The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-30
THE A. 0. II. CONVENTION
A BIG GATHERING OF DELEGATES
IN lIERIDEN.

Tho Order Increasing with Healthy
Growth-Features of the Annual Reports
State President Murphy's Address on
Military Branches and Irish Patriotism
The Result of the Election.
Meriden. April 29.--About 100 dele
gates are in attendance at the biennial
session of the A. o. H., of Connecticut,
in this city, to-day. Prior to the open
ing Of the convention the delegates at
tended mass in body at st. Roses
church, where Rev. Father Leo, the
celebrant, delivered a stirring address.
At the conclusion of the services, the
choir sang, Game Back to Erin
The convention opened at II o'clock,
State President John P. Murphy of
Norwich presiding. After the creden-
tials of the delegates had been passed
upon, the biennial reports Of the officers
were read and adopted
State President Murphys report was
a review of the work and growth of
the order during the past twenty years.
In 1876 there We're thirty-two divisions,
with a membership Of 1907. At present
the membership is the largest in the
history of the order in the state, nearly
5000 members being enrolled. After
commencing the prosperous condition
of the military branch of the order,
President Murphy said: THE question
Is often asked, Why is it that the A. o.
H. have a military organization con-
nected with it? If these people would
read the history of Ireland, they would
at once see that our people have al
ways had a natural inclination for
military, and an examination of the
records of the battlefields of Europe
and America will show where the Celt
has always shown his valor and patriot
ism. Our race has never produced
any Benedict Arnolds to this or any
other country. Like other organiza-
tionS which have their uniformed di-
visions, we have ours, and as our va
rious state militias are limited to num-
bers, and circumstances would not per-
NIT many of our members to comply
with the discipline and requirements
of the same. The young men of the
A. O.. H., desiring military training,
established their organizations to meet
their requirements. and in that way
became thorough in the manual of
arms. No fear need ever be enter
tanned as to their taking up arms
against this grand and glorious repub-
lie, but, on the contrary, they would
be the first to be its defenders, if occa-
sion required. During our present con-
troversies with other nations, no class
of American citizens seems to be in
spirited with greater patriotism for
maintaining the rights of an American
citizen, than the men who compose our
military and civil organizations"
Palm Sunday was recommended for
the annual attendance of the order at
communion. The report favored lib
eral representation to the biennial con-
ventions on the following basis: Di-
visions with a membership ofless than
100 two delegates; $50 members, three
delegates; IT'S to 225 members, four
delegates; 275 members and upwards,
five delegates All delegates to be off,
GERS unless the coming national con-
vention changes the constitution In re-
spect to it.
The report Of the state treasurer, p.
d. Ryan of Hartford showed receipts,
November 16, 1894, to April %, 1896, OF
$9S2.20, and cash on hand previously
$55127; the expenditures were s1,1077S
leaving balance on hand of s425.69.
John D. Cunningham of New Haven
state secretary, reported the addition
of eight women's auxiliaries since 1894
located at Hartford, ThompsonvilIe
Windsor Locks, South Manchester
Naugatuck, Norwalk and two at Water
bury. The statistics of the order were
given as follows: Military companies
s; division, &c. members December 81
1895, 5,62s. The secretary's financia
statement was as follows: Balance a.
last report, s3S, 597.01; received from
limitations dues, fines, etc, $4S, "A
interest, etc, $11 060.49. Discussed mer.
chandise. county, state and national
| SO, 456sS; sundries, S11, 1882 81; sick bene
CTS, 1928, 972.S0; burying brothers, SIS,
50; burying brothers wives, 800; char
liable and other purposes, $10,S47. %
balance on hand, s3S.15002.
| The matter of a state parade this yea
was discussed and a vote taken b,
divisions upon it. OF the sixty divi
sions voting, twenty-nine We're in ia
vor and thirty opposed. The parad,
was, therefore, abandoned. The discus
sion on the matter of giving the wo
mans auxiliaries representation in Thu
convention was referred to the nationa
convention to be held in Detroit, Mich.
| in July.
! Then followed the election of officers
1t was expected by some that Their,
would be a lively contest for these po
| sitions, but they were disappointed, a
| the election passed off as harmoniousl,
| as could have been wished
| Attorney James P. Bree of New Ha
ven nominated John p. Murphy 70
| president John d. Hogan of New Ha
ven nominated John D. Cunningham
| for secretary, and Patrick Butler o
| Hartford nominated P. D. Ryan TO
| treasurer.
The officers were all unanimously re
| elected for the ensuing two years
The officers notified the conventio,
| that they were about to enter upo
| their last term, as after the next tw
| years they intended to take rest an
| give the younger men an opportunit
! to show their capabilities. Secretar
| Cunningham has now served continu
| ously for eighteen years.
The following committees were ap
| pointed by the president: