The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-18
THE IRISH PRESBYTERIANS.
What the Presbyterian Church of Ire
land Thinks of Home Rule.
Resolutions Declaring Against the Institution
Of a Separate Parlament-A Business
Address by Mr. Thomas Sinclair.

Address by Mr. Thomas Sinclair.
The Belfast Daily Wing, of March 49, contains
full report of the proceedings of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland.
with respect to the question of home rule. The
following resolutions were reported from COM
mittee and supported in speech by Mr.. Thomas
Sinclair, formerly of Indianapolis, which we give
as indicating how the people on the ground re-
gard the question of home rule:
"The General Assembly Of the Presbyterian
Church In Ireland, representing nearly half a
million OF people having met at Belfast this 9th
day OF March, 1886, to take into consideration
the present serious state of the country and the
duty OF the General Assembly in relation thereto,
after due deliberation resolve
Il FRAT we declare anew our devoted 10y
atty to the person and throne of her gracious
Majesty Queen Victoria.
~ That we greatly deplore the disturbed and
lawless state of many parts of the country, the
serious interference with personal freedom OF
action, and the insecurity which prevails re-
CARDS life and property, and pledge ourselves
to give our loyal support to the executive in the
efficient maintenance of the authority of the
crown, In the administration of the law with
impartiality and frmuess, and in the suppress
sion OF al lawlessness and disorder.
ID That. recognizing in the unsatisfactory
Stat0 "a tLo IanO question q fruitful source Oh
the unrest and discomfort that abound and
sympathizng deeply, as we do with those classes
OF our fellow-countrymen who have suffered so
much through the prevailing depression, we are
strongly OF opinion that the permanent settle
ment of the land question will be best secured
by wise and comprehensive measure which,
while dealing equitably with the interests Of all
parties concerned, shall give material relief to
the agricultural classes from their heavy bur-
dens oy the creation of an occupying ownership
involving a substantial reduction in their annu-
al payments, or by such other measures as Par
lament, In its wisdom, may devise.
Il. That we would deprecate in the strongest
manner, as disastrous to the best interests OF
the country, separate Parliament for Ireland
or an elective national council or any legislation
tending to imperl the legislative union between
Great Britain and Ireland, or to Interfere with
the unity and the supremacy of the imperial
Parliament Legislation in any of these direc-
tons would, in our judgment lead to the ascen-
dency Of one class and creed in matters pertain
ing to religion, education and civil administra-
ton. We do not believe that any guarantees.
moral or material. could be devised which would
safeguard the rights and privileges OF minorities
scattered throughout Ireland against the en-
croachmenr OF a majority vested with legislative
or executive functions AS law abiding and in
dustrious subjects of her gracious Majesty. and
having in some degree contributed to the peace
and prosperity of the country, we claim that our
present relation to the present Parliament shall
be maintained, believing that in this way alone
can the liberty of the subject in the discharge of
civil and social duties be properly Sc
ctred. We are also of opinion that
under separate Parliament the present system
of non sectarian national education, which
cures equal rights and privileges to all, ire
spective of creed which provides adequate safe
guards against proselytism, and which has con
ferred signal benefits on the country, would, in
all probability, be supplanted by denomina-
tional system, under which the young Of any de-
nomination residing in district where they
formed small minority of the population would
be deprived of all education, except on terms
opposed to their conscientious convictions, while
a system of concurrent endowment In q most
Objectionable form would be introduced in con-
travention of the policy that in recent times
received the sanction of the legislature. Whilst
acknowledging that great section of the Irish
people have in the past suffered many and griev-
Gus wrongs. we believe there are no grievances
removable by legislation which cannot be re-
moved by the imperial Parliament, while the
establishment of a separate Parliament for ire
land would most seriously aggravate many exist
ing evils, and would produce other evils greater
than at present exist
10. Being persuaded that the religion of
Christ is best adapted to promote that spirit of
brotherhood so much needed in our native land,
the assembly earnestly exhort their ministers to
give increased diligence in instructing their peo
pie in the principles of the gospel of peace and
they unite in the earnest prayer that the fear Of
God, the love of Righteousness and mutual for
bearance and good will may pervade and govern
all classes of the population.
So That the foregoing resolutions be trans
mtted by the moderator and clerk to the Prime
Minister, the Lord lieutenant, the Chief Secre
tary for Ireland. the Marquis of Salisbury, and
the Marquis of Harrington, and that commit
tee Of assembly be appointed to watch over this
subject, and take such action the course of
events, IN their judgment may require"
Mr.. sINcLAIR's SPEECH
lnfin hiahh nod haa 1hr.tt kaIe sxv
nished the answer of that General Assembly to
the request for information which had been
made by the Prime Minister of the country on
behalf of all persons interested on the great
He@was sure they were all agreed that tho Pres
byterian Church had pre-eminent right to
speak upon those questions; she had always pre-
served in Ireland a distinctive position, removed
the extremes of either side; she had ever exer
cised moderatinc influence which had been of
the highest benefit to the best interests of the
country. She had always shown the truest ap
probation of the rights of the Irish people and
of the wants of Ireland, and had always been
careful to avoid that spirit of ascendency which
for centuries had been barrier. to
the progress of true religion in this
country. They who were Presby terians
could not forget that, in common with their Ro-
man Catholic fellow countrymen, they had been
the victims of penal laws that they with them
had sought for redress, that they helping the
Presbyterians and the Presby terians helping
them, these penal laws were removed forever
from the statute book. Therefore, in crisis
like the present they would claim to speak, and
in speaking secure the sympathy of those who,
though differing from them in religion, were ors
with them in that they were Irishmen, and one
with them in that they were ellow-suferers in
the injustice of past centuries. The first resolu
ton was resolution of loyalty to the crown 1t
was said that the religion of the Bible was the
religion of Professionals; certainly it was the re-
ligion of Presby terians. and they read in the
Bible as one OF the great duties laid upon Chris
tian men that they should fear God and honor
the king. Therefore loyalty was with them
matter of conscience; that under the benefcent
reign 10 which they lived it was matter not
merely Of conscience, but a matter of affection,
for in whatever capacity they regarded the
career and conduct of the Queen-whether as
the truest constitutional sovereign who has ever
lived or whether as one who by her constant
acts of sympathy with the people had proved