Elder, William Henry, Bishop, Natchez, Mississippi, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1862 March 24

Elder seeks information concerning Father John Scollard of Jackson, Louisiana who writes that a prominent Catholic of Woodville in the diocese of Natchez had enquired whether Scollard could attend that congregation. In a couple of weeks Elder expects to consult with the priest who now serves Woodville. Meanwhile, he wishes to know if he can rely on Scollard. The Catholics there are few and well disposed, but they are keenly sensitive to anything that could give discredit to their religion. Odin's judgment concerning the bells, he supposes, is sufficiently indicated by the article in the Propagateur written "par commission." He has just received a letter from Bishop Martin J. Spalding who says he has received a letter from Archbishop John Baptist Purcell. Father Sylvester H. Rosecrans has been appointed auxiliary bishop without the right of succession. He has also received a copy of Bishop Augustin Verot's catechism with a small one for illiterate persons. He sees some things to criticize and many to admire. He wonders if Odin cannot induce some able men, Jesuits or others, to expose the dreadful errors of W.T. Mac Mahon's book, "Cause and Contrast." It is written in a pleasing style and takes a popular view of things while it contains the abominable idea of the plurality of the races. He thinks it ought to be refuted and meanwhile discountenanced by every one who values truth more than rhetoric and who considers the salvation of souls more important than the temporal prosperity of the South. Elder wrote to J.C. Dinnies and Dinnies said his article was approved by a theologian in high standing. :: VI-2-f A.L.S. 2pp. 4to.