The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-02

Ancient order of Hibernians. In the
course of years there has been grad
ual separation Of the extremists among
Irish nationalists into societies by
themselves, while the Ancient Order OF
Hibernians has steadily developed
along purely social and benevolent
lines until il is practically public and
open organization. 1t has n secret rit-
ual like the others, but its work Of be-
nevolence, including sick and funeral
benefits for members. under its motto
of friendship, unity and true Christian
charity. overshadows all others.
The birth of the Ancient Order of Hi
bernians dates back TO the memorable
year of 1860. when the penal laws were
in fun operation in Ireland, and when
ii was treason to be Cathollc ana
high treason to worship in that religion.
Documents relative to the founding of
the order are scarce, for If such rec
ords were found in possession OF
member il meant transportation Tor HE
to some OF England's penal colonies.
The Ancient Order of Hibernlans mace
its fight for faith and fatherland
against heavy odds, until a more lib
eraI spirit dawned upon Irish rule ana
liberation took the place of bigotry.
Since the granting of Catholic emanci-
patton TO Ireland the scope Of the An
cient order Of Hibernians has gradual
" changed from Il militant policy u the
fraternal bcneVolenCe. There Is hafuly
a hamlet on the face of the earth where
Irfshman or their descendants dwell IN
which there does not exist a DIVISION
OF the Ancient order of Hlhernlans'
The first branch Of the order III Amer
lea was organized In New york in 1896.
To-day il has divisions in every town
and hamlet in every state in the union,
as well as the Canadian provinces.
Members OF the Ancient Order Ct III
befnlaas are practically without tNcep-
ton stanch nati0nalists although those
who have charge of the>reNolutlonary
propaganda find other societies better
vehicles for carrying ON their work
Gradually the Hibernians as an organ
fzation has come To be controlled ny
the younger element of Hlsh-Amer-
cans who believe in American policy
and The supremacy Of American lacaS
without ceasing 70 be natiunallsts 70 the
core. In the evolution OF the years y IS
even limited that a creed quallicatloh
for membership in the order VIII cease
to he essential and that Protestants ul
Irish birth or extraction VIII he au-
mitted on equal terms. This at least ~
one If the plans of the younger Gle
ment that are now uppermost in the
Western councils Of the Order one
example of this growing tolerance Is 10
he found in the chosen name OF the
Irish building that is to be erected IN
Chicago. for which the Irish fair at bat
tery ID was designed to raise the
nucleus of building fund. This struc-
ture is to be named the Robert Emmett
Memorial building" and Emmett, as the
world knows was a Protestant as well
Us Irish liherator.
There have been breaches in the An
cient order Of IIihernians, but the most
serious one ~ NOW happily being healed
by mutual compromises. In the United
States the order was split some time ago
into a hoard of Erin and board OF
America" representing the Eastern anu
Western wings respectively. The former
insisted that the headquarters Of the
order should be On irish soil and that
its policy should be directed from there,
while the latter was determined that the
orders headquarters should be in this
country and that Irish Americanism
should dictate its policy. The dissensioi
was finally left to Archbishop McFaul
as supreme arbitrator The arch
bishop has declared that the two
boards shall meet next June in Trenton,
n j.. and shall be amalagamated, no
further dissensons in management on
policy being permitted. While the
breach lasted the membership fell off
considerably. There used to be $1,000
Hihernians in Chicago alone which has
since dwindled to 1000 or 5000, but has
again taken an upward turn. There arc
now "a divisions of the order in TINS
city.
II is estimated that there are 100000
persons of Irish birth or extraction here
i'm Chicago Only "A fraction Of these
are represented in the various Irish SO
cieties The later are very numerous
and comprise temperance and church
societies, as well as the larger orders.
There is a central organization, called
the United Irish societies embracing
the larger and smaller organizations IN
one compact body. For years II has
been the dream Of Chicago lrishmen 20
have central abiding place for their
societies i'm the form of a building ot
their own. other large cities have thus
furnished adequate quarters for their
Irish societies. but Chicago has thus far
been content 10 rent quarters in no
made spirit The Germans, Poles, B0he-
mans and other nutionalities have their
own society buildings in this city, and
Chicago Irishmen have begun To con
slider il a reproach that their numerous
strong organizations have not built one.
The matter came II Il crisis at the time
of the late Carter Harrison's funeral,
when there was to he an immense turn
out Of national societies. Many of the
Irish societies were ready 90 participate.
but not having any central place of
meeting abandoned the attempt Ia make
a Joint parade. The dissatisfaction then
caused resulted ia a determination that
an Irish building should be erected IN
Chicago and the various societies agreed
to do their part.
Since that time the United Irish So
cioties Noted about $4,000 at a single
picnic at Ogden's grove, which is to be
turned into the nucleus of a building
fund. The Irish fair, conducted for the
81 t,Na ANAalsG nv - Ancient I1rJp1' of