s.

"I confess I am at a loss to understand how Mr. Parnell's Arrears
Act would have improved matters or have averted what one of your
contemporaries calls a "painful scandal."--I am, Sirs, yours, &c.,

"D. TODD-THORNTON, J.P., Land Agent.

"Glenbehy, Killarney."

NOTE G.

HOME RULE AND PROTESTANTISM.

(Vol. ii. p. 68.)

I fear that all the "Nationalist" clergy in Ireland are not as careful
as Father Keller to avoid giving occasion for this impression that Irish
autonomy would be followed by a persecution of the Protestants. But a
little more than three years ago, for example, the following circular
was issued by the Bishop of Ossory, and affixed to the door of the
churches in his diocese. Who can wonder that it should have been
regarded by Protestants in that diocese as a direct stirring up of
bitter religious animosities against them? Or that, emanating directly
as it did from a bishop of the Church, it should be represented as
emanating indirectly from the Head of the Church himself at Rome?

"_Kilkenny, April 16th, 1885._

"REV. DEAR SIR,--May I ask you to read the following circular for
the people at each of the Masses on Sunday, 19th April?

"The course to be adopted for the future by the Priest of the Parish
to whom notice of a Mixed Marriage is given by the Minister, or the
Registrar, is as follows:--he makes the following entry on the book
of Parochial announcements, and reads it three consecutive Sundays
from the Altar:--

"'The Priests of the Parish have received the following notice of a
marriage to be celebrated between a Catholic and a Protestant. [Here
read Registrar's notice in full.] We have now to inform you that the
law of the Catholic Church regarding such marriages is: that the
Catholic party contracting marriage before a Registrar or other
unauthorised person is, by the very fact of so doing,
Excommunicated; and the witnesses to such marriage are also
Excommunicated.'

"I should be very much obliged if, as occasion may require, you
would explain the effects of this Excommunication from the Altar.

"You will please take notice that the Registrar or Minister is bound
legally to send the notice of marriage referred to above, and also,
that in reading it out _in the form, and with the accompanying
remarks above_, you incur no legal penalty.

"I feel sure that with your ac