Harang, Octave?, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1861 June 6

He encloses all the papers relating to the affair of Father Amédée Beccard. He believes it to be useless to enter into details although it would be easy to convince Odin of the truth of what he says. For more than four years Beccard been a subject of scandal for their parish and if the parishioners of St. Andrews Lockport are deprived of their religion, Beccard is largely responsible. He is looking at the name of young persons who had been insulted; whose modesty had been outraged at the very doors of the confessional. He could also cite him a marriage in which the contracting parties were married and separated after a few days. The only license which Beccard required was $15. These facts have been affirmed before a magistrate. He begs Odin to pardon the parishioners and lift the interdict on their church as they did not know that their act was culpable and they are sincerely repentant. St. Andrew's has 2,000 or 2,500 souls and needs a priest who will dwell there. They have a church and a priest house, and although the revenues of the first year might be inadequate, he promises to open an immediate subscription for whatever amount Odin considers necessary. He invites Odin to visit the parish in August: his house, his carriage, and his horses will be at his disposal. ` A.L.S. French 3pp. ` Enclosure: