Calendared content

Scope and Contents He is sorry for the delay in writing, but he wanted to await the voyage of Mr. Roy who will be able to give more details in person than Gutton could in writing. At the moment of sale an objection was made by one of the creditors. Gutton has consulted a lawyer from the city, A. Denys, and he has said the most simple means would be for Odin to leave the property to whomever wants it, and to place one independent priest on the land belonging to the diocese. Thus, the dispute would quickly be...

Scope and Contents He received Odin's letter to Father Victor Gavard and has given it to him. Court will be held this week, but he does not know if the injunction will be rescinded. The bad weather on the Monday after Palm Sunday lifted off a third of the roof. He had to rent three tarpulins for the ceremonies of Holy Week. He asks if Odin will be able to confirm toward the beginning of May. Father F. Bellanger, S.M. will be there for Forty Hours. Gutton could not think of a more appropriate time. P.S. He...

Scope and Contents

He received Odin's letter and gave Father Victor Gavard his letter as directed. The large, pressing repairs for the church would cost $500 for labor and $250 for materials. The more simple repairs would cost $400. In neither case are there sufficient resources. With every rain some part of the plaster wall falls down. If Odin does not believe the poor condition of the church he should ask Father Jean Arthur Poyet or send someone else to verify it. :: VI-2-n A.L.S. French 3pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents

He has entered at the Recorder's Office a document drawn up by some experts, attesting to the actual condition of the building and the urgent necessity for repairs before winter. He has been offered a total repair job for $700, materials and labor included. He suggests Odin respond as quickly as possible. :: VI-2-n A.L.S. French 2pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents He desires not to deceive Odin, but only to secure a decent church for his congregation. When he returned from the city he met with Mr. Poydras, Mr. Roy, and the lawyer, Mr. Landry . Their advice is that Odin should immediately obtain a transfer of the debt of Father Francis Mittelbronn . This transfer should be made before a notary, and, to facilitate it, Gutton sends copies of the process of Mittelbronn amounting to about $5,800. With this transfer the chief claimant, S. Van Wikle, is not...

Scope and Contents His reasons for not going to the retreat are: he has already made a retreat this year; he will replace Father Victor Gavard . The roads are so bad from the rains that Father Jean Arthur Poyet cannot use a horse. It would be impossible for him to minister to all. Poyet has asked him to replace him at Morganza for sick calls. Gutton is drawing up a letter about the tangled affairs of the churches; he will wait a little in order to know all and explain it as best he can. :: VI-2-m A.L.S. French...

Scope and Contents Immediately on his return to his parish, Gutton paid $412 on the note and on April 28 retired it entirely. There remains only the third, not due until September 12, 1868. This notes has been passed to a speculator with a 35% loss. Gutton's idea in retiring the second note was to offer security for the land on which they would like to borrow 1000 to repair the church. He got no encouragement. The cemetery has just been entirely fenced; he wants to have some trenches made to make it easier to...

Scope and Contents

Maria Robillard of St. Mary's, Fausse Rivière, asks for a dispensation from disparity of cult in order to marry Jacob Jowell . P.S. The flood has brought 17 more inches of water than last year. Several persons of Bayou Grosse Tete have given up in despair; it is final ruin for the locality. :: VI-2-k A.L.S. French Latin 2pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents Gutton only yesterday received Perché's letter of February 25 requesting information on the sale of the churches at Pointe Coupée. Gutton does not know the exact details. The property was sold on May 12, 1869. The creditors were Father Francis Mittelbronn, S. Van Wickle for supplies and work, Mr. Correge the sacristan, Gutton for his salary, and Mary Calvin for money loaned. Court expenses came to $1,116.14. The Church of St. Francis at Pointe Coupé was sold for $825, and the Church of St....

Scope and Contents Gutton has just learned that Mr. Provosty has presented a charter and that the three churches are to be incorporated. Gutton sends Odin these two petitions in order to oppose it. Father Victor Gavard will tell Odin what Gutton cannot write. The resources Gutton put aside to help form a congregation at Fausse Rivière, are used up. Burials continue to be made at Pointe Coupée. The church needs repair, the cemetery settled and land to be paid for. D. Lejeune who sold the land offers a note at...

