also a list of the members now living to an-
nex to the same.
From the minutes,
GEORGE DAVIS, Secretary.


INTRODUCTION
WERE we to trace their origin to that primeval
pair, with whom the author of nature complet-
ed the grand work of the creation, we should find all
mankind related to each other. Even at this remote
period, when the sons of Adam are dispersed through
the world, differing in complexion, customs and man-
ners, the civilized part of his descendents still retain a
kind of fraternal affection, and are prompted by huma-
nity and benevolence, to relieve the distresses and so-
lace the sorrows of their unfortunate fellow mortals, in
whatever clime or country they drew their first breath.
Pity, social love, and charity, are citizens of the
world, and extend their benign influences to the whole
human race : yet these heaven-born virtues have
bounds prescribed to them, as to the radiant lamp of
day, which shines with but a feeble beam upon coun-
tries remote from its path, while with redoubled vi-
gour, it cheers, enlightens, and enlivens those, more
immediately in its presence.
MAN, however boundless are the desires excited in
him by benevolence and social affection, is still limited
in his abilities and capacity ; and though his wishes
may incline him to be serviceable to all his fellow-
creatures, he soon discovers that he has it in his pow- 

( 6 )
er to be of use but to a very few ; conscious of this, he
begins with those to whom the ties of blood have
more immediately connected him, and widens the cir-
cle as far as his abilities will permit. Among the objects
which present themselves for his assistance and relief, af-
ter his particular relatives and friends, his countrymen
are his peculiar care. His predilection for them is by no
means the effect of narrowness of sentiment, but pro-
ceeds from the same laudable motives, which, ever
since the establishment of civil society, have induced
good citizens, not only to love, but if occasion required,
to die for their country. Policy has ever been made
use of to encourage this patriotic benevolence, and, in
some states, honours and advantages have been decreed
to those, who faved the life of a citizen. Equally
praise-worthy with preserving his life, must it be to
rescue a fellow-citizen from the iron hands of penu-
ry and want; nay, in some cases perhaps more so, for
death is often more eligible than a life of wretched-
ness.
MEN of merit are to be found in almost every nati-
on ; but mankind in common prefer the meritorious of
their own, to those of any other country. We can-
not extend our beneficence universally, and therefore
must select the objects of our charity from the general
class of mankind, by some rule or other. In forming
this rule, we are led to select those of the particular
nation from whence we originated, not only from a
desire every man has to relieve them, but because ex- 


( 7 )
perience teaches us, that to such, persons in distress
naturally think of applying for relief.
NATIONAL attachments and prejudices are for the
most part idle and unnecessary ; and when they operate
so far as to make us injure or despise persons born in a
different country from ourselves, they are indeed very
reprehensible. But although national distinction should
on most occasions be avoided, yet the necessity of form-
ing the present society is one proof, that on some oc-
casions it may answer the best purposes. Numbers of
Englishmen have arrived in this city, and being disap-
pointed in their expectations, have been reduced to
the lowest ebb of distress; and not knowing where to
apply for relief or advice, have sunk into ruin almost
unnoticed, when, perhaps, a little good counsel, or a
small pecuniary assistance, would have saved them from
destruction, and made them useful members of so-
ciety.
For the relief of such melancholy instances of
wretchedness, it is thought proper by the subscribers,
to form themselves into an association by the name of
" The Society of the Sons of St. George, established
" at Philadelphia, for the Advice and Assistance of En-
" glishmen in Distress :" and this, not for the pur-
pose of keeping alive any invidious national distinction,
which ought particularly to be avoided between the
different nations which compose the United States of
America, where all the freemen (from wheresoever 


( 8 )
they originally migrated) are brethren, friends and
countrymen, but merely that our unfortunate brethren,
as well those who are members of the society as other-
wise, and especially those Englishmen, who are stran-
gers in America, may know where to apply for advice
and assistance.
IT is therefore agreed by the subscribers, that they,
and each of them will become members of the said so-
ciety, and be subject to the following rules and regula-
tions for the conduct and good government thereof. 


