Father Luke Sheehan’s appeal

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FATHER SHEEHAN'S APPEAL IS AS FOLLOWS : BEND, CROOK COUNTY, OREGON, June 11th, 1912. THE CORKMEN'S P. B. & P. ASSOCIATION, New York City. GENTLEMEN : Before presenting to your Association the object of this letter allow me to introduce myself to you. I am a Corkman, born in the very centre of the fair City by the Lee. I am, moreover, a Franciscan Capuchin Priest and have been attached at various times to Father Matthew's Church in Cork. Close on three years ago my Superiors asked me to volunteer to take charge of some new Missions in Crook County, Oregon, U. S. A. On my arrival in this part of the country I found a large territory and a small number of Catholics. Crook County is 8,000 square miles in extent, i. e., larger than the combined area of Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The difficulty of travelling over such a large tract of country without railroad facilities can easily be imagined. But the cause was sacred, and trusting to God's help I essayed the task. Sometimes I rode forty and fifty miles in the day on horseback—sometimes I have made my journey on foot, carrying a heavy valise containing all the requisites for Mass—again, I was pleased to find a seat on the rocking, bumping stage. Provided I can cover the distance I am not particular about the mode of getting there. Unable at times to find a house, I have spent nights in the brush or even in the open country without shade or shelter. A few times I was caught in a snowstorm, and have on one occasion to thank the loving care of Providence for the preservation of my life. Often have I gone long hours without food or nourishment. My trips have not been made to find a large congregation waiting to welcome me, but to hunt the straying sheep scattered in every part of the county. My home was a room over a hall used for dancing, boxing, skating, and a variety of such purposes. The furniture consisted of a bed, a chair, a soap-box for a desk and a soap-box for a dressing-table, a few books and some clothes brought from the old country. Three weeks ago a fire broke out in the building and reduced the whole structure to ashes. I lost everything I had. I am not, gentlemen, narrating these things to parade my hardships and poverty before you, but to show the great odds against which I have to contend in this country. It is a work beyond my ability to describe the condition of Religion out here within the limits of a short letter. Let me briefly summarize it, under the following statements: Catholics are not popular with a large percentage of the people. Bigotry is dying a slow death. We have an uphill battle to fight in demonstrating the truth of our Holy Religion on every occasion. In the smallest towns of this Western country there are four or five Churches representing so many denominations. Could I, as an Irishman and a Priest, contemplate these Churches erected to propagate error and heresy and not make an effort to raise some little Temples to the Living God? Could I allow these pe…