Elder, William Henry, Bishop of, Natchez, Mississippi, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1866 April 17

An important question for the Baltimore Council will be the true interpretation of how the law of the Council of Trent, "de Clandestinitate" is to be spplied in these parts. Both the Archbishops Kenrick hold that it is not to be enforced except where there were resident pastors in the time of the French or Spanish occupation. Elder understands that Odin regards it as Elder does as applying so that it becomes obligatory in new congregation's when they receive resident pastors. Odin is to send Elder the rules of his Peter Pence Association to assist them in forming one. Father Mathurin F. Grignon, the vicar general, is in bad health; he must go away for a few weeks. Last Sunday they laid the corner stone of their Orphan Boys Asylum D'Evereux Hall . They own money enough to put up the building but a good deal of it they cannot get before January. Could Odin help them? One note of $5000 is due in January, one for $3000 in April 1867. They ought before now to have begun their Boys School House; he hopes to begin the first of May; the money for that has to be collected. :: VI-2-k A.L.S. 2pp. 4to.