Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698136884644.pdf (Ireland)
O P I N I O N S OF IRISH BISHOPS A N D O T H E R D I V I N E S , IN FAVOR OF Sunday Closing AND Saturday Early Closing OF PUBLIC HOUSES IN IKELAND.

IRISH ASSOCIATION FOR TH E PREVENTION OF INTEMPERANCE, !

E U S T A C E B U I L D I N G S , E U S T A C E S T R E E T , D U B L I N .

1888.

Humphrey & Armour, Printers, 2 Crow Street, Dublin.

0 P I J<I I 0 Jî s OF IRISH BISHOPS AND OTHER D I V I N E S .

ON S U N D A Y C L O S I N G AND SA TU RDA Y E A R L Y CLOSING OF PU B M C H OU g E g , 3 THE RIGHT REV.
DR. WOODLOCK, BISHOP OF ARDAGH AND CLONMACNOISE.

S t .

M e l ’s, L o n g f o r d , February 20th, 1888 M y D e a r M r .

N i c o l l s , I hasten to answer the three questions you have asked in your favour of the 18th inst.

1.

The effects o f the Sunday Closing A ct of 1878 have its being been such in this diocese as to convince me that made permanent would be productive of the best results.
As we have no large town in this diocese I cannot offer an opinion as to its extension to the exempted districts.

2.

I am not aware o f any opposition on the part o f my people to the principle of closing public houses on Sundays.

I wish they were closed on holidays also, and on Satur­ day evenings, at an earlier hour than at present.

3.

A s to the way of dealing with licensed houses, I am not sufficiently conversant with the circumstances to offer an opinion. '
When a wise law is enacted by the legislature I think it ought to be carried out in the spirit in which it has been enacted, and, unless in exceptional cases, even to the letter, especially when there is question of checking the dreadful crime of intoxication.

Wishing you and yours every happiness, I remain, M y dear M r. Nicolls, Y ours most sincerely, ►J* B a r t h .

W o o d l o c k , Bishop o f Ardagh and Clonm acnoise.

A. J. Nicolls, Esq., Hon Sec.

THE RIGHT REV.

DR. NULTY, BISHOP OF MEATH.


M u l l i n g a r , February 26th, 1888, M y D e a r M r .

N i c o l l s , In reply to your letter I beg to say that it is of supreme importance, not only in the interests of sobriety and tem perance,but of law and order generally, that the Sunday Closing A ct of 1878 should be renewed and re-enacted in the form o f a permanent law or statute.
T o my certain knowledge the social results and blessings which that A ct has produced, throughout this Diocese at least, have been as marvellous as they have been invaluable.

I have not seen a single drunken man or woman in any part of the Diocese since the A ct came into force, and where it had been honestly carried out ; and in this Diocese, as far as I know, it has been fairly carried out everywhere.
A s I write with a due sense of my responsibility, I feel I have no data that would authorize me to offer more than a mere guess at what would be the results of this A ct in the cities or towns that have been exempted from its operations.

But estimating the Act from its results here, I should think it would be a great blessing and gain to have it extended to the exempted towns and cities as well.

I remain, my dear Mr. Nicolls, Respectfully yours, A. J. Nicolls, Esq.

►I* T h o m a s N u l t y .


P .S ,— I believe the proposed Bill for total and universal Sunday Closing would encounter no serious opposition except from pecuniarily interested parties.

^ T .

Nulty.

THE RIGHT REV.

DR. LYNCH, BISHOP OF K IL D A R E AND L E IG H LIN.

M y D e a r M r .

N i c o l l s , T u l l o w , C o.


C a r l o w , February 29th, 1888. regarding In answer to your letter the Sunday Closing Bill I cannot do better than quote the words addressed by the B :shops of Ireland to their (locks from the “ Drunkenness,” they declare, National Synod of Maynooth.

‘•has wrecked more homes than ever fell beneath the crow­ bar in the worst days o f eviction ; it has filled more graves and made more widows and orphans then did the famine.
It has broken more hearts, blighted more hopes, and rent asunder family lies more ruthlessly than the enforced exile to which their misery has condemned exiles.” Looking at this awful picture no one could love his religion and his country who would not be glad to take part in forwarding the Sunday Closing Act by making it permanent and fully extended to every city in Ireland without one exception.

I enclose £ 1 towards the fund for this most religious and patriotic object, and remain, A J .

Nicolls, Esq.
Nicolls, Esq.

T. L y n c h .

Very faithfully yours, G THE RIGHT REV.

DR. O’DWYER, BISHOP OF LIMERICK.

