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Show Catholic Church in Darkest Africa f CATHOLIC means universal, and as j mark of the trite church it must be universal in time and place. ! In time the Catholic church can trace ( her lineage back to Christ, and can , identify her ministry as a corporate body with the corporation .Jesus; Christ instituted, and commissioned in the persons of the apostles. Her univer-sality univer-sality in place extends to all countries, even to the most remote corners of "darkest Africa.' In Onitsha (Lower Niger) a young king was crowned last ycar.s Being a Catholic, Pope Leo XIII ; sent letters of congratulations, togeth- c-r with a large and 'superbly enameled medallion to the new king, who was ' deeply affected at' receiving so precious j a gift, and the jiqntillcal blessing. His , letter to the holy father is interesting, i and tells of the progress of the church in the jungles of Africa: Samuel Okosi, Kiiig of Onitska, to His Holiness, Leo XIII, the Head ot ine :' True Church of Jesus Christ: Most Holy Father: I am under the obliga-i obliga-i tion of thanking your holiness for the very precious gift ou have deigned to send me. Among all the African kings , ; I am fortunate because you have had the great kindness of presenting me with this picture of the Blessed Virgin, and especially because you. have given me your paternal blessing. This picture pic-ture of 'our good Mother will always ! ! hold the place of honor in my house, and I shall unceasingly ask. of my powerful advocate her assistance in ) the faithful discharge of all my duties. My people are now receiving Christian instructions. The schools are filled with children and a great crowd of people assist every Sunday at the divine service. ser-vice. It is a trult consoling spectacle for a Christian king to see. his people thus cultivating religion and turning their bacl upon the idols. I .have also great pleasure in informing inform-ing you that the law Against the killing ' of twins is now strictly obeyed, and that met uoi-tatou ot ;ssoube, the " neighboring village to Onitska, has been baptized, and is a fervent Chris- tian. The great majority of his peo- pie are ready to follow his exampje. X The chiefs of Cgidi have given oideis that the missionaries for whom they are building a house shall be received. IThe village of Ikem has also its apostle since a month. The mission cf Saint Joseph of Agouleri is rapidly developing develop-ing under the direction of Rev. Father Joseph Bubendorf. All the settlements on the Niger are now disposed to receive re-ceive the gospel. Send them, most holy f father, a still greater number of mis sionaries that they may take posses- J sion of the?? villages in advance of the j Musselmen and of the various Protestant Protest-ant sects, such as the Wesleyans, Presbyterians. Pres-byterians. African church and the i Episcopalians of the Church of long- land. These sects are everywhere doing do-ing their beet to get ahead of the Oath-olic Oath-olic church. They are ten times more , numerous than the Catholic priests, but with your blessing and under your .orders .or-ders the true church will be stronger j than all others, and she will be every - ; where victorious as she is now at Onit- j ska, Ossomai i, Nsoube, Agouleri, Ikem, i ; Ogidi, and In other places with a popu- 1 ' 1 4 lation of from 10,000 to 15,000 souls. j ' Bless me, most holy aiid well beloved ' . father, bless me as well as my subjects, blesa also our dear mission sisters, so f. ' .V -...,.! . 1 ... I that the Niger may become one of the I most flourishing Catholic countries. ' 1 Your obedient and very humble servant. ser-vant. JOHN SAMUEL QKOSI. i . - King of Onitsha, Timothy. Obip, Secretary. |