Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-08-14
THE OOL0RED BROTHER AND THE
PRIEST HOOD.
Sonnet ing about Father ToltOn.

ST. RAUL, MINI, August =
EDIToR, THE PLANET;
3II North 4th Street,
Richmond, Va,
Allow me space to correct the follow
ing cut from your issue OF July oath.
ut is with regret that we learned OF
the death of Rev. Father Augustus t.
Tolton, ID ID E. in charge OF the Saint
Monica Catholic Church. He was the
first colored Catholic ever admitted to
the priesthood"
In this you with many others are
mistaken, Rev Father Tolton, may his
soul rest in peace, was not even the
first Afro American admitted TO the
priesthood. There is presiding over a
diocese in a New England State a
Catholic Bishop, who is as much an
Afro-American as is Father Charles X.
Uncles of Epiphany Apostolic College,
Baltimore, Nd. and the good Bishop
d. oes not deny his Negro blood neither.
Aside from him Father Toiton is the
| first American Negro ordained Cath
Ollie priest. but by no means the first
Colored Catholic admitted to the
priesthood.
The Church has ordained Negroes
from South America and ever Africa
before the 18th century, not this alone
but has elevated them TO the Bishopic.
nav more has cannonized the Negro
Saints of Holy Church and millions
| and millions of white Catholics
throughout the world are admoDished
to invoke the intercession of this son
of Negro slaves. Saint Benedict the
Moor, is such a one, son OF Negro
slave, born in the Island Cf Sicily in
the year 1924 No ancestry behind
him, but that of slavery NO learning
but what he picked up in the hours
stolen from hard toll, and that which
God gave him afterwards in a miracu-
lous manner. No wealth but the
4 strength of his arms Possessed of nc
particular charms, or things, that man
\ considers the prerequisite of great
ness, hampered by a black skin and
born a slave, he became famous dur
ling his life, and after death, enjoys g
renown which fills the world and will
outlive it. His penarces were so ex-
cessive that the Holy Father ordered
him to modify them and to betake
himself to the Franciscan Convent oi
IOur Lady of the Holy Rosary in Palei-
mo. and there become one of the COM
muni1y. This he did. and asked fol
the humblest place in the Convent
He had his wish, but for a time only
Ocluk eOOn uleCOtCASU Dl Alo
! ers what his true worth was; and
forced him to assume the office of Their
superior. and ruled this community oi
white men the regular term allowed
one Co hold the Office.
Benedict was a most humble man
and entertained the osthumble opin
ion of his merits, ct his knowledge
was wonderful Three celebrated
Franciscan Fathers, one of whom hat
: been a theologian at the Council a
Trent. affirmed under oath that bene
j dict had often explained to them pas
sages of holy scripture which they ha'
been unable to understand.
The report of his heroic sanctity an
= knowledge spread far and wide and h
q was consulted not only in matters b
{ religion, but by wise men on question
4 OF state as we'll, and when he died tn
; city Of Palermo moufned him as on
r of its greatest citizens and paid th
: honors of public funeral to his memo
T ry.
q Catholic countries have not failed
h keep pace with Mother Church in the
I. treatment of the Negro also, and M
+ alone is this true Of countries whel
q large numbers of Negroes reside, bu
d Catholic Spain and France have dor
n equally as we'll. The Negro has bee
n placed in command of aTmi al
navy. elevated TO the knight-hood an
" decked with the badge of the highe
,e rank.
Al Would that it eoald be said th
l. Protestant Churches and countri
g. could bosst,of treatment as good, to t
N colored brother, could they the ia
r would to day have no such thing al
l. race problem to deal with.
"A FRFDRIcK l. McGHEE
q