1 Headquarters, Irish Command, Parkgate, Dublin. 12th: May, 1916. My Dear Lord Bishop, I beg to acknowledge the letter of May 9th.
from Your Lordship's Secretary. Father Thomas Wall has
been reported as on 14th November, 1915, speaking in
his Church at DrumCollogher against conscription. He
is said to have attended a lecture by P.H. Pearse on the
'Irish Volunteers of '82,' and of blessing the Colours of the Irish Volunteers at DrumCollogher on 2nd:January,
1916, also speaking at a meeting that took place at
Newcastle West on the 17th: March, 1916. Father M. Hayes is said to have been active
with a certain E. Blythe organizing Irish Volunteers.
In November 1915 he got printed a large number of leaflets
appealing to young men of the Gaelic Athletic Association
to join the Irish Volunteers. He is said to be President
of the Irish Volunteer Branches at Killoughteen and
Newcastle West. He is said to have been present at the
Irish Volunteer meeting at Newcastle West when a certain
John MacDermott delivered inflamatory and seditious
speeches on 17th March, 1916. When I wrote to Your Lordship on the 6th.,
I hoped that you would have been able to take steps to
prevent priests from mixing up in organizations that are
a danger to the Realm. The Most Rev: Edward T. O'Dwyer, D.D. Bishop of Limerick. 2 If these reports be true, and it should not be
necessary for me to make definite charges supported by
evidence against these priests whom I imagine will not
deny their participation in the Irish Volunteers movement
which has led to such deplorable events all over Ireland.
Therefore it should not be difficult for your Lordship,
under such disciplinary power as you may possess, to
prevent at any rate priests from mixing up with and inciting
their flock to join an organization such as the Irish
Volunteers have proved themselves to be. I beg to remain,
My Dear Lord Bishop,
Yours very truly,
J. G. Maxwell