The Society of the Sons of St. George, established at Philadelphia for the advice and assistance of Englishmen in distress, was founded in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

, on

Saint George's Day Saint George's Day is the feast day of Saint George, celebrated by Christian churches, countries, and cities of which he is the patron saint, including Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Portugal, Romania, Cáceres, Alcoy, Aragon and Catalonia. Sai ...

, April 23, 1772.''An Historical Sketch of the Origin and Progress of the Society of the Sons of St. George'', Philadelphia: Alfred M. Slocum Co., Printers, 1897, 257 pp. Earlier meetings were reportedly held at

Tun Tavern Tun Tavern was a tavern and brewery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was a founding or early meeting place for a number of notable groups. It is traditionally regarded as the site where what became the United States Marine Corps held its fi ...

. The society's charter in its act of incorporation approved by the Pennsylvania assembly on April 6, 1791,St. George's Society: ''Charter and By-laws of the St. George's Society'', Philadelphia: T. S. Manning, Printer, 1814, 16 pp. states: "To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting, know ye that we whose names are hereunto subscribed, being citizens of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Ma ...

, having associated for the purpose of establishing in Philadelphia, a society for the advice and assistance of Englishmen, in distress, and being desirous of acquiring and enjoying the powers, and immunities of a

corporation A corporation is an organization—usually a group of people or a company—authorized by the state to act as a single entity (a legal entity recognized by private and public law "born out of statute"; a legal person in legal context) and ...

or body politic in law, according to an act of assembly of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, passed the sixth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, do hereby declare, that we have associated ourselves together for the purpose aforesaid, by the name, stile, and title, and under the articles and conditions following, that is to say: Article I. That the name style and title of this corporation, shall be "The Society of the Sons of St. George, established at Philadelphia, for the advice and assistance of Englishmen in distress." St George Dragon Philly

The seal of the society was described in the act of incorporation as a shield bordered with thirteen stars, on which is depicted

Saint George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldie ...

slaying the dragon, with the

eye of Providence The Eye of Providence (or the All-Seeing Eye of God) is a symbol that depicts an eye, often enclosed in a triangle and surrounded by rays of light or glory, meant to represent divine providence, whereby the eye of God watches over humanity. ...

beaming upon him, and on a wreath above, a young

phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

rising from the flames. The motto on the upper edge was "The Seal of St. George's Society, Philadelphia," around the bottom edge, "I was a stranger, and ye took me in," and over the crest "Add to brotherly love, charity." The Society’s founding meeting was held at Byrne's Tavern, on Front Street, below Walnut Street. The first officers elected at the organizational meeting were: President, The Rev. Richard Peters, D.D., Rector of Christ Church; Vice-President, Mr. Robert Morris; Treasurer, Mr. Daniel Rundle; Secretary, Mr. Richard Peters, Jr.; Stewards, Mr. Richard Footman, Mr. Thomas Foxcroft, William Parr, Esq., Dr. John Kearsley; and Messenger, John Airey. The society carried out its charitable mission through the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...

and the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States, United States of America and its Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom ...

. In 1876, the club bought the Philadelphia mansion of tycoon

Matthew Newkirk Matthew Newkirk (1794–1868), was a banker, railroad executive, and civic leader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a director of the United States Bank, but he was best known as the president of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Ra ...

at 13th and Arch Streets, renamed it "St. George's Hall", and used it as their headquarters until the building was torn down in 1903. In the 1900s, the society provided support to British

war bride War brides are women who married military personnel from other countries in times of war or during military occupations, a practice that occurred in great frequency during World War I and World War II. Among the largest and best documented examp ...

s in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. The Society was identical to the "Society of Englishmen, and Sons of Englishmen, Established at Philadelphia, for the Advice and Assistance of Englishmen in Distress" which met at

Carpenters' Hall Carpenters' Hall is the official birthplace of the Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a key meeting place in the early history of the United States. Carpenters' Hall is located in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, ...

on St. George’s Day, April 23, 1773.J. Thomas Scharf and Thompson Westcott. 1884. ''History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884'', Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & Co., Vol. I, p. 233.Society of Englishmen, and Sons of Englishmen: ''Rules and constitutions of the Society of Englishmen, and Sons of Englishmen, Established at Philadelphia, for the Advice and Assistance of Englishmen in Distress''. Philadelphia: Benjamin Towne, 1774, http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/ER/detail/hkul/2725850, n.d. (2010).

References

{{reflist, 30em

External links

Official website
Patriotic societies Organizations established in 1772 Organizations based in Philadelphia