Letters, telegrams, memoranda and notes relating to Belgian refugees in Ireland. Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ was a member of the Distribution Committee ‘appointed by the Local Government Board to look after the welfare and distribution of the Belgian Refugees arriving in Dublin’. Most of the letters comprise offers to house refugees or concern schemes to aid them, both physically and spiritually. Includes:
– letter from Dr Bernard Coyne, Bishop of Elphin (1913-1926) to Lady Moloney seeking her assistance in the securement of a disused barracks in order to provide shelter for Belgian refugee families (21 Oct. 1914, 1p.);
– bills from drapers and household stores for items purchased for the refugees;
– letters relating to troubles between Protestants and the Catholic refugees in Portadown;
– letters to Fr Nolan from refugees and members of the Belgian Refugees Committee;
– lists of names and locations of refugees in Ireland and names and addresses of people who housed refugees.

On 17 October 1914, the Father Provincial of the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus, Thomas V. Nolan, received a letter from the Local Government Board to go down to the North Wall at 7.30am on the 18th and meet the 100 Belgian refugees ‘and one hundred each of the following days’. This was due to ‘a few of your Order, who speak Flemish’. Subsequently, the Irish Provincial became a member of the Distribution Committee which looked after the welfare and distribution of refugees arriving in Ireland. The Irish Jesuits received offers to house the refugees and organised schemes to aid them, both physically and spiritually.

Two copies of a letter from Fr Marmaduke Stone SJ to Fr Mozzi at the Gesú in Rome. A note explains that ‘it being judged hazardous to direct it to Rome it was sent to Rotterdam in the autumn of 1808’ to be forwarded to the Fr General in St Petersburg. The subject is property belonging to the Society in Dublin (In Latin with small summary in English).

Copies of letters from Rome to English Province re. funds for Irish Jesuits. Includes letters from Frs. Angiolini, Tadeusz Brzozowski, de Zuñiga, and to Frs Marmaduke Stone, William Strickland. Also includes a copy of a letter from Patrick Aloysius Drinan in the Roman College, to Fr Kenn[e]y, on, amongst other subjects, Irish Jesuits in Rome. (In Latin, French and English)

Copy of excerpt from Fr Marmaduke Stone’s reply to Archbishop Troy’s letter of 31 March 1808. Expresses surprise and dismay at the latter’s actions and emphasises that his (Stone’s) letter to Troy was written in confidence. Claims that he knows of no ex-Jesuits who maintain that their Society is canonically re-established in the British Dominions. Refers to a ‘severe letter’ received by him from Cardinal Borgia in relation to the matter. This document also contains copies of correspondence between Cardinal di Pietro and Fr Stone, which are described separately.

Copy of letter from Cardinal di Pietro to Archbishop Troy. States that neither Fr Callaghan nor any of the other surviving Irish ex-Jesuits are at liberty to dispose of their property in any other way but in favour of the Irish bishops. Refers to the claim that a Papal rescript exists, which re-establishes the Society of Jesus in the Kingdom of Ireland, in which case the property of ex-Jesuits would belong to the Society. Letter appears on the same document as a letter from Fr Thomas Betagh to Fr Stone.

Copy of letter from Cardinal di Pietro to Fr Marmaduke Stone SJ. Refers to the appeal made by the prelates of Ireland to Rome in relation to the will of the late Fr Richard Callaghan. Claims that the latter, according to an oath sworn on 23 August 1793, should have left his property to Fr Betagh, and not to Stone. Demands that Stone transmit to Rome an authentic copy of the Pope’s alleged rescript, by which Callaghan believed himself to legitimately free to dispose of the funds of the ex-Jesuits in favour of Stone (In Italian). Letter appears on same document as a copy of the reply to it from Fr Stone, and a copy of an excerpt of a letter from Fr Stone to Archbishop Troy.

Copy of letter from Fr Marmaduke Stone SJ to Cardinal di Pietro - reply to the latter’s letter of 7 October 1809. Refers to Archbishop Troy’s appeal to Rome in relation to the will of Fr Richard Callaghan, and reminds the Cardinal of the oath sworn by all English priests to renounce all pretensions of the Holy See to interfere in civil affairs within Great Britain. Also alludes to the dangers of such interference especially when the Holy See is subject to the rule of Napoleon Buonaparte. Discusses the will of Fr Callaghan in relation to the agreement made by Irish ex-Jesuits in 1793, and asserts that no promise was ever made to leave Jesuit property to the Irish prelates. (In Italian). Letter appears on same document as a copy of the one to which it replies, and a copy of an excerpt of a letter from Fr Stone to Archbishop Troy.

