across the page his eye was caught by the
headline, "Profession of Irish Nuns in France." Further on in large
letters, "Killmessan Cathedral: Bazaar." And these items of news were
followed by a letter from a Bishop. "What a lot of Bishops!" he said.
He read of "worthy" parish priests, and a little further on of
"brilliant" young clergymen, and at every meeting the chair was taken
by the "worthy" or by the "good" parish priest.

"Well," he said, "if the newspaper reflects the mind of the people
there is no hope."

And he heard daily of new churches and new convents and the acquisition
of property by the clergy. He heard tales of esuriency and avarice, and
the persecution of the dancing-girl and the piper.

"The clergy," he said, "are swallowing up the country," and he looked
for some means whereby he might save the Gael.

About this time an outcry was made against the ugliness of modern
ecclesiastical architecture, and a number of enthusiasts were writing
to the newspapers proposing a revival of Irish romanesque; they
instanced Cormac's Chapel as the model that should be followed. Ned
joined in the outcry that no more stained glass should be imported from
Birmingham, and wrote to the newspapers many times that good sculpture
and good painting and good glass were more likely to produce a
religious fervour than bad. His purpose was to point a finger of scorn
at the churches, and he hoped to plead a little later that there were
too many churches, and that no more should be built until the
population had begun to increase again. He looked forward to the time
when he would be able to say right out that the Gael had spent enough
of money on his soul, and should spend what remained to him on his
body. He looked forward to the time when he should tell the Gael that
his soul was his greatest expense, but the time was far off when he
could speak plainly.

The clergy were prepared to admit that German glass was not necessary
for their successful mediation, but they were stubborn when Ned asked
them to agree that no more churches were necessary. They were not moved
by the argument that the population was declining and would not admit
that there were too many churches or even that there were churches
enough. The ecclesiastical mind is a subtle one and it knows that when
men cease to build churches they cease to be religious. The instinct of
the clergy was against Ned, but they had to make concessions, for the
country was awake