Volume XXV/Tóirt a Fiche a Cuig/Issue #2/Eagrán a Do--Deireadh Fomhair/Samhain/Mí nanollaig/oct./nov./dec OFFICERS CHAPLAIN Rev.

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1 St. Brendan Division #1 Berks County, PA Serving the Irish-American Community for 102 yrs. INCORPORATED NOVEMBER 7, RE-ORGANIZED FEBRUARY 16, 1979 Visit our Website Volume XXV/Tóirt a Fiche a Cuig/Issue #2/Eagrán a Do--Deireadh Fomhair/Samhain/Mí nanollaig/oct./nov./dec OFFICERS CHAPLAIN Rev. Eugene Ritz PRESIDENT Leonard J. Weckel VICE PRESIDENT Kerry Williard RECORDING SECRETARY Edward Collins FINANCIAL SECRETARY Joseph G. McCarthy TREASURER John J. Dore, JR STANDING COMMITTEE Robert J. McHale MARSHALL Robert J. Devlin SENTINEL Timothy Brennan ORGANIZER John C. Mackey TRUSTEES James D. Caherly John J. McHale Joseph P. George PAST PRESIDENT Joseph P. George NEWSLETTER EDITOR Joseph G. McCarthy PRESiDENT S MESSAGE As summer is fading, it is my hope that you have enjoyed your vacations and summer fun. Over the next few months we will be very busy with many activities. To start with, we will celebrate the Lady of Knock Mass with our Chaplain, Fr. Ritz, at St. John s Baptist De la Salle Church, Shillington, at a 4:00 mass on August 16 th. The mass will be celebrated for the intentions of our deceased members. It would be good to have a good showing of our group. Following Mass we will go to dinner at Mangia s Italian Restaurant, 322 E. Wyomissing Ave. in Mohnton. me at brynlen@aol.com or call me at if you would like to be part of the reservation. On the following day, Sunday, August 17, we will gather at Breneman s Park, Sinking Spring, for our Annual Family Outing. Festivities will begin at noon and continue until about 9pm. Everyone is invited to bringing your own food, beverages, and snacks. The division will provide the grove, charcoal, and other essentials. I look forward to seeing you there. Beginning September 18, Bryn and I will join many of our members for the Irish festival in North Wildwood. I am looking forward to this annual excursion filled with camaraderie and good times. On September 27 we will be running a bus trip to Long Beach Island Park, Long island, NY to participate in the annual Irish Heritage Celebration and parade sponsored by St. Brendan the Navigator Division, #17, NY. Please contact Ed Collins for more information. His is e.collins18@verizon.net. Our annual service at the Soup Kitchen at Kennedy House is Oct Please reserve that date so you can help us out. We will again this year have a Christmas get-together on Sunday, December 7 at Ganley s Pub. Further details will be forthcoming. This year we will be running a second Lottery Calendar for November in order to support our charities for the Hunger Project. Hopefully everyone will support this project so we can provide food cards for Easter next year. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming meetings. Yours in Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity, Len Weckel, President 1

2 NOTICE Effective with this edition of our newsletter all are advised that in an effort to reduce operating expenses associated with publishing our newsletter, we have decided to change the number of issues from six annually to four. Beginning with this issue you will find listings for the months of October, November and December. MEMBERSHIP Membership dues are now due and payable for Dues remain at $25 per annum. We thank those who have already submitted their dues and encourage all members to consider doing so at the earliest possible time. As all are aware, in January the cost of postage once again increased adding to the cost of mailing notices and membership cards using the mail. Therefore, we ask each member to once again notify us a.s.a.p. of any changes in personal information including Telephone numbers, addresses, or address changes. Please forward all change of addresses, addresses, and telephone numbers to Financial Secretary Joe McCarthy at or telephone You can submit all changes or annual Dues payments, (Please make checks payable to AOH Div1-Berks) to the following address: Joseph McCarthy, Financial Secretary 437 Elmer Circle Reading, PA We also ask our members to recruit new members, which is the life-blood of our division. If you need assistance contact our organizer or any officer. Applications are available on our website NOMINATION & ELECTION OF OFFICERS In October we will be accepting nominations for all division offices, and President Len Weckel has established a Nominating Committee, chaired by Jim Caherly, who will compile a list of nominees for Division officers for Anyone interested in being an officer, please call Jim at Nominations for ALL OFFICERS will be accepted during the regular scheduled meeting on Friday October 10, To be considered for office, members must be in good standing for at least one year, and for the office of President and Vice-President, all candidates must have completed their major degree prior to nomination. The following offices are up for nomination and election for the coming year: President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Standing Committee Chairman, Marshal, Sentinel, and one Trustee. The term of office for officers, other than Trustee, will be one year; Trustees are elected for three-year terms of office. All nominations will be made from the floor, and all candidates who are nominated must be in attendance to accept the nomination. If a candidate meets the minimum qualifications for office and cannot be in attendance to accept nomination, He must submit a letter to the President stating he would accept nomination and his reason for absence. Letters not received prior to nomination as specified, will negate a members name from being placed in nomination. