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OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN OREGON DURING THE PAST FORTY YEARS. (1838-1878) ThESK SKKTCHES originally APrEABEl) IV TlIK P(»KTLAM). OrKGON, "L'aIHOI.U; SkNTISEI." in 1878. ThKY were 8UB8K(|IENTI.Y I'lHI.ISHED IN BOOK KOKM. This second epition has hken cokkecikd by the avtiior, the momt Rev. Francis Nohbkkt Blan«iikt, 1). 1).. kihst Aiuiibishop <.f Oregon, bekork his dkath, whk ii occfuuEi) june 18th 188:1 SXSTOS t. (published febrdaby 7th 1H78. ) THE history of the Catholic Chun h— even in the most remote ren;ioiis wluTf its be- nign influence is feU — possss-sew «:nat iuirrest not only for those who belong to --ilie house- hold of the FHith" but, moreover, to c\ .ryonc interested in the history of civiliziitinii iind Christianity. Nations have their reli<.nous historical aspect as well as those bt^iter known and more studied chapters pertaiiiiiijf m wocu- lar advancement, yet, wliil.«t historians luve to record the triumphs which mark the pathway of the pioneers of the forest, they are very reticent rewarding the labor, the trial." and the heroism displayed by tlie pioneers of the Cross. Yet these heroes of heaven-born Kailh — armed with no weapon save ihe sijiii of man's re- demption, and bearing aloft the standard of Christianity — penetrated into the remotest re- cesses of Ihe earth, guided by the unerring voice of God wlio calls tl.em to take up their cross and follow Him. until His precepts be- come known tLroiigliotit the world even "from tlie risking of the sun until the going down of the same." It is our pleasant duty, then, to place before our readers a few glimpses of the IoiIm and trials which the pioneers of the Cross endured in their early struggles to plant the seeds <»f t'iiristiauity in the great Northwest, ami in doing so we feel that every Catholic who per- Uf^es these sketches will treasure in his heart a ;.r.iieful remembrance for those whose names will he inscribed in the niche of immortality so deservedly accorded by faithful Catholics to the apostles of the Cross. The world has its heroes, but to the mis- sionaries of the everlasting Gospel must be as- signed H far higher ghiry, because they are the herahls of a King whose footstool is the uni- v»r-e ! It is in His service that deeds of he- roism are performed which make all worldly actions pale into utter insignificance. The reason is obvious : the hero of the world dis- plays hi" valor for earthly glory alone, whilst the missionary (f the Cross is animated by the highest and holiest aspirations that can illu- mine the soul — the hope of enjoying with Got! the eternal reward promised to those who scat- ter the seeds of Faith among the tribes and peoples who are without the knowledge of the true God. This, then, was the high and ennobling mis- sion III which the pioneers of the Cross in Oregon engaged when they undertook to cross the almost trackless plains which then separ- ated the Atlantic from tie Pacitic, and, as we follow them through ti.eir long and arduoua journey, let us not forget to chant a requietn over the graves of those who have passed to their reward, whilst we accord to those who are stil) eugaged in God's siprvice tliat homage so justly accorded to venerable age, holincsti of office, ai>d sanctity of life. HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THK The Fiust Catholics <'k Oregon. W'lieu the renownedJesuit missumary auil Ma.wqnent martyr to the Faith— Father I»nao .lojrufs— first j.lnuted the seetisof Faith nnioiir in 1810. and ihat of Capt. Hunt in 1811. In Astor's ex- iH-dition there were thirteen Canadians nearly all of whom were Catholics, and m..i»y of these i.i...ieers afterwards settled in the Willametie (ori'nal-v called Wallamette) valley where in 18:58 still reshled Mici.ael La Framboise, Stc- phiMi Lucier, Louis Labont^ and Joseph Ger- viiis. Capt. Hunt's expedition havin erected that year. He w:«s one of "nature's noblemen" in every spin re of life. Of commanding presence, strict integritv, sound juilginent. and correct prin- ciples of justice, no man was better qualified for the positimi he occupied as the father and friend of both the Indians and the whiles who then jointly occupied the Pacific Northwest. Dr. ivi' Lan^jhlin was the arbiter to whom both whites and 'ndiaiis looked for the settlement ol their differences, and the friend from whom thev sought relief in all their difficulties. His ashes test lieiicatli the shadow of the cathedral cross of Oivgon City, where he died in 1857. He was originally a member of the Ang!i<:au dinrili. I III wasconvertedby archbishop Blan- ch I in 1«1-', and was ever afterwards a most exi mpl.iry Catholic. May his soul rest in peace. I'niler the impartial supervision of this good and great niiui the business of the Hudson Bay Co. prospered amazingly; he preserved peace between the Indians and the employees of the company, and established twenty-eight trading jxwts d);riog the fourteen years he presided ovci- the iiflairs of the corporation he so ably represented. Under Dr. McLaughlin's di- rection a number of the e;nployees of the com- pa'iv, whose term of service had expire* were sr jplied with provisions and farming utensils to enable them to settle in that portion of the Willamette valley, wliich has since been known as French Prairie, and which afterwards be- ca;iK! the nucleus of a large and prosperous Catholic settlement. He also extended assist- ance to every immigrant whose necessities 'e- Catholic Church in Obkoum. 