The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-23
THE NEGRO CATHOLIC.

In consoling letter of congratula-
ton to Rt. Rev. Mgr. John e. Burke,
Director General of the Catholic
Board for Mission Work among the
COlOred People, His Eminence Car
dinal Farley, gives some of the figures
which show the success that has
waited upon the efforts OF Monsignor
Burke and his jealous assistants. For.
building the Board has contributed
$63,615.79; for the maintenance Of
missionaries $85,9G2.00 have been
spent; and each month $2,720.00 arc
port is mainly supplied by the offer.
ings collected by the priests of the
Board. The letter of His Eminence
was called forth by the report of Mon
signor Burke at the annual meeting of
the prelates who compose the EXecu-
tive Board in charge OF the Negro
missions. The archbishops and the
bishops convened in Washington last
month and Cardinal Farley, as presi-
dent, accepted the report of the
Director General, extending the
thanks of the Catholic hierarchy for
the wonderful progress that is being
made in the conversion of the colored
people in the country.
To emphasize still further his in
terest in the work Cardinal Farley
donated hundred dollars towards
the fund which Monsignor Burke is
q
which is to be built in the South in
grateful remembrance Of Plus X, the
sincere friend OF The colored race.
Already thousand dollars towards
the fund has been contributed. One
generous friend III California who
modestly withholds his name has
given five hundred dollars. 1t is the
hope of Monsignor Burke that the
requisite amount will be on hand TO
begin the construction Of the chapel
next spring.
At present the fathers Of the Board
are soliciting funds in Pennsylvania.
Last year and part of the present
season they were busy in the dioceses
of Hartford and Springfield. The
response Of Catholics, who hear the
appeal for the neglected colored peo-
pie is always generous. The Director
General is quoted as having been
pleased to report that last year was
possibly the very best since the or
ganization of this special Board in
1907. But so much might be done, if
particular attention were paid this
deserving charity ny all the Catholics
who could help, that the Director
General never ceases to appeal in
whatever manner the willing may be
reached. For the past seven years
he has begged that an annual fund Of
one hundred thousand dollars be
raised. With that sum he promises to
care. for the education Of the thou
sands of children in the South who
would gladly, attend Catholic schools
if such institutions were ready to re-
ceiVe them. On the question OF Cath
Ollie education the colored people of
South, irrespective of tho church
which claims them, seem to be
unanimous in their endorsement. I'm
believing parents req9est everywhere
that their offsprings BE taught by the
good nuns. In some places these ia
theirs and mothers stint themselves to
pay a meagre tuition, but in most sec
tions poverty robs good will of all
chance to offer any remuneration. The
schools, therefore, look to the gen.
crosby of the Catholics in richer dis
tricts. The future Of the colored race,
so far as Catholicity is concerned,
depends upon the educational helps to
faith furnished by the teachers in
the schools.
That the enemy realizes as much
begins to appear from the efforts put
forth by bigotry to impair the in
fluence of the Catholic teacher. The
Florida incident is only one of many
signs that betray the attitude of the
unfriendly towards the work of con
verting the colored race to Catho-
licitvy. Wherever the efforts of the
priests and Sisters can be hampered
along educational lines, the hostile
are found lending every. energy to
discredit and harm the Catholic
school, From the beginning Mon
signor Burke was the most ardent
champion Of the educational method
of converting the Negro. Schools
and still more schools has been his
watchword, until the priests of the
country instinctively connect the men
| ton of his name with the schools
scattered through the South. Though
he has supplied many a priest with
the regular monthly salary that meant
continuation of church in the
midst of the people of the race, his
chief boast seems to be that thou
sands of pupils have been brought
into the fold through the support he
was enabled to offer the teaching or
ders who instruct the colored chill
dren in the schools. Each day siXteer
thousand of these scholars recite {
special prayer sent them by Mon
signor Burke for their Northern bene
factors. Contributions for the worl
can be sent to Rt. Rev. Mgr John e
Burke, No: Madison Avenue,r New
York CITY, S