In the Freeman's Journal of July 30, 1882, appeared an article on White Earth Indian Reservation, Minnesota . The article invited Catholics to contribute to the support of a priest of that reservation. St. John's Monastery in Collegeville, Minnesota attends this reservation but there is much more work that the two priests stationed there can handle. If there were some means of supporting extra priests, there would be a great deal of work for them to do. One of the good men who reads the Journal wrote to the Abbot of St. John's on July 31 and although he has given permission to publish extracts of his letters he does not want his name disclosed. White gives extracts quoted directly from the letter to the Abbot. When this man read an article in the Journal about the laying of the cornerstone of a new church in an Indian Mission, he also noticed the article mentioning the scarcity of priests and the fact that additional priests could work if there were some means of supporting them. Wishing to do some good work to advance the church this man promised $50. towards the maintainance of another priest for the Indians, and hoped that others would send similar contributions. The Abbot answered the man telling him more about conditions in the Mission and the difficulties attached to it. The abbot received another letter on Aug. 11 from the same man thanking him for the information on the mission and sending a draft on New York for $100. The donor wished this amount could be larger but thought that others might join in the good work. In his own city the donor knows of several men whose business incomes would allow them to band together to raise $500. and to support a priest among the Indians. If these Indians enjoyed the advantages of having churches and priests as Catholics do, they would soon shame the whites in religion. This donor is only slightly acquainted with these gentlemen who could afford to donate money and cannot presume to take the lead in securing contributions but he knows of some men in his home city whom he will approach on the subject when he returns to that city in a few days. The men have generously contributed to home wants and may willingly do so for the Indians. He is personally acquainted with over 20 Catholics who could each give $50. to support a priest and not miss it but, fears he will not be too successful in appreaching them. He feels a strong impulse to bind himself for the entire $500. and wishes a priest sent to the Indians immediately in any case. The means will surely be provided by the coming Christmas, and if they are not he will send another $100. at that time. This man notifies white that his name is not to be published among his neighbors but that McMaster is entitled to know it is confidence. White will send McMaster the man's name in the same mail by which this present letter arrives so that the genuineness of this act of charity may be guaranteed. There should be other Catholics who will unite their efforts to answer the Indians' call for a priest, and if any desire to join in this good work they may do so by notifying the Abbot of St. John's Monastery, Father Alexius Edelbrock, O.S.B., of their intentions. :: I-2-d A.L.S. 3pp. 4to.