The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-03
BISHOP ANNOUNCES
THE RULES OF LENT
Cardinals Appeal to Aid
Missions
TO TAKE A COLLECTION
The Rev. Father Coyle Announces a
Special Collection To Aid Indian
and Negro MissionsAsh
Wednesday Services
TO TAKE A COLLECTION

In all the Catholic churches of the dio-
cese Lenten rules and regulations signed
by the Rt. Rev. Edward P Allen, bishop
of Mobile, were read. An appeal in be-
half of the Negro and Indian missions
in the United States. issued in the form
of a joint letter. signed by Cardinal
Gibbons of Baltimore, Cardinal Farley of
New York and Archbishop Prendergast,
transmitted to the clergy of Alabama
through the bishop of Mobile, was also
read The appeal begins as follows:
Dearly Beloved Brethren: The Catholic
church. through its bishops and priests
today appeals TO the generosity of the
American layman in behalf of the In
dian and Negro missions. Catholics un-
derstand that there is grave moral OBJ
legation binding them to answer this
appeal generously. And why@ Because
If thes Indian and Negro are. materially
the wards of the nation, they are also,
spiritually, the ward of the church. The
nation is meeting its material obligation
by giving Indian and Negro the Aneri-
can right to life. liberty and happiness.
- ViiNhS tit POoi ihbiiii anu
a blanket in exchange for the soil of
which the tribes were formerly the own
ers; it gives citizenship to the Negro
millions who are here not by choice, but
because their ancestors were sold in
slavery to our ancestors.
But what about their souls?
Admitting as we Catholics must, that
Christ died for the entire human family,
and called ell mankind to His church here
and to His heaven hereafter, We cannot
leave the souls of His red and His
black skin children to be robbed of their
temporal and eternal heritage"
After stressing the claim of the Cath
Ollie church that 1t is the "one true
church The joint letter urges that it is
The duty Of the Catholic to protect these
two races-the Indian and negro-and
bring them ITO a knowledge of the
truth"
'The Indian and Negro must be con-
verted,' says the appeal. This can only
be accomplished by Gods true church.
Hence we cry out to the entire Catholic
body to come to our assistance with
both men and means. We earnestly beg
the clergy to plead for vocations for this
home missionary work, and we appeal to
the laity to contribute generously to the
establishment of schools, to the building
of churches, and to the support of priests
and sisters who are devoting their lives
to the red and black skinned wards of
the American nation and of the Catholic
church.
a,Ix
there such a glorious and easy an aposto-
late open to the zeal of the missionary,
or ripper harvest for those who know
and realize the value of an immortal soul.
The south is now undergoing a silent
yet wonderful change, commercially and
reigiously. Its people remember the un-
paralleled faithfulness and loyalty of the
black man in her period of severest trial
and they will help the church to reach
his heart. to humanize him. to Christianize
him. The increasing educational faciii-
ties given the colored people are making
them tired of warning sects and ignorant
preachers of all colors. The black race
is today cropping in the dark and calling
loudly for that church and faith which
alone can bring them to the truth and
the light
-
knocking at our doors. The church OF
God is on trial We need more men,
we need more means. The different So
cieties of priests, brothers and sisters
engaged in the work among the negroes
and the Indians are battling against
frightful odds and hampered by linn
tied resources. Are we to leave them
alone to work, to suffer and to FAM
A great advance is being made; enthu-
| Gia hip11. gChonlg gDrlQ9lnG
up; churches are building, conversions
are being madel Yet when We look at
those millions of the red race and the
black fast swinging into the whirlpool OF
American activity. rushing past our
doors, morally blindfolded, and led often
by the morally blind. we are forced to
acknowledge that what we Rave done in
the past is little to what we must and
will accomplish through the efforts Of
an aroused enlightened Catholic generos-
| ity and activity.
what does the church ask from you
for the Indian and Negro? Some VINO
hear this appeal could support priest
for a year in one of the missions. lie VIII
not cost half what you pay your chauf-
feur Some could meet the living ex-
penses of a sister who spends five hours
a day in a class room of negro or In
dian school. You will be SSrprised how
little she needs. All can come prepared
to contribute generously to this work
which is so eminently Catholic and
American.
"Our appeal is for men and means for
the conversion of the colored races here
In America, here at our doors. What
will yosr answer be next Sunday, what
will you do to help in this noble work
in this appeal made TO our faith and
Patriotism
The Rev Father Coyle, pastor Of ST.
Pauls, announced that in response TO
the appeal special collection would be
taken the first sunday in Lent, which
is next Sunday.
Ash Wednesday services at St Pauls
will consist of the two week day masses
MS usual, 6:90 o'clock and O'Clock, and
devotions with sermon in the evening at
7:30 o'clock At the o'clock mass ashes
will be blessed and distributed and the
ashes will be again distributed at the
night services for the benefit of those
who do not attend mass. On Fridays
during Lent there will be devotions con-
sisting of stations of the cross at p. m.
and at 7:S0 b. IN.
YOUNG HIGHWAYMAN