The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-09-30
(Communicated)
THE GREAT FAMINE IN INDIA.
TESTIMONY OF CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES.

TESTIMONY OF CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES.
The following we translate from the
Emissions Catalogues" "a Monthly, publish
ed 10 the interest of the Catholic missions
"Since our iseue of the month OF April OF
this year, in which we spoke of the famine
in Pondichsry, We have received several
contributions from charitable persons,
which were instantly forwarded to the
starving Christians of Pondichery.- The
| peperous donors cannot fail to receive Gods
abundant reward, and the Christians who
we're relieved through their charity, will
not neglect to call upon their benefactors
the blessings of Heaven. Meanwhile, how
ever, the famine has assumed greater pro-
portions. From the Vicariates of Pondi-
cherry, Coimbatur, Madura and Madras,
narrowing accounts have reached US, which
| depict the greatness and -exteHt-ot-the
calamity in tho most vivid coiors. 1t ls
impossible for Us to relate all, butfrom the
little which we will gay, our readers can
safely conclude that the surplus of tempo
raj goods, with which God has blessed
them, could not be applied to a better use
tians and Catechumens of South India.
In consequence of the famine Mgr.
Lavuenan was obliged to issue, in the first
days of April, the following circular to his
mission aries
In spite of the rain, which fell in certain To-
calities, the famine continues to desolate q
large portion of our Vicsriate. aud the Popu
lation moved by the charity and spirit of sac
ri6ce of the Catholic priests, hocks 10 you 10
large numbers, to ask OF you the life Of the
soul .hroogh holy Baptism, st the same time
tcrough youT aims. Notwithstanding the dire
calamity VITA which We are afflicted, We have
reasons TO thank God for the rich harvest OF
souls, which he has been pleased TO serd US.
According to the yet incomplete reports whlch
| have received, the nun Der OF agans, old aud
yourg. who were bsp'ised since September,
1876 reaches 6,cCO, and the number OF registered
Cateoh umens amounts to about 5000. Unfor-
tunately our resources do not correspond to
the wants by which we are surrounded. Al
though at the first news of our mistortunes
Europe sent us considerable donations and
gave US hope for more, / am afraid that we
shall not be able to answer sll the calls to be
| made upon Us. We have up to this time ex-
pended more than $1,000 rupies (s25 .ooo) and
the expenses are increasing every day 10
friphtfnl manner, Therefore think it
necessary to stop giving further aims, in order
to enable Ms to become cognisant OF our real
situation and then to take proper measures Tor
our future safety. This temporary suspension
is also made necessary by the failing health of
many of our missionaries, who are, most OF
them, very nigh q state of complete exhaustion
from their incessant labors and from the many
privations which they have been obliged to
endure.
For this reason I must request of you, that
on the receipt of this circular, you shall cease
| to receive any more Catechumens, until shall
have otherwise directed.
l cannot close this letter without expressing
to you, dear CO. -laborers, my heartfelt thanks
IN the frulE anOatCliC ahDePati0QS OF which
have given proof and which you continue to
show forth amidst the great tribulations which
through the intercessicn of His Bl-ssed Mother
and of St. Joseph, reward yon for II IN this life
and in tae life to come, oy crowning your
| spiritual labors with the desired success and
enrichlug yon with lis graces and blessings.
II is more than sad to be ohli ged to send
away thousands Of pagaus asking to be in =
structed, for % other reason than because ne
hare not the material means to Suecor them.
Naturally it is the missionaries who are
the most afflicted over this prohibitive
measure of the Right Rev. Bishop; they, ei
course, recognised it's wisdom and neces-
sity, but nevertheless they thought them
selves bound to tell their Bishop OF their
sorrow. Thus among others Father Four.
cads wrote on the 17sh of April, from Al
ladhy to Mgr. Lavuensn:
Yesterday evening 1 received your oircula
in which you forbid Us the receiving of ne
Catechumens because resources are want
ipg. II is impossible for me to describe th'
in IeDsity of my grief caused by your letter.
, saw already the time drawing near at whicl
all those who, up to this time, bad hsrdene,
their hearts, were gon to listen to the call o
Gods grace. Villages. which in former year
did not furnish one Cstechumen, have alread!
. sent considerable number now, aud tn
Others were favorably impressed. From Bell
amur, for instance, six families came ant
= othershad given their names. 1t will thus bt
necessary to seud them away! 1 conld nam
: you 20 villages, which are in precisely tn
same situation
t The famine is on the increase true it ha
! rained vice in Alladhy and its immediat
-. neigh Sorhood, but not euouSi TO commenc
the planting of seed if there possibilit
| of planting In April, what will then become @
Y usf The people that We send away, will di
. of buuger, before can bsptizs them. 1
this district we are ak priests, all young an
C full of vigor-and we are condemned to mac
q tivity.
. I write this letter in the middle of my nee
phytes who cry from hunger; bid you goo
l. bye to turn my attention to those unfortune ate: