MARYPORT MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT  ASSOCIATION.
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MORE LITERARY PILFERINGS BY MR. HENRY  CURRIE.

At an ordinary meeting of this association on Thursday evening  Mr. D. DIXON
presiding - a paper prepared by Mr. H. CURRIE, on the ?Manufacture  of Iron”
was expected. There was a good attendance of members, and after the  
preliminary business was transacted, Mr. CURRIE was called upon to read his  paper.

 He proceeded at once to read a paper on the subject appointed. At the  
conclusion of his reading Mr. CURRIE took his seat, and immediately Mr. IRVING  
rose and in fitting language expressed his regret that Mr. CURRIE should, after  
his recent experience, attempt to pass as his production a verbatim extract
from  a work by Professor ROSCOE, and followed up his remarks by submitting to
the  president, the work named.

 Mr. F. KELLY, Mr. D. DIXON, Mr. R. H. HAMILTON, and Mr. J. RICHARDSON  
followed, each expressing in their strongest terms their surprise and sorrow  that
a member of the association could act in such a mean and contemptible  manner.

 Mr. CURRIE offered as excuses for his conduct, inability to prepare  an
original paper in consequence of lack of time, his ignorance of the fact that  
members are expected to contribute original papers, and his opinion that the  
members would be benefited by a reading from an extract from Professor ROSCOE’s  
work, with which he thought they would not be acquainted.

 These excuses were not accepted by the meeting, which refused to  discuss
the matter, a proposal (which was not carried) being made to record the  regret
of the association at Mr. CURRIE’s conduct. The members then proceeded to  the
exercise of impromptu speaking, several of the speeches being discussed  
after delivery.

THE PROPOSED AMBULANCE  CORP.
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A meeting of the Committee of the Maryport Literary and  Scientific Society
was held on Tuesday evening. - The Secretary, Mr. D. IRVING  reported the
results of the Committee’s efforts to form a branch of Corps of the  St. John’s
Ambulance Society.

 The principal difficulty was in getting a medical man able and  willing to
give the required course of lectures on the subject, but Dr. LITTLE  had
consented to act. On the motion of Mr. HINE, seconded by Mr. WALKER, Dr.  LITTLE was
heartily thanked for his offer.

 In the course of a long discussion, Dr. MATHIAS pointed out several  
difficulties that occurred to his mind in connection with the scheme for having  the
Corps connected with the Literary and Scientific Society. While he was in  
favour of having a branch of the corps in the town, he thought they were going  
outside the lines of their society to promote it.

 It was ultimately agreed to form a branch of corps, and a  sub-committee was
appointed to collect subscriptions.

 The writer’s syllabus was laid before the meeting and adopted.
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The Rev. J. Ildephonous CUMMINS, Maryport, has now severed his  connection
with the Maryport Catholic Church, and left to take up his residence  in Rome.

 The Rev. gentleman informed us a week ago that he expected to be in  the
town till the beginning of next month, and also gave a similar intimation to  his
congregation on Sunday. On Monday morning, however,  he received  immediate
orders to leave. When this became known considerable regret was  expressed. The
church was crowded on Wednesday night, when Father CUMMINS  addressed a few
faewell words to his congregation.  He said it was not easy  to say the last
words to a number of people to whom he had been in close and  constant communion
for several years.

 That evening he could not help looking back to the Sunday morning,  between
three and four years ago, when first he spoke to them as their pastor.  
Although it was in that church many of them would hardly recognise it as the  same
building, so great had been the alterations made on it. He went as a  stranger
amongst strangers, yet he felt that before long they had been able to  get on
and to like one another and work well together. When he went among them  they
were regretting the loss of one that had been for so many years their  pastor.
He was reminded that on that very day on which he was taking his  farewell of
them was the anniversary of the death of Father CARROLL.

 He could not help thinking that he had many things to be thankful for  
during the past three years. The priest could do but little unless he was helped  
by the people. In conclusion he asked for the prayers of the congregation, and  
also asked them to support the various confraternities and associations which
he  had established for carrying on the work of the parish.

 After service an adjournment was made to the school room, where an  address
was presented to Father CUMMINS by Mr. E. McCLORRY. Father CUMMINS  
acknowledged the kindness shown to him in a few suitable words. - When the rev  
gentleman left Maryport on Thursday afternoon he was heartily greeted by a large  
crowd, who lustily cheered him. Before the train left he addressed a few words  to
those assembled. Father CUMMINS is spending a few days with his friends at  
Waterloo, Lancashire, and leaves for Rome on Monday.