RUBIKON Volume 4 / Number 2 September 2017

AUGUSTINE TOLTON’S STRUGGLE AS A BLACK CATHOLIC AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AS PORTRAYED IN FROM SLAVE TO PRIEST BY CAROLINE HEMESATH AND THEY CALLED HIM FATHER GUS BY ROY BAUER

Agnes Mira Damayanti [email protected]

Abstract This thesis aims to analyze how Black Catholics overcome the discrimination against their life in American society during the nineteenth century and also to explore what are the impacts of Black Catholics struggle portrayed in the biographies entitled From Slave to Priest and They Called Him Father Gus. The interdisciplinary approach applied in this thesis are including literature, sociology, and the concept of time and macro to micro by McDowell are used to enhance the analysis of Black Catholics’ struggle against the discrimination that they got in American society during the nineteenth century. The findings of the thesis show that Black Catholics did some actions to overcome the discrimination against their life in American society. The actions done by Black Catholics are the sign that they work hard struggling against the discrimination from whites, , and Black Protestants. Also, since this thesis highlights the impact of Black Catholics’ struggle, it indicates that the struggle of Black Catholics, represented mostly by the struggle of Father Augustine Tolton, give the positive impacts such as maintaining the good relation among black and white Catholics, inspired Black Catholics to keep struggle for their faith and inspired the establishment of Black Catholics’ organizations.

Keywords: Black Catholics, Father Augustine Tolton, Struggle, Impacts

Introduction could exist due to the fact of the different The existence of Black Catholics in practice and hierarchies among Christian can be seen from the early believers.1 history of Whites settlements and also Raboteau in his essay entitled Black since the beginning of era. As a Catholics and Afro-American Religious black people and also as Catholic History: Autobiographical Reflections believers, those Black Catholics faced the mentioned that the apparent discrepancy hard life. Besides of becoming slaves, they between being Black and being Catholic is also had to face the discrimination not only based upon the fact that very few African- by the Whites but also among Black itself, American have been Catholic. So, Black especially from Black Protestants. The Catholics are the minority within the

discrimination from Black Protestants 1 Bennett, J.B. Religion and the Rise of Jim Crow in New Orleans. Pricetown University Press, p.203.

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minority. For the Black Catholics, they priest due the fact that they were not found the discrimination, or they faced the purely came from the Black family in religious prejudice from their fellow which the father was Irish.2 Blacks, the majority of whom were There was a Black Catholic man Protestants and racial discrimination from from a slave family called Augustine their fellow Catholics, the majority of Tolton (also some called him as Augustus whom were white (1986: 119). Tolton) that successfully became the first In short, Black Catholics faced the Black Priest in the United States. The hard life since they had to face three layers family had a background of becoming of discrimination as Catholic believers, slaves. Both of his parents were slaves in first from Whites in general, from Black and they were Catholic. During Protestants for more specific and also from the Civil War, his family escaped from the Catholic Church itself. The hard life being slaves and went to the Mississippi that they face led them to fight against the River to Illinois. They settled in Quincy, discrimination and their position of being where there was a community of escaped discriminated. slaves and a black Catholic church, St. As has been noted that the existence ’s. In the latter years, Augustus of Black Catholics can be seen from the Tolton wanted to become a priest, so he slavery era. There were also some priests tried to enter the American seminary. But that came from slave family also. They because of the racial discrimination, there were (1830-1900), was no American seminary would accept a Patrick Francis Healy, S.J. (1834-1910), black candidate. So he decided to go to and Alexander Sherwood Healy (1836- and he entered the priest education 1874). They were the Healy Brothers from there. In 1886, he went back to the United mother Mary Eliza, a slave and her owner States and he was assigned to St. Joseph’s Morris Healy, the Irish immigrant in Quincy. After he went back to the and landowner. The father sent those three United States and became a priest, he still children to the North, where they did not consider themselves as black. Even the 2 Craughwell, T.J. History of African-American Healy brothers became the priests from the Catholics. OSV Newsweekly. January 25, 2012. Web. June 20, 2015. beginning era, but many people did not recognize them as the first Black Catholic

