Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 17 August 1911, Page 1587

Irish News

ARMAGH— Logue on Civil Marriages

His Eminence Cardinal Logue had some plain speaking for the Presbyterians of Belfast in his speech tat the Maynooth College Union. He said that at a recent Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in ; Belfast —an Assembly that seemed to be more concerned with other people's business than their own— was a resolution , passed calling upon the powers that be to interfere ,and! cripple the . Pope, to legislate for the Church, to cripple the Bishops and clergy ,of the Church, and to set up Caesar against God. Catholics were prepared to give Caesar his due, but they would not allow Caesar to finger in other people's pie. It had been suggested that civil marriage should be introduced before the religious marriage in this country, as it had been introduced to the ruin of religion and morality in other countries in Europe.. That was a suggestion which should be met promptly and at once. If marriage was a mere civil contract, it should be regulated by the law of the land, and the advocate of civil marriage should stand aside and leave it to the law, and not be dragging people into their churches.

CORK —Fire in Queenstown Convent

Early on the morning of June 23 fire was observed in the cantalever • of the main roof of the Convent of Mercy at Queenstown, with which is connected a beautiful church, an orphanage, and industrial workrooms.. An alarm was raised at once, and workmen, police, sailors, and others displayed great energy and remarkable pluck, and, with the aid of ladders, succeeded in saving the building. Most Rev. Dr. Browne, Bishop of Cloyne, was one of the earliest on the scene, and had arranged for the attendance of the Cork Fire Brigade in case the local efforts proved unavailing. The nuns, although considerably alarmed, showed commendable presence of mind, and rendered excellent service to those who so effectively checked the outbreak by keeping them supplied with water. The buildings, with their contents, are valued, it is said, for about £20,000.

DONEGAL—Demoralising Literature

Cardinal Logue preached on Sunday, June 25, at St. Columba's Church, Massmount, Fanad, County Donegal, in aid of a fund to clear the debt incurred in carrying out improvements in the church. In the course of his sermon his Eminence said the world was ever degenerating, becoming more corrupt, ana furtner removed from the principles of Christian faith and morality. Of the dangers which it raised there was one that called for. special vigilance. The country was flooded by an irreligious, unclean, and demoralising literature, which seemed to reflect the degenerate state of modern society. Many who appeared to have no higher motive in view than a concern for public decency had earnestly remonstrated with authors and publishers, but the unsavory torrent swept on regardless of protest or remonstrance. After the ceremonies in the church the new portion of the graveyard was consecrated bv the Most Rev. Dr. O'Donnell. Subsequently the Cardinal was made the recipient of an address of welcome in Irish from the priests and people of the parish. Replying thereto, his Eminence paid a tribute to the scholarship, zeal, and industry of the Very Rev. Dr. Maguire, P.P.,! and expressed gratification at receiving a welcome in the beautiful language of the Gael, for which he had a heartfelt affection. His Eminence referred to the pleasure afforded by his visit to America, and to the pride he felt in meeting amongst prosperous' patriotic, and distinguished Irishmen, many Donegal men. >He was tempted, old as he was. to oav another visit to the States, and probably he would do so. DUBLIN— Death of a Vincentian

Deep regret is felt in'many parts of Ireland at the announcement, of the death of the Rev. James Carpenter, CM., which occurred at St. Joseph's, Blackrock, County Dublin, on Sunday, June 25. Father Carpenter had reached the ripe age of 87 years. By

his death the Vincentian Order loses one of its . most distinguished and respected members. 'The late Father Carpenter was well known throughout . the country as a zealous missionary, his missions and retreats always attracting large congregations. He had been in indifferent health for a considerable time, but he continued his devoted spiritual labors up to the last moment that his health permitted. Catholic Truth Society

His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Healy, Archbishop of Tuam, presided at the annual meeting of the Catholic Truth Society, which was held in Dublin on June 23, there being a very large attendance of both clergy and laity. His Grace said that the number of books issued by the Society was very large and creditable. Those in a city could not appreciate how keenly the little books were read by people in country districts. A resolution was adopted conveying to his Eminence Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore,' cordial congratulations on the occasion of his jubilee. The children of Ireland especially should be proud of him, because they could not forget that the first ecclesiastic in Catholic America was not only of the Irish race, but he was 'itson of Ireland.

KILDARE— and the Episcopate The Right Rev. Mgr. Mannix, President of Maynooth, who occupied the chair at the annual dinner of the Maynooth Union, in proposing the toast of ' His Holiness the Pope,' humorously remarked that the Pontiff had been constantly raiding that college for Bishops. If a Bishop were wanted in Ulster or Munster, in Leinster or Connaught, Pius X. always seemed to turn to Maynooth." They Had lost two Vice-Presi-dents, a Dean, and they had lost a most esteemed professor, and nobody knew on whom the lot might fall next. He had protested, on the part of those who had been called away, because they were all unwilling to go, and he protested also on the part of those who had been left behind, because he was sure many of .them were anxious to go. The speech, it is scarcely necessary to say, elicited hearty applause and laughter. ,'"."' v\ LOUTH—A Generous Benefactor

