THE SOCIETY

[Inscription on Photo: "To Doctor Marc Ryan, of Galway and London, with the esteem of the author
London 14/95 O'Donovan Rossa
Below the picture are a short phrase in Gaelig signed Diamuid O'Donovan Rossa.]

JEREMIAH O'DONOVAN ROSSA
[Picture from Fenian Memories by Dr. Mark Ryan (Dublin 1946)]

In June-July of 1880 Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, a member of the secret Irish nationalist society the Clan Na Gael, called a convention of his adherents, mostly subscribers to his newspaper the United Irishman, to form an Irish nationalist society in order to unify efforts of all Irish nationalists in America. Among these societies were the two, at odds, Fenian factions, the secretive Clan Na Gael (also called the United Brotherhood) and some other smaller groups . About 150 men attended. Many were members, expelled-members, and would-be members of the Clan Na Gael, which thoroughly enraged John Devoy, executive of the Clan Na Gael and a personal friend of Rossa.

Rossa called his new society the "United Irishmen." The minutes and constitution of the inaugural convention are transcribed below. The name "United Irishmen" chosen is significant in that it recalls the United Irishmen rebellion defeated in County Wexford Ireland in 1798 where both Irish Protestants and Irish Catholics fought together (on the same side back then) against England.

The convention devoted significant time to finding out what was going to happen to the "Skirmishing Fund" set up by Rossa. John Devoy had been instrumental in wresting the "Skirmishing Fund" (see below) out of Rossa's control and setting up a group of trustees, mostly from the Clan Na Gael, to oversee the future use of the funds. Rossa did agree to the trustees set up for the fund and this put him into a predicament with his contributors.

The "Skirmishing Fund" later on came under control of the "Triangle," three members of the Clan Na Gael led by Alexander Sullivan of Chicago, which re-instituted Rossa's original scheme and began what is called the "Dynamite War" against England in which sent many terrorists over to England to bomb public places against the express wishes of the IRB. John Devoy successfully ousted the "Triangle" from the Clan Na Gael and regained control but at the cost of the life of his friend Dr. Patrick Cronin of a Chicago Camp of the Clan Na Gael. For information on the "Triangle" see the bibliography given below.

Thanks to Heber McWilliams, a descendent of Colonel William McWilliams a participant at the convention, we have accumulated some newspaper events leading up to the meeting in Philadelphia.

In the last sentence of the first paragraph in the notes on the "Skirmishing Fund" given below, the doom of the United Irishmen society is foretold by Rossa himself as the convention did, in fact, dilute its purpose and inaugurated a committee to investigate what the "trustees" were planning to do with the the " Skirmishing Fund' money. The committee, which included the Convention President, John Brennan, then left the convention on a futile hunt to find the trustees. Upon the return of the committee empty-handed, the Convention then added O'Donovan Rossa to the committee. As the note at the front of the Convention Constitution indicates no progress in securing information on the fund was made by the time of publishing.

Below are given Baltimore newspaper clippings about the convention and notes from Devoy's Post Bag Vol II p560 and, finally, the transcription of the minutes of the United Irishmen Convention.

Perhaps too engrossed in the whereabouts of the "Skirmishing Fund," the United Irishmen ceased to exist after a few months (see William D'Arcy in The Fenian Movement In The United States p 400.)

For more on Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa:
John Savage: Fenian Heroes and Martyrs
John Devoy: Recollections of an Irish Rebel
Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa: Irish Rebels in English Prisons
Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa: Recollections
Terry Golway: John Devoy, Irish Rebel

For more on the Clan Na Gael:
William O'Brien and Desmond Ryan: Devoy's Post Bag Vol I & II (Dublin Vol. I 1948, Vol. II 1953)
Michael Funchion: Irish American Voluntary Organizations (CT. 1983)
John T McEnnis: The Clan Na Gael And The Murder of Doctor Cronin (Chicago 1889)

This fund was started by O'Donovan Rossa using his newspaper the United Irishman to solicit money to do damage to Great Britain wherever it was possible. Rossa was overtly suggesting in his columns in the United Irishman that with such a fund terrorist type acts could be made to coerce Britian into granting Ireland freedom. Many Irish trusted Rossa with their funds and subscribed to create mischief in England in whatever way he saw fit. The super-secret Clan Na Gael was not happy with openly provoking Britain and calling attention to Irish nationalist activities in America. They also did not want to perform acts in England without approval of the IRB, the Fenian organization in Ireland, who was also against random acts of terrror.

