the gentry who have studied at Trinity or at other colleges. It is especially different with a large proportion of the Irish Catholic bar, to whom we may look hopefully for resistance to the tyranny of Rome. The bar alone has organization and independence enough to maintain the struggle for civil and religious freedom. The alliance of the bar with the clergy gained Catholic emancipation and other triumphs. If there is to be a conflict between the Italian and the Irish Catholics, the strength of the bar will be on the patriotic side, and the independence of the Irish clergy as well as the laity may yet be secured.

CHAPTER XIII,

THE O'KEEFFE CASE,

The Callan Schools-Father O'Keeffe's Law Suits with his CuratesInterference of Cardinal Cullen-National School Board siding with Cardinal Cullen-Debate in Parliament-The Pope's Bulls overriding British Law.

HERE are few who have not heard of Father

THE

O'Keeffe, the parish priest of Callan, county Kilkenny. His case has been constantly cropping up in newspapers during the last two or three years, and had a night to itself in the British Parliament last session. There are probably few, however, in England who have given much heed to the case, most people being repelled by all Irish questions, even when of national importance, and this being apparently only a personal squabble between a Romish priest and his superiors in Church or State. Now, if my readers will give patient audience, I undertake to satisfy them that this case of Father O'Keeffe is one of the most notable events that have occurred for many a year in Irish history. If they examine it, they will

have the key to the whole mystery of Irish ecclesiastical politics, and understand thoroughly the position which the English Government now occupies in relation to the Church of Rome.

To understand the public aspect of the O'Keeffe case it is not necessary to go farther back than to his collision with the National Board, on the point of his position as school manager. But a glance at his previous history, and of the beginning of his conflict with Cardinal Cullen, will afford a most instructive view of the great questions now agitating the Roman Catholic Church-questions, the solution of which will influence the future history of Ireland. In this light the case has a far higher interest than any personal or political bearing.

Passing by his early education and his training at Maynooth, we find Robert O'Keeffe parish priest of his native town of Callan, to which he was appointed in 1863. He is of irreproachable character, zealous and faithful in the discharge of all his professional duties, and generally beloved by his fellow-townspeople. He has considerable literary reputation, and for about ten years filled the office of Professor of Science and Languages at St. Kyran's College, Kilkenny. He has always been an enthusiast in education, and he was in his element as manager of the National Schools in Callan. Of these there

were four when he came, and a fifth was established chiefly by his means and exertions.

His position as manager was not because officially he was parish priest, and so appointed by his bishop. In Roman Catholic districts the parish priest may be manager, but in many cases he is not, and often a Protestant landlord is the patron and his agent is the manager.

According to the rules of the Education Board, a patron is a person who applies in the first instance to place the school in connection with the board." He provides the schoolroom, appoints the manager and teachers, and after the school has been got into working order he asks for a salary for the teachers. If, on the report of the inspector, the applicant is found to be a person of good position in society, he is recognized as the patron in connection with the board. If the attendance of the children fails, or if any of the rules of the commissioners are not complied with, the grant may be withdrawn, or even the school may be struck off the list of the National Schools; but the offices of patron and manager, not having been appointed by the board, · cannot by the board be taken away. Take an example, the facts of which I know. The Earl of Bessborough has no fewer than eleven National Schools on his estate in Kilkenny county, and three

in county Carlow. Of all these fourteen schools Lord Bessborough is patron, and his agent is the manager. The children are mostly Catholics, and the teachers are Catholics, except at one school at Pilltown, where there are a considerable number of Protestants, and here the master and mistress are Protestants. But in not one of these wellconducted and well-attended schools is the parish priest the manager.

It is important to note this. The late resident commissioner, Mr. (now Sir A.) McDonnell, long ago pointed out, when the question arose in discussions about the National Schools, the nature of clerical managership. If a parish priest is appointed manager, it is because, as Mr. McDonnell expressed it, "he is supposed to represent the feeling of the people in the locality." It is as representing the locality, not as recognizing the Roman Catholic Church, any more than other and minor denominations in the place, that Mr. O'Keeffe held his appointment. The bishop of the diocese, or other ecclesiastical authorities, had nothing to do with it. The correspondence with the Education Office, Dublin, was carried on by Mr. O'Keeffe, and for many years he was the sole recognized manager of the Callan schools under the National Board.

There never was any charge made against Mr.