Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 30 June 1910, Page 1027

Irish News

ANTRIM—An Orange Manifesto

~~ r , The Belfast News Letter contains the following interesting item regarding the vacant Recordership of the city —. The Executive Committee of the Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast, having carefully considered the question of the Recordership of Belfast, have passed the following Resolution: " We regret that in connection with the Recordership of "Belfast efforts are being made in certain Protestant circles to push the claims of candidates whose political and religious principles are hostile to those of the Loyalists of the city. . As any such appointment would seriously injure the feelings of respect and confidence hitherto held by Protestants in the administration of the law, and would be 1 besides wholly unwarrantable in view of the fact that there are many thoroughly capable Protestant candidates to select from, we protest strongly against the Government's thrusting upon our city a Recorder wholly alien from Protestant convictions and sympathies, and we earnestly urge all Loyalist citizens to dissociate themselves from any effort made to secure such appointment." ' Comment on this example of Orange intolerance is needless.

CORK—The Sisters of Charity

. - The Sisters of Charity have been in Cork for nearly one hundred years, and are, except for the Presentation communities, the oldest established Order of nuns in the city. At first there, were five or six nuns who devoted themselves to the care of the sick, fearless to nurse the patients in the cholera hospital. It is remarkable that none of the nuns ever caught the infection/ though nurses and doctors did. The Sisters began, to give religious instruction in National Schools, and soon started a primary school of their own; they also visited the prison, but not without much opposition from Bible readers and visitors of other denominations. In 1829, some years after their arrival in Cork, the Sisters of Charity were asked to take charge of St. Mary-Magdalen's asylum—a house of refuge for women and ''girls—which had been founded in 1809 by a Cork gentleman, Mr. Therry.

DUBLIN—Death of a Marist Father

~ ■:' Very sincere regret has been occasioned amongst a wide circle of friends by the death of the Rev. John Pimor, S.M., which occurred on May 5, at the Catholic University School, Leeson street, Dublin. Father Pimor was born in 1843, made his religious profession in 1866, and was ordained a priest in 1868 by the late Bishop Elloy, of the Society of .'Mary, in the University Church, Stephen's Green. " He had been on the staff of the Catholic University School for more than twenty years, and was a most popular teacher.

The Archbishop and the Gaelic League

... His Grace Archbishop Walsh, who is Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, has addressed a letter to the press in reply to a resolution passed by the central body of 1 the Gaelic League expressing dissatisfaction with the action of the Senate of the University in ignoring the demand- to have Irish made an essential subject for matriculation, and hoping that county councils will not strike a rate in.support of the University. The Archbishop severely condemns the resolution as a misrepresentation of the recent action of the Senate of the National University. The Charity of the Clergy

The Recorder of Dublin on May 4 paid a very warm tribute to the charity of the Catholic clergy. The case .under trial was from Skerries, and one of the witnesses was the curate of the parish, Father Russell, who, in the course of his evidence, said he attended a poor old woman named Monks every month for three years before her death. The Recorder said this was truly a type of the real Ambassador of Christ. The rev. gentleman, without fee or reward, paid devoted attention to the poor and lowly. It was charity and unselfishness of which they had only too little. It was a living example which could not easily be found elsewhere, and which made a greater impression on a busy man of the world in looking on religion than could be imagined. .

Irish in the New University

v The decision of the Senate of the Irish University with regard to the teaching of Irish represents a compromise (says the Glasgow Observer) .which will satisfy most reasonable people, although it does not meet the demands of some Gaelic League enthusiasts. Irish is made an optional subject for matriculation, but an essential and imperative subject for later study. .With the premisses of those who demand that Gaelic should be a compulsory subject for matriculation most Irish people agree. It would be unworthy and demeaning to the Irish race that : its ancient language should fail to find place in the curriclulum of an Irish University. But to make it a compulsory- subject for entrance examination would be to bar out many intending students now.unable to comply with such a condition, and yet ready otherwise to enter on their course of studies in the Irish University. The course ■ adopted by the Senate of making Irish an optional subject for entry, but ~ an

essential subject for later study,-' is f one which ought to be approved, as meeting the demands of national sentiment, and yet according with the practical possibilities of the present hour. The Irish University throws its doors "open to all who are ready to enter, but -students who may gain ingress without a knowledge of Irish shall, before egress, have acquired a knowledge of. Ireland's language, literature, and history, which it should be the first object of an Irish University to impart to those who come in search of learning to its halls. . ,

