The Irish standard., 1891-12-05
TO the Editor of The Irish Standard.

cases under my own knowledge. Let
the good work go on. But in the dis
cussion of this subject let the members
avoid any personalities with those
members who may not agree with them.
In all kindness to the members who
have answered my communication feel
deeply indebted for the kindness and
consideration shown me in their discus.
SION of this important matter. Now
Mr.. Editor, the points l wish to present
in this matter are these: The whole
feature of insurance Of the A. o. Fl. is
enshrouded in too much obscuritY, and
it's different officers do not realize the
Importance of their position by not ia-
parting the knowledge of the affairs of
their respective Offices to the officers
and members OF the divisions who in
turn should impart this same knowledge
to the members of the division. This
may be done in some instances but not
so much as it ought to be. II the Off
GERS who have this knowledge Of the af-
fairs OF the Order keep it from the rank
and file how can you expect
that the members should be we'll posted
in the affairs of the Order. Or how can
you be surprised thai when wrong. i'm
pressions obtain and prevail, that the
Order does not proceed with Its old time
yigor. There is no use brothers TO try
and deceive ourselves that We are doing
we'll; we are not, and were it not for the
fortunate occurrence of organizing all
the new divisions in the country dis
tricts We would make very sorry
showing. There were Is new divisions
organized during the year ending July
lst, 1891, with a membership of 241.
There was a loss in Ramsey and Hen
nepin counties OF about $50 membe rs,
Now this shows very unsatisfactory
state OF affairs. and we need the COM
bined efforts of the whole Order to as
sist us in bringing back and maintain
ing our membership. am surprised to
hear the uncha1 liable remarks of some
Of our correspondents when they ex
claim, kick them out if they don't pay
up" Now Mr. Editor I am entirely
opposed to this proceeding. 1t costs
the Order very little, it anything, to
keep their names on the roll, and if at
any time they come in and square up"
they will be entitled to membership;
but once let man know or hear that
he has been clicked out,'' you may rest
assured that the prospects of getting
this man On your membership roll will
be very remote indeed. On the other
hand, as the constitution now stands.
he is barred from any of the benefits Of
the Order, and he cannot possibly be of
any injury to the Order as he carries all
the risk himself.
I would say word to the members
who do not live IN the large cities. aud
who do not realize the many obstacles
we have to contend With. Since the
Baltimore congress Of a couple Years ago
when che Earriersf or Catholics were
removed to certain degree, a large
contingent Of our people have awaited
themselves of this opportunity and have
been welcomed with open arms by the
various secret societies of which the
ban has been removed. We are placed
in an extremely embarrassing position.
IT we forced the constltutionupon those
members we would wreck the Order In
this county Except one or two of the
new divisions who are in excellent
shape.( My proposition is not to force
those members out at this time out to
wait until after the next state conven.
tion when this whole matter can be
presented again and if We find that the
wisdom of experience would suggest
itself to all fair-minded men, that 1t
would be inexpedient TO suspend men,
bers because they Will not accept tho
insurance feature and thereby weaken
our Order to the extent of those suspen-
slons without adding one dollar to your
insurance. We may arrive at the COIL
clusion that the question of Compulsory
insurance" be changed to Optional in
surance," thereby STRENGTHENING our
Order in a marked degree without i'm
pairing the insurance feature at all.
Now MIR. Editor, the impression
have gained from the correspondence
on this matter, leads me to believe that
am not considered friend to the III
surance feature. will say that this is
a mistake. as consider the Insurance.
feature the best thing connected with
the Ancient Order of Hibernians. and
am free to confess that have been en-.
lightened considerably on the subject
during this discussion and will say fur
Their as an evidence that this discussion
has accomplished some good. No less
than four members have made appli-
cation to the doctor in our division to
be examined so that they could join
The insurance. say most emphatically,
brothers, that the insurance is a good
ching, and much better and cheaper
than nearly, il not all, the societies who