Elder, William Henry, Bishop of, Natchez, Mississippi, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1866 July 4

Odin's letter of June 15 reached him in due time. In May Elder received a letter from the Cardinal dated April 14 acknowledging receipt of his letter concerning the candidates for Little Rock. Elder quotes from this letter in Latin. Since then Elder has seen in the Telegraph that Father Edward Fitzgerald has received the appointment. Has he declined? Elder has heard from Odin that the financial affairs of Little Rock had been well managed. Father John Scollard of Jackson seems to be very annoyed at Father Henry Picherit 's going into Louisiana, even offering to attend Amite City regularly. If Odin authorized Picherit he is to inform Scollard. Scollard also complained that Father Charles Vanqueckelberge , in passing through Bayou Sara on his way home from Woodville, spoke injuriously about him in public. Father Charles says this is a mistake. Elder advised Scollard to refer the matter to Odin. They are getting deeply perplexed with their asylums and schools. Funds for building the Boys' Asylum will be available next January and April. The difficulty is to feed both boys and girls. The Protestants always assisted at their Fairs and Elder never checked assisting at theirs. The missionaries said it was not lawful. It seemed to Elder to be his duty to support the missionaries by a public assertion of what they had said. In a small place like this might it be lawful to contribute to the temporal wants of a Protestant asylum? Odin is to let Elder know when he returns to New Orleans. If he can arrange with his building, he will go to Baltimore some time before the Council in September, perhaps in August. He would like to see Odin before he goes. :: VI-2-l A.L.S. 4pp. 4to.