The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger

The Grand Jury.

That the present grand jury, of which Mr. E. Booth is the foreman, is one of the most efficient and intelligent that has ever examined into the affairs of this community, is universally acknowledged. From the report presented on the 18th, we make the following extracts referring to the Catholic institutions of the city:

Female orphan asylum, corner of Clio and Camp, under the wise care of Sister Mary Margaret. With 180 orphans, and depending exclusively upon the charitable for support, it is not to be wondered at that the neglect of a Legislature distinguished for its munificence to itself to make any appropriation for the charities of this parish should be severely felt by this asylum. Deprived of this much needed aid, and with flour at $10 to $12 per barrel, they have been obliged to economize strictly in every respect, and to substitute some coarser descriptions of food to take the place of flour to some extent. This is also true of other asylums hereafter named and from the same cause. The Grand Jury regret exceedingly that the State's economies should have taken this direction. The modest claims of the orphans are nearly equal to the necessity of a four million dollar State-House, or an equally important and equally needed three million dollar ditch-digging company. The asylum is recommended to the consideration of all. Everything is perfect there--health, cleanliness and order.

St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum, corner of Magazine and Race streets. Sister Mary Agnes is in charge, with other sisters, of 160 infants, ranging from the cradle to eight or nine years of age. The building, which is well known, financially labors under the same difficulties as the Female Orphan Asylum on Camp street. The children look well, are clean, healthy and well cared for.

Providence Asylum for Orphans.--Under charge of Sister Mary, with three Sisters assisting. They have thirty children in charge, and are doing the best they can; but they need clothing and money to purchase necessaries.

St. Vincent's Home for Boys, 371 Bienville street. This Home has eighty-eight children, under the superintendence of Mr. Powers. The boys range from three to fifteen years. They are clean; their food, if coarse, is abundant. There are eighty-three attending class in a school-room much too small, and they are in great need of beds. Like the other asylums not receiving a cent from the Legislature, they are very much pressed for means.

[This Home was established by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and is conducted under its patronage. It is one of the special works of the Society and is under the management of Mr. D. P. Scanlan, President of the work.]

House of Good Shepherd, corner of Bienville and Broad streets. This is a voluntary reformatory institution for adults, and has 190 inmates, under charge of Sister Mary and twenty-four other Sisters. Clothing and shoes are greatly needed. The stagnant water standing around in the grounds shows that the lots need filling up as a matter of health. Everything is very clean and orderly.

Female Asylum of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. No. 53 Piety street. In charge of Sister Superior St. John the Baptist. This asylum has 212 girls, from four to eighteen years of age. They are in need of beds, blankets, and mosquito bars. Everything is in excellent condition, clean and orderly. The building is unfit to accommodate so many pupils.

Female Asylum of the Immaculate Conception, 871 Rampart street, in charge of Sister Superior Mary of St. Eutychus, and twelve other sisters. They have eighty inmates of from five to eighteen years of age. The building is in a deplorable condition inside for want of repair, though kept in as perfect order as circumstances will allow. They are in need of blankets, mosquito bars and shoes. Such articles will be well bestowed if citizens can spare them. The girls have manufactured a beautiful silk embroidered flag, which they wish to sell.

St. Mary's Boys' Asylum, corner Chartres and Mazent streets, in charge of Sister Superior Mary of the Nativity, and twelve other sisters. There are two hundred boys, eighty-one of whom are infants. The place is very clean and well kept. There is need of clothing and shoes. The Legislature withheld the pittance doled out to these orphans.

St. Joseph's Asylum:-- This institution is for children of both sexes; corner of Josephine and Laurel. It is governed by Mother Mary Jacobini, aided by several Sisters. There are 200 children. Buildings are unsuitable. The necessaries of life are wanted. The Sisters do all the work. Everything is clean and orderly.

St. Elizabeth's Asylum.--Corner of Magazine and Josephine streets. This Asylum is for advanced girls. It is under the care of Sister Angelica. They have 186 girls industriously engaged in various domestic arts. The dormitories are clean and airy and the cooking arrangements excellent. The asylum is in debt.

Sixth Precinct--Asylum for Girls.--Napoleon Avenue, near Prytania street. This is a branch of St. Elizabeth Asylum. It has only recently been established. It is a model of neatness, order and taste. The sixty-seven children look healthy and clean, and receive great care. They are taught useful arts, etc.

Louisiana Retreat for the Insane. Upper Magazine street. Under the superintendence of Sister Severina, this institution has attained eminence. Sixteen or eighteen devoted and patient Sisters control seventy-three insane people, and give the greatest satisfaction. The ladies are obliged to make many temporary arrangements to meet the ever-increasing calls upon them. They have at least twenty more patients than they can conveniently provide for. They give their services gratuitously.

Respecting the Charity Hospital, the report says:--The total number of patients is 619. The number of patients variously employed in the hospital about 40. The building and grounds are kept in the most perfect good order. Economy is evident. The Sisters of Charity continue their indispensable ministrations and conduct the culinary and domestic affairs of the hospital in a most creditable manner. There is a low per cent of mortality and a comparatively small number of patients under treatment. The hospital is in a condition to receive and treat as many as even our severest epidemics may send within its wards.

Parish Prison, Orleans street.--Captain Johnson, with seven assistants, in charge of 303 inmates. This institution is in a highly organized and satisfactory condition. There are few inmates awaiting trial for any length of time. The medical department is under the supervision of Dr. Cooper. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has established a small library, to which citizens are invited to add a few more suitable books. The cells are clean, and all the inmates show that they are not stinted for food. The separation of the prisoners into two classes--the unconvicted and the convicted--is recommended.

[Parties having suitable books, which they may wish to donate to the charitable work above alluded to, can do so by giving them either to the members of the several Conferences of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which exist in almost every parish of the city, or by sending them to this office. Books in all languages will be most acceptable, as amongst the inmates of the prison, for whose benefit the library is established, are men of all nationalities.]