Chapter I: The Negro Mission Work

-------------+-----------+---------+---------+--------+-----------------+
| Negro |Catholic | | | Baptisms. |
DIOCESE. |Population.| Negroes.|Churches.|Priests.|Children.|Adults.|
-------------+-----------+---------+---------+--------+---------+-------+
Baltimore | 218,000 | 36,000 | 4 | 14 | 460 | 170 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Brownsville | 20,000 | | | | | |
Charleston | 550,000 | 1,000 | 2 | | 35 | 15 |
Covington | 75,000 | 115 | 1 | | 3 | 15 |
| | | | | | |
Galveston | 250,000 | 500 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 24 |
| | | | | | |
Kansas City | 40,000 | 200 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 14 |
| | | | | | |
Little Rock | 400,000 | 100 | | | 5 | 2 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Louisville | 200,000 | 4,003 | 1 | 1 | 167 | 37 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Mobile | 706,243 | 2,500 | 5 | | 82 | 4 |
Nashville | 431,320 | 40 | | | 3 | 3 |
Natchez | | 1,838 | 1 | 1 | 75 | 30 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Natchitoches | 145,000 | 15,000 | 2 | 1 | 178 | 23 |
New Orleans | | 80,000 | 2 | | 3,218 | 292 |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
New York | 80,000 | 3,000 | 2 | 4 | 58 | 22 |
| | | | | | |
Philadelphia | 60,000 | 1,500 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 10 |
Pittsburgh | | | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 |
Richmond | 700,000 | 700 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 34 |
| | | | | | |
Savannah | 720,000 | 1,000 | 1 | 1 | 50 | 12 |
St. Augustine| 97,800 | 1,200 | | | | |
| | | | | | |
San Antonio | 75,000 | 1,200 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 20 |
| | | | | | |
Wilmington | 100,000 | 125 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 7 |
-------------+-----------+---------+---------+--------+---------+-------+
| [3] | 140,021 | 28 | 30 | 4,479 | 734 |
-------------+-----------+---------+---------+--------+---------+-------+

[3] Colored population of the South in 1890, 6,996,166.

-------------+--------+-------+-------------------+----------------------
| | | |
DIOCESE. |Schools.|Pupils.| Institutions. | Sisterhoods.
-------------+--------+-------+-------------------+----------------------
Baltimore | 10 | 1,200 | St. Joseph’s |{ Notre Dame.
| | | Seminary, Epiph’y |{ Oblates.
| | | Apostolic College,|{ St. Francis.
| | | Two Orphanages, |{ Holy Cross.
| | | Academy, St. |{ Charity.
| | | Joseph’s Guild. |
Brownsville | | | |
Charleston | 1 | 126 | |
Covington | 1 | 219 | Hospital, |{ Charity.
| | | Orphanage, Home. |{ Charity of Naz.
Galveston | 2 | 420 | Orphanage. |{ St. Dominic.
| | | Indus. School. |{ Incarnate Word.
Kansas City | 3 | 108 | Orphanage. |{ Oblates of Prov.
| | | |{ Charity.
Little Rock | 5 | 450 | Indus. School. |{ St. Benedict.
| | | |{ Mercy.
| | | |{ St. Joseph.
| | | |{ Charity.
Louisville | 8 | 680 | |{ Loretto.
| | | |{ Charity.
| | | |{ Nazareth.
Mobile | 4 | 286 | | Mercy.
Nashville | 1 | 167 | |
Natchez | 5 | 240 | |{ St. Francis.
| | | |{ Mercy.
| | | |{ St. Joseph.
| | | |{ Perp. Adoration.
Natchitoches | 6 | 252 | |
New Orleans | 36 | 2,309 | Orphanage. |{ Mercy.
| | | Aged People’s |{ Perp. Adoration.
| | | Home. |{ Mt. Carmel.
| | | |{ St. Joseph.
| | | |{ Sacred Heart.
| | | |{ Holy Family.
| | | |{ St. Francis. (col.)
| | | |{ Holy Cross.
New York | 4 | 200 | Orphanage. |{ Charity.
| | | |{ St. Dominic.
Philadelphia | 2 | 140 | | Notre Dame.
Pittsburgh | 1 | 60 | | Mercy.
Richmond | 6 | 380 | |{ St. Francis.
| | | |{ Holy Cross.
Savannah | 5 | 175 | Orphanage. |
St. Augustine| 5 | 225 | |{ St. Joseph.
| | | |{ Holy Name.
San Antonio | 2 | 165 | |{ Servants of the
| | | |{ Holy Ghost.
Wilmington | 1 | 82 | Orphanage. | St. Francis.
-------------+--------+-------+-------------------+----------------------
| 108 | 7,884 | |
-------------+--------+-------+-------------------+----------------------

BALTIMORE, MD.

