The New Irish Constitution Part 30

"By a recent Statute, the 33 Geo. III., c. 127, the writ, _de excommunicato capiendo_, as a process in contempt was abolished in England, but retained in Ireland."

Both in England and in Ireland there are, of course, rules for expulsion, or excommunication, in every union, society, and club in the country. But a rule more like the _Motu proprio_ than any that I know of, is in the const.i.tutions of the Dublin University which Mr. Campbell represents in Parliament. According to Letters Patent 13 Charles I.:

"All domestic differences shall be examined, and if possible decided within the College.... He who brings another into Court, without the consent of the Provost and the majority of the Senior Fellows, shall be expelled from the College."

It is in every particular like the _Motu proprio_ of which Mr. Campbell spoke, in a Catholic city and country, as "an arrogant and insolent decree" which "aims a deadly blow at the sanct.i.ty and security of property." I do not believe that he was conscious of the offensiveness of his words. But such has been the fruit and habit of Protestant privilege in Ireland. Some, even men of position and education like Mr. Campbell, remain as if unconscious that the "old order changes." They fail to fit themselves into the change which a century has made; and "If in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?" Catholics, whilst they have their own thoughts about the const.i.tutions and rules of other Religious Bodies than theirs, do not meddle with or question them.

The _Ne temere_ Decree and the _Motu proprio_ are, as I have explained, for the discipline of us Catholics exclusively. We do not seek for them the approval of outsiders. But we cannot help thinking that the diatribes to which we have been subjected in connection with those two Pontifical Acts have been inspired rather by political and social jealousy than by a spirit of toleration or love of fair play. I hope that most non-Catholics who read what I have written will be disposed to agree with me.

(IV) Some Protestant Views.

(1) A Church Of Ireland View. BY CANON COURTENAY MOORE, M.A.

It is under a deep sense of both privilege and responsibility that I contribute this article-of privilege because I feel very sensibly the honour done me in asking me to write it-and of responsibility because of the service it may or may not prove to be. A word about myself may be pardoned and may not be inappropriate.

I should know something about Ireland, as I was born in Ulster, in which province I lived for seventeen years, and naturally I then and there learned to know something of the manners and customs and feelings of Ulstermen. From Ulster I migrated to Leinster, where I spent eight years in the city of Dublin, six of these years in the University of Dublin, in which ancient seat of learning I was for four years a student in Arts, and for two in the Divinity School. On my ordination in 1865, I entered on clerical life in the Diocese of Cloyne, County of Cork; in which diocese I have remained ever since for the long period of close on forty-seven years. Therefore I say I ought to know something of Ireland and the Irish question; having been born in Ireland and having lived so long in it in three out of the four provinces. Moreover, I have been a regular student of Irish history, to some extent of the Irish language, and of Irish Archaeology, and, as an Irish Antiquary, I have seen much of my native land in each and every Province. Strangers seem to think it very easy to make up their mind on the Irish question-you have only to take a return-ticket from Euston to Killarney, or from Paddington to Rosslare and the thing is done! I once heard His Grace Dr. Healy, the Archbishop of Tuam, tell a story about the way to acquire an English accent. He said that a certain Dublin Alderman, with a fine Dublin brogue, crossed from Kingstown to Holyhead; the pa.s.sage was a rough one; there was much of "the wonderful up-and-down motion, that comes from the treacherous ocean." So much indeed that the poor alderman lay sick in his berth in Holyhead harbour, and returned in the same boat without landing. But-"lo and behold you, sir,"

as we say in Ireland-he came home with a fine English accent, which he never lost in later life! Well, some English visitors seem to have the same impression about the rapidity and facility with which they can make up the Irish question. "G.o.d help them" is all one can say. I am really not jesting or romancing at all! Within the present week an English literary lady called on me to interview me. Unfortunately I was out at the time, but she left a message to the effect that "she was going to write a book on Ireland," and wished to talk to me about it! She had only been in the country a few days when she came to this conclusion! This reminds me of the story of a certain English n.o.bleman who, when making the grand tour of Europe, found himself at Rome. He had an interview with the Pope of the period. He asked him could he see and know Rome in a few days time? The Pope replied: "You will imagine you know a good deal of it by that time."

"Well in a few weeks?" "You will then know less." "In a few months?"

"Still less." "In a few years?" "Hardly anything at all."

Well, is not this a parallel for the Irish question? It requires the study of a life-time almost to grapple with it at all-at least in any fairly satisfactory and complete form-in any really candid and impartial way. I may perhaps be permitted to say that another educational force in my own training on the subject has been, that I love intensely the country and the people. Froude opens his charming essay "A Fortnight in Kerry" thus:

"We have heard much of the wrongs of Ireland, the miseries of Ireland, the crimes of Ireland; every cloud has its sunny side; and, when all is said, Ireland is still the most beautiful island in the world, and the Irish themselves, though their temperament is ill-matched with ours, are still amongst the most interesting of peoples."

This affectionate feeling should not be left out of consideration by outsiders who wish to understand the Irish Question. It has exercised an undying and indestructible influence upon the people of the country, and in certain respects a most beneficial influence. For example, many outsiders foolishly imagine that Irishmen are very volatile and variable; in some minor respects they may be, but in the main, no-it is absolutely otherwise. Can you find in the history of any other country greater fidelity to her own religious and political ideals than Ireland has shown over and over again-as we say "ever and always?"

Perhaps the preface to this paper seems unduly prolonged, but the reader must bear with it somewhat further, as it is necessary.

An objector may say to me that I have no right to speak for my fellow Irish Churchmen _en ma.s.se_, as regards their relations with their Roman Catholic fellow countrymen. Well, in answer to such an objection, which may be natural enough, there are several replies. I intend to speak from my own first-hand, definite, personal, life-long experiences, such as they have been. And is not the inference sufficiently fair and logical that others of my clerical brethren, similarly situated, have had just the same, or much the same, experiences if they would record them? I do not claim that our Roman Catholic neighbours have been kinder to me than to other Protestant clergy. Testimony from us in the South and West of Ireland is more valuable than testimony from Ulster. In Leinster, Munster and Connaught, we are brought more directly and distinctly face to face with the Roman Church. She has a dominant, nay, a pre-dominant position in these three provinces, and yet I hold that this vast numerical superiority of position does not lead to intolerant or unkindly action. I believe that there is far more real kindly feeling and kindly intercourse between Protestants and Roman Catholics in these Irish provinces than there is in Ulster-and, therefore, I maintain that Irish Protestant Churchmen who live in these provinces, have a far better right to judge and speak of the relative att.i.tude of the two churches than the people of Ulster. For we, who do so live, have a larger knowledge and experience and outlook than the men of Ulster, whose views are in every sense narrower-geographically, politically and religiously. They indeed need to be reminded of the German proverb: "Hinter dem Berge sind auch Leute" (Behind the mountains there are also people). We all need to study this saying. Behind the mountains of our knowledge, of our civilisation, of our success and activity; behind the mountains, let us also say, of our ignorance, of our pride and prejudice, of our contempt-there are also men.

Of course it is much pleasanter to be able to feel kindly and to speak kindly of the great majority of one's fellow-countrymen if it can be done truthfully, as we believe it can-than to have to say and do the contrary.

Even allowing for a certain element of unreality and exaggeration and insincerity, is not the uniform tone of too many political speeches much too violent and even occasionally too vitriolic? But I have little or no temptation to err in this respect, as the bulk of what remains to be said in this paper is chiefly concerned with facts. Two years after my ordination, the Fenian Rising occurred; this took place in 1867. I saw something of it, not of the Fenians themselves, but of the flying columns which were then scouring the country in pursuit of them. The police barrack at Kilmallock was attacked, and Protestant gentry living near Kilfinane in the same county, viz., Limerick, left their houses for several nights and took refuge with the Constabulary. There was at that time living at Kilfinane as rector, the Rev. George Wren. He was, as a clergyman, greatly beloved and respected. When some of his parishioners, most of them gentry, were leaving their homes for police protection, the Roman Catholic farmers in the parish waited on the Rev. George Wren at the rectory, and begged and intreated of him not to leave it, a.s.suring him that "no one should lay a wet finger" on him or any member of his family.

In consequence of this interview the Rev. Mr. Wren held his ground, and was the only Protestant gentleman in the immediate district who did so. It was exceedingly creditable to him, and to the deputation who waited on him. I have never forgotten this incident.

I remember well the excitement produced in Irish church circles by Mr.

