§ MR. JORDAN (Clare, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that the Rev. George Hammond, a Methodist Minister, Ballymacarrett, Belfast, lately wrote a Letter, which appeared in The Methodist Times, London, in which he dissented from the action and Resolution against Home Rule of the Irish Methodist "Committee of Privileges," Dublin, and stated that— 1285
As a Methodist Minister, he would expect more toleration from an Irish Parliament than from the Flag and Drum Christianity of Ulster;whether, for so writing, he has been boycotted; whether his church has been attacked; whether, during the performance of Divine Service, large stones have been thrown at the doors and windows of the church; whether a number of worshippers had to rush out from the building to protect it from the mob; and, if such a state of things obtains, what course will be taken to prevent its continuance?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)The police report that Mr. Hammond wrote the letter referred to in the Question, and has been censured by the Methodist Body for doing so; but that he has not been "Boycotted," nor has his church been attacked, or its windows broken. On Tuesday evening, the 4th instant, a stone was thrown at the door of the church by some evil-disposed person passing by, but no injury was done, and so far as can be ascertained the worshippers did not rush out to protect the building. At any rate, there was no mob there, and no complaint on the subject was made at the time, or since, to the police.