The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-06-28

After his ordination eleven years ago. Father Donovan was sent to Epiphany Apostolic College. Walbrook. where he was noted for zeal in the conversion of the colored people, and also for his great devotion to the study of the Scrip lures.
 " He published a little synopsis of the New Testament that was approved by Cardinal Gibbons. and also by the then apostolic delegate, now Cardinal Satolli. After staying sometime in the college at walbrook, Father Donovan was sent to St. Peter Clavier Church, colored, Fremont Avenue. and then later was sent to take charge of St. Francis Xavier Church, colored, Cal vert Street.
 " Tn both places his zeal was highly commended by Cardinal Gibbons. and the Cardinal was simply amazed at the showing of the baptismal report from the latter church. which amounted in one year to 450 children and adults. After his successes in this city Father Donovan was sent to Richmond. va where he had the hardest kind of mis- sion to start with. He had a large church but there were but few colored Catholics there. Father Donovan de- voted his attention first to taking care of the school for colored children, and then he spent his energies in opening a founding asylum for co1ored babies
 {" Tn short time he cleared the debt left by his predecessor, put the colored church at Richmond in good condi- tion and opened mission churches In Lynchbu-g. Columbia and Jarrats Sta- ton, Va. and also supported the Nor folk mission He was highly commend ed by Father Slattery, the Superior. for tzf hn nf a business priest like Father Donovan. placed him in charge of colored in- dustrial school at Clayton, Del. He was allowed to stay there long enough to put the institute on a solid basis, especially in a financial way.
 " Tn the meantime Father Slattery had visited Rome and obtained permis- sion to open a college for negro cate chists. the object of which Is to try and fit young colored men to go out amongst the colored people as model Catholics and Christians and to induce their fellow-colored brethren to follow their footsteps.
 " Father Donovan went to Montgom- cry. Ala. and started the college on a plantation six miles from the city. known as the old Browder estate. He met with great difficulties at first. and had to walk six miles each way for his mail and slept at first on bale of cotton. The house was in such condi- ton that he could see through the crew ices in the sides.
 " When the conservative people of Montgomery learned that he was Ken lucky man, and thoroughbred South erner he elicited the heartiest sympa- thy. and was shown characteristic Southern kindness. When he had fin- ished his three years there he found 1t necessary to tell Father Slattery that 1t was almost absolutely necessary for him to take little rest. Father Stat tery appreciated his condition after his arduous labors, and advised him to go abroad.
 Father Donovan went to Rome just about the time that Pope Leo died, and later had the satisfaction of an inter- view with Pope Plus K, who blessed him and encouraged him to continue his work among the negroes. While there he met Cardinal Satolli. and Is on the most intimate terms with him. Upon his return to this country Father Donovan asked to be relieved of his position at Montgomery. The sulpician Fathers know Father Donovan very well. he having studied at St. Marys Seminary, this city. Cardinal Gibbons Is we'll acquainted with Father Dono- van. and has commended him for his jealous Iabors of the past ten years.
 Very Rev J. R. Slattery, who TO- signed as the Superior of the Order, found sometime ago, after quarter century of work among the negroes, that he was unable to any longer con tinue his l. bors. He was very success full in the work, and his name is con- nected all through this country with tho conversion of the negroes of the South to the Catholic Church. Father Slattery was born in New York of wealthy parents. and was educated at Columbia College for the New York bar. One day in New York city. after watching a procession of colored peo- pie, he said that the colored people of the South were deserving of the efforts Of the Catholic Church, and prepared at once to study for that purpose in Mill Hill, England.
 He came back to this country and started the work of preparing priests to work among the colored people in the old hotel at Pennsylvania Avenue and St. Marys Street. The success that has attended his efforts is well known"