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faced so many difficulties related to the The primary data of this research use racial discrimination.3 two biographies of Father Augustus Tolton This study is going to investigate the to explore how he struggles for achieving struggle of Black Catholics as portrayed by equality and also how they preserving his the figure of Father Augustus Tolton. His faith. The first biography that is used figure as the first Black Priest in the entitled From Slave to Priest- the United States can be the example of how Inspirational Story of Father Augustine Black Catholics tried to fight against the Tolton by Caroline Hemesath, S.S.F. and racial discrimination that they should face the second biography is from Father Roy and how they should change their life for Bauer entitled They Called Him Father becoming better people as Catholic Gus. Even the emphasize in this research is believers. Hemesath mentioned that Father the figure of Father Augustus Tolton as the Augustus Tolton was considered as a representation of the Black Catholics beacon of hope to Black Catholics in the struggle, in those two biographies, there nineteenth century who was trying to find are some Black Catholics that can be seen a home in the American Church (2006: 9). in the struggle. That is why the minor Even previously it has been mentioned that figures excluding Father Augustus Tolton Healy Brothers had precedingly become can be used to find out about how their priests, but the background of their family struggles as Black Catholics. cannot be considered as same as Father Furthermore, this research concerns Augustus Tolton. Healy Brothers were on the struggle of Black Catholics since mulatto since their father was a plantation the topic of struggle can have the complex owner. Here, Father Augustus Tolton came meaning to be investigated. If we try to from both slave parents and he was purely explore the struggle, the study requires Black Catholic. Due to that fact, many finding out the background for the struggle people considered Father Augustus Tolton and also the impacts of the struggle itself. as the first Black Catholic priest in the That is why taking the struggle of Black United States. Catholics here can give the complex and in-depth analysis for the analysis of the 3 Craughwell, T.J. History of African-American study of Black Catholics that is portrayed Catholics. OSV Newsweekly. January 25, 2012. Web. June 20, 2015. in From Slave to Priest and They Called Him Father Gus.

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There are two objectives of the Father Augustine Tolton and Black study, first is to elucidate how Black Catholics in general in facing the racial Catholics overcame the discrimination discrimination. Here are some steps in against them, their life in American society analyzing the data for the research: during the nineteenth century. Second Some sentences, quotes, lines, objective is to explore what are the paragraphs, or parts from both of the impacts of Black Catholics struggle as biographies will be used as the data to be portrayed in From Slave to Priest and They analyzed related to the proposed research Called Him Father Gus. questions. There are three main parts that are going to be investigated in this Methodology research. This research belongs to qualitative The first investigation is related to research as it is mainly a literature study the first research problem about how Black that relies mostly on library research. The Catholics overcame the discrimination researcher interprets the data in subjective against them. In order to answer this manner using this mode of interpretation research question, the analysis is going to by using the micro and macro analysis and be divided into two parts, first is going to reconciliation of time perspective by explore about the reasons of the struggle McDowell to analyze and answer the itself. In order to explore the background proposed research question. of the struggle in which has the close In accordance with the theoretical relation with racial discrimination, the data framework, the data used in this research that show about racial discrimination got are analyzed by using the approach of by Black Catholics and also Father reconciliation of time and micro macro Augustine Tolton in specific including the analysis by McDowell through the theory statements, lines, and parts from both of of racial discrimination to answer the the biographies are going to be used. Then, proposed research questions. The main the theory of racial discrimination is used objects of this research are the biographies to analyze the racial discrimination. In this of Father Augustine Tolton entitled From case, the secondary data about the racial Slave to Priest and They Called Him discrimination that have the relation with Father Gus is going to be treated as the Black Catholics are going to support the main materials to find out the struggle of analysis.

