The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-07-16
John T. Keating, Ex-President and Now
National Director, Writes Very
Interesting Article.
History Of the Important Events That Have
Transpired at These Meetings and
Legislation Enacted.

The international biennial conven-
ton Of the Ancient Order Of Hiber-
mans and Ladies' Auxiliary will be
held in the city Of st. Louis next
week, beginning Tuesday morning.
Minnesota will be entitled to 35 dele
gates to the convention of the A. o. H.,
and it is thought nearly all will at
tend. AS the Irish Standard has given
considerable space in this weeks is
sue to minneapolis as Convention
City" and would be pleased to have
the national meeting in this city in
1906, we therefore present to our read
ers review of conventions Of the past
ten years, written for the National
Hibernian," by National Director John
T. Keating, of Chicago.
s'It is to be regretted that the Of
icials of the Ancient Order of Hibern-
fans haye not made any compilation
Of the records of the old society. It
would be of much interest to those
interested in the development of the
Irish-American to learn what part the
Hibernian played nthe trying days of
the Republics life antedating the
cival war. Without historical record
we are confident of the staunch oppo-
sition given to the Knownothing
movement, and feel assured the Order
displayed the energy and devotion
which ever distinguished it's men,
bership.
There would be much to learn from
the labors of the society in the narra-
tive of whose work could be found
expressed the active thought Of the
masses of the Irish in America. The
organized effort is the history maker,
and the record of the individual,
while rejecting honor on his race,
is no authentic evidence of the aspira
tions or principles which animate or
control people. Hence to the record
of the organized body must we look for
the reflex of the opinios of a people
and the assertions of their positions on
ItdCeE1lil
No doubt some patriotic soul will
one day gather the records Of the past
from dusty hooks, on either shore Of
the Atlantic, and give to the world the
story of society whose evolution re-
suited in its most perfect fruition be-
ing found three thousand miles from
the land which saw the birth Of the
Order. ...
With q view of interesting the men,
bers in the historical work Of the So
ciety, to the end that in the States and
Territories where it is organized the
effort may be made to preserve and
compile the history of the Order in
those localities, 1 have ventured to
submit in these columns some CON-
mentary notes on ten years Of the
ORDERS life. I have selected period
which, being near to us, even our
younger members are fairly familiar
with the subject-matter, and Of which
information is within easy reach.
have chosen this decade Of frater-
nal years because it included span of
time covering six great conventions of
the Order, and the administration of
three National Presidents who are
: still included in our membership. Por-
tions of the events of the time in
cluded have been chronicled by the
able pen Of distinguished Ohio
brother, who, however, dwelt on oc-
currences rather than policies, narrat-
ing with splendid accuracy the sad
story of the days which followed the
Chicago Convention Of 1882.
The thirty-eighth convention Of the
Order, held in New Orleans, La, had
submitted for it's consideration by the
National President comprehensive
review of the conditions Of the Order,
and while it necessarily included ref
erence to the existence of schism, II
nevertheless, in marked manner,
lifted the convention from the lowly
position of body beinniaily assem-
bled to arbitrate on fraternal differ
ences.
In Grunewald Hall the delegates