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Archbishop Murray of Dublin and the Episcopal Clash on the Inter-Denominational School Scripture Lessons Controversy, 1835–1841
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 September 2015
Extract
In September 1831, the newly elected liberal Whig government under Earl Grey introduced an experiment of national education in Ireland aimed at uniting Catholics and Protestants in one general system. Schools were officially non-denominational but provision was made for separate religious instruction at designated times under the superintendence of the respective churches. It was a response to ten years of intensive lobbying by the Irish Catholic Church, and over twenty years of public and parliamentary debate, seeking a school system supported by State funds which would explicitly prohibit interference with the religious convictions of children.
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References
Notes
1 Copy of a letter from the Chief Secretary for Ireland to the duke of Leinster, on the formation of a board of commissioners for education in Ireland, H.C. 1831–32, (196), 29.
2 One of the first reports of the composition of the board is given in the Dublin Evening Post, 22 November 1831. There was public confusion even at this stage concerning the appointment of the Roman Catholic representatives; ‘Mr. Corballis, a Catholic barrister’ is erroneously recorded as being appointed as well as Archbishop Murray and Anthony Richard Blake.
3 Anglesey Papers, Lord Anglesey to Lord Stanley, 1 January 1832, PRONI D619/31D/81; see also Fitzpatrick, W. J., Memoirs of Richard Whately (London: Richard Bentley, 1864), 1, pp. 164–165.Google Scholar
4 Meagher, William, Notices of the life and character of His Grace Most Rev. Daniel Murray, late Archbishop of Dublin, as contained in the commemorative oration pronounced in the Church of the Conception, Dublin on occasion of His Grace's Month's Mind, with historical and biographical notes (Dublin: Gerard Bellew, 1853).Google Scholar Apart from Meagher's work, a small number of articles and pamphlets on Murray's life exist. These include: Kelly, M. T., ‘Most Rev. Daniel Murray, Archbishop of Dublin 1768–1852’, in A Roll of Honour: Irish Prelates and Priests of the Last Century (Dublin: Catholic Truth Society, 1905);Google Scholar Carey, F. P., Archbishop Murray of Dublin 1768–1852 (Dublin: Irish Messenger Office, 1951);Google Scholar Ronan, Myles V., ‘Archbishop Murray (1768–1852)’, Irish Ecclesiastical Record 11 (1952), pp. 241–249;Google Scholar Lysaght, Moira, ‘Daniel Murray, Archbishop of Dublin 1823–1852’, Dublin Historical Record 28 (1974), pp. 101–108;Google Scholar Murray, P. J., ‘Daniel Murray, archbishop of Dublin, 1823–1852’, Arklow Historical Society Journal 4 (1985), pp. 12–20.Google Scholar See also Griffin, Sean, ‘Archbishop Daniel Murray of Dublin and his contribution to Elementary Education in Ireland, 1823–1841’, unpublished M.Ed. Thesis, Trinity Collge Dublin, 1992.Google Scholar No major biography of Murray has been written.
5 Hansard 3, 6: 1257 (9 September 1831).
6 Report from the select committee of the House of Lords appointed to inquire into the practical working of the system of National Education in Ireland, H.C. 1854 (325), 15, pt. 1, pp. 4–5.
7 Times, letter to editor from James Carlile, 20 August 1853.
8 Report from the select committee of the House of Lords … on National Education in Ireland, H.C. 1854 (325), 15, pt. 1, 5.
9 Ibidem, pp. 4–5.
10 Minutes of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland (National Library of Ireland), 31 January 1833.
11 MCNEI, 7 February 1833.
12 MCNEI, 1 November 1832.
13 Report of the select committee of the House of Lords appointed to inquire into the practical working of the system of national education in Ireland, H.C. 1854 (325), 15, pt. 1, p. 190.
14 First Report of commissioners of public instruction, (Ireland), H.C. 1835, (45 and 46), 23, 297 (Evidence of A. R. Blake, 11 August 1835).