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Furthermore, for analyzing how Discussion Black Catholics have to struggle, the Black Catholics in the United States researcher is going to find some actions had to face the hardship for their living done by Black Catholics and Father during the nineteenth century like what's Augustine Tolton in specific from the described in the previous chapter. The biographies. The theory about the struggle of Black Catholics in facing the minority-group responses to prejudice and problems related to the racial discrimination is going to be used to discrimination is discussed further in this analyze the actions. Of course, the chapter, especially related to the condition secondary data about acts shown by Black that happened in the biographies of Father Catholics are going to be used to support Augustine Tolton entitled From Slave to the analysis. Priest and They Called Him Father Gus. The second research problem about In both biographies; From Slave to what the impacts of the Black Catholics Priest and They Called Him Father Gus, struggle are, the data about the impacts of slavery existed due to the fact that the Father Augustine Tolton’s actions to backgrounds of Father Augustine Tolton struggle and also the other Black Catholics were from slave families. Both parents of in both biographies are going to be Augustine Tolton were slaves. When they investigated. Several sentences, lines, were still slaves, they did not get a good quotes, statements, or parts from the condition of living. Because the parents of biographies that have the relation about it Augustine Tolton were slaves, they had no are going to be used for analyzing the data. control and power in their own life. Their Moreover, the supporting data about the masters were the one who had the control impacts of the struggle from the secondary of the life and any kinds of things of the data are very needed in order to find out slave’s life. Bauer mentioned: the significance of the struggle done by When the wealthy John Manning died, his widow married Stephen Father Tolton whether his actions inspired Burch. Manning’s youngest other Black Catholics for doing the same daughter, Susan, married Stephen Elliot in 1849. Susan’s step-father, struggle for achieving the equality or not. of course, wanted to give a fine In this case, the theory about the effect of wedding present to Susan. He decided to give her some slaves. prejudice and discrimination by Yinger is From his Negroes, he selected a half going to be used to analyze the data. dozen of varying ages and abilities.

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…Among the slaves in Susan’s Slavery can be categorized as dowry was the sixteen-year-old institutional discrimination based on the Martha Jane Chisley. Not included, however, were Martha Jane’s parents division proposed by Fred L. Pincus. and brother whom she loved dearly. “Institutional discrimination refers to the A short time later, the newlyweds loaded their possessions in carts took policies of majority institutions, and the their slaves and headed westward. behavior of individuals who implement The teenage slave girl, Martha Jane, would never see her parents again these policies and control these (1990: 1). institutions, that are intended to have a When Martha Jane, the mother of differential and/or harmful effect on Augustine Tolton was still young, she had minority group. Institutional to be separated with her family and she discrimination has the major goal to keep would never be able to see them anymore. minority groups in a subordinate position Due to the fact that Martha Jane was a within society” (Pincus & Ehrlich, 1994: slave to Manning’s family, she had no 83). The slavery itself is used by the control for determining how her life would Whites in order to keep the Blacks to have be. Her master had the full authority for the subordinate position in the society. determining how the slave’s life will be, Slavery is the system used by Whites in including for the life of Martha Jane for general in order to control the Blacks so separating her with her family to be given that they cannot have the better position in to the Susan Manning who married the society. Stephen Elliot. Besides getting the racial Slavery itself can be considered in discrimination from the White people in the high level of discrimination. Seen from general, Black Catholics also face the the levels of discrimination (Parillo, 1985: hardships as the result of the 80), slavery can be included in the fourth discrimination within the Catholic Church level out of five levels of discrimination, itself. Mostly, the racial discrimination called as physical abuse. The Blacks who faced by Black Catholics in both became the slaves had to work hard and do biographies entitled From Slave to Priest all of the things that the masters asked. and They Called Him Father Gus is mostly The lives of the slaves were dedicated only about the discrimination faced by Father for working for the masters. Augustine Tolton. The problems faced by Father Augustine Tolton here are mostly

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about the rejection of the seminaries in the priesthood. The condition happened due to United States to accept him as the the face that previously there is no Black candidate of priesthood. who is interested to become a priesthood In both biographies, it is stated that candidate. In addition, the position of Augustine Tolton had the willingness of Blacks in American society especially in being a priest. In order to be a priest was Catholic Church was not good enough. not easy, Augustine had to enter the school They were still considered as inferior class for the priesthood candidate. The school toward the White parishes. So, when there for the priesthood candidate is called as was a Black young man wanted to enroll Seminary. In the United States, there were for the priesthood candidate, the some seminaries from some congregations. seminaries in the United States were ready When Augustine was willing to become a to accept it. The fact that there are no priesthood candidate, there was no seminaries in the United States which seminary in the United States which accepted a Black Candidate for the accepted Augustine as the priesthood priesthood can be happened due to some candidate in their seminaries. Like Bauer problems. The general cause here is mentioned: commonly based on the reality that racial In 1870, Augustine applied to be a discrimination toward Blacks from Whites postulant in the Franciscans, but his in this period of time was still strong. request was turned down. Then Father McGirr wrote the diocesan Furthermore, the actions done by the bishop about the devout, talented, seminaries in the United States in which and aspiring young man. The bishop advised father to “find a seminary they decided to reject Augustine Tolton as which will accept a Negro candidate. a priesthood candidate in their seminaries …the diocese will assume expenses.” The directive of Bishop can be considered as exclusion action. Baltes was of no value, since Father Exclusion is in the third level of McGirr had already written every seminary in the country and the discrimination according to the division of responses all started with words like levels of discrimination by Parillo. “we are not ready for a Negro student (1990: 7). Exclusion can be like the separation from certain jobs, housing, education, or social This condition can show how there is no organizations” (Parillo, 1985: 78). The seminary in the United States which is actions done by seminaries in the United ready to accept the Black candidate for the States which reject Augustine Tolton to be

