The meeting expressed itself as heartily in favor of the project mentioned in the two letters and referred the subject-matter to the executive council of the Society. On the same evening that this celebration of the battle anniversary was being held by our members at the Aquidneck, another celebration of the anniversary was taking place at the Newport Casino, under the auspices of the Newport Sons of the Revolution. During the evening, greetings were sent by the Sons assembled at the Casino to our members at the Aquidneck. Messrs. Sanborn and Garrettson of Newport, and Lieutenant Commander Murdock, U. S. N., were delegated to proceed to the Aquidneck and present our members a handsome floral tribute. The presentation speech was made by Mr. Garrettson, and the tribute was accepted, on behalf of our Society, by Mayor Boyle. Later, several of our members accepted an invitation from the Sons to be their guests, and proceeded to the Casino, where they were warmly greeted and hospitably entertained. John P. Sanborn of the Sons, who was then presiding, paid a glowing tribute to Gen. John Sullivan and to the Irish element, generally, in American history. While at the Casino, several of our members were called on for remarks and responded. Thus Mayor Boyle made a brief address, as did Mayor Driscoll of New Haven, Conn. John J. Rooney of New York recited a patriotic poem, and Hon. James F. Brennan of Peterborough, N. H., spoke eloquently of the services of General Sullivan. PAPERS OF THE YEAR. READ BY MEMBERS AT MEETINGS OF THE SOCIETY, OR CONTRIBUTED FOR PUBLICATION IN THIS VOLUME. REV. JAMES MAC SPARRAN, IRISHMAN, SCHOLAR, PREACHER AND PHILOSOPHER, 1680‒1757. BY THOMAS HAMILTON MURRAY.[4] Rev. James MacSparran was one of the great men given by Ireland to Rhode Island in the early half of the eighteenth century. For nearly forty years he was rector of St. Paul’s church,[5] in Narragansett, R. I., and forms one of the grand figures in Rhode Island history. He was born in or near Dungiven, Londonderry, Ireland, about the year 1680. He received the degree of M. A. from Glasgow University in 1709, and that of D. D., from Oxford in 1731. He belonged to a Presbyterian family. His first visit within the present territory of Rhode Island was made about 1718. He came from Boston to Bristol, then a part of Massachusetts, and stopped during his visit at the house of a relative, the Widow Pompelion, who resided at the corner of Hope and State streets. Possessing credentials as a licentiate, he preached in Bristol and was favorably received. Munro thus narrates[6] the incident: