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© F.Coakley , 2026
[from A.M Harrision's Descriptive List of Insular Societies]
There are no surviving copies of the rules and regulations of this second and last of the Island's Friendly Societies for women, so it is impossible to make a detailed analysis of its organisation and operation, and its relationship to to the significantly female direction of the Sisterly Society of Douglas [1816]. From all newspaper accounts it would seem to be merely the typical parish-centred society with a strong local patron, in this case, Mrs. Emily Gawne, the daughter of Colonel Richard Murray and great-grand-daughter of the third Duke of Atholl, the last Atholl Lord of Man, at the top of the Manx social ladder, supported by her important husband E.M. Gawne of Kentraugh, Rushen, the last Speaker of the unreformed House of Keys, 1854 -1866.
Mrs. Gawne's obituary in Manx Worthies describes her as a 'true lady bountiful,...... she was regarded with affection, mingled with profound admiration and respect for her pious and amiable life. When in 1837, at the age of twenty-three she settled at Kentraugh with her husband, she "inaugurated the systematic plan of almsgiving which she carried out during the rest of her life" I Her good works other than her Friendly Society, were works to alleviate "the great destitution on the Island at the time of the Irish famine, the support of the Rushen Girls School before the introduction of public elementary education in 1872, and the large part she played in the building of Port St Mary's church"
The account of the Club's eighth anniversary, reported in the Manx Sun of 26 April 1851, reinforces this interpretation of her as a typical Victorian feminine stereotype.
"In the afternoon above one hundred of the members, most of whom were fresh-looking young women, assembled at the Four Roads, in the neighbourhood of the parish church when a procession was formed, and on the arrival of the Rushen Band they were joined by E.M.Gawne, Esq. and his amiable Lady. The procession then passed through the Port to the Pier-Head, where the vessels' flags were flying to advantage. The decorum of the procession and the enlivening strains of the Band of music combined to diffuse a general feeling of pleasure and delight. About 5 o'clock this valuable society sat down to tea with their dignified and truly benevolent patroness Mrs. Gawne of Kentraugh, accompanied by E.M. Gawne. Esq., and other warm-hearted friends. Tea being over a very encouraging report was read by Mr. Gawne, who also delivered a very suitable and humorous [sic ] speech. After which the Rev, Mr. Moss, B.A., Curate of Rushen, delivered an address on the duty and reward of diffusing the joys of life to all around. Before the company parted, the officers and members of the society stood up and in a most respectful manner congratulated their esteemed patroness on the return of her birthday-wishing her many happy returns of the same."
This account of a deeply stratified country occasion is in stark contrast with the serious spirit of the Douglas Sisterly Society and the self-confident work of its officers, and indeed epitomises the contrast of Manx town and country society itself. The Friendly Society was not recorded as active in the 1879 Commission and possibly ended after Mr. Gawne's death in 1871.
M.N.H.L., Isle of Man newspapers, ut supra
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