O'Donovan Rossa, in "an Invitation to the Trustees ", issued in Philadelphia over his name, published by "The United Irish Clubs," and dated June 4, 1880, wrote: “. . . Many men who have contributed to the" Skirmishing Fund” seem to hold me still responsible for the expenditure of their contributions, and they write to me saying they are determined to bring me to account for their money at the approaching convention in Philadelphia on June 28th. Situated as I am, I am in no position to render any account to them, and I have written to them, telling them if we cannot do any better work at this convention than inaugurate a court of inquiry about the past, we had better have no convention at all.
" But they are not satisfied with this reply of mine: they say they contributed their money for skirmishing purposes, as laid down in my first appeal in 1876, and having seen no work clone since then, I must account to them. All 1 can do is to appeal to you to come to my aid. I delivered up to you in 1878 my part of the trusteeship. And I ask you, or one of you, to come to the convention in Philadelphia, and product: the bonds and moneys I left in "your possession when I resigned.
"With what you received since, I have nothing to do.
" Men from New York, Philadelphia, Fall River, Boston, Memphis, Chicago, Peoria, and other towns, who contributed liberally to the Skirmishing Fund, will be present at the convention. At the time you were admitted as co-trustees of the Skirmishing Fund, they belonged to a society in deference to whose wishes you were appointed-subject to the approval of Mr. James Clancy, Austin Ford, and myself-and to which society they may still belong.
" You will be at liberty to select from the Skirmishing contributors at that convention six men to act with three men of my selection, as a private sworn committee to whom you can make your manifest report. Or, you can select six men from the following contributors to the Skirmishing Fund, and I will select three

" Captain George Spearman, John Brady, of Cavan, Timothy Halvey, John Murphy, F. B., Denis Corbett, John D. O'Brien, Molloy Brothers, West 14th Street, Fitzgerald, of the Red Hand Skirmishing Club, all of New York. Marcus O'Sullivan, Dick Barry, James M. Brann, John C. O'Sullivan, John Kearney, of Mill Street, Peter O'Reilly, John Harrison, Thomas Devers, John D. Harrington, of Jersey City, John O'Grady, Nicholas Lonergan, George Smith, Sr., Frank Brownlee, Edward McCloskey, Henry Bamber, " Rocky Mountain " O'Brien of Brooklyn, James McKeown, James Powers, John Heavey, Thomas Gilligan, Michael Slattery, Tom Bric, Thomas Kennedy, of Fall River, James Kenefick, Patrick Boland, Patrick Burns, of Rhode Island, Richard McCloud, Hartford, Joseph Keyes, Denis O'Conner, John Murphy, Jeremiah O'Mahony, Boston, Patrick William Crowe, Peter Coffey, Peoria, John Brennan, Sioux City, Andrew Brown, St. Louis, A.O.H., John F. Scanlan, Chicago, Paul Kingston, P. M. Winters, Memphis, Colonel D. F. McCarthy, St. Ansgars, Iowa, Colonel P. J. Downing, Washington, Frank Shanley, A.O.H., William McAuliffe, William O'Leary, Newark, and Patrick Murphy, Captain Fay, J. Lynch, M. J. O'Callaghan, James Cunnie, Captain Cusack, Captain Dempsey, Michael O'Donnell, James Casserly, Patrick Mallon, Patrick Quinn, William Hughes, Richard Bracken, of Philadelphia.

