T/,e Dawn of a New Era
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exerting themselves to the same purpose without success. Timon, think- ing that definitive action would be taken soon, had sent Fathers Paquin and Chandy to Texas late in April. But when by June he had received no notice of Rome's decision in the matter, he became alarmed. In a letter to Etienne he pointed out that since Saint-Lazare, and not the recently established American Vincentian Province, had accepted the commission to revive the Church in Texas, Saint-Lazare was responsible for the expenses incurred. His trip to Texas to make a reconnaissance in company with Father Llebaria had cost almost three hundred dollars, and the expenses of the six-week tour of Paquin and Chandy had amounted to a similar figure. The American Province was yet too poor to stand such a drain on its meager resources. He informed Etienne that he would defer any more missionary journeys to Texas until new orders were issued and the corresponding funds were supplied. 56 Still another six months were to pass before a decision was made. Rome was pondering on the action to be taken-whether a prefecture, a vicariate, or a bishopric full grown-should be established. Timon himself in his first report had suggested establishing a bishopric for the Texas mission, but without an incumbent and administered tem- porarily by Bishop Blanc from New Orleans. Bishop Blanc had urged at the same time that the Sacred Congregation de Propaganda Fide establish a prefecture apostolic at the earliest possible moment with Timon as its head. In the meantime, Bishop Simon Brute of Vincennes, who had taken considerable interest in the Texas venture and had a high regard for Timon, wrote Bishop Blanc in his characteristically bold manner that the solution of the Texas problem was the erection of a bishopric with Timon in charge. Rome should act at once and supply Timon with the necessary funds, no matter the cost. If not a bishopric, at least a vicariate should be erected, he contended. To wait on the pleasure of the Bishop of Monterrey would ruin everything. Although Bishop Brute continued to take an ardent interest in the matter until the time of his death in June, 1839, it is doubtful that he had so much influence as his biographer implies in the ultimate organization of and the policy adopted in regard to the Church in Texas. 57 A third and more pretentious proposal was made by a Catholic layman, Colonel Henry Daingerfield, a follower of Lamar, who had been mayor 56 Timon to Etienne, June I 5, I 839, C. A. T. 57 C/. Sister M. Salesia Godecker, Simon BruJI dt1 Remur, First Bi.shop of Vin- cen,us,
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