Foundation and formative years
The Saint George’s Society of Halifax was founded on Feb 25 1786 (just 4 Years after it’s counterpart in New York) for the “purpose of advancing and maintaining unanimity and good fellowship with each other whichever should distinguish this society”.
Membership was open to anyone who was an Englishman, or son of an Englishman. It was the sole purpose of the institution that funds accruing to the Society was deemed to be appropriated to the relief of indigence and distress. Preference was given to Englishmen or their families.
Members of the founding committee were prominent members of Halifax Society; Mr. John Tyson (lawyer) - President, George Thomas – Vice President, John Britain - Secretary, shipwrights Provo Wallis and his sons, Mr John George Pile - provincial Grandmaster of Masons (who was also a lawyer), John Merrick - Architect of Province House, and Jeremiah Pemberton - Nova Scotia Chief Justice.
It should be noted that these original rules were revised 1883 to read
1 The Society shall be called, “The St George’s Society of Halifax in the Province of Nova Scotia! And its object shall be to afford relief and advice to indigent Natives of England, or their wives, widows or children, and to provide social intercourse amongst its members ”
2 The following persons may be admitted members of this Society - ‘A native of England and Wales and their descendants.’
Why was it formed and why St George?
The years preceding this event were ones in which the fortunes of Halifax and Nova Scotia fluctuated wildly. This can be traced back to the time when the French threatened to occupy Louisburg. Halifax was established in 1749 as a British base for British troops to combat this threat.
Two major events precipitated the American Revolution for Independence from Britain, these were the Stamp Act and the tax on tea. The latter provoked the famous Boston Tea Party.
The Governor of New Hampshire was, at this time, John Wentworth who was appointed in 1776 soon after the outbreak of the War in 1775. He sided, however, with the Loyalists, was dismissed from this post and fled to England in 1777, where he spent most of the time during the American War of Independence.
His fortunes changed in 1783 when he was appointed Surveyor General of Nova Scotia. He then spent the next seven years traveling around the woods of the Province marking trees that would serve as masts for British Navy ships. In 1792 he was promoted to Governor of Nova Scotia when, at this time, hundreds of Loyalists left New England and came to Nova Scotia to swell the population of the Halifax.
In this decade Halifax changed from an untidy rundown outpost of the Empire to a prosperous thriving city, whereas in the early 1780’s stumps and rocks impeded carriages, pedestrians and anyone who wished to travel. Under Sir John Wentworth’s leadership, strenuous efforts were made to improve the roads, clean the streets and create new buildings. These included a new market house and renovation of the Poor House.
The population of Halifax rose to over 10,000 and the Province to 70,000 and there was a bright social life of the wealthy that lived in fine houses. Sir John Wentworth loved ostentation and big parties with fashionable displays at dances and receptions. In contrast, there were still many poor and destitute persons in the town, thus it was timely that St George’ Society of Halifax should be inaugurated, as a patriotic institution for good fellowship dedicated to help those in need.
Our Society Bicentenary was celebrated in Halifax in 2006.
Saint George and the Dragon
The legend goes that he was born in Cappadocia in Palestine and joined the Roman army, Acacia. His fame was born in Silena (Cyrene) in Libya, when he saved the life of the Kings’ beautiful daughter who was being offered as bait to placate the dragon that was causing havoc and panic in that country. He rode on horseback into the lake where the Dragon was furiously foaming, and slew it with his sword!
St George became a great Christian missionary and was persecuted by the Romans, killed in AD 303 and subsequently made a martyr. The Roman Emperor, Constantine, became a Christian and St George was made the Patron Saint of England at the Convocation of Canterbury in 131.
The Saint George’s Society of Halifax Inauguration and First Dinner
A first quarterly meeting of the society took place in Sutherland’s coffee house in Halifax in April 1786. It was a relatively small affair as the one held on April 25th 1795 was a gala occasion.
A levee was held in Government House at 1.00 pm followed by a sumptuous dinner. All the elite of Halifax were there, His Royal Highness Major General the Duke of Kent, Lt Governor Sir John Wentworth of Nova Scotia, the Bishop of Nova Scotia and the Colonial Chief Justice.
One hundred and forty people attended and the feast was held under a canopy festooned with emblems. Twenty six toasts were made, displays of sixty paintings and sixty colored lamps. “May British Valor and wisdom ever frustrate the evil designs of their Enemies”, ran the Patriotic theme as England confronted France’s might.
The mixed joys of Halifax 1794-1800
Duke of Kent
These were heady days for Halifax during the Duke of Kent’s sojourn in Halifax as Commander in Chief of Armed Forces. He enforced strict army discipline and instituted a system of signals that enabled messages to be transmitted between Halifax and New Brunswick. He also inspired construction of the Town Clock, the Round Church and Princes Lodge.
Sir John Wentworth
Under Sir John’s guidance, Government House was completed. He was elected President of the Saint George’s Society of Halifax in 1792 and served as President from 1792-1808 and 1809-1829 ex officio, the longest of any President. He brought great enthusiasm and drive to this group of pioneers.
During this era there was a always a conflict between the Loyalists and anti Loyalist. This was compounded when a the Sloop with 500 Maroons arrived from Jamaica in 1793. This vigorous band of men, who had been slaves, were promised freedom and land in Nova Scotia. Most of them were disappointed with their conditions here and proceeded to Sierra Leone.
Recalling History in 2008
In July 2008, a replica of the sloop the Amistad on which those immigrants made this journey arrived in Halifax and was given a welcome by our City fathers and citizens. I was lucky enough to witness the scene. Whilst I listened to the speeches, delivered very ably by members of the welcoming committee, I looked back at those stirring moments of Halifax history and wished I could have joined the group of 62 members who founded the St George’s Society of Halifax!
References
The Saint George’s Society of Halifax Judson Graham 1986
Brian C Cuthbert son The Loyal Governor Petheric Press 1936
There are many different versions of the legend of St George and the Dragon - see Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Britannica!