The Catholic Church in the Southern States has long felt the need of priests. The Bishops of these States have made successive appeals for zealous workers, but all to no purpose. St. Joseph’s Seminary and the Epiphany Apostolic College have been founded to supply this want. Although both institutions are new, sixty-five young men have offered themselves for the arduous mission. If Providence favors this Seminary and College a number of missionaries will depart yearly for the South, to work wholly in the spiritual interests of the Negro. “On sending in our application,” writes the Rev. Rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, “it may be well to review the work of the scholastic year, 1891-92, at St. Joseph’s Seminary and the Epiphany Apostolic College. The most important event, the placing of our work on an independent basis, is already known to you. We are seven priests to initiate the new movement. We have just finished a retreat in common in which we threw ourselves into shape under the name of St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart. The seven represented the two institutions for the training of missionaries, the missions of Richmond, Va., Wilmington, Del., and St. Peter Claver’s mission of Baltimore. In regard to this step, very many Bishops and Priests, by word and letter, have endorsed it. The second event of importance was the ordination of our colored priest, in December, 1891. At the close of the year there were ten seminarians at St. Joseph’s Seminary and fifty-two students at the Epiphany Apostolic College. Of our seminarians, one is a deacon, one is in minor orders, and three are tonsured. With God’s blessing and our Lady’s help, next year will see fifteen seminarians in St. Joseph’s Seminary, of whom six will have been graduates of the Epiphany Apostolic College. We expect to have at least sixty students in the latter institution. Your Eminence will bear in mind that the five thousand dollars the venerable Commission has agreed to allow us, are but one fifth of our expenses. And it is but just to add that we must raise the other four-fifths. Moreover, we must build a new seminary this year. At present, the neighboring house, one hundred and thirty feet distant, must be used, and we fear to the detriment of discipline. Plans are drawn for a building to hold sixty seminarians. Because of this building may we ask a special donation in addition to the regular allotment? The new seminary will cost sixty thousand dollars, which, as I must stand at my post, I know not how to raise.”

The following letter is from the Rev. Paul Griffith, of St. Augustine’s Church, Washington, D. C.

“I most respectfully apply for assistance from the fund for the Indian and Negro Missions. We need all the help possible to cope with the Public Schools of Washington. In fact our school facilities are poor, and unless we can do something to invite children to our Catholic school, many of them will lose their faith. Five hundred dollars are absolutely necessary to pay the teachers, but one thousand would be a veritable Godsend.”

Sister Rose Noylam, who has charge of St. Euphemia’s School, Emmitsburg, Md., writes as follows, in a letter addressed to His Eminence, Cardinal Gibbons: “I make a new appeal for our poor colored children. At the same time I wish to thank Your Eminence for last year’s appropriation; although it was one hundred dollars less than that of the year before, still we are most grateful for it. There are from forty to fifty colored children enrolled in our school, and it is both consoling and edifying to witness the docility of these little ones, and their eagerness to make all manner of sacrifices to avail themselves of the advantages of an education. Some of these children have to walk three miles to school and three more in returning to their homes. They come to school in all varieties of weather, through snow and ice, to say nothing of the other discomforts to be met with on the rugged roads of the surrounding district.”

The Rev. C. G. Giesen, pastor of St. Francis Xavier’s Colored Church, City of Baltimore, had many difficulties to contend against in the running of his large parochial school. “Four hundred colored children receive tuition free. I shall give the amount of expenses and receipts for 1891.”

Teachers’ Salaries $1,220.00
Ground Rent and Taxes 102.80
Light and Fuel 35.00
Repairs 196.33
Interest on debt 35.84
Books 203.53
---------
$1,793.50
Receipts and Donations 574.28
---------
Deficit $1,219.22

The Rev. A. B. Leeson, of St. Monica’s Colored Church, writes as follows: “Next year we shall have to exert all the influence in our power to hold our school. Within two doors of our school a large public school building is being erected.” This new public school building will draw pupils away from the Catholic school unless the latter be made equally efficient in its work. This means an increase of expenditure.

CHARLESTON, S. C.

The diocese of Charleston has a large negro population out of which a thousand are counted as Catholics. This is a goodly number, when we consider the fact, that there are but eight thousand Catholics in the whole diocese. The Ordinary of the diocese, Bishop Northrop, has this to say in reference to the Negro Missions: “This poor diocese has bought and given for the use of the colored people, since the war, the following property: a church valued at $7,000, a residence at $3,500, a school-house at $4,500, a chapel at $3,500. This makes a total expenditure of $18,500. The fathers hitherto in charge of the Negro Missions, have done their best, I suppose, but the results of their work are not satisfactory. We have the names of a thousand colored Catholics on the rolls, but no more than four hundred actually attend church. The support derived from them is extremely meagre. Notwithstanding this we have supported two churches, one priest, sometimes two, and kept the school going with three excellent teachers. I have delayed my report while trying to secure a successor to the late Rev. Cornelius Hurley, who died last April. After various unsuccessful efforts, I have made a contract with the Fathers of the Pious Society of Missions, and expect two priests in a short while. I hope by next year to be able to report progress. Father Hurley was sick for a year or more and the mission suffered very much. The Josephites were unable to give me any assistance, and just after resigning the mission Father Hurley died. I have kept the Church and School open since then, not without great inconvenience and considerable personal expense. After the arrival of the priests, whose coming I expect, I can give a better outline of my prospects for the future. I have a building valued at $5,000, situated near the Church and the School. This I propose to repair and arrange for Sisters devoted to the Colored work. It will serve as an Academy and Orphanage. These repairs will cost about a thousand dollars. If I succeed in procuring the services of Sisters, I expect your generous aid. The Church and School now call for at least $1,000 for support, the income being only $500. A new church at the Cross-roads will, I hope, be an event of the future.”

CHICAGO, ILL.

There are 35,000 Negroes in the city of Chicago; of which number about 500 are Catholics. The latter are now permanently organized and form a parish having for its pastor, the colored priest, Rev. A. Tolton. A building site has been procured in a good location and Father Tolton is exerting himself to raise funds for the erection of a church. A colored school is badly needed and could be made the instrument for the accomplishing of much good. Father Tolton is sure of the attendance of at least one hundred Catholic children, while he feels confident that two or three hundred colored Protestant children would seek admittance. The colored people in most localities are very partial to parochial schools conducted by sisters.

COVINGTON, KY.

The diocese of Covington has but few colored Catholics, yet the schools and charitable institutions founded by Bishop Maes, promise in time to bear rich fruitage. St. Peter Claver’s school in Lexington has a membership of 219 pupils; of this number 202 are protestants. The salutary influence of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, as exerted over the children intrusted to their keeping, will necessarily tend to turn the eyes of the parents towards the Church. Besides this school, there is in the same city, a hospital for colored people under the charge of the Sisters of Charity. Last year it admitted 142 patients. Another hospital in Covington cared for 42 patients last year, five of whom were received into the Church. “Your committee will notice that we have kept our own,” writes the Bishop of Covington. “Solid results already attained are the only claims we bring forward to support our application for the same amount of help as has been given us in the past, and if possible a greater amount. You will kindly notice, that so far, I have been unable to contribute a single cent towards the maintenance of the 184 feeble and sick colored people in our hospitals; and that the same lack of funds prevents me from taxing the charity of our orphan asylums to a greater extent than is already done. The prospects for permanent good done to souls at Lexington, are as bright as ever, as is proved by results, and will in my opinion assume a brighter aspect every year. I would like to begin, in Covington itself, to enlarge the sphere of negro work, but property being expensive and the resources small, I forebear, of least for this year. The following record of receipts and expenditures will give some insight into our work and its needs.”

_Accounts from January 1st, 1890, to December 31st, 1891._

1891.

Jan. 1. Balance debt of last account $1,305 06
Sisters’ School, salary 500 00
Janitor—coal 138 20
Repairs to school house 56 93
Salary of Priest 200 00
Chapel supplies 89 04
25 copies of Catholic Tribune 25 00
---------
$2,314 23
Cr. Oct. 13th. By allowance of Committee 2,000 00
---------
Dec. 31st. Balance debt 314 23

1892.

May 1st. Debt to date:
Salary of Teachers, 91 and 92 500 00
Salary of Priest 75 00
Salary of Janitor 60 00
Repairs to School 4 65
--------
May 20th. Debt to date $ 953 88
========
Estimate of expenses for 1892-93:
Balance Debt $ 953 88
School expenses 760 00
Church expenses and Priest’s salary 450 00
Help for Hospitals and Orphanage 500 00
Paris, Lot and New School 1,510 00
Salary of Teachers 300 00
---------
$4,463 88

GALVESTON, TEXAS.

The diocese of Galveston presents a great field for missionary labor. Its Negro population, aggregating a quarter of a million, knows almost nothing of the saving truths of Catholicity. The five hundred colored Catholics within the limits of the diocese are scattered here and there and are thus unable, as a body, to possess or exert any influence over their brethren. A church has been erected for the colored people, two schools have been opened, an orphanage founded, while two priests have volunteered their services for the good work. This is a good beginning. “The laudable work in behalf of the colored people in this diocese still goes on,” writes Bishop Gallagher, “and with fair success, notwithstanding the many obstacles to be met with, and the constant opposition of many ill-disposed toward our Holy Faith, especially the colored ministers, who in various ways strive to keep the colored people from our churches, and the colored children from our schools. The white people, in general, manifest little interest in our efforts to benefit the colored race; and even Catholics give little aid or encouragement to this good work. It seems evident, therefore, that the conversion of the colored people here, under ordinary circumstances, will be a work of time. The colored Catholics, being mixed with Protestants and surrounded by them, need a great deal of fortitude to withstand the evil influences about them. But in time, with the blessing of God, under the protection of our Blessed Lady of the Rosary, we hope to see the colored people coming into the true fold in large numbers. I feel sure that earnest prayer and zealous labor now will bring success later. To carry out the various projects we propose to realize during the coming year, we shall need $1,691.73 to pay the debt on Holy Rosary Church, Galveston, and on St. Nicholas School, Houston. We also need $800 to meet the current expenses of this Church and School. An addition to this, the priest’s house attached to this Church is badly needed. This improvement would cost $1,000. We would like to build a school-house for colored children at Austin. This building could be built for $1,200. To continue the work going on and to pay our debts, I request the usual allowance for Galveston. A short while ago I administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to seventeen colored people; this indicates about the results of our efforts here in Galveston in the work of evangelizing the Negroes.”

