USA > Texas > Galveston County > Galveston > Diamond jubilee, 1847-1922, of the diocese of Galveston and St. Mary's Cathedral > Part 8
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Galveston, Feb. 7, 1842.
My Dear Confrere :
For a long time I desired to write you but almost continual trips, and the difficulty of procuring a table or an apartment in the places where I made a short stop, have deprived me of that pleasure. I have not yet a fixed residence in Texas. I go from house to house and all the time I can give in each neighborhood is employed in teaching catechism, giving instructions or ad- ministering the Sacraments. Here I am on my return to Galves- ton, they have given me a small room and I profit by the first opportunity to give you the information regarding our mission in Texas.
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DIOCESE OF GALVESTON
Last year I wrote you rather fully about our first labors in this Republic. I hope that you received iny letter. A little time after I sent it, Monsignor Blanc wrote me to come immediately to New Orleans to receive important news that he wished to communicate to me from the Holy See. What was my surprise on arriving at his house to hear that I had been named Co-Adjutor to Detroit. The desire of His Holiness was that I should accept this very responsible obligation without hesitancy. I could not determine, the intimate conviction of my own unworthiness and incapacity caused me to send back the Bulls and after a short sojourn in the United States, I set out again for Texas. My intention was to pass the summer in Galveston, but after spending three weeks preparing for their Easter duty those who had not yet fulfilled the precept, I was told that the house which served me as a chapel was to be occupied by a family recently arrived in the country. Not wishing to move the altar, having already moved from garret to garret, I believed that while awaiting the construction of a small frame church that had been started, my time would be more usefully employed in visiting the Catholics dispersed here and there in the districts.
I went to Houston. Sickness manifested itself and all who were indisposed hastened to reconcile themselves with God, and many presented themselves at the tribunal of penance and at the communion table. In the meantime the apartment that I occupied was converted into a dancehall and I had to proceed further.
On the banks of the Brazos, thirty miles from Houston, there live twenty Catholic families who came some years since from Kentucky and Missouri. I had not been able to visit them and I was edified with the zeal and cordiality with which they re- ceived me. Every one, from children to old men, went to confes- sion. There were some sick in every household. I celebrated Mass in each home to give them the comfort of assisting at the Holy Sacrifice. On Sunday I celebrated in the most central house and a great number of Protestants came to assist at the instruc- tions. They desired to build a small chapel but lacked the means. I hope that later on I can accomplish it. A Protestant gentleman who had been sick for a long time asked me to visit him. We had long discussions upon religion, and finally he embraced our Holy Faith. When I felt that he was sufficiently instructed I adminis- tered the Sacraments and I have since learned that he died in a most edifying manner. I left this very hospitable place to go to Mill Creek, between the Brazos and Colorado, but on the second day of the trip I was taken down with fever, accompanied by almost continual vomiting. Finding myself in a sparsely popu- lated district where I knew no one, I determined, despite the fever, to go to the Lavaca River, where some colonists live, who had formerly resided in Missouri. It was sixty-five miles away
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and you can imagine how I suffered from the heat of a burning sun, from lack of water and running a temperature and on the second day I thought my end was at hand.
I saw in the distance smoke and presumed I would find a house. I hurried in that direction and found a family recently arrived from Michigan. They gave me every assistance that the most tender charity could suggest. I passed the night under their tent and the following morning continued my journey and reached my old friends from Missouri.
Finding at Victoria travelers who were going to San Antonio, I joined them, convinced that the salubrious air of that beautiful valley would restore my former strength. The heavy rains that fell during the trip threw me into a decline, and I was obliged to spend a longer time at San Antonio than I had contemplated. In order not to lose time I began to direct the repairs of the church which were under way. We found it in a very bad state. We accomplished the task. All the interior was replastered. We cut five new entrances, built a sanctuary and a communion rail and on the outside restored the bell-tower and the front and closed all the breaks which the cannon had made. The work received the hearty sympathy of the people and the Protestants showed themselves as generous as Catholics, but the greater part of the expense fell upon me, and I was compelled to contract debts. On the 5th of December we sang a High Mass with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament to thank heaven for the work we had just finished."
Father Odin gives in this letter a brilliant description of the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Deceni - ber 12th, 1841.
"I left San Antonio on December 27th to visit the different stations formed in the western portion of Texas."
