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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.

Correspondence between the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ, the War Office and T. Stratton, Staff Officer to Principal Chaplain (R.C.), concerning the demobilisation of various Irish Jesuits and the need for chaplains for transport ships to Australia.

Documents relating to Fr Joseph Flinn’s time as a chaplain attached to VI Corps Rest Station North, 10th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Munster Fusiliers, the 60th and 88th Brigade, R.G.A., B.E.F., France. Includes: certificate appointing Fr Flinn Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, Land Forces (Temporary) (22 March 1917, 1p.);
– letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Flinn written from the Front (31 January 1917 – 10 October 1918, 21 items).

Letter from Mary Sydes (sister of Fr Edward J. Sydes SJ) c/o Fr Robert J. Little SJ, Manresa, Kensington Terrace, Brisbane to Irish Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ concerning the death of her brother while serving as a military chaplain. Asks Fr Nolan if the Society of Jesus would waive their right to a military pension on behalf of Fr Sydes so that she could claim it.
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A file of letters from Fr James Brennan SJ, (Superior), Rathfarnham Castle, Rathfarnham, County Dublin to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ concerning the move of the community to Rathfarnham, the running of the house, bills and finances and the care of the Juniors. Includes:

• a letter concerning the various work being carried out in preparation for the community occupying the Castle. Remarks 'This is the first letter written by a Jesuit from the above address.' (6 August 1913, 4pp);
• a letter referring to the ceiling paintings in the refectory. Remarks 'I think it would be wise not to put up the pictures in the refectory until we get the complete set.' (18 April 1914, 3pp);
• a letter referring to a consultation at which it was remarked that the Juniors are not as well fed as they should be. Remarks that the lunch needs to be improved. (20 September 1914, 4pp);
• a letter referring to workmen needed to clean out the pond and work on the farm. Refers to injuries sustained by Fr John Gwynn as a military chaplain. Asks Irish Fr Provincial to ask the newly appointed Fr General to bless the Irish Juniorate (14 February 1915, 4pp);
• a letter referring to the success of the Juniors in the University exams. (30 June 1915, 2pp);
• a letter referring to the scholarships won by the Juniors (amounting to £1,000). Remarks 'it would argue want of taste to suggest any limit to Provincial generosity in this matter, but we have fallen on evil days, when retrenchment is in the air and I venture to suggest that if your Reverence returned me the very smallest of the four cheques it would furnish means for an "outing" - fresh air and food - in harmony with the lean years through which we are passing.' (6 November 1915, 2pp);
• a letter concerning the possibility of Fr Brennan being assigned another task. Remarks '...not only should I feel not hurt but I would regard such a change as a very great relief.' (29 July 1916, 1p);
• a number of letters concerning a trip by the Juniors to Jersey and the concern he feels for them travelling during the war. (7 August 1916 - 26 August 1916, 3 items).

Letters from Fr John M. Bampton SJ, Mount Street, London to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ.

Letters from Fr Patrick O'Mara SJ, Leighlinbridge, County Carlow to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ concerning the taking of a retreat provided he can have a rest beforehand and his commission to join an Irish regiment as a chaplain in World War One.

A file of letters from Fr Willie Doyle SJ, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ. Includes a letter remarking 'May the Lord reward you for getting us this place; it is like a paradise to come back to after the bustle and rush of the missions' (13 January [1914], 1p). Includes letters volunteering to serve as a war chaplain (4 - 26 November 1914, 3 items).

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial and printed pamphlets relating to the War. Includes: circular sent to the Irish Fr Provincial from the Irish Volunteers protesting against the proposal to introduce conscription in Ireland;
– letter from the Irish National Aid and Volunteer Dependants’ Fund seeking contributions towards their ‘Gift Sale’ in order to raise funds [for the administration of the campaign against the introduction of conscription];
– circular and printed matter from the Irish War Savings Committee seeking support for their ‘Thrift campaign’;
– letter from the Lord Lieutenant’s Private Secretary regarding a proposal to establish a fund ‘to be devoted to the purchase of literature suited to be despatched to Irish Regiments at the front’, also includes copy of Irish Fr Provincial’s reply;
– copy letter from Andrew Bonar Law (Treasury Chambers, Whitehall) to the Irish Fr Provincial seeking a subscription to ‘the new War Loan’.
Also includes printed matter on ‘Catholicism and War’; ‘Voluntary Women Patrols’ and an ‘Address From the French Catholic Association for Young People. To the young Catholics – Allies and Neutrals’.

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ mainly from Archbishop’s House, Westminster, London, England concerning the nomination of various Irish Jesuits as chaplains to the forces. Includes letters concerning Fr Joseph Wrafter’s nomination as chaplain to prisoners of war in Holland, a move contested by the Provincial who saw it in effect, as ‘putting him (Fr Wrafter) on the shelf’ (26 December 1917 – 15 January 1918, 3 items).

Miscellaneous letters and notes to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ. Includes rough notes of wages and expenditure of various Jesuit chaplains (n.d., 3pp),and replies from the Senior Chaplain, Australian Imperial Force on transport to Australia for acting chaplain. Includes a note from Fr William Feran SJ, that he has commissioned him (Fr Henry Gill SJ) to discover and exterminate the influenza microbe' (18 December 1918).