" I look upon these men as good men, and certainly there are six amongst them whom the Skirmishing Trustees can trust.

" I have no object or motive in issuing this public invitation, but to do what seems to me the best thing to satisfy all parties interested; to put a stop to secret whisperings that breed distrust, and to promote public confidence amongst men who are still determined to struggle on towards Ireland's independence."

[Devoy's Post Bag, Vol II, page 560ff, editors were William O'Brien and Desmond Ryan published in Dublin by C J Fallon in 1953.]

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS WHICH LEAD UP TO THE CONVENTION
Provided by Heber McWilliams

Philadelphia, March 21. A month ago a secret meeting of Irishmen was held in this city, at which a committee was appointed to organize a revolutionary movement in America to free Ireland from England's rule. This committee issued circulars to one thousand Irish associations and organizations, inviting them to vote on a location for the holding of a convention. Two hundred and fifty replies, with nearly a thousand signatures, were opened at a meeting of the committee today. Of the votes cast, Philadelphia was the choice. It was agreed to hold the convention in Philadelphia, to continue from June 24 to July 3. The call for the convention will be issued in a few days.

Philadelphia, June 29. The Irish National Convention held an executive session this morning. A stirring speech was made by last evening by the chairman, Judge Brennan, of Iowa. Delegates are now present from nearly all the States and Territories, and a spirit of harmony pervades all their meetings. It is intended to establish branches in every portion of the country and enlist the cooperation of every Irishman in the welfare of their countrymen. The delegates unite in saying that practical results will surely follow the complete organization which will be effected by means of this convention. Two sessions will be held each day until the business is completed. A committee to proceed to New York to confer with the trustees of the skirmishing fund was appointed.

The Irish revolutionary convention, which has been in session at Philadelphia several days, adjourned yesterday. A revolutionary board of directors was elected, and an address "to the friends of liberty everywhere" prepared. The skirmishing fund committee were reported as declining to recognize their responsibility to the convention or to the revolutionary board, which is composed of Judge Brennan, of Sioux City, Ia.; Thomas H. Dwyer, Chicago; P. W. Crowe, Peoria; Patrick Winters, Memphis, and George Spearman, New York. A weekly paper, to be called the "United Irishman," will be published in Philadelphia. Among the speakers at yesterday's session was Col. Wm. McWilliams, of Baltimore.

THE MINUTES OF THE UNITED IRISHMEN CONVENTION
given below is copyrighted material owned by:

The American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives
Catholic University of America
Washington, DC 20064

*WARNING*
No publication or other use of this document should be made
without prior permission of the owners.

NOTE [1]– The final report of the committee appointed to inquire into the Skirmishing Fund is, “that no satisfaction as yet be had regarding it.”

NOTE – The Directory have called upon Jer. O’Donovan Rossa, to act as Secretary. Money Orders and Drafts, are to be made payable to George Spearman, New York, who will act as temporary Treasurer, and transfer the amount monthly to the general Directory.

{Throughout this document the footnotes are those of Michael Ruddy the transcriber of the document from microfilm from the Catholic University of America’s collection called “Rossa’s Papers”}

We, the elected representatives of the Irish race in convention, assembled in Philadelphia on this, the 28^th day of June, 1880, believing in the eternal right of the Irish people to govern themselves, and with the view of securing that right by every means known to the science of modern warfare, have resolved our selves into an organization to be hereafter known as the United Irishmen.

For the attainment of such a purpose we ordain and establish this constitution for the United Irishmen.

Sec. I The headquarters of the United Irishmen are, and shall be for the present, in the United States.

Sec. II It shall the main duty of the United Irishmen to continue the permanent organization unchanged in name, until its object shall be attained and to co-operate with any revolutionary organization in Ireland in the achievement of Irish independence

Sec. 3.[2] A branch of this association shall consist of any number of Irishmen, or of an individual Irishman or lover of liberty, who will subscribe to our declaration of principles.

