The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-25
LETTER FROM MONTGOMERY.

MONTGOMERY, ALA, Jan. 10, 1874.
To the Editor of the MORNING STAR:
Encouraged by your kindly exprassed desire
to hear occasionally from here, I venture to
comply and give you some items, perhaps of
some interest to your IN any readers, regarding
our church and church matters here. Our
church building itself, though probably in
architecture not 30 fine one would
like, is q very good, substantial brick building,
with wooden bell-tower. Adjoining it is
two-story brick dwelling-the priests resi-
denoe, and two-story brick schoolhouse, in
which q good parochial school for boys is
taught by young gentleman, formerly of the
Cathedral school of Mobile Though we can
not boast of o very large number of scholars,
we hold ourselves fortunate in having our
boys receive good moral training in addition
to all the various branches of q good English
education. But our pride, the pride of our
congregation regarding schools, is the Convent
of st. Mary, by Sisters of Loretto from Ken
tucky, which those good souls opened here for
our girls on the lat of last October. Owing to
various adverse circumstances existing here at
the time, such as hard times, Yellow Jack"
. small congregation, etc., the number of chill
dren put down as @ start was only from thirty
five to forty; but am very happy to tell you
that this number has increased already to over
400 This number includes many mont atholics,
to whom, thank God, it is givon to know the
difference between schools where religion and
morality are taught and what are now known
and commonly spoken of as Goddess schools F.;
that is, schools in which it is not fashionable
to speak of religion. The building which we
bought for their occupation and use stands
prominently o small emnence, beautifully
located, Immediately opposite our lSt. Peter's)
church; is q good, substantial three-story
brick, with all requisite brick out-houses,
large grounds, beautifully laid out, and
is quite an ornament to its neighborhood.
You can certainly forgive US for feeling
just "leetle" fondness for this splen-
did addition to our church property, when
we take into consideration that st. Peters
congregation is anything but rich one. Then
we have also fine vacant lot in the neighbor.
hood of the church, on which, maybe, some
fine day, we WILL with the help of God, build
Us fine Brothers school,"
The chief credit of all this 1 ready to
bestow to whom it rightly belongs-our good
and worthy pastor, Very Rev. Father Manucy,
nom to know means to respect and to love,
Ind without whose kind and hearty oo.opera-
tion, wise guidance and substantial aid we
could not have succeeded.
emit very feeble, he leaves this week for o
trip of recreation and recuperatoa, of which
he is sorely in need, and should he visit your
city and favor you with lecture while there,
you would certainly enjoy a rich and rare treat.
Small as the st. Peter congregation is here
in numbers, especially the male part, still we
are not without our st. Patrick Benevolent
Society,"" presided over by one of our best and
most influential Catholic citizens that able
and efficient lawyer, Major Henry c. semple,
under whose fostering care the society will
soon be an ornament of which and its work
trust no congregation need be ashamed.
Now, my friend, 1 find that 1 AN going be-
yond prescribed limits of letter writer's for q
newspaper, but seeing my unftness for such
calling, you must not put me down among that
class, but merely forgive me, rs your wish for
this was the creation thereof-hence make
no apology for anything amias.
am yours very truly, ST. PATRICK.
"In time of peace prepare for war is wise
n 49,