1 Irish College
Rome Oct 28th 1916 My Lord Bishop Your letter, with enclosed,
has just come. I shall make
the presentation in due time;
and shall convey your message
also. I notice that the sum
is much larger than usual;
which also I shall bring under
his notice. I am glad you liked
my statement. Of course I write
it for the Italian mind; & therefore 2 I omitted things which would
speak much to persons in
Ireland & in England; but
which would mean nothing to
an Italian, or perhaps make
him misunderstand. I have
sent copies to the Bishops
whom I have mentioned in it;
also to a few who know Italian. It is quite time the
nations gave up fighting. They
would be the laughing-stock
of Europe, if all Europe was
not engaged in the butchery;
— nobody is left out to laugh. Is it not a great lesson in
fractional civilisation? Experimental science has achieved
astonishing results for the benefit
of mankind; then comes the
un-civilised will (without religion)
and uses these results for
man's destruction The late Fr Phelan, the famous
editor of the Western Watchman
of Milwaukee, U.S.A., defined
modern civilisation as " the
improved methods of reciprocal
butchery". He was an exact
thinker. We have just come back
from Tivili.
We begin our Retreat 3 tomorrow and come ending it
on Nov 1st.. On Nov 1st I
will be here eleven years. How
fast time runs, when duties
multiply! — I am yours obediently M O'Riordan P.S.
I have sent a full
report (un-censored) of your
reply to the Corporation. I asked
if there was such: and I have got
it. Hoping be useful here. I have had some strong letters from
some Cardinals in my Statement
Card. Maffi asked me for more
copies. I am glad I did it. Those
here will have known the facts, before
Card. Gasquet, or Paul de Salis bring fancies.