Sec. 4. The members of the United Irishmen are bound together by the following declaration of honor:

“I, ________, pledge my word of honor as a truthful and honest man, to labor with earnest zeal and loyalty to sever at[3] Ireland from the government of England, and to that end further pledge myself to support uphold and strengthen the society of the United Irishmen, and the constitution and laws thereof.”

Sec 5. The government of this organization shall consist of a Revolutionary Directory of five members elected by the convention, said convention to be called at such time and place as a majority of the Directory shall select.

Sec. 6. No member of the Revolutionary Directory shall be eligible for re-election, unless by a two-thirds vote of the convention.

Sec. 7. In the event of the death, resignation or failure to serve of any one or more of the Directory, a majority of said directory shall have the power to fill such vacancy, or vacancies until the next convention.

Sec. 8. The Directory shall have the power to appoint as many Executive Officers as in their judgment may be necessary, and define their respective powers and duties.

Sec 1. It shall be discretionary with the Directory what representation each club of the organization shall have at the next convention.

Sec. 2. Membership in the organization may be had, by the payment to the Secretary or Treasurer of any contribution, that will express the zeal and sincerity of a man, but twenty-five cents a month at least is expected from every member of a regularly organized club.

Sec 3. Every regularly organized club shall forward to the Secretary of the order, at the first meeting in each month, all money’s remaining after defraying local expenses, and shall also furnish the secretary with a correct statement of membership.

Sec. 4 No convention or meeting of the United Irishmen shall discuss the subject of religion or American politics.

Sec. 5 In the event of the expulsion of any member of any local branch of the organization, said member shall have the right of appeal to the Directory.

Sec. 6. Each club shall have the right to establish such rules and regulations for its government, as are not inconsistent, or do not conflict with this constitution.

Convention of the Irish race assembled on the above date, and was called to order by J. O’Donovan Rossa, of

Philada.,, on motion John Brennan, of Sioux City, Iowa, was unanimously elected President, Dr Wm. Dwyer, of N. Y. and Thos. H Dwyer of Chicago, were nominated for Secretaries. At the suggestion of J. O’Donovan Rossa, the nominations were with drawn and M. J. O’Callaghan, of Philda, Pa., was elected Secretary. Moved by P. W. Crowe, that a committee on credentials be appointed, carried. Committee, T. F. Halvey of N. Y., Thos. Kennedy, Fall River, Patrick Brennan, Dakota, P. Murphy, Pa., on motion by James Mcdermott, the chair appointed to following committee on printing, James McDermottt, of Brooklyn, N. Y., Chas. Collins, Dakota, J. K. Ford, Philada. Pa. Moved by P. W. Crowe, the appointment of a committee on organization, carried. Committee on Organization P. W. Crowe, Peoria, Ill’s., P. J. Daly, Memphis, Tenn., James O’Brien, Philada., Pa. Moved by Mr. Halvey, that a committee on foreign correspondence and communications be appointed by the chair, carried. Thos. H. Dwyer, of Chicago, P.W. Crowe, Peoria, Ills., M. J. O’Callaghan, Philada. Pa., John Heavey, Mass., Paul Kingston, Memphis, Tenn., George Spearman, N. Y>, P. Murphy, Philada., Pa. Moved by Mr. Dwyer, that the convention do now adjourn to meet at 2 o’clock, P. M. Carried. Moved by Mr. McDermott, to reconsider the motion to adjourn, carried. Moved that we do now adjourn until 7 o’clock, p. M. Carried.

Convention was called to order by the president, John Brennan, Committee on credentials reported, report was accepted and committee continued, committee on permanent organization, reported that the committee would recommend the continuance of the temporary organization which on motion carried. Moved that the chair appoint a Sergeant at Arms, carried. He chair appointed Dr. Dwyer, of N. Y., Sergeant at Arms Moved by Mr. McDermott, that this organization shall be known as the United Irishmen, Carried by acclamation.