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the priesthood candidate in their do not have the stronger position compared seminaries really shows how they try to to the Protestants in American society. have the separation with the Blacks even The development of Black Catholics for the priesthood education. parishes where Augustine Tolton belonged The actions of rejecting Augustine made the other non-Catholics became Tolton in all of the seminaries in the envious and they wanted to lure away the United States can belong to institutional Catholicism of the Black Catholics. discrimination. Pincus mentioned that “this Hemesath mentioned: kind of discrimination refers to the policies The day school, to be exact opened on February 11, 1878, with twenty- from the majority institutions and also the one pupils, and, in the course of the behavior from the majority group which year, the number reached sixty. No wonder that the Protestants took applied the policies in order to keep the sharp notice of the new enterprise minority group in the subordinate position designed to propagate the Catholic faith. On April 22, 1878, seven in the society” (1994: 83). Here the case is children of Joseph’s School really clear that there were no seminaries were baptized. This occasioned a protest meeting on the part of in the United States which accepted Methodists and Baptists against the Agustine Tolton and in fact there was no Catholics, and they adopted the unanimous resolution to send all black priest in the United States. their children to the public school. Besides of getting the discrimination They employed every means possible to hinder the children from from Whites and Catholic Church, Black going to Catholic school (2006: 99). Catholics also faced the discrimination The development of Catholic Church from Black Protestants too. During this to maintain the parishes by having the time in the nineteenth century, the Parish school made the Black Protestant condition of Catholics and Protestants was community to be afraid that there would be not in the good condition. Even Catholics many other people who will convert to and Protestants share the same Christianity Catholicism. Even when Augustine Tolton principal; there are many kinds of had been ordained as a priest, there was differences among the Christians. Besides, some inhibiting of factors that he had since Protestants become the majority in especially from the other community of the United States and Catholics become Black Protestants. Hemesath mentioned: the minority among the Protestants, they

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Father Tolton’s work as a pastor was decrease. That was why they tried hard to constantly impeded by the activities do some ways in order to maintain the of churchmen representing non- Catholic denominations. They made numbers of their members and also if it their services so attractive to the was possible to increase the numbers of blacks, the old and the young, that many of these were led away from their members by luring the numbers of the Catholic Church (2006: 173). Black Catholics to lure away from their Here, the Black Protestants tried hard to do faith. some ways to preserve the members of Despite of getting the racial their community so their members would discrimination from White people in not convert to Catholicism and also they general, from Catholic Church and also had the purpose to make the other Blacks from the Black Protestants that make the to be attracted becoming the members of Black Catholics face the hardships, in their denominations community. order to get the better living they have to The actions done by the Black struggle. Of course there are some actions Protestants to Black Catholics could be done by Black Catholics in order to caused by competition. Like what struggle as the reaction of the racial proposed by Parillo, competition is one of discrimination that they face. the causes of discrimination and prejudice. Like stated earlier, Whites In competition, people tend to be more discriminated the Blacks in common. hostile toward others when they feel their Here, the Black Catholics also received the security is threatened. There are great discrimination from Whites in general amounts of evidence show that negative also. As the actions against White stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination discrimination, there were some actions increase strongly when the condition of a done by the Black Catholics. For the first competition for a limited number of jobs case, slavery, there were some actions increases (Parillo, 1985: 73-74). Here, the done by Black Catholics in order to Black Protestants felt that their security in struggle. Here, the actions for struggling which the good condition of their parishes from slavery were done by the family of was threatened with the existence of Black Augustine Tolton. Bauer mentioned: Catholics. Moreover, the development of Fully aware of the dangers involved with escape, Martha Jane decided to Black Catholics made them to be afraid try to escape with her children. that the numbers of Black Protestants Runaways were often caught

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because slave owners had organized this case, the Toltons who could be groups, with orders to hunt, shoot considered as fugitive slaves, after their and even kill, any Negro not in chains after nightfall. …Whatever escaping process, they looked for a the circumstances, Martha Jane was also for struggling in their living. able to get her three children out of the slave quarters and head for Specifically, the condition also became the Quincy, Illinois (1990: 4). same for the Toltons since after they Escaping from slavery was arrived in Quincy; they had to earn money considered as the right choice to choose by working in the cigarette factory. since the condition in the plantation was Overall, Black Catholics here were not good for the directness of Mrs. Tolton actively showing their actions against the and his children living. During the period racial discrimination from Whites of Civil War era, there were many domination. They actively wanted to do numbers of slaves who escaped from their something to break the discrimination masters. The escaped slaves called as from Whites in general. As the main root fugitive slaves. “Fugitive slaves” or problem of the discrimination was the “runaways slaves” refers to the slaves who slavery. The Black Catholics in this case left their master and traveled without represented by Tolton did the defiance authorization. They generally tried to reach actions in order to break the slavery that states or territories where slavery was they got. Defiance is one of the forms used banned.4 as the minority-group responses to In addition, after the fugitive slaves prejudice and discrimination. Parillo escaped from their masters, they had to get mentioned that if “a minority group is the job for their own living. On reaching sufficiently cohesive and conscious of its Union lines, runaways might find growing economic or political power; its employment—as laborers, cooks, members may act openly to challenge and teamsters, washerwomen, or nurses.5 In eliminate discrimination practices. Sometimes the defiance appears as 4 Renford, Reese (2011). "Canada; The Promised Land for Slaves". Western Journal of Black spontaneous, although it is usually the Studies 35 (3): 208-217 outgrowth of long-standing conditions” 5 Rasmussen, William. How Did Slaves Escape? Virginia Historical Society’s Blog. Oct 10, 2010. (1985: 88). In this case, the Black Web. 19 March 2016.

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to escape from the slavery as the action for tutoring and preparing Augustine that challenge and eliminate the slavery. Tolton for the priesthood education. The Despite the fact that Black Catholics tutoring from some priests can be seen like also faced the discrimination not only from mentioned by Hemesath: Whites in general, from the Catholic The new pastor of parish made immediate and earnest Church itself they had to face the efforts to fulfill the last request of his discrimination. The hardship faced by predecessor- to help Augustine Tolton on his way to the priesthood. Black Catholics as the results of the …Soon Father Ostrop was planning discrimination from Catholic Church led a series for the young man (2006: 63). them to do some actions for struggling. In both biographies, From Slave to Priest and Besides for helping Augustine They Called Him Father Gus, the struggle Tolton with some tutoring, Father McGirr itself can be seen clearly from the struggle who had accepted him in the parish school of Augustine Tolton on how he could when he was rejected in some schools also achieve his dream to be a priest. helped him financially. Hemesath In general, there were some actions mentioned: done by Augustine Tolton when he Meanwhile, Father McGirr redoubled his interest in the showed his willingness to be a priest. Even candidate for the priesthood. One of in fact, there was no seminary in the the first ways in which he helped Augustine financially was by United States which accepted him as the employing him as part-time priesthood candidate, some helps from the custodian of ’s parish. ..For the six winters, Augustine had Irish and German priests really made him charge of the church, school, and to be ready for preparing himself for the rectory heating plants. Besides that he did as much as the parish chores priesthood candidate. Bauer mentioned: as his time away from work allowed When no seminary or religious order (2006: 61). in the country would accept him because of his race, the priests in Moreover, the help from the Quincy decided to tutor Gus locally. diocesan or Franciscan priests were not The city was blessed with well- educated priests, both diocesan and only stopped on the local tutoring only but Franciscans (1990: 7). the priests also helped him for getting the Generally, there were some helps formal education for preparing him in from both diocesan and Franciscan priests priesthood. Those are the examples of the