The Comanches were on the warpath, but despite many close calls he reached Goliad.
"I made only a short stop at Goliad, at the Ranchio de Don Carlos and near the mouth of the San Antonio River. Mr. Es- tany had visited these different places a short time before. I spent five days at Victoria, preaching once or twice a day. Many persons who had not been to the Sacraments in six, eight, ten and even fourteen years, went to confession. From Victoria I went to the Lavaca River, which I followed almost to its source, to Brushy Creek and to Navidad, where I stopped two or three days. Having met some Catholics on this trip I gave communion to one hundred and fifty and the number of confessions was greater.
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DIOCESE OF GALVESTON
"I hoped on arriving at Houston to find a small chapel. I had left a hundred dollars to buy the first material, hoping that when the work was commenced they would make some effort to complete it but as soon as the amount was spent, they stopped the work. After some search I found a small apartment, erected an altar and called together the small flock. There were some confessions and comunions. I spent some days in an effort to arouse their zeal to build the church, and when I received fine promises upon which I can place little reliance, I left for Galves- ton. I had the consolation of offering the Holy Sacrifice in the chapel which had just been constructed at Galveston. I could not restrain my tears when I thought that at least our Divine Lord had a small sanctuary in a country where up to now we had been compelled to carry the altar from house to house. I now regret that it is so small; it will not hold all those who desire to assist at the divine offices. It is only fifty feet long and twenty-two feet in width. It is not plastered; we have not even a small bell- tower; it is a large room, rather than a church. The structure cost $900.00, and I had to pay $700.00. I cannot accuse the people of bad will, the poverty of the country renders it impos- sible almost for them to procure the necessities of life, and so it has been impossible, despite their good will, to make any but a small offering for religion.
"Thanks to God, I have succeeded since last spring in repair- ing the churches at San Antonio and Victoria and building two new chapels on the banks of the San Antonio River, one on the Lavaca and a fourth here at Galveston. These different enter- prises have cost more than two thousand dollars. I have had to make debts, but Providence will come to my relief.
"Mr. Calvo at San Antonio and Mr. Estany at Ranchio de Don Carlos labor with much zeal. God seems to bless their efforts. Mr. Estany visits regularly seven places, not large it is true, but destined one day to become very important. Mr. Clark is in charge of the church at Lavaca and a small school for chil- dren. He visits also from time to time Victoria and Texana. We had the misfortune to lose Mr. Hayden (priest) in October. He died at the mouth of the San Jacinto River two hundred miles from any confrere. He is a great loss to the growing church of Texas. He was of immense help in visiting the scattered Catholics.
"Texas has passed through frightful scenes during the past year. The Indians have slain many unfortunate travelers and bands of robbers have committed many murders and depredations.
Your very humble and obedient servant,
J. M. ODIN.
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Despite his reluctance.to be consecrated a Bishop, Father Odin was compelled to yield. In a letter to Father J. B. Etienne (An- nales de la Congregation de la Mission, Tome VIII, pp. 233-237) he describes the selective draft. There is no copy of the Bulls at Galveston, New Orleans, nor in the Archives of the Lazarists in this country. We know that the old title of Bishop of Claudiopolis was retained and that he was elevated to be Vicar-Apostolic of Texas.
New Orleans, March 28, 1842.
My Honored Confrere :
I am writing from New Orleans. His Holiness has refused to accede to my wishes, and the Bulls which I sent back to Rome were expedited anew and arrived here the eleventh of last Oc- tober. The letters of His Holiness Father Fransoni were so in- sistent, and the desire of our Holy Father so formal, that I could not refuse a second time. Despite all the repugnance that I had shown, I had to make the sacrifice, and accept a burden almost unbearable and far above my strength. I was consecrated by Mgr. Blanc, assisted by Mgrs. Portier and Chance, on the 6th of March in the Cathedral of this city. Pray for me and have pray- ers said that I may obtain the graces that I need to carry this new burden and to fulfil the duties confided to me.
A few days after consecration I received sad news from our mission in Texas. Mexico, which never agreed to recognize the independence of the Republic, has tried to reconquer it. The Mexican army has already penetrated to San Antonio, which it took without the least resistance. Detachments marched against Goliad, Victoria and Matagorda. 'Tis believed that the forces amount to twenty thousand men. The Texans ran to arms from all sides. The women and children have taken to flight from the western parts and have retired to the Colorado to avoid falling into the hands of the Mexicans. The Indians have profited by the general confusion to commit depredations.
