The Irish standard., 1907-04-13

disposed of for this purpose. The
claims of the English College at Douay
were rejected in 1924 by the Royal
Commission appointed for this purpose
and this refusal was held to ap-
ply to all similar institutions. The
Irish College was accordingly noti-
fed: His Majesty's most honorable
Privy Council affirmed the award of
rejection so made by the Commission
ers, on the express ground that such
establishments were to be considered
French, as not coming within the
spirit and meaning of the Convention.
In conformity with this principle l
have to notify you that the Commits
sioners have rejected the claims of the
English, Scotch and Irish Colleges es-
tablished at Paris, presented by you
as agent to the said establishments.
This rejection will be seen to have
| no force at the present day, when the
| reasons given for it are considered.
| The decision was made in 1924, be-
fore the passing of the Catholic Eman-
cipation Act, when the Penal Laws
were still in force and Catholic edu-
cational establishments were illegal
by British law. The Commissioners
stated: Their end and object were
not authorized by, and were directly
opposed to- British law, and the funds
dedicated to their maintenance were
employed for that purpose in France.
because they could not be employed
for that purpose in England" They
rejected the claims of institutions in
France formed "for purposes incon.
sistent with British laws" The Act
Of 1929 has surely entirely obviated
any force which could exist in this
objection.
An appeal was made to the Privy
Council, and the decision given by Sir
John Leach; Master of the Rolls, re-
afarmed in 1882 the rejection Of their
claims, on the new ground that the
French Government had at all times
exercised control over these estab-
lishments."
It will thus be seen that whereas
in 1890 the Assemble Rationale ex-
empted the Irish College from confis-
cation on the ground that it was the
property of British SUBJECTS: and in
1893 the Convention confiscated it as
the property of British subjects; yet
in 1925 and 1882 England refused to
acknowledge what France had twice
admitted.
The work of the College was carried
on successfully from this time onward
and many distinguished Irish eccle-
siastics were students there. In 1858
certain disciplinary difficulties arose,
and the Bishops Of Ireland, with the
sanction of the Sacred Congregation
of the Propaganda, decided to en-
trust the government of the College to
the Irish Vincentian Fathers, under
whose charge it has remained ever
since. In 1870, when Paris was be-
College remained closed for twelve
months. The rector, professors, and
students remained in Ireland The
rector. before leaving Paris, obtained
from Lord Lyons. the British Am
bassador. permission to hoist the Eng
lish flag. and thus place the College
under British protection. He also
agreed to allow the College to be
used as a hospital for wounded SOL
diers during the war. During the Com
mune insurrection which followed the
siege, the College was in great dan
ger. but the Communists were induced
to spare it as British property.
The claims of the Irish College to
an indemnity, which was rejected in
1882. were subsequently revived. In
1875 the motion to appoint Select
Committee of the Houses Of Parlia-
ment to inquire into the claims of tho
College by negatived by 116 votes
against 81. This was the last effort
made in support of the indemnity
claim.
! Among the distinguished living &C.
clesiastics who studied at the College
des 1rlandais may be mentioned Car
dinal Logue. who was Professor
Of Theology there from 1866 to 1874;
Most Rev. DR.. Mcsherry. vicar-Apos-
tolic Of Port Elizabeth. who entered
the, College in 1871; Most Rev. Denis
Kelly, Bishop of Ross, who entered in
1872; Rev. Thomas H. Kinane, PIP. v.
G., Dean Of Cashel; and Right Rev.
Monsignor. Daniel Keller. Dean or
Cloyne and parish priest Of Youghal,
who played notable part on historic
| occasions.
ExnanaivA Arithmetic