New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-19
THE FAITH OF LORD oHAGAN.
What His Mother Wrote to ''The London
Times" on the Subject

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: AS the conflicting statements OF what oc-
Cured at the death of Lord OHagan in South
Africa five years ago have not been reconciled by
the testimony of the three Roman Catholic priests
adduced by the Marquise de Fontenoy in the COM
ments OF that writer my letter that appeared In
The Tribune of March -. | beg to inclose copy
Of the letter of Lady O'Hagan to The London
Tines on the subject. 1t may be asking too much
OF The Tribune publish her ladyship's letter. but
where the interests of religious truth and accuracy
on historical subjects at stake, and the honor
of distinguished family is concerned. 1t would
only fair and Just that erroneous statements
should be corrected The official report, made from
the headquarters of the English army at the Cape
TO Lady O'Hagan, and confirmed by the War ONCE
In London that Lord OHagan did not return to the
Roman Catholic faith and was not "reconciled 20
that Church. but that he died Protestant. mem
Der OF the Church England. would seem to estao-
lish the facts regarding his religious faith at the
time of his death
In closing this correspondence. permit me TO say,
with Lady OHagan. that it is a serious thing lot
the representatives of any Church 10 indulge IN
misrepresentation of the religious faith OF dying
persons. The living defend themselves; the
dying and dead cannot. J. A O'C.
New-York. March 49, 1905
The letter inclosed is as follows. from The Lon
don Times of February Is. 1901:
THE LATE LORD O'HAGAN AND THE ROMAN
CATHOLIC CHURCH
To the Editor of The Times"
Sir: Almost simultaneously with the announce
ment of my son. Lord o. Hagan,S. death from en-
ment appeared in certain Catholic periodicals and
other newspapers TO the effect that my son had
about month before his death by Father Bernard
statement has been published under the name OF
DR.. McSherry, Vicar Apostolic in South Africa, the
cled only few days before his death by Father
Bradley, described as an ex-Franescan. In addl-
tton to the private information which assured me
that these conflicting statements were quite IN
which / think it my duty to make publicly known
through the medium of your widely read Journal
the Cape. and confirmed by the War Office in Lon
First-That when the late Lieutenant Lord Ola
gan. Grenadler Guards. arrived at Springfontein
sensible and had no deirium. and when asked the
as 20 6 Pf Gnq | o of ne be @
ignatOns recognized by the regulations and suf1-
GENTLY expressing. as ne thought. his Protestant
sseo9dacGIopel Allen. P, a. n: G. and P n O.,
this confirmed both by my sons personal servant
Third-Colonel Allen further states that Nursing
Sister Minny. of the same hospital. herself d
Roman Catholic. has declared that Lord o'Hagan
told her that he not Roman Catholic. And
IN teegram datea January -; Is9li the r. N o.
same nurse that he did not wish the Roman
him" He concludes the telegram. saying:
Il have doubt as to Lord OHagan's religion"
his illness by the Rev W Grhiths the Church Of
England chaplain, and was buried by him at
Fffth-Father Bernard Rawlinson was not at
SpTingfOnteip. but has been chaplain with the
Royal Irish Regiment at Belfast South At
rica9 for the last four years. No notice Is taken
In the official report of the, visit which Father
Bradley is said TO have paid 10 the hospital at
springfonten a few days before Lord OHagan's
death In any case, it is clear that the military
authorities did not consider that a change OF re-
ligion had occurred. since the Church of England
chaplain continued mis- ministratiOn and buried
the deceased officer Moreover, that period.
my constantly deliriOus. and would have
been physically incapable of any mental effort.
Indeed, what could have happened during those
days of high fever and Inconsistencies TO change
my sons views which he had so distinctly de-
clared TO the Catholic nurse before he became I'M
conscious. she has herself plainly and most
h0norabfy Stated2 I wish to add that IN making
these facts public am Influenced by personal
feeling Had my son who, up to the last, much
valued the religion which he shared with his
mother. his brother and his sisters. fit TO
change it for another creed Ishoud have respect
ed the decision of his conscience and defended his
action, even If had been unable to accept his
views But out of respect for my sons memory
cannot allow that to be said Of him which he did
not do. Moreover, il is serious thing that British
officers who have given their lives in the Service
OF their country should be exposed to such mis-
representations from whatever motives. and trust
that those newspapers which have given currency
10 them will consider moral duty TO give equal
publicity their authoritative contradictions
II