The Rt. Rev. Bishop Moore, of St. Augustine, presents his views on the
condition of Negro Mission work in his diocese, in an interesting letter
which we give in full.— “This month one year ago the convent and school
of the Sisters of St. Joseph, in Jacksonville, were burned and have not
since been rebuilt. I should like to rebuild a school for the colored
children at a cost of about $500. This would suit very well until the
Sisters are able to rebuild their convent. In Tampa the Jesuits are
desirous of establishing a colored school and I should like to give them
$500 for that object. The $7700 I have heretofore received has paid
for the block of ground which I have secured for school, church and
presbytery for the colored people. Over $400 are left over to go towards
the building. As I would have that building to serve for a school, a
hall for meetings, and perhaps for a church temporarily, I believe I
should not erect one that would cost less than three or four thousand
dollars. Hence, I propose to wait until I shall have a sum approximating
that amount before I undertake to build; and I would express the hope of
receiving a generous contribution from the collection this year. Although
I feel much discouraged by the accounts I hear of the partial failure of
separate churches for the colored people in other parts of the South, I
am determined to make the experiment in St. Augustine this year; but I
desire to make it after my own idea— I desire to have for the colored
Catholics the best and most attractive church in the place, one of which
they will be proud. I desire to have it so situated that the grounds will
allow of public processions on Palm Sunday, Corpus Christi and other
festivals of the church. I hope in that way to retain the Catholics we
have and to win over others.”