RULES AND CONSTITUTIONS
OF THE
SOCIETY
OF THE
SONS OF ST. GEORGE,
RULE I. Of the society's Name, the MEMBERS thereof,
and the society SEAL.
THAT this society be called " The Society of
" the Sons of St. George, established at Philadel-
phia, for the advice and assistance of Englishmen in dis-
tress :" and that no person be admitted a member of
this society in future, unless he be a native of that
part of Great Britain called England, or unless his fa-
ther be an Englishman, or unless his grandfather or fa-
ther had been at any time, or at the time of his appli-
cation to become a member of this society was, or were
members thereof, or unless he be at the time resident
within the United States of America in the character of
Ambassador, Minister Plenipotentiary, Envoy, Charge
des affaires, Consul, or in any other ministerial capacity
B 


( 10 )
from the court of Great Britain or from under its go-
vernment or authority, in which case it shall not be con-
sidered essential to his admission, as a member of this so-
ciety during his continuance in his office, to what nati-
on he or his ancestor doth or did belong. That the
mode of choosing members be by ballot, at a quarterly
meeting of the society, a majority of whom shall decide
all disputes relative to the conduct and propriety of the
electors and election : and no person shall be admitted a
member of, or be introduced into the society, unless
he be elected by at least three-fourths of the members
present at such quarterly meeting ; but no election of
members shall be held unless twenty members be pre-
sent nor unless such member shall have been previously
proposed at the last meeting and his name entered upon
the minutes of the society ; (except honorary members
who may be elected instanter) and such new member
when chosen, shall, before he receives a certificate of
his admission, subscribe the society's rules, and pay into
the hands of the treasurer, a sum not less than eight
dollars (which sum every member hereafter elected
agrees to pay forthwith) and after such payment, he
shall receive a certificate of his admission, signed by the
treasurer and president, or vice president, and under
the seal of the society. That the members shall be
classed into resident and honorary ; the first composed
of such as reside in this city, or within ten miles there-
of, and the latter of such Englishmen, or sons of En-
glishmen, or such whose grandfathers or fathers being
Englishmen or sons of Englishmen had been members of
this society, who being now residents shall be admitted
members on presenting the society with a sum not less
than ten dollars. And moreover every resident mem-
ber shall pay quarterly to the treasurer one dollar to-
wards increasing the society's fund. That the seal of
the society be agreeably to the following description—
A shield bordered with thirteen stars; St. George slay-
ing the dragon, the eye of providence beaming on him ;
on a wreath above, a young Phœnix, rising from the
flames—The motto on the upper edge, " The seal of 


( 11 )
" St. George's Society, Philadelphia." Round the
bottom edge " I was a stranger, and ye took me in."
Over the crest—" Add to brotherly love, charity."
II. Of the OFFICERS of the Society.
There shall be chosen, by holding up of hands, on
the twenty-third day of January in every year after the
present, a president, vice-president, treasurer, secreta-
ry, a committee of eight persons to be called stewards,
and a messenger to serve in the several capacities hereaf-
ter pointed out, for the year ensuing such their electi-
on.
III. Of the duty of the PRESIDENT, and the mem-
bers with respect to him.
The president shall preserve good order and decency
at all meetings of the society ; regulate the debates,
and, in case of an equality of voices or votes on any con-
tested matter, shall finally decide the same ; but shall
not otherwise interfere further than for the regulation
of the disputes, and preserving good order. He shall
also preside at all entertainments and meetings of the so-
ciety ; and shall be treated by all the members with the
greatest deference and respect, on pain of any rude or
unruly member being subject to such fine as the majori-
ty of the society shall set, not exceeding ten shillings, or
even of expulsion, if such majority shall think proper.
The president shall also have power to call a meeting of
the society, on convenient notice, in such manner as he
shall think best.
IV. Of the VICE-PRESIDENT.
In the absence of the president, his duties and au-
thority shall devolve upon the vice-president, who shall
be supported by the members in the exercise of such
duties and powers. The vice-president is to sign and
allow of all orders on the treasurer, for the payment


( 12 )
of all sums of money not exceeding fifty dollars to be
distributed or paid, between any meetings of the socie-
ty for charitable purposes otherwise : but if the mo-
ney shall be ordered to be paid by the majority of the
society, the treasurer shall be authorized (in case of
the vice-president's refusal to sign the order) to pay
the same on a certified copy of the vote of the society,
signed by the secretary. The vice-president shall have
the custody of and control over the common seal, un-
less in case of a vote of the majority of the society, when
he shall be obliged to affix or permit the seal to be af-
fixed. He shall also direct (with the concurrence of
the president, if the president chooses to interfere)
the place of meeting at either the quarterly or annual
meetings of the society ; and shall send timely notice to
the secretary of such place, which shall be within the
city of Philadelphia. The vice president shall not sign,
or the treasurer obey, any order for a sum of money
exceeding fifty dollars, without the same shall be direct-
ed to be paid by a majority at a quarterly or annual
meeting.
V. Of the TREASURER.
The treasurer shall have the custody of all the pa-
pers, money, goods, and effects (except the book of
minutes and other papers, directed to remain with the
secretary) belonging to the society ; which he shall
safely preserve and keep for their use. He shall pay
all orders drawn by the vice-president, or in pursuance
of the order of the society as aforesaid ; and shall ma-
nage the stock to the best advantage, for the benefit of
the society. He shall keep fair and regular books of
accounts during his administration, and shall render a
true account of all monies and effects received by him
belonging to the society ; which account shall be lia-
ble to the inspection and control of the majority of the
society, who shall and may approve or disallow any
charges or disbursements therein contained. At the
end of his year he shall deliver over to the succeeding 

