The Irish standard., 1909-01-02

sand natives living on the Congo ind
Its tributaries, over two-thirds arc
reached by these missionary Fathers
Of the Holy Ghost. Their missions ex-
tend along the west coast Of Africa for
1920 miles, penetrating 1000 miles into
the interior, and along the east coast
Tor 100 miles, penetrating 1000 miles
5into the interior.
1.-The Dark Continent is now opening
\ Its portals to commerce and civiliza-
| zion, and the difficulties that have
Hitherto beset missionary work are
gradually disappearing. In the provl-
dence Of God the day of Africa's re-
generation and salvation is near at
hand. Ethiopia shall soon stretch out
her hands to God" The number o.
native Catholic priests is growing
greater year after year. May their
tribe increase! For the torrid cline Of
Africa cuts short too soon the mission
ary- life of the Caucasian.
And, judging from the actual pro
gress of events. we may we'll indulge
the hope that some of Africa's sons and
daughters in the western Hemisphere
shall ere long become heralds Of
Christianity to their less favored
brethren beyond the seas. For there is
emple reason to believe that within
q few years after Africa has had suf-
hcient Catholic missionaries sho may
truthfully exclaim: "Nigra sum.
.formosa!" BLACK am I, indeed, but
beautiful in the eyes Of the Lord"
I. am moved to indulge such high
hopes because Of the actual progress
OF Catholic missions in this country.
There are now about nine million
Afro-Americans. Not more, believe
than four millions are claimed as men,
bers by all the sects combined, while
e. deplorable inference, that fully four
millions Of them belong to no church
and profess no creed; that multitudes
Of Negroes in this enlightened land are
dying Of spiritual and moral starva-
ton!
The vast majority Of Afro Ameri ans
I live. as you know, in the Southern
States. Now. the Catholic Church in
the Black Belt Of the South has never
been strong enough to do much for
+. the Negroes. There the Catholics are
.aw and scattered, and the shepherds
have about all they can do to tend tn>
sheep already within the fold. Why
there are more Catholics in a single
parish of New York city than in sever
9al Southern dioceses combined. On
the other hand, tho resources Of North
ern Catholics were long taxed to the
utmost to provide men and means.
/: churches and schools to meet the rapii
increase of their own requirem ants.
But within recent years, as circum-
stances have improved, the Catholic
Church has. according to her means
end opportunities. made concentrated
and greater efforts to fulfill her mis-
sion to the neglected and despised.
= Today there are more than rixty
priests laborins among Afro Americans
exclusively. How jealous and self
sacrificing n1dny of these missionaries
are We may know from an experience
OF the Very Rev. John E. Burke. the
director general of the Catholic Board
for Mission Work Among the Colored
People. During his vsitations in the
South the director general met some Of
these missionaries who had scarcely
enough to eat Little help can be ex-
pected from the people of some Of the
missions, which are in a formative
state. missions that number but forty
or fifty Catholics. who are very poor
The director general visited devoted
priest Of Alabama. who received last
year only $500 from the collections
OF the Sunday services-about fifty
cents a Sunday He had school Of
seventy-flve children, taught by two
Sisters, whose meagre salaries are paid
by the Bishop. This priest is the car
penter, painter. digger and jack of-all-
trades around his place, thus teaching
the lessons of industry, thrift and la
Dor to the colored community in the
very heart of which he lives. When
the director general called to see him
he was surprised to find the apostle
just finishing the digging Of trench
between the church and the school,"
h Not less self sacrificing and heroic
is the life of the Catholic nuns who
are laboring in the colored missi ,ns.
There are twenty-five or twenty-six
such orders Of women, three Of them
made up wholly of colored women.
These various orders operate day
schools for children, night schools and
sewing schools for girls and ", l.. 1;