Our History
The St. Andrew’s Society of North Carolina was founded on June 11, 1972, and soon after incorporated by the State of North Carolina. A group of twelve gentlemen were the incorporators: Lawrence McNeil Johnson, W. Lamont Brown, Dr. Robert Monroe McMillan, Lindsay F. Johnson, Charles McAllister, J. Cecil Beith, Donald 0. Kennedy, John Archibald McPhaul, Dr. John Lauchlin Monroe, Edward Town Taws, Jr., Garland McPherson, and H.Clifton Blue.
Lawrence McNeiIl Johnson was elected first president, Edward Town Taws, Jr., vice president, H. Clifton Blue, secretary, and Lindsay F. Johnson, treasurer. The group voted to organize a Saint Andrew’s Society and on a motion by Garland McPherson to name it the “St. Andrew’s Society of North Carolina.”
The first annual dinner was held at the Country Club of North Carolina on Saint Andrew’s Day November 30, 1972. The St. Andrew’s Society of North Carolina is the premier Scottish organization in the state, and one well respected in the nation.
Today the membership, by invitation, is limited to four hundred men of Scottish descent. In 1973 a Scholarship Program was instituted, and continues today awarding scholarships to students from Scotland for study at North Carolina colleges and universities and to students from North Carolina for study at Scottish universities. Since 1980, an annual award has been presented to the best piper and drummer in competition at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games at Linville, North Carolina.
In addition to promoting Scottish related causes and Scottish cultural history, the Society sponsors the annual Saint Andrew’s Day Dinner for members and their guests on the Saturday nearest November 30th. A dinner for members, spouses, and guests is held concurrently with the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in July. The Society is a sponsor of the Scotland County Highland Games in Laurinburg, NC in October. THE CAROLINA PIPER, an illustrated newsletter of the Society, is published semi-annually.
The St. Andrew’s Society of North Carolina initiated the designing of the Carolina Tartan, in cooperation with the St. Andrew’s Society of Charleston. This tartan is one of the first district tartans to be registered for America and the first registered for an American state—in this case serving two states. It is based on the tartan worn by King Charles II at his wedding in 1662.
The headquarters of the Society, including the archives and library, is located in Southern Pines.
The St. Andrew's Society of North Carolina
Post Office Box 3
Southern Pines, North Carolina 28388
