Draft:British Charitable Society

The British Charitable Society is a US private foundation. It was established in 1816 to provide aid and assistance to British people in Boston in need of support.

History

By 1816, with the War of 1812 still in recent memory, British subjects coming to the US - most of whom were quite poor - were not looked upon favorably. In order to provide aid, on September 9, 1816 at Concert Hall (located on what is now City Hall Plaza), twelve founders met to organize a Society whose object would be the relief of distressed British persons. Two years later, the Society was incorporated by a special act of the Massachusetts legislature. Early records remain in the care of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

In Bowen's Picture of Boston, an almanac of prominent Boston organizations and people, the Society was described:

A few Englishmen, mostly strangers to each other, but influenced by the same kind affections, the same feelings of compassion for their unfortunate countrymen in distress, were induced to form this benevolent institution, which was commenced November 7, 1816. The rising state of this country is and necessarily must be such, that it has an inviting aspect to many in the eastern world. Emigration to America is the common consequence of enterprise in Britain, which is continually bringing out to these shores multitudes of adventurers, a large portion of whom are mechanics and laborers ; they come hither with greater or less expectations, some succeed beyond their hopes, others have become dissatisfied, and disappointment has caused a regret that they left their home, and induced a wish to return. This floating and vacillating emigration has occupied much of the attention of the British Charitable Society. To receive them on their arrival, to advise, recommend and admonish them in their proceeding has been the object of the Society. Their charities in this way have been much demanded. Failures in enterprise, and consequently poverty, and sometimes sickness, have introduced many to their notice. By the charities of this Society over 1,000 distressed British subjects have been relieved, many of whom have been raised from the most abject poverty to a state of comfort and respectability. There are near 200 members belonging to this institution, which has about $3,500 in funds. The terms of membership require, that each and every member on ad- mission subscribe towards the funds $2 ; and any larger sum over and above this he feels disposed to contribute, is considered a donation, and recorded as such. The first year's subscription is to be paid on subscribing ; after which, the annual contributions of $2, with such larger sums as may be subscribed, ^are to be paid annually or quarterly, in advance. Persons subscribing and paying a sum not less than $25, be- come life subscribers, and are exempted from any further assessments, excepting for their proportion of the incidental expenses of the institution. The Trustees receive applications for relief, and direct proper inquiry into the circumstances and character of the applicant, and, if worthy, grant such relief as may be deemed necessary.

Present

The Society still operates today with similar criteria to those of its founding, though it has broadened its scope beyond Boston to the six New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Affiliations

• William Wilberforce, leader of the British anti-slavery movement, was a subscriber to the Society Annual Report
• Bishop Manton Eastburn, Bishop of Massachusetts, was Society President 1852-1855
• Sir Henry Irving, a notable Victorian actor, was a life member
• Sir Charles Metcalf, a diplomat whose appointments included Governor General of Canada, India and Jamaica, was a life member
• James Stark, a British-American printer and publisher, was Society President in 1901