Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-09-06
EPISCOPAL
Clergyman Reports Steadily Increas-
ing Support For the Irish
Republic.
Rev. James Grattan Mythen Says
Religious Issue Nothing
But Trick.
Frequently Invited to State Ireland's
Cause From Protestant
Pulpits.
PRESBYTERIAN is "A PLEADER,


Steadily increasing support for the
cause of the Irish republic among
Americans of all creeds and classes
is reported by the Rev. James
Grattan Mythen, an .Episcopalian
clergyman who has recently COM
pleted several speaking tours in the
interest of Irish freedom. "The
outstanding impressions / received, .
said Dr. Mythen, ARE, first, that
it is sound American doctrine to
demand the application of the
principle of self-determfnation to
nations held in unwilling subsection
by our associates in the late war
as we'll as to peoples formerly en-
shaved by the Central Empires; and
second, that the theory of the Irish
question as a religious issue is re-
ceiving it's death blow at the hands
LOT American Protestantsl"
DR.. Mythen lis assistant minister
of Christ Episcopal church, Nor
folk, Va, and minister in charge OF
the Community church, undenomina-
tional at Baltimore, where he has
the largest congregation in the coun-
try. Volunteering as a chaplain
when America entered the war, he
saw service abroad till the armistice
was signed He is a powerful orator,
and his statement of Ireland's case
before the Irish race convention in
Philadelphia on Washington's birth
day electrified his audience, includ-
ing Cardinal Gibbons and many
other Catholic dignitaries. His
recent itinerary carried him through
dozen Western States as we'll as
New England, New York and Penn
sylvania, and everywhere he reports
'whole-hearted enthusiasm for the
Irish cause among Americans who
are not of Irish blood. and very
notably among strongly Protestant
sections. Ministers warmly second
ed his advocacy of the application o.
Americas war aims to Ireland, anC
the only exception to this rule wal
found to be an unnaturaiizet
British subject.
1.-THE so-called religious issue il
Ireland" said DR.. Mythen, III
nothing but a common political tricl
i by which English militarism seek
to justify its rule of might in tina
| country. IL diilS W SUN uiooCuoioi
among a naturally tolerant an'
amiable people, and to exaggerat
that dissention a hundred-fold II
the eyes of Americans. Yet tn
masses of Catholic Irishmen hav
repeatedly followed Protestant lead
ers like Dean Swift, Henry GTattan
IWolfe Tone, Robert Emmett an
Charles Stewart Parneil, while o.
the other hand the last election
proved that Professionals give equa
confidence to Catholic leaders 4
patriotic matters, as many Sin
Fein candidates who happened to b
Catholics were elected by Ulste
constituencies with large Protestan
populations.
1.-THE common sense of American
refuses longer to be confused by thi
injection of fictitious religion
character into what is purely figh
for national rights such as we wen
Ito war to vindicate. In the Wester
States 1 was frequently invited I
state Ireland's cause from Protestan
pulpits. But is was in New HamI
| shire that found the most remark
able evidences of American opinio
on the Irish question transcendin
sectarian lines. Speaking recent
at Portsmouth. Dover, Mancheste
and Concord, had ministers Q
several denominations in every meet