Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2, 11 January 1900, Page 9

Irish News.

ANTRlM.— lntolerance in Belfast.— At the Belfast Board of Guardians' meeting on Tuesday (says the Tablet, November 25) Catholic matters bulked very largely in the debates, but in all cases the action of a section of the Board was to a large extent checked after a struggle carried on by the Catholic Guardians assisted by some liberal-miuded Protestants. A Catholic young man named Lupane was lately appointed assistant in the workhouße, and because he did an hour's work outside in the morning, for which he compensated by giving an additional hour in the house, a dead set was made against him. Mr. Allison moved that the resolution appointing Lupane be rescinded, and he alleged that the appointment was made in the first instance because of services Lupane had rendered to the Catholic party. The Catholics had foisted this young man on the Guardians, and had made his hours of duty to suit his holding an outside post, that of deputy registrar for Dr. Torrans, which he (Mr. Allison), representing a certain section of the ratepayers, would not tolerate. Mr. De^pard, a Protestant, moved an amendment that Mr. Lupane be retained, but that he must give his entire time to his duties in the workhouse, and this was seconded by Mr. Harrison, another Proteftant. Dr. M'Donnell and Mr. William O'Hare (Catholics) protected against the allegations made. They were not sent there to represent Catholics alone, but the poor of the city ; and they asserted that the continual introduction of the religious question had had a most demoralising effect upon the Board. After a long discussion the amendment was carried by fourteen voteß to thirteen, five Guardians not voting. Miss Callwell (Protestant) then moved that the Catholic nurses in the house be allowed to attend Mass in the workhouse on Sunday mornings. Mr. Walker objectdd on the ground that the change would place extra duty upon the Protestant nurses, and Mr. Allison strongly protected against the continual endeavour to satisfy the Catholics at the expense of the Protestant members of the staff. The motion of Miss Callwell was not defeated, but was sent back to the Infirmary Committee for further consideration.

OARLOW — Laying the Foundation-stone of a New Convent School- — On the Feast of the Assumption was laid the foundation-stone of the new schools about to be erected in Carlow for the Sisters of the Assumption. New and enlarged accommodation has been for some time very urgently required for the 500 girls who receive thtir education from the nuns, and some six months ago the Bishop authorised the Rev. John Cullen, Adm., to take the initiative in remedying a sta f e of things that militated agrainst the efficiency of the teaching. Plans were drawn up by the late Mr. William Hague, which involved an estimated expenditure of £2,441, with an additional £300 for heating and furniture. The Commissioners of National Education were prevailed upon to advance £1,200, and a bazaar resulted in a net profit of £1,222. The new buildings will be a continuation of the convent.

CORK —The late Monsignor Maguire.— A public meeting ) convened by the Mayor of Cork on requisition, was held recently for the purpose of taking steps to perpetuate the memory of the late Monsignor Maguire. There was a large and representative attendance. A subscription list was opened, contributions being limited to a guinea. An influential committee was appointed to carry out the object of the meeting.

Death Of a Religious. — The many friends and pupils of Loretto Convent, Fermoy, will learn with regret of the death of Mother M. Charles, on November 8. The deceased was seoond daughter of the late Mr. B. Ellis, Marianville, Maynooth, and niece to the celebrated Surgeon Ellis, so long connected with the National College. Miss Ellis entered Loretto College, Rathfarnham, in 1 852, during the life of the venerated Foundress, Rev. Mother Teresa Ball. She was sent to Fermoy a few months after that convent was founded in 1853. Her long and zealous life was devoted to the service of God in that community, where the memory of her edifying example will long remain.

DOWN. — A Laudable Undertaking in Newry.— A bazaar was held recently in the Town Hall, Newry, in aid of the funds for the furnishing of the Home for the Aged Poor and Orphans, presided over by the Sisters of Mercy. The new Home, which was erected at a cost of £4000, is the gift to the Sisters of Mercy of Mr Thomas Fegan, Newry, a gentleman who has not for the first time shown his liberality in behalf of the helpless aged poor and orphans. His Lordship the Bishop of Dromore opened the proceedings with a suitable and enthusiastic address, in which he alluded to the work accomplished by the Sisters of Meroy, whose hands were unfailingly strengthened by the co-operation and generosity of his faithful flock.

DUBLIN.— A Well-known Priest Leaves for Australia* On November 10 the Very Rev. Father Gregory, C.P., left London for Australia. The rev. gentleman was the late Provincial of the Anglo-Hibernian Province of the Passionist Order, and at the recent Chapter held at Mount Argus in July was appointed ProProvincial for Australia This is his second visit to the Antipodes, and his many friends throughout the country regret exceedingly his departure.

