HOME RULE AND RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE

New Zealand Tablet, 7 September 1911, Page 1759

HOME RULE AND RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE

THE OPINIONS OF LEADING PROTESTANTS An instructive pamphlet has just been published by the Irish Press Agency. It is entitled ‘ Religious Intolerance under Home Rule,’ and consists mainly of replies by Protestants, representative of every phase of Irish official, professional, and commercial life, to a query by Mr. McYeagh, M.P., as to their treatment in overwhelmingly Catholic districts in all parts of Ireland. At every bye-election in Great Britain (says Mr. McYeagh), an army of speakers and canvassers, paid by the day on a generous scale, is imported from Ulster, and is employed on the ignoble work of slandering their own countrymen, and of painting lurid pictures of the intolerance which Protestants are likely to experience under Home Rule at the hands of a Catholic majority. It seemed to me, however, that the most effective method of reply would be to invite leading and representative non-Catholics in all parts' of Ireland to state their views; and the replies to a circular letter are embodied in the following pages. The list might be indefinitely extended, but sufficient statements are herein set forth to demonstrate the absurdity of the suggestion. A large number of Protestant clergymen hold similar views, but are unwilling to publish them, as the members of their congregations are divided in opinion on the subject. Many heads of commercial houses have also written me that the publication of their opinions might injure their business amongst Unionist clients, and that they therefore prefer to remain silent. Neither have I embodied the opinions of members of the Government or of permanent officials ; but it may not be amiss to set forth the fact that the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and ex-High Commissioner of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, sent the following telegram to Mr. J. M. Henderson, M.P., during the general election in December, 1910: The Lord Lieutenant and Some of His Predecessors.

'You are entirely at liberty to quote me-as declaring to you that, after years of continuous residence in Ireland, watching affairs and meeting people of every class and creed, I am profoundly impressed as to the baselessness of alarm about the consequences of Home Rule. On Home Rule for Ireland I repeat* and emphasise the opinion of my former telegrams, especially regarding apprehension of religious intolerance. Numerous Protestant ministers in Roman Catholic parts of Ireland support me in this view.' Lord Aberdeen, in those and similar pronouncements, was in accord with one of the most single-minded, devoted, and capable men who ever held the position of Irish. Viceroy, the late Earl Spencer, who, speaking at Chester in 1886, declared:— { ° 'I have had some experience of Ireland, ind yet I do not know any specific instance where there has been the exercise of religious intolerance on the part of the Roman Catholics against their Protestant countrymen. There has been, I deeply regret to say, constant signs of bitter religious animosity. But where has it been shown? Not in those provinces where the Roman Catholics greatly preponderate, but in Ulster, where more than one-half of the population belong to the Protestant faith.' ° I may add that another distinguished nobleman who has filled the office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland as well as-other not less important offices of State, the Marquis of Crewe, writes me under date of June 12,

' It is evident that a renewed attempt is to be made to alarm public opinion in England, Scotland, and Wales, by excited forecasts of the dangers and disabilities which Protestants may expect to undergo under a system of Home Rule in Irealnd. In 1886 and 1893 the animosity between classes, largely agrarian in its origin, was far. stronger than it is at present, and the line of cleavage roughly followed that of religious difference. But even in those years, as I well remember it was evident that the possibilities of intolerance in a

self-governed Ireland were deliberately and grossly exaggerated, with a party motive. Now, when the various classes know each other better, and there is less occasion for friction, the attempt, to excite religious discord will utterly fail, as I firmly believe. Even in the old days I often heard these melodramatic terrors ridiculed by sensible Unionists; and I cannot doubt that the number is now far greater of those who are willing to examine Home Rule on its merits, as a piece of political machinery, without endeavoring to raise a cloud of mistrust and prejudice.'

From North-West Ulster.