15 Ibidem, p. 367.
16 Ibidem, p. 62.
17 Hansard 3, 36: 1105–1161 (28 February 1837).
18 Hansard 3, 36: pp. 414–415 (10 February 1837).
19 Reports from the Select Committee on the Plan of Education in Ireland, H.C. 1837 (543-i), 8, pt. 1.
20 Ibidem, p. 60.
21 Ibidem.
22 Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee … 1837, 1380.
23 Ibidem, 1381.
24 Ibidem, 1385.
25 Ibidem, 1382–1383.
26 Report from the select committee appointed to inquire into the progress and operation of the new plan of education in Ireland, H.C. 1837 (485), 9, 190.
27 Ibidem, 89.
28 Ibidem.
29 Dictionary of National Biography, 12, art. MacHale, pp. 550–551.
30 Costello, Nuala, John MacHale, Archbishop of Tuam (Dublin: Talbot Press, 1939), pp. 13; 25.Google Scholar
31 DNB art. MacHale.
32 Costello, MacHale, p. 37.
33 Freeman's Journal, 9 May 1832.
34 Ibidem.
35 O'Reilly, Bernard, John MacHale, Archbishop of Tuam; his life, times and correspondence, 2 vols. (New York: Fr. Pustet and Co., 1890), i, pp. 196–197.Google Scholar
35 Murray Papers, (Dublin Diocesan Archives) Propaganda Fide to Dr. Murray, 26 July 1834, DDA 31/4 (1834) 102.
37 Broderick, J. F., The Holy See and the Irish Movement for Repeal of the Union with England (Rome: Gregorian University, 1951), p. 91.Google Scholar
38 Murray Papers, Propaganda Fide to Murray. 2 Google Scholar August 1834, DDA 31/4(1834)103.
39 Bowen, Desmond, Paul Cardinal Cullen and the Shaping of Modern Irish Catholicism, (Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1983), 76–78.Google Scholar
40 Reports of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland …, Third Report for the year 1836, pp. 52–54.
41 Dublin Evening Post, May 1835.
42 Murray Papers, Dr. Higgins to Dr. Murray, 11 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838)21.
43 Dublin Evening Post, 1 January 1838.
44 MacHale, John, The Utters of Most Rev. John MacHale D.D. (Dublin: M. H. Gill, 1893), p. 416.Google Scholar
45 Reports of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland …, Fourth Report for the year 1837, par. VI-38, p. 128.
46 MacHale, John, Letters, p. 417.Google Scholar
47 Dublin Evening Post, 13 February 1838.
48 Ibidem, 24 February 1838.
49 Ibidem, Editorial Comment, 24 February 1838.
50 Ibidem, 8 March 1838.
51 Murray Papers, Dr. Murphy to Dr. Murray, 10 March 1838, 31/6(1838)16. This letter quotes the terms of Murray's circular letter to the bishops.
52 McGrath, Thomas G., ‘Archbishop Slattery and the Episcopal Controversy on Irish National Education, 1838–1841,’ Archivium Hibernicum 39 (1984), p. 17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar McGrath states that Murray received three unfavourable replies. Higgins of Ardagh and Burke of Elphin also expressed dissatisfaction on grounds of principle but only Keating expressed himself unreservedly opposed to the system and refused to endorse Murray's position on the Board.
53 Murray Papers, Keating to Murray, 13 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 25.
54 Murray Papers, Keating to Murray, 16 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 29.
55 Murray Papers, Higgins to Murray, 9 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 13.
56 Murray Papers, Higgins to Murray, 11 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 21.
57 Murray Papers, Cantwell to Murray, 9 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 9; also 11 March 1838, 31/6(1838) 19.
