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NATCHEZ, MISS.:»*To ThetlColored People atchez :of(Clnalv Litter.)Dear Friends:—Bv ihis timefof vo» are surelv aware of the fact that a priest lias come in your midstto take charge more especially, if not exclusively, of your souls, and t administrate to your spiritual wants, that a school and chapel have erected for the exclusive use of vourbeenI*i»si*cniiuren, and of yourselves, and that devoted Sisters of Charity are faithfully working at the education your offspring. But what you may not know yet, or rather what you may not well understand yet, are the reasons why the ecclesiastical authority,your reverend Bishop hasto do all thisOrrr%awen to ao an tins The present circular will try to explain these reasons, so that from now on no misunderstanding may any longer exist inmatter.Is it perhaps because your ence was no longer desiredvour white brethren in God s house? Is it jierbaps, because the priests did not like any longer to administer to the wants of your souls? No; youknow and Should know better; you know by experience that every Priest is al wavs readv. bv niebt and bv dayi-11to give you when desired the consolations of ourftnnj-Ay religion; youknow very well that the Catholic Church never did shut the doors of her temp es against her Colored children. Whatever other denominations may have done in this respect, the Catholic Church never discriminated between white iTnd colored,her places of worship M ere always and are still open for alf her childrenof every race and color; her Sacrament'* arc for all. I er ceremonies areI-1-it-tea*ei-oadf«»r all, even her dignities are for Not only that ail, white and colored may approach in turn to the sameconfessional: not onlv mav bothkneel side by side at the same communion railing. but even the Colored priest, if any there be, may be assisted by* his white fellow-priests in offering at the altar the augu-t Sacritioe of the Mass. That has been soin the past, that will be so in the future. But why then now a seper-ate Church for the Colored people.Dear Colored Catholics, it is in consideration for your own feelings; it is to unite you more closely; iti*i*tII51f1ato make you take more, interest inyour religion.It is first in consideration for yourwown feelings. I need not explain ihis point at large. We all know, that when two different races are, thingsfrom time to time, which, ngni ornot, seems to hurt the feelings of either one, and which, alas for human weakness, appear to affect first of all their rriiuriotis interests. Thislivingwill occur rightr□aI?*rfremark may perhaps to a great extent explain to the deplorable fact, that while the protestant denominations with their seperate churches for Colored people have greatly increase*!, the Catholic Church lost many, many of her Colored dullest them forever.moreIt is secon closed V.fktIQoer013ato untie you ‘In nnion there is strength savs the proverb, and it is bv meet-’i®' sing each other frequently in the same place* and for the same cause, that tins union can be formed. If all the Colored people of Natchez, M ho have received baptism in the Catholic Church, acre united together,it compose a healthy littlecongregation. It was firmly hoped that by having a church of their ow*nand a priest for them, they M ouldunite and vie with one anothermione igious fervor.Finally, dear ColoredisCatholics, it is to make you take more interest in your religion, by working for it,by contributing to its support,helping to spread it among others.until now. we mav sav. von had noasft6►S3St0i8rfi11we mav sav, voum 0 9 mor little active part in matters concerning the welfare of the Church 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 how’ever show, that a happy change is coming and precisely in the same direction and by the same means, as we have proposed to follow writh you. Inseveral 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 withthree holv edificesthe sames*3tpeople, New York, St Louis, Cincinnati, Chicago, where the first andI priest of the Unitedldionly Colored priestStates is buildinga church, andr*sRichmond, Savanna and many other places show, that the Colored Catholic people are responding to thevoioe of their Shepherds, to congre-s of ther»#t*andAat friend of the Colored race, •ather Slattery has built of later;tftheBaltimoretwoforcolleges, one for lower and one higher studies, where both white and Colored young men, who feel a vocation for the Priesthood, mayI prepare themselves to labor future exelusivelv for thein theColoredpeople. You dear people of Natliez are the first in this pari of the country called upon to follow the example of vour Northern and Eastern breth-*f’ 0.- m m m —ren. Archbishop Janssens, whom I know you revere and love, writes that he wants to establish separate congregations for the Colored people in New Orleans and elsewhere, but he has no Priest to spare for the work. You have a Priest now, whoM*hatever he may be, may in truthsay of himself, that he is devoted to vou and wants to do all he can forvou. Shall all these »vour brethrenthat good will towardsShall vou keepcanexamples ofelsewhere, shall allbevainyoualoofyour priest and from yourin from place of whichworship for trifling reasons, can have no weight with intell gent and fervent Catholics?know* fronBes des you i holy Scriptures, that charity is the greatest of all virtues,“If I had faith”says St. strong that I couldlains,Paul,somoil n-Iremoveand 1 had not charity , i ambut is it Christian charity, when through mv fault 1»g,pehaps many of mypreventnon-Oatholicbrethren from hearing the true doo-Churoh?of Christ and IIis Since it is only by ha\ing'«% Separate;congregation for Colored people, that they can be draM n to the Catholic Church,Think of all this, my pear Colored people, weigh in well in your mind, but think for yourselves and do not allow yourself to be influenced by others. You all knoM-; there is no good w’ork in the world, that is not opposed by somebody/ even our Lord’s intentions and work for hi*beloved people those,were tliMartcd byfirstwho ought to have been to acknowledge and favor them. Colored Catholics of Natchez, be a unit, take a pride in becoming a self subsistent hotly, patronize yourschool, help by your means and by your good will to erect in course of time a worthy temple to Almighty God, establish in your midst religious anti benevolent societies accordingto the spirit of the Church, and you will thereby draw on you* selves theesteem and good M ill lt;»f all your fellow Catholics, and secure for your-and forandselves, for your children, otherss the means to be uprightintelligent citizens *and good and tie-voted Christians. 1 close this circular with these words of holy; For theWrit,I 11 Cor, 11. 13)brethren, rejoee,be ofberest,perfect, take Tation, he of one mind, have peace, anti the God of peace and love shall be with you. The grace of our Lord Jesus C hrist, and the charity of God. and the communication of the IIolvGliost be M-ith you all. Amen• wYmr father in Christ,A. N. J. Petkrs.A- VOICE FROM THE SOUTHTo the Editor of the American Catholic Triluno)Canton, Miss.Juue 1, 1891—Esteemed Sir:—This is the second of your paper that I have receivand I am proud to say that I |am M'ell pleased with the paper,wish every Colored family Southland could have it.copytved,so 1in this Fhc greatAfrica.interest you have taken inin M'riting and publishing the inter-of that country recommend it toestingisenoughnews toevery for indeed Sirmantheirof the South, leading men have ail proved failures in this matter, patticularly. •Yes, instead of them sounding the voices of their poor followers, they have gone about blowing 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, ftowever, I believe that the good Lord wrill work it out to suit himself.yetI 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 thenot. P. H. Davis.A correspondent sends us fromeponaLouisville, Ivy-, an account af amost pitiable affair in M'hich an old Colored woman M*as the sufferer. For speaking to the father of a white boy who had pelted her M’ith stones, the burly brute of a struck the old lady in the a terrific blow.manato court thewoman waseyeThe case going in-old decrepit, helplessfined 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 affairs exist as is reported.—Indianapolis Freeman.Mr. Ben Morgan and family haveremoved to Indianapolis.We have just received a copy of the Mechanical Netos, 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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