Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 23 March 1911, Page 535

Irish News

ARMAGH —A Popular Postmaster Much regret is felt at many points throughout the North of Ireland at the death of Mr. Matthew _ Creighton, the popular postmaster of Portadown. Mr. Creighton took suddenly ill early on Sunday morning, January 29, and passed away within a couple of hours, fortified by the last rites of the Church. He had been 43 years in the postal service, first joining it in Monaghanhis native town going afterwards to Belfast, and later being transferred to various important stations in the north, including Dungannon, Armagh, Strabane, Omagh, and last of all Portadown. . The Expelled Portuguese Nuns His Eminence Cardinal Logue has sent a contribution of £5 to the fund being raised for the Irish nuns who were lately exiled from Portugal, robbed of their property and patrimony, by the Portuguese Republican Government. Cardinal Logue and the Protestant Primate In Armagh Courthouse on January 26, a meeting was held under the presidency of Mr. McCrum, D.L., for the Surpose or organising a presentation to Miss Alexander, aughter of the retiring Protestant Primate, Archbishop Alexander, on the occasion of her leaving Armagh. The attendance, which was representative of . all creeds and classes in the primatial city, included his Eminence Cardinal Logue, who in the course of a speech said he had an opportunity of knowing what Miss Alexander had done. Her work was done with great efficiency and without ostentation. She went among the people like a sunbeam, bringing light into their lives, and she was a prime mover in the most useful work of the city, the Nursing Asssociation. She was a very pleasant neighbor, and it was but right they they should give her a testimonial of their esteem, showing how much they valued her and her illustrious father. He, too, was a delightful neighbor, always agreeable. He occupied a considerable place in literature, and it was an honor to their city to have him among them ; as, indeed, it also was to have Miss Alexander, who had written a charming book on Armagh, showing that she inherited the distinguished talent of her distinguished father, and no less distinguished mother. ANTRlM—Candid Testimony Under the auspices of the Irish Patriotic Union a lecture was delivered recently by Mr. Rollins in the Central Hall, Rosemary street, Belfast. Mr. W. Mayes, Lisburn, who presided, said he was a Protestant Irishman, and he had not the slightest doubt that a measure of selfgovernment would tend to develop the country’s resources and advance its material interests. It was his good fortune to have lived for some time in Australia, and he did not think there was a solitary Australian in that vast continent who would exchange his place with any resident in Ireland who was governed from outside. _ The vast majority of the people of Australia were English, though Irishmen formed a very large percentage of the population. In his time several Catholic Irishmen were at the head of affairs, but there was not the slightest question about their religion. He thought it was a great insult to the oldest Christian Church to say that because men belonged to it they were not fit for self-government. The whole thing was absurd on the face of it. Air. Rollins, who was cordially received, said the London Daily Mail had to a large extent saved him the trouble of unmasking the Ulster bogey about which they, had heard so much. That journal had satisfied a great number of the English people that the whole thing was pure bluff ; and, in addition to publishing their correspondent’s article on the so-called Ulster revolution, they had published a splendid contribution from Professor Kettle, dealing with the economic aspect of Home Rule, in which the professor proved conclusively that Ireland was well able to pay her way under self-government. Ireland was going to get Home Rule surely, and almost everyone was satisfied as to that. She was a much more important country than either the Isle of Man or the Isle of Wight. DERRY —Papal Distinction A most interesting and historic function took place in the Bishop’s Rooms, St. Columb’s College, Derry, recently, when Bishop McHugh bestowed on Mr. Bernard Hannigan, a well known and respected Derry citizen, the Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great. At the same time he handed Mr. —henceforth Chevalier Hannigan—the parchments signed by his Holiness the Pope, and his secretary, Cardinal Merry del Val, constituting him a Knight “of the Order of St. Gregory the Great. Derry Catholics highly appreciate the honor paid Mr. Hannigan, as representative of the Catholic community, by his Holiness. DUBLlNßefuting Calumnies The quarterly meeting of the Council of the Catholic Truth Society of Ireland was held on January 27 at Upper O’Connell street, Dublin, Very Rev. Father Thomas,