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helps given by the diocesan or Franciscans themselves thrown together with free priests to help Augustine Tolton in Negroes. Blacks and the Irish fought each preparing for the priesthood education due other and the police, socialized and to the fact that there was no seminary in occasionally intermarried, and developed a the United States that accepted him. common culture of the lowly. They also Mostly, those priests were Irish or both suffered the scorn of those better Germany. If seen from the history, Irish situated.7 for particular had the good relations with Overall, his strong hard work, Blacks. Irish can be considered as the dedication for struggling in reaching his white minority among other Whites in dream for the priesthood could give the American society. good result for his priesthood candidate. The good relations among Irish and Finally, he could be accepted in Blacks in the United States can be seen Propaganda College in Rome even he clearly from their first existence in this could reach it with the help of other priests country. Both Irish and Blacks shared the also despite of his hard work. The hard similar condition for their living in the work and the dedication for struggling United States. Both Irish and Africans done by Agustine Tolton for the were taken across the Atlantic – Africans priesthood were not easy. Sometimes, he as slaves and Irish as indentured servants, also felt so frustrated and loss of his self- not quite slaves but with similar conditions confidence when there was no seminary and both treated as less than human.6 The which was willing to accept him. Irish who immigrated to America in the Hemesath mentioned: 18th and 19th centuries were fleeing caste He imagined himself at the altar offering and speaking before oppression and a system of landlordism the congregation about the that made the material conditions of the “goodness of the Lord”. He reveled in this ecstasy for a while, and then Irish peasant comparable to those of an his mind suddenly plunged back into American slave. They commonly found a world of reality. He was black-an outcast- a runaway slave – a tobacco

6 Mulraney, Frances. Black Irish Identities: The complex relationship between Irish and African 7Ignatiev, Noel. The Divide Between Blacks and the Americans. Irish Central. 24 Sept. 2015. Web. 20 Irish. The Root. 17 March. 2010. Web. 20 March. March. 2016. 2016. e_irish.html>

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factory hand – the breadwinner for a Protestants to Black Catholics including poverty-stricken family (2006: 55). for doing some ways for luring the This kind of mind is the negative self- Catholicism. image as the consequence from minority Facing this kind of condition did not group toward discrimination and prejudice. make Father Augustine Tolton as the priest A person’s self-image includes race, in the Black parish when he was still in St. religion, and nationality, thus individuals Joseph parish in Quincy tried to do some may feel ashamed and inferior if they are ways for protesting back the actions done aware that any of these attributes are held by Black Protestants. Hemesath in low esteem within the society. As the mentioned: effects, the minority group members begin Father Tolton, who understood the zeal as well as the tenets of non- to perceive themselves as negatively as the Catholics, resolved to maintain dominant group originally perceived them amicable and respectful relations with all members of other religious (Parillo, 1985: 91). In this case, since persuasions. He respected their Augustine Tolton got the rejection in all convictions and carefully refrained from downgrading their forms of seminaries in the United States due to his religious worships (2006: 181). race caused him to have the negative self- What was done by Father Augustine image toward himself. Tolton here can be considered as the wise Like what has been discussed in the way for maintaining the condition among previous part that Black Catholics in both fellow Black Christians in his society. As biographies entitled From Slave to Priest the Catholic leader in Quincy, it was very and They Called Him Father Gus did not important for him to maintain the good only face the discrimination from the relation with the other religious leader, Whites in general and also the Catholic including the Protestant denomination in Church. From the fellow blacks, especially the place close to his parish in Quincy. from the Black Protestants, they also had Even when the Protestant denominations to face the discrimination. The problems did some protest actions for the that led to the discrimination from the development of Black Catholic parishes, Black Protestants to the Black Catholics what was done by Father Augustine Tolton were because of the worry of them for the could be categorized as the safest way. development of Black Catholics. There were some protest actions done by Black

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It is avoidance toward the further being a priest gave a good impact since he conflict among fellow Black Christian. could become a priest. When he became a The actions done by Father Augustine priest in St. Joseph Church in Quincy, Tolton can be considered as avoidance as there were some changes for the condition the minority-group responses to of Black Catholics. Hemesath mentioned: discrimination done by Black Protestants Further evidence of amicable race relations is found in the existence Avoidance can be said as a way for dealing and growth of ’s Altar with discrimination, a way to leave one’s Society. The organization of forty- eight members had been founded problems behind (Parillo, 1985: 86). before the coming of Father Tolton. Keeping and maintaining the respects done Eventually the membership increased and consisted of eighty by Father Augustine Tolton is the black and white women. During its avoidance of the discrimination done by regular meeting the society worked effectively toward the material up Black Protestants so that the problem will keep of the parish. Through group not go further to be more complicated. interest and cooperation substantial sums were raised to help maintain Furthermore, the actions done by the church and school (2006: 171). Black Catholics as the way to struggle This condition can show that there were an against the racial discrimination gives increasing number of the members of Saint significant impacts for the existence of Joseph’s Altar Society. Altar Society is a Black Catholics in the United States. Here group of people who serve for preparing the impacts of the struggles can be clearly the altar for the mass. They have the duty seen from the actions done by Father for cleaning and preparing any kinds of Augustine Tolton as the representation of requirements for the mass. The members Black Catholics who struggle for getting here majority are women.8 Moreover, the the right for being a priest. existence of white women in this could become the indication that The Good Relation among White and the whites and the blacks were able to Black Catholics work together for serving the mass or The of Father Augustine Tolton gave the significant impact for the condition of Black Catholics, especially 8 Langlois, Ed. Parish Altar Societies Provide Quiet, Prayerful Service to God. Catholic Sentinel. for the Black Catholics in his parish, in 1 Jan 1999. Web. 19 May 2016.

