There are 35,000 Negroes in the city of Chicago; of which number about
500 are Catholics. The latter are now permanently organized and form
a parish having for its pastor, the colored priest, Rev. A. Tolton. A
building site has been procured in a good location and Father Tolton
is exerting himself to raise funds for the erection of a church. A
colored school is badly needed and could be made the instrument for the
accomplishing of much good. Father Tolton is sure of the attendance of at
least one hundred Catholic children, while he feels confident that two
or three hundred colored Protestant children would seek admittance. The
colored people in most localities are very partial to parochial schools
conducted by sisters.