The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-05
ST. BENEDIoPs CHURCH.

Exclusively for the Colored Catholics
of Savannah-To be Dedicated Next
Sunday. .
On next Sunday, Dec. s, at 1880 o'clock,
the new church recently built on East
Broad and CASTOR streets is 10 be solemnly
dedicated to the service Of Almighty God
according to the ceremonies Of the Catholic
church, and for the exclusive use and be-
hoof Of the colored people of Savannah.
These number some $50, and they are de-
serving of high praise for their faithful at
tention to their religious duties at time
and during periods when piety and honesty
seemed to be kept in the background.
The negroes who were brought up in
Catholic families, hailed chiefly from the
Island of St Domingo, and many OF them
deserved well on account of their fidelity TO
their masters during and after the massa-
ere. To these were added many others, very
correct and trustworthy In their dealings
during the time of servitude, and not few
very sensibly preferred the security, at
tachmsnt and Kind treatment of their mas
ters, TO the very precarious life of a hard
working day laborer.
Those who were Catholics went to church
with the whites; they received the same
sacraments; knett at the same altar, had
the self-same treatment In spiritual matters
WLGu buS nlRuoSb III Cu6 l6DQ. 1Q6 NdbQeQT Al
congregation still has many most reliable
colored people as faith full members, and
they have a decidedly eligible portion fire
quently, we notice, occupied by the white
worshipeFs, despite the notice: Exclusively
for the colored people,'1 of the Cathedral,
from which they shall not be obliged, we
hear, TO remove.
of the negroes almost Immediately after the
war. Archabbat Boniface Winner, D.
8. B., of st. Vincent's abbey, Westmore-
land county, Pennsylvania, spent certainly
not less than $4,000 in this city and on
Skidaway Island for the benefit of the
colored folks 1t may be Questioned
whether all this expenditure was judicious.
Skidaway Island was too remote, sincs the
breaking away of the bridge; too inaccesst-
BILE for a school such as they had in view.
An industrial schoolshould have all modern
appliances; should also be on perfectly
healthy ground, ID etc. Nevertheless, the
Benedictines kept up the general object,
| and by the encouragement and help given
them they built churches and had schools
when others would have persisted in de-
| spair. The Very Reverend, Learned and
helpers. and finally with the active
and earnest Father Melchior, did
| a work which challenges adntra-
ton, and labored for the negroes
| when few others could or would have done
| so. The present bishop made an appeal to
| various kindly disposed institutions and
| persons. He has spent In round numbers
| $10, GAG on land and building, not to say q
word of help given the negroes elsewhere in
this way. The church Is considered quite
handsome; it Is OF brick, 1t has fine school
| rooms underneath, and has a seating capac-
ity of 1.40o The church in the inside
is very admirably fitted up, and is
beautifully ceiled in native timber, pol
ished, tasteful and neat. The altar, pews
and furniture were procured by the congre-
| cation. All is and remains diocesan prop
erty for the sole use and occupation Of the
colored Catholics of Savannah, Ga. The
Ri. Rev. Abbott Leo Haid, o. s. B., will
| be present on this interesting occasion, and
| probably may sing the Mass. The bishop
is to preach at the service and DIR. Haid in
the evening. All who are kindly disposed
toward the colored people and willing to
help them are courteously asked to do SO.