The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-08-05
ENGLISH PRIEST TALKS ON IRE.
LAND BEFORE EXCLUSIVE
METROPOLITAN CLUB IN
NEW YORK.

Jurists, educators, bankers college
presidents and others high in various
| activities assembled at the Metropoli-
tan club in New York recently to at
tend dinner which was unusual
among club functions in that the guest
of honor was Jesuit priest, the Rev.
Father Henry j, Browne. S. j., profess
sor of Greek in the new National Uni
versity of Ireland, who is here to study
American methods of teaching the
classics.
The hosts at the dinner in honor OF
Father Browne were w. Bourke Coch-
ran, James Byrne, Justice Martin j.
keough, John Quinn and John d.
Ryan, president of the Anaconda Cop
per company.
Although there was preponder-
ance of Irish blood among the thirty
or more guests invited to meet the
distinguished British educator -
Father Browne was born in England
and took his masters degree at OK
ford, but for many years past has lived
and worked in Ireland-men descend.
ed from many nationalities and of
various religions were in attendance.
Father Browne in a brief address
after the dinner, spoke of the work of
the new National University of Ire
land and told of the establishment of
member of the faculty of the Uni
versity of Michigan upon learning
from Father Browne that not only
were women admitted freely to the
courses of the Dublin institution. but
are also faculty members and lectur-
ers and admitted to membership in
the Nationals university's senate, the
governing body. which has sole power
of appointment to the chairs of the
university, even the highest. II have
been for years a Home Ruler" said
Father Browne, after saying that he,
an Englishman born, hoped his
claims to speak before an Irish audi
ence on an Irish subject" would not
be considered impertinent. "One of
the strongest reasons for Home Rule
to my mind is that it will strengthen
the position of England as possessor
OF worldwide empire. Anyhow, you
are all here agreed that Ireland ought
to be and must be restored to her
position among the nations of the
earth.
Gentlemen, a nation which has con-
troll of its own higher education, |
mean not merely in science but such
matters as history, philosophy, morals
and religion, is not. cannot be, in a
national enslavement; and have said
that Home Rule in the political order
must logically and even necessarily
follow educational Home Rule such as
we have in the National university of
Ireland"
In view of recent mighty happen.
lngs in Dublin and the presence of
the dinner of many persons deeply
interested in Irish affairs, Father
| Browne said that the present moment
may appear hardly propitious for a
| calm review of academic matters, es-
pecially as to what regards Dublin, -
Nevertheless the guest of the evening
avoided military matters and touched
| upon things political only where thew
had to do directly with the work of
Irish education as it is progressing at
the National university.
| "The success of an Irish university .
ne sad, is by no means a question i'm
which there can be any conflict be
tween the interests of England and
Ireland. And ] desire to urge strongly
that i'll the settlement which has
been made of the university question
on lines acceptable to Catholic Ire
land we have an important install
ment OF Home Rule. We have, in
fact, already got through it what
call intellectual Home Rule"
The force that makes America
great, said Father Browne, is hel
great body of educated, and there
fore self-reliant, young men; and II
is that kind Of young men his uni
Versity is working to turn out tina,
they, too, may make for Erin's great
ness
The mission at Wilmington. N C.