THE CLAN-NE-GAEL by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 24, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 24.

THE CLAN-NE-GAEL.

By Editor

WE have referred once or twice in our news columns to the murder of Dr. Cronin in Chicago. The circumstances of this crime are probably familiar to all. The doctor was no doubt foully murdered at the command of a secret order, the Clan-ne-Gael, of which he was a member. What his offense against the order was, nobody but those who were concerned in his trial and "removal" will probably ever know. Certain it is that he was accused before some secret tribunal, which tried and condemned him to death, and that this secret sentence was speedily executed. Perhaps the fact of Dr. Cronin's death is a matter of small importance to the public, but the existence of such orders in this country is a matter of grave moment.

Of course, in joining such a society, Dr. Cronin took upon himself obligations binding him to obey all the rules of the society, and to abide by the decisions of just such a tribunal as the one which finally decreed his death; and undoubtedly had he been ordered to execute just such a sentence upon another, he would have been bound by the rules of the order to do so. This to a certain extent shows that he was unworthy of sympathy. But be that as it may, the fact that so many thousands of men should band together in this country in secret societies which are similar to this one, is a menace to our republican institutions. No citizen of the country should owe a higher allegiance to any power except to God, than that which he owes to the Government under which he lives, and yet the members of the Clan-ne-Gael owe to this society a higher allegiance than they owe to the Government. In this case the perpetrators of this crime know that the laws of the State in which they live forbid murder and provide for its punishment, and yet at the behest of the secret tribunal they have deliberately violated the law.

We do not pretend to say that all secret societies are equally bad. Some we know provide no punishment other than fine and expulsion from the order, and while we would not justify any secret society, we are not prepared to say that such orders should be prohibited by law. But certainly those societies which bind their members to do, under certain conditions, illegal acts, should be prohibited, and the laws of conspiracy should be so far extended as to make accessory before the fact every member of any society, which, under any circumstance, commands any of its members to commit crime. Nothing less than this will ever eradicate the evil or afford adequate protection against such associations as the Clan-ne-Gael.

WE have received from the publisher, Elder H. A. St. John, 916 Laguna Street, San Francisco, a copy of a new chart just issued by him, which connects the first advent of Christ with the law of God in a very attractive and pleasing manner. The center of the chart is occupied by a beautiful cross, around the top of which is a semi-circle of converging lines showing the prophecies relating to the first advent of the Lord, and texts in the New Testament witnessing their fulfillment, together with the principal events in the life of Christ. The chart is printed on heavy paper, in five colors, and the fact that the work was done at the Pacific Press is a sufficient guarantee of its excellency in this respect. The retail price is 25 cents. Address as above.

WE are requested to state that on or about the 7th of March last, George D. McKinstry, a young man eighteen years of age, left Healdsburg, this State, to return to his home at Binghampton, Cal., and has not been heard of since. No cause can be assigned for his sudden disappearance and prolonged absence. Any information as to the young man's whereabouts, either now or at any time since his disappearance, will be thankfully received by his father, H. H. McKinstry, Binghampton, Cal.

THE Church Union notes with considerable satisfaction the fact that the Sunday law is being rigidly enforced in New Orleans. The advocates of strict Sunday observance seem to be moving forward all along the line. True, they are not meeting with success at all points, but he must be blind indeed who can fail to see in this general Sunday movement an indication of the speedy fulfillment of Rev. 13:11-17.

IF B. E. Pearman will be so kind as to send us his address we will endeavor to answer his questions.