Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-10-18
ST. JOSEPH'S LEAGUE.
Report for the Last Quarter by
- the Rev. l.. i. Welhers.


Interesting Report for the Last Quarter by
the Rev. L. j. Welhers.
At the quar- terly meeting of ST.
Joseph's League for Cnlored Missions
for Delaware, ON Tuesday week.. the
presid mt, tie Rev. L. j. Welbers,
made the following interesting report
of the work for the quarter:
Last Friday, October 9th, was the
tenth anniversary of the dedication of
st. Juseph's Colrred Church. During
these ten years the church and mission
has tbeen n blessing not only to the
oolored people of Wilmington, but 10
many others Throughout the United
StaHs. Many colcred people of Will
mington have here found the light and
CONSOLATION of religion. Besides this,
there has grown up an institution, st.
Jrseph's Home, which in these years
has furnished to hundreds of colored
children not merely food and shelter,
but also the blessing of good educa.
ton. No special services we're held to
commemorate the day, but more than
one silent prayer went up to heaven in
thanksgiving for these blessings.
1.-The internal management of the
home, which had been IN the hands Of
the president OF the mission, was, last
spring handed over to the sister super,
ior, Sister M. Ermalina. Under her
management several Improvements have
been made already. A very substantial
stone wall has been put up along Wal
nut street in place of the wooden
fence, which was beyond repair. At q
considerable cost she also had the
purches repaired.
s,,l, a., ~ -. e h.
as they reach the age of II has been a
great problem and the work done thus
far has been largely experimental.
the boys trade, the question remains :
trade profitably after they have learned
way in the North, and to the South,
where q field can be found, they will
not 20 for reasons that need not be ex-
planned. Their staying In an institu-
tion after that age, where everything 10
provided for them, Is more apt to make
| them Indifferent about work. For this
reason the plan was started six months
| ago of placing boys of st. Joseph's
Home In such positions as can be
found. Six have obtained situations
| and so far are giving satisfaction.
Those employed in the city make st.
Joseph's stitl their home, but they are
required to pay their board and pro-
vide their own clothing from their
earnings
"a night school is to be established
also where these boys may have a
chance after their working hours to
keep up and improve what they have
learned.
Recently school has been opened
for the children of the city. 1t is in
tended not simply for the children Of
members OF the oongr egstion, but also
others who are anxious for the privI-
leges OF select scnool. st. Joseph's
Day School bids fair to be one of the
best colored schools of this city. Az
it becomes known application for ad.
mission are being received and soon the
rooms will be too small.
CONGREGATIONAL singing is to be in
trcduced in the Sunday evening ser,
vices. After the regular Friday nigh
services there will be practice in sing
ing in which members of the oongrega
tion and others who may desire it will
Join. The question box is very in
feresting feature OF the Sunday nigh
services. Its object il two-fold. First
it gives an opportunity to Catholics
; possessed Of erroneous motif MS or indis
tinct idea as to the doctrines and prac
, tices Of their church to enlightei
themselves without revealing thei
, ignorance to the priests. 1t gives we'll
J meaning and inquiring non Catholics
, chance To inform themselves aEou
, Catholic doctrines and practices with
out disclosing their identity. Person
who ask questions are not required t
! sign their names. Many non Catholi
colored people have availed themselve
, Of the question box to obtain informa
tion on various points. Recent
! among many others, this question wa
to the convent and what becomes c
/; them?'
| "Owing to the poor health of Fathe
: McCaffrey, who was appointed to as
! sumo the rcctorship Of the propose
: Catechetical College at Montgomery
8 Ala, Father Donovan has been az
8 pointed 70 this new charge. The in
. stitution has been blessed this yea
with abundant crops. The wheat haI
vest brought in !. las bushels and othe
crops were equally good. The telit
: has been expressed by some that 81
0 Joseph's Home in Wilmington was pre-
: vided from the farm of the industri,
+, school, As matter of fact st. Joseph
: Home receives no assistance in any wa
i from tho industrial school in Clayton
|, on the contrary, st, Joseph's I4eagr
has very materially helped that instit'
IT tion. st. Joseph's Industrial Soho
J. is now financially in very good cond
u ton.
! 'In the ieteut death of Micha
!, Cullen. ST. Joseph's League lost j
:, best solicitor. He was deeply religion
II and full of zeal for the colored mission
IS John j. McCroary of this city hi
! taken up his work
C Next Sunday evening the very Re
70 j. r. Slattery, superior of St. Joseph
J. Society, will be at st. Joseph's Churt
I. TO give the papal blessing. Faith
j. Slattery was recently in Rome ar
70 gave an account of the different worl
Of in charge of the society. The no
father appeared much pleased and Col
miasioned Father Slattery to bless
his name the different cougregativ
" and Institutions for colored Ieople.