The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-03
Letter from Ireland.
BELFAST, April 10Th, 1882.

MeSSrs. EditorS,-The Presbyterian
Synod of Belfast met this week in the
late eccentric and well-known Tommy
Toye's church. The Rev. George Magill
and Rev. DR.. Martin were nominated for
the Moderatorship, and Dr. Martin was
elected by a considerable majority. Mr..
Magill was Moderator of the Belfast Pres
bytery for the past year, and is assistant
and successor to the Rev Isaac Nelson,
M. P.
The Derry Synod met in the Third
Presbyterian church, Ballymoney, (Rev.
Thomas A. Thompson's,) and the Rev.
Mr.. Boyd was unanimously chosen Mod
orator. The various Synods meet before
the General Assembly. The latter court
will meet in Bel fast in June, and the Rev.
T. Y. Killen will be unanimously chosen
Moderator. He is the only minister who
is nominated by the Presbyteries. He
is nephew to the Rev. DIR. Killen, Presi-
dent of the Assembly's College, Belfast
The disestablishment embrogho con-
tinues in Scotland. 1t is the burning
question at the present time. The clergy
OF the Established Church are very active
IN increasing their numerical strength.
DR.. Begg, the veteran war-horse of the
Free Church, is opposed to disestablish-
ment, and holds considerable following.
Principal Rainey, on the other hand, is
active on the other side, and he has a
large number of followers. Thus the
Free Church is divided into two hostile
camps on the question.
The General Synod of the Protestant
Episcopal Church of Ireland, is now in
session in Dublin, and resolutions have
been passed deploring the state of the
country and expressing thankfulness at
the Queens recent escape from assassina-
ton. High Churchism is spreading rap
idly, but secretly, throughout this Church.
Archbishop Trench, of Dublin, is High
Church IN his sympathies, and therefore
many OF the services in the church of his
diocese are of that type.
The condition Of Ireland is not improv-
ing. Murders and outrages are of daily
occurrence, and III ueoIly evo4J i.4oC,.--cu
the perpetrators escape punishment. The
people are In sympathy with them and
conceal all knowledge of their deeds.
The priests, in many instances, endorse
the crimes. Thus when their spiritual
"SoSAUS ANU OASuoOo 1Ol SuCn
miscreancies it is not surprising that they
continue. The influence of the priests
is waning. Lawlessness has been encour-
aged by them SO long that now when some
of them would attempt to restrain it they
find that their deprecations and denun-
Citations have lost much of their potency.
This is not satisfactory or hopeful au-
gury. Better that the ignorant populace
should be under the dictation of the
priests of Rome than under the worse
and diabolical mercy OF nihilism and
communism.
There appears to be lull in the policy
of the Government anept Ireland, which
may prelude a change. The renewal of
the Coercion Acts in their present form,
will not be asked for. Mr.. Gladstone says
the Government choose their own time
and method of performing one of the
heaviest duties that ever was laid upon
government" No Prime Minister was
ever more truculently and mendaciously
abused than Mr.. Gladstone is by Parnell
and his followers in the House of Com
mons. HIBERNICUs.