The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-06-07
PHIL. CoRCoRAN. Editor.
Catholic Church in Darkest Africa

mark of the true church it must
be universal in time and place
In time the Catholic church can trace
her lineage back to Christ, and can
identify her ministry as a corporate
body with the corporation Jesus Christ
instituted, and commissioned in the
persons of the apostles. Her univer-
salty in place extends to all countries,
even to the most remote corners of
darkest Africa" In Onitsha Oower
Niger a young king was crowned last
year.N Being a Catholic, Pope Leo XIII
sent letters Of congratulations, togeth-
er with a large and superbly enameled
medallion to the new king, who was
deeply affected at receiving SO precious
gift, and the pontifical blessing. His
letter to the holy father is interesting,
and tells of the progress Of the church
in the jungles Of Africa:
Samuel Okosi, King of Onitska, to His
Holiness, Leo XIII, the Head of the
True Church of Jesus Christ:-Most
Holy Father: l am under the obliga-
ton of thanking your holiness for the
very precious gift you have deigned to
send me. Among all the African kings
I am fortunate because you have had
the great kindness of presenting me
with this picture of the Blessed Virgin,
and especially because you have given
me your paternal blessing. This pic
ture of our good Mother will always
hold the place of honor in my house,
and ] shall increasingly ask Of my
powerful advocate her assistance in
the faithful discharge of all my duties.
MY people are now receiving Christian
Instructions. The schools are filed with
children and a great crowd of people
assist every Sunday at the divine ser
vice. 1t is a trult consoling spectacle
for Christian king to see. his people
thus cultivating religion and turning
their baclSS upon the idols.
have also great pleasure in inform
ing you that the law against the killing
OF twins is now strictly obeyed, and
that Chief Obi-Fatou of Nsoube, the
neighboring village to Onitska, has
been baptized, and is a fervent Chris
tan. The great majority of his peo-
pie are ready to follow his example
The chiefs of Cgidi have given orders
that the missionaries for whom they
are building a house shall be received.
The village Of ken has also its apostle
since a month. The mission Of Saint
Joseph of AgoUleri is rapidly develop
ing under the direction of Rev. Father
Joseph Bubendorf All the settlements
on the Niger are now disposed to re-
ceive the gospel. Send them, most holy
father a stiIl greater number of mis-
sionaries that they may take possess
sion of these villages in advance Of the
MusseImen and of the various Protest
ant sects, such as the Wesleyans, Pres
byterians African church and the
Episcopalians Of The Church of Eng
ing their best to get ahead of the Cath
Ollie church. They are ten times more
numerous than the Catholic priests. but
with your blessing and under your or
ders the true church viii be stronger
than all others, and she will be every
where victorious as she is now at Omit
ska. Ossomarl, Nsoube, Agouleri, Ikem,
Ogidi, and in other places with popu-
lation Of from 10000 to $4,000 souls.
Bless me, most holy and well beloved
father, bless me as well as my subjects,
bless also our dear mission sisters, SO