Calendared content

Scope and Contents Brother Athanasius, S.C. received both of Elder's letters. The hope Brother holds out to him is one of Elder's best consolations. His visit to Vicksburgh showed him so many abuses with regard to marriage that it seems the publishing of mixed marriages would have a beneficial effect. He thought of promulgating the Decrees of the Council in a Pastoral which should speak especially about matrimony. Would it not be a good thing now to establish in the South one or more communities of those...

Scope and Contents Brother Athanasius, S.C. received both of Elder's letters. The hope Brother holds out to him is one of Elder's best consolations. His visit to Vicksburgh showed him so many abuses with regard to marriage that it seems the publishing of mixed marriages would have a beneficial effect. He thought of promulgating the Decrees of the Council in a Pastoral which should speak especially about matrimony. Would it not be a good thing now to establish in the South one or more communities of those...

Scope and Contents

Odin's of the 3rd was received this morning. He has decided to go to New Orleans at once. If Bishop John Quinlan is there, he is to please wait. Elder may go to Mobile with Quinlan and so to Paulding, etc. He would certainly desire Philip Rotchford to receive whatever may be over the amount that belonged to Elder. :: VI-2-i A.L.S. 1p. 4to.

Scope and Contents He has returned safely after some delay at Baton Rouge to visit his brother. He has decided to wait until after his visitation of the diocese and jubilee celebration to go to Europe. In this way he will be able to take a more definite picture of his needs. Would Odin like to postpone the council until after his return, or have it before his departure in November. In this latter case he could take the acts of the council with him. He has received a letter from Father William McCloskey in Rome...

Scope and Contents

Enclosed is a draft on Adolphe Certes for 4300 francs. Elder asks Odin to dispose of it and use the money to pay a draft which John B. Quegles will present for $1,125 currency. The draft of Quegles is made payable within five days of sight, so Odin need not worry about having to assemble the money quickly. If Odin is absent elder asks him to have Father Rousselon tend to the affair. On the back of the letter Thomas F. Tobin, Memphis, Tennessee. :: VI-2-j A.L.S. 1p. 12mo.

Scope and Contents Odin's letter of March 25 reached Elder yesterday. His letter from Genoa of August 20 reached him November 14. It was the first intimation he had of any gathering of their bishops in the Holy City. He will gladly come to New Orleans if he can rely on getting back without a hindrance. He wonders if Odin could obtain from the authorities a promise to allow him to return. If he had any prospects of getting the Christian Brothers he would go even to New York. Odin could probably get a similar...

Scope and Contents Odin's letter of the 8th has come to hand. His one of March 25 reached Elder on April 18. As Odin requested, Elder wrote to Bishop Augustus Martin of Natchitoches and Bishop John Quinlan of Mobile. He has received no answer. Their mails have been frequently interrupted. He should be afraid that either Father Charles J.H. Carter or Father William O'Hara of Philadelphia might meet with difficulties growing out of political affairs. If their conduct and disposition are such as not to give...

Scope and Contents Elder profits by an opportunity to repeat what he wrote lately. He has written a second time to Bishop Auguste Martin of Natchitoches and Bishop John Quinlan of Mobile. He agrees to Odin's first list for Little Rock. If Father Charles H.J. Carter and Father William O'Hara of Philadelphia should be out of harmony on account of politics, he suggests Father John McCloskey of Emmitsburg and Father John Bannon of St. Louis. The German subject from Wheeling Father Joseph Heidencamp would have...

Scope and Contents Elder has given Mr. Harding an order on the Propagation to Odin's favor because they know Odin's signature. He may send some others in this way. Bishop John Quinlan writes that since he learns Father John Bannon is over thirty, he prefers him decidedly before all others for Little Rock, and that Father Francis de Salles Gautrelet, S.J. agrees with him. Bishop Augustus Martin says he acquiesces beforehand in whatever recommendation Odin may make. Elder has written Odin two or three letters....

Scope and Contents Elder has written several letters but he does not know whether they have been received. He received one from Odin by Father Francis Pont and one since, treating chiefly of the same question. He wrote both to Bishop Augustus Martin of Natchitoches and Bishop John Quinlan of Mobile. The former answered that he could not give any judgment concerning the parties named for Little Rock by Odin. The latter wrote that he had received and answered a letter from Odin, but he wished Elder to tell him...

