Pilgrims Society

The Pilgrims Society, founded in 1902 (and not to be confused with the Pilgrim Trust or the Pilgrims Group, a security company), is a British-American society established, in the words of American past-president Joseph Choate, 'to promote good-will, good-fellowship, and everlasting peace between the United States and Great Britain'. Over the years it has boasted an elite membership of politicians, diplomats, businessmen, and writers. It is notable for holding dinners to welcome into office each successive U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom and each new British Ambassador to the United States. The patron of the society is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Office holders, as of 2006, were:

• President - Lord Inge
• Chairman - Sir Robert Worcester KBE DL^[1]
• Honorary Secretary - M Peter Barton DL
• Honorary Treasurer - Ian E Barlow FCA

2008 Executive committee

• Alan Watson

History

New York Times article, dated December 13, 1973, page 28, concerning an address by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to The Pilgrims London was sent to me by The Pilgrims New York office, by assistant secretary Mrs. E.M. Simpson along with her denial as to their secret society status---

“Pilgrims Society Seeks U.S.-British Friendship. Special to The New York Times. London, Dec. 12---The Pilgrims Society, where Secretary Kissinger spoke tonight, has been fostering British-American friendship since 1902, when it was founded to “promote good relations” between Britain and the United States. Among its founders were Lindsey Russell of New York and Sir Harry Brittain of London, now a centenarian and a frequent and valued speaker at the society’s annual dinners here. There are American and British chapters and the society’s dinners are held in London and New York. The Pilgrims first dinner in 1903 was held in London. Chauncey Depew addressed it and Field Marshall Earl Roberts, the British Boer War commander, also among the founders, attended. The society’s presidents have usually been ambassadors. Members and guests are diplomats, high-ranking soldiers or other men of distinction in many fields.”[2]

Members

• Mark Angelson
• Tobie Roosevelt [3]
• Robert Sigmon, Chairman, The Pilgrims (circa 1985)[4]

Further reading

• The Pilgrims of Great Britain: A Centennial History (2002) - Anne Pimlott Baker, ISBN 1-86197-290-3

External links

• Pilgrims Society at the Project for the Exposure of Hidden Institutions

Notes

1. ^ Knighthood for Robert Worcester, MORI Chairman Ipsos MORI news release, 9 February 2005.