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THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS
by Mike McCormack, AOH National Historian
The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) is
the oldest Catholic lay organization in America.
Officially formed in New York in 1836, it was
born in anger centuries earlier in Ireland,
after successive invasions by those who tried to
master the Irish, and alter their Gaelic life
style. Inflexible opponents like the Vikings
were fought until their power was broken;
others, like the Normans, were absorbed until
they became as Irish as the Irish themselves.
Through it all, the Irish maintained their
language, traditions, and religion. But in the
Sixteenth century, a concentrated attack,
unswervingly focused on the most precious part
of their heritage - their religion - and proved
to be their greatest challenge.
Since the time of St. Patrick, the Irish
had become such devoted followers, and dedicated
champions of Christianity, that Ireland became
known as the Isle of Saints and Scholars,
sending missionary monks to the far corners of
the world. In contrast, the Church on the
continent became more materialistic, and
protests against abuses of power by some
clergy, led to attempts by others to reform the
Church. A period of Protestant Reformation swept
Europe in the 1500s, marked by Royal intrigues
over control of the Church's wealth. Conflicts
over which religion could be practiced led to
violence in many countries. In England, the
Reformation made inroads from the reigns of
Henry VIII to Elizabeth I, who finally declared
the Church of England (Anglican) as the State
religion. At the time of this declaration,
Elizabeth considered Ireland part of her state,
and even though the Irish didn't agree with that
assessment, the Roman Catholic religion, which
St. Patrick had brought them, and to which they
had been faithful , was proscribed and its
clergy outlawed.
The Papacy launched a
counter-reformation, and Ireland became a
battlefield between the two forces as the Irish,
who had embraced the Roman Church, became the
target of a campaign to reduce the power of Rome
by converting the masses to Protestantism. Anglo
Lords in Ireland provided a base from which
assaults on Irish religion were launched, and in
the conflict, great tracts of land were
confiscated and given to Crown supporters who
professed the State' religion. They became the
landlords who governed the future of the native
population. The Irish fought the theft of their
lands, and the persistence with which they clung
to their religion drove the English to extremes
in repression. Penal laws disenfranchised Irish
Catholics from the political, social, and
economic life of their own country; with their
religion outlawed and their clergy on the run,
they became an underground society practicing
their faith in secret. Not surprisingly, secret
societies were formed to protect the values
under attack. In various locales, groups with
names like Whiteboys, Ribbonmen, and Defenders
were identified with attacks on landlords, but
each included in its avowed purpose the
protection of the Roman Catholic Church and its
clergy. As time passed and
governments prevailed, some societies were
suppressed, but most immediately reorganized
under a new name for the same purpose: defense
of faith and homeland.
History provides us with the names of many of
these organizations, and even limited details of
some. We know, for example, that the motto of
the Defenders in 1565 was Friendship, Unity, and
True Christian Charity, but the secret manner in
which these societies operated left few records
for modern analysts. As a result, a true history
of their times may never be written. Today's AOH
with its motto "Friendship, Unity, and Christian
Charity" is the most recent link in the
evolution of these ancient societies. Organized
in Ireland for the purpose of defending Gaelic
values, and protecting Church and clergy, it is
the successor to the secret societies of old.
Although the name AOH can only be traced back to
1641, the organization can claim continuity of
purpose and motto unbroken back to the Defenders
of 1565. The extension of that organization to
America came in much the same manner as its
birth in Ireland. The rise of the Native
American Party, or Know
Nothings as they were called, ushered in an era
of unparalleled bigotry in 19th Century America.
Not only were "No Irish Need Apply" signs
evident in major American cities, but
legislation, reminiscent of the penal laws was
sought against the immigrant population who, it
was stated, diluted American principles, and
professed loyalty to a foreign prince - the
Pope. The massive influx of Irish, fleeing
starvation and disease in their native land, and
professing the Roman faith, focused Know Nothing
bigotry on that unfortunate group.
After several attacks on Irish and Church
property, the Irish immigrant resorted to a
familiar tactic. Those, who had been members of
the AOH in Ireland, banded together in this new
land, and in 1836, formed an American branch of
their Order. True to their purpose, they stood
guard to defend Church property, and though
actual attacks were few and far between, the
long, cold, and lonely nights of vigil were
many. The early AOH in America remained a secret
society, and little is known of its activities
except that it provided a
monetary stipend to immigrants who arrived as
members in good standing from the Irish Order,
and they assisted Irish immigrants in obtaining
jobs and social services. Quite naturally, the
early AOH Divisions were nurseries for the
preservation of Irish culture and traditions in
America.
In large measure due to the significant
contributions of the Irish in defending the
Union during America's Civil War, it became
unfashionable to be anti-Irish, and the bigoted
Know Nothings faded away, taking their No Irish
Need Apply signs with them. The AOH, on the
other hand, grew stronger, following Irish
immigrants as they worked their way across the
country. As the need for militant support of
their Church dwindled, the AOH shifted its
purpose to charitable activities in support of
the Church's missions, community service, and
the promotion and preservation of their Irish
cultural heritage in America. Today they stand,
not only as the oldest Catholic Lay organization
in America, but as the largest Irish society in
the world with Divisions in Ireland, and 49 of
the United States.
The AOH in America is partitioned into
Divisions, County Boards, and State Boards, and
is governed by a National Board elected every
two years. The Division is the basic unit in the
Order, and membership in a Division is
membership in the Order. Even County, State, and
National Officers, maintain membership in a
local Division. Annual dances, concerts, and
parades sponsored by all levels of the Order
raise millions for charity, while providing a
showcase for the positive contributions of the
Irish to every walk of American life. Divisions
usually support local charities within their
geographic areas, while sending a portion of
their monies to higher levels for support of
state, national, and international charities.
Subcommittees are often established to perform
specific functions such as the administration of
an annual Feis or Festival, the raising of a
historic memorial, or providing instructions in
such Irish subjects as history, bagpiping,
dancing, and language.
The many Divisions and Hibernian Halls
across the country have also traditionally
provided a welcome for new immigrants. Here, the
unique art, dance, music, and other interests of
the Irish are fostered and preserved, making the
AOH Hall a home away from home for many.
Together, they are at the forefront of support
for issues concerning the Irish, such as
Emigration Reform, MacBride Legislation, and the
Right to Life. They never forget their ancestral
homeland either, and can always be found
actively lobbying for, praying for, and working
for the total independence of a united 32-county
Ireland, as their constitution avows: "by all
means constitutional and lawful." |
The Orange County
Division of AOH was established in the mid 1960's and again
in October 1971.
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