The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-11-19

FIRST DEPARTURE OF MISSIONERS.
To the Members of St. Joseph's Society for Foreign
1t is right that, as members of this So
esting all event as the selection of the first
mission to be confided to our care, and the
departure of our first missioners. have,
therefore, the happiness to inform you that
we have received q mission to the negroes
of North America, together with a special
Pontiff; and that this has been communi-
Gated to us through the Sacred Congrega-
ton de Propaganda Eide.
1t ia we'll known that for many years the
Holy See has been anxious to provide for
the colored population of America, among
wonders, and was truly the first apostle.
The zeal of tho American Bishops to CO.
operate as fully as they would with the de-
signs of the Holy See has been restrained
only by the paucity of priests, the prior
claims of the white population, and diff
culties of various sorts.
The number Of negroes in North Ameri-
ca, according to the last census, is nearly
five millions. Nothing can be imagined
more deplorable than their religious and
moral condition. Speaking of the great
mass of them-though nucleus of good
some thousands of nominal Catholics,
though without instruction-it is literally
mission to the unbaptizsd and to the hea-
then that we are undertaking. But it is a
mission full of hope, for they are possessed
of good qualities, and will respond to the
affection of those who, they will learn,
have bound themselves even by vow to
| their service and interest.
The following extract from touching
| letter from the venerable Archbishop of
Baltimore, in reply to- one announcing to
him the mission we have received, will be
II
"Your letter of the 25th has filled my
heart with joy. l received it when l was
quite ill, but it contributed greatly to my
convalescence, and am nearly well again.
Please come at once to examine the ground,
and make all necessary arrangement for
the new colony. AS Baltimore is the natu-
raj and most appropriate point for the
Mother House of any Institution for the
beneft-ef~the~ eolored-people, whence it
may form branches for the entire South,
you should, l think, begin here. In three
counties of Marylan the most beautiful,
probably, in all America for natural ad-
vantages, there are no less than sixteen
thousand Catholic negroes, with half as
many who are not yet Catholics but we'll
disposed. You have a field of action al
ready prepared, and ripe for the harvest.
l have some sixty acres of good
land, which propose to give. you, with an
| ample house, old and somewhat out of re-
pair, formerly used as an academy, Which,
with some repairs, might we'll suit for
humble beginning and in such works God
blesses humble beginnings. All this 1 will
give you most cheerfully. The place is
beautiful, though the first year your MEM
bers may have to undergo probation of
chills and fever, which may be, however,
averted by suitable precautions"
Another letter speaks of "many thou
| sands of negroes who are sadly in need of,
and at the same time very anxious for, re-
| llgious instruction."
Another Bishop writeD "Great numbers
of negroes in various parts of Maryland are
in various stages of proximity to the
Church some are already fervent Catho-
lies; some we'll disposed, though not con-
verified and immense numbers whose future
will depend on the exertions that will be
made in their favor. This state of things
is more or less of a transition character, as
they have been hitherto in state of
slavery" and consequently the more urgent
| the need fer immediate action.
The condition of the State of Maryland
must present a peculiar interest to English
Catholics. It was an English Catholic,
Lord Baltimore, who, flying from persecu.
ton at home, at last obtained. Royal
| Nharke. uarn1ikkin0 EuGliah CAthOlice TO