The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-02-15
Indian and Negro Missions.

Indian and negro missions, at the
very outset the fact must be en-
phaszed, that both enterprises, so
dear to Holy Church, have been OF
late a source of much anxiety, even at
times causing serious alarm to the
hierarchy of the United States. The
past year has been a critical one in
the history of these two missionary en-
terprises in the United States. At one
stage, crisis which at no period OF
the Churchs history in this country
ever seemed possible, even as remote
contingency, almost became humiliat-
ing fact. 1t involved not the mere inn
pairment, but actually threatened
abandonment, in educational lines, of
the apostolic work inaugurated four
centuries ago among the Indians.
The scant and inadequate means at
the disposal of the archbishops, to keep
these Outstanding agencies on a
basis of assured security and on a
standard of unhampered efficiency, at
one time menaced the very existence of
some of our missionary schools. The
timely and providential intervention OF
most devoted woman averted what
would have been dire calamity, a dis
loyalty to our noblest traditions, ruin
Gus to souls, discreditable to Catholics,
and a stigma on the Church.
The unaccountable apathy on the
part of our Catholic brethren, in main
tanning the two works of benevolence,
sanctified by so many holy lives, plant
ed and nurtured by "men of mercy,
whose gcdly deeds have not failed"
reaping such bountiful' harvest of
souls, SO pleasing to the Divine Heart
seems all the more ineXplicable, in
view of the unfagging activity, vast
expenditure of treasure and. effort, and
resourcefulness of the Pro-
testant propaganda
If we are confronted by such start
ling tigures-that one sectarian de-
nomina ton in 1901 devoted $1,477 ,3O6 to
home and foreign missions; that, in
addition, it appropriated SITS, 4S6 spec
ifically for the perversion of those who
are virtually our co-religionists THE
Methodist Year Book, 1902l; that an
other denomination contributed $1,220.-
SOB for home and foreign missions 1.-THE
American Baptist Year Book, 1901;
that still another denomination collect
ed for the same end $2,304,593 Minutes
Of the General Assembly of the Presby-
terrain church, 1901; what could
not, and should not, the mighty
of the Catholic Church
10 in the same direction? BY realizing
the desperate situation by one potent.
well directed and properly concentrated
effort, it would solve the problem in
l way that would dispel all further
lneasiness and difficulty. And yet,
we have this mighty host, with it's
strong faith and pervasive charity,
contribute annually $79,S5342 to home
missions! 1t allows missionary en-
ieavor to languish on account of in
sufficient financial support; the educa-
ion and conversion of the Indian and
negro TO be retarded, by doing out a
most meagre maintenance. Nay, and
here is no secret divulged in proclaim
ng the melancholy fact, but confessed
n shame and confusion, that many
If our most sainted laborers for the
of these unfortunate races
ire compelled to exc out a most pre-
'arious eXistence-reduced,a at times. to
he barest necessities of life, Harrow
ng tales of privation, verging at times
m starvation, are on record during me
ear just elapsed. This in the midst of !
he most prosperous government on +
arth and the most generous Catholics |
II the world,
Shall ten million of the faithful shirk !
he sacred responsibility of saving to |
he faith two thousand downtrodden. |
espoiled, soul-endangered Indians. |
whose loyalty to the Church is as pa |
hetic as it is edifying? Shall we allow |
he seven millions of the colored race
o grope in darkness without showing
hem the light, to stagger under sin
nd degradation without extending the
and of Christian helpfulness?
There exists no doubt that, when the
aithful rise to sense of the gravity of /
he situation which confronts the /
.hurch; that when hearts that never
eat unresponsive to the appeals of
harity become aware of the sacrifice, /
privation endured by our
that when the precarious
nd imperiled condition of our Indian
rhools and colored missions is brought
} their charitable considera tion-a
lagnanimous display of faith, gener-
us response in charity, an outpour-
lg of soul in prayer, rich harvest
f souls-God's honor and glory, and
lis infinite, reciprocal blessings-will
hange the present moment of appre-
ension to a triumphant victory of
race and mercy.
We trust. and feel no misgiving IN
ldulging the pleasing hope, thai al!
ill be done to make the collection for
ne Indian and negro missions for 1902
success that will preclude all future
A minimum contribution of % cents
lould be inculcated as an impera tive
uty of every Catholic: and if those in
circumstances give in pro-
ortion to their means, the Catholic
Missionary problem finds its solution
lie mission school will be saved and
he souls Of the Indian children pre-