The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-02-08
AN APPEAL FROM THE COMMITS
SION FOR THE NEGRO AND IN
DIAN MISSIONS IN THE
UNITED STATES.


and priests, today appeals to the gen.
crosby of the American layman in
behalf of the Indian and Negro mis-
sions. Catholics understand that
there is grave moral obligation bind
ing upon them to answer this appeal
generously. And why? Because if
the Indian and Negro are, materially,
the wards of the nation, they are also,
spiritually, the wards of the Church.
The nation is meeting it's material OBJ
legation by giving Indian and Negro
the American right to life, liberty and
happiness. 1t offers the poor Indian a
ration and blanket in exchange for
the soil of which the tribes were for
merly the owners; it gives citizenship
to the Negro millions who are here
not by choice, but because their an
cestors 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 all mankind to His
Church here, and to His Heaven here
after, we cannot leave the souls of
His red and His black skin children
to be robbed of their temporal and
eternal heritage. We know that the
Sects are a failure. They cannot give
what they have not got-a definite
teaching. They are as helpless to
teach the Negro and Indian to know,
love and serve God, as they are pow
erless to give moral guidance and
spiritual help to themselves or to 9th
ers. Therefore, the Catholic Church
has the duty, mission and responsible
ity of promoting and protecting these
two races, and bringing them to a
knowledge of the truth.
The Indian and Negro must be con-
verted This can only be accom-
plished 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 gen.
erously to the establishment of
schools, to the building of churches,
and to the support of the priests and
sisters who are devoting their lives
to the red and the black skin wards
of the American nation, and of the
Catholic Church.
Never before, dearly beloved, was
there such glorious and easy apos-
tolate opened to the zeal of the mis-
sionary, or a ripper harvest for those
who know and realize the value of an
immortal soul. The South is now un-
dergoing a silent yet wonderful
change, commercially and religiously.
It's people remember the unparalleled
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 and
to Christianize him. The increasing
educational facilities given the col
ored people are making them tired
of warning sects and ignorant preach
ers 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
way, the truth and the light"
A glorious opportunity, therefore, is
knocking at our doors. The Church
of God is on trial. We need more
men, we need more means. The diff
ferent societies of priests, brothers
and sisters engaged in the work
among the Negroes and the Indians
are battling against frightful odds
and hampered by limited resources
Are we to leave them alone to work
to suffer and to fail? A great ad
vance is being made; enthusiasm
runs high; schools are springing up;
churches are building, conversions are
being made! Yet when we look al
those millions of the red race and the
black fast swinging into the whirl
pool of American activity, rushing
past our doors, morally blindfolded
and led often by the morally blind
what we have done in the past is lit
tie to what we must and will accom-
plish through the efforts of ar
aroused, enlightened Catholic generos
ity and activity.
What does the Church ask from yor
for the Indian and Negro? Some who
hear this appeal could support 6
priest for year in enc of the mis-
sions. He will not cost half what yor
pay your chauffeur. Some could NEE
the living expenses of Sister, who
spends five hours day in a elias:
room of a Negro or Indian school
You will be surprised how little she
needs. All can come prepared to con
tribute generously to this work which
is so eminently Catholic and Ameri
can.
Our appeal is for MEN anC
MEANS for the conversion of the col
ored races here in America, here a
our doors. What will your answer b
next Sunday, what will you do to hell
in this noble work in this appeal made
to our faith and patriotism?
FLAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS,
Archbishop of Baltimore.
+JOHN CARDINAL FARLEY,
Archbishop of New York.
REDMOND F. PRENDERGAST,