I do not know what has become of our Confreres. They are pre- cisely in that portion of the invaded country. All our beautiful beginnings and our sweet hopes for the future lie in that direc- tion. We have organized a number of stations which gave prom- ise of becoming flourishing parishes, and in an instant all is de- stroyed !
The will of God be done! I expect to leave for Galveston in a few weeks. My intention was to seek religious women to place in San Antonio and priests for the Caronkoways' Mission and for Houston and Nacogdoches, but the confused state of the country has caused me to renounce my purpose. I shall try if it is pos-
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sible to have Messrs. Calvo and Estany come to me. It is barely possible that we shall have to take flight.
I was astonished on arriving at New Orleans to find that Father Timon had already arrived from Europe on the 14th of January, and I had a few days afterwards the consolation of greeting him. He gave me your letter, that of Mr. Possou and the different objects that you and the Sisters of Charity had the goodness to send me, also the funds that you had decided to allo- cate to our mission in Texas. I thank you very sincerely, and ask you to express to the good Sisters my thanks. I paid at once all the debts that I had contracted last year, and I shall try to take the best possible care of the needs of all our Confreres.
I beg, etc.
J. M. ODIN,
Bishop of Claudiopolis and Vicar-Apostolic of Texas.
The disturbed condition of Texas continued and the Texas Militia in those early days functioned somewhat true to form, as is shown in the following letter to Father Timon. (Original in Catholic Archives of America, Notre Dame, Ind. Case Lazar- ists, L. 32.)
Galveston, June 20th, 1842.
Rev. John Timon, St. Mary's College,
Perry County, Mo.
Very Rev. and Dear Sir :
I have not had the pleasure of receiving any letter from Mis- souri since I returned to Texas. Be kind enough to write to me as often as you can.
I have spent my time at this place since I came back. The people of Galveston appear very anxious to attend our church on Sunday ; it is a great pity it was not built according to the plan you gave them; it is quite too small to receive those who would wish to attend. There is always a good number of the most respectable people every Sunday. I have been obliged to have a little sacristy built, and I am getting some benches, the whole will cost me very near two hundred dollars, though, I hope, the people will pay something for those seats.
The church at Houston is nearly completed. It will be sealed inside ; it has a steeple and some kind of pews and measures 50 feet by 25. The whole expense will amount to nearly $1, 100.00, of which I must pay at least $950.00.
You cannot form an idea of the distressed situation of this country ; the corn crop will fail for want of rain in many sections
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of the land. There is no business going on, no money in circula- tion and provisions are extremely scarce.
The Texan Militia has entirely ruined poor San Antonio. They have robbed all the cattle and horses of the poor Mexicans, every grain of corn they had; they have destroyed entirely the Rancho of Dona Calvilla, the most flourishing and most numerous of the San Antonio Valley, and killed or scattered all the people. Great many Mexican families in consequence of these violences have been forced to leave the country and go seek a home beyond the Rio Grande. Five hundred volunteers stationed at Corpus Christi are starving to death and doing all the mischief they can. A party of Mexican traders came in sometime ago with $3000.00 and about one hundred mules and horses; they took them prisoners and possessed themselves of everything they had. Gen. Houston gave orders to set them at liberty and to restore their property, but the volunteers would not obey; they still retain the traders captives and keep all the property.
We have about one hundred of these volunteers here at Gal- veston, and every day we hear of some new depredations con !- mitted. Beeves, fowls, store provisions are stolen, houses burnt, shooting and stabbing; this is a daily occurrence. Two days ago a man was killed in the middle of Tremont Street before a crowd, and another severely wounded, and the perpetrations of such deeds are allowed to go unpunished.
Congress will meet at Houston on the 27th of this month, but it is supposed that the western members will refuse to come. They are going to discuss whether they must invade Mexico or not. Houston seems to be opposed to the undertaking, but the people are clamorous about it.
I have written Mr. Estany to go and live with Mr. Calvo and Brother Sala, and to visit occasionally the few people who still remain in the San Antonio Valley.
