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Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Bishop Theodor Kramer, Würzburg, on sending Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ a paper on the Cult of St. Killian (3pp). Includes copy of Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ review of 'New Light on St. Killian' by J. Dienemann (Würzburg, 1955) the 'Irish Ecclesiastical Record', 1957 (88, pp.1–16) ).

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Irish Provincial Cecil McGarry SJ following Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ's request that Fr McGarry censor his book on the history of the Irish Church in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, something Fr McGarry thinks is unnecessary.

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Irish Provincial John Fahy SJ, concerning Fr Gwynn’s ‘future work’. While Fr Gwynn is keen to go to the missions in China, Fr Fahy is anxious that he should stay in Ireland and work at U.C.D. and University Hall – ‘I write…that you may know how I sympathise with missionary work. A decision will not be made for some time about your future. Meanwhile I think that I should say frankly that, in my opinion, our CCs would for many reasons be opposed to your leaving Ireland – wishing to have you for U.C.D., Dr Coffey is, I understand making arrangements to have a chair in Ancient History founded for you.’

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from J.G. Mudd[iman], Dorset Square, London, who is working on “a sort of ‘Contemporary History of Cromwell.’ ” States that he is ‘very decidedly of (the) opinion that a volume …of Cromwell’s letters would be of very great importance. He has a definite story to tell, tells it at length, knows personally all the persons he mentions and has a knowledge of English so perfect that he hardly ever makes a mistake in the spelling of a name.’

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Joyce Lorimer (Ontario, Canada) on their mutual research interests in the West Indies.

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from Matthew J. Byrne, Kerry (brother of Frs. George and William Byrne SJ), relating some incidents which occurred during the era of the Penal Laws. Includes information on a ‘penal law Altar preserved in a house at Causeway with vestments and altar furniture, all ready for Mass…in a concealed hollow in wall of bedroom of house once occupied by a Fr Neilan.’

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from publishers the Clarendon Press, Oxford, concerning Russell & Russell’s reissuing of 'Roman Education'. ‘As he says in his letter of 29 January 1964 a loophole in the Unites States copyright law enables books published here (UK) before 1957 to be reprinted there (US) without authorisation – though not to be exported into countries where this loophole doesn’t exist. Naturally he didn’t say that practically all American publishers regard it as unethical to take advantage of this loophole, for various reasons, and especially because it is liable to create the situation in which we now find ourselves.’

Letter to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ from William O'Sullivan (Keeper of Manuscripts, T.C.D. Library) containing extract from the Dowth Missal from Archbishop Ussher’s notebook.

Letter to Fr Fergal McGrath SJ from Fr Anthony Bischoff SJ after Fr McGrath sent him the card index of books belonging to, or associated with Hopkins. Fr Bischoff indicates those ‘having definitely been Hopkins…None of the other titles on your list were associated with Hopkins.’

Letter to Fr Fergal McGrath SJ (Irish Province Archivist 1975 to 1986) from Fr Anthony Bischoff SJ (Jesuit Community, Georgetown University, Washington), concerning books used by or belonging to Fr Gerard Hopkins SJ, found in St Ignatius’ House of Writers, 35 Lower Leeson Street. ‘I confess I am appalled at the idea that these books have been carelessly assimilated into the house library. In 1947, I spent hours examining every book in the Leeson Street house Library. The result was that I segregated some fifteen or twenty books that had definitely belonged to or been used by Hopkins. All of these I turned over to Father Aubrey Gwynn, then librarian. I made clear to him what the books were, their value as having been associated with Hopkins, and suggested that they be kept as a separate collection. I do not have a detailed listing of the books…I have only two definite titles that I recall…There are also several books by Richard Watson Dixon that belonged to Hopkins…You ought to also have the autograph manuscript of Hopkins’s poem ‘St. Thecla’, as well as manuscripts of one or two of his letters.’