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Elections will be held during the November 14, 2014 general membership meeting. Questions regarding the nomination process can be directed to President Len Weckel at , or Joe McCarthy at All members who are interested in holding office within the order are encouraged to participate in the election process. Like the Marines we are always looking for a few good men! REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS William Beam, Deacon John Murphy, Henry & EleanorTrexler, Lee & Patricia Garrigan, Patricia Dore, Kathleen Costello mother of brother Christopher Costello, Rita Mullen, Mary Walsh, Leontine Groff Aunt of Kerry Williard, Hope McHale, Mary Collins, mother of Ed Collins Div. Rec. Secretary & June Reilly. Special prayers are requested for the following Hibernian who passed away recently: Michael D. O Reilly, & Bishop Joseph McFadden. Prayers are also requested for the following family members of members who passed away: John J. Pierce, uncle of Joseph George, Norman Hertzog, James McGoldrick, uncle of Jim Scott, Marie Evans, mother of brother Kerry Williard, Mildred Nee, mother of brother Kerry Nee, and Craig Korb, cousin of Bob McHale and Emma Mullen and Katherine Donahue mother of brother Patrick Donahue. MEETINGS We encourage all members to try to attend at least one meeting during the coming year. Meetings are held the second Friday of the month at the Reading Elks lodge, 2210 Hampden Blvd. Reading. All meeting begin promptly at 7:30pm and last approximately 1-2 hrs. Depending on the amount of business necessary to transact. Following our meetings there is a social where the real business usually is transacted and the members get to spend some quality time together. So mark your calendars and try to get out to meet your fellow members. Even if you cannot attend the meeting try and stop by later and meet some of our officers and members. COMING EVENTS 10/10/14 General Membership Meeting Reading Elks Lodge 7:30pm 10/12/14 Fr. John Gibbons Anniversary Mass St. MARGARET S CHURCH Reservations for dinner are closed /14 Kennedy House soup kitchen 9am-1pm both days 11/11/14 Veteran s Day 2

3 11/14/14 General Membership Meeting Reading Elks Lodge 7:30pm 11/27/14 Thanksgiving Day 12/07/14 Feast of the Immaculate Conception & St. Brendan s 35 th Annual Christmas Party Ganly s Pub 4-7pm 12/14/14 General Membership Meeting Reading Elks Lodge 7:30pm 12/25/14 Christmas Day 01/01/15 New Year s Day Happy New Year to ALL! BIRTHDAY GREETINGS The names of members who are celebrating birthdays during the next three months are listed below. We have acquired the Information from our membership applications, so if there are any corrections or errors please advice. OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER 6 th Joseph P. George 5 th Patrick T. Barrett 3 RD Timothy M. Antosy 18 th James C. Burns 10 th Kerry A. Nee 4 th Lee Garrigan 25 th Fr. William Campion 11 th Henry Trexler 6 th Henry J. Mullen 30 th Leonard J. Weckel 12 th Fr. Francis Schoenauer 7 th Joseph M.P. Marnell 31 st William McNish 27 th Fr. David Karns 8 th Michael T. McFadden 27 th Robert J. Houlihan 13 th Patrick H. Donahue 19 th James E. Miller, JR 20 th Kerry Willard 26 th Deacon Thomas Flannery 28 th John J. Connors SPECIAL NOTICE All members are advised that effective with this newsletter some very important changes are occurring that are aimed at addressing our efforts to reduce operating costs that are rising at an alarming rate. The last thing we intend to do is raise annual dues without doing all we can to reduce expenditures. Over the years we have absorbed rising postal rates and other normal operating expenses without reducing our ability to serve you the members to the best of our ability. In the past months we were forced to abolish one program that was very popular with some of our members, namely our Tuition Assistance Program since we were unable to find a funding source since we discontinued our Annual Golf Tournament. Still we are facing the possibility of further curtailment of programs due to the same problems. Without additional revenues, or fundraising activities, we will have no choice but to examine alternative methods of communication. With this in mind, we are urging members who have social media capabilities to please send us your up-to-date addresses since this is the quickest and less expensive way to maintain