Two autograph letters signed to Father O'Gorman of the Mission Catholica, Peking [i.e. Bejing]

This first is a 4-page autograph letter signed, the second a 2-page autograph letter signed, both 7" x 4¼", in purple ink on integral leaves; lightly toned, else fine. Kennelly writes to O'Gorman thanking him "for his hard work for the spread of the faith in China. I appreciate also your remebrance of Siccawei . I hope your educational work is a success, and will help to counteract protestant influence which has almost wholly monopolized that branch of missionary activity in the East." Kennelly goes on to add that he "has forwarded your note to the manager of the Industrial School, and he will send you his chromos of St. Francis Xavier . As to Dr. Kennard's work on China, I think the best thing would be to supply him with a brief account of the Catholic Church in China . and beg him to include it in the volumne, allowing him at the same some perfect liberty to utilize the article published in "The Book" . He might also quote an appreciation of 'The National Christian Conference' held in Shanghai, May 3-11." Kennelly goes on to speak of other volumes of "The Book," and notes "I am enclosing an article on The Cath. Church in China . indicating statistical reports down to 1922, and ending by a few words on the 'future outlook' . I hope it will find a place in the coming work of Dr. Kennard, who might even send us a copy for the Siccawei Library." The second letter comes just 8 days later and corrects the first: "I have forwarded your note and article for Dr. Kennard on the 10th inst., as I was then under the impression that he would not come to Shanghai . He will stay in Shanghai until Christmas, and wishes to have the article intended for his work as early as possible. Will you kindly return it on receipt of this note, so that I may hand it to him, an discuss with him the present position and prospects of the Cath. Church in China." Kennelly was a Jesuit missionary, professor, and translator at the Xujiahui (Siccawei) Mission in Shanghai, who translated, among other works, Henry Doré's Researches into Chinese superstitions, and Louis Richard's Comprehensive Geography of the Chinese Empire. Dr. Kennard is Dr. J. S. Kennard, the American missionary.…