Evening journal., 1909-02-27
CONTRIBUTIONS
FOR MISSIONS
Catholic Hierarchy Asks for
Liberal Donations on
Sunday
BLACK" PROBLEM MAY
REST WITH CHURCH

In a circular letter sent out to the Gath
Ole clergy Of the country. and signed by
Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishops Ryan,
OF Philadelphia. and Farley, Of New York,
an appeal is made by the Catholic hier-
archy of this country for liberal contri-
buttons for negro and Indian missions
The collections will be taken UP in the
Catholic churches Sunday. The three arch
bishops compose the commission on the
reception and distribution of funds for
these missions. The Cardinal is head Of
the commission.
In the letter, a copy Of which has been
received by the Right Rev. John j. Mon
aghan, of the Wilmington Diocese, the
Cardinal refers especially to the solu-
ton Of the black problem" and says:
Even the nation begins to have sus-
picion that the solution of the negro
problem rests with the Catholic Church"
The appeal is made in the following let
ter:
Dear Brethren; With great sorrow we
call attention to the fact that in the Len
ten collection for 1908 there has been a
notable falling off from the amount that
for number OF years has been con-
tributed for the Indian and negro mis-
sIons. This decrease in the collection is
a cruel blow TO both our Indian and our
negro work. As to our Indian work, an in
debtedness of long standing cannot be
liquidated, schools and missions are placed
| in most precarious circumstances, while
the commission with much regret has been
obliged TO cut down its ALLEGATIONS to the
bishops and to the general Indian educa-
tional fund. As to the colored missions,
the work must necessarily be crippled,
new enterprises of urgent necessity post
poned; hence another cruel blow is ad-
ministered to poor struggling, jealous
missionaries.
"rhe Indian mission schools for the
present at leaot. must not be discon-
tinued The question Of their necessity has
been brought to the attention Of all bish-
ops having Indians in their dioceses, and
from the tenor of the written expressions
OF those bishops it is evident they cannot
make a success OF their Indian mission
work without the schools.
Speaking OF the Indians Of this coun
try. our Holy Father. Plus X, in recen
letter. has said: We have come to realize
the necessity of arousing our Catholic peo
pie Of America to activity and OF stimulat
ing their zeal In behalf OF these theil
brethren in the faith The Holy Fathe
has also spoken In behalf OF the negroe
| Of this land; and in an effort to rende
our mission work more effective we hav
; recently perfected an organization know
: as the Catholic Board for Work Amoni
5 the Colored People modelled after tn
[ Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions. in tn
e hone that It might secure for the worl
] OF the colored missions that unity, ag
gressiveness, interest and sympathy tina
the bureau has been instrumental in Oh
E raining for the Indian work. But what ca
4 be gained by this new organization o
any other organization. or what can com
OF all our efforts il the annual Lente
s collection. the backbone Of the fnancia
; support OF the work, is to suffer notabl
falling off?
5 ''The collection for 1909 must not pro
duce less than the collections OF forme
years; It must by all means be increased
e and should be a notable testimony notonl
o Of the loyalty Of bishop, priest and peopl
TO the call Of the Sovereign Ponuff, but
=. proof positive Of the Catholic zeal fo
n souls which abounds in the hearts Of tn
y Catholics of America.
g "TMs must be not only because Of tn
e great difficulty in sustaining Indian mis-
ionary institutions but because Of III
y great debt we owe to our brethren
e black Millions call to us from the deptl
Of superstition and misbelef, and even IL
j. nation begins TO have a suspicion this
the solution of the negro problem res-
Il with the Catholic Church.
II If the Catholics of America either wi
not save the negro and the Indian, or
Y they hold that they and their religion cal
=" not save them how can they escape Il
imputation Of being wanting In charity
Of virtually admitting that their religic
y is not the religion of Jesus Christ?
- BE assured we have no misgivings
- to the faith of the Catholics of the Unite
States nor as to their zeal and generosi
:, when there is question Of the salvation
M souls and of the temporal and eternal we
81 fare Of poor abandoned races Therefor
,t do we appeal to the reverend clergy
every parish without exception TO NAL
i due announcement of the collection bo
on the Sunday of the collection and on Il
preceding Sunday, and at this time
preach an earnest and instructive mi
sionary sermon. II ought not 10 be nece
r sary TO say that on both Sundays the pc
4 pie should be exhorted to give chee
fully and abundantly.
1--WE beg the faithful TO be most gene
&c Gus to this collection for the mission
d. counseling them to bear in mind the wor
Mt of Holy Writ: Cast thy bread upon {
4 running waters; for after a long til
thou shalt find it again.
" James Cardinal Gibbons.
gs Archbishop Of Baltimore
es Patrick J. Ryan.
IT. Archbishop Of Philadelphia.
John NJ. Farley.
Archbishop of New York"