The College of St. Francis Xavier to Woodrow Wilson
Title
The College of St. Francis Xavier to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Rockwell, Joseph H.
Identifier
WWP25091
Date
1918 August 4
Description
Jesuits pledge their allegiance to President Wilson.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Universities & Colleges
United States--New York (State)--New York
World War, 1914-1918--United States
Contributor
Morgan Willer
Relation
WWI1105A
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
The College of St. Francis Xavier,
30 West 16th St.
New York.
His Excellency
Woodrow Wilson,
White House,
Washington, DC
Your Excellency:
Having been appointed on the thirty-first day of July by the Very Reverend Father General of the Society of Jesus to the office of Provincial of the Maryland-New York Province of the Society of Jesus, I deem it a sacred duty, in this present hour of our nation’s need, to offer to you my personal allegiance and that of the entire Province entrusted to my care.
It may interest, your Excellency, to know that at present in this Province, we Jesuits number approximately one thousand men, of whom over three hundred and ninety are priests, and the rest divinity students preparing for the ministry, together with some religious brothers assisting in the temporal necessities and continual upkeep of our Colleges and houses.
In the call issued for Army and Navy Chaplains our Province has responded most willingly and is prepared to send as many more, according to our country’s need, from our College faculties and church personnel.
Our Universities, Colleges and parishes answered with the greatest enthusiasm the call to the colors. Our service flags, hung before our educational institutions and our churches, tell the story of heroic sacrifices made by our Alumni, students and parishioners in response to those Christian principles of patriotism inculcated in their minds by men who have consecrated their lives of service, to God and country.
The number in our classes have been greatly reduced and in not a few cases the colleges themselves have been well-nigh entirely depleted.
We are encouraging, by all the means in our power, the institution of military training for our students: so that while keeping in mind the educational character of the University or College, our young men are being immediately fitted for more efficient military service. “War courses” have been introduced into the curriculum of all our institutions of Collegiate and University grade, with the view to equipping our young men for expert service when drafted or when enlisting in Army or Navy.
While assuring your Excellency of the honor and happiness it is for us to offer you all the material assistance our Order can give, as loyal citizens, we certainly cannot fail to render the spiritual help that in our incessant prayers to God, shall strengthen and uphold your hands for the honor, safety and perpetuity of our beloved nation.
Yours respectfully,
(Rev.) Joseph H. Rockwell, SJ
Provincial Maryland-New York Province
30 West 16th St.
New York.
His Excellency
Woodrow Wilson,
White House,
Washington, DC
Your Excellency:
Having been appointed on the thirty-first day of July by the Very Reverend Father General of the Society of Jesus to the office of Provincial of the Maryland-New York Province of the Society of Jesus, I deem it a sacred duty, in this present hour of our nation’s need, to offer to you my personal allegiance and that of the entire Province entrusted to my care.
It may interest, your Excellency, to know that at present in this Province, we Jesuits number approximately one thousand men, of whom over three hundred and ninety are priests, and the rest divinity students preparing for the ministry, together with some religious brothers assisting in the temporal necessities and continual upkeep of our Colleges and houses.
In the call issued for Army and Navy Chaplains our Province has responded most willingly and is prepared to send as many more, according to our country’s need, from our College faculties and church personnel.
Our Universities, Colleges and parishes answered with the greatest enthusiasm the call to the colors. Our service flags, hung before our educational institutions and our churches, tell the story of heroic sacrifices made by our Alumni, students and parishioners in response to those Christian principles of patriotism inculcated in their minds by men who have consecrated their lives of service, to God and country.
The number in our classes have been greatly reduced and in not a few cases the colleges themselves have been well-nigh entirely depleted.
We are encouraging, by all the means in our power, the institution of military training for our students: so that while keeping in mind the educational character of the University or College, our young men are being immediately fitted for more efficient military service. “War courses” have been introduced into the curriculum of all our institutions of Collegiate and University grade, with the view to equipping our young men for expert service when drafted or when enlisting in Army or Navy.
While assuring your Excellency of the honor and happiness it is for us to offer you all the material assistance our Order can give, as loyal citizens, we certainly cannot fail to render the spiritual help that in our incessant prayers to God, shall strengthen and uphold your hands for the honor, safety and perpetuity of our beloved nation.
Yours respectfully,
(Rev.) Joseph H. Rockwell, SJ
Provincial Maryland-New York Province
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Rockwell, Joseph H., “The College of St. Francis Xavier to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 August 4, WWP25091, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.