The Order In America
The Ancient Order of Hibernians was organized in America in St. James Church, 23 Oliver Street, New York City on May 4, 1836. Despite the many difficulties it had to contend with during its early existence in this country, it has continued to grow and prosper until it has become the largest and most influential body of men of Irish lineage in the world. It is an American fraternal organization and assists by every honorable means to promote the interests and welfare of those with Irish heritage.
The primary purposes of the Organization are briefly set forth in the preamble to its National Constitution 1st - To promote friendship, unity and Christian Charity among its members. 2nd - To uphold and sustain loyalty to the government of the United States of America by the members of this organization living here in America, or whatever government under which its members may be citizens. 3rd - To aid and advance by all legitimate means, the aspirations and endeavors of the Irish people to complete and absolute independence. 4th - To foster the ideas and cultivate the history and traditions of the Irish race throughout the world.
To be admitted to membership, a man must be of Irish birth or Irish descent through either parent, a practical Catholic, and at least sixteen years of age.
The local units of the Organization are styled Divisions. Subject to the control of each Division over its local affairs, the government of the Order is vested in County, State, District, Provincial and National officers.
Initiation fees, monthly dues, sick and death benefits are fixed by the local Division with the approval of the County Board.
As an organization, the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America has a mission far more important than that of the ordinary fraternal society. The fact that its membership is limited to those of the Catholic Faith and of Irish descent stamps it as different in its scope. It fosters the teaching of Irish history, so that the Irish American youth may go out into the world armed with facts and proud of the achievements of the men of his blood. Its intense spirit of Catholicity has been shown in every crisis of the Church in America.
Since much of the history of the Irish has been written by alien hands, it would be lamentable if our people sat supinely by and permitted the true record of what we are, whence we came and what we did for humanity to sink into oblivion and be forgotten, when a little united effort on the part of many would accomplish wonders for our faith and nationality.
If you believe that the history of our race should be taught to and preserved for future generations, if you believe that the heroism and accomplishments of the men of the Irish race in America should be written into the history of this country, if you believe that the free institutions of this country should be continued as handed down to us by Washington and Lincoln - institutions for which so many of our race made most generous sacrifices to establish, to enrich and to preserve - if you believe that you should have equal rights with every other man and those things are important enough to merit your attention, then it is a self-evident fact that we can do most effective work when united under the banner of a society that has grown old in the service, that has stood the test of time and that today, from its long and honorable career, is recognized and relied upon to worthily represent the Irish people.
Some may feel they cannot spare the time to actively engage in this work, yet few there are who could not maintain membership in the one society that is working incessantly for the betterment of all our people. Its members by their conduct and their loyalty to American institutions have convinced all fair-minded people that the Catholic citizen of Irish descent is a valuable asset to America.