Books used by or belonging to Fr Gerard Hopkins SJ
Annotated books, 1876 - 1884
IE IJA J/11/18 - 'The History of Tacitus According to the Text of Drelli. Books III, IV, V.'
IE IJA J/11/19 - 'Corpus Poetarum Latinorum'
IE IJA J/11/20 - 'The Acharnians of Aristophanes'
IE IJA J/11/21 - 'Aeschylus – Choephoroi'

Non-annotated books, 1884 - 1918
IE IJA J/11/22 - ‘Poems’ by Richard Watson Dixon
IE IJA J/11/23 - 'Poems' by Henry Patmore
IE IJA J/11/24 - 'Prometheus. The Firegiver' by Robert Bridges
IE IJA J/11/25 - 'Eros and Psyche. A Poem in Twelve Measures' by Robert Bridges

Letter to Fr Fergal McGrath SJ (Province Archivist, 1975 to 1986) from Fr Roland Burke Savage SJ (Clongowes Wood College), concerning the holograph manuscript of Hopkins’s 'St. Thecla' which Fr Burke-Savage discovered ‘while cleaning out Fr [Patrick] Connolly’s room (in St Ignatius, House of Writers, 35 Lower Leeson Street) when he was in (St.) Vincent’s having his leg set about 1948…I got leave from Engl(ish) Provincial to keep it on permanent loan.’

Letter to Fr Gerald Manley Hopkins SJ from Cardinal John Henry Newman, following Fr Hopkins's letter for the Cardinal's birthday in which Fr Hopkins commented on the state of the country. The Cardinal replies, ‘Your letter is an appalling one, but not on that account untrustworthy. There is one consideration however, which you omit. The Irish Patriots hold that they never have yielded themselves to the sway of England and therefore never have been under her laws, and never have been rebels. This does not diminish the force of your picture, but it suggests that there is no help, or remedy. If I were an Irishman, I should be (in heart) a rebel. Moreover, to clinch the difficulty the Irish character and taste is very different from the English.’

Letter to Fr John Conmee SJ from Dr. Henry C. Drury enquiring what year the Conmee family came to live at Kingsland, County Roscommon. The Drury family lived at Kingsland before the Conmee’s and Dr. Drury is helping ‘a friend in London who is working at Drury pedigrees.’

Letter to Fr John Conmee SJ from the poet Aubrey de Vere, Curraghchase, County Limerick in reply to Fr Conmee’s letter thanking de Vere for sending him some of his father’s sonnets, “…but for a mistake on the Publisher’s part they would have been forwarded to you long since. They form part of a volume now out of print, which my Father published as long ago as 1842 entitled ‘A Song of Faith’ and consisting chiefly of poems illustrative of the Apostles’ Creed”. Discusses some of his father’s poems, the nature of poetry and reflects ‘It is really marvellous to think what might be done for the Catholic cause and for the moral and intellectual well-being of the country by even a few first-rate Catholic literary works. Perhaps the next generation may give us a Catholic Coleridge to write Philosophy, a Catholic Wordsworth to be our Poet, a Catholic Scott to illustrate Ireland as Scott illustrated Scotland in his Novels, and a Catholic Historian to undo all the mischief done by the erroneous Tradition. Four such writers would do a marvellous work in the next thirty years; and there seems no reason why Ireland alone might not provide them all, if only the ability so constantly running to waste among us were at once properly developed and disciplined.’

Letter to Fr Leonard Sheil SJ from Cardinal John Heenan telling Fr Sheil that he is re-writing 'Our Faith', ‘So much has changed since the council that the attitude & culture of the Catholic have to be tilted differently.’

Letter to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Brown SJ from Laurence Gillooly, C.M., Bishop of Elphin (a member of the Senate of the Royal University), concerning Fr Brown’s support for the candidature of Fr Hopkins to the Fellowship of Classics. States ‘His Eminence, Card(inal) McCabe, informed me on Wednesday last of the selection of Fellows made on that day by the Senate of the R(oyal) University; and on Friday I learned from him that he had on the previous day resigned his place in the Senate in consequence of the rejection of his proposal relative to the Fellowships. I had hoped…that the communication made to you by Dr Woodlock of the resolution unanimously adopted…by the Episcopal University Committee in reference to the Fellowships would prevent the unfortunate conflict in the Senate; and it was with deep regret I learned that you had, in opposition to the Coetus Episcoporum, represented by the Episcopal Committee, kept on your two Candidate (sic); and thereby rendered the conflict inevitable –…I take the liberty of writing to you now, to tell you how much I deplore the step you have taken and the conflict in which it engages you and to express a hope that you will for the sake of your great undertaking in Stephen’s Green…remedy the mistake you have made by withdrawing the Revd. Fr Hopkins, as you are of course still perfectly free to do. For many years past I have publicly & privately used my best efforts to secure to your Society an eminent position in your University System. If the result is to be, from the very outset, a conflict…I must say I will heartily repent of what I have done and persuaded others to do in this matter.’ (For background to the appointment see T. J. Morrissey’s article ‘Hopkins’s Friends and Colleagues’, J11/46 and article by Norman White in 'The Hopkins Quarterly' entitled 'An Irish Row').