Here are excerpts from three letters written by prominent Protestants who reside in North-west Ulster. Mr. Edward Archdale, J.P., D.L., belongs to a family long connected with public affairs in Fermanagh and Tyrone. He says : ' I have every reason to repudiate the idea that the grant of Self-Gevernment to Ireland would result in the religious persecution of Protestants. There does not appear to be a grain of evidence in support of such a charge. I consider the publicly expressed, fears and forebodings of many North of Ireland Protestants in this respect are quite unfounded. My experience of my Roman Catholic countrymen, after more than thirty years' continued residence in Ireland, the latter twelve of them as a landowner and large employer of labor, and observation of their action on public bodies, convinces me that the charge of favoring persecution of Protestants in any shape or form is a most unjust one. Some of the worthiest and most trustworthy men in my employment are Roman Catholics. They have always lived on the friendliest terms with my Protestant employees. No such thing as a religious quarrel has ever been, heard of. A few years ago they subscribed, of their own wish, to a wedding present for the Rector of this parish. Neither from a political nor a .religious standpoint have I any apprehension that Home Rule would result in the persecution of Protestants.' _ Mr. Joseph Alexander, LL.D., Derr'y City, adds his testimony :—■ • ' I see no reason to suppose that there will be any danger of intolerance under Home Rule, assuming that Home Rule was granted. Speaking for myself, as a Protestant, I may say that I have always lived on the very best terms with all. my Catholic neighbors in this district and I think all my friends could sav the same, borne of my truest friends, and I might also "say clients have always been Catholics. So far as this part of the country is concerned, there is absolutely nothing in this cry of intolerance.' And Mr. John Anderson, J.P., Clonelly, Co. Fermanagh, writes. in the course of a long letter: ' I am a Methodist, living in the Northern portion 01 County Fermanagh, almost on the border of County Donegal, and have an intimate knowledge of the conditions of life, religious and political, prevailing in both counties. It is with complete confidence I give expression to the opinion that the establishment of an Irish Parliament will not have, as one of its consequences, the religious persecution of Protestants As showing the spirit of fair play that prevails amongst the Roman Catholic population, I might mention that at the recent triennial election under the Local Government ma division of the County Donegal, where the Koman Catholics m proportion to Protestants are about three to one, they returned the son of a Protestant Kector as their representative in preference to a Roman Catholic, who contested the seat. There are many such instances. . . I believe the establishment of an Irish Parliament to deal with Irish domestic affairs would tend to allay any religious animosity that may still exist and xvould unite Irishmen of all religious creeds in the desire to promote the welfare.of their native land and repair the ruins of the Irish Nation, for the love of which Protestants and Catholics have alike in the past shed their blood.' , '- -

Views of Residents in Leinster and Munster. Professor W. F. Barrett, an eminent Dublin Protestant, says:— > ' * ; • ■>•-*". Nowhere have I met with a more cordial welcome and greater hospitality than in Cork and in the South-

West of Ireland, where the Protestants are in a small minority, and where they laugh at the fears of their co-religionists in Ulster! On the other hand, I could give several instances of intolerance occurring some years ago from the Protestants of the North that would be incredible in England. lam glad to know that much of this Protestant intolerance has passed away in Dublin, and many instances of the kindly feeling between Protestants and Catholics, outside a corner of Ulster, could be given by anyone living here. Even inside that corner of Ulster' kindly feelings prevail between thousands; and no other feelings would exist were it not for the efforts of the Moores and Craigs/ Mr. R. M. Barrington, a leading County Wicklow agriculturist, writes: ' I have no fear of religious intolerance under Home Rule, and have every confidence in the good sense of my Catholic neighbors and fellow-countrymen.' And Mr. William H. Brown, a leading barrister, who practises in Dublin and lives at Blackrock, says: ' I think there are no grounds for the assertion heard from so many Tory platforms— Irish Protestants are in danger of persecution on account of their religion. Apart from a handful of fanatical enthusiasts who are found in all creeds and in all countries, and who ever confound sectarianism with religion, there are, I believe, no bodies or sections of Irishmen who do not respect and revere the purely religious beliefs of their neighbors, however much they may personally differ from them. I have lived in each of three Irish provinces, and have visited the fourth, but I have never met with an instance of persecution for his religion's sake. On the contrary, I have both read and known of many instances, in districts by no means Protestant, where Protestants have been treated not only with civility and respect, but have been, regarded even with affection.

Then Mr. Crofton, Professor of Pathology in the National University of Ireland, tells all who care to listen and reflect:

' I have never noticed the slightest sign of religious intolerance on the part of Roman Catholics in Ireland—very much the contrary, in fact. I have spent all my college and university days amongst Catholics, and have never received anything but the greatest kindness and consideration from both professors and students; and now that I am one of the staff of University College my experience is just the same —invariable kindness and consideration, and readiness to help me in every way.'

Experience of a Dublin Man.

One of the oldest and most experienced of Dublin's public men is Mr. James Crozier, J.P., County Councillor, a gentleman who has played a large part in the life of the capital. And Mr. Crozier says: ' So far from expecting any religious intolerance from my Roman Catholic fellow-countrymen, should the Home Rule Bill become law, my anticipations are in exactly the opposite direction. For the last 53 years I have lived amongst the people of the Arran Quay Ward, which contains the largest number of Catholic voters in the city. Though an Irish Protestant, I have been chosen by the electorate to represent them on practically every Public Board in Dublin, including, amongst others, those of the North and South Dublin Unions, the Richmond District Asylum, the Town : Council, etc., and have been appointed by the last-named body, in which by far the great majority of the members are Roman Catholics, as one of the visiting justices of his Majesty's Prisons, as well as on the principal, committees of the Corporation. lam pleased to number amongst the Roman Catholic clergy many personal friends, and am happy to say I have always enjoyed their confidence and support at any of the elections which I have contested. These actions

on the part of my fellow-citizens who differ from me from a religious point of view, show no spirit of intolerance, and I am quite certain that in the future the Protestants of this city will enjoy from their Roman Catholic fellow-citizens -the same tolerance and confidence that has always been shown them in the past.'

