The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-03-10
THE FENIANS.
Written for The Intermountain Cath
Olic.)

I CTritten for The Intermountain Cath
! olic)
| In an article in the New York Trib-
une, giving an account of the Fenian
| invasion of Canada, and published in
The Intermountain Catholic of Jan. q,
! il is asserted that the name Fenian
was taken from one of the legendary
! heroes of the primitive Irish races. F"
That is not correct, and shows the
writer's lack of knowledge of ancient
Irish history
The E'iann of Erin We're no myth. In
calling themselves Fenians, John Ma
| hOny and his associates assumed the
name and title Of one of the oldest mil
itary organizations in the world. The
Fenian Brotherhood was founded by
F'ionn McCumhal (Fin McCooD long
before the dawn of Christianity. For
a long period they were the hereditary
militia of Ireland, or, what would be
termed at the present day Ireland's $
standing army, though standing armies
are of modern origin.
The tests to which applicants for
membership were subjected to were
severe ones At the present time all
that is required of the young man who
wants to be a soldier is that he be ply
sicalIy sound and perfect. He is drilled
and taught the rest; but, in addition to
those qualifications, the applicant for
membership in the Fiann of Erin was
required to be already proficient in the
art of war.
Every Fenian was supposed and eX-
pected to be a match for nine men of
any other nation. This test was ap-
piled to the recruit in this way: He
was given a sword and shield and con-
Quoted to a clump of green sedge, in
which he stood in an attitude of de-
fense; then, at a certain distance, nine
FenianS stood facing him in a row, and
at the word of command Sfmultane-
ously fired their arrows at him. If he
could defend himself against those
deadly darts he would pass muster, but
if he got wounded he would be rejected.
1t is also said that they were required
to perform wonderful athletic featS.
For instance, they should attain a GER
tain speed in running, jump their own
height and stoop under a hurdle as low
as the knee without materially lessen
;r= that speed.
Their onslaughts We're irresistible.
Coming like a spring" tide in solid
column, they bore down upon the
enemy with the fury of a hurricane;
their ranks succeeding each other like
the waves of the sea, as the foremost |
fell.
Of course many legends are told |
about Fionn and the Fenians, neyerthe- |
less they are historical characters
Kindred Irish organizations 90 the |
Fenian Brotherhood in this country |
have also adopted ancient Irish names, |
as, for instance, the knights of the Red |
Branch, whose ancient appellation was
Clan ma Craibhruadh pronounced
n-na-crave-rov-a) Brotherhood of
he Red Branch.
But aside from Fenian raids, political
and parties, there is an
revolution taking place in Ireland,
me that embraces all sects.. A move
nent that is foStered and patronized
" many English, as well as Irish; men
# learning and wealth, rich and poor
like; a movement that is bound to be
he most potent factor in reconciling
nd uniting all sections of our race,
nd the most important step towards
independence; and that is the
evival of the Gaelic tongue, the Ian
uage Of the IrisSh and the Highland
cotch. JOHN HOARE,
Morrison, Colo.