The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-22
HIBERNIANS HEAR
MASS IN A BODY
Rev. Father kerrigan Delivers a
Stirring Discourse.
A. 0. H. AND THE CHURCH
Origin and Traditions of the Society.
II Has Been Identified with
Many Glorious Features of
the chureh's History.

the chureh's History.
The Ancient Order of Hlbernans at
tended mass in body at st. Pauls
church yesterday morning at 1880 o'clock.
The members occupied seats reserved for
them in the middle aisle, and behind them
sat the ladies' auxiliary.
The Rev. Father Kerrlgan was the cele-
brant of the mass and preacher Hts dis
course follows:
My Dear Brethren:
We have present today at this holy sac
rifice of the mass, body of delegates
representing the Ancient Order of TTiber-
mans. They are gathered to our fair city
from all portions of the grand old state
of Alabama. to enter into convention to
elect officers for the ensuing three years
and to discuss matters pertaining to the
good of the order throughout the state
and the country.
The Ancient Order Of Hibernans being
so intimately identified with many OF the
most glorious features CT the church's
history In ireland, IN the provinces and
in the United States, deserves more than
Passing mention; deserves recognition
from the pulpit OF that church SO much
beholden to 1t; deserves that its claims
on the gratitude of the children of that
church, regardless of nationality, should
be kept well to the fore.
A Welcome.
You are welcome, then delegates to the
Hibernian convention, within the sacred
portals of ST. Paurs. A gloom is cast
ever us today as these trappings OF woe
indicate gloom and a sorrow for the loss
of one who was identified with you more
closely and for a longer period than l.
Only believe that my welcome Is as COR
dial as would have been his. OF your
charity, remember him today In your
prayers.
1t is not my purpose this morning to
enter upon an exhaustive eulogium on
Hiberniansm, to explode. as it were,
a series of prismatic rhetorical bombs
that entrance for the moment before dis
solving into thin air. The Ancient Order
of Hibernians is too well known, too
long and deeply fixed In the hearts Of
the people, to require any such artificial
stimulus.
4 would rather refer to one special fea-
ture this morning-a feature that has
been the very well-sprng of all that has
been or can be said of Iikermanism; a
feature that gave this order existence;
a feature that has ever been, and, we
lin l.. "a
spur of its every procedure.
In Line With Traditions.
That Hibernians should be gathered IN
such goodly numbers before the altar Of
God during the holy mass ere entering
upon their deliberations is sweet and
becoming and is quite In line with the
best traditions of the order. 1t was
about the altar that this society took
its origin. In those dark penal days,
those days of exquisite horror, when the
English government, with satanic cum
ming, sought to destroy the national spirit
by roofing out its .nseparable correlative
and inspiration, the Catholic faith,
the priest and the mass were prescribed
under dlrest penalties. A price was set
as a wild animal. But the mutual love
of priest for people and people for priest
was too intense to keep them apart. No
danger, even death itself, could deter the
priest from offering his poor. forlorn,
heart broken children their only strength
and consolation during those dark hours
their blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ y, the ITolV Ifueb
The Mass Rock.
In many a bosky glen In Ireland in
those times, in many desolate mountain
corner, while the SHOWS of the grey
morning fell silently about or the wild
mountain storm chilled their. very blood,
was the sublime mystery of the mass
performed for their welfare; performed
on natures own altar-the Corrig-au-
Affriow-found SO frequently in Ireland;
the mass rock so often incarnadined and
consecrated by tho blood of the murdered
priest.
To protect their "Saggarth Aroon,"
their dear priest" from the maurauding
soldiery, the priest hunters, stalwart
Irishmen were thrown out as pickets
ready to give the alarm did danger
threaten. ready to defend with their lives
one dearer to them than life itself. 1t
was from men such as these, men en-
gagged In such work, that the Ancient
Order of tiibernians took its origin. Gould
any society have a more noble origin?
Gould any society have a more powerful
incentive to good work? Finally, can any
society," true to such an inception and all
that it signifies. ever go down in dis
honor?
Reason for Being.
Your first, reason for being then,
brother Hlbernians, was to preserve your
religion and through 1t your national life.
Although there have developed, in the
course of years. side issues cognate to
these, these have still the largest place
in your life as an order; these still sug-
gest and keep alive whatever else of
good falls to your credit. The grand and
peculiar history of the Irish race has
no parallel in ancient or in modern times.
That history represents constant strug-
gle for national llfe-a struggle. to rightly
appraise which has been the despair of
ron-partisan historians. The historian Of
Ireland has not yet been born. One in
thing that has, through all the centuries,
furnished the strength to maintain that
struggle, has consoled and encouraged
when all seemed lost; has in fact been
tpaaperahlv united with the national Issue