0.5.F.C., presiding. The report, which was read by the secretary, stated that on the 10th of October a letter was received from the Right Rev. Dr. Cleary, Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand, saying that he had been commissioned by the Catholic Truth Society of Australia to establish agencies, with the co-operation of the ecclesiastical authorities 7 in various countries, to which they might appeal by letter or by cable for correct information whenever anything appeared in the columns of their secular press refleeting gravely on Catholic persons and Catholic institutions. His Lordship stated that he had succeeded in establishing such agencies in most of the Spanish-speaking countries of Central and South America, and in the United States,. and asked that the Catholic Truth Society should undertake similar work in Ireland. The Council informed his Lordship, in reply, that they would be most happy to comply with his request. Needless to say, no more useful or necessary work could be undertaken by the Irish Catholic Truth Society. Christian Brothers’ Past Pupils’ Union The first annual meeting of the Christian Brothers’ Past Pupils’ Union was held in the Mansion House, Dublin, on Thursday night, January 26. Mr. E. H. Kearney, 8.L., who was unanimously selected president for the coming year, delivered a most humorous address, which was enjoyed by the audience and punctuated throughout with cheers. He concluded by saying thair an attractive programme of social events would be arranged as soon as possible. The chairman announced that the vice-presi-dents were Right Rev. Dr. O’Callaghan, Bishop of Cork; Mr. T. F. Molony, K.C.; Right Rev. Mgr. Mannix, President Maynooth College; Dr. Denis J. Coffey, President University College; Messrs. J. P. Nannetti, J.P., M.P., T.C. ; R. J. Kelly, 8.L.; Cahill • S. Murphy, LL.B.; Rev. Terence J. Cullen; Mr. Thomas Sexton ; the hon.. treasurer, Mr. A. J. Keogh; the trustees, Messrs. Hugh Kennedy and Charles Dawson; the hon. sec., Mr. J. H. D. Molony. The Royal Visit Though the Royal stay in Ireland next July will be very brief, the King and Queen will hold a Court and Levee in Dublin (writes the London correspondent of the Irish News). They will not travel outside that city, however, according to present arrangements. It is stated on good authority that the Irish ‘ loyalists ’ and their aiders and abettors on this side are straining all their forces to secure the removal of Lord Aberdeen from Dublin Castle before the Royal visit. They are Operating at Windsor after their own fashion; and the signal has been given to make matters so unpleasant in Ireland for the Lord Lieutenant and Lady Aberdeen during the next three months that their Excellencies may be ragged into resignation. _ On the other hand, several shrewd Tories are endeavoring to moderate the efforts of their more energetic brethren—and sisters— dwelling on the bad effect on the minds of the Irish people which would be inevitably produced by the departure of Lord and Lady Aberdeen under circumstances readily appreciated by the populace. This consideration has not abated the zeal of the conspirators ; and if the_ Scottish nobleman and his lady continue in their places, it can be understood that they remain at the head of affairs in the Castle of Dublin in defiance of the most resolute and unscrupulous attempts to dislodge them that the Conservative Party, politically and socially, are able ,to make in the way of dislodging them. KING’S COUNTY—Damages and Costs

A settlement was intimated in the King’s Bench in a case in which Rev. Michael J. Crowe, Birr, King’s County sought damages from the Great Southern and Western Railway Company for injuries sustained in the Roscrea accident. Mr. Justice Gibson made an order that plaintiff be paid out £2OO lodged in Court, being part of a total sum of £Bl5 to be paid to him, with costs. MAYODeath of a Well-known Citizen Widespread regret is expressed at the death of Mr Michael Gilmartin, father of the Right Rev. Dr. Gilmartin Bishop of Clonfert, which occurred in Castlebar on January 4 7 ’.. Mr. Gilmartin was very highly respected, and was in his 79th year. ’ WATERFORD—Bishop Sheehan and Savings Bank At a recent meeting of the trustees of the Waterford Savings Bank, a letter was read from the Right Rev. Dr. Sheehan, Bishop of . Waterford, tendering his resignation as a trustee, in accordance with the decree recently issued by the Holy See forbidding ecclesiastics to retain any position haying a pecuniary responsibility. His Lordship expressed Ins regret at having to sever his connection with the bank a connection which the successive holders of the See of Waterford and Lismore had cheerfully maintained since its very opening day, 94 years ago. On the motion wi Mr. A. Nelson, D.L., J.P., seconded by Mr. J. N. lute, J.P., the trustees passed a resolution expressing profound regret at his Lordship’s resignation. WEXFORD—Spread of Temperance Proofs of the remarkable progress of the Temperance Movement in the County Wexford are manifesting themselves very convincingly. The records, of the New Ross Arthurstown, and other Petty .Sessions Courts districts

