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NATCHEZ. MISS.:To TheColored People atchez:oftlyt!-Mnulw Litter.)Dear Frienis:—Bv this time all*you are surely aware of the fact that a priest has come in your midst to take charge more especially, if not exclusively, of your souls, and t * administrate to your spiritual wants,that a school and chapel have been erected for the exclusive use of your1lsrrren, and of yourselves, and that devoted Sisters of C harity are faith-working at the education ofyour offspring. But what you maynot know yet, or rather what you may not well understand yet, are the reasons why the ecclesiastical authority,your reverend Bishop has thought well to do all this The present cir-rea-sons, so that from now on no misunderstanding may any longer exist inr cular will try to explainak\0 Imatter.Is it perhaps because yourence was no longer desired among vour white brethren in God s house? Is it jierhaps, because the priests did not like any longer to administer to the wants of your souls? No; y~**I'Ll (know and Should know better; you know by experience that every Priest is always ready, by niffht and bvdavnnto give you when desired the consolations of our holy religion; you know very well that the Catholic Church never did shut the doors of her temp Vs against her Colored children. Whatever other denominations may have done in this respectthe Catholic Church never discrimi-tr.nnated between white rfudcolored,alwaysher places of worship were and are still open for all her children of every race and color; herI--! it-t 'i-0ineiits are for all, I er ceremonies are f«*r all, even her dignities are for all. Not only that ail, white and colored may approach in turn to the same confessional; not only may belli kneel side by side at the same commit n ion-railing, but even the Colored priest, if any there be, may be assisted by bis white feliow-priests in offering at the altar the august Sacri tioe of the Mass. That has been so in the past, that will be so in the future. But why then nowseper-ate Church for the Colored peopdd*«-town feeling**s3f1Dear Colored Catholics, it is in consideration for your own feelings; it is to unite you more closclv; it ism m w #to make you take more, interest in your religion.It is first in consideration for yourI need not explain his point at large. We all know, when two different races are0 „„ thing*from time to time, which, ngin ornot, seems to hurt the feelings ofeither one, and which, alas for human weakness, appear to affect first of all their religious interests, This remark may perhaps to a great tent explain to the deplorable fact, that while the protestant denomination- with their generate churchesliving togtwill occurrightex-, for Colored people have greatly in* a I creased, the Catholic Church has lost many, many of her Colored chil-, and lost them forever.stkatIt is second to unite you more closely. “In union there is strength*’ says the proverb, and it is by meeting each other frequently in the same place, and for the same that tiiis union can be formed. Ifaoe-the Colored people of Natchez, who have received baptism inlie Church, were united togetherthey might compose a healthy congregation. It was firmly that by having a church of their ownand a priest for them, they would unite and vie w ith one another in re igious fervor.Finally, dear Colored Catholics, it is to make you take more interest- | in your religion, by working for1seBUby contributing to its helping to spread it amongbvon3SftSe►s2«r■i§rril1s3twe may §av. vou had no4F „ „ w ■mgor little active part in matters concerning the welfare of the and the spread of our holy religion. While since the day of your emancipation you have been gradually advancing in the aqcuisition of property, of mechanical skill, and in other worldly pursuits—your holy religion has not felt the effect of your energy and activity, the Church can not yet boast of the good works of her Colored children. Late events howTever show, that a happy change is coming and precisely in the same direction by the same means, as we have proposed to follow with you. In several cities of the Union seperate congregations of Colored 'Catholics have been organized of late years or are in a fair way of organization. Washington with its supberb Catholic Colored Church, Baltimore with its three holy edifices for the same people, New York, St Louis, Cincinnati, Chicago, where the first and only Colored priest of the UnitedaiStates is building a church, mond, Savanna andRich-otheri-3manyplaces show, that the Coloredolic people are responding tovoioe of their Shepherds, to concrete and work for the interest of theCath-thefaurek and of their own soulsAr»t«feat friend of the Colored race,has built of lateBaltimoretwofor'ather Slattery years in the city of colleges, one for lower