Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 24 March 1910, Page 467

Irish News

ANTRIM— The Value of Sermons Bishop Tohill, speaking at a Confirmation ceremony in Belfast, said a great many Catholics, strong in their faith liked to think they had no real need of sermons, and so avoided the Masses at which sermons were preached It was necessary, he said, for Catholics to listen to exhortations founded on the Gospel, and to be reminded of the weakness of human nature and the constant need of God's grace. CLARE—A Well-known Public Man The death is reported of Mr. John Keane, of Ennis. Mr Keane, who had reached his fifty-fifth year, was one of the best known figures in Clare politics for the last thirty years. He took a prominent part in the famous election of Lysaght Finnegan in Ennis in the early days of the Land League movement, and was at all times a most enthusiastic admirer of the late Mr. Parnell, to whom his devotion was so great that in time he came to be known in Ennis as ' Parnell Keane, a name by which he was called up to the time of his death. Apart from politics Mr. Keane conducted one of the most successful and best known business establishments in the town of Ennis where he was universally respected by people of all classes and creeds. Mr. Keane s most notable characteristic was that whilst he maintained his own opinions most strongly he also respected the opinions of those opposed to him, with the result that it is true to say he was one of the most generally esteemed men in all Clare, and the news of his early death was received with heartfelt regret by a very wide circle of friends, including all sorts and conditions of men. Mr. Wm. Redmond and several members of the Irish Party who had intended journeying to Ennis to be present at Mr. Keane s funeral were prevented from doing so by the terrific storm which, in Wicklow and other parts of the country, had made the roads impassable. CORK—Catholic Toleration ■i At the annual meeting of the Skibbereen Urban Council Mr. Wood Wolfe, J.P., the only Protestant member of the board, was unanimously elected chairman. In returning thanks he said that it was his plain duty to bear public testimony to the toleration of his brother members "and of his fellow-citizens. That spirit of toleration had been felt by him all his life, but he thought it had reached a point which made it advisable for him to publicly refer to it when his fellow citizens through their representatives presented to him, the only Protestant on the board, the highest public honor in their gift. Strange Proceedings , Mr. William O'Brien (writes a Dublin correspondent) enjoys the distinction of being the only Irish member elected for two constituencies. Not content with his election for one of the Cork City seats, he contested North-East Cork and won it from Mr. William Abraham, who represented the division faithfully for many years. The fact that the district is Mr. O'Brien's native place, combined with his capacity as a public speaker, accounts for his victory, which is regretted by Nationalists generally. That he should drive a stalwart Protestant Home Ruler from-public life, while at the same time advocating the union of all creeds for the common good, seems strange indeed. DONEGAL—Reliable Testimony ' *" — Mr. Mac Neill, M.P., in a speech delivered at Dean's Grange a few weeks ago, said that as an Irish Protestant he was glad to see that the spirit of friendliness and trust between Irishmen of differing creeds was growing, and that the old tradition of hatred and disgust was dying out. He had never experienced anything but the utmost kindness and courtesy and friendliness from his Catholic fellowcountrymen and his Catholic constituents in Donegal. DUBLlN— Rowdyism in a Church Sunday after Sunday (writes a Dublin correspondent) the congregation worshipping in St. John's Protestant Church, Sandymount, County Dublin, are compelled to meet under the protection of the metropolitan police. This is owing, not to any intolerance on the part of their Catholic neighbors, but to the aggression of their own co-religion-ists, who consider the Rector guilty of Ritualistic practices. The disturbers do not belong to the locality, but are gathered from various parts of the city. Last Sunday (January 30) it was expected that a body of one hundred Orangemen from Belfast would have turned up, and police arrangements were made to cope with the threatened disorder. For some reason or other the Orangemen did. not put in an appearance, but there was a determined effort made' by a large crowd to rush the doors. It was frustrated by the burly constables on duty. Fought Against Religious Tests Professor Frederick Purser, the eminent Fellow of Trinity. College, who died on January 30 in his seventieth year, will be principally remembered in the world of learning for the extraordinary vicissitudes which attended his