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

The Rt. Rev. L. M. Fink of Kansas City, submits the following communication touching the mission work in his diocese. It will be found interesting.

“The number of colored Catholics has not been notably increased during the past year. About one-half of the adults baptized since the last report obtained that grace in _articulo mortis_. Prejudice and ignorance will, however, be gradually removed, it is hoped, and then the work will go on more rapidly. Our schools are quite satisfactory, both in point of attendance and in the progress made by pupils in their studies. The Guardian Angel Asylum is a very promising institution, and well worthy of all encouragement. Here colored children, in their tender years, imbibe the principles and practices of Christianity. Aloof from all contaminating influences, their dispositions are carefully regulated, their minds cultivated, in a word, they are wisely prepared to become faithful Christians and useful members of an enlightened community. The buildings now occupied are entirely inadequate for the work. Many of Christ’s little ones must grow up in filth and ignorance and sin, because they who are otherwise so able and willing to keep them, lack the means of providing ample accommodations for the helpless and forsaken. One thousand dollars are needed for the ensuing year to keep up the Sisters’ schools at Leavenworth and Topeka, make an addition to the Colored Orphan Asylum at Leavenworth, and furnish part of support to one priest.”

From a letter of Bishop Fink, accompanying his report to the Commission, we quote the following: “Last year I felt very much discouraged; this year I feel more encouraged. We have again a very good school for colored children at Leavenworth. We have about twenty-five colored boys in our orphan asylum. The building being too small, we were unable to take in any girls. In order to give room to those we have, and to take in a few more, we have to put an addition to our present accommodations. This will entail an expense of some $500. I do not dare to ask for more than a thousand— which will leave a small sum at my disposal to support two schools, the Colored Sisters and give a fractional salary to the priest, who is almost exclusively engaged in the colored work at Leavenworth. We have not recuperated from the loss we sustained at Topeka, by the Oklahoma exodus, about two years ago. Besides adding a sanctuary to the school-house, separated by folding doors, so as to give the colored people divine service on some Sunday evenings, nothing more was done, except to keep up the colored school. If I could have any hope of getting for once only, an appropriation of $3000, or $4000, I would feel encouraged to put the Orphan Asylum for colored children on a firmer basis. For this purpose I would have to secure a site in the country, with a sufficient piece of land, to train the children to work and make the institution self-supporting in the course of a few years. My diocese is poor; it receives the poor from the eastern cities and towns. For these we try to do the best we can, but they do not become wealthy or able to give much help even to their own churches and schools, much less to the Negro cause. Even if they would like to be generous, as many of them try to be, still they are unable to contribute much. Thus in other words, I can expect very little, if any, help from my own diocese. We have a large Negro population in Kansas City, perhaps some 6000 souls, among whom there are not over one half dozen Catholics. As soon as our missions become self-sustaining, a beginning can be made here. I have not a sufficient number of priests at present for the whites, let alone the means.”

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

Bishop Fitzgerald, of Little Rock, feels sanguine of the future success of Catholic Missionary work in his diocese. “There is at the present time a somewhat better prospect for conversions than existed last year, as the colored people begin to see that we mean them good, not harm. The most flourishing school is at Pine Bluff. Here the usual common-school branches are taught, together with music, vocal and instrumental. The girls are taught sewing, domestic work, etc., and the boys, carpentry. Three Sisters of Charity are employed as teachers; and also an instructor in carpentry and building. The Hot Springs’ School is also doing well. In our five schools we have four hundred and fifty pupils enrolled. On the whole, I feel more encouraged than when I last wrote. We have not as yet been able to open a school at Little Rock. The colored people here are superabundantly supplied with schools, public and private. The Colored Industrial School, although but three years, founded, is a pronounced success. The attendance is much larger than usual, and promises to reach, when cotton picking time is over, two hundred and fifty pupils. In a few years it is hoped that a farm will be procured, and a full course of trades and farm work gradually developed.”

“It is desired by the Directors, Teachers and Patrons of the school to commemorate the great centennial year of 1892, by the erection of a home for the Sisters of Charity, a little church for the people and a small house for the pastor. There are 350,000 colored people in Arkansas, the greater part in the cotton Belt Region, of which Pine Bluff is the centre, and there is not one Catholic church for colored people in the whole State. Before the war many of the colored people were Catholics, but have fallen away from the church through want of that attention, which the poverty of the diocese could not grant them. A great number would now gladly return if a proper chance was offered. At present, Mass is held every Sunday in St. Joseph’s Church for their special benefit. While they have always been invited to attend the regular services of the church here and elsewhere in the State, they have, as a rule, refused to do so, owing to the fear of feeling on the part of the whites, and the demands of the regular congregation. With the great success of the school and the sympathy of both colored and white citizens, we feel, that we are offering a rare opportunity to the charitably disposed. We, therefore, most earnestly request all friends of the colored people to send us a donation, large or small, to aid us in this great work. The usual masses and prayers will be offered for all benefactors.” An interesting history of this school will be found in last year’s report of “The Negro and Indian Commission.”

LOUISVILLE, KY.

