Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1918-10-19
OF the United States to Give Up
His Life For Our
Country.
One Could Not Fan in More
Beautiful Cause Wrote
Priest.
Gassed Chaplain Sends His Mother
Last Thoughts Written
On Field.
FATHER wALLACE's DEATH.

Rev. Edward j. Wallace, Of
Brooklyn. who died in France re-
Gently, was the first priest in the
United States to give his life for
his country and possibly the first
clergyman. Father Wallace died Of
the effects of gassing sustained
while ministering to the dying on
the battlefield. Father Wallace was
commissioned a First Lieutenant on
September 81, 1917, and sailed for
France last May. He was son of
Mrs. Mary Wallace, of 1868 Dean
street. Brooklyn, and served as
chaplain at Fort Hamilton, N. Y,
for while after his ordination. He
spoke eight languages fluently and
was a skilled musician and COM
poser. Father Wallace was thirty
three years old and seemed to have
q premonition of his death, the fol-
lowing letter to his mother and
sister Mary being sent to Rev. John
Ii. Long, of st. Johns College, to
be delivered in the event of his
death:
"In the name of the Father, and
of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
My Dearest Mother and Sister Mary
AS / write these lines l am under
orders to go into the danger zone,
and want you to know that my
thoughts and feelings are of you
and that dearest spot on earth
called home. | have commended
myself to the Sacred Heart of
Jesus, which has been my greatest
comfort and consolation all through
life. Next to God, l owe you, dear
est mother and sister, all that /
am Your good and holy life was
a model which l strove to initiate.
Your love and teachings led me to
Gods altar, and in my own way
have tried to follow your holy
counsel. God has been exceeding
kind to me in giving me first such
mother and sister and choosing
me to be one OF his disciples.
have tried to fulfil my duties as a
priest of God to the best of my
abilities. Realizing my many short
comings and defects, humbly ask
Gods pardon If / have offended
Him in any way. l have found a
refuge of consolation in his Divine
Heart in life, and l have the same
hope that He will grant me an
eternal refuge in the Sacred Heart
in heaven.
eff God so will. dearest mother
and Mary, that l should be called
home to Him, do not grieve for me
nor murmur against his holy will.
Remember He gave me TO you and
has an absolute right to call me
when and where 1t may please Him.
One could not fall in more beau
tiful cause than to die for my God
anu my country. AS l write l can
hear and see the glare of the can
non. Yet / have no fear since God
is my protector / have always re-
membered you, dearest mother, and
Mary. every day at the altar. The
happiest hour of the day was at
holy mass, and oh. what comfort
and consolation my priesthood has
been. can never sufficiently
thank God for his kindness to me
In giving me vocation to the
priesthood. He has blessed me
with many kind friends, and I want
to convey my sincerest thanks to
them ALL II I have ever grieved
you, dearest mother and sister. I
know you have long since forgiven
ms. The same forgiveness l hereby
ask of any whom may have Of
Tended. Should I be called to God
ask their prayers. / ask that you
inform the priests to have three
masses said for my soul.
Dearest mother aud sister, I
have already told you of my love