Jewels from Jane, Sept. 5

J.M.J.
Hancock, Sept. 5th, 1865

Very Reverend Mother Superior,

It must seem very strange to you that I left your kind letter of July 4th so long unanswered; but upon perusing the following lines I hope you will excuse my long silence. I cannot deny that the content of your letter somewhat surprised me, as Bishop Baraga, relying himself on Father Menet's assertion, had assured me of the contrary, namely that upon application the Sisters would be sent immediately. But as Divine Providence has ordained otherwise, we must cheerfully submit and be thankful for the hope still held out to us; for I trust, I have by my long silence not yet forfeited the promise so kindly made by you.

But you will judge yourself!
There has been an Academy of the Ursuline Nuns in operation at Ontonagon (a place belonging to this diocese) for nearly three years; but of late, the business in that region having become rather dull, a serious fear was entertained that the boarding school would not be sufficiently supported any longer, and the Superiors of that institution seemed to be quite anxious to transfer the convent to this place as being more central and more stirring. Now as long as I entertained the hope of obtaining Sisters of your order I did not feel inclined to make my offers to that end; but when I received your letter, I reflected on the expediency of inviting the Ursulines to this place, if they were willing to immediately take charge of the day-school. Our Rt. Rev. Bishop was at that time going to Ontonagon to inspect the state of affairs there and I had to await his return before coming to a decision. Thus one week after an other escaped and only now I know that the establishment of the Ursulines will be continued to be kept at Ontonagon.

I hope this candid statement of the only cause that made me delay so long in answering you, will not give umbrage so as to make you reject my renewed request to provide us with Sisters of your order under the conditions and at the time mentioned in your letter. I would not have hesitated a moment to avail myself of your kind offer, had not the apparent probability or necessity of the Ursulines' removal to Hancock and the desire to procure religious teachers at the earliest date thus far biassed [sic]my mind as to make me wait for the Bishop's decision before giving you a definitive answer.

As for the various desires expressed in your letter, I promise you, Very Rev. Mother Superior, that I will do all in my power to have everything in readiness until next spring. The building of a new school house has been delaid [sic] so long because the difficulty of raising the necessary funds would have been materially lessened by the presence of the Sisters whose mere sight would encourage the congregation to make any sacrifice; for having been flattered so long with promises never fulfilled our people have almost given up the hope of seeing the education of their children entrusted to a religious community. But in spite of this discouragement we will with the assistance of God be able to prepare whatever is necessary for the first outset; as for the future I have not the least doubt that means will be abundant as soon as the fruits of your Sisters' pious labours will become visible.

Finally I beseech you not to retaliate, but to let me know as soon as convenient, whether you are still willing to send three Sisters early next spring, i.e. in the month of May, for then only the navigation opens in the Upper Lakes. On my part, I promise faithfully to wait and not to enter into negotiations with any other order.

Recommending myself to your prayers, I remain, Very Rev. Mother Superior,

Yours faithfully in [Christ]
Edward Jacker [Pastor at St. Anne Parish, Hancock, Michigan]

Letter to Mother St. John Facemaz