The Irish standard., 1886-12-04
FATHER TALTON.
The First Colored Catholic Priest Makes
His Debut in New York.

The First Colored Catholic Priest Makes
His Debut in Now York.
IN. Y. Special]
For q long time the colored Catholics OF
this city have been waiting to hear mass
celebrated by a priest Of their race, and
yesterday their wishes wero gratified at
tho Church of st. Benedict the Moor, at
the corner Of Bleecker and Downing
streets. It was announced that the serv-
ices would begin at eleven a. m., but long
before that time every seat in the church
was filed. Colored people, old and young,
came from all parts of the city. Rev.
Father Augustus Talton, the first and oaly
colored Catholic priest in this country,
celebrated mass, assisted by Rev. Father
Burke pastor Of the church, and Rev:
Father Burtsal.
When the colored priest appeared ali
eyes were turned toward him and his
every action was watched. He was per-
fectly at ease and made a few remarks in
an eloquent manner. He sang the mass in
a powerful voice that filled the whole
church. He is fine-lookjng man, nearly
six feet in height, and has the typical
head and face of his race. He was born in
Raus County, Mo-, in 1854. His father and
mother were slaves, and he was born in
serfdom. His early life during those days
was one of hardship and suffering.
oAt night, when others were at rest, he
picked up what learning he could from
such stray books as came into his posses
sion. In 1850 he, with his mother and
father, escaped to Quincy, Ill, where, in
1861, they obtained their freedom. Angus
tus obtained work in a tobacco factory,
and after working all day would spend q
greater part Of the night in his studies. In
1879 he announced his intention to Father
Michael, the principal Of st. Francis Col
lege, of studying for the priesthood.
to the Vicar-General Of the Roman Catho-
lie Church at Rome. The Vicar replied,
and in an interesting letter said: "Ausus-
tus Talton is accepted in the Propaganda
College," This was happy news to Talton,
and February Is, 1880, he left Quincy,
where, in addition to his studies, he had
become teacher Of the catechism in q
Catholic sunday-school, and went to
Rome, entering the Propaganda College
March IL 1890 His studies there were char
.acterized by earnestness and exceptional
industry.
Two years were spent in the study Of
philosophy and four years in the study Of
theology. On the oath of last April he was
ordained by Cardinal Parocchi, who ad-
vised him to meet his first congregation in
this city. Father Talton arrived here last
Tuesday, and at once went to see his old
friend Father Corrigan. He appeared in
Father Corrigan's church at mass several
times last week
.It is, Of course, gratifying to ~ to
know that I am the first Of my race to bs
an ordained Catholic priest of this coun-
try" he said to reporter yesterday.
81 have no doubt, however, that in a few
years there will be many of us. Isincerely
hope so. There is q young man, James
Parcen, now studying at the Propaganda
with the intention Of becoming priest in
this country. He is native Of Jamaica,
West Indies Ishal most likely leave on
Tuesday for Quincy, my old home, whore
/ shall have parish. The kindness with
which I was received this morning was
varv encouraging"