There are 4003 colored Catholics in the diocese of Louisville. Eight special schools for colored children are in good running order, with an enrollment of 680 pupils. These schools are under the direction of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, of Loretto and of lay teachers. The colored Catholics of Louisville have a church of their own, attended by a regular priest of the Josephite order. Two hundred and four baptisms have been reported during the last year.

MOBILE, ALA.

According to the late census there are 706,243 colored people in the diocese of Mobile. About 2,500 of this vast number are Catholics. The total Catholic population, negroes and whites included, is scarcely 17,000 souls. These figures will give us some slight idea of the difficulty to be met with on every side in the work of propagating the faith. Priests, money and moral support are absolutely necessary to achieve any missionary success. Bishop O’Sullivan has five colored schools directed by the Sisters of Mercy and by lay teachers. Two hundred and thirty-five pupils attended them. “These schools do much good. The attendance would be larger if they were entirely free. In our present circumstances I think it advisable to exact a small fee for tuition. People do not always appreciate what they get for nothing. The children are well instructed in the catechism and make good progress in their studies. Through the children we hope to lead the parents to the church. We have at last opened the mission for colored people in Pensacola. Father Fullerton generously took charge of the work. We have a church and school combined. It is a frame building, two stories high, 75 feet by 32 feet. The first story is used for school purposes and the second as a church. The Sisters of Mercy teach the school. The building was blessed December 4th, there being large congregations present at the three services. The church is under the patronage of St. Joseph. I am more than hopeful for the success of this mission. We need a house for the Pastor and as the church is yet to be built we have secured a lot in a fine situation. We receive very few adult converts from among the colored people. However, the proportion of colored converts is equal to the number of white converts. Hence, there is no good reason why we should look on the conversion of the colored people as hopeless; on the contrary, the outlook is encouraging. If we plant the good seed, our successors will reap a rich harvest. We must work and wait and pray until the Lord sends the harvest. The Catholics in the South are so few, that it is impossible for them to supply missionaries and means to carry on the work. Help must come from outside. May God bless all who help in this mission.”

NASHVILLE, TENN.

There is but forty colored Catholics in this diocese. The colored population numbers 434,320. The contrast is very striking. The diocese has suffered much on account of the Civil War and the terrible yellow fever plagues that ravaged the South in 1867, 1873, ’78 and ’79. These successive plagues carried off twenty priests and many religious, dealing a blow, from the effects of which the diocese has not as yet been able to recover. There is one special school for the colored people. It is located in Memphis and has a membership of 167 pupils. Bishop Rademacher writes that in regard to this school, Father Moran, of St. Peter’s Church, informs him that the progress of the pupils is very encouraging. “Towards the close of the term, however, the ‘Oklahoma fever’ attacked our colored people and many of those who went out there were the parents of our children, and of course we lost those children. The tendency of the colored people to roam about is one of the chief obstacles to the success of the school. The race trouble in Memphis last Spring had also an injurious effect. The experience of the last four years has not been very encouraging. ‘I believe’ says Father Moran, ‘we are removing prejudice and gradually convincing the colored people that the Church is honestly trying to do something for them. The children are taught the catechism and prayers and are making satisfactory progress in them. But for good and sufficient reason, it has not been deemed prudent to receive, as yet, any of them into the church.’”

NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI.

In the State of Mississippi the negroes out-number the whites. The Catholic population of the whole State numbers but 15,000, out of which 1838 are colored. There is perhaps one colored Catholic in every seven hundred of the population. Five colored schools are kept open with an average attendance of about two hundred children. These schools are in charge of religious. Bishop Heslin has a wide field for work. One of his priests, a very zealous man, is engaged exclusively in Negro Mission work. This priest, the Rev. A. N. Peters, has just purchased a plot of ground in a locality easily accessible to the colored people. “This will entail additional expense,” writes Bishop Heslin, “as almost every building that is required will have to be built new, and the old place cannot be disposed of at once. The Rev. Father will have to seek help to enable him to erect church, school, convent and parsonage and to provide himself with a means of livelihood.”

NATCHITOCHES, LA.

The colored Catholics of this diocese number 15,000, or about half the total Catholic population. Bishop Durrier is doing his utmost to extend the work of Catholic education. The six schools within his diocese have been founded through aid granted him by the Commission.

In a letter forwarded to the Commission the bishop writes: “I ask for the same allocation as that granted me last year, $2000. This year I did not succeed in doing for Catholic education all that I wished. I hope to do better the coming year. I have re-opened the school at Bayou Wallace which we were forced to close last year. The prospects of the work hardly show a bright spot; yet the work can stand on the principle, that the salvation of a single soul is worth both any amount of money and any amount of labor. The work will keep going on. I have no special observation to submit to the Commission. I simply surmise that in the fight for the Catholic education of the colored people, the Commission ought to give the honors of war, even to those who come out from the battle field badly beaten, provided they ‘never despair of the Republic.’ The progress we have made is not so encouraging as I had expected. Still, I believe in trying and trying again.”

This determination to succeed has the true ring to it; Bishop Durrier’s motto will always bear him out. “What _ought_ to be done, _must_ and _shall_ be done.”

NEW ORLEANS, LA.

The diocese of New Orleans still continues to lead in the work of Negro education. There are 80,000 colored Catholics in the diocese, 36 schools open to colored children, a large orphan asylum and a home for aged women. The schools are attended by over 2309 pupils. Two or three extra schools are opened each year. Archbishop Janssens feels confident of the future good results to come from his labor, in multiplying these colored schools. His pithy letter is extremely interesting.

“This year I notice a decrease in infant baptisms. One year there are more, another less. An average of a certain number of years would enable us to draw a conclusion either one way or the other. During the last year our schools have been increased by four new ones while we note an increased attendance of 404 pupils. This is a consoling item. There is a strong desire on the part of both priests and sisters to perform their full duty towards colored schools. In many of our parishes the priests are anxious to open schools, but the poverty of the parishes does not allow it. If we had $20,000 to spend on this item alone, it would not be adequate, by any means, to present and pressing wants. However, we are making arrangements to open three schools, two of which will draw a very large number of pupils, they being situated in parishes largely made up of colored people. We have two churches especially for colored people. One of these, at Petite Prairie, has long since existed but I was not aware of it, until I made a visit there last year. One new Orphan Asylum is so far finished that we have been able to transfer our orphan girls there. It has cost $16,747, on which is a debt of $4000. God’s Providence has visibly assisted us in this work. When the debt is paid, we will furnish it according to plan, thus entailing a cost of $8000 more. It is of brick, simple but beautiful style, strongly constructed, well ventilated, with a capacity for 150 orphans. This Asylum, more than anything else, has lifted up our colored population in the city. They feel grateful to the Church for it. At the laying of the corner stone, the different colored societies paraded and there were about 7000 colored people in and around the premises, besides many whites. The old Asylum has been fitted up at an expense of $1200, (no debt) and our aged colored women have it for a home. It is able to accommodate about fifty people. The year 1891, has been remarkable in the history of the Church’s progress in this diocese, both for white and colored Catholics. _Deo Gratias._

“Last September I made a pastoral visit to the chapel at Petite Prairie. The road leads through swamps and is abominable in bad weather. We were favored by a clear sky. Thirty colored cavaliers came to meet us, to conduct us to the chapel, an old store, in a rather dilapidated condition. The chapel was full to overflowing and the people delighted. I confirmed sixty-nine colored people. This is an exclusively colored settlement, most of its inhabitants being free-men before the war. They are industrious, intelligent and very much devoted to the church and religion. Here there are about 500 Catholics, but owing to the distance from the church and the many occupations of the Pastor they have Mass but once a month on a week-day. I was really surprised to find the children, when examined, so well instructed in their religion. They are anxious to have a resident priest, a school and a new church. But where are the laborers? In another portion of the diocese, at Grossetete Bayou, there is a somewhat smaller settlement of negroes, who before the war, were sold in Maryland to Louisiana Protestant Planters. The history of their trials for religion, their constancy to the faith, would embellish a page in the history of the Martyrs of the Church. Much is said of the inconstancy of the negro, but my experience convinces me, that where the negro has been brought up in the knowledge and practice of religion, he is as constant as any white Catholic under the circumstances. Bad training and ignorance degenerate their mind and heart as it does with the white population. We are trying to raise means to build a church for that settlement. I regret very much that the Commission has been obliged to diminish the allocation. Our work is increasing and the funds diminishing. May the Lord provide some other means.”

NEW YORK, N. Y.

The diocese of New York has 80,000 colored people within its limits. The vast majority of these dwell on the Bermuda Islands which are under Archbishop Corrigan’s jurisdiction. In New York City there are 3000 colored Catholics, with one church devoted to their use. Their spiritual interests are cared for by two priests of the diocese. Two Benedictine Fathers are in charge at Nassau. A flourishing “school and home” has been opened at Rye, N. Y., which is directed by ten Dominican Sisters. The three schools at Nassau are well spoken of as will be seen by the following letter. The Sisters of Charity have charge of them. The labor of these two Sisterhoods in this arduous mission work has been untiring. The Sisters of Charity have devoted their energies to the colored people without remuneration, and have been supported by the zeal and generosity of the Mother House at Mount St. Vincent’s.

The following interesting letter is from Archbishop Corrigan:

“I have the pleasure of returning to you the blank form with regard to the colored Missions. The Rev. Jno. E. Burke, of St. Benedict’s Home, has given the facts relating to his Mission, and I myself add a few details regarding the Mission at Nassau, which I visited last month for the purpose of administering the Sacrament of Confirmation. I found our Free Schools to be the best on the Island. They are attended by over 200 children, all of them negroes, and nearly all non-catholics. Their parents are anxious that these children should have the benefit of a good education, and especially of that training and gentleness which is imparted by devoted religious teachers. The Sisters who conduct the schools are popular with all classes of the community. During my stay at Nassau, I visited the schools several times, in company with other clergymen, and was a witness to the surprising proficiency of the pupils, and was present at an exhibition given by the colored children, which was attended by the most distinguished residents of Nassau. Among them were Sir Ambrose and Lady Shea, the Colonial Secretary, Captain Jackson and his wife, the Attorney General and the Chief Justice. They unanimously expressed themselves as surprised and pleased beyond measure with the results obtained in so short a time from such unpromising material. Later on this exhibition was repeated for the parents of the pupils, much to their delight and gratification.