At a meeting of the Dundalk Parochial Committee on Sunday, June 25, Rev. P. Lyons, Adm., announced that Mrs. Julia Hamill, of Seatown, Dundalk, had made the munificent gift of £IOOO towards, the works recently undertaken in connection with the local churches. Mrs. Hamill has also made a gift of £SOO to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Dundalk. This is by no means her; first donation for religious purposes. Shortly after the death of her husband, who had been chairman of the Urban Council, Mrs. Hamill had erected a beautiful bell tower at St. Patrick's Cathedral, besides distributing a large amount in local charities. During the past few years a sum of £IO,OOO has been spent on the local parochial churches, and their beauty as a consequence has been much enhanced. Amongst the works in contemplation is the construction of a terrace approach to St. Patrick's, a work which will add enormously to the beauty of the edifice. •'.

MAYO—Appointed Bishop

In the diocese of Achonry, news of the appointment of Very Rev. Michael O'Doherty, Rector of the Irish College, Salamanca, to the Bishopric of Zamboanga, in the Philippine Islands, was received, with general rejoicing. Dr. O'Doherty was born in Charlestown, County Mayo, about thirty-six years ago, and it is interesting to note that he is a relative and has been a life-long friend of Right Rev. Dr. Morrisroe, Bishopelect of Achonry. After a brilliant course in Maynooth, he was ordained, and having ministered for a while in his native diocese, where he won golden opinions, he was appointed, on the recommendation of the Irish Bishops, to the Rectorship of Salamanca. In that post he soon gave proof of his administrative ability, largely increasing the number of students. : : WATERFORD—Assisting University Education

The governing body of University College, Cork, have ; received intimation from the Waterford County Council that a sum of about £ISOO will be contributed

annually by the County of Waterford for Univeristy College. ' "" • .

WEXFORD—Temperance Demonstration

One of the greatest and, from many points of view, significant temperance demonstrations held in Ireland for many years was that which took place in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, on June 25, culminating in a gathering of huge dimensions on the slopes of the historic Vinegar Hill. It was computed that the processionists must have numbered at least 8000, and including spectators/the meeting was attended by over 15,000 persons. The demonstration may be.said to be a particularly high tribute to the ..Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, which has spread in Co. Wexford to a surprising degree. The founder- of the Association, Rev. J. A. Cullen, S.J., was present, and delivered an impressive address. Addresses were also given by Rev. Father Fitzhenry, Adm.; Rev. Father Aloysius, 0.5.F.C.; Very Rev. Dean Kavanagh, Father Fortune, Mr. William Redmond, M.P.; Mr. P. French, M.P. ; Sir Thomas Esmonde, M.P. ; Mr. John Gore, Dublin; and others. There were three platforms.

WlCKLOW — Discovery of Copper Ore

Mr. J. Higgins, M.E., recently accidentally discovered copper ore at Ovoca, Co. Wicklow. The material found is believed to be an extension of the Ballymurtagh North Lode, to locate which the Cronebane Mineral Company spent years and thousands of pounds in a fruitless search. The ore of the lode now brought to light shows a foot wide on the surface, and is said to carry 30 to 40 per cent, of acids and probably 3 per cent. copper.

GENERAL

The Tes's of Intolerance

The Rev. Mr. Hannay, Westport, writing under his pen-name of . ' George A. Bermingham,' in the Morning Leader, says- ; What makes the Protestant workman in Ulster dislike the idea of Home Rule is his conviction that under Home Rule he would be bullied for being a Protestant. I attribute this recrudescence of religious distrust almost entirely to the promulgation of the Ne Temere Decree about mixed marriages. The Irish Protestant has not, indeed, gone back to exactly his old position. He no longer thinks that his Roman Catholic fellow countrymen will want to bully him. He thinks now that his neighbours, whom he has of late years been getting to know pretty well, are quite unable to exercise any control over their Church. Of the intentions and wishes of that Church he has no doubts whatever.' Professor Kettle, commenting on this in the Morning Leader, observes: ' Unionism in Mr. Bermingham's view has three shots in its controversial locker—the Pope, the Dublin Corporation, and the disloyalists. There are proposed to us in respect of all three tests which are a very delirium of intolerance. " Sever yourselves," says Orange Ulster, in effect, to us, "from all spiritual allegience to the Pope. Bait your Bishops. Deride your priests. Invade the privacy of your convents. Then shall we know that you are men, and masters of your own consciences. Elect a Unionist Corporation to rule the National Capital; then shall we know that you are brothers. . Disown your dead leaders. Spit on the grave of Emmet. Teach your children that every Fenian was a murderer. Erase from your chronicles the name of Parnell. Then shall we know that you are "loyal." ' If the conversion of Ulster waits upon this hope, we must be content to let it wait. But it does seem worth our while to point out that were this programme ever so much in our mind, it does not chance to be in our power. Oppression of the Protestant minority would be not only a crime, not- onjy a blunder, but also an impossibility. The over-lordship of the ImperiaJ Parliament remains in any scheme of Home Rule unimpaired. Shankill road is mathematically safe.'