HIBERNIANS, ANCIENT ORDER

OF. <A Catholic Irish organization. ‘The original purpose of the society was to protect the Catholic faith and priesthood in Ireland, but later it developed ‘into a charitable and benevolent society, ‘while politically working for the independence of Ireland. Somo writers say that it originated about 1642 after the revolt in the North, and othors in 1661 when Cromwell outlawed the Irish people and forbade Catholic worship. It is well established that Rory O’Moore founded the socicty as it is today sometime in the 17th contury when it ‘was known as Tho Defenders. The ‘present namo was adopted after Catholic Emancipation in 1829. The society spread to England and Scotland, to the United States in 1836, and later to Canada, Mexico and Hawaii. Since 1884 National Conventions of the order have been bi-annual. It supports the Gaelic League, and endowed a Celtic Chair at the Catholic University of America. A Ladies Auxiliary was founded at the National Convention, Omaha, in 1894. The society expends over a $1,000,000 a year in sick and death benefits. National president in bership 43,666.