Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-10-21
Receiving Kindly Recognition
and support From the
Hierarchy.
viii Recognize No Spacious
Schemes of leaders or
Factibns.
FAVORS The STUDYOF IRISH HISTORY

dent of the Ancient Order of Hibernians,
speaks in glowing tefns of the progress
being made by that organization. Not
withstanding his long and tiresome trip
from Omaha to be here Irish-American
day, he cheerfully welcomed the Ken
lucky Irish-American representative for
the purpose of an Interview. He ex-
pressed himself in favor of solidifying
the divisions in many cities where there
are too many now, thereby enlarging the
field from which to select the ablest and
most competent meh for officers and
giving the organization still better adj
ministration wherever possible.
He stated that the finest military organ
ization in Chicago today was the Irish
regiment, which carried off the honors
in the big parade on the recent visit of
President Mckinley 70 the Windy City.
President Heating expressed himself as
highly pleased with his visit and recep-
ton here, ana intimates that he may pos
sibly be here again before the meeting of
the National Convention.
Many questions we're propounded to
him relative to the status of his organiza-
ton, and his answers will be read with
interest by non-members as we'll as
members:
How is the Ancient Order of Hiber-
nians?"
II am glad to be able to state that since
the union convention held in Trenton
last year the old order has made consid-
cradle progress. The net increase of
membership is somewhere between eight
and ten thousand. TIE bfanches are now
located in almost every city of size in the
nation. Financially our success has been
remarkable No encumbrances of any
kind hamper the order in any section and
the disbursement of money in relief,
sick benefits and death endowments has
reached into the millions. In some of
our county treasures tens of thousands of
dollars are being laid aside for building
and other laudable purposes"
How is it so much can be done with
so small cost to the individual MEM
ber?'
"Well, believe it almost solely due to
honest and business-like management of
society affairs. Notwithstanding the fact
the mass of our membership is composed
of those from the middle and humber
walks of life, Celtic shrewdness in selec-
ton of officers and watchfulness over So
ciety affairs controls and guides all our
dealings. II may be here remarked that
peculation, waste and malfeasance are
unknown among our officers"
"What are the general relations be-
tween the chufch and the society"
"Of the most friendly character 1t is
only natural that the 'Soggarth Aroon
should be close to the Hibernian, and in
the ranks of the order the priest finds his
most earnest church workers and most
practical Catholics. l am of opinion that
the best soldiers of the church militant
will be found in the membership of the
Ancient Order of Hibernians. 1t is in
herent in their race to be devoted to their
ancient faith, and it is admitted their
ability, courage and devotion provides the
tireless champions and fearless defenders
needed in these materialistic days of
modern thought in our great republic.
We are receiving kindly recognition and
warm support from the hierarchy III
America, that is as far as circumstances
and environment will permit or de-
mand."
ANY change in the policy of the order
since the convention in Trenton3"
mo change il principles or object
Those will never change. We labor for
the elevation of the Irish race, the
preservation of the purest traditions of
our people and the spreading of the be-
nign influence of friendship. unity and
Christian charity among the children of
the sea divided Gael. We aim to make
the Irish-American the highest type of
American citizenship and the Hibernians
the examplars to be followed and initiated
by their compatriots.
"In what other features besides the be-
nevolent do You try to interest your mem
bers2"
well, we encourage the study of Irish
history, the Gaelic language, the career
of the Irish exile ON this continent, Irish
classical music, Irish literature of the last
two centuries and the mission OF the Irish
Catholic in lands other than his own.
We endowed Gaelic chair at cost of
$50 900 in the Catholic University, WASH
ington, ID. c. We have succeeded in in
Producing the study OF Irish history in
many parochial schools and we hope to
see the same some day in the public
schools, where it is as entitled to place
as the lying works Of Macaulay, Dickens.
Hume and other authors of English his
tories for deceiving, not to instructing,
our children We want to have dog