IV

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

1.    Elder to Scalabrini²³

         Cincinnati, October 21, 1889

Most Reverend Excellency:

Some time ago already Father Francesco Zaboglio must have sent to Your Excellency a report on his visit to our City of Cincinnati. Various estimates were given on the number of Italians residing here, not less than three thousand and some stated twice that number. A few receive the Sacraments every month or every three months. The number of these increases little by little. Some send their children to Catholic schools. But outside these few, the rest neither go at all to Catholic doctrine classes nor frequent the Church.

            I beg you then from the bottom of my heart to send us as soon as possible some zealous missionary to save these souls on the way to perdition.

            I will do my best to help the missionaries and I hope they will derive abundant fruit for the glory of God.²⁴

            I would like to say much more how this miserable condition of so many souls touches my heart, but I find it too difficult to express myself in the

Italian language. No doubt, Fr. Zaboglio has presented this condition better that I could.

            I pray God to reward with the largest blessing the charity of Your Excellency toward these poor people.

            I remain with the greatest reverence,

Your Excellency’s faithful servant and brother in Jesus Christ,

William Henry Elder,

Archbishop of Cincinnati