The Irish standard., 1899-04-22
guished save oie<r e \ ;ch shed
feeble light around. Vs> part
of the floor opened aa1,. so11. of
h1,cL oh;ac4e ,nnaa-ad " LII

feeble light around. NLs< part
of the floor opened an. eot>. of
black objects appeared al. ~ tled
along before the altar. The la !, de-
terinined to know the truth, caught one
OF these objects and put it in her pocl-
et When she got home she found it
to be large live crab, covered with
black velvet. One can judge what
state the popular mind was in when
yarns of this description were publicly
related and believed.
1t was at this time that Father
tom" Mcguire, parish priest OF Innis
magrath, came into collision with the
saints and won for himself the entl,u-
siastic gratitude and admiration of his
Catholic fellow countrymen. He was a
Maynooth student, and. though unas-
suming in manner, was, as the event
showed, an acute reasoner and a fin
ishcd scholar. One day in November,
1926, he made a speech at Catholic
meeting in the town OF Carrick-on-
Shannon, and in the course OF remarks,
took occasion to allude to the apostles
of the "New Reformation" His speech
was published in one OF the Dublin
papers and correspondence with the
Rev. MIR. Pope ensued, the result Of
which was that public discussion was
arranged to take place between them in
Dublin on the 10Th of April, 1927. The
excitement which prevailed was intense
The Catholic bishop disapproved of
the projected discussion, but did not
forbid it. Daniel O'Connell also dis
approved of the debate, though he con-
sented to act as one of the chairmen
MIR. Pope was an expert debater, a
graceful orator, and well versed in all
the current objections and misreprcsen,
tations OF Protestants. Father Tom"
was an inexperienced country parish
priest, whose people could not under
stand word OF the English language,
but he possessed more than the ordi-
nary amount OF Irish wit in addition
to his other gifts.
When the appointed day arrived all
Dublin was in fer1nent The hall where
the discussion was to take place was
crowded to suffocation. Lords and
ladies, lawyers and parsons, bishops and
their families, in short multitude OF
saints of both sexes attended to witness
the confusion OF Popery and the tri-
umph of the Protestant champion.
The Rev. Mr.. Pope began the pro-
ceedings, and his address sustained the
reputation he had so long enjoyed. Blu,
Father tom" was more than match
for him. Before the third day OF the
debate was closed Pope's most san
guine supporters gave up the contest
as hopeless and retired in despair. The
discussion, which began on Thursday,
April 10, ended the following Wednes-
day, to the great JOY of the faith
full who took the horses from the car
riage that was to convey Father TON"
to his hotel, and drew him in triumph
through the crowded streets of Dublin.
The city was Illuminated in the even
ing and similar displays were made il,
every city and town in Ireland.
The discontinue of the Protestant
champion proved the death-b!ow of the
"New Reformation" Father "Tom's"
triumph was complete. He was the
hero of the hour. His name was coupled
with Catholicity at every public dinner
and at every social board. The Catho-
| lie Association started subscription
for e'purpose OF presenting him with a
suitable piece OF plate. He was in
vited to a grand public banquet given
to commemorate his victory, and Dan
iel O'Conncll publicly avowed his own
determination to deal with the "bigots
at the bar" if the opportunity offered,
as the priest had dealt with the parson.
Father Toms" enemies were so pro-
foundly impressed by his capacity that,
according to statement publicly made
by him some months later, he was Of
fered thousand pounds in hand and
eight hundred pounds year, on condi-
ton Of his joining the Protestant
church.
But the sweetness of his triumph was
narred shortly after the publication OF
his book by the most awful trial that
can befall a priest. A conspiracy was
hatchcd against him in England, accus-
ing him of disgraceful crime. The
case was tried in Dublin, but he was
triumphantly acquitted, thanks to the
ability OF Daniel O'Conncl, who was
able to produce authentic documents
signed by the chief party i'll the con-
spiracy and TO procure sworn ac-
acknowledgement of the signature. O'Con-
nell's speech on that occasion lasted
three hours, and was the greatest effort
OF his life
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