Letter from Fr. Luke Sheehan
Letter from Fr. Luke Sheehan OFM Cap., Bend, Oregon. He refers to a request from the ‘Brethren East’ (likely the friars in Pennsylvania). He notes that the Capuchins of the Pittsburgh Province were recently granted permission to grow moustaches and beards. The Irish friars in America wanted the same privilege because being clean-shaven in America led people to mistake them for ‘Dunkard preachers’, an Anabaptist group the friars found it ‘disagreeable’ to be associated with. Father Luke also prov
Details
- Level of description
- Item
- Date
- 2 Dec. 1918
- Reference
- 18
- Extent and medium
- 2 pp; manuscript
- Scope and content
- Letter from Fr. Luke Sheehan OFM Cap., Bend, Oregon. He refers to a request from the ‘Brethren East’ (likely the friars in Pennsylvania). He notes that the Capuchins of the Pittsburgh Province were recently granted permission to grow moustaches and beards. The Irish friars in America wanted the same privilege because being clean-shaven in America led people to mistake them for ‘Dunkard preachers’, an Anabaptist group the friars found it ‘disagreeable’ to be associated with. Father Luke also provides an update on the influenza pandemic in Oregon. The town of Bend has suffered 38 deaths. He notes that no Catholics had died so far. The Catholic church in Bend had been closed since October 13th due to health ordinances. The letter is likely missing an additional page.
- Repository
- Irish Capuchin Archives
- Context
- Irish Capuchin Archives > Papers of the Irish Capuchin Mission in the United States > Missionary Correspondence > Correspondence of Fr. Luke Sheehan
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Full Transcript (OCR, 1 pages)
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Page 1
Provided Six years 1919 2. 2nd Box 477 Bend - no 2 - 12 - 18 Dear Father Show for no reason or another put off answering your kind festive wishes until I am ashamed to face the Took. Show a dozer excuses and they all look good but shall leave it to your own goodness & heart. Show explained the situation - I include a best I could and now I am aware your decision. Show here requested by the Brethern Coat to bring another matter to your attention. It seems the Capuchenis of Pittsburgh Province have obtained permission to show here and moustache and are using the privilege. Well the proposition is this that the Brethern would very much like to have the same privilege. The only thing I can say about the matter is that it is entirely contrary to American ideas to wear hair or the foce. and what make the matter disagreeable for the Brethern Coat. the fact that they are so frequently mistake for Dunkard preachers a body of men with whom no self-respecting men wish to be associated. I leave the matter in your hands. Personally did age is creeping too far for a toward about such traffic. The 'Flu' has but few Bend very badly. We had 38 deaths. D. E. no catholic died so far. Our church to have been closed since 13th October. At present two of our sisters are dangerously only ill. Two of our sisters here just a month. It will be the progress that will bring them through. No bishop has yet been appointed and our Administrator has just died the 8/1/20 B E DW - 10m