Luers, John Henry Bishop of Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1859 October 17

Luers found Purcell's letter on his return from a visit to the western part of his diocese. He has visited his diocese twice and feels that he knows its condition. Michigan City is on the point of expiring and does not have over 2,000 inhabitants. What is not shipped to Chicago goes to Toledo. While he may have expressed himself with undue levity in his last letter, he feels that his neighbors might be willing to make the requisite sacrifices. But Purcell must make the first decision, and he can get the permission of the other bishops once he gets that of Purcell and of Bishop Amadeus Rappe. He is sure that Propaganda would then consent. He wrote when he did because a new church will have to be built in Toledo within a year and he could arrange with his brother that the $2,000 would not have to be paid for 3 years, which would allow him most of what he has received from the Association of the Propagation. Otherwise he will have to "sink" it is Fort Wayne and Father Julian Benoit will demand his $700 and leave. His plan was to go as soon as possible to Rome for approval, collecting some money on the way. Purcell might not have as much territory as the two Indiana dioceses but he has a larger number of congregations. There is no immigration into Indiana except a straggler or two from Ohio. P.S. He sees that Purcell will be in Cleveland Sunday. Father L. Luhr has invited him to speak in German. He will go since he has not visited Bishop Rappe for some time and he hopes to see Purcell. :: II-4-o A.L.S. 4pp. 8vo.