Mr. Ducos and Mr. Bourgeois have obtained a grant of two million acres of land; they are gone to New Orleans, and pro- pose starting very soon for France to gather emigrants.
Two French vessels are daily expected with one hundred and twenty emigrants; the chief is already here; he came by the S. Packets. I have already given Mr. Ducos $130.00, the receipt of which I enclose in this letter. I do not think that the money of Baton Rouge has been collected, nor the order of Mr. Careta.
I sent some coffee, sugar, wine, shirts and clothing to Messrs. Calvo, Estany and Clark, and begged Mr. Cassiano to furnish the two first with the money they might need. He promised me to do so.
I wrote again by Mr. Ducos to Mr. Etienne.
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DIOCESE OF GALVESTON
I have not as yet got a deed for the church lot; the directors of the Company can never be found together.
Sometimes I feel almost discouraged. I would like to have a priest for Houston and one for Galveston, and still I dare not write you to send them in the present unfavorable circumstances. Their health would be very much exposed. We have already a good many cases of fever.
My best compliments to all the confreres ; pray for me. Very respectfully,
Your obedient and humble servant, JOHN MARY, Bishop of Claudiopolis, and Vicar-Apostolic of Texas.
P. S. We have twenty-two scholars in our little school. Mr. Nash is the teacher. Every day I have from twelve to sixteen children to Catechism.
Very Rev. John Timon,
St. Mary's College, Perry County, Mo.
(Original in the Catholic Archives of America, Notre Dame Indiana. Case Lazarists, L. 25.)
Galveston, August 20th, 1842.
Very Rev. and Dear Sir :
Since we parted at New Orleans, I have not had the pleasure of receiving a single line from you; I wrote several letters and received no answer.
The country continues to be in a great state of uneasiness, perplexity and misery. General Houston assembled Congress on the 27th of June to determine on what should be done to restore the peace of the country. A bill was passed in both houses for an offensive war, putting the public domain at the disposition of the president, to raise means for the operation and give him the entire control of everything to carry it into execution; but to the great dissatisfaction of the population he vetoed it. He pretended that it was unconstitutional, giving him more power than what he ought to have, and he said that destitute of means it was ridiculous to attempt a war against Mexico. After read- ing his veto the people began to cool off gradually. The volun- teers, five hundred strong, have disbanded and left the west, where they were stationed waiting for the militia of Texas to commence operations against Mexico. They were actually star- ving, destitute of clothes and of everything else. They go back to the U. S. quite disgusted with Texas. We received letters from Mr. Smith, minister to France, announcing that he had
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signed at last a treaty with England, and had obtained a promise from that government to mediate in our favor. Still it seems that the English have little hope of success. Two splendid steam vessels of war left Liverpool for Vera Cruz, manned by English . men to act against Texas. We calculate, then, that if the Cabinet of Washington and of England do not succeed in their attempts to obtain an amicable settlement we shall have hard work to- wards the fall.
I continue to divide my time between Galveston, Houston and the Brazos. I go every six weeks to Houston, where I spend three Sundays, then to the Brazos for eight or ten days. The church at Houston is covered in. It has twenty pews, a com- munion table, a pulpit and a steeple ; it looks very well outside. The length is fifty feet and the breadth twenty-five feet. It was too small every Sunday for the congregation that desired to at -. tend. There seems to be a favorable disposition towards our religion even among Protestants. The number of Catholics is much larger than I anticipated at first; they appear pleased to have a church. Still the number of confessions is not as great as I would wish. Perhaps the jubilee will have some tendency to awaken them. I began it here last Sunday, and good many have already commenced their confession. The work of reform- ation will be slow; there are so many obstacles in the way.
We will build shortly a chapel below Richmond on the Brazos. General Sommerville gave me ten acres of land for that purpose, and the people have signed money enough and work to put up a small building. The workman has agreed to take up the sub .. scription list in payment of the work. I signed myself fifty dollars, but told them positively that I would not contribute any more.
The amount contributed by the inhabitants of Houston to- wards their church does not exceed $150.00. We sold eleven pews for $143.00, which I hope will be paid; the whole cost of the building is about $1100.00, so for my own share I have had to pay about $800.00. In Galveston I have thirty excellent benches as comfortable as pews; twelve only have been rented. Times are so hard and the good will of the people so weak that we could not dispose of more.