1 qiilreil it, ADd hiH good deeds have enxhrlued liiit iiHiue amidst tiie most honored of the pi- oiitt-rs of the Pacific coast. Ill 1834 the first wa' e of iminigriuioo reaeh- «-il the shores of Oregon. These cuiuprised a iiumlierof Methodist miniMers sent out hv the BiiHnl of Foreign Missions. In 1836aiiiim- her uf Presbyterian mitiistersarrived, and the t'ullowing year a second insiulmen' of Method- iiil preachers were sent thither in order to lielp Die iirsi under the ostensible purpose of set-u- riii^ souls for the Lord's vineyard, but in re- ality to secure large tracts of land, liir^'c bauds of cattle, and to eularge their numurotis com- mercial speculations. Again in IM88 the I'resby terian missionaries were re-inforced. so that, prior to the arrival of a Catholic mission- ary in Oregon, the sects were repreficnted by twenty-nine rc'rular preachers bebulcs a uu- iiu-ruus retinue of agents, colporters. and other members — male and female. Tliene forces were pretty well scattered over the country, the Methodists having esiablishments south of the French Prairie, in Marion county, and also at the Dalles, in Wasco county. The Pres- byterians were located at Wailatpu, on the Walla Walla river, among a portion of tlie Ciiyiise Indians, and also at Lapwai, on the 4 'learwater. Besides these, Mr. Heaver rep- resented the Anglican church at Vancouver, n.x chaplain of the Hudson Bay Co., so ilutt I lie missionary Held was well occiipiod prior lo ihu advent cf a Catholic priest, and it is well to understand the situation so that the reader may brHer realize the ainouut of opposition which uie pioneer missionaries of the Catholic Church had to encounter in their eiforls to plant the Cross in Oregon. Let us now pause for a while in our career iifier the cross-bet.. ors of the west, whilst we leiini from coiitemporiiry evidence the manner i I which the sectarian missionaries preached thvi Gospel to the Indians whom they came to convert. Tiie first Protestant missionaries left the eastern states amidst great e<;lat, under the iiiijiressiou that they were going to the Flat- iiciul Indians for the purpose of having them t\\\i\ all adjacent tribes take up the Bible as ihi'ir rule of faith. But, after a very brief tri- al, these gentlemen found the situation not so congenial as they anticipated, and they aban- doned the Flalheads to their perfidious fate. Mr. Tow nshend, w hose work on the Rocky Mountains is our authority on this point, says that when he traveled a few days in the com- pany of these "missioiiHries," he soon discov- ered that their object in going west was not so much for the purpose of spreading Christianity among the Indians as it was "for the gratifi- cation of '•eeing a n not very flattering testimony for the success of Protestant i>ropagaiidist8 coming from a I'loiestant source ; bnt "let the truth be Kdd though the heavens fall" was evidently a prac- ili-al maxim in the mind of the Methodist Epis- , opal bishop we have quoted. Nor need we \\onder that missionaries who traded in horse fl.»!i luid town bus, and who had "oallle on n thovsanil hilN ' should become 'odioii-*" to lh« sellhrs around them, whilst the Indians in- stead of seeking the light of the Gospel as eniin- cialed by these holy horse-tragtle — 'Follow peace with all men.' (Heb. xfl. 14.) Catholic Church in Ohkoi. fi "lu rRvUfwiiiK the hiittorv of the Mcttleri* of Oreguii, hII thid will up|H*ar by i heir own show- iiiKtolieiit th« Suve e««tubliMh«>);<>n could \>c nh'tiii withoutMoine notieuof the Wil- luniette Hettienient, and ceituinlv no true hIu- tenient of uffuirtt there can Ite gi^en witliout thewi facts t>«liiK referred to. In their nettlc- nienUt at Okana(al »t ;ntion, at Lieut. Wiliiei* tet*- titleM, tHdevotot' /aKricnlture, buton tlie Wil- lamette they » ': into political aKi-hti* and would-be legl?' •>«. TIiIh the '>i«tory tif th • .s(^>ttlenient will nulflciently evidence." • "From this beKinniiiK the colony lucre; «■• ! till when Lieutenant WiiiieH viHlted it in 1 P it counted sixty families, who, he »a.