The New York herald., 1875-09-20
THE IRISH CHURCH.


DINAL oULLEN's LATEST EFFORT FOR PoLITI-
CAL CONTROL OF THE IRISH PEoPLE-FIANK
MOVEMENT ON HOME RULE.
DUBLIN, Sept 2 1875
The National Council OF the Roman Catholic Church
in Ireland which has been the taRs for nearly three
years was opened at Maynooth Tuesday, August 81
1t is worth remarkng that the present is only the
ond National Council held in Ireland since the English
invasion, 700 years ago. whereas, in America, those
Episcopal gatherings events of regular
at stated times. The explanation of this difference
must be that nothing escapes the vital influences Of the
New World even such ancient and fixed organisms as
the Roman Catholic Church acquire in its atmosphere
fresh energy
The council was to have met the 18th of August
But such was the state of prostraton of Cardinal
Cullen, after the fatigues and excitement Of the
OConnel Centenary celebration and the o'Keefe trial
at the Wicklow Asszes few days previously that he
was physically incapable of presiding tN delibera-
tions of his Episcopal brethren And the assembly
had to be postponed for fortnight the date
originally fixed
Another popularity worth noting in y <sh ecclesi-
astcal system is the inclination -1io n formal
gatherings in remote places The lonner 20 1cil was
held at Thures, quiet village in the heai. of Tip
perary The present one is being held at Maynooth,
near the great pastoral district of Meath whose pas
lures make the fortunes of Irish cattle dealers There
is however, an appropriateness in holding council at
Maynooth.
THE COLLEGE or MAYNooTH
is the great seminary for the training OF priests, not
alone for Ireland, but generally for the Irish race
wherever scattered Beautifully placed it is for its OBJ
ec-quite close TO the wooded demesne of Carton the
seat of the Duke of Lenser the lord of the surround
ing tract At the college gates are the picturesque
ruins of the old historic castle Of the Geraldnes,
whence they dominated all the border land that side
of the Pale. Within easy walking distance is Cebridge,
the residence of Dean swifts Vanessa; Congowes
Wood the great Irish school of the Jesuits the m OF
Lyons, p" the Of O'Conners celebrated duel with
D'Esterre.
Most of the preates and persons who were to take
part in the council already at Maynooth the
30th STILL the mail train of the Midland line, which
left Dublin at half past O'Clock that evening
bore few bishops and several priests. Without any
unfair revelations Of the private talk of the railway
carriage it may be said that the O'Conne Centenary
and Butt, Duffy and Home Rule figured in the conversa
tion. More than voice expressed conviction that
the Butt testimonial" had been fatally damaged by the
conduct of certain Home Rulers at the breakup of the
centenary banquet The mist and gathering darkness
prevented from observing the many pretty and noted
places past which the train glided Maynooth only
fifteen miles from Dublin, but the rate Of travelling
so slow that although there not single stoppage
interfere with the speed, it not reached till
quarter past eight 1t was quite dark. The mar
row, roughly finished platform at the railway station
crowded with country lads, who assumed the func
tons of railway porters, and who pounced upon every
he aghted with pratical avidity which showed
the intention of levying backma by wholesale
,rtl
Me Lord" suggesting how highly impregnated the at
mosphere was with Episcopal greatness Even the
very unarstocratc representative of the HERALD did
not escape the universal Understanding At first he
disowned the nobility thus 'thrust upon him."
but he learned the advantage of
Pinchbeck dignity as it was passport which helped to
extricate him from the iostlng throng. Grievous in
the extreme the confusion for those who had lug
gage which it was next to impossible to find in the
chaos and crowd and If found to be from
the owners grasp by some stalwart amateur porter
But it very amusing to look at for who was
experiencing the delightful truth OF the classical
adage,
The dscordant cries. the fruitless remonstrances of
the travellers the appeals of competing drivers
perfectly bewildering Yet there was no riot
danger of a breach of the peace, no "row."
AT length the outside Of the station is reached but
the confusion and discomfort is only less degree
There covered vehicles and the side of sham
bling rustic outside does not give the pleasantest
prospect of conveyance along an unknown road in
thick mist Soon 1t appears that the number OF
those primitive vehicles is insufficient to meet the de-
mand, and some negotiation Is necessary both to
range who shall be joint tenants and to abate the
extortonate greed Of Jehu When these matters have
been settled 1t is discovered that the luggage has be-
come interchanged in nextricabe fashion, owing to
the reckless manipulatons of the selfconsttuted
porters 1t is quite dark, and there lights,
vesugation is impossible Somehow it is ascertained
taken for granted that bishops trunk Is missing
and "His Lordshp cannot appear at the council
day unless robed in full cal habiliments this
is a genuine Inconvenience Ii may be disaster. For
VIII beforehand the Il bichOns
synodal vote There is a tradition among the
non ultramontanes, of course) that the con-
domination of the Queens colleges at the
Synod Of Thures, in $780, carried by single
In the present emergency, could venture
to suggest hint Of the whereabouts of the
missing trunk, the stationmaster called out "Police
man. and young fellow, in the uniform of the Royal
Irish" constabuary), came forward. He may be an
efficient guardian OF the peace in that rural district
where it seemed likely that the greatest offence
violation of the liquor laws; but he stood
under the reflection of the railway porer's
lantern somewhat above middle height 1.-the
and active, with handsome intelligent, good
humored face, quick, twinklng eyes, mobile
ncSe he ho looked a ou By SanTe to be
a very effective disturber of the hearts OF the village
maidens and of the peace of mind Of the swains
Even policeman, however, could not call up the
missing trunk by any process of consabuary magic,
he contented himself with announcing that he would
have all the rustcs summoned against next Bench
day'' for 'trespassing on The railway and with assuT
ing unhappy wight "a good-lookng youth, against
whom perhaps Mr. Policeman had some Jealous
only fair to say that all the clergymen and habues
quite satisfied that the trunk would he sure to
turn up at the college, and that the honesty of the
locality at least in matters of passengers luggage
above suspicion.
AT last start was effected, but 1t now raining
brskly Fortunately the village close the railway
station, that uidt0r might have easily walked
down to the spot The end of the journey well
nigh tragical. Jehu had been anticipating the enjoy
OF his piratica levy, and tumbled of his perch
close 10 the college gates and narrowly escaped being
killed The College of Maynooth itself presented a
brilliant scene. The entrance quadrangle all lighted
up Along several corridors rooms had been prepared
for expected visitors and, judging from appearances,
any person of respectable exterior free to walk in
and occupy bedroom ''and welcome y The President
Very Rev. Or. Charles Russell, most learned and
kindly gentleman, whose fame is known to both hem
spheres, had been entertaining at dinner all comers
An improvised banquetng hall showed signs of
sumpuous feast and it said that 100 persons
had been received. II was a perfect illustration of
IRISH HOSPITALITY.
To stranger the most picturesque All
ecclesiastics. Most wore cassocks college
gowns, others the Roman ferrdjuoio wide black
tie. About fourth of cOmpanV were bishOps-