( 13 )
treasurer, all the books, money, papers and property,
which he had received belonging to the society ; and
shall give bond to the president and vice-president
(who shall be trustees of the same for the use of the
society) in double the value of the society stock, condi-
tioned for his, the said treasurer's, faithful observance
of all the rules of the society relative to his duty. The
said treasurer to be excused in case of fire, or other un-
avoidable accidents. The treasurer shall also collect
all fines incurred by any members and account for the
same, and shall be allowed any expense he may be at
in the collection thereof.
VI. Of the SECRETARY.
The secretary shall provide a book, wherein he shall
fairly and regularly enter all the rules and regulations
of the society, with a register of the names of the mem-
bers, and carefully minute down and record all the
proceedings of the society, at any of their meetings.
He shall make out the certificates of admission of the
members, summon the society or cause them to be sum-
moned by notice to the members resident in the city
and advertisements in two (at least) of the public
news-papers, when directed by the president or vice-
president as aforesaid, receive all petitions for charity
and deliver them to the president, vice-president, or
stewards, and keep an account of the distribution di-
rected to be made of all monies, and generally do all
the writing and necessary business of the society, which
from time to time shall occur : and shall deliver over
to his successor all the minutes and papers which he
shall have in his custody : and shall be allowed and paid
by the treasurer all his reasonable expenses incurred
in the service of the society. The secretary shall also,
after every meeting, furnish the treasurer with a list of
fines due from any members. 

( 14 )
VII. Of the STEWARDS or committee of eight.
The committee shall with the consent of the presi-
dent, vice-president, and treasurer, or any two of
them, distribute any sum or sums in charities, between
the times of quarterly meetings, provided such distri-
bution does not in the whole exceed fifty dollars or
twenty-five dollars to any one person. They shall
distribute no charity but to the brethren of the society,
and to Englishmen or sons of Englishmen or their wi-
dows and children, nor shall any be entitled thereto,
but such as are not entitled to receive relief from the
overseers of the poor of this city, unless such relief shall
appear to them insufficient : they shall provide enter-
tainments for the society and settle the bills on all pub-
lic occasions.
VIII. Of the MESSENGER.
The messenger shall be directed by the treasurer and
the secretary, who shall employ him to carry the no-
tices to the members of the society, and to collect in
the fines and quarterly contributions, he shall also at-
tend on public occasions and receive such salary or com-
pensation for his trouble as the vice-president, trea-
surer, stewards and secretary, shall think adequate.
IX. Of officers dying, or refusing to serve.
If any of the officers of the society should happen to
die or remove out of the state, others shall be chosen
in manner aforesaid, to serve the remainder of the
year ; and if any member be chosen an officer, and re-
fuse to serve, he shall forfeit and pay to the society
stock five dollars, and if any officer be necessarily absent
at any meeting another shall be chosen pro hac vice in
his room, unless the officer next in degree shall be pre-
sent, as in that case he shall do his own and the duty of
the officer absent.