T h e P a l a c e , C o r b a l l y , L i m e r i c k , February 21st, 1888.

D e a r M r .

N i c o l l s , I have no hesitation in saying, both on my own authority, and on the information I have received from the clergy of the Diocese that the Sunday Closing A ct as far as it it has gone has been a great blessing.
would do still greater good to extend it to the city, and make it permanent : and to such legislation I do not think that there would be any substantial opposition from any class.

I believe that I am, dear Mr. Nicolls, Faithfully yours, * E .

T ., Archibald Nicolls, Esq.

Bishop of Limerick.

THE RIGHT REV.

DR. MaeCORMACK, BISHOP OF GALWAY.

G a l w a y , February 21st, 1888.

M y D e a r M r .
M y D e a r M r .

N i c o l l s , I am quite in favour o f making the “ Sunday Closing A c t ” permanent, extending its operation to every city and town in Ireland, and of curtailing the Saturday hours for sale.

And I believe there is little, if any, opposition to the principle of the Act, except on the part of traders or manufacturers who have a pecuniary interest in the sale of intoxicating drinks.

Excessive drinking is now more than ever a crying curs3 to the country.
Apart from the high moral consideration?, it is an economic evil of increasing magnitude in these days of general depression.

Needless to further enlarge upon an evil so patent.

Believe me, my dear M r. Nicoll=, Yours very faithfully, ►£< F .

J. M acC ormack, A .

J .

Nicolls, E sq .

Bishop o f Galway, & c. THE RIGHT REV.

DR. POWER, BISHOP OF W ATERFORD.

B i s h o p ’s H o u s e , W a t e r f o r d , February 23rd, 1888.
D ear S i r , In reply to your letter of enquiry about “ Sunday Closing,” I beg to reply that, from my experience in Dun- garvan, great evils will arise if the existing law be allowed to lapse.

T h e sale ofliquor on Sundays was always a fruit­ ful source o f great demoralization to our people, and now that Athletic meetings are being held in the vicinity o f our towns on Sundays, if unlimited sale of strong^ drinks be allowed, law and order and safety to life will be imperilled.
8 Putting aside the roughs and the poor unfortunate people who have to live by the liquor traffic, all the industrious and respectable classes are unanimously the unrestricted sale of alcoholic fusil oil, perhaps something even worse.

opposed to But to my mind the late hours at which grog shops are allowed to be kept open works the most ruin.
I have known hundreds of poor people to bring in to market sheep and piglings at 9 o’clock a.m., and that these were found at 10 o’clock at night all there starving in their creels whilst the owners were visiting public house after public house.

T h e police had no power, and I had myself by moral suasion to_ put down the horrible abuse.

Is there any reason for this, except the E xcise and publican’s interest.

About cities, as I have no experience, I offer no opinion.

Yours, A rchd.

J. Nicolls, Esq.


P .

P o w e r , Bishop of Waterford.

HIS GRACE THE MOST REV.

DR. McEVILLY, ARCH BISH O P OF TU AM.

T U A jr, February 2$t/t, 1888.

D e a r S i r , In reply to your letter I briefly answer the three questions you propose.
r. I am decidedly of opinion, judging from the manifestly beneficial effects of the operation o f the Sunday Closing 9 Act in the past, that it “ can be usefully made permanent.” — nay, that the greatest injury to society and religion would result from its abolition, which I would regard as a mis­ fortune.

2.
2.

I don’t believe there is any opposition whatever, on the part of the rational and well meaning portion o f society, to the principle o f the Act, those excepted who have a pecuniary T h e testimony of interested witnesses in any cause can easily be estimated at its proper value.

in the sale of strong drink.

interest I have very 3.

Early closing on Saturday would, no doubt, be most little doubt on my beneficial i f practicable.
mind that wherever the Sunday Act fails o f the intended effect, it is altogether owing to want of vigilance on the part of the police, and others concerned, in having the provisions of this salutary Bill strictly enforced, and their violations visited with due pun:shment.

I have the honour to be, Y ou r faithful Servant J o h n , Archbishop of Tuam .

B A. J .

Nicolls, Esq.

10 HIS GRACE THE MOST REV.

DR. CROKE, ARCHBISHOP OF CASHEL.

T h e P a l a c e , T h u r l e s , March 15 th.


M y D e a r S i r , T he Sunday Closing Act has in my opinion been productive of enormous good throughout this country, and should b e made a permanent statute.

It has done admirably in towns, and would doubtless be equally serviceable in cities, if indeed the police authorities, so scrupulously attentive to other phases o f Irish life, could be got to do their plain duty in this respect also.

