The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-06-13


town that has not one or more division!
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Everywhere it has been established i
has carried aid and comfort to the sicl
and helpless hope and consolation to tn.
widow and orphan, and social and mora
elevation to it's adherents.
l. With such mission its pathway Nigh
be considered easy; yet it has had its
struggles. 1t was misrepresented anc
maligned: it had to bear the most dc
termined onslanghts from open foes ane
false friends Yet today it stands pre-.
eminent among Irish societies, for Its
membership, it's wealth and it's useful
ness, and many of those Whe stood by Il
! in its darkest hour have lived to witness
its vindication and triumph.
| It can be said in truth that the growth
of the order is due to the wise and able
men who guided it's progress with prud'
ence and moderation, neither stopping IN
| their course to hurl invective at the op-
ponents or belittle their cause by
wholesale denunciation Of those who diff
fered from them. r.
! Their true Christian course had the eff
feet of causing many to stop and inquire
| into the objects of the order, and every
personal research brought a convert ia
the ranks Of the organization.
To the lover and believer in the cause
of Irish nationality, the order has it's at
fractions, because in every struggle made
| for Ireland's liberty, the Ancient Order
| of Hibernians took prominent part
Not only did they connect themselves
with the Land League and National
League, and, later still, the Irish Nation
al Federation, and other societies of a
stronger mould, to give them moral, ma
terial and financial support, but they also
generously voted money out OF their
treasures when the exigencies of the oc-
casiOn required it. 5r
The amount of money contributed by
Hibernians for the Irish cause can never
be estimated, because it was given with
out ostentation on many an occasion, and
with no other motive than the tribute Of
love and affection from the expartriated
Celt to the land of his sires.
Nor should the social features of the
organization be lost sight Of. There is a
bond of brotherhood among it's members
which unites them at all times. Where
ever Hibernlan goes in this country, Or
in any cline where the Celt has obtained
a foothold. he can visit brother mem
Der with confidence that he is always
welcome, and that he will be treated with
kindness and consideration. This is one
of the cardinal principles of the order,
and it is practiced by the Hibernians of
today in the same hospitable way exer-
cised by his fathers over 1000 years ago.
It will continue to grow and be cher
ished in the fullest sense by those who
compose this powerful organization, tin :
til it's influence and example will inspire
others with the same spirit of love and
fraternity.
The benevolent feature of this order
marks it's strongest point s'To care for
the sick and bury the dead" is a motto
which the Ancient Order of Hibernians
can claim as being particularly its own.
The statistics Of the order, in this coun-
try alone affardo an Indication of it's gen.
erous charity in this direction. 1t
amounts to many thousands dollars every
year, and the money value is doubly en-
HANGED to it's members by the consoling
thought that in the hour of direst need
and sorrow, they have friends that are
always true and loyal. Not only to its
own members is this spirit of beneyo-
lence exhibited, but to all suffering hu
manuity. This has been attested at vari.
Gus times when great public calamities
called forth the sympathy of the order.
1t has contributed to churches, schools.
orphans homes and converts, both here
and in ireland, and many an Irish priest
has had reason to bless its charity and
benevolence. 1t may be truly said that
the order has never been appealed to in
vain to aid any good cause.
In recent years, besides it's efficient OBJ
jects, an insurance feature. called the
widows and orphans fund.- has been
established in connection with the order
for the families of deceased members.
Each division has an employment bu-
reau for the purpose of providing work
for any Hibernian who may happen to
come into the district 1t is provided
also with literary committee, whose
duty it is to make the meetings interest
ing with song, speech and story.
The order is in no sense Of the word q
political organization. Individually the
members vote as they think proper; but
the order is always ready to defend it
self against injury or injustice to it's
members.
The head of the organization in the
United States is styled the national presi-
dent with whom are associated three
other officers, called respectively, the ma
tional vice president, national secretary
and national treasurer These officials.
with four others, constitute what is
termed the national directory, there is
also a national chaplain.
Appended are the names Of the nationl
officers who, since 1892, and for many
years previously, have presided over and
directed the interests Of the order, and
were again unanimously reelected ct the
biennial convention of the Ancient Order
Of Hibernians, held in New Orleans, La,
on May 10, 1892: Maurice Francis Will
here, national delegate, Philadelphia, Pa;
Michael j. Slattery, national secretary,
Albany, N. Y; Thomas J. Dundon, ma
tional treasurer, Columbus, Ohio, and the
national directory as follows: John P.
Murphy, Norwich CT; p. J. O'Connor,
Savannah, Ca; Edward Sweeney, Gin
cinnati. Ohio, J.. M. Clarke, Milwaukee,
Wis; Thomas P. O'Brien, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada; national chaplain, the
Right Rev. John S. Foley, D. d., Bishop
of Detroit, Mich. The officers and dirct-
ory are selected at the biennial conven-
tion of the order from among the repre-
sentatives present from the different
counties, territories, states and provinces
of the United States and Canada.
AT the last national convention Of the
society held at Omolla, Neb., May 10,
1894, considerable changes were made In
the constitution of the order, as well as