The Indian Territory is a great Indian centre, there being no less than
96,640 Indians within its borders. Of this great number but 3000 are
Catholics. These Catholic Indians have six churches which are regularly
attended by six Benedictine Fathers, of the Sacred Heart, and one
secular priest. There are five Catholic Indian boarding schools in the
Territory with an enrolment of 262 pupils. “A school should be built in
the Gwokow nation” writes Bishop Meerschaert, “for that nation and other
small tribes around. A church there is an absolute necessity. Another
school should be built in the Creek nation. We will try a day school in
Muscogee where we can build and be able to have sisters. The trouble is
that day schools with our Indians are impossibilities. We have to clothe
the children, board them and teach them. When our schools are built,
if we could have all the children we could accommodate it would be all
right, but the Morgan system is there to destroy all. He has been a
perfect scourge for our Indians— refusing contracts, diminishing them,
building other Government schools at the expense of the Indians, where
Catholic schools already existed, and this in order to destroy and ruin
them. The Priest of Muscogee Creek Nation attempts to visit nineteen
places. He writes that two priests more are needed there and they must be
supported, as no help comes from the Indians. I will try to get priests
to work for that mission and for many others among the whites in the
Oklahoma Territory. These I will have to procure in Europe, as I cannot
find them here. Hence, more expense. This country is being populated
rapidly. Everywhere new settlements are springing up and towns and cities
are developing. These towns and cities are anxious to have churches and
schools. As yet there is little money and most is expected from the
priest. Protestant associations are building handsome churches everywhere
and keeping our work back where we cannot build. Notwithstanding our
poverty several new churches have been built this year, thanks to the
great efforts and self-sacrifice of the priests on the Missions. Their
mass intentions and every cent they can get go to the good work. They
live very poorly in order to be able to do the work. They are indeed hard
workers and good, pious and zealous priests. The Propagation allowance is
$2,897.72. About $3000 below the sum given to me in former years. As the
funds of last year were exhausted before my arrival, except $450, I had
to use most of the present years’ allowance for the improvements and work
of the vicariate. As regards the Indian work; I have opened a new mission
among the Creeks, the Guokows and other surrounding tribes. I have to
build a church and school for the Guokows, and must help the Creek nation
to do the same. I hope the Commission will help us in our poverty, for
the money will be well spent in this large territory, the home of nearly
100,000 Indians, and will do a great deal of good. I beg God that I may
find self-sacrificing priests and means to do our work. Much good might
be done here in a short time if priests and sufficient means could be
had. All the priests in charge of the missions work most faithfully and
cheerfully, notwithstanding all manner of hardships. I enclose a check
for $52.90, the full amount of the collection taken up for Negroes and
Indians. The amount is small, but it is the first collection ever taken
up for that purpose, I think. And as it is an expression of the good will
of our poor people, may our dear Lord accept their good will and give
them an abundance out of which to contribute in the years to come. We
cannot expect all the means actually needed here in a new country like
this, where everything is wanting and resources few— yet with a little,
much can be done.”