The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-08-05

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needs in 249 churches and chapels.
In the ffty-five boarding schools
and eight day schools in which the
Indian children are educated
seventy-two Brothers and three
hundred and seventy-three Sisters
are employed as teachers. In
these mission schools 5000 Indian
children are supported and
taught; while in the government
schools there are more than 5000
Catholic Indian children many Of
whom have no opportunity to
practice their religion or even to
see priest. During the past year
760 adult Indians were baptized
and 3,136 children.
The cost of carrying on the
Church s work among the Indians
is considerable, as the Indians be-
come self-supporting only by very
slow degrees. Formerly Catholic
Indian boarding schools were sup
ported by the Government; but
this system was discontinued by
Act of Congress, and since 1900
the Church has had to assume the
entire burden of their mainten-
ance. At the present time the In
dams themselves bear the expense
of twelve schools leaving ffty-one
to be kept up by the charity Of the
white Catholics Of the United
States.
During the past year the Bureau
of Catholic Indian Missions re-
ceived for the schools the sum of
$4,000 from the Lenten Collec-
lions taken up in the churches
throughout the United States;
81, 200 from the Society Of the
Holy Childhood; and $3,S40.73
from the Society for the Propaga-
ton Of the Faith. In addition to
this, the Society for the Preserva-
ton of the Faith Among the In
dian Children turned over to the
Bureau the fees and donations re-
ceived from it's members. Not
withstanding this, the Bureau is at
present burdened with an in
debtedness of $42,45O for the
maintenance Of the Indian schools.
Commissioner Valentine of the
Office Of Indian Affairs has issued
comprehensive regulations with a
view to insure complete religious
liberty to the pupils of Govern
ment Schools and to prevent
proselytizing by the sects. Father
Ketcham declares that these regu-
lations are a great improvement
on all preceding ones. They aim to
provide the children with worship
and religious instructions in con-
formity to the religion which they
profess and to do away with the
requiring Of any child to attend
religious exercises in which he
cannot conscientiously take part
The !" non sectarian - Sunday
school is at last abolished
Strange to say, however, great
deal of difficulty has been ex.
perienced by the Department in
having these regulations carried
out, and even at the present time
they are evaded and ignored by
more than one institution. Strange
to say, also, most of the Protestant
; bodies are sorely displeased with
them, although they give equal
rights to the various denomina
tons. Catholic children are ne
longer required to attend Protes
tant services or listen to Protes
tant discourses.
In concluding his report, Father
Ketcham pays a tribute to the
President and to all government
: officials having dealings with the
Bureau: During the year 1910
; with few exceptions, amicablt
: relations existed between the mis-
sionaries and all Government Of
) ficials in the field. At the seat Of
Government the Bureau received
cordial and helpful consideration
J from Senators and Representa-
tives and all departmental officials
and the greatest sympathy anG
encouragement has been extend
ed to the Bureau by President
: Taft. =