Letter from Herbert Pim To John Sweetman, 16 September 1916

Foo, Bar; Bar, Foo

Letter from Herbert Pim To John Sweetman, 16 September 1916

1 16th Sept. 1916. Dear Mr. Sweetman, I am very grateful for
your letter. It is remarkable that when
recently in Dublin I tried to arrange
with Mrs McNeill to ask you
to meet me at her house, as I did
not know your address. But she
said you were in the country. I
shall certainly give myself the
pleasure of calling on you when
I'm south again. I had a conference with a number
of representations people in Dublin,
because the northern element was
anxious for some associations
or League which would combine 2 the various forces know a
Sinn Fein. I support the opinion
of the majority & see that the foundation of an
association was imperative; but,
if possible, that what ahead
just should be used, rather
than that a new League shd. be
found. Personally I am
inclined to suggest that Sinn
Fein proper should adopt itself
to the new conditions, & embrace
everyone who is roughly called
a Sinn Feiner. That would mean
an adjustment of finances; because
a sub. of 5/- is out of the question in
most cases. Let branches be
found everywhere, & an entrance
fee of 5/- be paid, & of this the submitted
is Headquarters, is simply of the kind. I enclose my newly adjusted
paper. Please send me your opinion of
what I have outlined. Slan agus beannacht , Herbert M Pim

This letter is addressed to John Sweetman (1844-1936). Sweetman was a member of Sinn Féin and patron to Arthur Griffith. In 1915 he spoke out against conscription and was arrested in the aftermath of the 1916 Rising. The letter was written by Herbert Moore Pim (1883-1950). Pim published a pamphlet series entitled 'Tracts of our times', including writings by Patrick Pearse, and in early 1916 founded the literary and political monthly, 'The Irishman'. He joined the Volunteer muster in Coalisland at Easter 1916, and was arrested after the Rising and deported to Reading gaol. He was released in September 1916. In this letter Pim writes that he wanted to visit Sweetman but that he was informed by Mrs O'Neill that Sweetman was in the country. Pim mentions that he attended a conference in Dublin as an element of the movement was anxious to combine the forces known as Sinn Féin. The majority considered a formation of such an association imperative. Pim believes that Sinn Féin proper should adapt itself to the new conditions and embrace everyone who is roughly called a Sinn Féiner.

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How to cite

Letters 1916, published by the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities, Vienna, 2026 (https://letters1916static.github.io/letters1916-static/item__2119.html)