MALAYA
CATHOLIC LEADER,
SATURDAY,
THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF THE IRISH PRIMATE, OLIVER PLUNKETT.
7th S e p t e m b e r , 1935.
CALVERT ASSOCIATES ENTERTAINED.
A EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN MADAGASCAR.
T h e r e is in t h e United S t a t e s , of F i a n a r a n t soa, (Madagascar)— A m e r i c a a Society, called t h e By R E V . W . B . H A N N A N . All M a d a g a s c a r will p a r t i c i p a t e in | Calvert Associates, w h o keep green t h e m e m o r y of t h o s e Lords Balti- a g r a n d Eucharistic Congress in ( E x c e r p t s from Virgo P o t e n s ) . | m o r e whose family n a m e w a s Cal- October. T h e centre of events vert, a n d who m a d e in Maryland ! will be a t F i a n a r a n t s o a w h e r e t h e Many Catholics n o w a d a y s un- s p e n t in travelling from Dublin to t h e first experiment in religious ceremonies will be held October 9 der-estimate t h e g r a n d e u r of t h e London, so a t t h e stipulated t i m e , liberty. Some of t h e Associates t o 13. All t h e Bishops of Madasacrifice m a d e by I r i s h a n d E n - t h e witnesses for Dr. P l u n k e t t h a d recently went on p i l g r i m a g e t o glish m a r t y r s like Blessed Oliver not arrived. I t would have m a d e E n g l a n d and received hospitality g a s c a r , t o g e t h e r with a l a r g e numPlunkett a n d S a i n t s T h o m a s More no difference in t h e end, if his and a cordial welcome from m a n y ber of clergy a n d laity, will t a k e and J o h n F i s h e r . w i t n e s s e s h a d come, a s they would , h o s t s and societies. I p a r t in t h e celebrations, while : Catholics all over t h e island will Yet, i t w a s for such a sacred be derided, insulted a n d disbelievT h e y were received by t h e Arch- c a r r y o u t ceremonies in t h e i r own cause t h a t m a n y holy a n d noble ed. His d e a t h w a s alreay planned m a r t y r s died. Many m o r e wept in advance. T h e wretched w i t n e s s - ! bishop of W e s t m i n s t e r , Dr. Hin- local c h u r c h e s and chapels. in prison and b i t t e r e x i l e ; t h e es for t h e Crown a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e ! sley, who addressed t h e m a t This is t h e second E u c h a r i s t i c laity suffered confiscation of m e e k a n d holy P r i m a t e w a s t o length. | C o n g r e s s in M a d a g a s c a r ; t h e first r a i s e 70,000 p a p i s t s t o meet t h e j T h e leaders of t h e pilgrimage homes a n d possessions, a n d every w a s held last y e a r a t T a n n a n a r i v e . ! F r e n c h a t Carlingford Bay. ; were Rev. J a m e s Gillis, E d i t o r of class of Catholics endured degradI t s purpose, like t h a t of all such deT h e p r i s o n e r h a d nothing t o op- t h e 100 year old monthly, " T h e ing disabilities, abject poverty, and were forbidden b u t in a n alien pose t h e lying testimony, b u t h i s I Catholic World," a n d Mr. Michael m o n s t r a t i o n s , will be t o give Malaway to worship God. All t h i s h a p - solemn a n d absolute denial. H e ; Williams. Editor of t h e "Common- g a s y Catholics an o p p o r t u n i t y to affirm t h e i r faith in t h e Blessed pened m o r e or less down t o t h e m a d e an able d e f e n c e : b u t t h e j u r y j weal." granting of Catholic E m a n c i p a t i o n I only deliberated for fifteen minuU n d e r t h e auspices of t h e E u c h a r i s t . I t will also h a v e a s a | t e s to a r r i v e a t t h e verdict of : Catholic Council for International special a i m t h e f o r m a t i o n of a for penal centuries. | guilty, which t h e y were expected N a t i v e Clergy. Owing t o t h e During t h e reign of Charles II, I t o give. T h e trial w a s simply a ! Relations, there w a s a reception of s h o r t a g e of priests in Madagascar, a