show that the number of cases of persons convicted, for drunkenness latterly is only about one-seventh of the number compared with twelve or fourteen years ago. A large number of both men and women have joined the Total Abstinence Association, and the demoralising practice of supplying drink at threshings has' practically been wiped out. GENERAL The Department of Agriculture Mr. T. W. Russell has informed a press representative that he knows nothing of the statement that he intended to resign the Vice-Presidency of the Department of Agriculture, which had been in circulation. Mr. Russell had nothing to say on the matter. The Torch of Faith Eight nations (the Catholic. Herald notes) had the.torch of faith enkindled from the altars of Ireland. Germany honors 150 Irish saints, France 45, Belgium 30, Italy 3.3, Sweden and Iceland 8. Austria’s patron is St. Colman, Franconia’s St. Killian, Flanders St. Livinus, Switzerland’s St. Gall, Northern Italy’s St. llumold. Besides these Irish saints, Austria specially honors St. Fridolin, Calabria SS. Frigidiau and Cataldus, and Strasburg St. Virgilius. Mayoral Elections The Mayoral elections in Ireland resulted very much as was expected. Alderman Farrell was elected Lord Mayor of Dublin. He is a Nationalist and a Catholic. - If a Protestant Home Euler could have been found for the position a number of Nationalist Councillors would have advocated his election. Protestant Nationalists have been Lord Mayors of Dublin in recent years —Sir Thomas Pile and Mr. Shanks among, the number. In Wexford a Protestant Home Euler, Mr. Howard Rowe, was elected Mayor by a Catholic Council, and at Carrick-on-Suir a Catholic Council elected Mr. J. E. Grubb, a Protestant gentleman, as chairman. Needless to say, where the Unionists are in a majority they show no reciprocity of such tolerance. In Derry and Belfast Catholics, as usual, are steadfastly refused all office or eminence in the gift of the Corporations. In Omagh, where the Unionists have captured a majority of the local Board, numbering 11 to 10 Nationalists, they have stuffed the committees with overpowering majorities of their own opinions. In Sligo Alderman O’Donnell was elected Mayor. In Cork the O’Brienites have secured the Mayoral chair by force of Unionist votes, returning the compliment by selecting a Unionist for the first nomination as High Sheriff. In Limerick Mr. William Holiday, J.P., was proposed as City Sheriff, Mr. Holiday being a Protestant. A Catholic Councillor, Mr. James Quin, J.P., was also proposed. By 20 votes to 17 the Protestant was elected. In Ballina Mr. Bernard Egan, a prominent O’Brienite, Avas a candidate for membership of the Urban Council. Lie Avas defeated. Lord Bandon was unanimously elected chairman of the Bandon Urban Council. Mr. Larminie, a Conservative, Avas elected chairman of the Castlebar Urban Council, while in Thurles, an entirely Catholic district, a Protestant, Mr. Johnson, AA’as elected vice-chairman by a two-to-one majority. In the Dublin contest, Alderman McWalter, a Nationalist, proposed two Protestant Home Eulers, Councillors Beattie and Crozier, for the Lord Mayoralty, but neither would accept nomination. A Home Rule Triumph By 137 votes to 97 the members of the Cambridge Union recently passed a motion in favor of the immediate grant of self-government to Ireland. The resolution was moved in an unusually good speech by Mr. Baker (of King’s College), a son of Mr. Allen Baker, the Radical member for East Finsbury, and the opposition Avas led by Mr. Napier (also of King’s College). Mr. Stephen Gwynn, M.P., presented the Nationalist aspect of the case, and after a prolonged debate the motion Avas carried as stated. One of the best speeches against the motion came from Mr. Ross, son of Mr. Justice Ross, of the Irish Land Court, who made an excellent impression. The only previous resolution passed at Cambridge in favor of Home Rule Avas on the occasion of Mr. Dillon’s visit in June last, which, however, Avas only carried by the casting vote of the president, so that the figures in the recent division mark a distinct advance in pro-Irish feeling amongst the members of the Union. _ Oxford has also twice adopted a Home Rule resolution in recent years, one of these occasions being when Mr. John Redmond visited the Union some four or five years ago. t ...» ~.r-in.ini.,l i |