Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-05

resources enough to make it the even
$500, I also appealed to the officers of
the order to assist in procuring q set OF
colors for our A. o. H. Rifles and was
very sorry to meet with such an I'M
appreciative response. Yet, withal. re-
turn to you my sincere thanks and beg
you to pardon me for my many calls
upon you.
AS stated in my last report many Off
GERS act in no very courteous way In
their treatment of communications from
their superior officers, and as result
half Of the reports from the divisions of
this state as presented at our late
national convention, were copied from
the one two years ago. The members of
such divisions will be acquainted with
the negligence of their officers.
Acting upon instructions from our
last convention the other state officers
and myself, in conjunction with the
county delegates and officers of the vari-
GUS divisions of the city of Hartford,
made satisfactory arrangements for the
transacting of all the business connected
| with the national convention. You
have received circulars from me from
time to time regarding the proceedings.
All met with your approval and not to
trespass upon your valuable time l will
not go into details, but say as all Con-
necticut said, regardless of creed, race
or color, it was the grandest and great
est affair ever held in our state, and l
ask each of you present to convey to
your members at their next meeting my
sincere and heartfelt thanks for their
exhibition of pure and patriotic Irish
manhood given in the city of Hartford,
success in every particular; wise and
| modern changes were made for the fu-
ture advancement and government of
our order.
| Since our last convention l have re-
ceived and answered $40 letters, cards,
etc, and many of them necessitated
more than one reply, thereby mourning
considerable expense. As our grand
and noble order has reached a member
ship in the state which we least expect
ed, trust all honorable and legitimate
means will be used by you, the officers
of the various divisions, to retain the
same and also to impress upon the
minds of our members the necessity of
their devotion to our organization by a
strict adherence to the principles of the
same. Remember, also, that never in
being banded together more essential
than at the present time. Organizations
have been instituted for the sole purpose
of being hostile to our race and religion.
The very rules governing them tend to
| show it, but their inner workings are
such as to cause us to understand that
some people are going back to the days
of know-nothingism. They claim SYM
pathy and encouragement through
had an opportunity to, were it not for
true Irishmen and Catholics and to our
American principles, which claim all
men to be equal, whether born in this
or other countries.
To you, gentlemen, l most earnestly
appeal to care and provide as far as
possible for the families of our deceased
brothers. Not always is financial aid so
well appreciated as kind words and
sympathy. Keep those families fresh in
your minds and render to them all the
lgood possible. If they are in need aid
them if the children need employment
secure it for them, and be assured that
the old maxim of deeds not words will
add another link to the good of our
order.
will conclude by returning to the
state and county officers my sincere
thanks for the valuable aid and assis-
lance rendered me during my admins
tration in the discharge of my official
duties. To all members of the order 1
feel indebted for the confidence they
have held me in, and l trust that our
grand and noble order will continue
while time lasts and will always be
guided by our sublime principles of
friendship, unity and true christian
charity.
The reports of officers came next and
were as follows:
SECRETARY CUNNINGHAM'S REPORT.
State Treasurer Cunningham of New
Haven prefaced his report with a few
| rnV nrty in toh hn l,o -
convention and parade in Hartford shed
lustre and honor on the organization and
can he looked back to with pardonable
pride by those of us who in them had a
part. Our divisions and rifle companies
nobly acquitted themselves and earned
the warm praise of all beholders. The
J grand army of Hibernians in Connecti-
cut now exceeds 5 900 men and includes
in it's ranks the flower of the race from
which it draws its name and inspiration
Our countrymen rejoice in the sight OF
the gallant sons of Erin in columns ar.
rayed and in their hearts as ia ours
there grew a fresh determination to dc
honor to that land around whose inter
ests the best and truest impulses of oul
nature are entwined. The numerical
standing of the order has been increased
in the last two years by 1859 members
Since last reported to you two year.
ago we have organized nine divisions
two of which are not included in this
report. The membership by counties ii
as follows:
County Divisions Members
New Haven. 10 1875
Hartford, Is 1,604
New London, 6 52s
Middlesex, 8 261
} FaiI field, 3 39s
Windham, 4 III
Litchfield, 4 2St
Tolland, 2 IL