Fr. Albert Patrick Lawler, OP
Holy Rosary Church and Priory
375 Clackamas Street
Portland, Oregon
July 26th, 1918
Very Rev. Father A. L. McMahon, O.P., Provincial Holy Name Prov.
Very Rev. Dear Fr. Provincial,
Many thanks for the kind letter and intentions to liquidate the Stamps on Notes.
Enclosed, please find two checks to meet interest on the money borrowed from both banks,
and I hope that we shall be able to meet the call for interest each month.
I had stated already to answer the former letter you so kindly wrote in which you
stated that at present you could not change me to Benicia, but that later you would
consider the matter. The work here required active men and although I am willing enough to
do my "bit" as the expression of the times has it, nevertheless, know that I am
more in the way of the young energetic Prior who needs the service of capable men to
execute his will and hence I prefer to get down and out and make room for those who could
do better and more active work; three out of the five men in this house of activity is too
many to be slackers where so much is expected to be accomplished, and I being the oldest
and besides hampered with stiffness and rheumatism in the long rainy season prefer to be
where I should not be considered a drawback or drag, hampering the energies of young men.
However, I am a soldier in the army of the Lord and whatever the commander order, I
will try to do as well as my condition will permit according to the vows I have taken. I
never mean to be a shirker or to desert any post I am placed in while the good Lord will
give me strength to attend it, even ever so poorly. If I was in the U.S. Army I dare not
say I will not do so and so, and surely a private in the grand Army of God will not
presume to disobey orders given….
I pray God that…the light of our holy faith may illumine the world. In my last
letter I stated as plainly as my mind permitted how the few fathers here are working so
that you might see if any could be spared to be absent, and I presume that you have
considered the situation and sized it up. We will do the best we can and the Lord will
provide for the rest. Again thanking you and apologizing for the annoyance I may cause
you.
I remain in St. Dominic, your unworthy son,
Fr. Albert S. Lawler, OP
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