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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 598, 23 April 1891, Page 2

Mr Stead (who is a Nonconformist), in the Paternoster Review, speaks thus of the Catholic clergy of Ireland“ I defy any man to go to Ireland and look at the rural districts, even through prejudiced spectacles, without coming to the conclusion that to-day, in that distracted land, the Catholic priest is an absolutely indispensable element of society, . , •

The Catholic Church alone remains erect in the midst of the Irish chaos. Its bishops in council are the nearest approach to an Irish Senate that is to be found in Ireland ; its priesthood constitute a more intelligent, respectable, and public-spirited body than the retinue of nominees who were decorated with the affix M.P. at the good pleasure of Mr Parnell. In the midst of insular parochialism, the clergy—many of whom have been educated in France, in Belgium, and in Rome —alone possess some trace of cosmopolitan culture. They are poor, but respected ; celibate, but free from breath of scandal; * myrmidons of Rome,’ but passionately patriotic. They represent in their parishes culture, discipline, and Christianity. Of course there are exceptions, but the Catholic priest is in most cases the tribune of the people, the universal friend, the trustee and trustworthy representative of the rights of the poor, the oppressed, and those who have no helper. . . . Take them all in all, they

are among the best men in Ireland.”