[Copy of] letter [to] Fr Charles Plowden SJ, The writer refers to ‘our friends in Palermo’, and states that ‘relying on F. Genl’s Gruber’s assurance’ he has educated ‘many Eng & Irish to form a future British [province]’. Refers to Archbishop Troy’s interference some years before, which resulted in an order from Cardinal Michele di Pietro that Fr Callaghan was bound to leave to Troy all the property of the extinct Society.

Copy of letter to Fr General regarding the re-admission to the Society of Fr Richard Callaghan, and other matters pertaining to Ireland.

Correspondence between the Vice-Provincial, Mr Andrew MacErlean (brother of Fr John MacErlean SJ) and J.F. MacCarthy (New York Art Dealer) relating to the shipment of a painting by Mr MacCarthy to the Provincial. The painting is by Sir Thomas Thorpe/Sharpe of London and is thought to be entitled ‘The First College of Dublin’, although there is some confusion over the correct title. The painting thought in Dublin to be of poor quality and incorrect title.

Material on Peter Byrne who departed the Society of Jesus, as a brother.
Born: 28 November 1899
Entered: 1 March 1920
Left: 22 December 1943

Drafts of letters to Rome in relation to Irish Jesuit funds. (In Latin).

English translation of letter from Cardinal di Pietro to Fr Marmaduke Stone SJ.

Correspondence mostly between two sisters and the Irish Fr Provincial concerning the sisters’ efforts to contest the will of their late cousin, Josephine Keshan, decd., 1910, who left the administration of her entire estate to the Society of Jesus. The matter was settled amicably.

Letter (from Peter, Haslemere, Surrey) and note concerning the biography of Rev. James Gwynne (Fr Gwynn’s maternal grandfather) (1829 -1869).

Letter book containing copies of letters and cables sent to the Hong Kong Mission by the Irish Province.

Letter from Archbishop Troy to Fr Marmaduke Stone SJ. Communicates to Stone the queries sent to the Holy See by the prelates of ‘this Kingdom’ in relation to the suppressed Society and to the administration of the property of the deceased members of the Society, specifically that of the late Fr Callaghan SJ. Includes transcription of replies received.

Letter from Joseph Alipius Goold, Archbishop of Melbourne, writing from Brussels, Belgium to Fr Joseph Lentaigne SJ concerning an urgent request by Fr Joseph Dalton SJ for a community of teaching nuns to go to Australia.

Letter from Thomas McCreevy, Garland’s Hotel, Suffolk Street, Pall Mall, London, to Fr Thomas A. Finlay SJ concerning Fr Finlay’s “attitude to Mr Lennox Robinson in regard to his story ‘The Madonna of Slieve Dun’…I presume that you accept Mr Robinson’s repudiation of the suggestion that his story was a parody of the Scripture History of the Incarnation.” Protests about the attitude of a ‘small section of the press in Ireland’ with regard to ‘Christian standards’, defends Mr. Robinson and states ‘I…regard it as binding, in us Catholics particularly, to see that injustice is not done in our name in this matter…I am prepared to urge Mr. Robinson to get the matter considered by the Holy Office itself if necessary rather than submit to the injustice of being treated as a blaspheming parodist.’

A file of letters from Fr John Fahy SJ (Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province 19 March 1931-25 August 1939) to Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ. Includes a letter referring to a visit to the Hong Kong Mission. Remarks 'Your men are doing glorious work there I had expected great things; the reality surpassed my expectations. That will become a first class mission.' (25 February 1937, 2pp). Includes a letter referring to plans for a retreat house and scholasticate at Sydney. Refers to the Archbishop of Perth and his desire for the Jesuit fathers to build a college in Perth. Remarks '...he wishes to get the Jesuits into his diocese. It does not seem to have occurred to him that the people of Perth would be expected to support any Jesuit Fathers who work there. So we exchange letters on this question of filthy lucre.' (1 April 1937, 2pp). Includes a letter expressing his thanks to Fr Kieran SJ for writing about the Australian Jesuits studying in Ireland. Remarks '...I am most grateful for your interest in them and your care of them. Other Provincials never write about our men: all we get is the bill and the exam results...' Refers to his own position as Provincial of the Vice-Province. Remarks 'Yes, our period of office is drawing to a close...I long for the day... Boys oh Boys, think of it: no more "relationes", no more triennial papers, no more elenchi, no more building, no more administratio temporalis, no more...peace perfect peace.' (21 April 1937, 2pp). Includes a letter referring to the proposed opening of a scholasticate in January 1938 (25 October 1938, 1p).

