The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-02-13
IRISH BISHOPS
lesue q Statement on the Language
Movement.

lesue q statement on the Language
Movement.
A meeting of tho Episcopal Standing
Committee was held on Jan. ~, at Uni
versity College. Stephens Green. Dub.
lin. There were present His Bninencc
Cardinal Logue Tin the chair). His
Grace the Archbishop Of Dublin. His
Grace the Archbishop Of Cashel, the
Bishops OF Raphoe, Kildare, Clonfert.
Waterford, and Cloyne.
The Standing Committee unanimous
ly resolved to issue for publication the
following statement
AS this is the nret meeting Of tho
Standing Committee Of the Irish Bish-
ops since the Charters Of the National
University and Of it's Constituent Col
lege have been issued, we avail oul =
selves Of the occasion to express tho
profound interest that we feel in the
very important work which the Stetu-
tory Commission, tho Senate. and the
Governing Bodies Of the Colleges have
taken In hand.
We entertain no doubt whatever tret
TO matter how slender the resources
Of Irish Catholics may be- means will
he Forthcoming to enable the students
of the college to have from the out
set the advantage Of the highest educa-
fan, a., %r,, 10 t~(a 80
the necessary faculties OF the practice
of divine worship. A college destituve
Of such spiritual provision as this
would be utterly out Of keeping with
the sacrifices Of ireland for tho Faith,
and quite devoid Of any claim On the
confidence Of tho Episcopate. IT must,
therefore. be our endeavor to secure
the means Of providing for religion as
worthily as may be, and in such man
ner as will be altogether acceptable,
under the Universities Act Of 1903.
Tho framing Of the curriculum is the
business of the Senate, and, with al!
our concern for the young life Of tho
new University. we should not allud..
to the course OF studies, or to che pro-
gram of examinations, did we not
notice with deep pain that the SENATE
Is receiving in the columns of the pub
lie press treatment which is neither
creditable nor serviceable to the nation
Whether 1t be good for tn, Irlyh
language movement, and good for the
rev University, to make Irish comp,,l-
sorry, is a question for fair argument.
For our part. We look forward to the
Gay when the Irish language will again
b. spoken throughout the country and
will, in consequence, become largely
tho medium Of instruction In the Con-
stituent Colleges. But TO reach that
stage we consider that by far the best
means is to set up in the colleges
bright centres of Gaelic study, that
will, by their light and by thor re-
wards, attract young Irishmen within
the sphere of their Irish influence. Tho
progress of Irish in our seminarles and
in numbers OF the Intermediate schools
Of the country, so far from what the
voluntary system, under our constant
encouragement, has hitherto done, and
what no doubt, It will do still more
successfully in the Colleges OF the new
University.
1t Is quite possible that in existing
compulsion, instead of be-
Ing a. help, would be hindrancc. t.
the language movement. 1t certainly
would drive away from the University
not few students who. II once brought
under the influence Of the Gaelic
school Of Constituent College, would
grow up good lrishmen.
Entertaining these views, AMI deep
~ concerned alike for the revival Of
our national language and for the sue
cess of the National University, we
deem IT. right to put them on record
for the information Of our people.
Michael Cardinal Logue,
Chairman.
Richard Alphonsus,
Bishop Of WAssrfofd and Lsmore.