Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 2 January 1913, Page 39

Irish News

GENERAL. Criminal statistics just published show that there were 1503 fewer arrests for drunkenness in Ireland last year than in 1910. This is most gratifying news. The various total abstinence organisations and temperance societies are bringing about a great change in social habits.

Subscriptions to the Irish Nationalist Fund received up to November 9 amounted to over £19,000, or about double the sum subscribed for the corresponding period of last year. This is a noteworthy sign* of how people feel who, according to Unionist wiseacres, have lost all interest in the Home Rule question.

Canon Hannay, a Protestant clergyman, better known by his pen name, ‘ George Bermmgham,’ made a remarkable speech in Dublin the other day, in which he deplored the fact- that the Unionist clergy of the Protestant Church in Ireland had deplorably dragged that Church through the mire of politics in their opposition to Home Rule.

Cardinal Logue, preaching in the Cathedral, Armagh, denounced the vice of gambling, which, he said, was rapidly growing even in the old city of Armagh, and, worse still, it seemed mostly to affect the working classes. His Eminence said he was seriously thinking of using the severest censure of the Churcheven excommunication—to cope with this terrible evil.

On November 11 the historic ceremony of the Mass of the Holy Ghost, or, as it is usually called, ‘ the Red Mass,’ was celebrated at SS. Peter and Paul’s Parish Church, Cork, to mark the opening of the academic year at University College. Sir Bertram Windle and several professors were present, together with about 300 students. The sermon was preached by Canon Murphy, of Limerick.. The Very Rev; Dr. J. J. Tierney, Professor of Scripture and Semitic Studies at Mount St. Mary’s College, Emmitsburg, Maryland, U.S.A., has received the honor of a Domestic Prelacy, from the Holy Father. Monsignor Tierney is a native of King’s County, Ireland, and is well known in the United States as a distinguished educationist. He pursued his early studies at the Xaverian College, Louisville, Ky., and graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College in 1880. For a year and a half he was stationed in the diocese of Wilmington, but subsequently returned to his alma mater as a professor. /

DEGREE DAY AT MAYNOOTH COLLEGE. In St, Patrick s, Maynooth, which is a recognised College of the National University, degrees and distinctions were conferred on a number of successful students on November 7. Sir Christopher Nixon, ViceChancellor of the University, who presided, paid a high tribute to the late President of Maynooth, Dr. Mannix, now Coadjutor-Archbishop of Melbourne. He felt sure, he said, that they who had been familiar with his graceful figure whilst walking through the college quadrangle, experienced a feeling of poignant regret that he had severed his connection with the institution from which he was parting in response to the stern call of duty. It was his privilege to express on behalf of the Senate of the National University of Ireland their warm congratulations to his Grace upon His high preferment, and to wish him long life and prosperity in the; discharge of the new and arduous duties which he had undertaken. His career would be followed sympathetically by all his friends in the Old Country, who prophesied for him a distinguished and brilliant future.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, CORK. The following medals were distributed to the successful competitors of the college by the President at the meeting of the Academic Council held on November 8 Medals presented by her Excellency the Countess of Aberdeen to successful students at the University Examination in Domestic Science, 1912 Gold medal

Violet A. A. Stockley, of Cork; silver medals, Nellie M.Cogan, of Cork, and Margaret M. Foley,■,of Limerick. Her Excellency has intimated her intention of offering these medals again for the current session. Charles medals for anatomy—Gold medal, Myles MeSwiney, of Killinardrish, County Cork; bronze medal,. H. E. C. Collins, of Nottingham. This bronze medal has been specially awarded by the governing -body to l Mr. Collins for his very brilliant answering.

THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY. ‘The University and the Nation was the title of a very interesting address delivered on November 7 by Mr. A. C. Cox, 8.A., at the inaugural meeting of the twenty-ninth session of University College Literary and Historical Society, Dr, Denis Coffey, M.A., M. 8., presiding. The lecturer said the influence which the National University would exert on the intellectual life of the country, would combat the feeling that ail things were centred outside Ireland, and would strengthen the national character against the weakening of individuality which must always result from regarding life through alien eyes. The wide and hearty support which had been accorded to the National University by the popular, local representative bodies rendered it incumbent upon it to devote itself so far as was in its power to the scientific development of commerce and industries. The importance of historical economic research could not be exaggerated, especially in a country where in agriculture and the various branches of engineering so little had been accomplished.

