Mission Memories 1881

Mission of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Paris, IL, September 25 – October 2, 1881. Missionaries: Fathers M. Smith and S.B. Hedges.

Paris is a live, pretty little city of 4,000 people distant 16 miles from Marshall. The Catholic Church is about the most distressing thing in the place, old, small, dingy, preposterously located in an out-of-the-way place, beside the railroad track – the first and most pressing need of the congregation is a new church. The pastor Rev. Fr. Hassé was absent in Europe and a young priest Father P.F. Carroll occupies his stead. The mission was a success, good attendance and fervent dispositions throughout. Some few hard cases, two of them liquor sellers did not put in an appearance at all. The question of prohibition divides these little cities, here in particular where Father Dwyer was able to close up the dram shops kept by Catholics and give the weight of the Catholic influence to the temperance side, the above mentioned two Catholics started in the business again and head the worst section of people to regret lf all good citizens and the scandal of the Catholic name. Heavy rains set in towards the latter part of the mission and though they caused greater inconvenience to many who lived at a distance did not interfere materially with its success. Great regret was expressed at the short duration of the mission; after it, Father Hedges came back to lecture at the invitation of the Temp. society, a number of new names were added and over 20 took the pledge publicly.

Confessions 375

Converts 2