series of plots aroused P r o t e s - j judicial m u r d e r of Dr. P l u n k e t t . j t h e Calvert pilgrims a t t h e Breaktant h a t r e d , b u t t h e so-called Po- ; T h e n t h e Lord Chief Justice Pern- j speare Club. T h e pilgrims were people living in t h e r e m o t e d i s t r i c t s pish plot, w a s t h e most successful I berton, seemed to outdo t h e g r e a t - j on t h e i r w a y to Rome. T h e y came m u s t go without M a s s for long M a s s a c h u s e t t s , periods and t h e y do n o t h a v e t h e in its diabolic ends, b e i n g fostered I e s t p a r t i s a n s of a b r u t a l age in t h e j from California, by t h e arch-enemy of Catholicism. i s a v a g e r y of h i s sentence on t h e j New York, Ohio. Kentuckey, Con- o p p o r t u n i t y of a p p r o a c h i n g t h e H e emploved , gentle, innocent Archbishop of necticut, New J e r s e y , Pennsyl- S a c r a m e n t s frequently. A n u m e Lord S h a f t s b u r y . vania and Tennesse- Many of an a r m y of p e r j u r e r s like Titus i A r m a g h . Oliver Plunkett w a s t h e m w e r e distinguished profes- rous native clergy would remedy Oates t o e n t r a p his victims. i sentenced to d e a t h for his religion, sional m e n and women. T h e pil- t h i s situation, and hence priestly A f t e r Lord Stafford's d e a t h , he j a n d not for t h e foully concocted g r i m s intended t o visit Catholic vocations will be proposed t o t h e turned h i s a t t e n t i o n to Ireland, ! plot of Duffy, M u r p h y and McMo- s h r i n e s in F r a n c e , a n d Italy a n d people as t h e special object of their prayers at the Congress. The and fastened upon one whose in- I y e r . w e r e t o be received in special nocence w a s apparent t o friend j p a r e n t s also will be t a u g h t t o apT h e J u d g e said in t r u c u l e n t audience by t h e Pope. and foe. Two unfrocked clerics I voice a n d s n e e r i n g tones, "Look | p r e c i a t e t h e g r a n d e u r of t h e were secured to swear a w a y t h e !j v c u , Mr. P l u n k e t t , you have been j priesthood and t h e b e a u t y of havlife of Archbishop P l u n k e t t . of j| h e r e indicted of a very g r e a t tions in Catechism a r e being held ing a son a priest. T h e Confeall t h e Catholic schools, a n d t h e in A r m a g h , under t h e plea t h a t he j and heinous crime, t h e g r e a t e s t of j rences a t t h e Congress will be on was organising rebellion and t h e all crimes, a n d t h a t is high t r e a - ! t w o b e s t pupils of each diocese will " T h e H o s t . " T h e Holy M a s s , " and t o t h e Congress with all be s e n t murder of P r o t e s t a n t s . T h e gentle j: son. and t r u l y y o u r s is t r e a s o n of " T h e Priesthood." and saintly P r i m a t e led a s poor a I t h e h i g h e s t n a t u r e ; it is in t r u t h a j expenses paid. A crusade of p r a y e r s for t h e life as t h a t of h i s clergy, a n d his !• t r e a s o n a g a i n s t God a n d your A special Congress H y m n will be Eniscopal residence w a s a r e m o t e j selected from compositions sub- success of t h e Congress h a s been king, a n d t h e c o u n t r y w h e r e you I cabin. carried on t h r o u g h o u t t h e island m i t t e d by native poets and musici| lived. You h a v e done as m u c h a s ans. This h y m n , incidentally, for several weeks. D u r i n g L e n t Dr. P l u n k e t t was accused of you could to dishonour God in t h i s complicity in t h e plot, a n d on 6th jI c a s e ; for t h e bottom of your t r e a - m u s t be spirited a n d v i b r a n t if it is a l m s were g a t h e r e d t o m e e t t h e Competitive examinat o convey adequately t h e faith a n d expenses. December w a s imprisoned in t h e | son w a s , y o u r s e t t i n g u p your (Continued at foot of col. 3.) e n t h u s i a s m