The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-16
j. 5r5 He4{Sf7 zAAll2-4&az&

anxious to receive Catholic educa-
ton, but when money, good clothes,
and the like are offered to them by
the proselytiZers they are easily won
over, and SO, what is poor mission
AIRY without these enticements to do?
Is he to let his poor people fall into
the hands of bigoted men and women,
and in time become Protestants; or
will the charity of the Catholic peo-
pie help him keep them in the fold?
Read this letter for yourself, and we
feel certain that you will send some
thing to us for. Father Janvier.
"You have always listened kindly to
our missionary troubles, and for this
very reason come to tell you my last
one. Mercedes, in Texas, is the place
where lies the trouble. Mercedes is a
town seven years old. For the present
it has a population of about 1000 in
habitants, one-third of American
birth, the balance MeXicans. Last
school year showed an attendance at
the Mexican school of 140 children
For seven years all has been running
smoothly for our little ones. Broad
minded citizens from the very start
of the public school, the one for the
Mexican element knew nothing better
than to call religious Sisterhood to
have charge of the children. Accord
ingly two, then three and four Sisters
OF Mercy, whose motherhouse is in
Laredo, Texas, and who for these last
seven years have devoted time and
| talents to the education and instruc-
ton OF the children, teaching them re-
tligion after the class hours and read
ing, writing and figures, ETC., during
| the hours scheduled by the trustees
and laws of the state. Year after
| year the public could witness and pro-
| nounce it well DONE the work of the
Sisters, while enjoying the entertain
ments given by the children. They did
not know what to admire most, the
| patient and successful work of the
teachers, or the smartness of the little
ones in delivering their English
| speeches and songs. Two years ago
the Sisters were obliged to take off
their garb, but still we're kept in
charge. 1t was but the first step to
the decision taken this year by new
| board of trustees prejudiced against
| anything Catholic. The Sisters we're
not even thanked for their past serv-
ices. The local paper announced the
school trustees had had an election
for the coming year and that three
new teachers were appointed for the
| North school. With outside help they
have built a small chapel for our
| Mexicans; they have had it enlarged
and even now, during the hot months
of summer, daily, under the plea of
teaching English and Spanish, they
draw to them tour little ones. But,
thanks to God, few fathers have sold
| the souls of. their children for a var
nish of instruction, new dress, a
| bushel of corn. or the coin for the
monthly rentalbof the hut Are we to
get discouraged and lay down our
arms? No. Alas, we feel weak But
you, dear readers, are you not going
to aid us with the Gil that will give us
new strength in the fight? We give
ourselves, we do the fighting, we build
the schoolhouses, we oversee the work,
we bring in the children, we teach
them religion, we teach them to be
true sons of the Church and State, we
show them Who is the Way, the
Truth, the Life-in word, the ma
terial and the spiritual work, we do
it. But you-your part is to give the
means and divide the merits. Just
now, let us enter into the company.
Send $1,000 and my trouble vanishes;
! $500 to build class rooms, $500 for
two teachers for ten months, and for
this school year, abandon to you all
merits that justly must come to us. :"
A school at Mercedes is necessity
for the preservation of the Faith
there is no money to pay the teachers,
and with the Protestant teachers we'll
supplied with money, poor Father
Janvier is having a hard fight. Any
amount you feel disposed to give will
be gratefully received by the Catholic
Extension Society, Mccormick build
ing, Chicago.