Scope and Contents By an oversight Elder has had for more than two years a seminarian studying for Natchez who is really a subject of New Orleans. It is Patrick P. O'Connor, brother to Father N.I. O'Connor, C.M. Elder had the idea that his parents had resided in Missouri and that he had the consent of his bishop to come South for his health. He is now ready for ordination and Elder finds that though he was born in Ireland, he lived in New Orleans from the age of two years until he went to college. At one time...

Scope and Contents Odin's letter of January 4 was received; Elder has heard that Odin is still suffering. He asks if there is not some way of going to New Orleans without taking an oath. His objection to the oath is not from hostility, but merely out of desire to be acceptable to his spiritual charges. He and his priests have aided the U.S. Army; he has 2 priests solely to attend to the soldiers and the Negroes who have congregated at Natchez because of the Army. He has never preached a war sermon, though he...

Scope and Contents

Elder wrote Odin on the 6th. Father Patrick P. O'Connor is gone to Vicksburg for the present to assist the priest there. Sister M. Thomas is just going and Elder has not time for more. :: VI-2-h A.L.S. 1p. 12mo.

Scope and Contents Mr. Layton writes that Elder's drafts on the Propagation will be more easily sold if they bear the name of someone in New Orleans. Elder has drawn one for 3000 francs on Odin. He wishes soon to draw 6000 francs more on Odin or Father Rousselon. The Commanding general there has been bothering Elder to read the Prayer for the Public Authorities; Elder is writing to President Abraham Lincoln about it. Elder told the officer that it was not omitted as any mark of contempt; he will send a copy of...

Scope and Contents He will assist at Odin's reception of the pallium unless something unforeseen puts it out of his power. He supposes that among other things they will consider matrimonial dispensations and what measures should be taken in accordance with the rescript which he communicated to Odin to hinder abuses and to save the ecclesiastical reservations from becoming nullities. He also has some interesting matters concerning his individual affairs on which he will beg his advice. :: VI-2-e A.L.S. 1p....

Scope and Contents

Odin should hand the $20 to P. Rotchford on Elder's account and he will pay it to the Asylum at Natchez. He could not send any priest or chaplain without taking him away from a mission and wonders if Bishop John Quinlan could not spare one. He has not seen Bishop Augustine Verot's tract. :: VI-2-e A.L.S. 1p. 12mo.

Scope and Contents Bishop Augustin Verot writes that he will come to give their diocesan retreat January 15 and he proposes to go first to New Orleans to be there perhaps January 12. Elder is thinking of meeting him there and accompanying him to Sulphur Springs where the retreat is going to be held. Receiving accounts of the great want of priests around Manassas, after consulting with Bishop John Quinlan, he wrote to Bishop John McGill informing him of it and offering to send one from Natchez. Quinlan said he...

Scope and Contents The enclosed letter no enclosure reached him today. From its contents he judges it is better not to send another chaplain to that neighborhood. Father Giles Schmulders, C.SS.R. is able to attend to the whole brigade. Father Chislain Bohême, whom he had proposed to send, is ready to go but he told their Natchez company, Mississippi 10th that if they had no priest in Virginia, they should let him know and he would write to Elder. They wanted him to go with them but from their not writing it...

Scope and Contents With regard to the serious case of conscience about which he consulted Odin, on close consideration of the facts and of the person's defense, together with a consultation of all the authorities Elder could find, he concluded that the case was not nearly so grievous as it had first appeared. He had no reason to believe the person intended to commit the offense. The inquiry produced a deep impression and as he could not see any penalty for imprudence that was practicable and would not cause...

Scope and Contents Odin's letter of the 14th reached Elder. His conscience has been troubled about their Confederate soldiers left without priests. He will make an effort to send one as Odin desires. He is not well enough acquainted with Father Henry Picherit, but he thinks he can send another. His uneasiness of conscience has arisen partly from reading the letters in the newspapers deploring the vice among soldiers, sometimes speaking of so many Protestant parsons, and sometimes lamenting the want of...