struggle to win a Fellowship of Trinity College, which, ho considered as the very highest attainable honor. He was (says the Freeman's Journal) one of the few men of independent means who -.aspired to Fellowship. Professor Purser abolished by his course of action the religious tests in Trinity College. In 1872 he was first in the Fellowship Examination, and was duly elected. He, however, declined to make the statutory declaration of religious belief, as he was a member of the religious body known as Moravians, required from newly-elected Fellows. Mr. Minchin Smith, who was second in the list, and . afterwards a Professor of great eminence in Cooper's Hill Engineering College, was ready to make the declaration, and claimed the Fellowship. A Visitation was held, and it was decided that the election of Professor Purser to the Fellowship was valid, but that as he had declined to submit to the religious tests he had lost the Fellowship, which accordingly became vacant. This incident led to the passing in 1873 of Fawcett's Act, abolishing religious . tests in Trinity College. Professor Purser, however, suffered severely from his, protest for conscience' sake. He competed for the Fellowship which he had won on several occasions, but was surpassed by other candidates. However, he did not lose heart, and at length, in 1879, he won for the second time the Fellowship which he had obtained seven years before, and had renounced owing to a conscientious scruple. It is now almost forgotten that Professor Purser's protest against the religious test as applied to successful Fellowship candidates had its prototype in the 'forties of the last century in a similar protest by Mr. Denis Caulfield Heron, a Catholic —afterwards a leader of the Irish Bar, who was appointed a Sergeant, and died suddenly in the prime of life —against religious tests as an essential qualification for scholarships. FERMANAGH— AIIeged Clerical Intolerance Mr. Battersby, the Unionist who failed to carry South Fermanagh against Mr. Jeremiah Jordan, complained at the close of the poll of the activity of some Catholic priests, who worked strenuously for the successful candidate. Mr. Jordan himself was ill and unable to fight his own battle on the hustings. The Catholic priests of the constituency made his fight their own, and carried him to victory because he is a Nationalist, as the priests in Fermanagh happen to be also. In religion Mr. Jordan is a Methodist, so that Mr. Battersby will not make much capital out of their energy. l"J ';. ■ KERRY—A Successful Career Mr. John Carey, 8.A., Lond., was amongst those who were called to the Bar recently at Gray's Inn. Mr. Carey, who is a native of Kerry, was educated at St. Brendan's Seminary, Killarney, Ushaw College, Paris, and Bonn. He graduated in honors at London University, was VicePrincipal of the largest Catholic college in London from 1887 to 1890, Vice-Principal of Waterford Training College from 1890 to 1894, and Principal of St. Joseph's College, London, from 1894 to 1899. From that date till the present time he has been head-master of the Catholic Grammar School, St. Helens. Mr. Carey entered Gray's Inn just three years ago, so that he has completed his course in minimum time. It is not yet stated whether he intends to raise his voice in the courts of the Northern Circuit. Those who know him best predict for him, in case he does, a success similar to that of other illustrious fellow-country-men of his. LlMEßlCKParliamentary Expenses Limerick Nationalists (says the Freeman's Journal) have decided to indemnify the Irish Parliamentary Fund in respect to the expenses incurred by the opposition offered to the re-election of Alderman Joyce as parliamentary representative of the city. It was well said at the influential meeting, presided over by the Mayor, that the action of the citizens in thus marking their sense of disapproval of the contest forced on the city would have a good effect not only in Limerick, but in the country at large. There was hearty agreement with Mr. Dundon when he pointed out that the Parliamentary Fund, ' which was for other and more serious purposes, should not be suffered to be depleted in that way.' The success of the movement inaugurated by the city branch of the United Irish League is assured, and the Parliamentary Fund is likely to be benefited rather than injuriously affected as a result of the contest. LOUTH—Election Expenses The