The Daily Telegraph of Tuesday has an interesting article on
government by secret societies in Ireland, with special reference to the "Molly Maguirea " or Ancient Order of Hibernians, now an approved society under the Insurance Act. It is the aim of the writer to establish that: (1) The Ancient Order of Hibernians is the successor of Irish rebel societies. (2) It is a political organization. (3) One of its main objects is "a free and independent Ireland, subject to no outside control and influence." (4) It is a disloyal and anti- English body. In support of (2), (3), and (4) he quotes from the proposal form which has to be filled in by persons seeking to become members of the friendly society division. The proposer has to answer for the candidate being a "prac- tical Catholic and Nationalist," and the candidate has to pledge his sacred word and honour that he is prepared to "use his influence on all occasions in opposition to the presentation of addresses of either welcome or loyalty to any English monarch or representative of the English garrison, until all religious disabilities are removed and the legislative independence of Ireland is restored." This is the society which Mr. Devlin in 1907, at Paisley, declared to be a non- political organization.
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