St. Francis Catholic Church

Cornerstone of St. Francis Found, Natchitoches Parish Louisiana

Source: Natchitoches Enterprise Nov 29, 1894
Submitted by: Kay Thompson Brown

CORNERSTONE OF ST. FRANCIS FOUND

Quite an interesting relic was found by Marshall J. V. Anderson of last Friday. While supervising the work of some men who are excavating and removing the brick from he ruins of the former Catholic church of St. Francis, just at the rear of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, for use on the streets, Dr. Anderson found the cornerstone of St. Francis as a depth of about three feet in the ground. Attached to the block of stone which is about three feet in length was a lead tablet bearing the following inscription, written in Latin and repeated in the French language which was used in Natchitoches at that time, 98 years ago.

D.O.M

In the year of our Lord, 1826, and of the Republic of the United States, fifty years. John Quincy Adams, President; I. W. V. DuBourg, Bishop of New Orleans." Trustees: J. Carr, President; P. bossier; Charles Pavie; N. Prudhomme; B. Buard." "I. Cortes, Civil Nathchitoches Prefect (Mayor), Henry Johnson, Governor of Louisiana." Between the two inscriptions is the follwing: "May 26th this edifice was consecrated and dedicated to St. Francis."

This building was erected before the diocese of Natchitoches now that of Alexandria was created hence was under the supervision of the bishop of New Orleans. It is worthy of note that the men named as trustees have many descendants living in this city or state bearing their family names.