98
2.
At the 1899 Ball an interesting ceremony took place. This was the unveiling of the portrait of Her Majesty the Queen by H.E. the Governor, Sir Henry Blake. The picture was presented by Sir Thomas Jackson. It is interesting to note how this portrait came to be presented. At the Jubilee celebrations the first idea of some of the gentlemen in Hongkong was that there should be in the Colony a portrait of Her Majesty. A large sum of money was ultimately collected, but it was decided that it should be devoted to the Nursing Institute and the Jubilee Road. Some gentlemen, however, disapproved of the idea that the Jubilee of the Queen should pass in Hongkong without a portrait of Her Majesty to commemorate that auspicious occasion. To this end subscriptions were invited and a sum of money was subscribed and Mr. Atwell Coxon was authorised to procure a portrait of Her Majesty. The portrait was painted and Her Majesty inspected it and approved of its being sent to Hongkong. On its arrival in Hongkong, however, it was found that a large number of the subscribers had left the Colony. No subscriptions had actually been collected, and Sir Thomas Jackson determined to acquire the portrait and present it to the Colony.
1
It is also of interest to note that the picture was unveiled in the presence of Queen Victoria's grandson, Prince Henry of Prussia, who was a guest of the St. Andrew's Society that year.
The first Burns' Night celebration under the auspices of the Society took place in St. Andrew's Hall, City Hall, on January 25, 1883. In 1897, a Scots' Concert also took place on Burns' Night. A similar celebration in 1900 had to be abandoned on account of the death of Queen Victoria.
In addition to the St. Andrew's Society a few perfervid Scots in the Colony banded themselves together and in 1893 formed what was known as "The Society of The Cronies." This group was inaugurated at a dinner, held in the Hongkong Hotel on Burns' Night of that year.
Dr. James Cantlie was elected No. 1 Cronie. The Cronies contemplated holding three meetings during each year, to wit, January 25, Burns' Birthday; June 24, the Anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn; and October 31, Hallow'e'en. This ultra-patriotic body, however, ceased to function after it had held four meetings.
From its inception the St. Andrew's Society has warmly interested itself in helping the needy among its members. In the early years of its existence, having no funds at its disposal for this purpose, subscription lists were sent round among the members. The early records show that on many occasions this was done.
In 1885 a heraldic device for use on the stationery and invitation cards of the Society was designed by Mr. Wm. Ross. The design, as it is to-day, consisted of a figure of St. Andrew encircled by two thistles.
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