Mary McWhorter
State Pres. Ladies' Auxilliary A.O.H.
Compliments of the Author
Francis O'Neill
Mar 17-1914
Biography:
Mary F. McWhorter of Chicago, Illinois was the president of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAAOH) from 1916-1921. This organization of Irish and Irish-American Catholic women was officially recognized as the “Daughters of Erin” in 1894, became the LAAOH in 1906, and is still active today as the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc. (LAOH) Their motto begins with the words, “Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity,” which are three values that McWhorter exhibited endlessly throughout her involvement.
In 1908, her leadership in the LAAOH began as she became one of the directors of the national board. In 1912, she was re-elected as a national director and the national chairman of Irish history. This is no small feat, as the LAAOH at the time was already quite massive. In 1914, there were seventy thousand members in the organization and it was ever-increasing in size.
During the time that she was the president of this group, she was instrumental in helping to raise $50,000 for the Nuns of the Battlefield monument in Washington D.C. She also helped support families impacted by the war (World War I), as she appealed to the Order for the establishment of a Catholic War Relief Fund. Through this appeal, the organization raised $8,500 to help purchase Mass outfits for chaplains at training camps. Furthermore, in her time as president, a Funeral Benefit Committee was established for members of the LAAOH.
At a convention in 1918, President McWhorter addressed the political situation in Ireland, since the country was currently struggling for freedom. She also talked about the significance of the colors of the Irish flag, a testament to her knowledge and expertise. Throughout her leadership, she was very passionate about the difficulties that the Irish people were facing in the Motherland. Her concerns were especially made prominent during her trip to Europe in 1920. After representing the LAAOH at the Beautification of Venerable Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh, in Rome, meeting the Pope, and visiting the graves of American servicemen in France, she visited Limerick in Ireland. Upon her return to America, she wrote about the conditions there in The National Hibernian. She stated, “No one in America today, can realize what is taking place here. The forces that should maintain law and order in the natural course of events are the forces that are the most lawless. The campaign inaugurated is burn, pillage, kill-kill, burn, pillage. […] How can our people in America be made to realize the terrible tragedy that is going on in the homeland? I am sure if they could but know a fraction of the real situation they would not rest—they would leave nothing undone—to get America to interfere in this unequal struggle. If Ireland goes under in this fight it will be a lasting reproach to each of one of Irish blood in America.”
Mary F. McWhorter’s extensive involvement in Irish Catholic organizations is a testimony to her strong faith, desire to help others, and love for her heritage. Besides her involvement with the LAOH, Mary was also the president of the Celtic Cross Association which was headquartered in Chicago. In just six months, between February and July of 1921, she raised a whopping $34,000, which was distributed in Ireland by the Irish White Cross to help the cause of Irish Republicans. Far from being simply a figurehead of the LAAOH and the Celtic Cross Association, McWhorter was a strong, ambitious woman whose achievements toward noble causes were unmatched.
(Melody Sparks)
Sources:
The Irish Standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, MN), 08 Sept. 1917. "Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers." Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90059959/1917-09-08/ed-1/seq-8/
“About Us.” Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc. website, ladiesaoh.com/who-are-we/.
Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 03 March 1917. "Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers." Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1917-03-03/ed-1/seq-16/
Bisceglia, Louis R. “Primary Sources of Anti-English Activities in California, 1916-1936: The John Byrne Collection.” Southern California Quarterly, vol. 64, no. 3, 1982, pp. 227–237. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41170994. Accessed 5 May 2021.
Madigan, Marilyn. Celebrating Our History — A History of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc. in Celebration of 125 Years of Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity. 2020.
Provenance:
From the Na Píobairí Uilleann archive.