The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-09-05
st. John the Baptist.

st. John the Baptist.
In this populous and important parish order
is being evolved out Of chaos. Owing to the
great crash in financial matters which swept
over the country o year or two ago the Affairs
of the parish became involved in apparently |
insurmountable difficulties. Rev. Father |
Kenny when eventually called to their con-
troll almost despaired Of preventing total
shipwreck. Immediately upon his assuming
charge, the magnificent organ of the church
was sold at public auction. With scarcely
dollar in his pocket what was he to dot Good
friends came to his relief and the instrumens
was sold to him at the price Of $S,371.
Then came the struggle to save the church.
The Archdiocese was too poor, too much In
volved in existing debt, to give efficient aid.
Tho mortgage was foreclosed church, convent
and dependencies were sold by the Sheriff
The foreclosing creditor having bought them,
was willing to give them up for the amount
of his claim, which, some deduction being
made on the score of commissions. was
$s2, 900. In his trouble Father Kenny
naturally tnrned his eyes towards the friends
who had always been 30 faithful to him in
former days. 1t appeared that they had not by
any means forgotten him, and st. Theresa's
parish came to the rescue. 1t will be remem-
bered that the late Thos. McKenna left Father
Kenny a legacy of 8, 900. He did not hesitate
to invest the whole of his own little means,
which, added to the liberal advances of his st.
Theresa friends, enabled him to pay cash
S2s, 900 towards the redemption of the property
/ The purchase was contaminated on that pay
3 ment and the giving of three notes of .Oo(
D each, with per cent interest, at one, two snt
( three years.
On the SOS, 900 borrowed money there is NJ
j, interest to pay, but on the three notes tn
. interest for the first year ill be 81 800, whcl
with the first note will m AXE the amount pay
!, able at the end of that time $22, 800. It mus
Il be remembered, however, that the ladies G
y the Dominican Order agree to pay $4,000 c
J. the 1000 balance, in consideration of th
% restoration to them of their Convent. TIL
will proportionately diminish the amount
N the first annual payment. Father Kenny ooun
b strongly upon grand fair which he expects
70 give in st. Pstrick's Hall, opening Novemb
~ 26th, towards meeting this payment, and
have no doubt that his anticipations will
measursbly, perhaps more than fully, realize
- At any rate, with first payment of $3.50
De made, there need be no great apprehension
p to q second payment of $4,000, after year
IT preparation for it, and with two such psymen
y completed, there would be little trouble to fiji
is capitalists who would be glad, for the intere
a at eight per cent which they bear, to carry IL
be two remaining notes as long as might be
,p sired.
THUS, through the mercies of favoril
ed Providence, the zeal of Rev. Father Kenny al
in his able assistant, Father Foote, and the pie
rt of a number of fervent Catholics have avert
ed the deseoratl0n 'nas pas Deen hanging
be nrsa.enAns st osel 'u =. ~ n~ Cp p IA S
as =" a.shaal thou, $500 al oh.t.oIa. mn
u disappear.