contact. But most of all, we need the support of all members to do their part in helping our fundraising programs, such as our November Calendar to continue to fund our Hibernian Hunger Program, College Scholarship Program, Memorial Fund and other charitable efforts. Please don t be mislead by the cancellation mentioned above, we are by no means in financial difficulty. We are simply exercising our fiduciary responsibility to ensure all is done before we even consider asking for an increase in annual Membership fees. IRISH HISTORY A Heroe in Three Lands by Mike McCormack In 1823, a boy was born who became a hero to three lands: Ireland, Australia, and the United States. His grandfather s successful trading business made it easy for his father to own a small hotel and pub in County Waterford, where, on August 3,Thomas Francis Meagher was born. Young Tom was educated at a Jesuit boarding school, and later at a Jesuit college in England where he earned a reputation as an effective orator. He returned to Ireland in 1843, just two years before the Great Hunger, and saw his countrymen starve while the landlord s crops grew in abundance for export. Infuriated, he became a vocal opponent of the Crown s policy of Laissez Faire, joined the Young Ireland movement, and began to preach insurrection. He wrote for The Nation newspaper, and earned respect as a spokesman for the nationalist cause. Upon his return from a visit to post-revolutionary France, he introduced a tricolor which Ireland eventually adopted as her national flag. After an aborted rising in 1848, Meagher was arrested, and sentenced to death. The sentence was commuted to life at the penal colony in Australia. After three years, he escaped to New York, where he received a hero s welcome from the New York Irish for his part in the rising of Meagher married in 1855, became an American citizen in 1857, and commanded a company in New York s 69th Militia, locally known as Corcoran s Irish Legion. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, New York s 69th was the first to volunteer, but were badly battered at the first Battle of Bull Run, where Colonel Corcoran was captured. Meagher was asked to reorganize the 69th regiment, but he did better than that; he organized a Brigade, with the re-formed 69th regiment as a part. The Irish Brigade under the command of the newly-appointed General Thomas Francis Meagher, fought heroically at the bloodiest battles of the war. At Fair Oaks, Gaines Mill, Anteitam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville almost every major engagement fought by the Army of the Potomac, the figure of General Meagher was seen leading his men into battle. By the war s end Meagher had earned a reputation as one of the nation s most effective leaders. 3

4 After the war, President Johnson appointed him Secretary of the new Montana Territory. In August 1865, the young Irishman and his wife, Elizabeth, left for Montana. Upon arrival, the Territorial Governor handed him the papers of office, saying he was unable to stand the rigors of the frontier and was heading back to Ohio. Meagher thus became the acting Governor of the Territory. Having seen so much danger in his young life, one could hardly have blamed Meagher if he had turned his back on the responsibility just thrust upon him, but he was no quitter; President Johnson had asked him to bring Montana into the Union as a state, and he was determined to do it. He was immediately opposed by powerful men who had carved a profitable empire out of the Montana wilderness, for statehood threatened their control. Vigilante groups threatened Meagher s life and slanderous rumors were spread in an attempt to reverse his popularity. Yet he persevered. He became popular with the people of Montana, especially the Irish who had migrated west after the Civil War, but when he called for a territorial legislature, he angered the profiteers. With danger on all sides from vigilantes and local Indians, he convinced his friend General Sherman, to send a shipment of rifles up the Missouri to Fort Benton. Meagher and a few of his officers rode overland for six days in the heat of a Montana July to meet the shipment. Dehydrated and ill on arrival, Meagher retired to a stateroom aboard the boat piloted by an old friend, Johnny Doran. As he lay his fevered head on the shipboard berth, he may have reminisced on the words spoken at a Virginia City rally six months earlier, Beware young Chief; you have done too much to bring the traffickers in the political market into disrepute and bankruptcy, not to have provoked their vengeance. That night July 1, 1867, Thomas Francis Meagher disappeared. His body was never found, and rumor mongers spread the story that he had fallen overboard in a drunken stupor and drowned. There was no one to dispute the claim, but few who knew the man ever believed it. For the remainder of July and into August, his loving wife walked the banks of the Missouri seeking his body in vain. Then, in May of 1913, a dying man in Missoula, Montana, called for the local newspaper to witness his deathbed