Copy letter from Fr. Kevin Moynihan

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COPY. Franciscan Capuchin Friary. Church Street, Dublin. December 15th, 1929. My dear Father Joseph. I enclose herewith an official reply from Most Mev. Fr. General and his Definitory with regard to the obligation incumbent on the Friars of wearing the beard. It is for you and the Superiors of our American houses to see to the carrying out the General's instructions. I need not stress the absolute necessity of exercising the greatest possible prudence, lest what should be a remedy may only render the situation worse. I would suggest your reading the General's letter when you are making your annual Visitation. If some of the Friars mistook my silence, at the time of my Visitation, for approval of their action with regard to the wearing of the beard, they were egregiously mistaken. I was silent because I determined to refer the matter to Home. Not only is it forbidden to shave completely, but common sense alone should save some of the Friars from the inanity of wearing a few hairs on their chin--thus bringing ridicule on themselves and on the whole Order. Please read at your Visitation the two "Enactments" made at a recent meeting of the Provincial Definitory. With regard to the second, we do not by any means wish it to be understood that such a practice was common amongst those returning for vacation, --but qui potest capere, capiat. Praying Yod and St. Francis to blass you all, I remain, Very sincerely yours in Christ and St. Francis, Fr. Kevin v/Boyle Mem Prov COPY At a meeting of the Provincial Definitory held in our Friary of Work it was enacted : 1. That Fr. Joseph be instructed to notify the Religious in our American Houses that they must observe the Constitutions in regard to wearing the beard, and that those who transgress this regulation are not to be granted leave of absence in Ireland.2. That our Friars from America are bound to wear the religious habit when in Ireland, unless they obtain the express permission of the Fr. Provincial to wear secular clothes.