Moved by M. Dwyer, that the convention do go into executive session, the motion was temporarily withdrawn to allow Mr. Halvey to read a letter pertaining to the work of the convention: there being some misunderstanding as to the document to be read, its reading was deferred, and the motion to go into executive session was carried. The chair appointed P. Murphy, of Philada., assistant Sergeant at Arms. Moved by Mr. Crowe, that the delegate solemnly swear to keep secret all business transacted by the convention, amended so as to read “while in executive session during the deliberations of the convention.” Moved as a substitute by Mr. McDermott, “ I, _____, pledge my sacred word of honor that I will not divulge anything which transpires in the convention, unless that which is authorized by the convention,” carried. The pledge was then administered. Moved by Mr. Foye, that a committee on rules for the

government of the convention be appointed, carried. Committee on rules, P. H. Foye, Wm. MacWilliams, Joseph M. Walsh. Moved by Mr. McDermott, that a committee be appointed on permanent organization, the motion was with drawn, and the minutes of the morning session were read, and adopted as read. Committee on foreign correspondence and communications reported. Moved the report be adopted as read, carried. O’Donovan Rossa, and Timothy F Halvey, of N. Y., read letters from Ireland, withholding names of writers and of places.

On motion the following committee were appointed to draft rules and regulation for the government of the United Irishmen organization. Col Mac William, of Md., Dr. Edmond Powers, N. J.< John Brennan, Iowa, J. O’Donovan Rossa, Pa., Dr. Wm. Dwyer, N. Y>, John O’Farrell, Pa., Thos. H. Dwyer, Chicago, Chas. Collins, Dakota, P. W. Crowe, Ill’s.

On Motion convention adjourned to assemble at 10 A. M., Tuesday morning, June 29^th.

Convention was called to order by John Brennan, minutes of the previous session were read and adopted. Moved by Mr. Crowe, that a Vice-President be elected, carried. On motion George spearman, of N. Y., was

elected Vice-President. On motion Chas. D. King, of Philad., was elected Secretary. O’Donovan Rossa, read passages if some important letters from Ireland, withholding the names of the writers. Moved by Mr. McDermott, that the convention do now arise from executive session and go into regular sessions, carried. Committee on rules for the government of the convention reported, the report was on motion adopted as a whole as corrected. Dr. Dwyer, of N. Y., tendered his resignation as a member of the committee on rules for the permanent organization which was accepted. On motion, T. F. Halvey, P. J. Daly, P. Murphy, were added to the committee on rules for the permanent organization. Moved that the President John Brennan be excused from presiding, to allow him to perform some committee work carried. Geo. Spearman, the Vice-President in taking the chair, asked the assistance and forbearance of the convention in the discharge of his duties as presiding officer. Moved by Mr. Collins, that we do now adjourn, motion was withdrawn to allow Mr. Halvey to offer a motion. Moved by Mr. Halvey, that a committee to consist of P. W. Crowe, of Peoria, Thos. Dwyer, of Chicago, John Heavey, Mass, P. Murphy, Pa, John Hogan, of Providence, wait on A. Ford, of the Irish World, and the other trustees of the skirmishing fund, to learn what disposition had been made of the fund, or if it was yet intact, and to report back to the convention the result of their mission. Moved that Dwyer, of Chicago, and Crowe, of Peoria, be the com-

mittee, motion was withdrawn. Moved by Mr. Dwyer, that a committee of three be appointed by the chair, motion was lost. Moved by John Brennan, that a committee of four be appointed, carried. Thos. Dwyer, P. W. Crowe, John Heavey, P. Murpy, committee.

Moved by Mr. Dwyer, that John Brennan, be substituted for Mr. Dwyer, carried. Moved by Mr. Daly, that a man from the south be appointed on the committee carried. On motion P. J. Daly, was added to the committee. Moved by Mr. Walsh, that we do now adjourn until 7 o’clock P. M., carried.

