Bishop Haid has many unfavorable conditions to encounter in his large
vicariate. The Catholics both white and colored are few and scattered.
Every step he would make in the right direction is hampered by the
poverty of the diocese. We give his letter to the Negro and Indian
Commission: “The Colored Missions in North Carolina, have made some
progress, but not such as I could have wished. With the means at our
disposal, we should perhaps not expect too much. St. Charles’ Church at
Newbern, is finished. Rev. M. Haw has Divine Service there every Sunday
for the colored People. He seems greatly interested in the work, and
has a considerable class ready for Confirmation. The Sisters of Mercy
teach the colored school and have from 88 to 100 pupils enrolled. At
Wilmington the colored Catholics attend St. Thomas’ Church and are very
regular. The Sisters of Mercy teach the school which numbers about 100
pupils. This year we may increase our school room. St. Benedict’s colored
church, near the Abbey, is under the charge of good Father Melchior, who
exerts himself to the utmost. The school connected with this church was
taught by a lay teacher last year. This year the Sisters of Mercy from
the Sacred Heart Academy will take charge of it. Until I procure more
priests, or better, until I procure priests ready to devote themselves
altogether to the colored people, little more can be done than what we
are now trying to do. If some community of Sisters would establish a
house for the old and infirm in some large town, I believe they could
do a world of good; as the older people are more thoughtful, they would
gladly open their hearts to our Holy Faith on beholding Faith practised
in Charity. I trust you will continue your generous aid to the colored
people of North Carolina.”