Letter to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Leonard Sheil SJ in which he describes a meeting between himself, Fr Michael Hurley SJ, Fr [John] O'Donnell SJ, two Church of Ireland Canons and the Church of Ireland Dean of Limerick, H.J. Talbot, which took place in the Dean’s house.

Letter written on behalf of Fr Robert Haly SJ, from Clongowes Wood College, Clane, County Kildare to Mr George [Sallery] concerning a vacancy to carry out indoor manual work at Clongowes. Offers the position to him.

Letters and notes, mostly from Professor Patrick Fitzgerald to Fr Leonard Sheil’s Superiors, concerning Fr Sheil’s’ cancer. Includes:

• letters from Prof. FitzGerald (Fr Sheil’s surgeon) to Irish Fr Provincial Brendan Barry SJ, informing him of Fr Sheil’s condition (4 items);
• letter from Fr Sheil (St. Mary’s Open-air Orthopaedic Hospital, Finglas, Dublin 11) to the Irish Fr Provincial, quoting Prof. FitzGerald’s opinion that it would ‘be better’ for Fr Sheil to get back to work, ‘physically, psychologically and morally!’ (2 Mar. 1966, 1p.) and
  – letter from Fr Sheil to Fr Brendan Lawler (Irish Fr Provincial’s Socius) seeking help in arranging his trip to Dublin to see Prof. FitzGerald (9 Feb. 1967, 1p.)

Copies of letters and postcards written by Fr John Conmee SJ to his sister ‘Maggie’. Includes copy of letter describing his visit to Rome and audience with the Pope (6 Feb. 1905, 1p.) and copies of notes written during his final illness.

Letters from Mercy Simms (nee Gwynn, Fr Gwynn’s first cousin) wife of Archbishop George Otto Simms, to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ, concerning domestic and social affairs. Includes references to the Gwynn genealogy/pedigree and Fr Gwynn’s research on the subject.

Letters from Mother Gabriel of the Divine Will, Convent of Firhouse, Tallaght, Dublin to her brother, Fr Patrick Duffy SJ concerning Fr Duffy's health and her own health. Includes a letter referring to the death of Hester Marie (31 August 1897, 8pp).

Photocopies of letter sent by Fr Thomas A. Finlay SJ to Rev. Eric Wasmann SJ, Bellevue, Luxembourg, thanking him for, and requesting specific documents and articles. Photocopied in Jesuit archives, Munich, by Fr Fergus O’Donoghue SJ, 16 July 1986.

A file of letters written by various people to Fr Robert Haly SJ:

• Includes a letter from Fr Murphy SJ referring to the polka. Remarks '…I do not consider it, absolutely speaking, a proximate occasion of sin, as I have the assurance of some reliable young persons of both sexes that they never found any harm in it (nd, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Patrick Drinan SJ, Sant' Andrea, Rome describing his life as a novice in the Society of Jesus. Describes his fellow novices (21 March 1825, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Charles Aylmer SJ, Hardwicke Street, Dublin referring to Fr Matthew Gahan SJ. Remarks that he has returned from the Isle of Man. Continues '…(he has) done much good amongst those poor neglected Catholics. But now they are without a priest and of course will fall back again into the old way.' (28 August 1825, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Prout concerning his ordination to Deaconship ([ ] 1828, 1p).
• Includes a letter from Fr St Leger SJ. Refers to the woods at Clongowes. Remarks that new trees have been planted and hundreds of old trees have been cut down. Refers to Daniel O'Connell 'Mr O'Connell hopes to enter Parliament by a clause in the Act of Union which only requires the oath of abjuration, which was abolished…C. Butler of London has published his opinion that Mr O'Connell's admittance to Parliament cannot be refused according to law…' Includes a note from Fr Peter Kenney SJ at the end of the letter concerning the death of Fr Haly's uncle, Robert in Calcutta on 27 July 1826 (30 September, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from [ ], Clongowes Wood College concerning Christmas celebrations in Clongowes. Refers to the church services and remarks that the Parisian Cope made its first appearance and 'dazzled the natives'. Remarks that the number of scholars in the college is small and many vacancies exist. Refers to Fr Aylmer and Fr St Leger and their plans to erect a new chapel in Dublin. Refers to Fr Moran's departure for Buenos Ayres. Refers to the political situation in Ireland and Daniel O'Connell's determination to go to Parliament (5 January 1829, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from George Oliver, St Nicholas' Priory, Exeter containing queries about members of the Society in Ireland for a publication he is preparing (17 July 1838, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Charles Aylmer SJ concerning his stay in Rome. Describes dining with Fr General on St Stanislaus Day (23 November 1838, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Patrick Sheehan SJ, Roman College concerning news from Rome and general Society matters. Reports that Fr General is pleased with all the Provinces under his direction and has expressed a wish to open a Japanese Mission (30 November 1838, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Bartholomew Esmonde SJ, Al Gesu, Rome enclosing a sketch of his design for the altar at St Francis Xavier's Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin (9 February 1842, 3pp).
• Includes a transcription of the same letter, 9 February 1842, by Fr Francis Finegan SJ [1975].
• Includes a letter from Fr Bartholomew Esmonde, SJ, San Calcedonio, Malta concerning the suspension of Fr Rillo by the Bishop. Remarks that the business has become public due to the intervention of Lord Clifford (25 July 1842, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from John Cunningham SJ, Rome. Refers to the political situation in Ireland and Daniel O'Connell. Refers to Fr Rillo and remarks that he is no longer in Malta. Remarks '…after his justification had been fully established he removed to Palermo. Mr Esmonde is authorised to select whom he pleases to succeed the former.' (25 November 1843, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Esmonde concerning his missionary work in Malta. Remarks 'I have a curious time of it here, strange folks as if all the odd fish of the Mediterranean had climbed up on this rock.' Refers to a new church opened by the Protestants on the island. Refers to the power of the government a governor of the island who control everything (15 November 1844, 2pp).
• Includes a letter from John Lynch, SJ, Church of St Joseph, Willings Alley, Philadelphia, PA describing his surroundings (1 February 1840, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from John Gaffney concerning the Archbishop's (Dr Cullen) decision to prohibit the dancing of the polka. Discusses the implications of this decision and expresses the opinion that the Society should not pursue a different course of action to the clergy of Dublin and rural areas (20 January 1858, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Bishop George Browne of Elphin concerning a retreat to be conducted by Fr Robert Haly SJ. Refers to the parishioners eagerness for a mission (19 April 1858, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from the Bishop of Clonfert, John Derry agreeing to consecrate the Society's church in Galway (11 May 186[ ]), 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Irish Fr Provincial Edmund O'Reilly SJ granting Fr Haly privileges with regard to his mission work (26 September 1867, 3pp).
  Includes a letter from Irish Fr Provincial Edmund O'Reilly SJ advising Fr Haly on how to deal with confessors who declare they are members of the Fenians (8 December 1869, 4p

Annotated manuscript of Br Denis Peter Fennell SJ ‘Reminiscences of a Clongowes Octogenarian’ sent to his Irish Fr Provincial Michael O'Grady SJ, with accompanying letter.

A file relating to an article written by Fr Patrick Gannon SJ in the 'Irish Ecclesiastical Record' supporting a fellow Jesuit's interpretation of a passage in St. Mark. This article sparked a controversy as Fr Gannon's views were disagreed with by Cardinal MacRory (and other eminent scripture scholars). Includes a letter from Fr John R MacMahon SJ (Fr Provincial), St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Fr Byrne SJ concerning the controversy. Remarks 'In reply to a letter from Fr Gannon, I wrote to him to say that I could not allow him to pursue the discussion about St. Mark III, 20 - 21 any further…that I would not approve of his seeking an interview with the Cardinal; that he might write to the Cardinal, but that I would have to see a draft of the letter beforehand.' Remarks that he received a reply from Fr Gannon and includes a passage from the letter describing it thus 'He is taking a most extravagant view of the situation.' (15 April 1945, 1p). Includes a copy of a letter from Fr Provincial (Fr MacMahon SJ) concerning a letter Fr Gannon wishes to write to Cardinal MacRory regarding the difference of opinion between the two men. Remarks 'Let me assure you (and I wish I could convince you) that you are taking far too tragic a view of the whole business. If you could put it out of your mind for a month, you would, I am confident, take a more tranquil view of things.' (26 January 1945, 1p). It would appear from the file that Fr Gannon was not able to put the matter out of his mind and that it was only as a result of his death in 1953 that the matter was laid to rest. It would also appear that Fr Gannon's view was gaining some support amongst scripture scholars when he died.

Mission bulletin No.2 entitled ‘Irish Jesuits in China’, which mentions the work and demand for the services of Fr Gallagher. Gives brief background information on Fr Gallagher.