( 15 )
X. Of the MEETINGS of the society, and the EXPENSE
thereof.
The society shall have stated quarterly meetings, one
whereof shall be their annual meeting on St. George's
day ; and special meetings when the same shall be di-
rected by the president, vice-president, or stewards,
with the concurrence of the president, or vice-presi-
dent. The quarterly meetings to be on every the
twenty-third days of January, April, July and Octo-
ber in every year, unless either of the said days shall
happen on a Sunday, then the said meetings shall be
held on the next succeeding day. Twelve dollars to
be paid towards the expenses of quarterly meetings and
thirty dollars to be paid towards the same purpose on
St. George's day out of the society's stock. Every
resident member absenting himself from a quarterly
meeting shall pay to the treasurer the sum of one dollar
as a fine for such absence at a quarterly meeting and
one dollar and fifty cents for absenting himself from an
annual meeting. That any member of the society
wishing to invite a stranger to the anniversary dinner,
shall submit the name of the gentleman so to be invited,
to at least two of the stewards who on approving there-
of are hereby empowered to direct the secretary to
issue the card or cards of invitation, on condition that
the member soliciting the card shall declare the visitor
to be eligible to become a member of the society, and
engaging to discharge his proportion of the expense of
the day.
XI. Of DISTRIBUTING the SOCIETY STOCK.
Not above one-fourth of the stock which shall appear
to be in the treasurer's hands as the annual settlement of
his accounts, shall be distributed in charities or other-
wise, the next succeeding year. As the society's views,
are as well to give relief to each other, as to render as-
sistance to distressed Englishmen, and contemplating 

( 16 )
that any member of this society may at some future
period (however flourishing or easy his present situation
in life) be plunged into distress by unavoidable, acci-
dental misfortune, assistances to such unfortunate mem-
ber ought as well to be attended to, as succouring the
unhappy stranger ; and as the society do not proceed
upon narrow principles, but will assist their poor coun-
trymen in a way which will be also advantageous to the
community, artificers and manufacturers coming into
this state and being natives of England or sons of En-
glishmen, shall be encouraged and assisted by the socie-
ty, more abundantly than these poor people who are
not of any trade or calling. At least two-thirds of the
society stock shall be put to interest or invested in bank
or public stock, by the treasurer. The securities for
the same or sums so lent to be taken in the name of the
president or vice-president, and it shall be expressed on
the back of the bonds or securities that the money lent
is the property of the society, which endorsement shall
be signed by the president or vice-president. No sum
above fifty dollars shall be given in charity to any one
person or family without the express order of the ma-
jority of the society present at a quarterly or special
meeting and generally the distribution and disposal of
all sums above fifty dollars must be left to the future
judgement of the society, who will determine according
to the state of the funds.
XII. Of the DEPORTMENT of the MEMBERS, during
the time of doing business.
No member, while the president is in the chair, shall
interrupt the business by talking on any other subject
than that then before the society, on pain of for-
feiting (being reprimanded for the first offence) the sum
of fifty cents for the second offence. 

( 17 )
XIII. Of the COLLECTING the FINES and QUARTERLY
PAYMENTS.
All fines and quarterly payments to be paid to the
treasurer or messenger on demand, and delinquents to
be reported to the next quarterly meeting ; and if af-
ter notice by direction of a quarterly meeting, they re-
fuse or neglect to pay before the next quarterly meet-
ing, he or they so neglecting or refusing, to be deemed
no longer a member or members of the society, until
he or they shall pay the arrears due, and at a quarterly
meeting give a reasonable excuse for his or their ne-
glect or refusal. But if any member shall be delinquent
in the due payment of his fines and quarterly payments
for the space of four quarters next after they shall be-
come due and demanded as aforesaid, and that the now
payment thereof was not owing to his absence, he shall
be struck off the list of members by the secretary, and
no longer admissable into the society but by a new elec-
tion.
XIV. Of the expulsion of members, and the mode of al-
tering the foregoing rules.
No member to be struck off the society's list unless at
least twenty persons be present at the meeting, (ex-
cept in the case declared in the foregoing rule) and a
majority of the members present at a quarterly or an-
nual meeting may alter or add to the rules of the socie-
ty, provided that such majority shall not consist of less
than twenty-five members, and provided also that such
alterations or additions shall be proposed at the quar-
terly meeting previous to the meeting at which such
alterations and additions are to be considered.
C

( 18 )
THE foregoing is a true copy of the present
Rules and Constitutions of the Society of the
Sons of St. George, &c. as revised and altered
at different times from the original rules, form-
ed on the first establishment of the Society on
St. George's day, the 23d April, 1772.
GEORGE DAVIS, Secretary.
Philadelphia, April 24, 1797.