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working together for the growth of the Inspiring Black Catholics to Keep parish itself. Struggling for Their Faith In general, the struggles of Father The death of Father Augustine Augustine Tolton after he was ordained as Tolton itself also gave the big impact to a priest give the good impact or positive the condition of the Church service. When impact toward the condition of Black the church services were reduced not like Catholics community. The good impact of when Father Augustine Tolton was still the Black Catholics community in St. alive, the Black Catholics in St. Monica’s Joseph’s Church or the parish where church of course got the difficulty for Father Tolton was assigned to lead had the attending the mass and doing the religious good relations among whites and black practice. Even the condition was difficult Catholics as the result of actions done by for them after the death of Father Father Tolton to handle his parish. The Augustine Tolton, the spirit of Father blacks Catholics can gather with the whites Tolton still alive with them. The struggle and it means that they can accept the of Father Augustine Tolton when he was whites in their black society also. These still alive and ministered this parish made kinds of condition reflect the positive the Black Catholics in this parish keep the impact from the struggle of Father Tolton. spirit was with them. Like what mentioned If related to the impact of prejudice and by Hemesath: racial discrimination according to Simpson Two years after the death of Father Tolton, members of Saint Monica’s and Yinger, one of the impacts is self- parish called a meeting to discuss the confidence and group identification has state of affairs and to formulate plans for action. First, they decided upon increased among Negroes. There have delegation to speak for them to the been some forces to encourage them to archbishop…In view of these conjectures members of the meeting take pride in their racial identity (1965: suggested that they try to get a priest 149). The situation is closely related since from the Josephite Society in Baltimore (2006: 226). Father Augustine Tolton as the black priest in the black Church had the confidence to The initiation of Black Catholics in accept the white Catholics in his parish Saint Monica’s Church to have a meeting and their attendance in his black Church discussing about the further condition of encouraged him to lead the black Church. their parish could show how they had the willingness for keeping their own church.

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They wanted to preserve the existence of Order of Foresters is the sign that the their own community and their own Black Black Catholics in this parish again make Catholics’ church and conducting the the initiation for making their community meeting for the discussion here is one of to be stronger. Like mentioned in the the real acts concerning about their church. quotation that they still have the spirit of Father Augustine Tolton and it means that The Establishment of Black Catholics they are inspired by the actions struggle Organizations from Father Tolton for their parish. The The spirit of Father Augustine actions for struggling are the starting point Tolton’s struggle not merely inspired the to acquire group identification. Black Catholics parish in Saint Monica’s church. There are some organizations The Raising Conflict from Black established as the result for the inspiration Protestants of Father Augustine Tolton. Hemesath Like mentioned in the previous mentioned: discussion, there was a problem with There are other reminders that ‘the Black Protestants while Father Tolton spirit’ of Father Tolton is marching.” became the priest in Black parish. Organizations dating from his day are living monuments to his Hemesath mentioned: leadership and influence. One of The wide publicity and munificent these is Ladies Catholic Benevolent praise which heralded the coming of Association (L.B.C.A), directed Father Tolton added fuel to the wrath today [1973] by Mrs. Mamie of certain Protestant church leaders. Saunders. … Two years after the They redoubled their efforts not only death of Father Tolton, the Women’s to save their own church members Catholic Order of Foresters from “Romanism”, but they also (W.C.O.F) was established with Mrs. made many efforts to lure Catholics Cora Spriggs as leader. This fraternal from the fold (2006: 182). society is still active today, and blazoned on its banner is: Augustine Father Tolton actions as a priest in his Tolton No. 391 (2006: 233). Black parish can give the good impact for The establishment of some the people of his parish but it can also organizations in Saint Monica’s parish make the other people like here Black after the death of Father Augustine Tolton Protestants not so happy. It made certain such as Ladies Catholic Benevolent Protestant church leaders became worried Association and also Women’s Catholic for the development of their own church.

