Impartial Reporter. 19-2-1885. Great Rejoicings in Dowra. On Wednesday, 11th inst., at Dowra, a most extraordinary case came up for hearing at the petty sessions court. Mr, R. H. Johnston, of Bawnboy, one of the local magistrates, summoned Mr. Henry C. Cullen, Ivy Lodge, Dowra, another local magistrates, for trespass in pursuit of game on the property of the Countess of Morley.

Mr. Moloney, R.M., Sligo, was in the chair. The trial, which lasted for upwards of three hours, resulted in a complete victory for Mr. Cullen, the case having been dismissed on the merits. On the decision being announced, the court, which had been thronged to suffocation, became almost empty, and on getting outside the enthusiasm of the people knew no bounds. Mr. Cullen, on seeing how matters stood, told the people that any display tending to wound the feelings of any man would be contrary to his wishes, upon hearing which they (always guided by his advice) quietly dispersed.

During the evening it became known that Mr. Cullen, who left town immediately after the trial terminated, had returned. The people once more assembled, and Mr. Cullen, who most reluctantly consented, was carried in an armchair upon stalwart shoulders at the head of a torch-light procession, accompanied by the Ballinagleragh fife and drum band to his residence about a mile from town.

The warmhearted men lustily cheered Mr. Cullen along the route, and at Ivy Lodge gave three cheers for his kind lady. Mr. Cullen is deservedly beloved by a people among whom he was reared and for whose welfare he incessantly laboured. He is about leaving this locality and a people by whom he is deeply revered and they take this opportunity of expressing their regret at his departure, because of his love of justice and fair play.—Communicated.

19-2-1885. Opening of Belleek Parish Church. On Tuesday, Belleek parish church which had been closed for some time, and was lately renovated and rescued from decay, was opened for divine worship. A large number of parishioners with friends from the adjoining parishes of Templecarne, Slavin, and Kilbarron were present. Rev. A. Watson, incumbent of the Parish, and Rev. Mr. Wilson, incumbent of Templecarne, conducted the services, whilst the sermon was preached by Archdeacon Stack. After the service Holy Communion was administered. The lessons were read by Mr. J. C. Bloomfield.

The various gifts to the church which have been lately described in the Reporter (Impartial) were in their places, and the inside of the church with its new seats, pulpit and reading desk, looked very well.

After the service, the congregation drove to Rossharbour, where Mrs. Moore, Cliff, laid the foundation stone of a parochial hall, beside the new schoolhouse. Mrs. Moore was also presented with an address and a silver trowel. The address thanked her for her efforts in. raising the £300 for the repair of tho church. When the stone had been laid a short address was delivered by Mr. J. C. Bloomfield. The speaker dwelt upon the necessity of loyalty to the Sovereign and walking in the true Christian path. Rev. A. Watson, Mr. R. L. Moore, and Archdeacon Stack also spoke. The references to Ireland’s union with England elicited warm applause. Mr. Watson entertained a large party to luncheon in the schoolhouse, at the close of which other addresses of a loyal and Christian character were given.

19-2-1885. EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AT CROSSMAGLEN. TWO CHAPELS CLOSED. An extraordinary riot took place at Crossmaglen Chapel on Sunday. It. seems that, after first Mass a number of persons closed up the chapel doors and took possession of the chapel for a length of time, and would not allow the Rev. Father Loughran or several of the most respectable inhabitants to enter. On the arrival of the Rev. Canon Rafferty, P.P., from Shela Chapel, (Parish of Upper Creggan)he endeavoured to enter, but was forced back, receiving many insults, and even assaulted but at last an entry was effected, and then the uproar and excitement was very great, and a free fight ensued. It seems that the removal of Father Mooney from the parish was the cause of this demonstration.

The Rev. Father Quinn, who succeeds the Rev. Mr. Mooney, was obliged to return from Glassdrummond Chapel without celebrating Mass, the chapel there having been closed up. More rioting took place on the return of the crowd from the chapel, and the police were obliged to turn out under arms, Mr. Hanratty, J.P., taking charge of them. Some severe injuries were inflicted, the persons with whom the closing of the chapel doors originated having, it is said, got decidedly the worst of it. During the row within the chapel, one of the supposed leaders of the movement was knocked down and kicked so severely that he is since under the treatment of Dr. Palmer, of Crossmaglen.

Mr. Hanratty, however, promptly ordered the streets to be cleared, thereby dispersing the people, who left for their homes.

19-2-1885. The riot at Crossmaglen is unhappily one of those scenes of unbridled license that occasionally disgrace the country. The congregation of Crossmaglen chapel resented the removal by the Bishop of a warm politician named Father Mooney by closing up the chapel doors and taking possession. The parish priest was insulted, and then a free fight took place. Another chapel in the same parish was closed up.

It would appear from recent signs of the time that instead of ‘Rome’ controlling the National movement, as the Orangemen allege, it is all the other way. Everyone is a politician now-a-days but it is an unhappy state of things in any church if politics arc to dominate religion.

One of the noticeable events of the present, stormy period is the revolt of the Roman Catholic laity against the clergy whenever the clergy clash with ‘National’ policy. Some observers find in the boycotting of priests and chapels a sign of the degeneracy of the age. Others hail it as a sign of the emancipation of the people from clerical control. Be this as it may—and different minds will view the matter differently—we quote this week a remarkable article written by a Catholic journalist on the late Cardinal McCabe of Dublin. Death has not saved the Cardinal from the censure of  United Ireland in his capacity as politician and prelate. And yet it is said that the editor is a most devoted son of the church.

19-2-1885. DERRY HAS BEEN THE SCENE OF RIOTING between the Apprentice Boys and the Nationalists during the past week and this unhappy state of affairs culminated in two gross outrages. Two nuns were insulted and annoyed by the Orange mob, and in retaliation some Roman Catholic boys broke some windows in a church. We are happy to observe that the Derry Sentinel strongly condemns the outrage on the ladies. However men may quarrel, ladies have been hitherto free from insult. We trust the offenders in both eases will be detected and severely punished. Ladies and places of worship should be safe from all attack.