Grignon, Father Mathurin F., Natchez, Mississippi, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1863 December 5

Grignon's letter dated the first part of last month will be handed to Odin by a certain Mr. Stumpe as a recommendation for admission into Odin's seminary. When he wrote he was satisfied that the bearer was entitled to such a recommendation. But time has given him occasion to have some doubt about the young man's true vocation. No doubt he has many good qualities, but Grignon has noticed too much exterior fondness for everything which is worldly. Stumpe might turn out well, but he has no such confidence himself. The desired information alluded to in his first letter had reference to a certificate from the superior of St. Vincent's Seminary of Cape Girardeau where Stumpe had been a student. Stumpe says that the superior would refuse a certificate, but as he adds that several seminarians who had even been expelled were afterward ordained by Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick of St. Louis, Grignon thought that possibly the Superior, Father James McGill, C.M., might have made some mistake. As he understands that several of the Lazarists who were at Cape Girardeau at the time are now in New Orleans. Odin will be able to receive the necessary information and form a sounder judgment. ` P.S. He does not expect BishopWilliam Henry Elder before the latter part of December. :: VI-2-g A.L.S. 3pp. 12mo.