BARRY

(Mgr. Canon William Francis, 1849-1930, R.C. Rector of St. Peter's, Leamington, 1908-1928) Group of 10 Autograph Letter Signed to his friend the Revd. (Sir) James Marchant, 1867-1956,

the Free Church minister associated with Cassell’s, about literary undertakings and rapprochement between the denominations, Hall Caine “does not understand our doctrine of marriage” as a free contract, “the lady’s consent is forced ... therefore no marriage exists ... I deplore the popular taste which allows to such a man popularity ... I think you have cut his comb” (2nd October 1913, “My ... story will not be ready” for any spring list, on doctors’ advice, “besides, I have a school to build” (8th December 1913), “One matter will need very delicate handling on your visits to the Catholic Prelates whom I have in view, whether of U.S.A. or Australia”, bishops “deprecate the teaching by any others than parents or teachers (priests have their own rules) of sexual knowledge to the young”, in “articles like those of Miss Sylvia Pankhurst ... there is grave impropriety in any woman publicly instructing the other sex on such a topic”, he talks of “White Slavery” and “Shop Slavery ... you might look round .. for information about girls’ wages &c. in huge establishments like Marshall Fields” (1st April 1914), he refers to the “Vat. decree” on “Reason” but “Newman’s Apologia, Ch V” would be better, “The believer in inspired scripture will have to face ... Copernicus and Galileo &c &c quite irrespective of any Papal infallibility ... these forensic debates ... help very little towards getting at facts ... Research is the only way ... No man has written more to the purpose than De Quincey - see ‘The Bible and Science’ ... What terms for 3000 words on the question you moot of the fatal decline & fall of Empires?” (16th January 1918), he reviews in sincerely appreciative detail “The Churches at the Crossroads” by the Baptist divine J.H. Shakespeare, 1857-1928, with its proposals for ‘federation’, commenting “there is too much of Kikuyu discernible here for Frank [Weston, Bp. of] Zanzibar & Co.,” (25th August 1918, referring to the ‘Kikuyu Conferences’ of 1913 and 1918 expressing mutual recognition by the various missionary denominations in East Africa), “To attempt a diagnosis of the state of Catholicism as affected by the war seems most difficult ... The forces at work lie deep” (27th August 1918), “Tell Sir W.R. Nicholl I shd. like to review” the Shakespeare book “in the Bookman”, he describes the “law of development” of the sciences as “a Song of Ascents” (4th October 1918), “With regard to yr Birthrate Commission ... after a few pages by way of trial, I seem to get a warning from the Demon of Socrates, decidely against going on ... Anything official takes the life and colour out of whatever I am touching”, he talks about a married friend of Marchant’s who would like to join a Benedictine order (22nd January 1920), his interest grows as he dictates “like a Delphic oracle” with “alternation of scenes, actors, and subjects, yet according to a plan - not mine”, asking Marchant to look into his ‘The Unknown Plot’, “It is by far the most original bit of philosophy I ever accomplished, and my book [‘Memories and Opinions’] its perfect illustration” (24th March 1926), the plan “unfolds itself in romantic fashion. You can cheer ... Messrs Putnam by giving them my present figure” of 50,000 words “which I hope to exceed while you announce it” (30th March 1926), together 28 sides 8vo or 4to, St. Peter’s, Leamington, 1913 - 1926, Barry studied and was ordained in Rome, and was present at the 1870 Vatican Council. He seems always to have had a wide and enquiring mind, aware of, but not constricted by, official pronouncements (see 22nd January 1920, above). He wrote several romantic novels. See too his ‘Literature; the word of life or of death’ (1912), in connection with his comments on Hall Caine.

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• ordernr.: SD20182

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