File of mission material relating to Fr Gerald Lawlor SJ. Includes correspondence between Fr Lawlor and Fr Thomas Martin SJ, Mission Office, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

File of material relating to Fr Richard J Kennedy SJ. Includes personal record; passport photographs; photographs; article entitled ‘What I saw of the Red Terror in China’ (1954); newspaper clippings on the arrest, ‘trial’ and release of Fr Kennedy in Canton (1953); certificate of post-war credit and financial statements from the Midland Bank Limited and correspondence between Fr Kennedy and Fr Thomas J Martin SJ, Mission Office, Dublin.

Note from Br John Baptist Byrne SJ to Irish Fr Provincial.

Note from Fr Dick Coyne SJ, Jesuit House, Rahan, Tullamore, County Offaly to Fr Joseph Conran SJ informing him of the papers (exam
certificates) and photographs found in Tullabeg which he has forwarded on.

Note from Fr John S. Conmee SJ thanking Fr Henry Gill SJ for sending him his most recent article and stating ‘I…felt very proud of you and this old Alma Mater…(Clongowes Wood College, Co. Kildare)…of yours. Many have spoken to me in the highest praise of your Article.’

Note from Rev. Eric Fair, Larne, to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ containing the inscription on the font in the Church in Larne, commemorating the Rev. Stephen Gwynn (Fr Gwynn’s great-grandfather) and his wife Mary (Stevenson), erected by his children and family in 1878.

Notes on Genicot ‘De jure et justitia’ printed as MSS., Milltown Park, Dublin. (Printed by Ponsoby & Gibbs, Dublin University Press). With names on front of Fr Matthew Devitt SJ and Fr Donal McCarthy SJ, and with pen annotations. Inserts in different hands.

Photocopies of an obituary and appreciation of Fr Aubrey Gwynn’s brother, Denis.

Obituary of Fr Edward O'Connor SJ by Fr Des O'Loghlen SJ taken from the 'Zambia - Malawi Province' newsletter, September - October 1993.

Part of a letter from [ ], 9 Leeson Park, Dublin to Fr Matthew Russell SJ regarding a biography by Mrs O'Connell of Attie O'Brien. remarks ‘I think she has not the talent of writing biography.’ Continues ‘I am longing to write another short poem or sonnet.’ Enquires ‘...what is a rondeau?’ Remarks ‘Miss Tynan wouldn’t tell me...what a rondeau ought to be like because she doesn’t want me to write one.’

Part of a letter from [ ], Oliver House, Toledo, Ohio, America to Fr Matthew Russell SJ. Describes what it is like to live in Ohio and remarks ‘Toledo has very little in the way of refined society and almost nothing in the way of intellectual force or cultivation...’. Discusses a book of published poems and describes problems with the publishers.

Portion of a letter from [ ], Convent des Dames, English Convent, Rue des Carmes, Bruges to Fr John Curtis SJ thanking him for his book.

Printed circular letter from Fr Robert Kelly SJ to [clergy and prelates]. Urges the introduction of his Association of Prayer against intemperance. Refers to its rules, and to ‘the organ of the Association’, the Monitor. Also reports on its success in various dioceses of Great Britain and Ireland. Includes handwritten note from James Quinn, Archbishop of Brisbane, to Fr Kelly. Archbishop Quinn expresses his approval of Fr Kelly’s Association.

A schedule, prepared by Fr Lambert McKennanSJ of letters to Fr Matthew Russell SJ.

Telegram from Lord Pakenham to Fr Joseph Canavan SJ regarding a letter sent to Fr Canavan. Remarks that he will write again. Notes entitled 3rd Lecture are written on the reverse.

Testimonial letter from the Bishop of Cloyne (Robert Browne) granting leave for John Hyde to enter the Society of Jesus.

Typed manuscript by Fr Edward Bourke SJ entitled ‘Steering neutral in troubled waters Hong Kong 1941-1945’. Includes letter from Fr Bourke to Fergus, possibly, Fr Fergus Cronin SJ, in which he explain the idea behind the manuscript, ‘to have something ready if a sequel to Jesuits Under Fire was to be published (book by Fr Thomas Ryan SJ on the Jesuits in Honk Kong during the Second World War).

Typescript copy of letter to Dr Michael Cox from Fr Gerald Manley Hopkins SJ, 25-26 March 1887 (IE IJA J/11/5). With annotations and corrections in pencil. Copy made by Fr Roland Burke Savage SJ (1965).