Meyer, Maria Anthony, Piqua, Ohio, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1863 June 8

Meyer sends with this letter the title to a plot for a church, and $46.50 for the support of seminarians to which he adds $10. As to the proposed church 35 citizens have promised $3,000 and have collected stones for the foundation. He hopes to collect from $6,000 to $7,000 from the congregation of St. Boniface, some from the congregation of St. Mary's and also from Protestants. All are willing to pay promptly except about 23 persons who seek to prevent the erection of the church. They have circulated a petition on which they have names of women whose husbands are in camp, Protestants, Catholics who have not made their Easter duty, and some youths. In order to build the church Meyer must have express authorization in English which he can hang up in the church to silence the people. The notice in the papers of Purcell's visit to Piqua has been interpreted by the people as an expression of opinion by the bishop against the proposed church. His adversaries maintain that if the church is moved they can take back their land on which the church now stands. This is contrary to the nature of the gift, since that required merely that a chapel remain and that would still be true if he erected a house for the sisters there using the church as a chapel for them. This can be done to avoid dispute. :: II-5-b A.L.S. Latin 3pp. 8vo.