confession. He was a local ne erdo-well named Frank Diamond, and he swore that he would not go to judgment without clearing his conscience of an awful deed that he had been paid to do many years before. He told the startled press that he had murdered Thomas Francis Meagher, under orders from the local vigilantes, and thrown his body overboard on that hot July night, 46 years earlier. Members of old and prominent Montana families, who had descended from the early Vigilantes and profited from Meagher s demise, swore that Diamond was an irresponsible liar, but men don t lie on their deathbed. Those who knew the character of Thomas Francis Meagher were relieved that the truth had finally been revealed, yet Frank Diamond, was never prosecuted for the crime. He unexpectedly recovered from his malady, and immediately recanted his confession, and said no more about the incident. Thus, the exact details of Meagher s demise remain clouded by time and temperament, yet one positive consequence evolved from the controversy surrounding the confession. In the eyes of many, the character of Thomas Frances Meagher had been exonerated. He had not fallen overboard in a drunken stupor, but fallen in service to others: as he had served all his life a life that began as an Irish patriot, continued as he broke his chains of bondage in Australia, and ended as an American legislator. He was truly a hero in three lands. SOUP KITCHEN We will once again operate the soup kitchen at the Kennedy House on Spruce St. in Reading the weekend of October th, Len Weckel will coordinate our effort and we will definitely need the aid of volunteers to make the effort successful. We ask all members who are available to consider donating a few hours between the hours of 9am-1pm on either Saturday or Sunday. The more help we have the faster the effort will be completed. VETERAN S DAY 2014 Please remember that Veteran's Day is just around the corner. If it wasn't for their sacrifices, we couldn't enjoy the freedoms we so freely take for granted. Please pray for those who never returned and lie in foreign lands. What is a veteran? Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badges or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking. Who is a vet? He/she is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia, sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel. He could be the barroom loudmouth, dumber that five wooden planks, but whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel. She or He, is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang. He or she is the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back at all. He or she is the reservist or National Guard member who was called upon to serve in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo or some other God forsaken place where his service to mankind is neither appreciated or welcome. Where it is hard to tell friend from foe; where every turn in the road could spell disaster. He or She is the Quantico drill instructor that has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs. He is the parade riding legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and 4

5 medals with a prosthetic hand. He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by. He is any of the Arlington heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep. He is the old man bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come. He is the ordinary and yet extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs. He is a savior and sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known. So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say, "Thank You." That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded. Two little words that mean so much, "Thank You". ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY Final arrangements have been made for our Annual Christmas Party to be held at Ganly s Pub 500 Brownsville Rd. & State Hill Rd. in State Hill. Our party will be held on Sunday afternoon December 7, 2014, from 4-7pm. This will be a departure from our usual day and time of Saturday evenings. Dinner will be a Buffet and Menu is as follows: appetizers - Assorted Cheeses and Veggies with dipping sauces. - Spring Mixed Salad.- 2 carving stations w/roast Beef and Ham, Colcannon, Vegetables du jour- Drinks Soda, tea, coffee. Dessert. Members welcome to bring a soda bread.