58 Murray Papers, Burke to Murray, 20 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 30.
59 Murray Papers, McNicholas to Murray, 27 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 31.
60 Murray Papers, Coen to Murray, 9 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 11.
61 Murray Papers, French to Murray, 14 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 27.
62 Murray Papers, Browne to Murray, 11 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 22.
63 Murray Papers, Browne of Kilmore to Murray, 30 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 32.
64 Murray Papers, Slattery to Murray, 7 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 6.
65 Murray Papers, Crolly to Murray, 9 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 8. William Crolly (1780–1849) succeeded Patrick Curtis as Archbishop of Armagh in 1835. Crolly, who was a native of County Down and educated at Maynooth, had been previously Bishop of Down and Connor. He had been educated in his youth in a school jointly managed by a Catholic and a Presbyterian and he was a strong advocate of the benefits of mixed education. See Macaulay, Ambrose, William Crolly, Archbishop of Armagh, 1835–49 [Four Courts Press, Dublin, 1994].Google Scholar
66 Murray Papers, Foran to Murray, 10 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 17.
67 Murray Papers, Ryan to Murray, 7 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 5.
68 Murray Papers, Haly to Murray, 9 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 14.
69 Murray Papers, Dr. Blake to Dr. Murray, 10 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 15; also 13 March 1838, DDA 31/6 (1838) 24; Dr. Cantwell to Dr. Murray, 9 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 9; also 11 March 1838, DDA 31/6 (1838) 19.
70 Kerr, D. A., Peel, Priests and Politics (Oxford, 1982), pp. 357–358.Google Scholar
71 Bowen, Paul Cardinal Cullen (Dublin, 1983), p. 2.Google Scholar
72 Ibidem, pp. 30–31.
73 Ibidem, p. 74.
74 Ibidem, p. 75.
75 Barry, P. C.. ‘The Holy See and the Irish National Schools’, Irish Ecclesiastical Record, 5th series 92 (August 1959), 91 Google Scholar quoting Acta S. Congregationis de Propaganda Fide (Acta SCFP), 1839. f.203, 209.
76 Larkin, Emmet, ‘The Quarrel among the Roman Catholic Hierarchy over the National System of Education in Ireland, 1838–1841’, in Browne, Ray B., Roscelli, William J. and Loftus, Richard (eds.) The Celtic Cross (New York: Books for Libraries Press, 1970), p. 123,Google Scholar quoting Cullen Papers, Irish College Rome (ICR), MacHale to Cullen, 24 February 1838.
77 Dublin Evening Post, 20 March 1838.
78 Ibidem, 22 March 1838.
79 Larkin, p. 123, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR MacHale to Cullen, 19 April 1838.
80 Ibidem, p. 124, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR Murray to Cullen, 28 April 1838.
81 Dublin Evening Post, 20 March 1838.
82 Larkin, p. 124 quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Murray to Cullen, 28 April 1838.
83 Dublin Evening Post, 10 May 1838.
84 Barry, op.cit. “The Holy See and the Irish National Schools’ p. 91.
85 Murray Papers, Propaganda Fide to Dr. Murray, 15 May 1838, DDA 31/6(1838)113; also Barry, p. 92, quoting Acta SCPF, 1839, f.203.
86 Murray Papers, Murray to Propaganda Fide, printed pamphlet in latin, DDA 31/6(1838) 101; also Barry, p. 92 quoting Acta SCPF, 1839, f.214v.-216v.
87 Larkin, p. 124 quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Murray to Cullen, 13 June 1838.
88 Murray Papers, Curtis to Murray, 31 May 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 128.
89 Murray Papers, 31/6(1838) 89.
90 Murray Papers, Browne to Murray, 11 March 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 22.
91 Murray Papers, Browne to Murray, 1 August 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 39.
92 Angela Bolster, M., ‘Correspondence concerning the system of National Education between Archbishop Daniel Murray of Dublin and Bishop J. Browne of Galway’, Journal of Galway Archeoiogical and Historical Society, 37 (1979/80),Google Scholar
93 Larkin, p. 126 quoting Cullen papers, ICR, Canon Hamilton to Dr. Cullen, 26 August 1838.
94 Ibidem.
95 Murray Papers, O'Finan to Murray, 19 September 1838, DDA 31/6 (1838) 40.Google Scholar
96 Dublin Evening Post, 23 October 1838.
97 Ibidem, 3 November 1838.
98 Ibidem, 10 November 1838.
99 Murray Papers, MacHale to Murray, 8 December 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 41.
100 Dublin Evening Post, 24 November 1838.
101 Larkin, p. 127, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Murray to Cullen, 12 December 1838.
102 Murray papers, James Carlile to Murray, 11 December 1838, DDA 31/6(1838) 54.
103 Larkin, p. 128, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Murray to Cullen, 24 December 1838.
104 Ibidem, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Higgins to Cullen, 3 January 1839.
105 Murray Papers, Propaganda Fide to Murray, 5 January 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 86.
106 McGrath, Archivium Hibernicum 39, 21 quoting Slattery Papers, Cashel Diocesan Archives, (CDA), (microfilm NLI), Kinsella to Slattery, 7 December 1838.