GALWAY—A Tactful Ruler

Most Rev. Dr. Gilmartin, Bishop of Clonfert, speaking at Portumna on Sunday, May 8, to a large congregation, made sympathetic reference to the -ate King. He spoke of him as a tactful ruler, a lover of peace, and one who was as friendly to Ireland as he could be. The Irish people were not a disloyal people. They wanted only justice and fair play, and they were sorry for the death of King Edward because of his qualities as a ruler, and particularly on. account of his sympathy with the just claims of Ireland. In the name- of the people to whom he was speaking, and of the diocese, he tendered his most sincere sympathy to Queen Alexandra. Ho asked them to pray for the new King that he might be all his father was, and that he might inherit his sympathy with Ireland. .

A Protestant's Testimony

Mr. Stephen Gwynn, M.P. for' Galway, who is a Protestant, said some notable things in an address on 'Protestant and Catholic in Ireland,' which he delivered on Sunday, May 8, at White-field's Tabernacle, London, at the invitation of the Rev. Sylvester Home, M.P. (says ,the Catholic Times). In advocating the cause of Irish selfgovernment, observed Mr. Gwynn, one was always met with the argument that if Home Rule were granted to Ireland.»t would mean oppression to the Protestant, population. He was there as a Protestant to declare that nothing was further from the truth; The Irish Catholics were faithful to their own belief, and he did hot expect Protestantism to spread in Ireland; but they were not intolerant. -It was the Protestants who had been intolerant, and who had driven the Catholic religion into the hearts of the people by persecution. Catholic toleration.? was in evidence throughout the country, Protestants being appointed to positions of trust and distinction, even when opposed by men who professed the predominating creed. Mr. Gwynn could have adduced a great array of facts in support of his statements. It is only in the Protestant parts of -Ulster where Catholics are spoken of as intolerant that intolerance is really practised. This injustice to Catholics is one. of the relics of the policy of the penal days. . The Irish.Orangemen can no longer openly persecute, but wherever they can do so in connection with appointments, public and private, they rigidly boycott their Catholic fellow-countrymen. ■ -. A Very Sudden Death

The news of the sudden death of , Rev. W. McHugh, P.P., Cummer, occasioned widespread regret throughout the archdiocese, of Tuam. Father McHugh had just left the church, and was proceeding to a car for the purpose of. keeping an appointment with a land . agent for the dividing of some grazing lands, when he suddenly became faint, and on being removed to his residence collapsed under a stroke of paralysis, never regaining consciousness. On learning of the sad occurrence the Archbishop of Tuam motored to Cummer, and remained for hours with the dying priest. On May 9 Requiem High Mass was celebrated, and at the conclusion the Most Rev. Dr. Healy, who was laboring under deep emotion, delivered an impressive panegyric. The life of Father McHugh, said his Grace, was a very beautiful and.edifying and blameless one. From his earliest years he had _ devoted himself to the service of God, first in the Order of Christian Brothers,' and afterwards as a secular priest. He was not only anxious for the spiritual welfare of his flock, but for their temporal w are also, and he gave himself with the greatest energy to the work of making the people the owners of the land they tilled. , v,;. '■

A Gift of the Late King

: One of the last acts performed by King Edward was to send a gift of £2 to an Irish peasant woman; Mrs. Keasley, the wife of a laborer living in Southern street, Galway, who gave birth to triplets a short time ago. A letter containing the postal order was posted in London on May 6, a short time before the King's death: . ■:'

LOUTH—A Public Official

Captain Andrew Leech, an old and much esteemed official in the public service of. Drogheda, died on May 5. The deceased gentleman belonged to a good old Catholic: family. Preferring the life of a mariner, he took to the sea when he was quite a young man, and sailing Jiis own ships, he traded to Drogheda for a great number of years J About thirty-one years ago, when the position of Harbormaster at Drogheda became vacant, . Captain Leech was appointed to fill the vacancy, and during that long period, by his courtesy and kindness on all occasions, he won : for himself a host of friends, who mourn his loss.

