The Irish standard., 1890-03-01
PRO r'ESTANT HOME RULERS.
Tie Protestant Home Rule Association
Meets in Dublin and Holds an 4
Important Session. n
REV. MATTHEW kERR'S ADDRESS.

REV. MATTHEW KERR'S ADDRESS
The Well Know Presbyterian Minister q
| Cork Delivers an Address on Pro- Y.
| testants and Home Rule" .
On Tuesday evening, Jan. 2s, a public
meeting of the members Of the Protes-
tant Home Rule Association was held
at the Ancient Concert rooms, Great
Brunswick street, Dublin, to hear an
address from the Rev. Matthew Kerr,
PRESBYTERIAN minister, Cork, on the
subject. "What Irish PrOtestants will
gain by Home Rule" The meeting
was very largely attended, and the Rev.
Mr.. Kerr IT ceived q most enthusiastic
greeting. On the motion OF Mr.. c.. Ell.
Oldham. Mr. William Hargrave. M. "A
was moved to the chair.
The chairman said - Mr.. Kerr had the
advantage OF being an FISHERMAN by
birth and education, he had lived in the
West of Ireland. and he had also spent
considerable time in Tjpperary Cloud
cheers After that Mr.. Kerr lived in
Cork, so that he had had experience OF
pretty nearly all the country. and as the
resul of that experience he was thor
oughly convince that Protestants had
a great deal to gain by Home Rule
| (applause) 1t would, he thought, help
| their friends very much and strengthen
their hands If they heard that the Pro
testant Home Rulers Of Dublin had
been holding meeting like that "a
| thoroughly appreciative and enthusias
tic meeting, on the subject of what
! Irish Protestants would gain by Home
Rule. and still more to hear that that
meeting was addressed by co-religiun-
| ist Of theirs. a Presbyterian minister
(aDplause). They would see more thar,
ever what a sound case they had. not
only from q political point OF view, but
from the specially Protestant point of
view also; and he thought that meeting
ought to send a message to their friends
in Partick in the shape of friendly
greeting, showing what they, as Pro-
testants, really thought of Home Rule.
and conveying their very best wishes
for the success Of their friends in Par
tick (applause).
MR.. KERRS ADDRESS.
The Rev. Mr.. Kerr. who was received
with loud applause, said he was begin
! ing to think he was back again in grand
old Tlpperary from the cheering that
he heard (applause). His subject, as
the chairman had told them, was very
practical one at the present moment
It was ''What Irish Protestants will
gain by Home Rule?'' OF course they
assumed that Home Rule was coming
(cheers). He certainly would not have
selected this subject if he had not with
very strong assurance believed not only
was it coming but that it was not verv
far off (applause. He used the word
Protestant in its widest sense, as en-
bracing all in this land who did not be
long to the Roman Catholic Church,
and let him say here, If any Catholic
friends were present, that he had always
had nc difficulty in being in friendly
relations with them (applause). All his
life he had had no truer friends than
the Catholics among whom he lived
(cheers) Let him say then. if any of
their Catholic friends were there. that
he was not only Protestant by birth
and education bat by deep conviction,
and it was his earnest desire that Pro
testantism in Ireland. in future, should
take its true place, and bear it's share
in the sacrifices that had to be made for
Ireland. that it might be entitled to
bear its share in the honors when the
Eight was won (applause).
TIE FIGHT NEARLY OVER.
He felt assured that the fight was nearly
over, and thev were met that night to
try aud strengthen the resolutions of
timid people whose convictions were
forming. but were not vet fully formed.
They wanted to show these people that
they in Ireland felt that when Home
Rule came PrOtestants would be the
gamers, and not the losers (cheers).
They wanted, to use very homely FRO
verb. to help lame dogs over the stile,
and to take. in q kindly way. by the
hand those who just saw as clearly as
they did that the inevitable was coming.
but who had resisted so long and stoutly
that they felt it difficult thing to
change their coat in a day (laughter).
They wanted to give these people q
decent excuse for trimming their sails
to the rising breeze (lauRhter and
cheers.
PEACEMAKERS. @EHs
He had no doubt hard things would be
said of his standing on that platform
and taking part in that earnest meet.
Ing; blts sto lhis friend dsa N ho say
tl,e lard l lo