Ancient Order of Hibernians

Ancient Order of Hibernians. 1836 – 1936. Erected to the memory of members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of the City of New York who like their Irish fathers of old were ready to sacrifice their lives for religious freedom and the right to worship God as their conscience dictated and who in April, 1844, at the call of the Most Reverend John Hughes First Archbishop of New York rallied to the defense of this cathedral when it was threatened with destruction by the forces of bigotry and intolerance, Our fathers chained in prisons dark , Were still in heart and conscience free , How sweet would be their children’s fate , If we, like them , could die for thee , Faith of our fathers! Holy faith! We will be true to thee till death, This tablet is erected by the members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of the County of New York in connection with the centennial celebration of the order as a tribute to the devotion of its members to Holy Mother Church and to those principles of religious freedom which form the cornerstone of American liberty, County Officers , Rev. Patrick J. O’Donnell, PH.D - Patrick J. Walsh , Thomas Rogers - Bernard Lynch , Patrick Meehan - John J. Walsh , John J. Hoban - Thomas Kane , James Doris - Thomas Kelly , Centennial Committee , William T. Collins, Chairman - Edward J. McCullen, Secretary , Dedicated May 3rd 1936