( 19 )
LIST of the MEMBERS of the Society of
the Sons of St. George, established at Phila-
delphia.
A
*Anstie-, London
Anderson Samuel
Armat Thomas
Ashley John
B
Bache Richard
*Bache Theophilact, New-
York
Bache Benjamin Franklin
*Badcock Daniel, New-
York 	
Baring Charles
*Barclay Robert, London
Barron John
*Barret Edward, Jamaica
Bass Dr. Robert
*Beckworth George
Bell William
Bell Joseph
Bettin Dr. Samuel
Billington Thomas
*Blight capt. George,
Topsham
Bullock Joseph
*Burnett James
Blight Peter
*Blight Capt. Isaac, Top-
sham
*Bond Phineas
*Broomhead
Brown William (Distiller)
*Brown William
C
*Carter Rev. John, Bar-
badoes
Chance William (Stroud)
*Chapman Henry
Collins Arthur
Compston Thomas
Cook John

( 20 )
Coulthard William
*Cox John
Curwen Capt. George
Cutbush Dr. Edward
D
Dallas Alexander J
Davis George
*Davison Alexander, Que-
beck
Davy William
*Dickason Thomas (Bos-
ton)
Dobson George
E
F
Fell Richard
Footman Richard
*Foster Nicholas
*Franklin Temple
Furze John
G
*Gale Samuel, New York
Gatliff Samuel
Gilchrist Charles
*Glover John, New-York
Goodwin George
*Gower-
*Greaves William, Leeds
Griffith Robert E
Grubb James

(  21  )
H
*Hammond George, Lon-
don
*Hancock Joseph, London
Hare Robert
Harland John
Harrison George
*Haughton Wm. James,
New-York
*Hayton Amos, London
Hazlehurst Isaac
Hazlewood Capt. John
*Henry Dr. Thomas
Heysham Robert
Heysham Capt.  William
Holdernesse William
Huddle Joseph
Humphreys Asheton
Humphreys James
*Hyde John, New-York
I
Inston John
J
Jackson William Major
*James Benjamin (Lon-
don)
Jennings John
Joyce Dominick
K
Kerr Walter
Ketland Thomas
Ketland John
King Ezekiel

( 22 )
L
Lardner John
Lardner William
*Liston Robert (His Ex-
cellency)
Ludlam George
Lupton John
M
*Macdonald Thomas
*Maize Mathew, Bristol
Mather Richard
*Maurice Theodore, Lon-
don 
*Mawby Capt. Thos. 18
Regt. 
Mayo John
*Micklethwait John,
Leeds
Minisse Charles
*Montreson John, London
Morris Robert
Morris Robert, jun.
Morton John Pollard
Murgatroyd Thomas 
N
Nailor William
Nicklin Philip
North Richard
O
Ord Capt. George

( 23 )
P
Page William
*Parry Edward, London
*Pemberton Dr. Wm.
21 Regt.
*Penn John, jun.
Peyton Edward
Philips Henry
*Philips Waller
*Pilmore Revd. Joseph
Pollard William
Poyntell William
Price Samuel
Price Joseph
Price Thomas
Q
R
*Rauson Jeremiah (Hali-
fax)
Reynolds James
Ricardo Joseph
*Rich Henry Pye
*Roberts Daniel, London
Roberts Michael
Rundle Richard
Rundle George
S
Sanderson John P
*Scott-
*Shepherd William
*Sherbrook Miles, New-
York
*Sherman Robert, Lon-
don
Sims Buckridge
Sims Joseph
*Skyren John
*Smith Thos. jun. (Not-
tingham)
Smith James B
Smith Thomas
Smyth Frederick
*Snell William
Standley William

( 24 )
*Stansbury Joseph, New-
York
*Startin Charles, N. Y.
*Stewart Lord Henry
*Stoughton John
*Sutcliffe Joshua
Swanwick John
T
Taylor James B
Tingey Capt. Thomas
Thompson John
*Thornton Edward
Travis John
*Tyler John
U
V
Vancouver Charles
Vaughan John
W
Waddington John
*Wake Drewry, New-
Jersey
Wallace Burton
Walker Simon
*Watson Joseph
Westcott George
West Thomas
White Willm. (Right
Revd.)
Whitesides John
Wignell Thomas
Willcocks Samuel
Wilson John
*Wild William (Man-
chester)
*Witcherhead John (Ma-
ryland)
*Wolstoncroft Charles

( 25 )
X
Y
Young Charles
Z
OFFICERS ELECTED, APRIL, 1797.
President
Isaac Hazlehurst
Vice-President
Richard Rundle
Treasurer
Philip Nicklin
Secretary
George Davis
Stewards
John Travis
Robert E Griffith
John Vaughan
Doctor Edward Cutbush
Thomas Ketland
John Waddington
Thomas Compston
Joseph Bell
Those names marked thus * are honorary members.