The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1871-10-01
NUMBER 35.
LITTER FROM THE rAllsH OF 81. NARY.
FRANKLIN, PARISH OF ST. MARY,
September Is, 1871.

Y
September Is, 1871. 5
Editor Morning Star and Catholic Messenger:
Knowing full we'll that the columns Of
your estimable journal are always open
and ever ready to receive news connected
with the eprogress of our Holy Religion,
might be appreciated by yourself and by
all those over whose heads the banner Of
the STAR 10 now floating, I beg leave to
send You brief sketch OF what Catholicism
has accomplished in this place during the
last two 3 ears.
1860, we had church, but no regular
pastor to officate and teach the word of
God to our little community of Catholics,
in whose hearts, as . matter of course, all
spiritual consolation and happiness was
daily growing cold. But God never for
may be their number. Accordingly, some
time in the beginning of December, 1869,
one to whom our dear Lord had said,
"MundO rrmmRcin tclle crucem ct seqaerc
me-" came with the soothing words Of reli-
gion upon his lips. to be the father and
most happy gentleman was the Rev. Father
NJ. Harnais. l say happy, because those
who have given themselves, soul and body,
to Jesus Christ and to His Church are truly
the ones who are really happy in this world.
On bis Arrival. our good and dear little
one, Tor 1nueed tl'ere was nITII 70 os ueosffsF,
aud the road that was to leaf lini, at some
future day, TO complete tn ce,s, was liter
ally covered With thnfhs.
Ready to give battle 10 the. spirit of vice
and ignorance, our heroic pastor, with cross
in hand, and the benrt filed with the sweet
JUNCTION Of religion, began the contest
truth against falsehOod-and SO great is
the courage and zeal of Christs apostle
that falsehood has sustained immense losses
and is daily losing ground and flying before
the irresistible power of truth. In the
latter part Of last March, Father Harnaia
was reinforced by three of st. Alphonsus'
noble sons. Their visit here gave Satan
fatal blow, which will cause death sooner
or later. Those good Redemptorist Fathers
remained with US q week, gave Ms o mis-
sion, and tile "sOHrear" of all tue good
they did, will long be remembered not only
! BY the Catholics, but also by the Protess-
| ant element, tor large numbers Of them
came every hight in our little church to
hear the word of truth spoken and ex-
plsined by those three illustrious priests.
Now, mere Is the result of the struggle
wh,cl, la, been going on Tor nearly Two
d Catholic, has been revived several con
vv, lions has been made, and many sinnel
has ahjared q disOi derry life, to he sol
di.r in the army of Truth Besides These
spiritual victories, there are also material
successes which deserve some note in thi'
, | cOmmuuIChIiOus
Our little church has been very mucl
improved, and now offers q decent abode
? to our Lord in the great Sacrament of Hit
! Love beautiful and well-fnished pres
r by terry has been erected near the church
which, in every respect, gives credit, ant
reflects honor on the iDdefatigable zeal ant
, energy of Father Harnais.
4 Give us now q good convent for our girl
and good school for our boys, and Frank
: lin will be, at some future day, pride I
a the Pelican State. We were visited tw
I months ago by two Sisters of the Hol.
+ Cross, who came here to see what could b
done in regard to the convent; seminary
: then under the control of the Methods
4 Episcopal Church South, was thorough.
r examined by the good Sisters, and 1t wa
"a proposed to- O-purchase the establishmel
@ with its dependencies, if the required rune 9
"a could be raised the same being then All
,s vertised for sale by order Of court Fathe
= Harnais, who was duly authorized by til
n Ecclesiastical authority of the diocese
ss failed, after doing his best, to procure th
y necessary sum, and the seminary passe
- into the hands of others.
~ Thus were frustrated, for the first tim
~ our hopes and wishes but what is deferre
" ~ is not lost, and the school necessity, v
have every reason to believe, will al
triumph. 5. l..
~ As will be seen by referring to his card