IRISH NEWS

New Zealand Tablet, 11 August 1921, Page 31

IRISH NEWS

GENERAL.

Amongst recent ordinations to the priesthood at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, were Revs. P. Doherty and J. McMonagle for Christchurcty, New Zealand. The Republicans are making reprisals for the military burnings of farms, shops, etc. Recently Coolmaine Castle, Co. Cork, Correal House, and Curraghboy House, Roscommon, were destroyed. At the trial by court-martial of Mr. I. I. McKeown, M.P. , Republican Commandant, Co. Longford, for the murder of Inspector McGrath (who was killed by chance medley during the search of a house) the prisoner said; firom you I crave no mercy, but as an officer of the Irish army-I claim the same right as I would be prepared to give you, if you fell into my hands.” Evidence was given by the military that the prisoner had on many occasions behaved in a very chivalrous manner to the Crown forces when at his mercy.

IRISH BULLETIN ON TOLERANCE. The Irish Bulletin points out that in the 27 countries in which the Republicans are in a majority, in spite of the Belfast pogrom, there has never been any persecution of Protestants. “The Irish Republic,” it says, “has decreed and insists on absolute tolerance for all creeds.” Proof of this is supplied by Sir H. Greenwood’s admission in the House of Commons that the only part of Ireland in which he saw religious intolerance was in the north, and in the recent remarks of Dr. Glenn, Moderator of the Presbytenan General Assembly. y

HOW THE BOYCOTT HITS BELFAST that The special correspondent in Belfast of the Times says that whilst by far the greater part of Belfast’s trade is with markets outside Ireland, those industries with almost Sl r , a l ivities haVe been brouht to a stand- _ " a Wholesale drapery houses in particular are in a abJ n Sen f U plight, and as the firms cannot live in the absence of trading relations with all Ireland their situation be P col a i7 U 'H ° ing Y the deflation iu Talues losses would be considerable even if-normal trading were resumed. As

things are, holders cannot dispose of their stocks on any terms.” J

When the Times speaks of the trade outside Ireland it means the linen and ship-building trades, which are in a very bad way at present and are likely to continue so.

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SINN FEIN.

In a discussion at the General Assembly (Belfast), reference was made to the authority of Sinn Fein in certain Western areas, and its exercise in securing cheap motor fares and also to the religious tolerance shown and to the effects of the Belfast boycott. Rev. W. G. Strahan (Newry) complained that manses had been commandeered and turned into military barracks. In Galway he had been indebted to Sinn Fein for a quick passage along the roads. When the Republicans vere in control, they allowed no overcharges for motors or motor-spirit. •■Rev. W. P. Young (Galway) believed if there was any interference with Presbyterians, it was not for religious reasons. He had never met the slightest discourtesy. Rev. H. 1. Waddell (Howth) said that nothing that had happened or could happen could change the essential charm of Ireland for many or the essential love of the Irishman’s character. (Hear, hear.) When people had spoken like this out of their heart’s bitterness of the sorrow of these days, they were sometimes smiled at; but there was nothing like an Irishman after all. (Loud applause.) There was stuff in the Irishman’s soul that was God s finest workmanship. He believed to a certain limited extent the exclusion of the North from the South was reacting favorably upon the business houses in the latter. rm itical parties must never separate religious affairs. There never would be two Parliaments in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and there was no frontier line to separate. those who were beyond the Boyne.

THE CASE OF DR. IRWIN. It will be remembered that the Rev. Dr. Irwin the Presbyterian minister of Killead (Antrim), who travelled America with do Valera a year ago, speaking for Irish freedom, was, on his return home, arrested and sentenced to a year s imprisonment for having in his house a revolveras protection against the law-and-order Orangemen '±he Oiangcmen raised a fierce howl against Dr. Irwin, demanding that the Presbyterian Synod should try him for treason nunisH Ve m 'l™ tllG ministry or othen ' suitably I ! 111 * 110 hmv was so terrific that the frightened Synod called & meeting, and after much discussionthought ey found a way out by passing the matter to the General - ssembly. he General Assembly in turn -passed it to the Presbytery. The Presbytery investigated Dr. Irwin, and 7 P ° rt ,“ COl ; M on| y find the highest praise T r- the gentleman's work and worth as minister of Killead.” His faithful- congregation, knowing the worth of the man turned up force to hack their worthy minister. The Presbytery reported back to the Synod. The Synod, somewhat embarrassed by this, appointed a. commission to go report Tl 8 PanS ‘-’ mee * the con Sregation, and make a report. The parishioners at Killead .had it conveyed to the members of the commission that they had better stay at home and attend their own business The commission then considered it wise to be discreet, and sit in Belfast ins end ”, Killed. Out of the large congregation at Killead, they just got two accusers, of Dr. Irwin one of hem Mi. Heatley, a retired inspector of police and the other a " Orange Justice of the Peace. James Morrissey These road long statements accusing Dr. Irwin of depravity in associating with de Valera, the head and paymaster of a murder gang. The members of Dr. Irwin’s congregation rose up in hot resentment, and several of them threattisfment V, Th ’ Persona, tisement The commission referred the matter back to the General Assembly. And the General Assembly is to thrash m matter out at the next annual gathering. Earnest Nationalists m the. Presbyterian body are, with interest " ZfZM d Str A gg,S SV 'T a " 8 tl,eir Baders who! offend' to do justice, and at the same time fearful, of offending the Orange wire-pullers, are trying to todline one who w. hell the eat or else discover them a decent v ay out of the difficulty.