Convention was called to order by the Vice-President, George Spearman, committee on rules permanent organization, reported progress. Moved by Mr. Halvey, that the convention do now go into executive session carried. The Secretary, without giving writers names, read some documents from the organization in Ireland, -- that section which recognizes the leadership of James Stephens. Moved by Mr. McDermott, that the document just read be referred to the committee of foreign correspondence and communication, amended, carried. On motion a vote of thanks was tendered to the delegate who brought the documents for the faithful discharge of his duty. Moved that we do now adjourn until 10 o’clock to-morrow morning, carried.

Convention was called to order by the Vice-President George Spearman, minutes of Tuesday’s session were read and adopted as read. Mr. Brennan, for the committee to visit A. Ford, and the trustees of the skirmishing fund, sent a report by mail, the report was read. O’Donovan Rossa, read a letter from Hon. Richard McCloud, of Hartford, containing ten dollars, and sentiments of hearty co-operation with the convention. – Moved that the thanks of this convention be tendered to Hon. Richard McCloud, of Hartford, Conn., and that the Secretary notify him of the action of the convention carried unanimously. Moved by Dr. Dwyer, that the rules be suspended during the discussion of the constitution carried. On motion the letters of John Murphy, and Wm. Keohane of the Council of the Fenian Brotherhood, were read and placed on file.

Moved that the preamble, and constitution be adopted as a whole as corrected, carried. Moved that the pledge of the United Irishmen be administered to all the delegates, carried. The pledge was then administered to all the delegates, except Paul F Leonard, Murry, and Luke Clarke, who objected; they were then requested to retire. Moved that we do now adjourn to two o’clock, carried.

Convention was called to order by the vice-President. Moved by Mr. McDermott, that a committee be appointed to prepare a suitable address of principles, carried. Committee James McDermott, Thos. Dwyer, Michael Hogan. Moved by Mr. Mulcahy, tha a committee be appointed to consider the expediency of assuming control of the United Irishman Newspaper, carried. Committee T. F. Halvey, Thos. Dwyer, P. F. Caffrey, Thos. Mulcahy, Michael McBride, P. H. Foye, Thos. Loran. Moved that all the privileges Luke Clark desires in this convention be extended to him, carried. The committee appointed to visit the trustees of the skirmishing fund, reported they could not learn the whereabouts of John Devoy, had an interview with Thos. F Bourke, he replied that this convention, or no other body was entitled to any information in connection with the fund, he also stated the James Reynolds, of New Haven, was of the same opinion. Called at the Irish World office to see John J Breslin, could not learn he address. Moved that the report of the committee be received, and committee discharged, carried. Moved that the thanks of the convention be tendered to the committee, carried. Committee on address reported. Moved that it be referred back to the committee, and O”Donovan Rossa be added to the committee, carried. Moved by McDermott, that reconsideration of the recommittal of the address

carried. Moved that it be referred back to the committee, and P.W. Crowe, added to the committee, carried.

Moved by Col. MacWilliams, that we go into election for five Directors. Moved as an amendment, that a committee of three be appointed to submit names to the convention for election as Directors. Moved as an amendment, to the amendment, that a committee of five be appointed. Moved by Dr. Dwyer, as a substitute for the whole, that the matter be laid over until to-morrow morning, carried. Moved that John Kearney, Michael Hogan, John K. Ford, Dr. Powers, be added to the committee on newspaper, carried. Mr. James O’Brien, tendered an invitation to the delegates, to partake of his hospitality for the evening, which was accepted. Moved that the privileges of the floor be extended to our visiting countrymen of the A. O. H. carried. Moved that we do on adjourn, to meet at 9 o’clock sharp, carried.

