1 6 Harcourt Street
DUBLIN 6th September, 1918. Very Reverend Dear Canon, Mr. P. T. Keohane told me last night that you told
him that a Jesuit Priest who visited the Diocese of Killala some
time ago, was the author of a rumour that has since been
circulated among the priests of the Diocese. The story was that when I was on Retreat at Milltown
Park last October, I had made up my mind to throw off my Roman
Collar and break my connection with the Priesthood. It was
further added that it was only on the earnest solicitation of
Messers. De Valera and Griffith, who appealed to me for the sake of
Ireland, and for the sake of the movement with which I was so
prominently connected, to change my mind, that I agreed to return
to my Curacy in Cronsa. Mr. Keohane also told me that you gave him permission
to tell me the story and to quote you as his authority. I am
sure that you will recognise that in the interests of justice I
should get an opportunity of sifing this story to the bottom. I
shall therefore be obliged if you will inform me if I have got the
story correct, and if you will also give me the name of the
Jesuit Priest in question I am,
Very Rev. Dear Canon,
Yours respectfully
Very Rev. Canon Timlin, P.P.
Skreen, Co. Sligo