There is but forty colored Catholics in this diocese. The colored
population numbers 434,320. The contrast is very striking. The diocese
has suffered much on account of the Civil War and the terrible yellow
fever plagues that ravaged the South in 1867, 1873, ’78 and ’79. These
successive plagues carried off twenty priests and many religious, dealing
a blow, from the effects of which the diocese has not as yet been able
to recover. There is one special school for the colored people. It is
located in Memphis and has a membership of 167 pupils. Bishop Rademacher
writes that in regard to this school, Father Moran, of St. Peter’s
Church, informs him that the progress of the pupils is very encouraging.
“Towards the close of the term, however, the ‘Oklahoma fever’ attacked
our colored people and many of those who went out there were the parents
of our children, and of course we lost those children. The tendency
of the colored people to roam about is one of the chief obstacles to
the success of the school. The race trouble in Memphis last Spring had
also an injurious effect. The experience of the last four years has not
been very encouraging. ‘I believe’ says Father Moran, ‘we are removing
prejudice and gradually convincing the colored people that the Church
is honestly trying to do something for them. The children are taught
the catechism and prayers and are making satisfactory progress in them.
But for good and sufficient reason, it has not been deemed prudent to
receive, as yet, any of them into the church.’”