I remain, my dear Sir, Your faithful Servant, A .


Nicolls, E*q. T .

W. C r o k e , Archbishop of Cashel.

THE RIGHT REV.

DR. BROWNRIGG, BISHOP OF OSSORY.

D e a r S i r , K i l k e n n y , March 16 th, 1888. .

.

A s the subject of Tem perance is one in which I have been for a long time deeply interested and the progress of which I have watched with a very keen appreciation, I am much obliged for the opportunity you afford me of offering my opinion on the important questions you propose.
I am strongly inclined to think that the lapse of the present Sunday Closing A.ct would be attended with the ' most calamitous social and moral evils for the people of Ireland.

T h e very stringency o f the law for the last seven years, if it be now allowed to lapse, would be, in my opinion, only a new incentive with many of our people to excess, and bad as drinking on Sundays was before the Act, 1 am almost certain it would be worse now.
Hence, by all means, I am anxious that this wholesome restriction on the sale of intoxicating drink should continue and be made perpetual.

It is my opinion, too, that an immense boon would be con­ ferred on the labouring and artisan classes in Ireland, if the public houses were bound by law to close on Saturday evenings at an early hour.

A large portion of the earnings of the week finds its way to the till of the public house on Saturdays.
I happen to have a pretty fair knowledge o f the conditions of life in the five large cities, which hitherto have been exempted under the Act, and that knowledge forces me to say that I should hail the extension of the A ct to these cities as a boon and a blessing not only to the people who dwell in them, but still more to the large numbers o f the rural population who crowd them on Sundays.
I do not think any section of the community could possibly feel itself aggrieved by such legislation, except that alone which directly derives a profit from the sale of drink.

I remain, dear Sir, A. J. Nicolls, Esq.

Faithfully yours, A.

B r o w n r i g g .

12 THE EIGHT REV.

DR. BROWNE, D.D., BISHOP OF FERNS.

W e x f o r d , March \6/h, 1888.

D e a r S i r , I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter and to answer two of the three queries you sent me.

1 .
1 .

I do not approve of allowing the Sunday Closing I think it has done an immense amoun I am strongly in favour o f Sunday Closing o system to lapse.

o f good.

public houses., 3.

I am o f opinion that there are none opposed to Sundaj Closing o f public houses except those who have a pecuniary interest in the sale of drink.

2.
2.

A s I have never lived in a large town or city, I fee that I am not in a position to give an opinion on th< question whether it would be advisable or not to have Sunday Closing introduced into large towns and cities.

T h e Archbishop of Dublin and the bishops of Cork Belfast, Waterford and Lim erick who live in the cities ir question would, from their experience, be able to give ar opinion of some weight on this question.
I hope you may be able to succeed in closing all public houses at nine o’clock on Saturday nights.

Wishing you every success in your laudable undertaking.

I remain, Yours sincerely, A .

J .

Nicoll?, Esq.

J a m e s B r o w n e , I 13 THE RIGHT REV.

DR. GILLOOLY.

BISHOP OF SLIGO.

S l i g o , March 28///, 1888.

D e a r S i r , Please excuse 111e for not replying to your first letter.
My silence was owing ta frequent absence and hurry of work, and partly also to the serious doubts I entertain as to the advantages o f the Sunday Closing B ill if not supple- 'mented by early closing of public houses on Saturdays, and 1 by the adoption of stringent measures to prevent the illicit sale of intoxicants on Sundays.
I f Sunday Closing is to have in the future, as it has had in the past, the effect of multiplying shebeen houses indefinitely, and without any bona fide effort of the police or the M agistracy to prevent their cursed traffic— if, moreover, licensed houses are to be open on Sundays to all who represent themselves as travellers —it will, in niy opinion, be better for the morality and health o f our people, at least in the towns, that the Sunday In the country Closing A ct should be allowed to expire.
districts the A ct has had notably good results, and I should wish to see it continue there in force, but even there illicit sale o f drink is practically unchecked.

I f the A ct is to be renewed, I think the opening of licensed houses for a few hours on Sundays in the large towns and cities would rather prevent than promote intem­ perance.

Believe me, dear Sir, Faithfully yours, *%* L , G i i .

l o o l y 14 THE RIGHT REV.

DR. McALISTER, BISHOP OF DOWN.


C h i c h e s t e r P a r k , B e l f a s t 15 th, March 1888.

S i r , In reply to the questions in your letter of the 13th inst., regarding Sunday Closing, I desire to state :— 1.

I would prefer to see the A ct of 1878 renewed in rural districts : but the extension of total Sunday Closing to large towns where it is usually accompanied by shebeen and family drinking, would not, in my opinion, tend to promote sobriety or morality.

2.
2.

Total Sunday Closing is known by experience to lead in large towns to illicit drinking in shebeens, with its accom panying immoralities, and to what is a much greater evil, and beyond the power of the police or law to correct to family drinking.

When the men cannot go to the public house for their drink on Sunday they take it to their home on Saturday, and share it with all the members of the family.
B y degrees the women and children and whole household learn to drink, and, the habit once acquired, like an heirloom.

B y visiting Sunday after descends Sunday the dwellings of the working classes in a city where the law o f I witnessed total Sunday Closing existed, undeniable proofs of what I here refer to.
T h e streets were deserted and silent, but inside the closes where the working classes live the utter inefficiency o f total Sunday Closing 15 to prevent Sunday drinking was visible on every landing.

The police statistics say nothing of this phase of the question, but “ Our Father who seeth in secret, is H e the less offended on that account ?” 3.
Those who have 110 pecuniary interest in the sale of drink, although not likely to give active opposition, look on the police statistics as testifying to outward appearances only so far as regards large towns, and, therefore, as not affording a reliable basis for restrictive legislation.

is making to get embodied with 4.


I look on the effort the Prevention of Intemperance Society the Sunday Closing B ill a proviso giving legal power to the majority of the people of each district to prohibit by a direct veto the sale of intoxicating drinks in their localities, as an insidious attempt to establish a system of legalised boycotting, and as a death warrant to hundreds o f virtuous and respectable Catholic traders in the North of Ireland.
And if the Irish Parliamentary party do not oppose it to the utmost o f their power, they will deserve, in my opinion, to forfeit the confi­ dence of the Catholics o f Ulster.

I have the honour, Sir, to be Y o u r obedient Servant, ►J* P. M c A l i s t e r Bishop of Down and Connor.

1C THE RIGHT REV .

DR. CONWAY, BISHOP OF KILLALA.

B is h o p ’s H o u s e , B a l l i n a , C o. M a y o , March 20th, 1888.

D e a r M r .
D e a r M r .

N i c o l l s , in my In reply to your letter I beg to say that, opinion, as well as in that o f the overwhelming majority of the people o f this Diocese, it is of the greatest importance, not only in the interest of temperance and sobriety, but also o f law and order, that the Sunday Closing A ct of 1878 should be re-enacted as a permanent law.

It has done well in towns, and I see no reason why it would not be equally serviceable in cities, if only enforced.
I am also of opinion, that E arly Closing on Saturdays, would be a great blessing in both towns and cities where the artisan and labouring classes are so much exposed to the temptation of having their week’s earnings squandered in public houses.

I remain, my dear Sir, Y ou r faithful Servant, H u g h C o n w a y, Bishop of Killala.

A .

J .

Nicolls, Esq,, H on Secretary, &c 17 THE RIGHT REV .

DR. DONNELLY, BISHOP OF CLOGHER.

B is h o p ’s H o u s e , M o n a g h a n , May 15///, 1888.
D e a r S i r , In reply to your enquiry, I have to say that, consult­ ing for the secular as well as the religious interests of the country, I am a decided advocate o f the Sunday Closing system.

Wherever the law has been honestly administered vast good lias come o f it.

What has done so much good to town and country, could not but be, in my opinion, beneficial to large centres o f population ; and so I am for extending it to Belfast and the hitherto exempted cities.
I would recommend the curtailment of the hours for drinking on Saturday night, because o f the special reasons connected with that night, and also for the more effectual securing of Sunday temperance.

I am, dear Sir, Very faithfully yours, .

J a m e s D o n n e l l y , A .

J .

Nicolls, Esq.

Bishop o f Clogher.

- 1« THE RIGHT REV.

DR. FITZGERALD.

BISHOP OF ROSS.

B i s h o p ’s H o u s e , S k i b b e r e e n , May 15 //;, 1888.

1 he Right R e v. I)r. Fitzgerald presents his compliments to the H on.
Secretaries o f the Irish Association for the Prevention of Intemperance, and begs to enclose copy of Resolutions in connection with the Sunday Closing question recently passed at a Conference of the Clergy of this Diocese.

T H E B IS H O P A N D P R I E S T S O F R O S S ON S U N D A Y C L O S IN G .

