§ MR. LEA (Londonderry, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If tent services held at Gortnessy, County Londonderry, under the auspices of the Irish Evangelization Society, have been disturbed by Nationalists for several nights, the tent wrecked and the services stopped; whether the population in the district is chiefly Presbyterian, and if they have suffered from attacks of stone throwing by parties of Roman Catholics on their way to or from the services; and, if he will take steps to protect this community in the exercise of their religious privileges?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The local Constabulary Authorities report that it is the case that the tent services in question have been on several evenings disturbed by the lower class Roman Catholics of the district, and that attempts have been made to wreck the tent. The better class Roman Catholics, however, have expressed their intention to use their influence to prevent these proceedings. The population in the district is mainly Presbyterian. It is alleged that on one evening stones were thrown at the congregation when returning home. The police have adopted full precautions to prevent a recurrence of this disgraceful behaviour.