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Here, they were afraid that they would find service at St. Joseph Church where Father the decreased number of their church Tolton was ministered made Father Weiss members. Somehow, luring Catholicism was unhappy. Here he showed the jealousy and made the sermons became more and feeling of unhappy. Those kind of attractive were done by them to attract feelings can be the sign that he still looked more Catholics people to their church down at Father Tolton as a black priest and denomination. he did not want to be competed with the black priest. The Jealousy from White Priest Like what mentioned in the previous Conclusion discussion that Father Weiss was jealous From analyzing the biographies to Father Tolton due to the fact that many entitled From Slave to Priest and They of his parish were attracted to attend Called Him Father Gus, the researcher Father Tolton mass. Bauer mentioned: concludes that the actions taken the Black But the worst hurt came when a new Catholics take were varied based on who pastor was assigned to St. Boniface they were struggling against from. The Church, who was also appointed as the or leader of the Quincy area researcher divides the actions for Catholic clergy. Father Michael struggling in three context, namely from Weiss arrived in Quincy in November of 1887. …He was Whites dominancy, from Catholic Church, unhappy about his parish and from the Black Protestants. From the maintaining the church building for the Negro parish, and he was Whites dominancy, actions like escaping especially unhappy because many of from slavery then starting a new life by his parishioners frequently attended services at St. Joseph Church (1990: getting a new job and enrolling the 25). children to school were the ways done by The condition shown by Bauer above Black Catholics. Next, from the Catholic clearly show how a white priest was not Church, the actions like being active in the happy with the existence of Father Tolton local tutoring for the priesthood education in the parish close to his own parish. Even were also done by Father Tolton as a Black they share the same job as a priest, the Catholic. Furthermore, the actions to white priest here did not see him as the overcome the discrimination against Black same priest with him. The fact that many Catholics can be seen from the Black of his parishioners liked to attend the Protestants context also. The actions like

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maintaining amicable and respectful References relations with all members of other Bauer, Roy. 1990. They Called Him religious groups could be considered as the Father Gus: The Life and Times of Augustine Tolton, First Black democratic way. Priest in the U.S.A. Hence, the struggles done by Black Cresswell, J.W. 2009. Research Design Catholics gave the big impacts not only for Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Apporaches. the condition of Black Catholics but California: Sage Publications Inc. Catholics in general. Some impacts of the Print struggle are, first, the existence of Father Davis, . 1990. The History of Black Catholics in the United Tolton as a priest gave the positive impacts States. New York: Crossroad. for his Black Catholics community since Print. there were many white people who had the Hemesath, Caroline. 2006. From Slave willingness to attend his mass. The To Priest, The Inspirational Story of Father Augustine Tolton. San existence of whites in his parish bridges a Fransisco: Ignatius Press. Print. good relation among blacks and whites McDowell, Tremaine. 1948. American Catholics. Besides, after the death of Studies. Minnesota: The University of Minnesota Press. Father Tolton, the black parish of his Print. church was inspired to keep struggle for Merideth, Robert. 1968. American their faith. Third, after the death of Father Studies Essay on Theory and Method. Miami: Charles E. Tolton, there were some establishments of Merrill Publishing. Print. Black Catholics’ organizations like Ladies Parillo, V.N. 1985. Strangers to These Catholic Benevolent Association and also Shores: Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States. Women’s Catholic Order of Foresters. In New York: Macmillan Publishing addition, there are also some negative Company. Print. impacts as the result of Father Tolton’s Pincus, F.L. & Ehrlich, H.J. 1994. Race struggle. With his role as a priest in Black and Ethnic Conflict. Colorado: Westview Press. Print. parish, here are some problem appear as Simpson, G.A. & Yinger, J.M. 1965. the impact of the struggle like the raising Racial and Cultural Minorities rd conflict from Black Protestants. Then, the (3 ed.). New York: Harper &Row Publishers. Print. other negative impact was about the Raboteau, A.J. “Black Catholics and jealousy from white priest to Father Afro-American Religious History: Tolton. Autobiographies Reflection.” U.S.

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Catholic Historian 5.1. (1986): 119-127. JSTOR. Web. 24 Oct. 2015.

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