Here is testimony from Castlelyons, Cork. Mr. R. Ginn, a merchant, writes: . 'Pew have had more opportunities of testing Catholic toleration than I have had. Coming here 25 yea*s ago, a stranger and a Northern Protestant, I started business on a small scale, and, thanks to the patronage of my Catholic neighbors, I have succeeded ?i ey ?°?T? ex P ectations - I have not the least doubt that if Home Rule was granted to-morrow it would not make the slightest change in my dealings with my Roman Catholic neighbors, as, if they wanted to injure me, there was nothing to prevent them doing so for the past 25 years. The parish priest is one of my best customers. J

Clergymen and Others Given Testimony. Mr. William Abraham, Nationalist member for over a quarter of a century: > e 'My personal experience speaks for itself. Living m the city of Limerick, where my co-religionists are in an insignificant minority, I was elected year after year by my Catholic fellow-citizens as chairman of the .Board of Guardians, and afterwards as M.P. for West Limerick. In 1910, at the request of my Parliamentary colleagues, I stood as a candidate for the Harbor Division of the Irish metropolis. My opponent was a Catholic Nationalist, but the question of relif°26l3 s never raisedand x was elected by a ma J° rit y

Lieut. -Colonel Boulger, Cork: ' I am a Cork Presbyterian, and for the last eleven years have been living in the immediate neighborhood 01 this metropolis of Munster, and where the Roman Catholics outnumber the Protestants (according to the 1911 census) by 15 or 16 to 1, and yet during all this time, have never heard the faintest whisper of religious intolerance, to say nothing of persecution: and 1 would be amongst the strongest opponents of Home Rule if I thought its advent in any way threatened such a disastrous state of affairs. On the contrary, I look forward with confidence in the continuance of the present amicable relations between the rival religions and to many other blessings and advantages which the granting of Home Rule will carry in its

Sir Charles H. Brett, a prominent Belfast solicitor:— I have not, and have never had, the slightest tear of religious intolerance under Home Rule ' of f£ e r J " *?' A Hami ! t l on ' DD -> M -A-, ex-Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.--' I have lived in Dublin for nearly 50 years j I have always received the "utmost courtesy and kindness from my Roman Catholic neighbors, and wh a TV fi T-I- 0f P ersecution in fch e future, no matter what the political changes may be.' Srnff™ William MacKeown, Presbyterian minister, Scots Church, Cork.-' It is now nineteen years since 3. came to live in Cork, and during that time I have never experienced, and have never known, an uncivil or unfriendly act done by a Roman Catholic to a Protestant on account of his Protestantism. It was my privilege when I first undertook ministerial duty In this city, to live for seven years, as a paying guest, in a Roman Catholic home, where I made many acquaintances, both priests and people, and formed many friendships, that exist to this day.' / ?"?, rn ll r? eV \/'/v NelS n ' T /° rmerI y Rector of Bannow, County Wexford, and Rector of Stratford, Wicklow.-' As an English parson who served for thirteen years and a half in Ireland, I am glad to have an opportunity of bearing testimony to the unfailing courtesy and kindness I always received from my Roman Catholic neighbors. I went to Ireland in 1895, feeling that Home Rule would mean danger and difficulty for the Protestant minority. My experience as chaplain of Ballyfin, Queen's County; rector of Stratford-on-Slaney, County Wicklow, and rector of Bannow County Wexford, has led me to see that I had taken quite a mistaken view; of the situation. Never once did P^nr trace of intolerance oh the part of the Roman Catholic clergy and people towards the lonely and isolated churchfolk in the South of Ireland On the

contrary, they were treated with every consideration, and actully encouraged to attend their own services.’ Right Hon. Lord Pirrie, K.C., P.C., chairman of the world-famed firm of Harland and Wolff, Ltd., shipbuilders, Belfast.— It is with the utmost confidence that I give expression to my opinion that there is no fear that the impending inauguration of an Irish Legislature will have, as one of its results, the religious persecution of Protestants. . . On the other hand, I confess with shame that in the past the spirit of religious intolerance has been, and is even now, although in lesser degree, prevalent amongst a portion of the Protestant population of Ulster.’ Rev. R. Herbert Sewell, B.A. (Congregational Church, Liverpool). — ‘I was born, and spent all my earlier years, in the city of Londonderry, where my father was a Protestant clergyman, and ever since have been in the habit of paying frequent visits to all parts of Ireland. As a result, I have come to the conclusion that no people in the world have so deep a reverence for all varieties of religious faith as have the Catholics of Ireland. Their devotion to their own is shown by their endurance and constancy in times of cruel persecution; their respect for that of others by a readiness, very wonderful in the light of history, to elect Protestants to posts of power and emolument, in Parliament, and in the local governing bodies. My experience is that, whatever religious intolerance there is in Ireland must be looked for in the districts where the Catholic is in a hopeless minority, and at the hands of those misguided, so-called Portestants who have been led by interested parties into looking on the Catholic as a natural enemy. For their own purposes, the landlords fostered the feeling, knowing that a union of Catholic and Protestant would be fatal to agrarian despotism.’ Many other letters appear, mainly from Protestant clergymen who have been ministering in the South of Ireland.