The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1873-08-17
Morning star and Catholic Messenger
NRW ORLEANS SUNDAY. AUGUST IL. ie'3
LErrER from DRNIsOE, TEX.


LITTER FROM DENISON, TEX.
Depison, Greyson county, the junction of the
Texas Central and the Missouri, Texas and
and Kansas Rail Roads, is 450 miles from Gal
weston and but three miles from the Arkansas
State line. AS late as August last, the name of
Denison, as a town, was unknown-the first
lot of ground was sold September 23d 1872,
and on May esd, this year, a census W as taken,
showing population of 1917. Its present
populntion exceeds 4, 600. Denison has
tional bank, three newspapers Gone of them,
the Dcnison -N,,cS, being daily) and two
churches, one n Methodist, the other Catholic
Besides being the junction of the above men
toned roads, it will shortly have two Others
one extending east to Tyler, the other west to
GAINESVILLE. Denison bids fair to ontstrip all
the other railroad centres in Texas, except
Houston. / notice but few families located
here as yet. The place resembles in appear
ance the descriptions we have read eff the early
settlements of many of the largest towns now
existing in California, with the exception of
being more orderly and law abiding. Many of
the male inhabitants are men of family and
intend to remove their families here soon as
they can provide suitable accommodations for
them. The health of Denison is splendid, it
Texas.
In December last, Father Martin ere, the first
priest who ever came here, arrived. He fou nd
only q few whiskey shops, a store or two, and
few houses. After making several unsuc-
ceesful efforts to procure place to celebrate
mass, he succeeded in obtaining the loan of n
room for one day. His first mass was attended
by only two persons, one of them a Protestant.
iS fo hat ha moi
aged, and the result of his perseverance was
manifest to-day, when his beautiful little
church was crowded to witness the first mass
that was to be celebrated inside its walls.
The church was only commenced on the 9TH
day of July, and to-day, Aug. 3D., three masses
were celebrated in it the first by Rev. Father
Bussart, of Waco, tho second by Father Chan
dy, of Corscana, and the last by Father Mar
tiniere. Father Martinere delivered an elo-
quent sermon, in which he gave great credit
to the population of Denison for their lber-
ahty in contributing towards erecting tho
church. Father Martiniere has been q mis-
sioner in these parts for over seven years hav-
ing n circuit of few hundred miles to attend
to. Our Catholics at home and in tbs North
orn States, have no idea of how much hard
ship the devoted missionaries in Texas have
to endure. 1t is d common thing for them tc
be constantly on the road and often to want
even the necessaries of life. Were our broth
rem at homo to sec, as have seen, these devo
ted servants of God laying the bare foo
in II rude hut, and obliged to go from house u
house to procure their meals, they might b.
prompted to organize somo kind of an endow
ment fund for their benefit.
Father Bussart, the pastor of Waco, has t,
attend mission stations in six different counties
and, notwithstanding all this, has succeeded
in building fine brick church, called " Th,
Assumption" lie intends to erect a school as
soon as possible which he will place in ch rye
of the Sisters. When the corner stone of hi!
church was laid, several priests werc present
bot the assemblage small that all o
the clergy present predicted that he conld not
possibly carry his intentions ont. To-day he
has as fine a church, and as exemplary 4 congrc
cation as is to be found in tho interior OF
Texas. The mission that he attended when be
first came to Texas seven years ago, now re-
luires six priests, having been divided into
six different stations.
Father Chandy, besides attending to Corsi-
cana, has also six counties to visit. As
free passes over railroads to the Catholic clor-
gy have been revoked, it takes more than their
humble income to pay their fare. The present
site Of Father Martiniers church was, in June
last, cotton field. He tells me that some
time ago he received present of some church
ornaments from some unknown friend in New
Orleans whose nodesty prevented tho donor
from sending his her name. There are
many poor missionary priests in Texas who
would gladly be the recipients of the like
gifts and if your charitable city has any more
sach Jealous donors, your humble correspond
ent can fornish the names of the priests
!. J..