The Irish standard., 1920-04-10

are refusing to attend
theatres in which the Brady pictures
are shown.
SOME REASONS WHY WE ARE
HleERNlANs.
In the A. o. H. National Booklet, de.
signed for use in the National Mem
bership Campaign now in progress.
John O'Dea, national secretary of the
order in America. says:
On this 279th year since the modern
reorganization Of the Order of Kill
kenny, and the saith since its trans.
plantation to America, the National
officers and directors congratulate the
officers and members Of the Ancient
Order of Hibernians in America on the
success of the great membership cam
paign, and on the indestructible spirit
of Hibernianism. Hibernians are
proud of their ancient fraternity. They
know, and rejoice in the fact. that the
Ancient Order of Hibernians is not q
creation of yesterday. It's origin
reaches back to the mists of time. 1t
has survived the perils and rejoiced
in the triumphs of almost three hun
dred New Years. It has furnished
actors to every drama in the history
of Ireland and of the race. 1t has
organized and supported powerful gov
ernments, sent its chosen leaders as
counsellors to national senates and up
held the cause Of freedom during the
long struggle to liberate the land of
our fathers from oppression. Millions
of patriots have contributed blood and
toll and treasure to erect the magni-
ficent structure of Hibernianism, and
almost one hundred and fifty thousand
men and over seventy thousand wo-
men, in this continent alone, are still
rearing 1t heavenward, in courage and
harmony. with reverent hands and
hopeful hearts.
You may be asked during the prog
ress of the present campaign the
reasons for membership in the Ancient
Order of Hibernians. Such query
is natural; 1t should be respected and
answered. We are Hibernians because
the A. o. H. stands for Faith and
Motherland. We are Hibernians be.
cause the A. o. H. strives to raise the
mighty Irish people to their merited
place of honor. We are Hibernians
because the A. o. H. promotes educa-
tion, morality, good citizenship, ma
terial, intellectual and social progress.
We are Hibernians because the Order
is determined to win respect for every
worthy Irish,American, to straighten
the way for him and to prepare his
fellow.citizens of other races to regard
him as one Of the strongest factors in
the citizenship Of this majestic Com
monwealth. We are Hibernians be.
cause It is our destiny to watch over
the weak, to guard the defenseless, to
aid in the founding of churches and
schools, and to enlarge the oppor.
tunities which citizenship confers. We
are Hibernians because our Order is a
missionary society, inheriting the re-
ligious fervor Of our ancestors, and in.
culcating by every means in our power
the truths which have been transmit
ted to US through long line Of saints
and scholars. We are Hibernians be-
cause we are the trustees of the fame
Of those pioneers who blazed the path
through the wilderness; of those
soldiers who bled on every field from
Quebec to Argonne Forest, of those
statesmen who lavished their genius
in, the service of America; of those
gifted writer's whose pens have illum-
ined the pages Of an immortal litera-
ture, and Of those dauntless tribunes
whose achievements have preserved
the liberties of our citizens from en-
croachment.
We are Hibernians because the
QTcCAOuS tEcd6uTSS VI 1TASu u1SLOTy
must not remain in the dark mine of
oblivion, but must be brought forth to
delight the eyes and enrich the intel
lects Of our children, influencing and
winning the veneration and the ad-
miration Of cultivated mankind. We
are Hibernians because the annals of
the past warn us that hostile preju-
dices menace our security as citizens,
and remembering the words of Burke:
EARLY and provident organization is
the mother of safety"
We are Hibernians because the
Order has enabled scores of thousands
to secure safety, to win honor, to pass
through the open door of opportunity
and to earn better Nvelihoods for
themselves and families. We are Hi.
bernians because the Order has given
millions of dollars to patriotism, edu-
cation charity and religion nava sick