The Irish standard., 1908-08-22
The IRISH PRIESTHOOD.

AeSolo-11eFdlo are receiving W1de
commentator from h-Americans
fer the articles written by him and
appearing in that paper from time to
time. on different phases Of the Irish
question. The article appearing on
last Tuesday. on the influence Of Irish
priests upon their congregations, is
one Of the most instructive and inter-
estinx which has thus far been pub
lished. 1t is stock charge for those
unfriendly to Ireland and its people to
say that Ireland is priest ridden:
that its politics, its social affairs and
its industries are crippled because Of
the influence Of the priesthood. It has
also been asserted that the poor peas
antry Of Ireland is robbed for the pur-
pose Of building large and costly
churches. Mr.. Curtis observation 10
the direct opposite and his description
of the relation Of the Irish priesthood
to the Irish people is a pleasant picture
for those who trace their ancestry
back to Ireland and who confess allie
glance to the Mother Church.
Religion" he says, lis live thing
III Ireland and the Roman Catholic
churches are always filled to over
flowing at every service, with as many
men as women. which is unusual in
other countries. In Ireland the situa-
ton seems to be different, and the
congregations are invariably composed
about equally Of the two sexes. The
church Of Ireland is comparatively
weak in numbers and has more houses
of worship than 1t needs and inherit
ed many Of them from the confiscation
edtcts Of the English kings. Natural
~ they are not so we'll filled, but the
Roman Catholics are compelled to
have three or four services every Sun
day in order to accommodate the wor-
shippers. and the priest is invariably
the most influential man in the parish.
He enters directly into the life Of the
parishioners. The parish boundaries
are sharply defined and his Jurisdiction
is SO we'll defined that he knows all
the sheep and all the goats that belong
to his flock. over whom he exercises a
parental as we'll as spiritual care.
They come to him In all their troubles
and in their Joys. He advises them
IT,
mestic and personal, as well, as spirit
ual affairs. and is the court Of highest
resort in all disputes and family mat
tiers. No other authority reaches so
far or is rooted so deep in the comnu-
nifty. and this peculiar relation grows
closer with years.. 1t is not custo-
mary in Ireland for priests to change
parishes. They usually begin WORT
as curates or assistants to the parish
priest when they first come out Of
Maynooth or some other theological
seminary and remain there all the rest
OF their lives. being promoted upon
the death of their superior. Therefore.
they grow up with the people and the
attachment as we'll as the understand
ing is mutual
Il have formed very high opinion
OF the Irish priesthood from the exam
pies have been able to meet and to
know. They have impressed me as an
unusually high class of men intel
lectually as we'll as spiritually, and
everyone must admire their devotion,
their sincerity and their self sacrifice
Some Of them naturally become dicta-
torial. for 1t is often necessary for
them to assume an air Of authority to
preserve discipline in their parishes.
hut I think that is more or less the
rule in other countries and in all de-
Judge. or a school teacher, or par
son. And that is undoubtedly the
ground for the charge so frequently
made, that Ireland is priest ridden"
but the average Of intelligence. Gull
ture and efficiency among the Irish
priesthood is probably higher than it
is in any other country and their in
fuence is correspondinsly great"
That is certainly a strong apprecia-
ton Of the character and work of the
Irish priesthood. coming from a dis :.
interested source. Probably no other
reason is so often assigned for the
failure Of the Irish people to succeed.
commercially and politically. as the
assertion that Ireland is priest rid
den" Apparently ireland is priest
ridden" in the sense that the priest
hood Of Ireland exercises such a pow
erful influence upon the people. 1t is
to be noted that this influence is due
to the high character. the devotion AMI
the self-sacrifice Of the priests: that
the advice of the priest on matters
outside Of spiritual affairs is volun-
tarily sought after nv the people and