Gladstone's Church Act in 1869 and 1870; how it was denounced, condemned and deplored; how it was described as fraught with wreck and ruin to Protestant interests. One clerical speaker warned Queen Victoria that she might have "her Crown kicked into the Boyne" (if she gave her Royal a.s.sent), as James II. had. A friend of my own, a captain in the Army, a.s.sured me he was prepared to wade knee-deep in blood to fight the Bill.

We are not unaccustomed to politicians of this type even now! Well, Mr.

Gladstone pa.s.sed his Church Act, which has proved in many respects a great blessing to the Irish Church. She gained self-action and independence thereby; her finances have been so skilfully administered and the liberality of her members has been so great that she has now a realised capital of over nine millions! It is estimated that for her numbers she is, in money, the richest Church in Christendom. None of us who belong to her would revert, were the offer open to us, to the state of her condition and circ.u.mstances prior to 1869-"Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." How true that parable of Samson's has often proved with regard to changes which were, at first, denounced and dreaded, and afterwards regarded with grat.i.tude! Generally, the effect produced on Irish public opinion by Mr. Gladstone's Church Act, on the whole, was in time beneficial. It removed what was at least a "sentimental grievance" from Roman Catholics. It also taught them before very long that the Church of Ireland could exist as a voluntary inst.i.tution; and some Nationalists from time to time have even said that the efficient and capable management of the Representative Church Body of the Church funds was an object lesson in favour of Home Rule.

Every one at all familiar with this subject knows that 1881 was a very terrible year in Ireland; it is unnecessary to enlarge upon the painful fact. Then, or thereabouts, I went to see a land-agent whose life had several times been attempted. It was in the summer; he was writing at a tall, stand-up desk, on the upper ledge of which lay a revolver. I sat down by an open window to enjoy the fresh air, from which he immediately pulled me away and deposited me in a corner of the room under shelter of a wall, not of gla.s.s. Presently we adjourned to the dining-room for lunch.

This was also an a.r.s.enal or place of arms; a double-barrelled gun lay on a sofa. When my friend opened a press to obtain "the materials"-Irishmen will know what is meant-I saw therein a brace of horse-pistols. After lunch we went out for a walk, my friend carrying his gun under his arm, and, I suppose, his revolver in his pocket. A policeman armed with a loaded rifle, followed a few yards in our rear. Life under such circ.u.mstances could not have been very agreeable. Would anyone like to revert to it? Surely not. In the same year I was visiting an Irish landlord who was very seriously ill; his home was about four miles distant from my glebe house; sometimes I had to go to see him by night. One morning the doctor, who had been with the patient for several hours, was anxiously inquired of by the ladies of the family how their father was.

"Well, all I have to say to you," said the doctor, "is, that you may be very thankful that your father is allowed to die quietly in his bed such times as these."

Well, what has improved such terrible times? Has it not been remedial legislation in different directions-legislation respecting the Church, the Land, and Education. Yet in all such cases remedial legislation has been initially denounced by a certain party as "Socialism," "Sacrilege," or by some equally strong expletive. And yet, what has been the result of these so-called "Socialistic" and "Sacrilegious" measures? Has it not, on the whole, and in the main, been good, decidedly and undeniably good? Let us apply our Blessed Lord's text: "By their fruits ye shall know them." "Can any man gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles?" So, then, when I look back to these past painful experiences, and see how all proposed remedial legislation was, in the first instance, denounced and vilified, and when I recall how the results in time have refuted all the prophets of evil, I am quite inclined to say, is not the balance of evidence in favour of the view that something very much the same will be the case, and will happen with Home Rule? It is now constantly described by one leader as "A Nefarious Conspiracy." Of course, different Parliamentary orators have their own favourite vocabularies, but is it not very much a case of:

"All now is wrangle, abuse and vociferance."

"One is incisive, corrosive; Two retorts nettled, curt, crepitant; Three makes rejoinder, expansive, explosive; Four overbears them all, strident and strepitant; Five.... O Danaides, O Sieve."

"Now they ply axes and crowbars; Now they p.r.i.c.k pins at a tissue; Fine as a skein of the Casuist Escobar Worked on the bone of a lie-To what issue?

Where is our gain at the Two-bars?"

Juvenal said of some Roman lawyers of his own day: "Iras et verba locant."

They still do it.

