The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-01-08
KEEP OUT Of DEBT. ADVICE TO ORDER AND MEMBERS|
eest Earnest Effort should Characterize the Work Of Hbsanm during
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Of the Order.

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this negligence The members, also,
may so neglect the payment of their
dues as to imperil their standing as
responsible men. No thoughtful man,
who really values his membership or
the esteem of his friends and fellow
members, will permit his dues to &C.
cumulate until they involve him in
difficulties. Procrastination is a
crime against self-respect, and no Of
ficer or member should deliberately
walk in a shadow which may cloud his
own good name and the good name of
his division.
1t is not only the disarrangement re.
sulting from procrastination as it af-
fects the state financial officers, but
as it affects the division itself, which
deserves emphatic condemnation
Members-many members-are lost
through its effects. Trouble is made
for the financial secretary. Disagree
ments-sometimes of deplorable
character-occur when a member falls
ill-or when death ensues-and the
dues are in arrears. 1t is difficult to
make the families of deceased mem.
bers who have died delinquent under.
stand that our laws are designed to
benefit only members who are true to
all their obligations of membership,
and that our division treasures are
not obliged to furnish the benefits of
members whose procrastination is re.
sponsible for their bad standing on the
books.
Attention has been directed to the
desirability of every member of our
Order becoming naturalized citi-
zen of the United States at the ear.
liest possible day. This loyalty to
our country, thu fact of possessing
all legal qualihss tions of American
citizenship, is obligatory upon ali
members. 1t is one of the principles
of the Order and has been an ar.
ticle in our Constitution. But the prin-
ciple could be enlarged in its scope,
so that not only our own members,
but every member of our race, in
side and outside the Order, might
receive the benefit of our exertions
and our information.
Where Division Naturalization Com
mittees have been formed, their &C.
tivities should be extended to in.
clude any Irishman who has allowed
himself to be in the country, but not
of it. An lrishman who is not an
American citizen is handicapped in
many ways. He cannot feel that he
is free man, but is tongue.tied where
even the children can move intel.
lectually untrammeled in discussion
and in action on all public questions.
An unnaturalized Hibernian is like
a man who goes to his days work
but half-willing. There is other work
than attending Division meetings for
Hibernians to do. There are foes OF
our religion to be overcome, and II
is the duty of every full-blooded and
true-hearted lIibernian to put forth
all his powers for his privileges as q
man and his rights as a citizen.
There may be many Divisions with
out an unnaturalized member. But
there is hardly neighborhood but
has one man Of Irish blood who il
awaiting some intelligent and friend
ly guidance on the way to full Amer
ican citizenship. Such a man will vel
come the word of counsel. He viii
respond gladly to the outstretched Hi
bernian hands. It will seem fitting
to him that the Ancient Order OF
Hibernians comes to offer aid anC
solve the ofttimes perplexing problem
of attaining equal rights with those
around him.
No Hibernian can be a man with
out a country. He cannot afford tt
let the country do without him. Hi.
vote is needed. His advice is help
full. The bancful influence of Anti
Catholic prejudice cannot be success
fully combatted unless every member
of our Order is armed with all tn,
powers conferred by the laws and thu
Constitution Of the United States
There has been a guarantee of equal
ity Of opportunity-a guarantee O.
freedom of religion-which is tn,
very essence Of freedom. This guar
antee involves responsibility upon al
Catholics-and especially upon al
Irish Catholics-for when this guar
ontee was written into our Constit,
ton. the only Catholics in the cour
try, or in the Government Of the Uni
ed States, we're Irish Catholics.
1t is pleasant to reflect that ther
is a close affinity between Irish ideal
and American ideals of governmen
An 1rishman, in subscribing to til
system of laws and In accepting til
customs of this country, is simpl