and one higher studies, where both white and Colored young men, who feel a vocation for the Priesthood, mayprepare themselves to labor in the future exclusively for the Coloredpeople. You dear people of Nathez are the first in this part of the country called upon to follow the example of vour Northern and Eastern breth-Archbisliop Janssens, whom I know you revere and love, writesw 'that he wants to establish separate congregations for the Colored peoplein New Orleans and elsewhere, but he has no Priest to snare for thework.spareYou have a Priest now, whotruthwhatever he may be, may’ in say of himself, that he is devoted tovou and wants to do all he can for..examples ofelsewhere, shall allbevou. Shall all these vour brethrenthat good will towardsShall vou keepvainyoualoofyour priest and from yourin from place of whichworship for trilling reasons, can have no weight with intell gent and fervent Catholics?know'Bes des you from holy Scriptures, that charity is the greatest of all virtues,“If I had faith”says St.strong that I could lain s.Paul,somoil n-Iremoveand I kalt;l not charity , i ambut is it Christian charity, when through ray fault Inothing,”pehaps many of myprevent non-Catholicbrethren from hearing the true doctrine of Christ and IIis Church?Since it is only by having^* Separatecongregation for Colored people, that they can be drawn to the Catholic Church. i# %Think of all this, my pear Coloredpeople, weigh in well in your mi but think for yourselves and do notinfluenced. by there is noallow yourself to be others. You all know*; good work in the world, that is opposed by somebody/ even our Lord’s intentions and work for hi*notbeloved people were thwarted those, who ought to have beenand favor them.byfirstto acknowledgeColored Catholics of Natchez, be a unit, take a pride in becoming a self subsistent twuly, patronize your school, he Ip by your means and byyour good will to erect in course oftime a worthy temple to Almighty God, establish in your midst religious and benevolent societies according to the spirit of the Church, and you will thereby draw* on you* selves theesteem ami good will of all your fellow* Catholics, and secure for your-and forandselves, for your children, others the means to be upright intelligent citizens'and good and devoted Christians. I close tins circular with these words of holy: For theWrit,11 Cor, 11. 13)brethren, rejoee, exhortation, be ofberest.perfect, take one mind, have peace, and the God of peace and love shall be with you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the charity of God. and the communication of the IIolvGliost be with you all. AmenYour father in Christ,A. N. J. Peters.A. VOICE FROM THE SOUTHTo the Ktlitor of the American Catholic Tritune)Canton, Miss.Juue 1, 1891 — Esteemed Sir:—This is the second copy of your paper that I have received,and I am proud to say that I fam so well pleased with the paper, that 1 wish every Colored family in this Southland could have it. The great interest you have taken in Africa,in writing and publishing the inter-of thatestmg isenoughnews tocountryrecommend it toeveryfor indeed Sirymantheirof the South,menhave ail proved failures in this matter, pai ticularly. ,Yes, instead of them sounding the voices of their poor followers, they have gone about blow ing their own trumpets, all for the dollar. Believe me, Sir, there are thousands of people that would gladly go to Africa, if they only could. However, I believe that the good Lord wTill yet work it out to suit himself.I am a Methodistisminister, it true, and I love my calling and position, but may I say, O, that the Lord may bless your w'ork and labors and help you to write and publish more of the good and interesting news about the so-called “Dark Land” Africa. Ever yours for therue, P. H. Davis.A correspondent sends us fromsponaLouisville, Ky-, an account af a most pitiable affair in w hich an old Colored woman was the sufferer.For speaking to white boy whothe fatherof ahad pelted her w'ith stones, the burly brute of a man struck the old lady in the eve a a terrific blow.to court thewoman waseyeThe case going in-old decrepit, helpless fined heavily; being penniless she was sent to prison for six months. There is- need of an Afro-American league in Louisville, if such a condition of affairsas is reported.exist Indianapolis Freeman.Mr. Ben Morgan and family haveremoved to Indianapolis.ofWe have just received a copy the Mechanical News, from the pressof James Leffel Co , New York.It is one of great scientific, mechanical publications of the country,We are hearing from the South.
Newspaper Details
American Catholic Tribune
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Sat, Jun 13, 1891
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 28 May 2023
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