Letter from Fr. Bernard Clery

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7 Nov 1924 Roseburg.Ore. II.7.'24. My Dear Fr.Provincial, I am penning you this letter principally for two reasons. In the first place to inform you that the school is closed - no Sisters being available - and in the second place, to suggest ways and means for its resuscitation next year. I think it may be laid down as an axiom, that there is absolutely no use in depending upon the Sisters of Mercy, even if they were desirable, which is not the case, under the present regime at least, for in my humble opinion, as long as we are associated with them, Roseburg will never be anything but a hotbed for cultivating trouble and endless anxiety. They receive no educational training, and their nursing abilities could be written down as nil. A few can teach, and a few can nurse. They would never find their way to this City for obvious reasons. How may the school be reopened is the important, and practical question. To find a solution will in the first place depend upon more fundamental questions, which if answered truthfully will give the key to the former. Does the Parish want a school? Is it able to support one? The first question is answered in the affirmative at least to this extent, that those having children to be educated want a Sister's School, the second question is the serious crux. Is the Parish financially able to support two Sisters? No Sisters can or will teach under $ 35. dollars a month for each teaching Sister. To obtain $ 70. dollars a month from this Parish will be no easy job. Farming and business conditions are not booming, but laying aside economic questions let us rather dwell upon the fact that the number of souls possessing incomes belonging to the Church does not exceed 90. An up hill grade then is very evident before the top is reached, or in other words before the school can be opened the question of the Sister's support must be answered satisfactorily. It is out of the question unless everybody in the Parish helps financially. I found that the question of school support was left entirely upon the shoulders of those parents having children in the school, a monstrous procedure, no doubt, but until now I was unable to see my way clear to take steps to remedy this injustice, as other matters of equal importance had to be attended to, for instance, our own support, and in such matters my guiding principle has always been, ' festina lente ' which at least is one step higher than going to sleep about them. On this question of School Support, I have mailed a letter to each Parishoner, a copy of which I am sending for your own perusal. In reply to date I have received pledges amounting to $ 45. dollars a month, but I must get pledged $ 90. a month, before I could feel safe in asking Sisters to come here and teach. The people are slow but I have no doubt that they will come across in due time. Supposing I have this amount, then allow me to submit the following suggestions any of which would, if adopted, make possible the reopening of our…