The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-07-29
LOCAL PRIEST GIVES
INTE RESTING AcC0llhm-
OF A. oh. CONVENTiIU(fTias
REV. NJ OBRIEN, PASTOR OF CHURCH OF ST. THOMAS
AND STATE CHAPLAIN OF THE A. O. H., TELLS
J.. OF HIS IMPRESSIONS OF GREATEST CON-
L \: VENTIoN EVER STAGED BY ORDER

- VT 1140 4M< <NE001ONS
4 ~ VENTION EVER S.
Rev. M. O'Brien, pastor of the
Church of st. Thomas, and State
Chaplain of the A. o. H., has just
returned from Boston, where he at
tended the National Convention of the
Ancient Order of Hibernians and the
Ladies' Auxiliary. He gives an inter.
estfng account of his Impressions of
the convention and tells what, in his
mind, were the most important sub
jects which came up for discussion be.
fore the convention. He further
stated that Minnesota has every rea-
son to be proud of her showing in
Boston. Mr.. ] J. Regan, past ma
tional president of the Order and a
resident of st. Paul, was one of the
commanding figures at the convention
and the delegates showed their conf
dence in him by electing him. a mem
ber of the National Board Of Direc-
tors. In point Of numbers, Minnesota
ranked third in the number of dele.
gates present at the convention, only
the states of Pennsylvania and Massa-
chusetts having a greater number
present. This is a remarkable show.
ing and the worthy State Chaplain of
the Order declares that the members
Of the A. 0. H. and the L. A. of this
state are to be congratulated for
their enterprise and for the manner
in which they conducted themselves
at the sessions.
The convention not only endorsed
the Sim Feiners for the part they
took in the recent uprising in Dublin,
but congratulated them on their sac
rificing spirit. Anent this subject the
Reverend Father says: "The Sim
Feiners knew in advance that in all
probability what they proposed to do
meant defeat, but they were the
brains of Ireland and they realized
that an attempt should be made to re-
vive the old Irish spirit. Before the
rebellion, or what is commonly
termed the rebellion, ireland was
dead, both nationally and financially.
Pierce and his associates, the leaders
of the country, knew this, and they
also knew that something must be
done to foster and encourage the old
glory of the Emerald Isle. Although,
as have said, they realized that
what they were attempting was more
than likely to end in inglorious de.
feat, in fact, was almost~ doomed to
failure before its inception, yet they
were willing to, and did, sacrifice
themselves for cause that was born
before they were born and which they
knew would live after they were
gone. They knew that their native
land should have a cause, that the
Irish race must have destiny, and
in order to help fulfil that destiny,
they gave up their lives. Shall we
not call them blessed? Many practi-
cal men of the world sneered and
called them dreamers. They were
edreamers, but their dream is coming
true. This very morning Premier AS.
"quith and Lloyd George would be glad
to give Home Rule to ireland, but
they cannot give it because there is
still an Ulster, there are still Orange
men in Ireland: =, The national conven-
tion of the Ancient Order of Hiberni.
ans went on record as saying that if
Home Rule is to be given to Ireland
1T must be to united Ireland, Home
Pule for all the people, regardless of
political beliefs or creed, and that dis.
,memberment, either temporary or
permanent, would never be tolerated.
Another prominent feature of the
convention was the attempt made by
several delegates to impress upon
those present the Importance of the
Irish History Movement. A motion
was introduced which insisted that
this movement should be fostered, not
merely from year to year, spasmod
ically, but that there should be ne
'let-up of the determination to make
Irish history subject known to al
the world.
Mr.. Moore, secretary of the Irisl
Relief Fund, announced that 500 ,OOl
has already been sent to Ireland fol
the relief Of the suffering, and tina
more would be sent in the very nea,
future. He urged the members of tn,
order present to do everything II
their power to arouse the people o
the Irish race to the realization o
the seriousness of the situation Il
Ireland and asked them to be genel
GUS in their response to the appeal
for assistance which are daily CON
ing from Ireland. The delegates pres
ent subscribed several thousand do
lars to the fund and pledged then
selves to solicit further donation