Letter from Fr. Bernard Clery

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Sacred Heart Rectory 2500 Y STREET LINCOLN, NEBRASKA Dec. 20-22 My dear Father Provincial, Please find enclosed a letter from Doctor Zemer's eye specialist regarding the condition of Father Edward. Think you will see that it races for immediate attention. You will understand from Doctor Zemer's letter that Father Edward must be no account as any close work such as, reading, writing, figuring; otherwise the Doctor emphatically arrests that he will become blind. I may add that every Doctor he went to both East & West have told him the same thing. Now so you know, none of us out here can escape doing at least some of the above-mentioned things—all of which are fortidant Father Edward, and consequently if I may be allowed to suggest, I should think you ought to call him back to Ireland for 12 months or so. The Doctor says if he gets the opportunity of giving his eyes a complete rest for 12 months or so, it will stop the disease which unfortunately has been attacking his eyes for some years. He cannot possibly get that complete rest out here, his condition warrants. That is why I make the above suggestion We will be as good as ever if his eyes get this rest. The good work he has done out here for as many years should make it easy for him to get this much needed rest. I feel sure you will see things as I do now that you know all that there is to know. Father Edward does not want as he says "to cause trouble" & that is why you have not known before this the remissions of his condition, things have now however got to such a person that I feel it my stuff to write you in person & acquaint you with conditions as they exist today, in spite of his reduction to cause trouble, or his chynesis in staying his own case. I don't want you to learn about from this letter that the Doctor wishes Father Edward to be completely idle; not as, he can of course continue presently work such as saying Mass or hearing confersions. He could do these things every in Dublin & yet he doing fine good work, whereas out here one cannot get away from preaching & consequently writing the I should have forwarded this letter to you then! Father Joseph but I do not know his address, I am therefore writing by you directly. I shall write Father Joseph when I know his address. Father Joseph was here about two weeks ago I never said anything to him about Father Edward's condition, nor Father Edward when, because I did not know how serious his condition until the Doctor wrote the enclosed letter—that is today. I did not know the disease was progressing in the left eye until now. Sacred Heart Rectory 2500 Y STREET LINCOLN, NEBRASKA Dec. 20-22 3/ Father Olanon arrives here the 12d Aunday in January, Father Edward does not leave for Oregon until he comes, because I cannot be here until then at the service. The Parther of one of the City Parishes—a recently formed one, and as the result of an automobile armed for 25th trainee then I have been acting Parther at the report of the Parish of that Par…