“The hope of the future of this Mission is in the schools, and, therefore, with God’s blessing it is proposed this year to erect another building, in order to accommodate the large number of applicants, whom we are now obliged to refuse. During the month of November, 1891, a kindergarten was opened in Nassau. It is already overcrowded. We propose to receive young children in this kindergarten, and then gradually lead them on to the other branches of an ordinary education. Religious instruction is regularly given, and I assisted one Sunday at the Sunday School, which was composed almost entirely of non-catholics, who went there of their own accord, and who answered the catechism in such a way as might bring a blush to many of our more favored children.

“Recently a second Benedictine Father sailed for Nassau to assist Rev. Father Chrysostom, O. S. B., who is in charge of the Mission. On the whole, I felt very well repaid for the discomforts of the journey by sea and the distance traveled, (nearly 2400 miles altogether), on witnessing the results already accomplished. I had the pleasure of confirming 20 children and adults, all of whom, except one, were colored, and all of whom except this one, were converts. On Holy Saturday Father Chrysostom expects to baptize 20 more Neophytes. As the colored Catholics of Nassau are few and poor, it is impossible for them to contribute to the support of the Mission, so that for the present it must be carried on as a labor of christian love and self-sacrifice. There are many hardships connected with the Mission, particularly in the long summer months when the thermometer rises to 160 degrees in the sun. There are privations in the way of obtaining proper food, as the fresh meats and fresh vegetables must be imported from this city and communication is rare from the month of May to November. However, the Grace of God enables the good missionaries and the devoted sisters to endure these difficulties and to bear them cheerfully for the glory of His name.”

The New York City Mission carries a large debt on the Home for Destitute Colored Children, located at Rye. It receives children from other dioceses. One hundred children are now cared for and educated within its walls. Father Burke who is at its head asks the Commission for $1500. Besides this, the building of a new school at Nassau is deemed necessary, thus calling for an outlay of about $2000. The prospects for future good in this diocese look encouraging.

NORTH CAROLINA.

Bishop Haid has many unfavorable conditions to encounter in his large vicariate. The Catholics both white and colored are few and scattered. Every step he would make in the right direction is hampered by the poverty of the diocese. We give his letter to the Negro and Indian Commission: “The Colored Missions in North Carolina, have made some progress, but not such as I could have wished. With the means at our disposal, we should perhaps not expect too much. St. Charles’ Church at Newbern, is finished. Rev. M. Haw has Divine Service there every Sunday for the colored People. He seems greatly interested in the work, and has a considerable class ready for Confirmation. The Sisters of Mercy teach the colored school and have from 88 to 100 pupils enrolled. At Wilmington the colored Catholics attend St. Thomas’ Church and are very regular. The Sisters of Mercy teach the school which numbers about 100 pupils. This year we may increase our school room. St. Benedict’s colored church, near the Abbey, is under the charge of good Father Melchior, who exerts himself to the utmost. The school connected with this church was taught by a lay teacher last year. This year the Sisters of Mercy from the Sacred Heart Academy will take charge of it. Until I procure more priests, or better, until I procure priests ready to devote themselves altogether to the colored people, little more can be done than what we are now trying to do. If some community of Sisters would establish a house for the old and infirm in some large town, I believe they could do a world of good; as the older people are more thoughtful, they would gladly open their hearts to our Holy Faith on beholding Faith practised in Charity. I trust you will continue your generous aid to the colored people of North Carolina.”

PHILADELPHIA, PA.

In last year’s report a full account was given of the purchase and opening of a church for colored Catholics in Philadelphia. “From the results attained since then” writes the Rev. Jas. Nolan, “there is every reason to believe that the colored Mission in Philadelphia will eventually prove a success. Nothing could be more encouraging than the large number of young men and women who have, within the last year returned to the practice of their religion. For years they had strayed away; they had but rarely attended church and were never known to approach the sacraments. Now they approach the sacraments and are ardently attached to their church. I have no doubt that each succeeding year may bring many more to follow their example.

“Lack of funds, unfortunately is a great drawback to the mission, there is still a debt of $10,000 on the church, the interest payable half-yearly. Moreover, we have other heavy expenses for schools, light, heat, water, etc. These matters often prevent us from paying as much attention to the spiritual side of the work as is really necessary. The schools are well attended and through them we hope to reap in due time an abundant harvest. I earnestly hope your venerable Commission will give me this year a substantial subsidy to enable me to realize at least some of the great good that can be done among so large a population of colored people.”

