Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-28
A NEGRO BUREAU
TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH.

1t was learned from an authoritative
source today that as result Of meetings Of
Catholic prelates, held at the residence of
Cardinal Gibbons, in Baltimore, last Sun
day night, and in this city, at the Catholic
University of America, where they were in
attendance upon the semi-annual meeting
Of trustees, that bureau will be opened
shortly designed to effectively direct mis-
sionary effort among the Afro-Americans Of
the United States.
At the initial gathering at the cathedral
rectory in Baltimore there were present
among others, Cardinal Gibbons, Arch
bishop Farley Of New York, Bishops
Thomas Sebastian Byrne of Baltimore
and Edward P. Allen of Mobile, Ala. At
the conclusion no announcement was made
by Cardinal Gibbons relative to the nature
of the business discussed further than that
the topic was of a religious nature, but 1t
was learned today that the bureau is as
sured It will in effect be an administrative
center for missionary endeavor among the
negroes in this country. 1t will be to the
African race what the Catholic Indian b,i-
Ieau in this city, under the direction OF
Rev. William Ketcham, has been to the
North American Indians.
At the head Of the new negro bureau will
be Rev. Father Burke. pastor of one of the
largest and best administered colored Cath
Ole churches In the United States-St. Bene
regarded by the prelates. especially for ad-
ministrative ability. and his great success
with the large parish in New York more
than ever assures them that In the new field
OF activity his talents will early make them
selves manifest. 1t is declared that many
times before efforts have been made to have
Father Burke enlarge his sphere of activity.
but SO deep has been his interest in the
present charge that not until the Catholic
negro bureau was proposed could he be in
duced to accept other duties.
Object Of the Bureau.
While the establishment Of a negro bu-
reau by the Catholic Church in America has
been the subject of discussion among the
prelates for some time, those most
earnestly at work on the enterprise have
been Archbishop John NJ Farley of New
York and the bishops Of Mobile and Nash
vile. They have felt, it is said. that the
negro in America was not receiving the at
tention he deserved at the hands of the
Catholic Church, and are DESTROYS Of ag-
gressively pushing missionary work among
these people.
So far as the Catholic Church is concerned
there is negro question" as it were.
There are eleven millions of the colored
race in the United States Of whom less
than 2 per cent are Catholic. This has
to the more thoughtful ecclesiastics of the
Catholic Church. and it is felt that the
church must be "up and doing" Thus
spoke Rev. T. J. Duffy of the Josephites at
the recent missionary conference in this
city. $50 far" he continued, 1.-THE negro
has not stood before the world an object of
justifable pride to Catholics. and 1t be-
hooves US to be up and doing il we are to
fulfill the destinies that in the plan Of d.
vine economy has been mapped out for the
church in the United States.
Far be It from me to belittle the efforts
Of those who since emancipation have la
bored and toiled for the regeneration of the
negro race: far be 1t from me to make light
of the zeal and piety, the charity and self
sacrifice that inspire men and women to de-
vote themselves to the evangelization of the
negro, yet how few are they OF the many
millions who glory In the name of aCtholic.
We might turn back the leaves Of time and
read thereon the story OF the negro in
America, but there are some things over
which 1t may be we'll to draw the curtain
Of forgetfulness and instead grapple with
the problem as 1t is at present"
Father Duffys discourse was one of the
most widely commented on of any at the
conference. It created a great deal OF dis
cussion among the Catholic clergy and
laity, and was probably one Of the strong
forces that have been working within the
church for the salvation Of the negro
through Roman Catholic channels Father
Duffy b member Of the st. joseph So