TOLERATION IN LIMERICK. Mr. Wm. L. Creaghe Hartnett, J.P. Z of Abbey-' feale, County Limerick, is a member of the local Rural District Council. Mr. Hartnett has heard that stories of the persecution and oppression of Protestants by the Catholic majority in ‘ the South and West ' are current amongst ignorant and easily-deluded people and he wishes to make his grievances known, being a resident of a district where Protestants number (perhaps) 4 per cent, of the population. In pursuance of this laudable desire, the Protestant gentleman from Abbeyfeale writes: -‘ When the Local Government Act came into force I started as a candidate, and, though opposed by some of my Catholic neighbors who were all closely connected with the electors, I headed the poll by a large majority. I was again opposed with the same result on the last occasion. My colleague, Mr. F. C. O’Keeffe, and myself tied for first place. I also must say that whenever I want my neighbors to help me in the way of farming work I have only to ask them, and they come willingly. The best friend I had here, although differing from him in religion, was the late Father Casey, of Abbeyfeale.’ Father Casey, P.P., was one of Ireland’s best beloved Nationalists during a long lifetime, zealously devoted to the furtherance of good works. Notwithstanding such dire experiences in historic Abbeyfeale, Mr. Creaghe Hartnett valiantly declares— ‘ I am not one bit afraid of my Catholic neighbors.’ All the heroism of modern days is not centred in Bulgaria or Montenegro. Mr. Creaghe Hartnett deserves to rank with the immortals who fought at Derry, Aughrim, and the Boyne, likewise, at Enniskillen, Newtownbutler, the Diamond, and Dolly’s Brae. ' '

A CHALLENGE. Mr. A. De Montmorency, who bears an ancient and illustrious name, has issued a challenge to Orangemen in Ireland, England, Scotland, and all over the world. He does not offer any reward for replies; but a few should reach him— rather, reach the Spectator , which was the medium through which he asked any member of the ‘ Order ’ —young or old, gentle or simple, ‘ to tell of a British victory within the last century and a half which would not have been a British defeat had it not been for the Irish Catholic soldiers fighting under the British flag, and I challenge him (any * Orangeman) to tell me of a single good work which the Orange Party has done for Ireland, for the Empire, or for mankind.’. Students of military and general history will read this challenge with interest.

Of course the literary lions who operate from the Old Town Hall, Belfast, will ‘rise to the occasion,’ and let the world know of at least one hundred good, works ‘which the Orange Party has done for Ireland, for the Empire, and for mankind.’

PROTESTANT HOME RULERS. The Irish Protestant Home Rule committee has issued the following manifesto to Irish Protestant Home Rulers throughout the United Kingdom; Fellow-countrymen,—We feel that the time has come when we who are Irish Protestant Home Rulers should publicly and emphatically protest against the speeches and actions, of a section of Ulster Protestants during the last few months by which religious bitterness lias been greatly accentuated in North-East Ulster. We fear that if we remain inactive in this matter the impression may get abroad that the Orange lodges, the Unionist clubs, and the Unionist clergy, who have been so persistently agitating against Home Rule, truly represent the opinion of Irish Protestantism. In order, therefore, that steps might be taken to remove any such false impression from the public mind, an informal meeting of Irish Protestant Home Rulers was held at the Westminster Palace Hotel to consider whAt action should be taken in order to make our protest. At this meeting it was unanimously resolved to make a public protest by holding a demonstration in London,' and by such other means as may afterwards seem desirable. In order to carry out the necessary arrangements the following officers and executive committee were elected: Chairman, Surg.-General Evatt; vice-chairman, The O’Mahony; hon. treasurer, Hervey de Montmorency; hon. secretary, Osborne O’Reilly; executive committee—(Rev.) Joseph Adams, Sophie Bryant, D.Sc., J. W. Booth, W. M. Crook, Herbert Z. Deane, F. E. Grubb, W. D. Harbinson, (Rev.) George Hooper, Stopford H. Rylett, Herbert A. Smith, Maurice Talbot-Crosbie, R. Cooke-Taylor, (Miss) E. Skeffington Thompson, General Sir Alfred Turner, E. M. Woods.

AN EX-OFFICIAL’S VIEWS ON HOME RULE. A most cogent plea for Home Rule is that contained in Sir West Ridgeway’s letter to the London Times. The writer’s arguments are very strong, and they are reinforced by his experience. It was indeed the knowledge he gained in the school of experience that converted him. Sir West Ridgeway was formerly a Conservative, and for the ability he displayed as a member of that party he was appointed Under-Secretary for Ireland. The result he sets forth in the letter to the Times. During Mr. Balfour’s coercion regime he was his lieutenant. He was hoping that a scheme of devolution on a large scale policy which had Mr. Chamberlain support—would be adopted by the Conservative leader. But Mr. Balfour was terrorised by the wild outcries of the Orangemen. If, urges Sir West Ridgeway, coercion did not succeed when it was practised by a Conservative Government with a clean record, how can it be successful in the .future at the hands of a party whose leader has baptised revolution and proclaimed the moral right of a dissentient minority to resist an unpalatable law by force? Impossible. Sir West Ridgeway thinks that North-East Ulster should be given the option of remaining aloof from Home Rule Ireland. North-West Ulster objects to such a segregation. Moreover, even in the Ulster counties minority of the whole— which there is a Unionist majority, there is a large proportion of Home Rulers. The proposal is utterly untenable.