Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-10-14

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Fathst Chiniquywas always popular with
his ptcple Trench Catholics) in Canada,
and obtained almost unbounded influence
over them by his upright life and incessant
tolls for their welfare. His labors in the
temperance cause made him widely known
and remembered Till within few years,
rhcwas staunch adhercnt to his own church,
differing from his brother priests only in dis
tributing and recommending the reading of
the New Testament to his people. AS might
naturally be expected, the reading Of the
Word gave light, and, some three years since,
he, with five or six hundred families, settled
in St. Anne, Kankakee county, Illinois, where
they might worship God according to the
dictates of their own consciences, free from
the petty prosecutions oftheir former brethren,
This fact will open every truly American
heart to alleviate their sutferings; for our
ancestors left their fatherland for the same
cause Their crops, for the last two years,
have proved almost total failure; the frost
of June destroying their wheat, and that of
September their last hope-corn and buck
wheat-the present year; and they are now
in a starving condition, relying entirely forhelp
from the benevolent. Their pitiable condition
cannot fail to open the heart and hands of
every philanthropist, for he never stops to
ask the nation or religion of the destitute.
The fact that powerful revival of religion is
now bringing this people to rely for salvation
alone on the merits of their Saviour should
excite the liveliest interest in every true
Christian heart, and this interest should
manifest itsclf-not by saying, "be We warmed
and be ye clothed, " nor yet in simply praying
for them; but by putting our hands INTO our
pockets, and going into our granaries, and
wardrobes, and doing something for these
starving brethren in Christ A father in
Canada, recently visiting beloved son in this
colony, promised to support him and his
family, if he would return to Mother Church,
He replied: 81 love you, my father; love
my wife and children, and it almost breaks
my heart to see them suffering for bread; but
love my Saviour more, and cannot comply
with your condition" Eastern Christians
are sending them money, and the ladies of
Muscatine are raising money, food and clothing
for this people, suffering almost at our own
doors. They have visited some of the farmers
on the Upton and Iowa City roads, and
obtained between 80 and 40 bushels of wheat.
They will call on all the inhabitants in and
about Muscatine, and it is to give information
and prepare them for their visits that this
sketch and the following letter are published.
The people Of Muscatine are justly noted for
their liberality in cases Of present and real
suffering, and it is earnestly hoped that this
affecting case of wholesale misery will call
orth their warm and solid sympathies. All
the grain given will be ground, free of charge,
into -four of one grade and sent Git is thought)
free of cost to St. Anne, by the different rail-
roads. The letter from Father Chiniquy is
in answer to one from the ladies Of Muscatine,
asking for more particular information as to
what will be useful:
ST.. ANNE, Kankakee Co., Ill.,
Oct. 4th, 1859.
Ny DEAR SISTERS IN JESUS Your kind
letter has Just been handed to me, and pray
our dear Saviour, who has made himself poor
for our sakes, to bless you and the noble
hearted people Of Muscatine, for your charity
towards our poor 5ut very admirable converts
of St. Anne.
Anything that can be used for clothing or
food will be acceptable, and received with a
thankful heart. We need, also, blankets and
shoes for the male and female population.
The flour that you will send will DO q true
Providence, for nine. tenths of our farmers
have not received enough from their harvest
to make bread enough for one week.
When contemplate the awful misery and
restitution of this people, of these new con
verts, when l hear every day the cries of
children for clothing and food from parents
who have nothing to give but their tears, my
heart is broke, and l would then desire to go
to the mansions of the many happy children
of the Gospel, who have Of everything in
abundance, to throw myself at their feet, and
ask them for Jesus sake to come to our help.
Yesterday, mother of six children came
to my house to ask some. help. She tainted
in my arms, and was very near to die. She
had formerly been in good circumstances, but
the last year had completely ruined her. Her
poor husband had died of broken heart, and
from shame she had concealed her poverty
until this last time She confessed to me that
she had not eaten anything for three days.
My house is continually filled with unfor
tunates to whom nothing has been left by
their merciless creditors but their unconquer-
able faith and love for Jesus. But what is
more admirable than anything else is the
incredible patience with which they bear their
misery and restitution, and the sublime resig
nation they have to the will Of God. Being
sure to possess Jesus Christ in their hearts,
they seem to forget the body, and many seem
to be Indifferent to thu hardships of hunger
and nakedness.
The heroic virtue Of this noble people of
new converts is the best recommendation of
the Gospel. There is not single day that
new converts from Rome are not coming to
tell me that the sincere piety, the patience,
the charity of these dear poor, has made more
Impression on their hearts than the best lee
lure tucy COulu near. Our ouuoay -Scuool Is
attended by from 400 to 500 scholars, among
whom are many whose hair is white, and,
though they are old, make great progress
they are so anxious to read the Holy
Scriptures.
All! if the admirable things which our
merciful God is doing here were seen at any
point in the United States as they are, there
is not Christian lady, there is not man,
who would not be ready to make the greatest
sacrifice to help these new born children whom
our dear Redeemer has given to his church.
May our merciful Saviour bless all our dear
benefactors of Muscatine, and keep them in
his Divine Heart, is the prayer of
Your devoted brother in Christ,
zaH G. CHINIQUY.
FAST L1v1Na.-William Lane, the transfer
and foreion note clerk of the Fulton Bank