980
ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY
The history of some of the Colony's clubs and institutions is of great interest, often owing to the personalities associated with them in the early days. In looking through old files one is struck by the large number of Scottish names that crop up, and one naturally expects to find that Caledonia's sons had formed some kind of association while the Colony was still in its infancy. Indeed, the history of the Scottish national body, the H.K.St. Andrew's Society, goes back a good many years, and it has a most interesting origin.
As early as 1877, members of the Scottish community met annually and formed themselves into a Committee for the purpose of celebrating St. Andrew's Day (30th November) by holding a dinner or a ball. Sub-Committees were appointed to undertake the work of decoration and to supervise the task of issuing invitations and attending to the dinner and wines. These activities invariably took place in the City Hall.
In these early days the cost of the celebration was defrayed by means of various sums collected through the medium of subscription lists which were sent round to the men who hailed from North o' the Tweed and who, each and all, subscribed according to their means.
The movement to form a St. Andrew's Society in Hongkong was occasioned through a controversy between the Stewards of the Ball in 1881 and the proprietor of the Hongkong Telegraph, Mr. R. Fraser Smith. It appears that certain correspondence and editorial comment in this newspaper had annoyed the Stewards, with the result that a special meeting of Stewards and Subscribers was held on December 7, 1881, in the City Hall.
Page 41
A vote of censure on Mr. Fraser Smith having been narrowly defeated, the Chairman (Hon. Mr. P. Ryrie) said that such difficulties might in future be avoided if Scotsmen in Hongkong formed themselves into a permanent Society. In compliance with this suggestion those present signed a list, and thus was born the Hongkong St. Andrew's Society.
It is of interest to record the names of the first office-bearers and members of Committee, viz; Hon. Mr. P. Ryrie (President) Mr. John Macgregor (Vice-President), Mr. A. D. MacTavish (Hon. Secretary); Mr. A. G. Marshall, (Hon. Treasurer); Dr. Stookwell, and Messrs. T. G. Williamson, John Noble, William Legge and John McCallum.
In most years since 1881, St. Andrew's Day in Hongkong has been celebrated with a Ball in the City Hall. In 1884, however, through diversity of opinion among the members, no celebration took place. Those present at the annual meeting that year were at sixes and sevens as to the form which the celebration should take, with the result stated above.
In 1893, however, there were two Balls. Owing to the terrible disaster and the great loss Hongkong sustained in the wreck of the P. & O. S.S. Bokhara, it was decided to postpone the 1892 celebration until January 13, 1893, when a ball was held as usual in the City Hall.
Page 42
980
མ--,སཾཝཾ
ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY
The history of some of the Colony's clubs and institutions is of great interest, often owing to the personalities associated with them in the early days. In looking through old files one is struck by the large number of Scottish names thet crop up, and one neturally expects to find that Caledonia's sons had formed some kind of association while the Colony was still in its infancy. Indeed, the history of the Scottish national body, the H.K.St. Andrew's Society, goes back a good many years, and it has a most interesting origin.
As early as 1877, members of the Scottish community met annually and formed themselves into a Committee for the purpose of celebrating St. Andrew's Day (30th November) by holding a dinner or a ball. Sub-Committees were appointed to undertake the work of decoration and to supervise the task of issuing invitations and attending to the dinner and wines. These activitieri invariably took place in the City Hall
•
In these early days the cost of the celebration was defrayed by means of various sums collected through the medium of subsorip- tion lists which were sent round to the men who hailed from North o' the Tweedend who, each and all, subsoribed according to their means.
The movement to form a St. Andrew's Society in Hongkong was occasioned through a controversy between the Stewards of the Ball in 1881 and the proprietor of the Hongkong Telegraph, Mr.R.Fraser Smith. It appears that certain correspondence and editorial comment in this newspaper had annoyed the Stewards, with the result that a special meeting of Stewards and Subscribers was balled on December 7, 1881, in the City Hall.
41
A vote of censure on Mr. Fraser Smith having been narrowly defeated, the Chairman (Hon. Mr. P. Ryrie) said that such diffisul- ties might in future be avoided if Scotsmen in Hongkong formed", themselves into a permanent Society. In compliance with this suggestion those present signed a list, and thus was born the Hongkong St. Andrew's Soolety.
It is of interest to record the names of the first office- bearers and members of Committee, viz; Hon. Mr.P. Ryrie (President) Mr. John Macgregor (Vice-President), Mr.A.D. Maotavish (Hon. Secretary); Mr. A.G. Marshall, (Hon.Treasurer); Dr.Stookwell, and Messrs. T.G. Williamson, John Noble, William Legge and John McCallum.
In most years since 1881, St. Andrew's Day in Hongkong has been celebrated with a Ball in the City Hall. In 1884, however, through diversity of opinion among the members, no celebration took place. Those present at the annual meeting that year were at sixes and sevená as to the form which the celebration should take, with the result stated above.
In 1893, however, there were two Balls. Owing to the terrible disaster and the great loss Hongkong sustained in the wreck of the P. & 0. 9.8. Bokhara, it was decided to postpone the 1892 celebra- tion until January 13, 1893, when a ball was held as usual in the City Hall.
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