Scope and Contents His trip to Pointe Coupée was fine. He went first to Fausse Rivière. Pointe Coupée is isolated; the nearest house is a mile and a half away. The abandoned presbytery suffers every day from the passage of troops. The presbytery at Fausse Rivière is much smaller than the one at Jefferson. At Fausse Rivière he is in the center of population. An old widow, respected by all, has come to his aid. He unloaded his provisions at her house; she brings him his meals. As for his predecessor, Father...

Scope and Contents The appointment of trustees took place yesterday. The same old system will no doubt prevail. The news and fees of the two churches bring in a high enough revenue; they give no remuneration to the pastor and make no repairs for the church. Mittelbronn and his predecessors spoke out publicly against this injustice drawing upon himself injuries and troubles. Gutton no longer accuses Mittelbronn of neglect; Gutton does not believe he can be more clever than his predecessors. ` A.L.S. 1p. ::...

Scope and Contents The trustees have just met so Gutton will inform Odin of their decisions. Since the flood in one part of his parish, burials had to be made at the homes. The trustees decided to acquire land for a cemetery. At first they decided on the property of the police department adjoining the court house. Gutton opposed this as causing difficulties in the future. Then they decided on land on the highway. If it was not all used for the cemetery it would provide a garden and wood for the pastor of...

Scope and Contents

Gutton asks for a copy in English of the Pastoral letter of Lent. The sale of the effects of the estate of Father Constantine Van de Moere has brought $509 and they are waiting for the different accounts to obtain legal ratification. VI-3-a - A.L.S. - French - 1p. - 12mo. - {2}

Scope and Contents

Two weeks ago Gutton asked Millet for two barrels of wine. Mr. Laborde sent them immediately, and by return boat Mr. Richy sent $120.50 about which there has been no reply. Also Millet should tell him if Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché has drawn the $220.90 which the same Richy placed at Gutton's disposition with Grangnard and Schneider for the estate of Father Constantin Van de Moere . Gutton offered it to Perché in case of urgency. :: VI-3-a A.L.S. French 2pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents

Gutton gives an account of the receipts of the parish since the first of January. The cemetery is now ready. The fences are solid. A drainage ditch runs all around it, 21 arpents in all. The receipts of the church were $759, those of the cemetery, $206. The expenditures for the cemetery were $482.40 leaving a balance of $482.60. He sees no way of repairing the church; in time there will be the third note which will also demand sacrifice. :: VI-2-l A.L.S. French 4pp. 4to.

Scope and Contents At Odin's wish, Gutton went to see Mr. Provosty since he was the agent for Father Francis Mittelbronn . But Provosty refused to have anything to do with such an affair. That was the reply on December 4 and at the second visit on January 6 he made another decision which is on page 7 of this letter. The rumors of the seizure asked by Mittelbronn caused general indignation here. Here Gutton quotes from the minutes of the meeting of the congregation of St. Francis Church held on November 3,...

Scope and Contents Yesterday Mr. Poydras was named liquidator for the congregation with full power over the properties in order to end all claims. The request for a liquidator was made by Mr. Provosty in order to settle the affairs of Father Francis Mittelbronn with the congregation. Gutton knows that Poydras wants to have the church repaired and to keep it. Only he foresees that he must ask for a bill of sale and Gutton is worried that this sale will come during Odin's absence. He also fears that the negro...

Scope and Contents Odin must be very tired after his pastoral visitation. A great injustice has been done in his congregation Fausse Rivière?. On the 21st the trustees resigned after having decreed that the money in the treasury goes to the treasurer. They have aroused public indignation and invoked the expired charter. They withdrew without having made any improvements or paid any salary. What led to their downfall was that since he came Gutton has kept a strict account. They also feared that the two churches...

Scope and Contents He asks for a dispensation of second degree consanguinity for, Zenon Langlois and Adeline Robillard. The names for the viva voce, dispensation were Numa Potier? and Adèle Lejeune. Gutton, thinks that before acceding to the wishes of the people of St. Francis, Church, it would be prudent to see what the new charters are like. It, will be a big task to roof the church, pay the two installments on the, land, prepare the cemetery, and procure the vestments and church, decorations for funeral...

Scope and Contents A severe storm lifted most of the roof of the church at Fausse Rivière. He thought he would be able to repair it but it is impossible. The fields are flooded and the levees unrepaired. He came from Morganza, having said Mass at New Texas. A person has offered to furnish the materials on condition that the labor was paid but he wants Gutton to promise to pay him the balance on the day the pews are rented. As Odin told Gutton that he intends to have a charter for this church, Gutton will be...

Scope and Contents The short stay of Father Francis Mittelbron has given a clearer view of the temporal affairs of the parish. His request for an estimate of the church properties brought out that others had the same thought. At the time of Odin's visit Gutton told him that there were those who procured bills against the congregation and now wished payment for them. Mittelbronn will tell Odin what the new charter should be and what the revenue should be used for. To get rid of the trustees the buildings should...

Scope and Contents The letter Odin received last week must have dismayed him somewhat because of the situation in the parish of Pointe Coupée. The trustees held their meeting last Monday. With Odin's letter which he showed them they treated him with great respect and agreed to all his requests. One thing which will please them is the granting of an assistant. They assigned $300 for him and set the pastor's salary at $1200. But they have nothing in the treasury. The arguments for and against having an assistant...

Scope and Contents Dispensations. Gutton asks a dispensation for second degree relationship between George W. Brown and éène Nativa Lacour and for third degree relationship between Juriasse Babin and Louise Ladoiska Leblanc . For the latter he asks permission to celebrate the marriage in the home. He also asks permission to proceed with the Brown marriage as Mittelbronn will bring this letter to assure its delivery. The fewness of the faithful at church on Christmas day did not allow him to make the collection...

Scope and Contents He has just passed a new test. Upon his return from New Orleans, he was attacked by a fever for a week and now, without being in very strong health, he is well enough to offer Rousselon his services. Father Ange Marie Felix Jan to whom he has once again stated his demands replied that he is not able to provide for the upkeep of his numerous personnel on his meager salary. He asks Rousselon to dispose of him for whatever occupation he judges most suitable to his person and useful for the...

Scope and Contents After a severe illness brought on by fatigue, he was placed with Father Ange Marie Felix Jan eight months ago to complete his convalescence and remain as an assistant. However Jan and the trustees said they could not meet the expense. He remained there doing all that was asked and receiving only a Mass stipend or two a week. If it were not for a fever which strikes him intermittently he would go to New Orleans to speak to Odin directly but the doctor said it would be unwise. Last week Jan...

Scope and Contents Since leaving New Orleans he has been with Father Ange Marie Felix Jan as ordered. His faculties expire next month and he asks that they be renewed. He has tried to arrange his affairs several times but encounters opposition on every side. The trustees say they cannot give him anything. If things remain as they are, there is no need for two priests. The formation of the parish of Royville formerly dependent upon Lafayette, inspires the neighbors to think of greater economy. He is now in...

Scope and Contents He finds himself placed in a most favorable position to attain the end which he proposed, the study of English. Upon reflection and in view of the fear of a bombardment of Galveston, Father Louis C.M. Chambodut thought it best that he should go to Washington to the Spann family. In the society of Father John Gonnard and the piety of the families one can see that God blessed Texas during Odin's stay. The priests have edified him. The house of the Franciscans at Houston is finished. Father...

Scope and Contents Upon his return to his parish he learned that the petition to the legislature asking for the incorporation of the three churches in one had been presented and that Father Victor Gavard had written to Odin. The member of the legislature representing the parish had been asked to inform Odin. Gutton does not know whether if this petition passes they will recognize only one priest for the parish; this is the aim of Pointe Coupée. If the levees prevent flooding, Gutton has been assured by Mr....

Scope and Contents He is sorry to hear that his mother has not received his letters. He wrote on August 15, 1866, New Year's and February 2. Gutton was at Waterloo yesterday intending to go to the city but there was no boat. His trip had the special aim of asking Odin if a collection could not be made in the diocese to aid the victims of the flood. It is the third time. In Grosse Tete and Maringouin the houses themselves were swept away. At Fausse Rivière, that river and the Mississippi join and they were...