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What do you think of my stenographic ability? I am very glad I brought my Corona with me, I do nearly all my writing with it. P.J.
Ammers 14/6/23 F.W.
Capuchin Friary
218 Compton Ave
Watts Cal.
Br 4.38.
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My dear Fr. Provincial,
I have just received your very kind letter enclosing the Decree of the S. C. of the Council which finally settles our parish of Watts. I am thankful for your kind payment of the tax. Since my last letter to you we have had the honour of the Canonical Visitation of Most Reverend Fr. General. He summoned me to Hays Kansas to escort him and his Sec. Fr. Agathangelus to all the Houses of the Irish Province in the States. I was with Fr. Clement in Stockton at the time conducting a two weeks mission, and on the Saturday before we closed the mission I had to start for Kansas May 5th. Arriving on Tuesday following we started back that same night and reached Ukiah on Friday evening. We called on the Archbishop and had lunch with him and he repeated his promise of giving us a House in San Francisco which was very pleasing to the General. We left Ukiah on Saturday having seen all the Fathers who came there from Fortbragg and Greenwood. From Ukiah we came to Los Angeles where he stayed the night and next day we proceeded to Roseburg, thence to Bend where Frs Casimer and Vincent came to meet the General. He didnot go to Lincoln or Abbottstown, but the Fathers met him on the way. I had to part with him at Bend as I was due for a Retreat here which closed in Cathedral Chapel last night. The Father General expressed himself in very happy terms about the condition of our American Houses, but I am sure you will get a detailed account from him later on. He was very amiable and nice in every way, and by my fluency in the Latin tongue helped by the Sec. who speaks English pretty well, I spent a pleasant yet strenuous two weeks with him. He proceeded to the Milwaukie Province. His Visitation cost us over $700, which I expect to be made up by the Houses here.
The general had a longe interview with Bishop Cantwell, who expressed his great anxiety to have the Capuchins take on the Santa Inez Mission whenever the present old Fastor resigns or dies. By the way to quoth a learned Friar, on our way from San Francisco we called at Santa Barbara and what do you know but the Franciscans interviewed the General regarding Santa Inez, and whatever he told them they wrote off at once to the Bishop saying that the General gave them a final decision in the matter. The Bishop mentioned the matter to the General and the latter was very displeased, saying that they did not tell him all and he by no means gave a decision on the matter. I have since received a letter from his Lordship wherein he states that he offered the Mission to the Capuchins. " they accepted , and it is only necessary to have the papers drawn up in due season." The General expressed a wish to have the Beneplacitum for all the Houses as soon as possible. As regards Raymond I am sure you have received my letter. He seems to be doing well in Roseburg now. I recently sent a note to the Houses telling the Superiors to hold devotions each evening in their Churches and to attend to the wearing of the habit and sandals in house and Church aswell as going to the Convents in Bend Ukiah and Abbottstown as far as possible. Fr. Urban is on the mend helping out in St. Anthony's Oakland, as Monsignor Cantwell wanted a man there for a couple of weeks. As Fr. general has visited the Houses I presume you do not require an official Report from me this year; however I hope to forward you a general one later on. The two 3rd Order Brothers in Fortbragg and Greenwood have got affiliation to the Order from the General or in other words permission to wear the Capuchin habit, which I am to give them when next I go there. I wish we had other Bros. like them. I am glad Fr. Edward got home safely and that his condition is not serious. Hoping to hear from you soon again, and with very best respects, I am my dear Fr. Provincial, Yours obediently
B. Bruph M. Cap.