A t a Conference o f the Priests of R oss, held on Tuesday in Rosscarbery, presided over by his Lordship the Right R ev.
Dr. Fitzgerald, the question of Sunday Closing of Public H ouses was discussed, and the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :— “ That the Sunday Closing Act which has been in force in this Diocese for nearly a decade has been attended with the best and most beneficial results, and that it is desirable it should become a permanent'enactment, and its provisions be more strictl enforced.” “ That public houses ought to be closed at an early hour on Saturday nights.” 10 HIS GRACE THE MOST REV.
ROBERT KNOX, D.D , ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH AND P RIM A TE OF IRELAND.

T h e P a l a c e , A r m a g h , March i^th, 1888.

S i r , has annually petitioned In reply to your letter I beg to say that the Diocese o f Armagh for the pcrmancncy and extension of “ Sunday Closing Act ” to the whole o f Ireland.

I cannot possibly understand the grounds on which certain towns are exempt.
I f the evil of intemperance, especially on Saturday nights and Sunday is to be checked by legislation in small towns, why are large towns suffered to indulge in their evil habits unchecked ?

H as sin and all the crying evils temperance, a special license in certain toleration which could not be extended to small cities?

from in­ resulting large cities, and a The Act at present is either right or wrong ; if right should be permanent and apply to all, apply to none.

if wrong Yours truly, R .


A ., Armagh, Prim ate.

HIS GRACE THE MOST REV.

LORD PLUNKET, ARCH BISHO P OF DUBLIN .

T h e P a l a c e , S t .

S t e p h e n ’s G r e e n , D u b l i n , March 26th, 188 8, D e a r M r .

W i g h a m , I can confidently answer all your queries in the I havp no doubt that the Sunday Closing A ct affirmative.
it it should 20 has had a most beneficial effect, so far as it has been hitherto available, and I know that I express the feelings of the large majority o f Irish Churchmen in this Diocese, when I add that its permanent enactment and extension to the cities and towns at present exempted from its full opera­ tion, would, in our opinion, tend to promote the well-being o f all classes of the community, and more especially of those who earn an honest livelihood by the work of their hands.
Yours faithfully, P l u n k e t , Dublin.

THE RIGHT REV.

WILLIAM ALEXANDER, D.D., BISHOP OF D E R R Y AND RAPHOE.

_ D eak S i r , _ T h e P a l a c e , L o n d o n d e r r y , A p ril \th, 18S8.

M y Diocese has as yet made no formal and effective utterance upon the Irish Sunday Closing A ct.

I am however convinced that a large m ajority of the Members of the church are strongly in its favour.
M y opinion in the abstract is rather against the class o f legislative enactments which are known as “ preventive."

But the closing of public houses on Sunday is so beneficial to the community ; and drunkenness so truly criminal as well as sinful ; that I entirely concur with the eminent Prelates whose opinions you have kindly forwarded to me.

Temperance and thrift are the qualities which can alone bring solid improvement to Ireland.
It is impossible to doubt that the removal of temptation to drink on the sacred day when the masses have most leisure for the said form of indulgence will tend to the formation o f these good habit-'.

V ery sincerely yours, Henry Wigham, Esq.

W il l ia m , Derry and Raphoe.

THE RIGHT REV.

SAMUEL SHONE, D.D., BISHOP OF K 1LMORE.

K i l m o r e H o u s e , C a v a n , March 26th, 1888.
D e a r S i r , In reply to your letter I beg to say, that as far as my knowledge goes, the effects of the Sunday Closing A ct have been very beneficial in this locality.

I sincerely hops it may be made permanent, and extended to the five towns at present exempted from its full operations ; this would, in my opinion, meet with general approval from the people in my Diocese.

I remain, Yours faithfully, Henry Wigham, Esq.

S a m u e l , Kilm ore, 22 THE RIGHT REV.


WILLIAM REEV ES, D.D., BISHOP OF DOWN AND CONNOR.

S i r , C o n w a y H o u s e , D u n m u r r y , i nth.

1888.
Co. A n t r i m , March In reply to your letter of the 14th regarding the Irish Sunday Closing Act, I write to say I have no means of knowing what m aybe the desire of the people in my Diocese as to its being made permanent, but that in the last meeting of the Synod, representing the Members of the Church of Ireland in the Counties o f Down and Connor, the report o f the Committee o f the Diocesan Tem perance Society was received containing the following passage, “ We must state our assured conviction that the Act has proved itself to be a measure o f great practical u tility; and so far from with­ drawing its provisions, we earnestly trust that it may be made a permanent measure to include as well the partially exempted cities and towns,” to which no exception was taken, and in which, as you ask for an expression of my own opinion, I fully concur.
I remain, Your obedient Servant, Henry Wigham, Esq.