107 Larkin, p. 128 quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Higgins to Cullen, 23 January 1839.
108 Minute Book of Meetings of the Irish Bishops 1829–1849, DDA, 23 January 1839.
109 Larkin, p. 129, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Higgins to Cullen, 23 January 1839.
110 Ibidem, pp. 129–130, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Higgins to Cullen, 1 February 1839.
111 Ibidem, p. 131, quoting Ibidem.
112 Ibidem, p. 130, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR Crolly to Cullen, 4 February 1839. Larkin erroneously refers to ‘Dr. Crotty’ in this correspondence. Dr. Bartholomew Crotty was Bishop of Cloyne and Ross at this time.
113 Barry, p. 95, footnote 1.
114 McGrath, p. 22, quoting Slattery Papers, CD A (microfilm NLT), Murray to Slattery, 14 February 1839.
115 Barry, p. 94; William Meagher, Notices of the Life … of Dr. Murray, p. 59.
116 Larkin, p. 131, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Murray to Cullen, 13 March 1839.
117 Barry, p. 95.
118 Larkin, p. 130, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR Murray to Cullen, 22 August 1839.
119 Barry, pp. 95–96, quoting Acta SCPF, 1839, f.237–8.
120 Larkin, pp. 131–132, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR Murray to Cullen, 20 April 1839.
121 Ibidem, p. 132, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR Murray to Cullen, 12 July 1839.
122 Bowen, Cullen, p. 52, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Murray to Cullen, 12 July 1839.
123 Larkin, p. 133, quoting Ibidem, 12 July 1839.
124 McGrath, pp. 22–23.
125 Murray Papers, Crolly to Murray, 5 July 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 117.
126 Larkin, p. 131, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR Murray to Cullen, 13 March 1839.
127 Murray Papers, Crolly to Murray, 5 July 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 117.
128 Murray Papers, Crolly to Murray, 10 July 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 46.
129 Murray Papers, Crolly to Murray, 28 July 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 119.
130 Murray Papers, copy of letter from from Murray to Propaganda Fide, 8 July 1839, 31/7(1839) 81, 82.
131 Murray Papers, Propaganda Fide to Murray, 7 September 1839, 31/7(1839) 101; Meagher, p. 61.
132 Murray Papers, Slattery to Murray, 28 July 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 120. William Meagher preached the commemorative sermon at the Pro-Cathedral one month after Murray's death in 1852. The oration, together with biographical and historical notes on the late Archbishop, was later published by Meagher, see Meagher, W. Notices of the life and character of His Grace Most Rev. Daniel Murray … (Dublin: Gerard Bellew, 1853).Google Scholar
133 Murray Papers, Crolly to Murray, 29 September 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 53.
134 Murray Papers, Slattery to Murray. 6 October 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 125.
135 McGrath, p. 23, quoting Slattery Papers, CDA (NLI microfilm), Slattery to Gregory XVI, 10 October 1839.
136 Larkin, pp. 134–135, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Higgins to Cullen, 6 December 1839.
137 Larkin, pp. 134–135, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, MacHale to Culien, 21 December 1839.
138 Dublin Evening Post, 9 November 1839; 3 December 1839.
139 Larkin, p. 135, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Cullen to Higgins, 13 December 1839.
140 Murray Papers, Slattery to Murray, 6 October 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 125.
141 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 4 November 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 73.
142 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 16 November 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 74.
143 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 19 November 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 75.
144 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 5 December 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 78a. Edmund Rice's younger brother, John Rice, was an Augustinian friar in Rome who had some influence in Propaganda; see Normoyle, M. C., A Tree is Planted, 2nd edition, (Dublin: Christian Brothers, private circulation, 1976), pp. 124–5, 332.Google Scholar
145 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 19 November 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 75.
146 Murray Papers, Fr. Ennis to Dean Hamilton, 29 November 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 78.
147 Dublin Evening Post, 9 November 1839.
148 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 19 November 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 75.
149 Murray Papers, Fr. Ennis to Dean Hamilton, 29 November 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 78.
150 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 7 December 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 78b.
151 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, Ibidem.
152 Dublin Evening Post, 19 December 1839; 21 December 1839; 26 December 1839; 31 December 1839; see also MP, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 27 October 1839, DDA 31/7(1839) 72. This letter describes Meagher's reaction to meeting O'Malley in Paris en route to Dublin.
153 Murray Papers. Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 4 February 1840, DDA 31/8(1840) 60.
154 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 11 January 1840, DDA 31/8(1840) 57.
155 Larkin, p. 135, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Higgins to Cullen, 18 January 1840.
156 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 4 February 1840, DDA 31/8(1840) 60.
157 Larkin, p. 136, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR Murray to Cullen, 27 January 1840.
158 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 28 February 1840, DDA 31/8(1840) 58.
159 Murray Papers, Crolly to Murray, 9 March 1840, DDA 31/8(1840) 43.
160 Larkin, pp. 136–137, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, MacHale to Cullen, 14 February 1840.
161 Dublin Evening Post, 10 March 1840. Murray's letter to the editor gives the text of the Lord Lieutenant's reply to the bishops.
162 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 27 February 1840, DDA 31/7(1840) 61.
163 Larkin, p. 139, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Murray to Cullen, 28 February 1840.
164 Larkin, p. 137, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, MacHale to Cullen, 22 February 1840.
165 Larkin, p. 139, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR, Murray to Cullen, 28 February 1840.
166 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 29 February 1840, 31/8(1840) 22. Fr. Loftus, however, was fluent in Irish; he was, at one time, Professor of Irish at Maynooth.
167 Dublin Evening Post, 7 March 1840.
168 Ibidem, 10 March 1840.
169 Ibidem, 19 March 1840.
170 Murray Papers, Crolly to Murray, 9 March 1840, DDA 31/8(1840)3.
171 Murray Papers, Ryan to Murray, 16 March 1840, DDA 31/8(1840)46.
172 Murray Papers, Kinsella to Murray, 13 March 1840, DDA 31/8(1840)44.
173 Dublin Evening Post, 19 March 1840.
174 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 23 April 1840, DDA 31/8(1840)65.
175 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 9 April 1840, DDA 3/8(1840)64.
176 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, ibidem.
177 Dublin Evening Post, 31 March 1840.
178 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 2 May 1840, DDA 31/8(1840)66.
179 Murray Papers, Murray to Cardinal Fransoni, 6 May 1840, DDA 31/8(1840)91.
180 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 7 May 1840, DDA 31/8(1840)67.
181 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 9 July 1840, DDA 31/8(1840)69.
182 Murray Papers, ibidem.
183 Barry, p. 101, quoting Acta SCPF, 1840, f.410v.
184 Ibidem, quoting Acta SCPF, 1840, f.416.
185 MacSuibhne, Peadar, Paul Cullen and his contemporaries, (Naas: Leinster Leader, 1961), i, pp. 232–233,Google Scholar quoting Cullen to Propaganda Fide, 13 September 1840.
186 Ibidem.
187 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 6 September 1840, DDA 31/8 (1840)71.
188 Barry, p. 100, quoting Acta SCPF, 1840, f.419v '89 Larkin, p. 141, quoting Acta SCPF, 1840, f.427.
190 Murray Papers, Fr. Meagher to Dean Hamilton, 8 September 1840, DDA 31/8 (1840)72.
191 Larkin, p. 142.
192 Murray Papers, Fr. Ennis to Dean Hamilton, 8 July 1840, DDA 31/8(1840)55.
193 Larkin, p. 141, quoting Scritture Riferite Nei Congressi, Archives Propaganda Fide, Rome, vol. 27, f.427.Google Scholar
194 Larkin, p. 133, quoting Cullen Papers, ICR Murray to Cullen, 12 July 1839.