Sister Agnes Mary, superioress of the Convent of Notre Dame, writes of the colored school for girls, as follows:

“In sending in our claim for a share in the annual distribution in favor of colored schools, we present the Committee with a report of the Girl’s colored school under our care at Ninth and Pine Sts. The school opened in September last with an attendance of 68; but owing to sickness and other causes, the number was decreased by 10 or 12, so that at the close of the school, June 23, there were about 56 present. One-half are Catholics. We have had the consolation of seeing many who had been negligent in the discharge of their religious duties, resume their former fervor, and become monthly communicants. The pupils have given general satisfaction. One convert has been received into the church. As many Catholic children are drawn to public schools by the inducement of books free of charge, we are obliged to use the same bait, and furnish them with sewing material, books and other school requisites.” The boy’s school is conducted in the basement of the church, (St. Peter Claver’s) by Brothers of the Society of the Holy Ghost. This school has an average attendance of 80 pupils.

PITTSBURGH, PA.

The spiritual interests of the colored Catholics of Pittsburgh are looked after by the Rev. John Griffin, C. S. Sp., who resides at Holy Ghost College in that city. A church was erected last year, in the basement of which a school has been opened, conducted by two Sisters of Mercy. Its average attendance is about fifty pupils. “We greatly need pecuniary support” writes Father Griffin “in order to pay off the debt still due on our parochial property. There is no pastoral residence near the church, and this for want of means to purchase one. The priest attending the colored church, has to reside at a considerable distance from it. The good effected, though perhaps not so rapid and consoling as might be found in other kinds of charitable enterprises, is still real and substantial. We hope that those who have power, influence and means, will extend a kindly, helping hand to the poor priest, to whose lot it has fallen to take upon his weak shoulders this difficult, uphill work.”

RICHMOND, VA.

In this diocese live 700,000 negroes. Out of this number 700 are classed as Catholics. One Catholic in every 1000. This is certainly a good field for zealous missionaries. One priest only is engaged in the colored work. Six schools are in operation with an enrollment of about four hundred pupils. The Sisters of St. Francis and the Sisters of the Holy Cross have charge of them. Rev. P. J. Oud, a Josephite father, writes to the Commission as follows: “During the coming year we hope to open new missions. Several localities are clamoring for schools, but we have not the means. In the past, as well as now, we are mainly depending upon the money, kindly granted us by the Commission for the distribution of the Negro and Indian fund.”

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

A letter from Rev. R. J. Molony about the work being done among the Negroes of this diocese has already been cited.

SAVANNAH, GA.

Nearly one-half of the population of this diocese are colored. There are 1000 colored Catholics out of the total number of 20,000 Catholics to be found in the State. The colored people have five Catholic schools open to them, and one church in Savannah which is regularly attended by a priest. “It seems to me” writes Bishop Becker, “that the colored people need to be taught less in schools, and a great deal more in individual work. They have a notion that the sovereign panacea for all their woes is to be able to read and write a little, and learn something of figures. They believe that such knowledge would somehow keep them from being obliged to work. The orphan Asylum for colored children is wholly dependent on our help, except for what the girls may get for working. I would gladly do all in my power to aid the colored people suitably. It is my well founded belief, that without an ‘Industrial School’ under some Brothers, like the Xavieran for instance, very little permanent good can be effected. With utterly inadequate means we are doing what we can.”

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA.

The Rt. Rev. Bishop Moore, of St. Augustine, presents his views on the condition of Negro Mission work in his diocese, in an interesting letter which we give in full.— “This month one year ago the convent and school of the Sisters of St. Joseph, in Jacksonville, were burned and have not since been rebuilt. I should like to rebuild a school for the colored children at a cost of about $500. This would suit very well until the Sisters are able to rebuild their convent. In Tampa the Jesuits are desirous of establishing a colored school and I should like to give them $500 for that object. The $7700 I have heretofore received has paid for the block of ground which I have secured for school, church and presbytery for the colored people. Over $400 are left over to go towards the building. As I would have that building to serve for a school, a hall for meetings, and perhaps for a church temporarily, I believe I should not erect one that would cost less than three or four thousand dollars. Hence, I propose to wait until I shall have a sum approximating that amount before I undertake to build; and I would express the hope of receiving a generous contribution from the collection this year. Although I feel much discouraged by the accounts I hear of the partial failure of separate churches for the colored people in other parts of the South, I am determined to make the experiment in St. Augustine this year; but I desire to make it after my own idea— I desire to have for the colored Catholics the best and most attractive church in the place, one of which they will be proud. I desire to have it so situated that the grounds will allow of public processions on Palm Sunday, Corpus Christi and other festivals of the church. I hope in that way to retain the Catholics we have and to win over others.”

WILMINGTON, DEL.

The Rev. J. A. de Ruyter, a zealous Josephite Father who has accomplished much good in Wilmington writes: “By advice of the Rt. Rev. A. A. Curtis and very Rev. J. R. Slattery, an asylum for negro orphan boys has just been opened. For this purpose I have given up the priest’s house. Next to it we have a plot of ground on which to build. This is the only exclusive boys’ orphan asylum for Catholic negroes. Orphan boys from all dioceses will be admitted. We need much help to supply this long-felt great want. A plot of ground at Cape Charles City, donated to me by a protestant gentleman, needs a little chapel and school combined. We have no means to carry out this desire. Chestertown, Md. and Elkton, Md., need the same. We are ready and anxious to carry out the mission work, but we have no means to do it. I request an allowance of $3000 this year. This sum is badly needed.”