Consecrated Bishop

, The Right Rev. Joseph J. Rice, who was consecrated! Bishop of Burlington, U.S.A., on April 14, is the youngest

Catholic. Bishop in the United States. His diocese includes the _ entire State of Vermont. The- Bishop's father and mother were natives of Bellurgan, Dundalk, who emigrated to America. Several; relatives of the family reside at present in Deny.

A National Monument

••■■■;;■£ Attention is drawn (says the Freeman's Journal) to beginning of the movement for the purchase , of. Castletown Mount; Dundalk/thefort of Cuclnilain. The object is to preserve the historic dun as national monument for the benefit of fthe public. For this purpose a /sum of £IOOO is required. / The : castellated house on the mound is being overhauled, 1 with a view to its use as a museum, -; which will: be inspected with interest '; by visitors from all parts - of'; the world. The sum now promised £ and subscribed amounts to over £IOO, and - the promoters of the movement are hopeful of getting ■■ the amount necessary for-the purchase and upkeep of s the place.

TIPPERARY—A Public Funeral

_; y Thousands -'■ of people :v assembled at Nenagh, County Tipperary, on May .11 to witness the funeral of the brothers MpCormack, who. were hanged : there 52 years ago for a crime of which they were innocent. The exhumation of the remains was followed with intense interest, and hundreds of people flocked to the convent grounds: (formerly the old gaol) \to witness the opening of the grave. Amongst the crowd were several old men and women who witnessed the ■■ execution. Foremost amongst"-Uiem was one old man named Matthew McGrath, of Shallee, who was one of the men who removed the ■ deceased; from the scaffold, placed them in : coffins, : an ;. assisted : at .the interment. . McGrath at ■ that time was in gaol on suspicion of being implicated in an agrarian outrage. The Very Rev. J.. Canon McMahon, V-G.,: Nenagh, and other priests were present during the disinterment. Many willing ; ; hands worked unceasingly digging the graves, and after a short time-were rewarded by finding the skeleton of the elder brother, "William, who was aged 23. The remains were intact, and all the teeth perfectly sound in the skull, to which some hair was adhering. The bones were in a perfect state of preservation, and- on the feet were the nailed shoes worn at the time of execution. Considering that the bodies were buried in quicklime, the finding of the remains in such a state of preservation caused much astonishment amongst the eager and sympathetic crowd of onlookers. The remains of the other brother, Daniel McCormack, aged 18, were also found in a similar state of preservation. . Immediately after the exhumation the remains were placed in two splendid and massively mounted oak coffins, and/carried to the Mortuary Chapel of St. Mary of the Rosary, where they were placed on a catafalque. The procession from the grave to the church was the most impressive ever witnessed, nearly all the: old people present being in tears as they recounted the tragic occurrence of 52 years ago. On the following day, after a. Solemn Requiem Mass, the remains were remterred in Loughmore Cemetery.

GENERAL Ireland and the King's Death Nowhere in his wide dominions (writes a Dublin correspondent under date May 9) is the death of King Edward more genuinely regretted than in Ireland, for to the Irish people he greatly endeared himself during his all too brief reign. The country takes a full part in the grief which is felt throughout the British Empire and far outside its confines at the sad and wholly unexpected event. Immediately the news became known the Lord Mayor of Dublin sent messages conveying the profound regret of the citizens to the bereaved Queen and to King George. He also convened a special meeting of the Corporation to adopt a resolution of sympathy with the Royal Family. His Grace the "Archbishop of Dublin telegraphed to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant requesting him to convey to her Majesty Queen Alexandra the expression of his deepest sympathy. The Lord Mayors of Belfast and Cork tendered the sympathies of the people of their municipalities, as did "the Mayors of . other cities and boroughs throughout the. land. All the local bodies that met since the death of his Majesty have ; adopted resolutions deeply deploring it and placing on record their sympathy with the Queen and Royal Family Over all the public buildings flags are floating half-mast nigh, and blinds are drawn in many private residences as well as m public offices. - Signs of mourning are to be se.m on every side; and it is no exaggeration to state that never was the death of anyone more universally regretted in Ireland than that of his Majesty King Edward.