SECTION III.

On the Utility of Preaching in the Irish
Language.

I HAVE adverted so frequently to the propriety of instructing the people of Ireland through the medium of their own language, that it is unnecessary to enter into any farther disquisitions on the subject. If, however, preaching be considered as a most popular and efficient means of communicating knowledge, and if the best system of national education be deemed incomplete without it, the manner in which it is conducted in the protestant church in Ireland, and its perfect, inutility while it is thus conducted to a great part of the Irish population, merits the most serious attention.

While the repose of the Roman Catholic Church remained undisturbed in that country, the priests, except a very few who were within the English pale, understood the Irish lan guage: and though, from the custom of the religious body with which they were connected, they performed divine service in the Latin tongue, they were able to recommend them

selves to the people by speaking that which was vernacular. When episcopacy, however, was established in place of the old religion, owing partly to a difficulty of procuring proper pastors, and partly owing to the prejudices of the English, the churches were supplied with ministers who were not only ignorant of the tongue which the great majority of the people understood, but affected to despise it as what they called the language of Catholicism, and of the wild Irish. This prejudice was increased prodigiously after the termination of the civil war, which was concluded by the treaty of Limerick the penal laws which before this period were scarcely felt, were now rigorously put in execution; and the intellectual, and moral, and religious claims of the unfortunate Irish, were from this æra totally disregarded. To the present day there is not one clergyman in the Established Church of Ireland, who preaches in that dialect in which alone they can be intelligible to most of their people *.

There seems to be only two ways in which this evil can be remedied: the one is, by obliging every clergyman who is presented to a living where the Irish is spoken, to acquire

This remark is obviously to be restricted to those parts of Ireland where the Irish is spoken.

that language so as to be able to preach through its medium; the other is to employ dissenters or presbyterians from Scotland, who are acquainted with the Gaelic. As to the first of these methods, it is not very likely that it will ever be followed; if it were adopted, however, the happy effects which must result are incal culable. It would present the Established Church, to that part of the Irish population who only understand the Irish language, in a light in which they have never been accustomed to view her. The clergy would acquire an influence and popularity with the people, of the extent of which they are not at present aware; and the most efficient means of reforming the multitude, and of converting them from the errors of popery, would be fairly placed within their power. Though the execution of this plan is certainly attended with difficulties, these do not seem to be insuperable. It is competent for the legislature to say, that in any specified district after a certain period, no clergyman can be considered qualified to accept of a living, unless he is able to preach in the Irish tongue.

The second plan is, perhaps, the more practicable, and its execution, therefore, is the more probable. In this country there are many from the Highlands educated for the church of Scotland, who, if supported by govern

ment, might be inclined to exercise their minis try in Ireland. These, if truly pious and prudent, and sufficiently numerous, would by their la bours improve the moral condition of the people, and give an increased effect, by their example and instructions, to any system of education which may be established. be established. It is surely very evident, that though the people should be edu cated, they suffer great disadvantages while there is no information afforded them from the pulpit, while there is no familiar exposition given them of the doctrines and morality of that sacred book which the exercises of the school have. enabled them to read. It is not only necessary for children to have their infant minds impressed. with the principles of truth, and piety, and righteousness: the same impression must be made again in endless succession through life, before the character can be fully formed, and the powers and passions of the mind be rendered, obsequious to the dictates of reason and religion.

The divine Author of the Christian Religion, in appointing the sabbath for purposes of de votion and instruction, has graciously accom modated his institutions to the weaknesses and returning necessities of man. The great body of the people, who are incessantly occupied with the business and cares of life, and who have little leisure to attend carefully to the

formation of their principles and habits, are indebted, for the most part, to the pulpit for the religious knowledge which they possess, and for that tender, and consoling, and sublime devotion which cheers and supports amid the varied hardships to which they are exposed. How melancholy then is the situation of those, who, with all the hardships, and temptations, and trials of human life, want the cheering hopes, the enlightened instruction, the soothing and ameliorating consolations, by which the Author of our nature has intended to soften and sanctify the path to the grave! Yet, these are the circumstances in which many of the people of Ireland are placed: they are destitute, not merely of education, but of that moral and religious instruction which is conveyed by preaching. Though the state has liberally endowed the Established Church, there is a considerable proportion of the Irish population, who, on account of their ignorance of the English language, can derive no benefit whatever from the sermons which are there delivered. The method: which I have pointed out, of procuring preachers from Scotland acquainted with the Gaelic, presents an immediate, and perhaps the only practicable remedy for this evil.

L . It will be said, that a sufficient mumber cannot

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