- Cash Bar- available Guinness, Smithwicks, Stella on Tap, Murphys and Harp also available. Cost $25.00 PP. Reservations are required, and all members are urged to be in attendance, along with their families. Attached please find a flyer outlining details. Deadline for reservations will be Saturday November 30 th. For more information please call Joe McCarthy at Payment must be made at time of reservation. Please make checks payable to AOH Div.1- Berks and mail to Joe McCarthy at 437 Elmer Circle, Reading, PA As all are aware, this is the time of the year when we, as a body, pay tribute to one of our own for their outstanding and continuing effort to promote the workings of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, but the promotion of our Irish Heritage and culture. The person, or persons chosen by the committee selected by President Len Weckel will officially present their selection to the membership during the Christmas Party with the presentation of a plaque recognizing their award and giving a brief outline highlighting their work on behalf of the AOH, and the Irish- American community in general. Their name will also be added to the past winners posted in our meeting room. This is the highest honor we as Hibernians can bestow on one of our members. F.Y.I. CLONMACNOISE, COUNTY OFFALY The ancient Monastery at Clonmacnoise is located in County Offaly in the very heart of Ireland, just south of Athlone. The Monastery was founded in the year 546 by Saint Ciarán, who was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland and was located on the shores of the mighty river Shannon. It was thus perfectly situated on the main crossroads of medieval Ireland. Crafts-workers, pilgrims, scholars and traders all gravitated to the settlement that was eventually to grow into one of the most important destinations in the country. As well as being a place of scholarly and religious learning Clonmacnoise later became associated with the Kings of Connaught and the Kings of Meath. The story of how the young Ciarán met Diarmait Uí Cerbaill who helped him build the first Church at Clonmacnoise and who would later become the first Christian King of Ireland, is the stuff of legend. Ciarán died shortly after the Church was built, at just 33 years of age. His legacy remains. The heyday for Clonmacnoise was from the eight to the thirteenth centuries. As a seat of learning and religion it was also home to a great deal of wealth that was plundered regularly by the Vikings and later by the native Irish tribes and the Normans. Estimates of the population of Clonmacoise put the figure at 2000 people, a sizeable settlement in the eleventh century. The skill of the craftsmen working at Clonmacnoise was unsurpassed in Ireland with perhaps the pinnacle of their achievements being the Clonmacnoise Crozier and the famous High Crosses. From the twelfth century onwards the influence of Clonmacnoise began to decline. The main reason was the growth of nearby Athlone, also located on the river Shannon, but much better protected with its impressive Castle. As the population of Clonmacnoise dwindled the site began 5

6 to fall into disrepair leaving its incredible legacy of stonework and medieval architecture to brave the elements for centuries. Clonmacnoise is located just a short boat-trip or bus-ride from Athlone, Tullamore or Birr, the main towns in the region. A modern interpretive centre displays the huge and magnificent stone crosses of Clonmacnoise, that were moved indoors for protection quite recently. A video presentation runs regularly to set the site in its historical context and afterwards the ruins and buildings are freely accessible. If you cannot take a good photo here then never touch a camera again! The ruins at Clonmacnoise exist among the fields and floodplain that border the river Shannon. It is easy to see how the site was abandoned and left to the overgrowth of plants and trees for centuries. For modern visitors this turned out to be a great advantage. The Book of Kells that is housed in Trinity College in Dublin regularly tops the list of most frequently visited tourist attractions in Ireland. Set in the heart of Dublin city it is very easy to access the site, view the books and the Library and then make your way to the next attraction without too much effort. By contrast Clonmacnoise does take a little effort to view. Offaly is off the beaten track from a tourist perspective. Nearby Birr and Athlone Castles and the boating on the Shannon are among the most popular reasons for visitors to arrive in Offaly. But for those who make the effort there is certain reward. The Book of Kells was created about the year 800 AD, approximately the same time as the famous High Crosses of Clonamcnoise. But these are artifacts that you can actually touch, actually feel the texture, actually place your hand where our ancient ancestors toiled and carved their utterly incredible designs. Walking out into the Monastery ground and graveyard it is easy to imagine the High Kings of Ireland berthing at the nearby river, arriving to pay homage at one of the most sacred sites in all of Ireland. You are just not going to get the same feeling elbowing your way through the crowds at Trinity College to catch a glimpse of a decorated page protected under glass and dim lighting. If it is your intention to spin around the main tourist attractions in Ireland, perhaps you are on a tight schedule, then Clonmacnoise may not be on your radar. That is fine - it does take a wee bit of effort to get there. But if you do visit you may be surprised by the modest entrance fee to Clonmacnoise - almost free - the cost of a couple of shots of coffee. Depending on your expectations, your outlook and the kind of person that you are, it may well be the best few Euro you will