Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-02-20
Who Also Refers to
FIorida's History,
PecuIier Significance Of the
Street Names.
Work Being Done by Bishop Moore In
the South.

| DR.. Francis r. Moran, pastor of St.
Mary's church, who is now travelling
through Cuba, making a study Of the
country, wrote letter to the Catholic
Universe, descriptive of his trip
through Florida, while en- route to
Cuba. The letter was published FRI
day, Feb. 16, and is as follows:
From Atlanta to Jacksonville Is a
ten-hour ride. Both towns are alike
in their life and stir. This feature
is to be remarked in the South, where
the people seem to have settled down
to easy going ways. 1t may be the
Civil war, 1t may be negro labor, ii
may be lack of capital, but whatever
the cause, there can be no question
ing the factthat the South is suffering
from industrial chills. The hustle
and activity comon to the, North are
mainly conspicuous by their absence
in the South. But you need not be
told that Jacksonville Is n good town.
This knowledge you gather almost as
soon as you alight at the depot. A
great spacious building confronts you,
and all modern improvements are in
evidence. The runners for the various
hotels are very assiduous all over this
lovely section of our land; their com
plexions are as varied as the houses
they represent, and they are destined
to white old age if lung trouble is to
cause their death. Jacksonville has
novel feature in the way of Il hotel
conveyance. Take the car at the
door, sir" is what you hear, ana, sure
enough, car is in waiting, exclusive
ly for the patrons of given hotel.
We stayed at the Rathburn, not be-
cause we decided it was tine best, but
because We learned that it was near
to the church. Father Kenney, vicar
general of thediocese, is pastor here.
Father Barry is his assistant. The
congregation is not large, but must be
thrifty, as Catholic works bespeaking
generosity are in evidence. The
church Is of wood, but it is designed
to replace 1t soon with fine struc-
ture A Sisters convent is nearing
completion. 1t is a stately building
of very ample proportions, which
would do credit to a town several
times larger. We expressed our ad-
mliation of it to Bishop Moon, who
was plainly pleased with the compl-
ment, and remarked very modestly
that he was told it could not be sur
passed in the South. Poor Bishop!
How patient he seemed to us, and how
altogether lovable with his white hair
and calm face. His rich, deep voice
seldom varied as he told us gently
and quietly of the struggles OF the
church of the South, and in his own
diocese in particular. Resolution was
needed to meet the many pressing eX-
igencies of the situation, but he was
a Bishop of no ordinary courage, and
he bravely assumed the task which
was laid upon him. Twenty-three
years has he been in charge of st.
Augustine. How little in all these
years has he had to cheer and console
him. Certainly earthly rewards were
denied him, but his vision, clear and
buoyant, is fixed OH another recon-
pense which shall surely be given him
la return for his many sacrifices here.
For seventeen years previous TO his
coming to st. Augustine he did work
in Charleston. During the war his
labors were herculean, caring for the
sick and wounded soldiers as well as
meeting the calls Of his own congrcgn-
ton. He was co-laborer of Bishop
Lynch and a protege Of the late Dr..
Corcoran. He affecticnateiy referred
to the latter as a man OF wonderful
gifts, aud his own first professor IN
Greek aud Latiu, The Bishop made
his latter studies In France and Rome,
He is fluent In several languages and
stands high among the theologians of
the church In America. Recently he
suffered n stroke of apoplexy, from I
which nc has not fully recovered.
Still lac goes about and seeks 60 look
after affairs requiring his attention,
Jacksonville has II population or
thirty thousand. There nre several
good hotels The business houses ap-
pear to be substnntiali the display OF
s,no1a A. vartod and attra tva