I received whilst at Houston letters from Messrs. Calvo and Estany. They were both well, but the country in which they live is in a most deplorable condition. The volunteers and the Texas militia have ruined it entirely. Cattle, horses, ewes, everything has been taken away. There are only two American families living now at San Antonio; more than twenty Mexican families left for the Rio Grande, most of the people are moving from the valley of San Antonio and from the Colorado, for fear of a new
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invasion. The crops have failed in many parts of the country on account of the drought, during the spring and beginning of the summer, and the heavy rains that have been falling most every day since the middle of July do a serious injury to the cotton crop.
Mr. Van Ness was killed about three months ago. The In- dians are committing a great deal of mischief around San An- tonio and Austin. Every week there are some few persons killed. Mr. De Saligny left Texas in consequence of bad health. I put his house at Austin under the care of a good family; it would be impossible to rent it at present, as more than half the population has left the town and people are happy to put families in their houses during their absence. General Houston tried his best to remove the archives of the government from there, but he could not succeed, and the next Congress will be held at Austin. It is the impression of many that the seat of govern- ment will not be removed from there.
Several French emigrants have lately arrived, and about one hundred are daily expected, to be followed by a great many others. The principal agent of the emigrating company has purchased one-third of the town of Harrisburg, below Houston, the charter for a bank and railroad of the same place, and four leagues of land around the city. Several large grants have been made lately to French, English and German companies for emigration. If we had only peace, there would be soon a great tide of emigration. Mr. Ducos and Bourgeois are gone to Paris to induce settlers to move to this country. I furnished Mr. Ducos with $130.00, the receipt of which I have already for- warded to you.
I would need very much one priest for Galveston and one for Houston ; it would also be necessary to visit the Trinity, where there are good many Catholics. Still I feel afraid to see them coming before the summer be over and before the clouds that hang over Texas be a little dispelled. If the war does not break out before November, I would be glad if you would send me two priests about that time.
The nun who came to Galveston whilst you were here writes to me continually wishing to return to the place. She will bring with her three French and two English Sisters and about $8000; she requested the Superior of the Seminary of Grass to write also, and that gentleman tells me in his letter that she belongs to a respectable and wealthy family, that she is an excellent nun and that she will be permitted to come only at my request. If I insist for her, they will let her come to Texas with her com- panions, but not otherwise. They seem to be dissatisfied at the treatment experienced at New Orleans.
I wrote to Mr. Estany to go to San Antonio to make a re-
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treat and give Mr. Calvo the opportunity of doing the same. I think he must be gone there if the fear of the Indians has not deterred him from the journey. It is probable that after the jubilee, I will go myself to visit them. It will not take me more than three or four weeks. Be pleased to remember me to all and to pray for me.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient and humble servant, JOHN MARY, Bishop of Claudiopolis and Vicar-Apostolic of Texas.
Rt. Rev. Dr. A. Blanc, For Very Rev. J. Timon, New Orleans, La.
(Original in Catholic Archives of America, Notre Dame, Ind. Case Lazarists, L. 24.)
Houston, February Ist, 1843. Very Rev. and Dear Sir :
I have just received your two letters, one from St. Louis and the other from New Orleans. It would afford me a great deal of pleasure to go to see you at this moment, but it is not in my power. I am on my way to San Antonio. For a long time I have not heard from our priests who are in that quarter, and I would like to see them before going to the States.
The Rev. Mr. Uquhart, who lives with Mr. Mullen at St. Patrick's, wrote to me, expressing a wish to come to Texas. I wrote back to him not to come until I would go over myself. I am anxious to ascertain what kind of recommendations he brought with him, and what were his dispositions. Do me the favor to inquire about him, and if you think that he will suit for this mission send him on by the first boat, directing him to celebrate one Sunday at Galveston and to proceed immediately to Houston, where he will remain until I come back from the west. My intention is to give him the charge of Houston and of the neighboring missions. Let him know that the country is extremely poor, and that zeal, pure disinterested zeal, should prompt him to dedicate himself to this mission. When he arrives at Galveston let him go straight to our house and the sacristan will direct him where to take his meals. At Houston Mr. De- chene will give him a room. He ought to bring with him a bed and some little furniture. If you think that he would not suit for this mission, send me a few lines. I had written about him to Mr. Rousselon, but I have not heard anything from him.
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