Convention was called to order by the President, minutes of June 30^th sessions were adopted as corrected. Committee on newspaper reported progress. Moved that a committee of five be appointed, to recommend a list of names for re-election as Directors, carried. Committee, O’Donovan Rossa, M. Hogan, John MacNamara, P. H. Foye, Dr. Dwyer, committee on newspaper re-

ported. Your committee to whom was referred the advisability of publishing a newspaper, to represent the principles of the “United Irishmen”, recommend that the present sheet be published and enlarged to double its present size – as a private enterprise, and that every member of this convention subscribe for the same, and otherwise assist to the best of his ability, and that a capital stock of $1000, at five dollars a share be issued, to be subscribed for by such members of this convention, and other as wish. Moved that the report of the committee on newspaper be accepted, and committee discharged, carried.

Committee on names for Directory reported. John Brennan, Sioux City, Iowa, P. W. Crowe, Peoria, Ill’s., Thos. H. Dwyer, Chicago, John Kearney, N. Y., Richard McCloud, Conn., James Kenefick, R. I., Edward P. Dempsey, Pa., Capt. George Spearman, N. Y. Moved as an amendment by Mr. Halvey, John Brennan, Iowa, Thos. H. Halvey, Chicago, Richard McCloud, Conn., George Spearman, N. Y., E. P. Dempsey, Pa. Moved as an amendment to the amendment that we now proceed to elect five Directors by informal and formal ballot, carried. Moved that the gentlemen from New York to whom were extended the privileges of the floor be requested to retire, carried. Moved that we now take a recess for five minutes carried. Convention was called to order by the President. Moved by Mr. Crowe, that the chair appoint two tellers carried. Mr. Crowe, and Walsh, tellers, the tellers announced th result of the informal ballot,

and the formal ballot was then taken, and the tellers announced the result of the ballot, the chair announced the following gentlemen\ as being the regularly elected Directors of the United Irishmen organization, John Brennan, Sioux City, Iowa, George Spearman, N. Y., P. W. Crowe, Peoria, Ill’s., Thos. H. Dwyer, Chicago, Patrick M Winters, Memphis, Tenn. The election was on motion made unanimous. Moved by Mr. McDermott, that the following be added to the constitution. Resolved, that in the event of the death resignation of failure to serve of any one or more of the directory, that a majority of said Directory shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies until the next convention. An amendment was offered that the member receiving the next highest vote of the convention be appointed, carried. Edward P. Dempsey, accordingly fills any vacancy that occurs. Moved by Mr. McBride, that a committee be appointed to attend to the business of the ultimate disposal of the skirmishing fund, and furnish to the Directors, all information they may receive form time to time, until full satisfaction is obtained, carried. The original committee were appointed. Moved by Mr. Mac William, that the thanks of this convention be, and are hereby tendered to the Sheares’ Club, for the use of their hall during the deliberations of the convention, carried unanimously. Moved by Mr. McDermott, that a vote of thanks be tendered to the officers of this convention, for the very able and efficient manner in which the y have discharged their offices, carried unanimously. Moved by

Mr. Crowe, that the obligation offered by him, be now administered by the President, to the Directors elect now present, carried. The President then administered the obligation. Moved by Mr. Kearney, of N. Y., that a vote of thanks be tendered to Mr. White, of the New York Irish Democrat, the Editors of the Boston Pilot, Irish American, Weekly Union, and the Press of Phila. For their support in forwarding the interest of the convention, carried. Moved by O’Donovan Rossa, that we approve and adopt the suggestions contained in the papers, submitted to the convention by the Rev. D______ O’______ of Indiana, and M. C. O’Brennan of Manchester, Iowa, and will endeavor to act upon them, and that this convention thank the gentlemen for their labor in assisting us, carried unanimously. The Committee of address reported. On motion the address was adopted as a whole as corrected, and committee discharged. Moved that the pledge of secrecy enjoined on the delegates be rescinded, carried. Mr. John Brennan, made a few appropriate remarks, after which on motion, convention adjourned sine die.

[1]This note is inside the front cover.

[2] The style changed from the previous page -mr

[3] There was a smudge on the original as if it was realized the word shouldn’t be there. -mr