The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-02-14
CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter from Ireland.
The MANsE, BALLYMENA,
January Goth, 1883.

J
MeSSrs. EdatorS,-As a politically dis
interested spectator, 1 cannot say that we
are improving latterly in our conduct in
Ireland. | was in house of one of my
hearers lately. Two members of that
family had been in America for many
years. They had written letter to the
old home, to an only brother who still
occupied the ancestral residence. Among
other passages in that letter was this one :
Dear Brother, wonder that you are
not afraid to go to your bed at night in
Ireland This sentence manifested gross
ignorance as to the precise state of society
in Ireland. There is, it is true, great dis
order in the south of our island, but in
the north, throughout Ulster, we are per-
fectly quiet and well disposed. 1t is said
by those acquainted with the subject, that
this prosperity of the northern portion of
our island is mainly owing to the fact
that the inhabitants thereof are Presby-
terians. listers Presbyterianism has
contributed an immense deal to Ulster S
prosperity. So much has this been the
case that | would be disposed on saying
to the British Government, (that is pro-
vided they would hearken to my voice):
Ireland, plant score of Presbyterian
churches In each of the southern counties
hand them over to the care of a suffi-
Gent number of apostolic teaching and
ruling elders. Try this remedial meas
ure for five years, and if at the expiration
OF that period the country is not socially
and morally improved, why then drag
the island out into the middle of the At
lantlc and Just swamp it. Judging from
the past, if Presbyterianism wont i'm
prove it, it may be safely pronounced in
curable
Marwood Busy.
Marwood is England hangman in the
British Isles He has been doing smart
business latterly. Within the last six
weeks he has hanged six murderers
within the precincts of Galway goal.
One of these murderers, Miles Joyce, was
very reluctant to submit to Marwood s
operation. He is not alone in this re-
spect. However, he died protesting his
innocency But he is not the only muir
derer who has acted similarly. Here is
the dying declaration of James Barret,
one OF the two men who were executed
at Tralee yesterday morning, January
H1Vn' Ine CulprltS statement In writ
ing reads thus 81 solemnly declare be-
fore God and my Judge l did not mur-
der Brown. / had no hand in the mur-
der, and | don't know who did it. God
forgive those who swore away our lives.
forgive them, and l hope God will
forgive them Can it be possible this
man went into eternity with falsehood
on his lips2
Possible Explanation.
There is a haif-penny manual by the
Rev. Father Furniss, bearing Cardinal
Cullen's imprimatur, which is circulated
by hundreds of thousands among Irish
Roman Catholics both in Ireland and
England which throws light on the value
OF those protestations Of innocence on the
scafold, Of which we have lately heard
so much. Here is one passage: Re
member that in the moment when the
priest says over you the great words Of
pardon and absolution, your sins are for
given, the pains of hell are taken away.
your soul is made bright and beautiful