Scope and Contents The irregularity of the mails is causing much inconvenience. Elder wrote to Father Julian M. Guillou on February 20 proposing to him to go as chaplain according to Odin's previous letter. When Odin's telegram reached him, he telegraphed that, if he consented, he should join Colonel Augustin's Regiment immediately. Odin's dispatch did not mention sending the chaplain to New Orleans and he understood he was to join the Regiment in Tennessee or on the road. He has not yet received an answer. He...

Scope and Contents A committee called on Elder last night to ask for one of their cathedral bells for cannon. They say they have a list of 65 from planters, etc. They have not received answers from the Protestant churches. He wonders if he can or ought to give one. He explained that articles used in the immediate service of God ought not to be turned to other purposes, still less to those of warfare, except in the very last necessity. They agreed but they thought from General Peter G.T. Beauregard's appeal,...

Scope and Contents Elder thanks Odin for his pleasing information concerning Father John Scollard. He expects to see the present pastor of Woodville tomorrow. He does not know any other way of sending the money to Father Julian M. Guillou but by letter. He supposes he is with the Company. As soon as he heard of the battle of Shiloh yesterday morning, he sent telegrams to two priests to assist the wounded. He thinks that by tonight there will be four priests of the diocese engaged there, besides one at Holly...

Scope and Contents Odin's letter of the 2nd was received. Last week he gave a draft of $10 to Miss Elve Moore?, a contribution of the ladies to the fair of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Elder has nearly $800 to pay. To save Odin trouble he has given a draft to Thomas? Layton for all that amount and will draw on him for various amounts. It seems that Odin collected more than was owing Elder is kept here by the beginning of their school house. He thinks he can find an interval to pay his visit to the Coast....

Scope and Contents Elder received Perché's letter of February 17 and thanks him for the kindly spirit in which he accepted the animadversions. He has been told that Bishop Auguste Marie Martin altered his high opinion of Father Joseph Gentille before he died. Father Felix Dicharry, although he is an excellent priest, has little administrative ability. The same is true for Father Jean Baptists Avenard, for he has a timid and hesitant way of acting. He still concludes in favor of Father Ludovic Enaut Enault. It...

Scope and Contents Elder was grieved to hear of Perché's sickness, but thanks God he has recovered so soon. He finds that the older priests of Natchitoches still consider Father Ludovic Enaut too young to be Bishop. They seem to think most of Father Jean Baptiste Avenard and Father Felix Dicharry but doubt whether either of them is active enough. Some of them think, what Elder understood Bishop Auguste Marie Martin to signify, that Dicharry would soon break down under the responsibility. He has been thinking...

Scope and Contents Elder has heard that his name has been proposed for Coadjutor of the Archbishop of San Francisco . He asks Perché's aid in averting this. He does not feel himself capable of the job, and knows there would be a language barrier since he knows only a little French and Italian and has forgotten his Spanish. Because the Province of New Orleans is the least attractive in the country it will be easier to get a bishop for California than for Mississippi. Finally, he is about $10,000 in debt. He has...

Scope and Contents Elder wrote Perché on March 10, April 27, and May 3 but received no reply. He trusts Perché received the letters. Cardinal Alexander Franchi wrote him and directed him to assemble the suffragan bishops to recommend names for the diocese of Natchitoches . Bishop John Quinlan is in Philadelphia but the other five met in New Orleans on the 6th and agreed upon Father Francis Xavier Leray, Father John Baptist Avenard and Father Adolphe Dupré . They are all originally from France. Leray, born in...

Scope and Contents Elder, from what little he knows of the diocese of Natchitoches, thinks that religion will suffer if the vacancy should be of long duration. He is not enough acquainted with the clergy of the diocese to recommend any of them. Father Francis Xavier Leray, he is told, was once thought of by Bishop Auguste Marie Martin, before he fixed his mind on the lamented Father Louis Gergaud . Leray's health, he fears, would be a serious obstacle. There are two others in Elder's diocese who, while not...

Scope and Contents Elder has made inquiries about the diocese of Natchitoches, and submits the following candidates for Bishop: Father Jean Baptiste Avenard ; Father Francis Xavier Leray ; Father Adolphe Duprȳ . Among the priests of Perchȳ's diocese Father Antoine Durier has been mentioned. Leray's health is in a doubtful state. He has sent the list to the others of the Province to have them forward their opinion. P.S. He took the liberty of sending the list to the others due to Perchȳ's absence. If Perchȳ...