The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-09
OUARRELING HIBERNIANS.
An Effort by the American Board to Re-
cover Property Of the Order.

PIrTsBURG, July 8-The greater portion of
the divisions of the Ancient Order of Hibern-
ians in this part of the country have seeded
from the organization and taken with them all
the paraphernalia money, etc. The same has
been done in Philadelphia New York, Boston,
st. Louis and Chicago. Tho minority is about
to bring an action for the recovery of the cap
tured property
In May. 1884, at the annual convention of the
order, held in Cleveland, the Right Rev Bishop
Gilmour, when invited to address the assembled
delegates, plainly explained that one of the
strongest objections of the Catholic Church to
the Ancient Order of Hibernians was that they
were subject to some unknown power In Europe;
sometimes in Scotland sometimes in England
and sometimes in Ireland; that the grips signs
pass words, and other secret work dictated
from this unknown source, while many
OF the members here although normally Cath
ollcs, give absolute allegiance to this mysterious
power, not knowing if it was infidel pagan, or
heretical at heart. With society thus con-
Quoted the church could have no fellowship. The
Bishop was satisfied that the vast amount of the
Hibernans in the United States loved their re-
lIgion above all else, and were willing. as
dutlful as children, to obey their mother, the
church. The church discountenanced such
foreign affiliations. Outside of this there was
little or nothing that could be objected to in the
constitution or conduct of the HibernianS in
America. He advised them to withdraw all
connection with this invisible and irresponsible
Board of Erin;" otherwise they could expect no
countenance from the Catholic hierarchy, soon
to assemble in the National Plenary Council in
Baltimore. The advice was followed and a
committee appointed. Archbishop Gibbs, of
Baltimore, and Archbishop Ryan, Of Philade-
phia, assured them that, as the Ancient Order OF
Hibernians of the United States had conformed
to the wishes of their spiritual advisers, all
that had been Objectionable in the order had been
removed.
'Now,' said Mr.. Con Morgan, who is one of
the American board of the Ancient Order of
Hiternians, prior to this action of the Cleve-
land convention our constitution provided that
the headquarters of the order should be in New
York, and that the annual convention for the
election of officers be held there. That of
course, gave the New York men absolute control
of the American order. and they packed the con-
vention to suit themselves. At those conven-
tons officers were elected under instructions
from the board of Erin. We had one hundred
members here to one in the old country, but we
allowed them to govern US through this board.
We finally decided to hold our conventions in
different cities, and so amended our constitu-
tons A number of New Workers still adhered
to the Board of Erin. They had followers in
Boston, Philadelphia and other cities. We
elected our own officers, and. as stated, formed
the American board. The New York men ap-
pealed to the Board IF Erin, of whom we knew
nothing, and the latter took them as the Ameri-
can branch, refusing to recognize the officers we
had elected 1t was then we retaliated, and in
accordance with the wishes of the church, re-
fused to acknowledge the right OF the Board of
Erin to interfere. We get our signs, passwords,
etc, from the order, but our charter constitu
tons and officers American. The kickers,
who number one out Of each one hundred NOM
hers, are those who still hold allegiance to the
Board of Erin, and they are mostly in New
York We are doing all we can to remain in the
church. for there is nothing in our order which
may not be countenanced by our spiritual
guides"