Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-20
AT FOUNDRY CHURCH.

AT FOUNDRY CHURCH.
Methodism and Temperance In Ireland Flo
quently Set Forth Last Night.
BISHOP NEWMAN PRESIDED AND EARNEST AND
| EFFEcrIvE ADDRESSES WE'RE MADE BY REV.
WA. NICHOLAS, Rev. wa. ARTHUR, DE. cRAw-
FORD IoHNsoS AND REV. NIB. ooRMAN.
| Foundry Church was crowded to the doors
last night and the galleries when Bishop John
p. Newman opened the meeting to discuss
Methodism and temperance in Ireland.
REV. WV. NICHOLAS.
The fret speaker was Rev. William Nicholas,
NJ. A.. d. d., who spoke Of Methodistical work
in Ireland TO some length.
"The people of Ireland" said DR.. Nicholas,
ARE naturally kind-hearted. intelligent and
witty. Anything say that may appear to be
| in disparagement of them is rather to be under
stood as condemnatory Of the moral and relig.
ious forces that control them than of them
selves. The overwhelming majority of the
inhabitants of Ireland are Roman Catholics.
They are sincere and earnest believers in their
church; therefore they are peculiarly under
the domination of their clergy. who claim the
power 70 rule over faith and morals-morals,
according to their church, covering the entire
life."
Dr. Nicholas explained that tie northeast Of
Irela nd was az much Protestant as any part OF
England or even any part OF this country. In
the southern portion, however the case Was
entirely differen. and Roman Catholicism pro-
vailed Both sections were Tndor the seL!e
government and the same Jaws but while the
north was marked by advance and progress the
south showed depiorabie Jack 'f enter prise:
The trouble. he concluded. could not be one OF
government. but was one OF morals. The speaker
then argued that the Roman church fos!ered q
spirit OF aseeticism not calculated to produce
progress.
REV. DIR. AaTHUR.
Dr. Arthur the nsxt speaker, said that he
was Irishman and he was glad OF it. Meth
odism in Ireland had nothing to depend upon
but the affections of the people. This, how
ever, was a solid foundation, and all it asked
for was protection. Protection from outrage.
Protection under the law. These things the
Methodists of Ireland demanded and these
things they would have.
The doctor also in an earnest and telling
manner related instances of the struggle OF
Methodism in Ireland He told of earnest min
listers preaching again and again when their
audiences numbered only one poor old man or
woman. Methodists the world over, said the
speaker. owed immense gratitude to Ireland
and Irishmen. On this continent, for instance,
the lamp had been lighted by their means.
The Irish vine had spread over the world and
the blessed fruit rested in all lands. said the eo
quent speaker, rs he earnestly begged that the
vine itself be not neglected, but that the pro-
lection Of law and order be extended to Meth
odisn il Ireland.
In Ireland he said the reins of the Roman
Catholic church were drawn more tightly on
the people each year. In the discussion of
popery in the council he had been glad Of two
things. There had been no denrnciation, such
a. had formerly otter occurred, and the re had
been no panic. no belief that Romanisn was
sweeping the earth. As q matter Of fact, said
II. Arthur. each census in Ireland and in Great
Britain showed proportionate decrease Of
Roman Catholics, ard although he did not
know whether the fact was generally known,
bu. the same was rue IN this country. H. both
countries, con.irue The speaker, the Roman
church forms itself into solid wedge. which is
driven between .wo parties, so that by giving
support to either one or the other some solid
advantage could be gained to the church.
with u.s." concluded DR.. Arthur. 'all that
can be done is 70 preach the Gospel, work on
and look up to God"
REV. CRAWFORD JOHNSON
Rev. Crawford johnson of Belfast spoke of
the Belfast missions. He explained that except
in the north Ireland was still nation Of vii
lagos. In that section. however, Capitalization
had set in and Belfast was becoming great
city: at the present rate 1000 houses being
built there each year. The population Of the
county had decreased, while the city had in
creased wonderfully The population was Prot
estant and afforded the one spot in Ireland for
progressive work.
Inc lack Of sabbath observance was the
great hindrance, said DR.. Johnson, who pro-
ceeded to describe u Sunday he had spent in
Toronto. where no tram cars were running, no
liquor stores open, but holy peaceful calm
rested on all things. Would to God there
IN Eabhath all the world "
said the doctor.
Speaking of the evils of intemperance, DIR.
johnson said there were 500 public houses in
Belfast and only eighty churches. Eight hum
bred openings to hell to eighty to heaven. 1t
had been asked, are there any white heather?
said the speaker. and replied that yes you
could find them in Belfast In that city there
were 50. 900 nominal Protestants who never at
tended church.
In speaking OF the efforts made to redeem
what the doctor styled the Baptized
Heather" he referred to the saying that the
Methodist church was the most intiexible
church in the world in saving souls, but the
most flexible in the methods used to do
In Belfast many methods had been tried.
The churches had tried without success and
finally a canvas tent had been erected and this
had succeeded. The class Of people they were
after came to this tent. Men in fustiap. women
without bonuets focked there and found that
holy peace which waits all men. Finally
large building was occupied which has been
crowded each night. In tact the great success
has been the difficulty. Hundreds have been
turned away each night.
The speaker was OF opinion that there were
great hopes for the conversion of the Roman
Catholics in Ireland. The country passing
through political crisis, which was no un-
Usual thing for that country; but this time,
said Dr. johnson, it was crisis OF crises, and
there was light ahead. An old woman had called
out to Frederick Douglass, when i'll a despond-
snt mood during the war: Frederick, il God
dead!' God not dead in Ireland, and
every thing was in his hands, said the orator.
The question at issue was the right Of the
people to exercise their own political beliefs.
There was a spirit Of independence abroad
among the peasants and this spirit Of political
independence, claimed the speaker, was surely
| leading to spirit OF religious independence.
The people already were claiming the right of
| individual judgment in things political and it
would follow that they would claim the same
| right in things spiritual.
DIR. Johnson said lac wanted Bibles for the
Irish people. He would distribute the Douay
Bible. There are practically 10 BibleG in Ire
land, said the speaker. There are none in the
chapels, none in the schools and none in tine
| homes The priest '"mselves are ignorant Of
| the Bible, said Dr.. son.
The hope Of Ireland was the Bible, said the
doctor, and in making the people familiar With
lis teachings. Ireland was religious nation,
! and if conversions could be carried on without
bitter controversy the people would respond.
| The Irish were not opposed to Christianity,
| said DIR. johnson. US he ended in an earnest ap-