Norwich bulletin., 1910-08-31
STATE A. 0. H. AT WESTERLY
Annual Convention Held NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of Ladies
Auxiliary Reports Show Increasing Membership and
Interest-Oficers E1ected-Next Years Convention
in Providence.

The annual convention of the An
Gent Order Hibernians and Ladies'
Auxiliary of Rhode Island were held
in Westerly, Tuesday the former in
dloernian hall and the latter in EIks'
hall There was a joint meeting of the
delegates in Hibernian hall at eleven
O'Clock in the morning, which served
as the formal opening of both con-
Tent1ons. President James T. Mat
thews of Providence presided at the
joint session. He expressed gratifica-
ton at the large attendance. over three
hundred, and spoke briefly of the
growth and influence of the order.
Rev. John p. NeaIe. DID,. pastor of
st. MichaePs church, wAS then intro
duced He said he waA pleased to
meet and be permitted tot greet such
fine specimens of Irish manhood and
Tar as it was proper for him to do so,
to the town of Westerly.
Father Neale referred to a confer
ence he attended where the merits and
0emerits of the Catholic societies We're
discussed, at which there We're priests
bishops, archbishops and Cardinal Glib
bons. The cardinal said he did not
care to discuss the matter, but he said
the support sof the Ancient Order of
Hihernians and he loved the members
for their loyalty.
Father Neale. continuing said that
II was natural Tor h1m TO love H1Der-
mans for his beloved father was a
Hibernian and at his knee the speaker
learned to love the order for the grand
principles it represented These old
mer departed did great work for tha
cause and some of them were martyrs
for the faith that was in them. We of
today have taken up their work. he
said. and the motto should be Onward
and Upward and in harmony and fra
ternal charity the good work should be
continued.
Ex-Gov. James n. Higgins Of Paw
tucket was then presented. He said
he was very proud to be classed as
and equally as proud to be enrolled in
the ranks of the Hibernians. He con-
sidered it a badge of the highest dis
tinction to be an Irishman or Catholic.
Those who are loath to acknowledge
their creed and nationality do not re-
ceive as much honest consideration
at the hands of our American friends
do those who never deny their faith
and nationality
He said the first society he ever
Joined was the Hibernians and it would
be the last he would leave. Gov
ernor Higgins said he had a youngster
down at Watch Hill who was seven
months old who of course was not
not go into the Hibernians as soon as
the eligible age was reached there
would be a row in the Higgins family
He closed by extending good cheer
and congratulated the delegates on
the prosperity of the order in the state
and bespoke even greater success and
greater unity, and hoped they would
be guided by a true Irish spirit and
Catholic realization of duty to church.
race, state and nation
Mrs. Helen Ryan jolly, president of
the ladies' auxiliary, was introduced. by
President Matthews the next ma
tional president of the ladies auxil-
larry Mrs Jolly referred to the Won
derful opportunities of the Irish race
and believed that the time was ripe
for all to join hands, and that the wish
deep in the heart of every Irish man
and every Irish woman would be real
ized-to see the flag of absolute free
dom floa ting in the glens and on the
hills of dear old Ireland.