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Scope and Contents He wrote to Odin at Galveston and then at New Orleans to find out if he had received a draft for the sum which Mrs. _____ Gautier deposited with him plus the amount collected for the diocesan seminary. He fears that neither letter has been received. At least six weeks ago he wrote to P. Rotchford about a small account which should have been sent to him by Father Stephen Rousselon but he has received no reply. The regular arrival of the "Propagateur Catholique" is proof that correspondence...

Scope and Contents Last Monday the Oblates of Mary Immaculate sang a solemn service for the repose of the soul of their founder and Superior-General, Bishop Charles Joseph Eugene de Mazenod, O.M.I.. There were ten priests and two brothers around the catafalque. Only Father Jean Marie Gayé, O.M.I. remained at Matamoros in order to guard the parish. Although they expected this news, the blow was felt. He supposes that the time has already been fixed for a general chapter. Their poor mission will be prevented...

Scope and Contents He takes the occasion of the trip of Father Karel, a German priest who is going to New York through New Orleans, to send his greetings. He hopes the next year will be better than the last four. Their mission is a vast solitude. On the other hand they have more work on the other side than they can do. Matamoros at present has more than 25,000 souls who have no chapels. All their Texas families are there; they tell of their hardships and their desire to come back across the river. Some go...

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He is ready to leave for France and hopes to sail around the end of May. He can no longer put off the trip; several times he has received the injunction to come to the Superior General of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Perhaps he can return by way of New Orleans in November. If in August Odin could forward him a word on the state of their affairs, it would be a true service. :: VI-2-g A.L.S. French 1p. 4to.

Scope and Contents The Oblates of Mary Immaculate have not had any news from France since April and it is impossible to get news from Canada. By the last mail they received a half-sheet of the "Propagateur Catholique" and they are glad to learn that Odin is well. They are also all well. The Sisters of the Incarnate Word lost a lay sister in September but she had consumption for a long time. The Sisters' school has had a large number of day students and their treasury has increased to nearly $800. They have 16...

Scope and Contents Lately he sent Odin a page of the Brownsville newspaper containing the details of what is happening with their neighbors in Mexico. At the same time he sent a page to Father Napoleon Joseph Perché. At present hostilities are at the same point: _____ Carvajal, after a month of siege, has not been able to take Matamoros. That city which has prospered so much the last three years will soon be nothing more than ruins and cinders. He does not believe there is a single house intact, that of the...

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As political affairs are far from taking a favorable turn, Gaudet asks Odin if the deposit of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate is still safe in P. Rotchford's hands. He does not doubt Rotchford's honesty, but it is not prudent to expose small resource to a loss which they would feel for a long time. :: VI-2-f A.L.S. French 1p. 12mo.

Scope and Contents Gaudet received Odin's letter of the 19th accompanied by an ordo and several tracts for the time which prove that Father Napoleon Joseph Perché also received a letter. As Odin spoke of going to Europe if politics permit, he hastens to say that he would like to accompany him. Although the Chapter General has probably already elected a new Superior General for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a visit would be very advantageous for their mission. Odin says he does not wish to remain long; Gaudet...

Scope and Contents At the reception o f Odin's previous letter Gaudet was reassured about the deposit the Oblates of Mary Immaculate have with P. Rotchford so that what Odin told him in his last letter, although a little alarming, will not change his earlier decision. Thei8r reverses are very great but they only confirm his hopes for a success more quickly than is thought. There is no doubt that their cause is just, but he wonders if they are without wrong. In one way or another Europe will come to their aid...

Scope and Contents As Father John Gonnard has just sent a sealed letter to Father Peter Parisot, O.M.I. to forward, by way of Mexico, to Father Duplay, Superior of the Grand Seminary of Lyons, he takes advantage of the occasion to give Odin news of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The war aggravates their sad situation from day to day. Soon their area, so populous a few months ago, will be no more than an arid desert. However, they expect that everyone will recross the river before the end of the year. Religion...

Scope and Contents He received Odin's letter of June 20 on July 10. He returned from Port Isabel where he spent a dozen days in order to take some sea baths with Brother Pierre Jean René Roudet who, fatigued by the Mexican exiles, fell sick and received the last sacraments. He left him there for at least two more weeks for although already well enough, his strength returns slowly. Odin's proposition for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate gives him the greatest pleasure. If he could go to New Orleans, he would...

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Gaudet asks Rousselon to have Mr. Cavaroc send them a half-barrel of good quality wine. Their new church was blessed on Pentecost. Everyone in Brownsville wanted to be Catholic at least for that half-day. :: VI-2-a A.L.S. French 2pp. 8vo.

Scope and Contents Gaudet received the wine Rousselon sent. They will pay for it in the manner Rousselon proposes. They will not begin the 16 Masses until after December 1. The alarming stories which reach Rousselon about Brownsville are all too true. For more than a month their streets have been barricaded and the whole population, American, French, and Irish are under arms to defend their lives and prevent the numerous brigands from setting everything on fire. The town and most of the ranches have been...

Scope and Contents At last he has received a letter from Marseilles announcing the departure of three Oblates of Mary Immaculate for Brownsville from Havre on February 3. They will soon be seeking hospitality from Rousselon. He seems to remember that the last arrivals stayed 54 days with him. Father Gabriel Chalon, he thinks, has told Rousselon that Bishop Joannes Francisco de Paula Veras of Monterrey and his suite are at Brownsville, having arrived last Tuesday. He is happy to give hospitality to the...

Scope and Contents He thanks Rousselon for the services which he rendered their young Oblates of Mary Immaculate who arrived at Brownsville on Monday at 1:30 P.M. He also thanks him for taking care of their allotment from the Propagation of the Faith and authorizes him to join it to the small deposit they have with P. Rotchford. ` P.S. He has explained to their procurator general in France about the manner in which he should see that the money reaches him. Although it is easy for him to do it himself he fears...

Scope and Contents The Oblates of Mary Immaculate newly arrived from France, brought to Brownsville part of the money given them at Marseilles for their house. They are not able to work on their establishment and because of the troubles it is not prudent to keep the money there. Thus, Bishop Joannes Francisco de Paula Verea will give him $1000 to be remitted to P. Rotchford. ` P.S. Verea has charged him to tell Rousselon that as soon as he learns of the arrival of the "Arizona" which carries this letter and...

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Enclosed is $5 for two subscriptions to the Ave Maria. :: X-2-o A.L.S. 1p. 16mo.

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Gaudré has seen Duchaufour for some time; he has good hopes for him; he is still young. If Blanc replies he will oblige Gaudré very much for he is convinced that family memories are still one of the best ways to better a certain number of transported convicts. :: VI-1-g A.L.S. French 2pp. 4to.

Scope and Contents The Central Council of the Association of the Propagation of the Faith has allotted 9000 francs for the diocese of Detroit for 1866. Following custom, the last fifth of this sum will be withheld, because of uncertainty of receipts, until after the closing of the actual balance-sheet. They have received with great interest the information that Lefevere has sent them of the condition of the Detroit diocese and its needs. The principal object of their concern is the shortage of priests, and the...

Scope and Contents The Central Council of the Association of the Propagation has allotted the Detroit Diocese for 1865, 10,000 francs. Following custom, the last 500 francs will be withheld until the total annual receipts are in. The Council regrets not to have received any account of the present situation of Lefevere's diocese as regards resources and needs. They will be happy to receive an account of the apostolic work of his missionaries, of such a nature that it may be printed in the Annals; also something...

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The Council of the Association of the Propagation allots to Detroit 7000 francs, withholding, according to custom, a fifth of this sum, because of contingencies of their receipts until the closing of their budgetary year. Their receipts have remained stationary while the number of missions have increased. They are mindful of Lefevere's request to pay expenses of young clerics sent to the American College of Louvain. On the same paper:

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He asks Edwards to give him the address of Louis Garfias' father and his position with the Mexican government. He has a deal on hand and may need his assistance. :: XI-1-l A.L.S. 1p.

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Gaultier asks if the Catholic religion allows a member to marry the sister of his wife. Gaultier does not need to say that he will keep this secret. :: VI-1-i A.L.S. French 1p. 4to.

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A bill for 13.25 francs for books, put in care of Father Claude Anthony Tholomier :: V-5-i Bill French 1p. 12mo.

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A bill for books which are listed to be sent by rail to Victor Marziou and Company at Havre. The total is 495.70 francs. One copy is marked paid. :: V-5-h Bill S. French 2 copies 6pp. 4to.

Scope and Contents She is a French Catholic and for eight months has been on soil that more than once has made her regret her homeland. Since her arrival in America she has been at home where she raises the children. She wishes to leave because she is not able to fulfill her religious obligations there. Until now Father Émile Hillaire said Mass, but unfortunate and very regrettable circumstances have forced him to abandon his post. On the other hand she does not earn enough. Her daughter, aged 16, a good...

Scope and Contents Father F. Bellanger, S.M. has asked Gautherin to tell Odin of the arrangements for the 40 hours. The most suitable days would be Sunday the 27th to Tuesday the 29th of September, day of the dedication of St. Michael's. Not having an occasion to write Odin sooner, as Bellanger completed the retreat that he was preaching to the Religious of the Sacred Heart only yesterday, Bellanger announced the 40 Hours for the days indicated. Madame A. Shannon, R.S.C. having spoken to Odin about the...

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Last year Gauthier was a tutor at Clermont Ferrand where he met Father Francis M. Marion ; they quickly formed a friendship. Their conversations about America captured his imagination. He lists the many obstacles opposed to his going, including his age, 35, and the fact that he has never exercised his ministry. :: VI-2-m A.L.S. French 4pp. 12mo.

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Father J.E. Chauvin tells him that Leray is to reimburse the $100 that he loaned to Father E. Reynes to purchase the land belonging to Améé Boyer . He wonders if he ought to draw on him for this sum as he now has need of the money. :: VI-3-c A.L.S. French 1p. folio

Scope and Contents Father Francis M. Marion was right in saying that Odin was a father rather than a bishop to his priests and Odin's letter proves it. This makes it harder to tell him that his health gives little hope of his following Odin to Louisiana. The doctor assured him that his affliction would only grow worse in so a warm a country and that it would not be prudent at his age to undertake it. But he is on the point of leaving his present position. He can hardly think of going back in his diocese...