Elder, William Henry, Bishop of Natchez, Mississippi, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1865 October 4

He is recovering from his illness. He has been able to attend Mass, twice and soon hopes to celebrate Mass himself. He asks Odin's, advice as to whether or not he has the power to suspend the, excommunication of a man who married before a justice of the peace., The man apparently did it out of ignorance, and is sincere in his, contrition. 9Elder wonders whether in this case of ignorance it is still, necessary to process the case through Rome. The Baltimore Mirror, reported that the Holy Father Pius IX may invite all the prelates of, the world to Rome the next year for the 1800th anniversary of the death, of St. Peter. Perhaps this may have some influence on Bishop, Auguste Martin's movements. He thanks Odin for the invitation to, rest, but thinks it better to work a little each day rather than come back, to accumulated problems. His Father is ailing. He would like to see, him before his trip to Europe, but cannot afford the time and money. :: VI-2-j A.L.S. 4pp. 12mo.