spend during your visit to Ireland. And possibly the highlight of your trip. PARADE IN LONG ISLAND St. Brendan s once again participated & marched in a parade on Long Beach- Island Park - Point Lookout, New York on September 27, The parade was sponsored by, St. Brendan the Navigator Division #17 located in Long Island NY. Ed Collins with the assistance of Vice- President Bob McHale coordinated our efforts to make this a memorable trip. We have attended this parade four consecutive years, and have found this to be an amazing event and all look forward to returning. The parade itself is great with a heart worming reception by the residents of Long Beach Island guaranteed to all. There is an unbelievable celebration that follows sponsored by the AOH, for AOH members, in appreciation for the parade participation. STATE BOARD CALNDARS As we have in the past twelve years, St. Brendan s will once again sell State Board Calendars for the year This is one of our most successful fundraisers each year, and thanks to your efforts we are able to continue with our Hibernian Hunger Programs. The calendars sell for $40 and the division earns a Commission of $5 per calendar. Although sales have dropped in the past years, we still manage to make $400 to $500, which goes toward meeting our goal of $1000 annually. The money goes to feed the less fortunate in our community during the Christmas and Easter Holidays. For a list of numbers available, please call Joe McCarthy at HIBERNIAN HUNGER PROJECT Ten years ago, your officers discussed ways our division could enhance our community standing and become more active in charitable giving. One of the suggestions adopted was to participate in the National Board s Hibernian Hunger Project. The Hibernian Hunger Project is a way for our members to honor those Irish people who came before us and gave us a lasting legacy of generosity for those in greater need than ourselves. The project is designed to accomplish four goals; Fight hunger; Display the Irish Diaspora s vested interest in hunger and educate citizens in the United States about An Gorta Mor (Great Hunger) in Ireland; Demonstrate the natural generosity of the Irish to share with others and Combat by a positive act the negative displays of the green beer, plastic hats pseudo Irish on St. Patrick s Day. As part of this program, all monies raised through our annual sale of State Board Calendars will be set aside to fund this project. This is in addition to our Pennies from Heaven program that donates approximately $600 to local charities and the AOH Green Cross project each year. HIBERNIAN COAT PROJECT All are reminded that our fourth Annual Hibernian Coat Drive is set for Friday December 12, All are asked to bring or drop off your useable, clean, winter coats, jacket, hats gloves, scarf s etc. to the meeting of November 14th or December 12 th. All garments will be delivered to a charitable organization who will see that they are given to needy families. This is your chance to go through your closets and cedar chests and donate your unwanted garments. If you need assistance getting them to us please call any officer and arrangements will be made to pick them up. 6

7 AOH CHRISTMAS APPEAL & 10 CLUB Each year we participate in the Annual 10 Club sponsored by the Freedom For All Ireland Committee of the AOH in America. Our Freedom For All Ireland chairperson, Jim Caherly asks each member to donate $10, which is used support the families of political prisoners in the North of Ireland. Naturally the monies are used to make Christmas a little brighter for needy families, as well as charitable giving to various organizations in Northern Ireland who are working to maintain peace and stability in that part of Ireland. Please consider sharing with us this year when asked! Remember the third principle of our preamble in the Constitution & By Laws state the purpose of our organization is to aid and advance by all legitimate means the aspirations and endeavors of the Irish People for complete and absolute independence, promoting peace with justice and unity for all Ireland. All donations are greatly appreciated and should be mailed to Jim Caherly at 1530 Cleveland Ave. Wyomissing, PA 19610; please make all checks payable to AOH Div #1 Berks MAJOR DEGREE OPPORTUNITY For those members who have not taken your major degrees of our Order, please be advised that the Shamrock and Round Tower Degrees will be offered by the Philadelphia Firefighters John Redmond Division #22 in Philadelphia and the Isle of Erin Degree Team on Sunday October 19, The exemplification of the Major Degree Ceremony is open to all formally sworn in members of the Order, who are in good standing in their division.. All candidates must be pre-registered with the degree team by logging into the following website: Sign in will be 10:30am at the Firefighters Hall 415 N. 5 th St.(Fifth and Willow) Philadelphia, Pa The Shamrock Degree will begin at Noon with the Major /Degree Ceremony immediately following. Cost is as follows: Candidates $35 Observers $25. A reception will follow at the conclusion of the degrees. Space is limited, so if you are interested in taking the degree please register as early as possible. ON THE LIGHTER SIDE A LITTLE LEVITY! On the first day, God created the dog and said, 'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.' The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?' So God agreed. On the second day, God created the monkey and said, 'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.' The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?' And God agreed. On the third day, God created the cow and said: 'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.' The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?' And God agreed again. On the fourth day, God created man and said, 'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.' But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?' 'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.' So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone. Life has now been explained to you!!!! F.Y.I. did you know that? The term "hillbilly" was first used in America to describe the immigrants from Northern Ireland, mostly Presbyterian, who came in the 18th century. The name had been attached to them back in Ireland since the 1600's, when southern Irish Catholics started calling Protestant supporters of King William "hillbillies" or "Billy boys." There are seven huge stone forts on the Aran Islands: Dun Aonghasa, Dun Ducathair, Dun Eoghanachta and Dun Eochla on Inishmore; Dun Chonchuir and Dun Fearbhai on Inishmaan, and Dun Formna on Inisheer. The preface "Dun" means "fort of a chieftain." Killyleagh Castle, in County Down, Northern Ireland, is the oldest occupied castle in Ireland. Built in the 13th century, it is still in use as a private home Killary Bay, on the Mayo-Galway border, is the only true fjord in Ireland. A fjord is a long, narrow inlet from the sea between high slopes. Ireland s 15 principal railway stations are named after the leaders of the 1916 uprising. 7

8 St. Brendan Division #1 AOH-LAOH of Berks County, PA 34 th Annual Christmas Party & Hibernian of the Year Dinner Beannachtaí na Nollaig agus Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh go léir! Bí áthasach agus grámhar i do cheiliúradh! (The Blessings of Christmas and A Happy New Year to all of you! Celebrate with love and joy!) Sunday December 7, 2014 Ganly s Irish Pub 500 Brownstown Rd State Hill, PA Hors d Oeuvres & Cocktails 4:00-7:30 pm Hot Buffet dinner served at 4:30pm COST: $25 PER PERSON - $50 per couple - Cash Bar available Recorded Music and dancing 4:30-7:30pm (All attendees are requested to bring a small gift if you wish to participate in the gift exchange. Gift should not exceed $10 in value and must be marked, Male, Female, or neutral) Reservations are required see below cut here I, (We) wish to make reservation for the Annual Christmas Party On Sunday December 7, Please find my check made payable to AOH Division 1, Berks in the amount of $ NAME address CITY State ZIP PHONE NUMBER # of couple (PLEASE LIST ALL NAMES OF PEOPLE ATTENDING) Mail reservation to 437 Elmer Circle, Reading, Pa Or call Joseph McCarthy at with your intention by 12/07/13 PATRONS: Thanks to the support of the following patrons and advertisers found throughout our newsletter it is possible to publish our bi-monthly edition. Your continued support of our advertisers will be greatly appreciated 8 Fr. William Campion 04/15 (St. Brendan's 1st Chaplain) Timothy J.Brennan 2/15 James Caherly 02/15 Shay Caherly 02/15 Rory Caherly 02/15

9 Edmund Ettinger 12/14 Clare P. Flannery 04/15 Richard Flannery 10/14 J. Phillip Gallagher, 06/15 James Gilmartin 12/14 Alice Henry-L.A.O.H.- PA. Past President 12/14 Joseph & Bernice McCarthy 08/15 John Mackey 12/14 John J. McHale 12/14 Henry Mullen Sr. 8/15 Rita Mullen 2/15 Mary Jo Mullen 2/15 Len & Bryn Weckel 03/15 C o m p l i m e n t s O f SHAMROCK FARMS STORAGE MICHAEL H. MOORE mikehmoore@comcast.net 120 OLD STATE ROAD C o m p l i m e n t s Of Attorney Robert D. Katzenmoyer Serving all of your legal needs READING, PA Your business card Ad Could be placed here for just $50 per year For information call Or send info to jgmccjr@comcast.net AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE OFFICERS OF ST. BRENDAN S DIV. #1 On behalf of the officers and members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians of Berks County, we extend our heartfelt wish for a Blessed and Joyous Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. FROM ALL OF US, TO ALL OF YOU! Beannachtaí na Nollaig agus Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh go léir! Bí áthasach agus grámhar i do cheiliúradh! (The Blessings of Christmas and A Happy New Year to all of you! Celebrate with love and joy!) HAPPY HALLOWEEN 9 PATRONS: Thanks to the support of the following patrons and advertisers found throughout our newsletter it is possible to publish our bimonthly edition. Your continued support of our advertisers will be greatly appreciated Fr. William Campion 04/15 (St. Brendan's 1st Chaplain) Timothy J.Brennan 2/15 James Caherly 02/15