The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-13
HIBERNIABS REUNITED
Bishop MeFaul as Arbiter, Sub
mits a Plan for Reor-
ganization Which is
Satisfactory.
special to .The Jersey city News.ol

TRENTON, Dec: IS, 1S97.-Bishop Nc
Faul who was chosen arbiter of the diff
ferences between the two factions of the
Ancient Order of Hibernians made his
report Saturday.
Bishop McFaurs decision is as follows:
/. The name by which the reunited or
ganization shall be known is The Ancient
Order of Hibernians,' the word in
America shall be added only to designate
the country wherein the organization is
located
..2. The constitution in use previous to
disunion, and adopted at the national con-
~vention, held in Cleveland, O.. May 16.
1854, shall be taken as the groundwork
to which all necessary amendments shall
be made.
AT the national convention, held by
virtue of this decision, amendments shall
be recommended by a committee of five
members, appointed by the permanent
chairman, and said amendments may be
adopted by the convention after they shall
have received the approval of the arbi-
traitor.
20. The qualifications for membership
in the order are enumerated in Article x.
of the aforementioned constitution.
Among others the following will be
found;-fNo person shall become a mem
Der of this order who is not Irish, or of
Irish descent through either parent etc.
This qualification has been the cause
of much discussion in past years. l am
satisfied, nevertheless, that its retention
is necessary for the continuance, growth
and prosperity of the organization in this
country. A more restrictive, qualification
may, perhaps, be better in Europe. but in
| America it would be suicidal, owing to the
| frequent marriages of the Irish and their
descendants with other nationalities.
ut has been asserted that his quail
hcation opens the way to Objectionable
| membership. / do not concu in this view.
1t is by vote that a candidate is received
| or rejected, and, as this is a sufficient safe
guard, an additional means need not be
selected; one that will lead, sooner or
later, TO the extinction of the order in
America must be condemned by every
| member who has the welfare of the or
gahization at heart.
Moreover, as the. Irish have always
been Justly proud of the part taken by
their heroic ancestors in the cause of
church and mother land during the dark
| ages of persecution, this organization will
only be true to it's best traditions when it
cultivates and encourages the patriotic
| pulsation of every heart in which circu-
iates a single drop OF Irish blood.
g. The quarterly communications, after
the national convention neld in accord
| aL.ce with this decision, shall be m~anufac-
tlred and issued, subject to the approval
of the national chaplain, by the chief eA-
ecutive officer of the order in America,
| until the European branches of the order
hall have united, and q membership of
the Irish hierarchy shall have certified to
the national chaplain that the united body
is in harmony with the teachings of the
Catholic Church. Them as provided for
ni1nvTh nrn IN h / nic no 0rJACtfn ,nf
receiving the quarterly communications
from Europe may be considered.
You have come together like true and
honorable men. willing to make any sac
rifice for unity and harmony; you have
resolved that all differences shall be for
gotten, and you are determined to act
| your race and the general welfare Of your
organization. Your brothers in Europe
are equally m-agnanimous, and will. no
! doubt. cheerfully follow your example. /
ecutive officer, elected at the National
Convention, held by virtue of this de-
cision, communicate with the chief exec
utive officers of the European branches
of the order, and advise them to unite
by some such feasible means as you
have selected.
-. 4 bond of friendship, unity and
Christian charity shall still exist between
the American and European bodies. This
bond shall be the transfer card from
either European branch, which shall be
$3.50
the order in America.
&c. The plan of reorganization, which
is hereto attached, is a part of this de-
cision, and embraces all matters apper-
tanning to representation, conventions,
credentials, property, transfer card, con-
stitution, ritual, government of organiza-
tion,' etc.
The quarterly communications referred
to in the decision are the passwords.
The plan of reorganization referred to
provides, in belief, that all the divisions
now composing the minor organizations
of the American branch and of the Board
of Erin shall remain undiSturbed as now
| organized and shall comprise the units of
the reunited organization of the Ancient
Order of Hibernians. Where there are
| two subordinate lodges claiming the same
| number, provision is made for renumber-
ing.
In counties where there are two county
boards they are to be superseded by a sin
| gle county organization to be composed
from each of the rival divisions in that
| ganizations In existence they are to be
superseded by a single one to be organized
by delegates from the new county boards.
After the State boards are ~reorganized
a national convention is to be called by
Bishop McFaul and a single national
organization formed to. succeed the two
| present organizations. The convention
will be held in June or July of next year
and it is probably that Trenton will be
fixed upon for the place of meeting.
There are in the United States over
100, 900 Hibernians, so that the decision
of Bishop McFau will be far-reaching.