Elder, William Henry, Bishop of, Natchez, Mississippi, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1866 August 31

There have been some strange and disagreeable events at Pass Christian . Father Francis Pont wrote that the Brothers of the Sacred Heart at the College St. Mary's Collegiate Institute were allowing Mass said without his consent and allowing persons to assist at Mass who did not belong to the community. Elder wrote Brother Isaiah on May 31 and August 8 but received no answers. On the 18th Elder addressed an instruction to Pont that he should notify the acting Superior of the College that if the conditions of having a chapel were violated, the chapel would become interdicted. Yesterday he received a letter from Pont stating that he communicated Elder's instructions to the acting Superior Brother Maurelian ; that when Brother Isaiah came, he wrote to him but his letter was returned unopened. On Sunday Pont noticed a woman in the chapel. Father Richard Kane said Mass after Pont who concluded that the interdict was incurred and he removed the Blessed Sacrament. Kane wrote on July 6 to Elder complaining of discourteous treatment by Pont. In his second letter of July 23 Kane said he would not go back to Pass Christian till he heard from Elder yet he has been there saying Mass. If Odin will advise Elder he will be very thankful to him. :: VI-2-l A.L.S. 4pp. 4to.