The San Francisco call., 1896-06-04

in 1S98 Some of the members were tardy,
owing to the banquet festivities OF the
| preceding night, but there was a good
/ working force on hand for duty when ]. J.
! Donovan, the new president, raped for
order at 8 o'clock.
! The first business was the submission of
the reports of the president, secretary and
finance committee. They show member
| ship in California of 6782 During the
past two years the sum of $4,000 has
been disbursed for sick benefits. The
amount disbursed for charity was slightly
in excess of $4,000.
After the reports were presented ladies
of the Martha Washington Auxiliary were
received. In their honor a recess was
taken. Mrs. Captain Deasy, president,
Mrs John Ryall, vi vice-president, and Mrs.
! Captain Wren, secretary, read a paper
setting forth the objects OF their society,
and each of the ladies spoke entertain
ingly concerning the social and beneficial
features of the auxiliary. The ladies were
introduced by Colonel ]. J. O'Byrne of
San Francisco, Judge w. a. Ryan and
Edward lyman, first vice-president, of Los
Angeles.
A state board of lecturers was created in
order that the work of extending the Or
der shall be vigorously prosecuted. Father
Day was appointed for Southern Califor-
MIA, 7. r. Bannerman and J. ]. O'Byrne
were selected for Central California and
John P. Dagnin was authorized to lecture
in Northern California.
The committee on resolutions submitted
an elaborate report and an animated dis
cussion ensued.
1t was resolved that no pjcnics of the
order should be held on Sunday or Memo
rial day. Jerome Deasy was the author
of this resolution and with the aid of his
three Grand Army comrades in the con-
vention its adoption was secured.
The delegates to the National Conven-
ton, to assemble at Detroit in July next,
were instructed to vote for the system OF
electing delegates to the National body by
direct vote OF the State convention.
resolution by Colonel o'Byrne that all
divisions of the order in California give
encouragement to the projected fiesta in
San Francisco was adopted.
1t was resolved that the representatives
of the most powerful Catholic society in
the world pledge their fealty to the faith.
The pledge to maintain the constitution OF
the United States and of the State of
California was also renewed. Protest
against prescription was expressed in the
following language in one OF the adopted
resolutions of the series:
We denounce prescription of any person on
account of belief or birth, insisting that all
citizens have equal rights before the law, and
that any attempt to deprive any person of the
! II
laws of the United States and the several
States is moral treason. We denounce all
secret political societies. Whatever abuses
exist or reforms are desired should be discus sed
| fairly in the open court of American public
opinion.
In reference to a study OF the Irish lam
guage the convention adopted this:
WHEREAS, Our society, the Ancient Order of
Hibernians, has always preserved the tradi-
tions of our race, helping to perpetuate our
existence as a separate people among the ma
tions of the earth; and whereas, the possession
of national language is the most evident sign
and strongest proof which people can give to
prove their race distinct from others, ard as
without the possession of national language
an existence as distinct race cannot be per-
petuated,
We, the delegates of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians in California, in convention as
sembled, do resolve to promote the revival
of the Irish language-the language of our race
for one thousand years-by personal study and
by other means which will tend to spread the
knowledge of such language in this State, and
that we will aid the patriotic societies of Ire
| land in this work.
! Resolutions were adopted extending
thanks for courtesies to the Santa Clara
divisions of the order, to the press for ex-
| cellent reports and to the outgoing officers.