Here perhaps I may with advantage introduce some remarks made by me in Cork City on March 21st at a meeting of the County Technical Instruction Committee on the occasion of proposing a vote of congratulation to our Chairman the Bishop of Cloyne, on having gained a verdict in his favour in his Libel Action against the _Dundee Courier_:

"I would like, Sir, to say a few words just in explanation of this motion. It is the first opportunity that we have had of doing this since the trial, and as other public bodies have pa.s.sed votes of congratulation to the Bishop, it is specially becoming that we should do so, as he is Chairman of our Committee. I first made the acquaintance of the Bishop in 1893, when I was making a little antiquarian tour in the County Kildare with another antiquary, and on arriving at Maynooth we ordered some dinner at the hotel there.

I was anxious to see Maynooth College, we went on there, and we happened to see Dr. Browne, who was then President of Maynooth; and he with true Irish hospitality at once invited us to stay to dine, which we did, and I had a pleasant experience of his hospitality and kindness on that occasion. And I must say that my own experience of him since he became Bishop of Cloyne has always been the same, that by tact and kindness and courtesy he has gained our regard and respect. I think I might venture to say in connection with the present controversy about the introduction of Home Rule into the country-which has, of course, caused a great deal of excitement-it would not be natural to expect that such a measure would be received in silence, but surely it is possible that the people who want to discuss this question should discuss it on non-controversial grounds. I think, for example, it should be discussed on financial grounds or on const.i.tutional grounds, and apart altogether from religious grounds. But I fear there are too many controversial politicians, and that this religious element in the discussion has not only dominated it, but has become predominant, and is greatly to be regretted; and it seems to me that this action against the _Dundee Courier_ is an ill.u.s.tration of this, and that the Bishop found it necessary to vindicate his character against unfounded charges which were capable of being made political capital of. It seems to me that the argument comes to this, that people raise controversial arguments which involve the very serious charge that the lives of the Protestants and the property of the Protestants in the country would hardly be safe under the new Parliament. Now this is a very serious indictment, and I wonder whether the people who make this consider its seriousness and the injury it does to both sides. I think it does those people who make this charge much harm-it tends to make them censorious and uncharitable, and it naturally embitters the people against whom this charge is made-that is, four-fifths of the population of the whole country. I am afraid that there are too many of these controversial politicians at work. I have lived all my clerical life in the County Cork for over forty years, and my own impression when I hear charges of this kind flung broadcast about the people of Ireland is this-that the people who make them really can't know how happily, for example, we get on in the province of Munster, how much kindness there is, and how much real good feeling-genuine good feeling prevails between Protestant and Catholic."

"I can certainly say for myself with perfect truth that during my long residence in this county, for a period of over forty years, I never received anything but kindness and consideration, and during that long period the county has been agitated very seriously. I remember the Fenian Rising in 1867, the Church Act in 1869 and 1870, and I remember other troubles in the county, but, personally speaking, I never received anything but kindness and consideration. A short time after my ordination I was told by a senior clergyman of the diocese how to act towards the people. He said: 'I will give you a recipe-be friendly to the people in this county and you will find that they will be friendly to you,' and I certainly found them so without a single exception or contradiction."

The Bishop was from home when this meeting took place, but on his return he wrote me a very kind and complimentary letter from which I quote a few sentences:

"Bishop's House,

"Queenstown.

"_April 2nd_, 1912.

"DEAR CANON COURTENAY MOORE,-Allow me to congratulate you most sincerely on the tone and character of your speech, which has done much to foster among us all, charity, peace and brotherhood. I have heard all manner of men speaking of your action on that occasion in the highest terms of praise."

"When there lies round about us so much good to be done by our common united forces, why should we spoil the opportunity of doing good by senseless and generally ill-founded suspicion and quarrels?

"Yours faithfully,

"ROBERT BROWNE.

"_Bishop of Cloyne_."

I desire to add an extract here from a letter written to me by the late Rev. Father Horgan, P.P. of Kilworth, Co. Cork. He was a very cultivated man; he had been for eight years in the Irish College at Rome and had also made a voyage round the world. He had "read in the book of the world," and in addition to his extensive and accurate knowledge of theology he had acquired a great knowledge of Art from his residence in Rome. About two years before his death he wrote me a very touching letter from which the following is an extract:

"I have given up all thoughts of change of place. My outlook and my hope are homewards, and may the good G.o.d support and strengthen us both to and through the end which awaits us to our rest."