O'Driscol's Views of Ireland* 631 



ScIjooIs, upon tlie plan contended for, church of Rome un(kr Adrian, in tlie 



wotiW be strictly Roman Catliolic schools, twelfth, were different cliurchcs. 

 and they would become an abuse as 'J'lic church founded by Patrick in 



crying as the Protestant charter-schools. Ireland was truly national, apostolical. 



We would assert the rights of the state, and independent ; it existed about eight 



and the rights of every class and indi- liimdred years, commencing with tiie 



yidual in the community, in the general mission of Patrick, and terminating witii 



interest of tho whole. Nothing concerns the invasion of Henry II. To put an 



this interest so nearly as tiie education end to this churcii required the presence 



of the peoi)le. It is a false and foolish, of a foreign army, and a potent invader, 



and may be a fatal liberality, which and the address and cunning of a prac- 



would surrender this great question into tised intriguer; the boldness and power 



tiic hands of any corporation. of Henry, and the fraud and falsehood 



FUTURE PROSPECT. of Adrian: to build it up, required only 



The church of Rome in Ireland is in the individual zeal and devotedncss of 



possession of all that the establishment Patrick, and the force of truth. The 



wantSj — the people and their strong national church of Ireland fell before 



affections. But the faithfulness of the 

 people was, of old, partly political and 

 national, and their affections had cm- 

 braced the church as the partner of 



the united power of England and 

 Rome : these accomplices afterwards 

 quarrelled, and have since been con- 

 tending for the prey, which in those 



their sufferings and humiliation. The days of their fellowship they had sue- 

 long wars of Ireland had left the conn- ceedcd to entrap. 



try poor, and the people ignorant. But 

 a new scene is opening to this church 

 also. Knowledge is making a raj>id 

 pntgress, and already its career 



COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. 



The college of Maynooth rose out of 

 the changes brought about by the 

 French revolution. The war drove the 



beyond control. A wise and good go- Catliolic students from the colleges of 



vernment, and the fading-away of parly the Continent. The Roman Catholic 



distinctions, will lead the peojilc toother bishops proposed to provide a domestic 



associations; they will learn to value education for the youth intended for the 



their church for what it is, not for what church of Rome in Ireland. Govern- 



it has suffered. mcnt fell in wiih these views, and the 



ST. PATRicic. collegeof Maynooth was founded. This 



A question has been raised, whether was a great novelty in Ireland. Great 



Patrick had any existence beyond a advantages, however, were expected to 



name ? Some men have doubted the be derived from it. 



testimony of the best authenticated his- The youth educated here, free from 



tory, and some the evidence of their, all foreign prejudice against Britain, 



senses. But we have satisfactory proof and all external taint of disloyalty, were 



of the existence of St. Patrick. On to go ibrth the best of subjects; full of 



the other side, we have only the unsup- gratitude towards the state, and rever- 



portcd speculations of ingenious men, ence lor state authorities. The Catholic 



which we are bound to reject. St. priesthood from henceforth, if not preach- 



Patrick had several predecessors, who ers of the Gospel, were certain at least 



liad pre|)ared the way for his preaching of being zealous ajwstles of loyalty and 



in Ireland. He appears to have reduced obedience to the laws. We do not 



the whole island into obedience to tho mean to say that this did not take place; 



Gospel : how this was accomplished, — but wc arc certain that it did not to the 



the difficulties ho had to overcome, or extent which was anticipated, 



the means he employed, wc arc unac- father o'leary. 



quainted with; wc know little more Those who know the celebrated 



than his success. " Father OTiCary" may have some 



Patrick is said to have received ordi- 

 nation from Cclcslinv, bi.sho]) of lionie; 

 but he (Iocs not apjiear to have consi- 

 dered this circumstance as at all all'ect- 



idca of this character. There were 

 many of these excellent men more 

 )iolished, none more amiaible : gay, kind, 

 learned, pious, faithful to his sovereign. 



ing his free agency as a minister of tho and attached to the constitution, he dc- 

 Gospel. Nor did Cclestine attempt to voted his jjowerful talents to fix the nn- 

 erect, upon this foundation, any claim to settled foundations of society in Ire- 

 dominion or authority over the church of land. The name he had made, and the 

 Ireland, 'i'hc church of Home under inllucnce ho had acrpiired, were cni- 

 Celc8tine,iu the fourth century, and the ployed to shield his country from the 



desolation 



