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Show TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND MEMBERS BY NEXT YEAR Secretary Carroll Says This Great Movement is Now Under Way. "Coming eventB cast their shadows before them." This is true in all walks of life, in all matters pertaining to the betterment of humanity, in all events that have left their impress on history's his-tory's pages. Acrosa the horizon of coming Hibernian events may be seen the most inspiring indications of what is to follow. The bright colors seen in the distance send a thrill of hope and joy into all our hearts. Large initiations, initia-tions, elaborate celebrations of Ireland's Ire-land's natal day, and plans for conducting con-ducting vigorous campaigns are everywhere every-where in evidence. Nineteen hundred and five will be the banner Hibernian year. The national officers have so ordered, or-dered, and the membership at large have so decreed. Gentle reader rather, dear brother-six brother-six weeks of the campaign year have gone by. and what have you done? Have you told or asked your Irish-American Irish-American neighbor or friend to affiliate with us? Have you talked about the 200.000 idea? Have you tried to make it the preeminent, predominating idea in your mind? Have you studied the possibilities pos-sibilities of such a grand realization? the good that could be done by having sixty or seventy thousand Irishmen who are now standing at our door brought into the sunlight of Hibernian-ism, Hibernian-ism, to drink in the true spirit of nationality na-tionality and religion, and to aid indirectly indi-rectly in the amelioration of the ills of our .people here and at home? You will say your lot is a hard one. You are not satisfied with your position posi-tion you have no ambition or enthusiasm en-thusiasm to participate in the campaign. cam-paign. Just start in today to spend a little of that energy and enthusiasm with which Irish people are singularly endowed in attending meetings, in making them interesting, in trying to making the condition of your brother-member brother-member better. You will find that the plan will be the greatest antidote for that feeling of discontent that wrecks many an otherwise useful life. The earnest, united efforts of one-third of our present membership will, during the next three months, realize this glorious goal. Be in the fight and help to win the victory. Only one month remains to perfect plans for that day dear to Irish hearts the world- over, Bt Patrick's Day. Every Division should see to it that it is commemorated in Jsome way to demonstrate de-monstrate the fact that we are not unmindful un-mindful of the past: that we still cherish cher-ish the memory of ihe greatest saint on the calendar. ' , ) The crowning celebration the' one that will forever mark an epoch in Hibernian Hi-bernian history will be that of Louisville, Louis-ville, Ky. Kentucky, noted for many Hhings, will be, after the 17th of March, noted for one of the largest Hibernian initiations ever held. Think of a class of from three to five hundred, including many of the prominent business and professional men of; the city! Louisville Louis-ville is the home of National Director G. J. Butler, who is working night and day to make this event a success. The official register -blanks should be all at this office now. They are not. It is a shame that hundreds, aye thousands, thous-ands, of good officers in the A. O. H. as well as the Auxiliary are compelled to suffer on account of the downright negligence of those who delay filling up those reports. The national charter record blanks are being received, and contain much interesting matter. Some of the Divisions Divi-sions seem to be alive to the spirit of "this enterprise, and give practical and substantial data. In a future issue I will give data that may interest many of our members from those reports. The Ladies Auxiliary are jubilant over their revised ritual. Miss O'Don-nell, O'Don-nell, of Meriden, Conn., is worthy of the gratitude of all for her painstaking work in the revision of the ritual. Many of the state officials have complied com-plied with the decrees of the National Assembly by remitting for the per capita cap-ita tax. Thing9 of interest to members of the A. O. H. and Auxiliary: That Division Divis-ion No. 2, of Washington, D. C, of which our National Editor is President, has the honor of a distinguished trio in its membership, namely, Chas. P. Neill, Rev. Thomas J. Shahan. D. D., and Rev. D. J. Stafford, D. D.; that 1905 will be the banner Hibernian year: that 'one of the Divisions in Maine has a treasury of over $6,000; that Miss Hogan, the state secretary of the Ladies' Auxiliary of Virginia, is a hustler and promises to show a net gain of 50 per cent at the end of 1905; that there is no excuse for not having 'filed your annual report and sent in all blanks long ere now; that F. M. Ken-ney, Ken-ney, County President, of Hastings, Pa., organized two good Divisions during dur-ing January; that an ideal presiding officer ' will always be courteous and try to draw his members out ont on all questions, rather than give his own opinions; that a recording secretary should read his minutes in a clear and dignified manner; that there are ten months to battle on and on for the great Hibernian victory; that J. J. Shannon and Hugh Lawlor, of Kansas, are two of the-energetic workers for Che 200.000 brigade; that National Organizer Sheehan is doing some teli- ing work in Washington state: that M. J. Marsh, state secretary of Washing- ' ton, is an enchusiast, and puts in two to three hours a day planning and working- for the society he honors as a state officer; that state President R. F. Murphy has been honored by being elected on the directory of city board of Parkersburg, W. Va without any solicitation on his part; that applications applica-tions for military commissions should be sent through 'state presidents to national na-tional president; that the bright star i of hope ever illumines the pathway of I him who makes an effort to do his d uty; that future generations will ever j recall with a feeling of pride the men V who made-1905 the banner Hibernian' t year. I JAS. T. CARROLL, ''- I I National State Secretary, in The Na- f tibnal Hibernian. ' |