The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-02-20
SPREAD OF THE FAITH IN NORTH CIR
OLIN4.
RESULTS OF EIGHT YEARS WORK.

,NIrETsTING LETTER FROM FATHER GROSS
The following letter from Rev. Father
Gross of Wilmington, brother of Bishop
Gross of Savannah, appears in recent
uup,ber of the Savannah Southern Cross:
ST. THOMAS CHURCH.
Wilmington, n. c., Feb. oh 1876.
I beg to send "A few lines about the
Vicar;ate of North Carolina. This State of
North Carolina formerly formed portion
OF the Diocese Of South Carolina, and was
erected into Q Nicariate Apostolic by r.
HU}l Of His Holiness Plus IN, dated march,
I'd. 1868, with RI. Rev. Dr.. Jas. Gibbons as
Vicar Apostolic. The petition To the Ell &c
ton Of thia Nicariate was presented in the
National Council OF Baltimore, ana strongly
.1rpeS bv the late Most Rev. Dr.. Spaulding.
Archbishop of Baltimore, and Apostolic
Delerat,. of the Council. Let me here say
that The, love and zeal of the good Arch
Jishor for poor Missions-for the conversion
of sousR will be the model and encourage
rnent of the Missionaries whom he sent
uyith his h!essinG. RI. Rev. DE-. Gibbons
wast tn, unanimous cnoicn for the Office OF
Vicar IN this State, man that brought to
his AZ lime election, talents of Il high order
adorned with the virtues of HUMILITY and
selt sacrifice. He found in the State of
North Carolina one or two Priests and
about seven hundred Catho les, scattered
over a territory about IS largeas that Of
IRELAND. He found himself sent in the
t,sn,e and with the authority of the Holy
Catbav for the conversion of over q mil
lion OF people, most of whom, if scquaint-
ed at all, even with the name of Catholi +,
had learned it only from the breath of Cal
umuy aud misrepres
The labor of Bishop Gibbons was thus
two told. viz to correct and instruct. He
event himself and begged Missionaries to
labor with him in this uulnvltlDg field. He
was ever their example, on the MISSIONS,
he did not say go, bat come, let us labor
Qur the conversion OF souls. Himself and
Priests were altogether unsalaried. But
,ko charity of our American Catholic peo-
ole Abro8d was not wanting. Seeking
ijrrt The Kingdom of God for themselves,
aud especially for othere in their care. the
Etaho9 and clergy truly wanted more of
Tne real necessities OF life.
- After spending months in missionary
'.Alss' aa-'E., Is State, travelling in every kind
az Io,v.yance from the Atlantic coast to
fhe H,oe Ridge Mountains, preaching the
SSosne,. lecturing in Court Houses, Meet.
inr-boasee, Mason lodges, sin season, and
mt oF season" the Bishop would run off
NV way OF recreation TO use his pen IN
exc P:ese, OF his tongue in the crowded
kIecfure. hail abroad, in order to raise funds
Missions and good works but just "stao-
Por several years such was his life in
ana State of North Carolina. When on the
death of TT. Rev. Bishop of the Diocese Of
Rirhmond Va. Bishop Gibbons was 'nolens
yole5s7 introduced by His Holiness Plus
TX, into the See of Richmond with the
rieLe Of Administrator Apostolic over the
Viear;ate of North Carolina; it wac but the
charge OF an additional new field bringing
an increase of the same arduoue duties
TNhe change was and is still keenly felt by
rche perple, and especially by the clergy OF
North Carolina. But the Vicariate is moi
.ForSot.ep, nor is ii neglected. Frequent
,yjsits are made in the State, when the
gSfsbop lectures upon Catholic truths, anC
cheer the hearts of all, laity and clergy, by
F5,Tce y,-eseuce. The citizens of Wilmington
9n,e,Ch, Charlotte, Salisbury, and Fayette
Vile, frequently enjoy his strong and en-
racipc dIscourses il explanation of Catho
he doe.Iine. He has multiplied his helI
nv che admission of Priests forthe mlsslon
a ,Ac work of ministry. Every town II
North Carolina of Importance haR lts priest
its regular Sunday services. No hour @
the day or night la there, bnt what TIL
Catholics may receive tue minlstratlons o
:heir holy religion. If there Is any neg
,Eeot, the neglect ccnes from the Cathohc
themselves.
But hank God if tue field of North Cal
nina, has been we'll worked, the fruit ha
5een abundant. No Catholics are MOI
GeCvent: no people are more easily wO
over to the faith. OF three missions tw
az then, can boast of a hundred convert
each, the other of thirty. The latter h0
Just been opened. opened, of9er portions ord Ssm az
Catholic schools have been established.
I'M word Rt. Rev. DR.. Gibbons found
North Carolina in 1868 two priests, Lor
borrowed, and since returned), now the
are seven OF eight; he found seven hui
dred Catholics, now there are si1tee
buudrod seven churches, now there Al
eleven OF twelve, with aCOnvent-Academ,,
conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, and ],
Sssked upon O handsome piece OF prOPert
o1rchased for them by the Bishop.