To John Tyndall, Snr   Wednesday night, 12 o'clock, (Apr. 20th, 1842)

Wednesday night, 12 o’clock.

My dear Father

I was reading a letter from Mr Conwill1 a few minutes ago and before I had it half finished, I took up the pen determining to write to you, tho’ you are at present a letter in my debt. I am after returning from hearing a lecture on the invocation of Saints and Angels and the worship of the Virgin Mary in Christ’s Church.2 The occupant of the pulpit was a most able fellow his name is Bleakley,3 he did his business cleverly – the church was crowded. The words of his text were ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name he will give it you –’4 therefrom deducing the fact that intermediate intercession5 were unnecessary, were I not sleepy I’d give you some of his arguments. I am as well as usual and that is as well as I can be, how are my mother and Emma. I think there’s no fear of yourself, you are pretty hardy. Good night

Your affectionate son | John Tyndall.

RI MS JT 1/10/3257

LT Transcript Only

1

a letter from Mr Conwill: Unless Tyndall means letter 0139, written several days earlier, this letter from Conwill is missing.

2

Christ’s Church: see letter 0141, n. 7.

3

Bleakley: Reverend John Bleakley of St Patrick Street, Cork, Curate of Christ’s Church (Slater’s).

4

‘Whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name he will give it you –’: John 16:23.

5

intermediate intercession: The Roman Catholic doctrine of Intercession asserts that, as well as Christ, saints and angels can offer up their own prayers on behalf of men.

Please cite as “Tyndall0142,” in Ɛpsilon: The John Tyndall Collection accessed on 4 May 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/tyndall/letters/Tyndall0142