The Civic Disabilities of the Clergy.— The inaugural meeting of the Solicitors' Apprentices Debating Society, Dublin, was made the occasion of a very interesting discussion. The subject of the auditor's address was ' Some Civic Disabilities Under Representative Government.' The author dealt most logically with the disabilities to whioh clergymen and women are subjected. The discussion was in great part concentrated on the penal provision of the recent Local Government Bill, which* deprives the Irish priest from the rights of citizens. In a very able speech the Very Rev. J.

A.. Finlay, S. J., reviewed the present position of the Irish clergy in regard to the Local Government Aot. In the course of his address he said he wonld content himself for the present with alluding

merely to the part of the auditor's address in reference to the deprivation of civic rights inflicted by the law on the clergy of all denominations in the country. Equity demanded that the clergymen of all churches should be recognised as citizens, and should be received into civil society with the rights and privileges of citizens. It was a glaring intrusion upon their civil rights that they should be received as citizens and at the same time the Government should undertake to deal with them with tbe authority that it; might possibly have over an estate of the realm. If the ministers of religion were treated as citizens they must be wholly and entirely treated as such. They were quite prepared to believe that the special sphere of work of a parish priest lay within the borders of his own parish ; that the ministration of the sick and oomforting of the dying, and the rest of those duties, might claim exclusively the time, attention, and the energies of the priest. What they did not admit was that it was the business of the State to dictate to the priest how, where, and when he was to discharge his spiritual duties. They had heard a great deal of the doctrine of the priest confining himself to his own duty. They were told very much that his special place was within the altar rails. That might be very true, and doubtless when those interested in such matters — from a spiritual point of view — were discussing them amongst themselves they insisted on the fact that the British Government could not define for them where the altat rails began and where they ended. The business of the Government was to deal with them as citizens and citizens only. Continuing, Father Finlay said he predicted that unless a protest was made against that evil precedent it might possibly develop into consequences which the generation whioh had taken it so lightly might eventually rue.

Departure Of a Priest for Belfast.— The Christian Doctrine Society at Mount Argus have presented an illuminated address to the Rev. Father Hubert Carruth, their late spiritual director, on the occasion of his transfer to the Belfast community. The Rev.

Father Benedict addressed the meeting, at which the address was presented, and referred to Father Hubert's many good qualities which had endeared him to all and had made his work in the Society so successful. The secretary then read the address, and Father Hubert replied in kind and touching words.

Presentation to a Journalist-— The staff of the Freeman's Journal availed of the occasion of the marriage of Mr J. P. Gaynor, 8.L., to present him with a mark of the regard in which he is held by them. Their feelings of esteem found expression in a handsome address, most artistic in design and beautiful in finish, accompanying a valuable wedding gift. The presentation was made by Mr J. B. Hall, of the Freeman's Journal, who made some happy references to those qualities of head and heart, those traits of good comradeship which have won for Mr Gaynor such a secure place in the affections of his colleagues. Mr Gaynor, in well-chosen and eloquent terms, expressed his acknowledgment of the compliment paid him. Mr Gaynor is well known in Ulster social and journalistic circles, having been for many years a valued member of the literary staff of the Belfast Morning News prior to his joining the ranks of

ournalism in the metropolis.

Irish Genius in English Literature —At the inaugural meeting of the University College Literary and Historical Society held in the Aula Maxima of the College, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, the Very Rev. Dr. Delaney, S.J., presided. The hall was crowded. Mr. Arthur E. Clery, Auditor, delivered an interesting address, entitled ' Irish Genius in English Literature.' Among the other speakers were the Rev. Dr. Hickey, Maynooth, Judge Adams, Mr. John Dillon, M.P., and Mr. M. McD. Bodkin, Q.C.

GALWAY — The Education Question— The Bishop o Galway, in distributing the prizes to the successful students of Stf Patrick's Seminary, alluded to the melancholy position in which the. education question now stands, the urgency of which has been admitted by the representative statesmen of all parties, but whose procedure is blocked by an intolerant minority. His Lordship regretted the Government would not do its duty to the Catholics of

Ireland. 'Both the Leader of the House of Commons and the Chief Secretary had admitted,' he said, ' that the Catholics were entitled to a separate University, yet they made no efforts to satisfy the just claims of the vast majority of Irishmen. The truth was that the Government was afraid of the Opposition of the Orange Party in the North. Unfortunately their Parliamentary representation was ineffective, but he would advise all to press on the question, and never cease to agitate until their efforts were crowned with success.

TIPPERARY.— Death of the Pastor of Cappawhite.— General regret was felt in the diocese of Cashel when the death of the Rev. J. P. Crowe, parish priest of Cappawhite was announced. The sad event took place somewhat suddenly at the parochial residence. Father Crowe was born in Cappawhite, and was for many years pastor of his native parish, where he was beloved and esteemed by his people. He remodelled the church and built splendid schools. The interment took place at Cappawaite.