of t h e Malagasies. dungeon of Dublin Castle. H e w a s false religion, t h a n which t h e r e is brought t o Dundalk for t r i a l a t not a n y t h i n g m o r e displeasing to the s u m m e r Assizes of 1680, and Gcd, or m o r e pernicious t o m a n - I was charged with t r e a s o n . T h e kind in t h e world. A religion t h a t ; degraded clerics were afraid to is ten t i m e s worse t h a n all t h e face even t h e P r o t e s t a n t j u r y , and j h e a t h e n i s h Q C E - P O I T l P E m n superstitions, the the P r i m a t e w a s sent back t o his j m o s t dishonourable and derogadunsreon. He petitioned t o be tried t o r y to God a n d His glory, of all m f i T R O i L . m at t h e K i n g ' s Bench in Dublin, b u t ! religions or pretended religions, another course w a s resolved on j w h a t s o e v e r , for i t u n d e r t a k e s t o with h i m . H e w a s t h e n carried t o i dispense w i t h God's laws, a n d to [j London, a n d cast into t h e closest pardon t h e b r e a c h e s of t h e m : so ! confinement in t h e Tower, w i t h o u t t h a t certainly a g r e a t e r crime writing material, or t h e power of t h e r e c a n n o t be committed a g a i n s t | communicating w i t h h i s friends. God t h a n f o r a m a n to endeavour In 1681 a Bill of I n d i c t m e n t w a s t h e p r o p a g a t i o n of t h a t religion; sent un a g a i n s t him before a pack- b u t you t o effect t h i s , have designed Middlesex J u r y . ed t h e d e a t h of your lawful prince Some lewd Irish p r i e s t s , and a n d king, a n d t h e n your design of others of t h a t nation, heariner t h a t blood in t h e kingdom w h e r e you England w a s a t t h a t t i m e dispos- lived, t o s e t all t o g e t h e r by t h e ed to hearken t o good s w e a r e r s , j e a r s , t o d e s t r o y poor innocent peothought themselves well qualified ' ple, t o p r o s t i t u t e t h e i r lives and j for t h e e m p l o y m e n t ; so t h e y came j liberties, a n d all t h a t is d e a r to to swear t h a t t h e r e w a s a g r e a t | t h e m , t o t h e t y r a n n y of Rome and plot in Ireland t o b r i n g over a F r a n c e , a n d by introducing a French a r m y a n d t o m a s s a c r e all [ F r e n c h a r m y , w h a t a g r e a t e r evil the English. T h e w i t n e s s e s were can be designed by a n y m a n ? " brutal and profligate m e n ; t h e y j were examined b y t h e P a r l i a m e n t A r c h b i s h o p P l u n k e t t w a s senat W e s t m i n s t e r , a n d w h a t t h e y tenced t o a shameful d e a t h and said w a s believed. T h e witnesses executed on 1st July, after t h e E a r l appeared before upon a bill offered of E s s e x , a f o r m e r Lord Lieuteto t h e g r a n d j u r y ; b u t t h e y con- n a n t , solicited in vain his pardon tradicted each o t h e r so evidently, from K i n g . H e asserted from his that t h e y could not find t h e bill. own knowledge of Dr. P l u n k e t t In t h e E a s t e r T e r m of 1681. t h a t w h a t w a s s w o r n a g a i n s t h i m notwithstanding t h e p e r j u r y of t h e could n o t b e t r u e . T h e K i n g inwitnesses, t h e A r c h b i s h o p w a s a r - d i g n a n t l y r e p l i e d : raigned for high t r e a s o n . T h e " T h e n , m y Lord, be his blood on Archbishop asked for t i m e t o y o u r own conscience, you m i g h t bring witnesses, a n d t h e y gave h a v e saved h i m if you would; I him five weeks, w h i c h w a s not I cannot pardon him, because I dare enough time, considering t h e I not." T h e p u r e blood of t h e Saintwretched roads, c h a n c e convey- j ly P r i m a t e of Ireland was t h e last ances, and often c o n t r a r y winds Warfrt Studios. {Continued on page 19 col. 4.) ^'hich often caused weeks to be ;
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