The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-02-04
Rarnlng Star and Catholic Messenger.
LErTER FROlg lf1ss1ssIPpI.
PHILADELPH1A, NEsHoBA COUNTY. Miss. /
January Goth, 1877.

PHILADELPHIA, NEsHoBA COUNTY. Miss
January Goth, 1877.
aitox Morning Star.
Being one Of your su bscribers, come to as
little corner of your interesting paper to ir
s the following lines. am confident thn
request will be granted, as it will affor
me pleasure to the people of these lionel
#pods.
Two weeks ago We had the great pleasure o
Sewing the visit of Rev. Th. Meerschaert, O
fcesn Springs, Jackson county, Miss. He cam
pct on mere pleasure trip, for not much plea
Ruse could be found in the country at this tim.
~ the year but he came for Gods sake ane
t6e welfare Of 80 ais he came to give us littl.
slon; to visit the Catholic families scat
sex2d through this country, to leave with all
eDsHe words of consolation and encouragement
sz4 it is useless to state that he succeeded well
~ bis generousStask. His visit also was in.
4#ded as one of friendship to his fellow.
est, countryman and fellow-student, the
~. Fhther T. VanHouver. This good Father
been here for nearly four years leading q
4ey hard life. as he has to be continually in
At4puggy or in the saddle visiting different
pms in six or seven counties. The Rev.
ZEE from the coast was received on the 10th
at shuqualake depot, Nocubee county,
entertained by Mr.. Tn. Thompson's good
The Fathers stopped there for two
41s, and had the consolation of baptizing and
eslEing into the Church two converts-the
&N mother of Mr. Thompson and his sister,
l1n kind and good hearts who had been seek
e6 1or long time after the truth, and who,
.4atsy, when they had found it, embraced it
1sh nll the ardor of souls en1aued by the
gne Nho is all Light and Love.
Afsbr twenty-five miles travel, through bad
:, mp and down hills, the Fathers had to
over night at DR.. Cham berlain's in Kemper
onney, where the priest always finds home
agreeable resting place, as everything
ade SO pleasant by the whole family.
nother buggy ride of twenty-five miles
Rp8ht the travellers here on the following
~. 1t was With pleasure that we saw
ia the happy and pleasant face of Father
schaerts for q smile never leaves his fsa.
~ except when he has to scold, and GER
~ that happens but very seldom. On
Jay our little mission commenced by High
sermon and Exposition of the Blessed
ament, for the devotion of the forty hours
aetRtion was thought the best devotion and
e pest means for keeping the people together,
Shey had all to camp out around the church.
ae little spot stands in the middle of the
pods, entirely isolated, the nearest Catholic
knily being at distance of four miles. All |
se Catholics came, as one man, from ten to If |
ZEN miles around and stayed there till the end |
the mission. 1t was easy to see how good it |
iade the hearts of the Fathers feel to see those |
bod families arriving on their ox.wagons with |
leir sons and daughters and well provided with |
necessary to stay to the end. Sew
al non-Catholics attended the mission mani
sting great attention, but many were kept
me on account of bad roads and bad weather.
y. Father Meerschaert gave MS two lectures
one sermon day, speaking on the founda-
- and works of the Church of Christ. her
tatlibility and the infallibility of the Pope:
confession, Holy Eucharist the priesthood,
20 and at night on the final end of man, sin,
1th, hell, the parable of the Prodigal Son and
~ subjects. ALI were treated in very
active manner in a pleasing and touching
- for when the Father speaks in public
is all earnestness. An adult, whose ;
and children are Catholics, was baptized I
e great satisfaction of the whole cougrega- 6
for all were much interested in his family
so sent to heaven many prayer for his
eion. Several others were received for !
lNesson. On Thursday morning general y
aEnnlon, closing of the devotion of the forty q
~ and sermon ended the mission. 1t v
8eeat success and great blessing for the
~ 4or never had mission been given here.
syen Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, o
holics felt better and were proud of the y
szes the priests had taken in them. After n
~ banks to the Fathers who had given the a
sion, they went homo with real happiness
heir hearts and with new strength and cour- ="
for the future. u
ais congregation is composed of Irish f
.lies all farmers, for the land is rich, very
uctive and plentiful, SO that we could
it with many more who would wish to
and settle here. They would find good
DIS to receive them and give them good OF
Moreover, the priest says Mass in our
church at least one Sunday every month.
pm this place the Fathers continued their
els by Louisville, Winston county, Chester, W