§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORasked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, If he 521 is aware that the room in Mountmellick Court-house, which affords the only access to the gallery, is used for the purposes of freemasonry, and two freemasons' lodges having up to the present held their meetings in it; that it is furnished with the apparatus of the craft, and that boxes labelled with the name and number of the lodges are placed at the top of the stairs for the reception of the minor articles of the paraphernalia, while the curtains and flags of various colours are stowed, while not in actual use, in the cupboard; whether the court-house is not public property, and paid for out of the county cess; and, whether he will take steps to cause a discontinuance of a practice opposed to the feelings of the Catholic population of the Queen's County?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)The statements of fact in the Question are substantially correct, so far as regards the past. But a new house has been built for the use of the Masonic Lodges, and all the Freemasonry property has been removed to it from the room in the Court-house. The Court-house is public property, and is paid for out of the county cess.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORsaid, in the Court-house there were two lodges held their meetings, and it was only one of these which he had understood to have been removed. Was he to understand that both of them had given up the Court-house?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)That is the information I have.