The Society grew out of a desire among local Scots to unite for benevolent purposes, and to establish a framework for social and cultural activities. The first steps in this direction were taken on March 24, 1847 when Alexander Mitchell rallied the local Scottish community to raise funds for the relief of famine victims in Scotland. The Society was founded on January 25, 1859. The preamble to the constitution of the Society indicated that the principal cause of the Society at that time was benevolence, as declared by the words “To afford relief to natives of Scotland and their descendants who might be in reduced circumstances and in need of help.”