It has had, however, in our day, one unhappy effect, only for a time fortunately, and this is disappearing. I refer to the rise of Hibernianism. The English ruling faction having, for their own political designs, corrupted the Orangemen with power and flattery, enabled them to establish an ascendancy not only over Ulster, but indirectly by their vote over the South. This becoming intolerable, some sincere but misguided Catholics in the North joined the organisation known as THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS. This was, in effect, a sort of Catholic Freemasonry to counter the Orange Freemasonry, but like Orangeism, it was a political and not a religious weapon.
Further, as a political weapon, it extended all through Ireland during the last years of the Irish Parliamentary Movement. In Cork, for example, it completely controlled the city life for some years, but the rapid rise of the Republican Movement brought about the equally rapid fall of Hibernianism. At the present moment it has as little influence in the public life of Cork as Sir Edward Carson himself. The great bulk of its one-time members have joined the Republican Movement. This demonstrates clearly that anything in the nature of a sectarian movement is essentially repugnant to the Irish people. As I have pointed out, the Hibernian Order, when created, became at once a political weapon, but Ireland has discarded that, and other such weapons, for those with which she is carving out the destinies of the Republic. For a time, however, Hibernianism created an unnatural atmosphere of sectarian rivalry in Ireland. That has now happily passed away. At the time, however, of the writing of the article on Religion it was at its height, and this fact coloured the writing of the article. On re-reading it and considering the publication of the present work I was inclined to suppress it, but decided that it ought to be included because it bears directly on the evil of materialism in religious bodies, which is a matter of grave concern to every religious community in the world.
T. MacS.
CONTENTS
| [CHAPTER I] | THE BASIS OF FREEDOM |
| [CHAPTER II] | SEPARATION |
| [CHAPTER III] | MORAL FORCE |
| [CHAPTER IV] | BROTHERS AND ENEMIES |
| [CHAPTER V] | THE SECRET OF STRENGTH |
| [CHAPTER VI] | PRINCIPLE IN ACTION |
| [CHAPTER VII] | LOYALTY |
| [CHAPTER VIII] | WOMANHOOD |
| [CHAPTER IX] | THE FRONTIER |
| [CHAPTER X] | LITERATURE AND FREEDOM--THE PROPAGANDIST PLAYWRIGHT |
| [CHAPTER XI] | LITERATURE AND FREEDOM--ART FOR ART'S SAKE |
| [CHAPTER XII] | RELIGION |
| [CHAPTER XIII] | INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM |
| [CHAPTER XIV] | MILITARISM |
| [CHAPTER XV] | THE EMPIRE |
| [CHAPTER XVI] | RESISTANCE IN ARMS--FOREWORD |
| [CHAPTER XVII] | RESISTANCE IN ARMS--THE TRUE MEANING OF LAW |
| [CHAPTER XVIII] | RESISTANCE IN ARMS--OBJECTIONS |
| [CHAPTER XIX] | THE BEARNA BAOGHAIL--CONCLUSION |