A file of letters from Fr John Meagher SJ (Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province 25 August 1939-1 October 1947) to Irish Fr Provincial (John R. MacMahon SJ and Thomas Byrne). Includes a letter referring to an offer by the Apostolic Delegate to take a minor seminary in New Zealand in 1947. Asks if four or five young priests could be sent out. Remarks 'We have offers of work from practically every Bishop in Australia and must refuse for want of men. Our recruiting is bad and I really don't know what to do to remedy the trouble.' (10 November 1945, 1p). Includes a letter referring to a request by Fr Dan O'Connell SJ for Fr Richard Ingram SJ to help with his work in the Riverview Observatory. (18 March 1946, 1p). Includes a number of letters concerning Fr Cooney and his ill health. Includes a letter remarking 'He (Fr Cooney) wants to return to Hong Kong in September but I think you realise his return there would probably settle his chances of ever doing any more work...I think that Fr Cooney will never be really fit to return to Hong Kong (15 May 1946, 1p). Includes a letter referring to proposals to open colleges in Adelaide and Brisbane. Remarks due to the shortage of Jesuit Fathers that this is impossible. (27 June 1946, 1p).

A file of letters from Fr Oliver Daly SJ to Irish Fr Provincial Fr James Murphy SJ concerning his voyage from Ireland to Australia and back to Ireland again accompanying Fr John O'Neill SJ.

Letters from Fr Patrick J. Dalton SJ to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ concerning his theology course and the voyage back to Ireland to begin theology. Includes a letter concerning his new post in Kurseong and explains the delay in going to India due to a misunderstanding with Fr Ryan (15 December 1917, 3pp).

A file of copies of letters from Irish Fr Provincial to the Superior of the Hong Kong Mission concerning the administration of the mission and men destined for work in Hong Kong.

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from various editors and publishers mostly regarding the purchase and publication of religious books and periodicals, including Fr Stephen Brown’s 'Ireland in Fiction', 'Our Boys' published by the Christian Brothers and 'The Universe'.

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from the Catholic Working Boy’s Technical Aid Association, the St. Vincent de Paul and the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Includes memorandum comparing the work of the St. Vincent de Paul in Ireland and Belgium.

A file of letters sent by the consultors of the Hong Kong mission to Irish Fr Provincial. The letters contain information on the mission and the opinions of the consultors regarding the mission and its work.

Letters to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from the Librarians of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Scotland concerning the medical career of his grandfather’s brother, William Gwynn, MD.

Letters to the Irish Provincial on various matters. Includes letters concerning financial matters and;
– a complaint about an individual Jesuit with regard to his behaviour while conducting a retreat for nuns (See also ADMN/3/36);
– a draft deed of trust for the Father Delany Exhibition (See also ADMN/3/13);
– the health and financial affairs of various scholastics;
– the proposal for the establishment of a [school] at Tullabeg by the Society of Pious Missions;
– a conference of Jesuit Fathers in Chicago for the purpose of adopting a Provisional Constitution of the ‘Frequent Communion Guild’;
– requests for money from various individuals;
– the campaign to appoint a Catholic Director to the Board of Directors of the Clogher Valley Railway (the Society are shareholders in the Railway);
– the appointment of Jesuits to various offices;
– a petition to the British government ‘to show mercy to Roger Casement’;
– a proposed portrait of Archbishop Walsh by Sir John Lavery;
– a profit and loss account of the Irish Monthly for year ending 31 August 1914 (See also ADMN/3/20; 66; 67);
– the work of St. Joseph's Young Priests (See also ADMN/3/53);
– lists of locations of Retreats and names of priests giving Retreats for 1912 and 1913 (See also ADMN/3/36; 41);
– suggestions for Retreats given by Jesuits, by Dr Patrick Foley, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin (1896-1926) and memorandum on the scheme to establish a small lending library in Milltown Park for priests (See also ADMN/3/12; 38).

Sketch of a petition, drawn up by Fr Marmaduke Stone SJ, regarding Irish Jesuit funds. States that it if is approved it may be sent to Fr Glover to be forwarded. (In Latin, with an introduction and end note in English).

File relating to the sudden death of Fr John Hannon SJ, including letters of sympathy.