W i l l i a m , Down and Connor.

23 THE RIGHT REV.

C. P. REICHEL, D.D., BISHOP OF MEATH.

B a l l y m a c o l l H o u s e , D u n b o y n e , March 13/h, 1888.

D e a r S i r , I cannot answer for the opinion of the population of my Diocese regarding the Sunday Closing A ct.
I should think that the more respectable, and probably almost all the Members o f the Irish Church would wish it to be con­ tinued as being undoubtedly beneficial to morality and religion.

M y own opinion is decidedly in favour o f its being ex ­ tended to the five towns at present (to me unaccountably) exempted from its operation.

I have heard the Act argued against on the ground o f its to infringed and being often secretly stealthy infractions o f law.
But I know not how any pro­ hibitive law, however necessary, can do otherwise than tempt ill-disposed persons to infringe it.

is, is it beneficial to the community in general?

And I think the A ct in question is beneficial to the community.

T h e question tempting thus Yours sincerely, C. P., Meath, Henry Wigham, Esq.

24 THE RT.

REV.

WILLIAM PACKENHAM WALSH, D.D., BISHOP OF OSSORY.

D e a r S i r , T h e P a l a c e , K i l k e n n y , March 16/h, 1888.
So far as I have been able to ascertain the effects in this Diocese of Sunday Closing Act, they have been beneficial.

I am sure that the overwhelming majority of my flock would wish the Act to be made permanent, and I am clearly o f opinion that it ought to be extended to the towns which at present are exempted.

Whatever may be said in favour of the original experi­ ment, I think that to continue the exemption now would be an absurdity in respect of principle, and a blunder in point of legislation.
Henry W ighair, Esq.

W. P ., Ossory Yours faithfully, THE RIGHT REV.

CHARLES GRAVES, D.D., BISHOP OF LIM ERICK.

D e a r M r .

W i g h a m , T h e P a l a c e , H e n r y S t r e e t , L i m e r i c k , March 16 th, 1888.

I am o f opinion that the Sunday Closing A ct has been beneficial, and I have reason to believe that the people in iny Diocese would desire its being made permanent, I am decidedly in favour o f its being extended to the five towns at present exempted from ils full operation.
I remain, Very faithfully yours, H enry Wigham, Esq.

C ., Limerick.

THE RIGHT REV.

WILLIAM B. CHESTER, D.D., BISHOP OF KILLALO E. C l a n i s f o r d , K i l l a l o e , March 15 th, 1888.

D e a r S i r , is seriously ill and quite unable to T h e Bishop I know his Lordship’s mind well attend to business.

for the enough to say that I am quite sure he would wish extension o f the Act to the five larger towns.
H e has often spoken of the advantages which have been gained by ils application to the smaller town?.

Faithfully yours, A r t h u r H .

S t a n i s t r e e t , Clk., Domestic Chaplain to the Bishop o f K ilialoe.

THE RIGHT REV.

ROBERT S. GREGG, D.D., BISHOP OF CORK.

D e a r S i r , In reply to the letter of enquiry which you have in saying that I addressed to me, I have r.o hesitation T h e P a l a c e , C o r k , March 15 th, 1888.
26 believe the operation of the Sunday Closing Act has been beneficial in this Diocese.

T he opinions of a large majority of the people, would, I have no doubt, be in favour o f its being made permanent, a minority, would, of course object.

It never appeared to me that there was sufficient reason for the exclusion of the City of Cork from the operation o f the Act.
N o necessity exists for keeping open the public houses in the city on Sunday, and if the clauses relating to travellers were altered or interpreted more strictly I believe it would be for the benefit of the people.

T h e social condition of the masses in this city is far below what the commercial advantages and trade o f the city place within their power to attain.
T h e quality most to be desired is that spirit of self- control which would lead to temperance and thrift, and from which with the blessing of God social progress would surely spring.

I am, Yours very faithfully, H enry Wigham, E sq.

R o b e r t S., Cork.

THE RIGHT REV.

MAURICE DAY, D.D., BISHOP OF CASHEL.

P a l a c e , W a t e r f o r d , March 21st, 1888.
D e a r S i r , In reply to your letter I beg to say I have reason to believe that the Irish Sunday Closing Act has worked well It is the earnest desire of most in this part o f the country.

people that it should be made permanent, and that the five exempted towns should be included in the Act.

From what I have heard, I would think a very important addition to the law would be the closing of all public houses at an early hour on Saturdays.