GENERAL.

An English Opinion of Mr. Michael Davitt.— in a woent issue of the Sketch, the well-known illustrated London weekly, there was the following appreciation of the late member for Mayo : — ' Mr. Davitt, who has been so much complimented by Conservatives on retiring from the House of Commons, was a greater Parliamentary force out of the House than in it. Rarely has so much poison been shown by the Nationalists as they expressed when Michael Davitt was arrested by the Liberal Government in 1881. His name frightened the House, but when he became a member the shell was broken. Mr. Davitt expressed the most unpopular opinions in the

courteous language of a gentleman. Unionists treated him as a brave enemy whom they might shoot, but would not insult, and although he never sacrificed an opinion, he returned the respect and even goodwill of his opponents. The Dillon " Cabinet " has-been weakened by Mr. Davitt's resignation. It includes Messrs. Blake, Swift-MacNeill, and T. r\ O'Connor, but the ex -Canadian statesman is silent, Mr. MacNeill is too impulsive, and "T. P." does not entirely give np to politics what was meant for journalism.'

A Priest who Assisted John Boyle O'Reilly to Escape. — A St. Paul newspaper says : — ' Rev. P. M. M'Cabe. a Catholic clergyman, is dead of Bright's disease, at St. Mary's, a small mission not far from here. His death recalls an exploit of international interest in which he was a conspicuous actor. It was Father M'Cabe who was instrumental in liberating the Irish political prisoner, John Boyle O'Reilly, who afterwards became the noted American poet. O'Reilly was sentenced to penal servitude in Australia for loving his country, and proclaimed it too openly. Father M'Cabe was stationed at the Australian prison as chaplain, and to him O'Reilly confided his intention of making his escape. The priest offered to aid him. On a dark night in 1869 the two met by appointment, and the priest and the prisoner exchanged clothes. In this disguise O'Reilly departed in an open boat without food or drink. After three days of terrible exposure to the perils of the sea he was picked up by an American whaler and carried to Liverpool. Thence he made his way quickly to the United States. When the truth leaked out later Father M'Cabe was obliged to make a hasty departure from Australia. He went to the United States and applied to Archbishop Ireland for a charge about eighteen years ago, and remained in Minnesota ever since.'

A Prosperous Benefit Society —The report of the twentyBecond annual convention of the Irish National Foresters (says the Irish Weekly') is most gratifying evidence of the progress of this mighty organisation, whose ramifications have spread not only through Ireland, England, and Scotland, but through America, Australia, and Africa as well. The following extraot from the report of the general secretary is instructive : — ' As regards increase of membership and funds it beats all previous records by considerable odds, the former increasing by 3581 members, and the latter by J65747 18s lid. Twelve years ago the number of members was 6018 and the accumulated funds £5111) 14s 6d. The number of members now is 24,635 and the funds £40,202 0s Bd. Nothing can indicate more forcibly than these figures the great strides of progress made during these years by the society.'

Increase Of Lunacy. — The annual report of the Inspectors of Lunatic Asylums for last year shows that there is an increase of no fewer than 714 in the number of the insane in the various institutions under their supervision as compared with 624 for 1 897. while the average for the ten previous years was only 444 per annum. The admissions into the district asylums have increased by 184 during the year, and this increase is to some extent accounted for by the large number of transfers from workhouses, where many of the cases entered on the asylum books as first admissions had been resident for years. Notwithstanding the large number sent from the workhouses it is remarked that the number of the insane remaining in them shows no corresponding diminution. The inspectors give statistics to prove that the number of the insane has increased from 250 per 100,000 of the population in 1880 to 447 per 100,000 in 189S, and if to this be added the number of the insane wandering at large according to the oensus returns of 1891, the numbers will be found to amount to the formidable total of 556 per 100.000. On January 1, 1899, there were in the district at-ylums 15,289 patients. The number admitted during the year was 3,469, and the number discharged recovered was 1,279, showiDg a percentage of 36!) on the admissions. The death-rate was 7.4 per cent , calculated upon the average number resident during the year.

Mr- Davitt on the Irish Parliamentary Party.— Addressing a large gathering of his former constituents early in November, Mr. Michael Davitt, ex-M.P., spoke of the complete breakdown of the Irish representation in Parliament. The party, as it stands to-day, he declared, is hopeless and helpless, aud attempts to promote unity are as fruitless as efforts would be to put health and strength into a paralytic patient by feeding him. Mr. Davitt's remedy for this state of things is the sweeping out of several members who were elected owing to the split and the dissension which followed upon it, and the complete reorganisation of the party. Sending respectable deadheads to Westminster, he declared, is like sending solders without arms to battle. Men of gift and capacity, thoroughly nationalist, honest, upright, and fearless were what was required.

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