Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-06-15
A. !. L. CONVENTION.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST DAYS SESSION
OF THE ORDER.
Bishop Kain's Address Of Welcome at the Cathe-
dral-Full Text Of the Resolutions
Adoptsd-Will Adjourn To-Day.

The State Convention Of the Ancient
Order OF Hibernians met in this city
yesterday. The delegates assembled at
A. o. U. w. hall, corner Market and
Twelfth streets, about half past eight
o'clock, and proceeded to st. Joseph's
Cathedral, where solemn high mass was
sung at nine O'Clock. The church was
well filed with members of the order
and their friends. Rev. Father Nc
ElliSott, Chaplain of Wheeling Division
No. |, was the celebrant, assisted by
Father Reynolds, Mgr. Sullivan, Father
O'Connor, of Clarksburg; Father Wer-
ninger, OF Huntington; Father Tracy,
OF Weston and Father Park, Of Mt. de
Chantal. At the conclusion OF mass
RI. Rev. J. j. Kahn delivered the fol-
lowing sermon to the delegates:
THE BISHOPS ADDRESS.
''Be Of one mind-have peace. and the
God of peace and Of love shall be with
you" ii Cor. XIII, ii.
In thse words Of the great Apostle OF
the Gentiles, we express TO you, GEAR
brethren. on this occasion OF your State
Convention, our greetings and our coun-
sells. The presence here to-day OF repre-
sentatives of YOUR order from the various
sections of this State and Diocese is to US
a source of unfeigned pleasure. No or
gained body in our Diocese has more lust
" deserved recognition as thoroughly
Catholic Society than the Ancient Or1er
of Hibernians. To US this rather
a matter Of Course-not at all
subject Of surprise. Are you not al!
the sons, or the immediate descendants OF
the sons of that land, whose chief glory
and She has mapy-is her devoted attach
ment to the Catholic church, Is not one
of the main purposes of your organization
the unfolding OF the principles OF your re-
ligion and the more faithful practice OF
those sacred principles! The love you
cherish for dear old Ireland-the land OF
your own and your fathers natlvlty-ls IN
deed most warm in your hearts, as your
very name of Hibernians implies; but that
love is cherished in your hearts chiefly be-
cause IL is bound up inseparably with love
of the old Mother Churcn-the Church
planted so firmly by your great Apostle, 81
Patrick, on Irish soil that centuries OF
cruelest prosecutions have not been aole 10
uproot it. You are acting in conformity
with these your religious principles ana as
by assisting this morning at the
Holy Sacrifice just solemnly offered up TO
draw down on you and your deliberations
the blessings of Almighty God-"the God
of peace and of love"
We know not precisely what matters may
come up before you for elaboration and
action, but whatever subjects may occupy
your attention, should be discussed, first,
from the standpoint of true Catholics ever
docile 10 the teachings Of Holy Church;
and, secondly, in the spirit commended IN
the words of my teXt-the spirit or ira
ternal good villa spirit which always
dictates lust consideration for the opinions,
respect for others feelings and love for
peace and harmony.
Stamp more and more deeply on all your
members the Catholic character Of your
Insist on your society being
al WAYS in touch with the Church and the
Church's Pastors. Let this be your glory
that whatever is Catholic is Hlbernlan
Crush out at once aud numerically, in the
future as you have done in the past, any
spirit Of INSTRUMENTATION TO ecc!eslastlcal
authority which may crop out II any
touching the furtherauce OF Cath
Ole interest is proposed, give it your hearty
appreciation and support. IL is yours,
brethren, 10 propagate here in America
that love Of holy faith, which has ever been
the distinguishing glory OF Cathohc Ire
land. You lean do more than any other
class of Irishmen TO spread the sancJifying
influences of your Holy Religion. The
Church in America feels that already she
owes TO Catholic Ireland debt OF gratitude
which can never be repaid; Tor
who can estimate the part which Ire
lands children have taken to
.,t Church of tbig
land-the admiration Of ali other countries!
Whilst no other race cheriShes deeper at
tackment TO their native land than the
children Of Ireland, none other perhaps
has shown an equal power and facility OF
adaptation to this land of their adoption,
and of assimilation of its progressive
spirit. None more readily and cheerfully
become American Catholics in sentiments
and in the whole tenor of their lives.
Whilst IL is difficult 10 understand how an
OranEemau can be a loyal American cltl-
zen, Sluce the very purpose OF the orange
Lodge is to uphold the British crown,
Catholic Irishman is only too glad to re
nouuce his allegiance to government that
for so many centuries, has tyrannized over
his native country because OF her undylng
love of the Catholic faith. We hope there
is not in all our vast country single
ID
atty who would not willingly shed his blood
for his adopted land as for his holy faith;
and if. in the supreme moment OF trial,
traitor were found, | am full sure he would
not be an Irish Catholic Whilst the Or
ange Lodges might furnish Benedict Ar
uolds to betray our country, Catholic
Ireland would send US hosts OF brave de-
tenders like Barry, who commanded our
infant, navy and Moyland, who command
ed our cavalry in the war Of independence
Hibernians, there is emo feature Of the
Irish Catholic which we shall take this &C.
casion 10 proclaim and to cOmmend-name-
", the utter absence of anything like
national or clanuish spirit where the cause
of God and His church IS to
be promoted. If good work in the
interest of religion is projected
= church TO be built, school to be sup
ported, a convent or religious institution 10
Oe opened or sustained-it seems never to
enter the mind OF an Irish Catholic to in
quire or to concern himself about the
nationality Of those who project such enter
prises. IL is enough for HIM 10 know that
his assistance is asked TO further the gen
eral interests of religion, and at once his
sympathies are enlisted. and his purse
open. His charity like his faith is truly
Catholic.
We were pleased to learn. that at your
late National Convention in New Orleans,
YOU resolved TO establish chair in the
Catholic University at Washington, and
especially pleased that the West Virginia
delegation 10 that Convention voted in
favor of that endowment. That action
puts yorr organization on record as in &C
tive sympathy. with a great project which
has the hearty endorsement OF our Holy
Father and the who lie American hierarchy,
and which is destined to exercise so power
full al influence on the future Of the church
in this country.
In all the higher studies, Catholics. lay
and clerical, must try and keep abreast OF
The times; vet in the prosecution Of those
studies they must be shielded from
the poisonous atmosphere of skept-
ical and infidel Universities, and