H enry Wigham, Esq.

M aurice F., Cashel.


Faithfully yours, THE RIGHT REV.

DR. BERNARD, BISHOP OF TUAM.

T h e P a l a c e , T u am , Apt il 6/h, 1888.

D e a r S i r , The Bishop, being in delicate health, desires me to write and say how cordially he sympathizes with your en­ deavours in favour of Sunday Closing, the benefits of which he considers have been very great, notwithstanding the laxity wi.h which the A ct has been carried out in many places.
H e trusts that the Act may be extended to those places at present exempt, and also greater endeavours made to enforce the provisions of the Act, which would, he feels convinced, “ if strictly carried out,” be of much advantage to the morality and well-being of the country, and assist to check what is at present a power fruitful for unchristian and godless discord and bitterness.

Faithfully yours, C o r n w a l l i s C. H e w it t , Sec.

to Bishop o f Tuam .

2í> THE RIGHT REV.


CHARLES MAURICE STACK, D.D.

BISHOP OF CLOGHER.

K n o c k b a l l y m o r e , C l o n e s , A p ril 3 c th, 1 888.

D e a r S i r , I have no doubt that the great majority of members of the Church of Ireland in the Diocese of Clogher agree with me in their wish to make the present Sunday Closing A ct permanent.
A s there are none o f the excepted towns in this Diocese I have not the same opportunity of knowing public opinion I cannot, my=elf, see why any excep­ with regard to them.

tion should be made.

I must add, however, that unless more active steps be taken to enforce the law the good intentions o f your Association and of the Legislature will be in vain.

I strongly press upon you to bring influence to bear upon the local authorities in this direction.

I am, dear Sir, Yours very faithfully, C .


M., Clogher.

H enry Wigham, Esq., Eustace Street, Dublin.

THE REV.

JOHN H. ORR, MODERATOR G E N E R A L A S S E M B L Y P R E S B Y T E R IA N CHURCH.

T h e M a n s e , A n t r im , March 26//;, 1888.

D e a r S i r , I am in receipt of your letter asking my opinion of the operation of the Sunday Closing Act.

I have no doubt whatever, its operation has been highly beneficial, and that the people would desire it to be made permanent.
I am also in favour of the exten­ sion of the A ct to the five towns at present exempted from its full operation.

that Y ours faithfully, J o h n H. Or r .

P .S .— I have no hesitation in saying that all the Ministers, and ruling elders of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, would concur in the opinion I have given, and niuety-nine in every hundred of the Presbyterian people.

J. H. O. Henry Wigharn, Esq.

30 THE REV.


JOHN D. POWELL, V IC E -P R E S ID E N T M ETHO DIST CO N FER EN C E. S e y m o u r S t r e e t , L i s b u r n , March 29/h, 1888.

S ir , A t the request of my friend the R e v. Jo h n D. Powell, Vice-President o f the Methodist Conference, I reply to your letter of the 19th instant.

Allow me, in the first place, to apologise on his behalf for the delay which has occurred in answering your im­ portant communication.
It will be enough to say that Mr. Powell is so seriously unwell as to be unable to transact any business.

H e requests me to say however that, having lived nine years in Dublin, three in Cork, and six in Belfast, he has had ample opportunities of forming an opinion as to the operation of the Sunday Closing A ct in these cities.
H e has the deepest possible conviction that even the Sunday Closing which has been enforced, has beea attended with very beneficial results ; he would most earnestly desire that the A ct should be fully extended to the five towns at present partially exempted, and that it should be made permanent ; and he believes, that the people generally, apart from those engaged in the liquor traffic, would also desire that the Sunday Closing Act should be extended to the five towns now exempt, and should be made permanent.
I am, Yours faithfully, O l i v e r M c C u t c h e o n .

» PREVIOUS OPINIONS OF STATESMEM AND OTHER PUBLIC MEN.

The late R ight Hon.

W. E .

Forster, a former C hief Secretary, said :— “ A s far as I can learn, it (the Sunday Closing Act) has more than justified the expectations o f its supporters.
In two ways the positive effects have been shown to be almost better— really better, I think, than most of us hoped they would be, although there were expecta­ tions o f good ; and also it is quite clear that those who prophesied that it would be a step considerably in advance of public feeling in Ireland have been disappointed.

