Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-03-19
HIBERNIAN ORDER.
Eighth Annual Meeting In Manchester Tues.
day ReportO Of State Secretary c. J. O'NeiI
Of the North WaIpole Branch.


The 23rd state convention and the eighth
biennial meeting of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians in New Hampshire was held in
Manchester Tuesday in the Music hall
quarters of the Foresters of America.
State President James j. Griffin of Man
chester presided, and the county presidents
of the order were appointed committee on
credentials, reporting 26 officers and del.
egates present and entitled to voice in
the proceedings Among the number were
Charles j. O'Neil of North Walpole, state
secretary, and Edward Lawlor of the same
place, delegate.
dition of the order, which was listened to
with great interest, was as follows
ITO the officers and members of the
A. 0 H Of New Hampshire in convention
assembled, | beg leave to submit the fol
lowing report OF the doings of this office
for the past two years. The standing OF
the order December 81, 1897, was as fol-
lows: Number of divisions, 10; number
of counties organized, 8; number OF mill
tary companies, received from dues,
fines, assessments and limitations, $1S,-
1877. 08; received from interest and other
sources, $9,473 05; balance on hand at
last report, 500, 10000; total received and
on hand, $4S, 1882. Disbursements were
as follows: For merchandise, $76; for
sick and funeral benefits, $9,2S2.77; for
charitable and other purposes, $14, 048.64 !;
total amount paid out, 1923, 407 Al on
hand December 81, 1897, 1924 ,7o3 AN
During the past two years we have initi-
ated 460 reinstated, Sc; making a total
increase in membership of 516 suspended,
1876; expelled, 6; resigned, 8; died, 80,
making total decrease in membership OF
24s and leaving ret increase in
membership Of 26S. The last report
showed the total membership to be 1865,
and we have at present, in good standing,
$685.
During our term in office the following
sums OF money have been received for the
following purposes: State assessment
called June l, 1896, of 20 per cent,
$272.65; national officers assessment,
called November, 1897, OF 5 per cent,
$3.50; state. assessment, called January
8, 1898, of per cent. $77 80; merchan-
disc, $3.50; charter for ladies' auxiliary,
Claremont, So; received from ex-State
Secretary M. F. Sullivan, 81 80; chair
assessment, of Is per cent, $526.25. To-
tai, 81 ,037 30.
In addition to the amount paid on Gaelic
chair assessment during our term should be
credited 1888 70, paid by our predecessors
and making total contribution from this
state to the chair fund of $780,"
The last business before the adjourn
ment tor dinner at 80 o'clock was the
reading of the annual report of State Pres
ident Griffin, very lengthy and very
interesting account of his stewardship for
the two years just closed.
''Since our last convention" he said, ga
matter of iar-reaching and vital importance
to the American Order OF Hibernians has
taken place. You are aware that for a
number of years most deplorable division
had existed between the members OF our
organic alton, differences by which our once
united and powerful organization had been
rent in twain, and which were the cause OF
much concern and anxiety to those who
had the best interests OF our order, our
faith and our nationality at heart. After
many years of unhappy separation the
leaders OF the two branches decide that the
long-standing differences existing between
them be submitted to arbitration and that
the decision of the arbitrator be final and
binding on both sides, and with the happi-
est results the Right Rev. Bishop McFaul
OF Trenton, N. j., was selected as the ar
bltrator. He has rendered his decision,
and 1t has been accepted as satisfactory and
final by both sides, SO that now and hence
forth, l trust forever, there is but one.
grand united Ancient Order of Hibernans.
BY the wise decision of the right reverend
arbitrator much weight and Importance will
be added to our already powerful brother
hood, and it will, l am sure, create new.
enlightened and magnifed power which
will be felt without as well as within, our
ranks"
"lntensely Irish, intensely Catholic, the
Ancient Order Of Hibernians is ever zeal
Gus for tie welfare of that land where many
OF us, or our fathers, first saw the light
and were grounded in that faith which has
become part and parcel of our natures. No
gathering or convention thereof can be held