supporters of Mr. T. M. Healy in North Louth have started an indemnity to recoup him for the expense of the recent election. At the first meeting subscriptions to the amount of £2OO were handed in. Although Mr. Healy is a wealthy man, his admirers are evidently determined that he shall not be out of pocket by the most hotly contested struggle that took place in Ireland during the general election. ' ; ' A Distressing Fatality A distressing fatality occurred on the River'-Boy during the last week in January. A schoolboy named Robert Byrne got into a boat lying at the river bank, when it was suddenly swept by the current into mid-stream and commenced to drift towards the weir. The cries of the lad attracted some women, including his mother. >' They

were unable to render any assistance, and the poor boy was, swept over the weir and. drowned before their eyes. Just before the boat overturned the boy called to his mother hot to cry, but to pray for him. TIPPERARY—A Venerable Priest < ;, Oh Sunday, January 30, at the patriarchal age of 94, the Rev. John O'Brien, Holy Cross, Thurles, passed away. .Father O'Brien was ordained in 1847,' and during the famine years worked heroically to alleviate the sufferings 'of .the people among whom "his lot was cast. While able, he took an enthusiastic part in the National movement for the betterment of his . native land. By his unassuming manner and unselfish labors for the spiritual and temporal welfare of his flock he endeared himself to all. The people of Holy Cross, of which parish he was pastor for forty years, deeply regret his death, although it took place only when he had long passed the allotted span of life. TYRONE—Venerable Voters In the East Tyrone election an old Nationalist, John Charleton, walked to the poll at Coalisland accompanied by a younger colleague, Richard McGeary, aged 95. The Electoral Contest The Nationalists (says a Dublin correspondent) have held East Tyrone by an increased majority of 112. At last election the majority was but 19, and every nerve was strained by both parties this time to achieve ' victory. Nationalist voters were brought from all parts of th« kingdom, and the Unionists had a voter from Winnipeg. The Nationalist majority is explained by the fact that Mr. Kettle got a few Protestant votes, and that abstentions on the Nationalist side were less than one per cent., while the Unionists are said to have 150 men unpolled in the constituency. The Nationalist conducting agents have reduced political organisation to an exact science, and, assisted by a wealth of enthusiastic auxiliaries in all the polling districts, the Nationalists exerted their utmost strength and achieved a glorious successthe eighth in unbroken succession since 1885. When the result was made known in Dungannon, Nationalist rejoicing knew no bounds. Professor Kettle, M.P., Mr. Shane Leslie, the hero of Perry; Mr. W. J. Harbinson, Mr. T. J. S. Harbinson, and Mr. John Doris, J.P., delivered addresses punctuated by tumultuous enthusiasm, and Mrs. Kettle, 8.A., also made a neat little speech. GENERAL The Parliamentary Fund The United Irish Parliamentary Fund for 1909 closed on February 1, the total amount received being £IO,OOO odd. Very Severe Weather v The weather in Ireland during the last week in January was of an unusually severe character. In Dublin, Belfast, and Derry several accidents, some of them serious, occurred in consequence of the frost, and the harsh weather had dislocated trade to such an extent that dire poverty exists in Dublin and other places amongst thousands of workpeople. Irish Representation/ Ireland's representatives in the newly-elected Parliament will consist of eighty-two Nationalists, including Mr. O'Brien's followers, some of whom have already intimated their desire to join the Irish Party, twenty-one Unionists, and one Liberal. The Unionists gained two seats from the Liberals, and one from the Nationalists, the latter in Mid-Tyrone, owing entirely to division in the popular ranks. Here there was a three-cornered contest between Mr. Murnaghan, who represented the division previously; Mr. Valentine, the official candidate of the Irish Party; and Mr. Brunskill, with the result that the last-named gentleman, who is a Tory of the high and dry type, slipped in. The Irish Attorney-General Mr. Redmond Barry, his Majesty's Attorney-General, is the sole representative of the Liberal Party who has been returned in Ireland. This fact goes to show that there are practically only two partes in Ireland, Nationalists and Unionists. Indeed, Mr. Barry, although an official Liberal, is as sound on the Home Rule question as any member of the Irish Party.