As far as I can make out, public opinion has entirely gone with the operation of the A ct.” T he Right H on.
Sir George Otto Trevelyan, Bart., then Chief Secretary for Ireland, in his speech in the H ouse of Commons, 20th Ju n e, 1884, said “ that he had studied the statistics closely in the light of the very broad com bina­ tions in which they had been placed by the advocates and opponents of the measure, and had come to the conclusion that Sunday Closing had been a great and almost unmixed benefit to those parts of the country where it had been in operation, and that it might be hopefully and confidently extended to the five exempted cities.” From His Eminence the Late Cardinal Cullen, then Archbishop of Dublin.
“ Whilst endeavouring to prevent excesses in drinking or Sundays, it seems lo me that it would be equally important that the meeting should take steps to prevent the evils 32 occasioned by permitting public houses or beerhouses to remain open to a late hour on Saturday night.
The men who drink to excess, and continue to do so almost up to the first dawn of the L ord ’s Day, find themselves unfit to assist at divine worship, or to perform any religious duties, or to receive instructions from their pastors on Sunday.” EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE, 1877.

The Late Mr. A. M. Sullivan, il/./'.


“ In large cities where a number o f artisans receive their wages on Saturday, the Saturday evening drinking creates the greatest havoc on the week’s wages, and leads to a great deal of the Sunday drinking as far as it exists at all.” The Late Mr. Michael Dwyer, then Secretary Licensed Grocers and Vintners’ Association.
“ You cannot tell us whether the body whom you represent are at all favourable to the view of closing earlier on Satur­ I can say this much for them, that if the intemper­ day?

ance and if the excess o f drinking, which undoubtedly do exist much more 011 Saturday night than at any other time, can be put a stop to by any reasonable sacrifice on their part, I think I could almost undertake for them that they would be willing to consent to that sacrifice.” Mr. William Spillane, J .

P ., Limerick.
P ., Limerick.

“ I would like to have closing at seven o’clock on Satur­ day, closing on all Sunday, and not opening before nine I believe if that were done, very rarely o’clock on M onday.

would people lose their work on M onday as they do now,” - Í f i ^ S^oci'atiori fo f tl\e Pfeveiition of Inteinpefkqde.

Vice-Presidents, His Grace the Most Rev.

Lord Plunket, .

Archbishop of Dublin.

His Grace the Most Rev.

W. Croke, D.D.

Archbishop of Cashel.

His Grace the Most Rev.


John M‘Evilly, D.D., Archbishop of Tuam.

Right Rev.

Maurice Day, D.D., Bishop of Cashel.

The Right Rev.

Charles Graves, D.D., Bishop of Limerick.

The Right Hon.

The O’Conor Don, P.C., 1).

L. The Very Rev.

H. H. Dickinson, D.D., Dean of the Chapel Royal.

Major-General Dobbs, Grey stones.

Belfast.

Jam es Dwyer, Esq., Alderman, Cork, llev.

J. W. M'Kay, Pres.

Meth.

Coll., Sir Richard Martin, Bart., D.L.

Thomas Pim, Junr., Esq., J.P., Dublin.


Benjamin W hitworth, Esq.

Charles H. Meldon, Esq., Q.C.

Marriott R. Dalway, Esq., D.L.

Sir Charles E. Lewis, Bart., M.P.

William Johnston, Esq., M.P.

Edm und G. Dease, Esq., D.L.

J. G. Richardson, Esq, John E. Redmond, Esq., M,P.

Thomas Greer, Esq.

J. H. Swanton, Esq., J.P. Executive Com m ittee, Allen, Henry J. Barrett, W. F., F.R.S.E.

Beckett, James Behan, Rev.

J., C.C.

Brown, Henry E. Cosgrave, H. A., M.A.

Cooke, John, B.A.
Cooke, John, B.A.

Chambers, George, J.P. Dockrell, Maurice Drummond, David, J.P. Fitzpatrick, S. A. O.

(ieraon, William, M.A Gough, Joseph King, Richard D, M‘Comas, Samue', J.P. Nicolls, Archibald J., LL.B.

Chairman : H e n r y J.

A l l e n , E sq .

Treasurers : S a m u e l M cC o m as, J.F .

; A b ra h a m S h a c k le t o n , J.P .

Hon.

Secretaries : H e n r y W ig h a m .

Esq., A .

J. N i c o ll s , E sq ., LL.iS.

Assistant Secretary : M r. R o b e r t M i l l e r .
Bankers : T h e R o y a l B a s k , P o s t e r P l a c e .

O'Connor, John Shackleton, Abraham, J. P Shack!

et on, Richard Webb, Thomas Henry Whyte, Nicholas C., M.D.

Wigham.

John R , J.P. Wigham, Henry Wigham* Leonard, B.A.