\ h, c. .. Minted of American iniHaionarieH, trappe.M, and ( 'itnadlans, wlio were formerly servants of tlie lludcon's Bay Co.; and that the origin of llie settlement has l)een fairly stated, ni.iy t>e gutii- ereeen made to me, not to tiiid the settlement in a greater state of fttrwanlness, (considering (lie advi'.ntages the mijsionaritN have had;' — tlius making tlie prosperity and advaiiceiiieiit of the settlement depend in a great iiieaMun-. if not eniirely, upr:i them: but that tlieir in.s- sionary intentions have merged, in a great measui-e, inotliersmon '(»ely connected with t'oae and <;oiiifort, Iss more plainly evid- enced by the followinj. count given oy him uf tlie Wesleyi ii Mlssl • there: 'Tie land-t of the Metli(>di>uteight uiles bey .md tlie Catuolic Mis- si( I asoutheiii diiXHJtion. Tlieir tteid-t are well enclosed, and we p.wsed a large one of wheat which we undji-stjwd was half s»wn by ilie last year's crop which had leen lost thro' neglect. Tlie crop so lost amounted to nearly a thousand bushels, and it is su|jp.isc>d that this year's crop will yield tweiity-iive bushels to ihe aero. About all the iireiiiises of this mis- sion there wap an evident want of the atten- tion rec^uired to keep thlng.s in repair, and an alisenceof neatness that I regretted much to witne.ss. We had the expectation of getting a sight of the Indians, on wlioiii they were in- culcating good habits and te.iching the word of God, but, V th the exception of four Indian servants, we saw none since leaving the Catli- olic Mission. 0;i inquiring 1 was in.'jrraed that they had a »igl>lH>rli'>'>il, and ti attlu-ir intoiiiioti .iid priiici|Mkl l.upc was to estaltUsh a colony, ami by t heii «-.\ample to inducw white seitleis t.> locate neir iliein, over whom they iiisied lo e*erii«> a inirul and religious inliiieiice.' " "At theiiiills, which were badlysituatt d and managed, he saw twenty lay inemliers of the Misflioii under the charge of a principal, and abotii. tweiity-flve Indian lioys, who, he was told, were not in a condition to 1m* visiicd or iiisiiected. Tlu-y were nearly grown up, ratrged ami half clotheil, and lounging about underthe ^ triv-s. He might well adil, "riieirappearaiict' , Maiiytiiingl)UtMallsfuctory,and I must own : was greatly disapiMiinti'd, for I had Iteen led lo . xiM-ct that order ami neatness at least (he could mMn-ely liave expected Ivan) would have be»'n fouiiil animiir them. muMiih'rin;/ tlie utrrnxj v' f'onrof inis! iiiDiiritsi luiniiiil lu II . From theniim- ^ iter of iH-rHiins alH>ut the premises tills Ultle « spot wore the air and stir of a newaeculu ' set- * tleineiit. It was intended (o Ite the home and <,^ i(H-a(l(>n of (be nii&sion, and the niiMsionaries ^ had niudc individual sihctitniK of lands to thea- mountofor.x thousand acicseach, in proHpeci of the whole country falling under the Amer- ica)! domiiiioii. Hohllng tlicse \W\\k and with such interests to incite them, it is not surprising to tlnd these mis-sionaries among the first to excite |>olitical changes, and to introduce the eonse«|ueut dis- cussions and dissensions." Such is ihe character of the work inuugu- rated by nii-ssionaries who left the Atlantic slope under tlic liallucinatiou tliat tliey were called to preach sal vat ion to i!:ose that sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, but whose trading propensities overcame tlie'r re- ligious zeal, until finally the cause ofChrio'- anity was wrecked on the shoals of self-ag- gradizeraeui. The foregoing extracts, taken entn.ly 'rom impartial Protestant sources, will give iji" ^n- eral reader a very lucid view of the "severe trials" whicli the early Protestant mi.ssionariea underwent in their so-called ^'missionary la- bor" in Oregon, but we have, by no meau^, exhausted the evidence extaut on that score, as Hon. Alexander Simpson, in his work en- titled "The Oregon Territory" tells us, iu al- lusion to the Methodist and Catholic missions in the Willamette valley, that "the latter con- ^ HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP THB sisted of about one hundred families, a very regular congregation, ministered 1o by Mgr. Blanchet, a most estimitble and indefatigable priest of the Roman Catholic faith," whilst the Methodist Mission, he adds, consisted of /our families : a clergyman, a surgeon, a school- master and an agriculturnl overseer." Evi- dently the temporal welfare of the well-fed Protestant missionaries was far more iniport- aut in their own estimation than any spiritual comforts which they pretended to extend to the Indians. (published FEBRUARY 21 ST 1878.) Origin of the Canadian Mission in Oregon, BEFORE THAT OF THE FlATHEADS. ■TPN the mean time the Canadians who had set- '1 tied in the Willamette valley began to pine for the presence of a priest in their midst. The nearest bishop to whom they could apply was the venerable prelate of Bed River; they sent him two petitions, one dated July :}rd 1834, and the other February 23rd 1835, earnestly praying for some priests. In answering tliem, July 8111 1835, the bishop, addressing the gov- ernor, requests him to deliver them his letter. Those documents are too precious and too inte- resting to be omitted, therefore we insert them. The Bishop of Juliopolis to Dk. John McLauohlin. Red Klvei-,June()th 1835. To Dr. J. McLaughlin. Hir: I iuive rect'ived last winter and this suriMg a wtitioM from certain free families set- tled on the Willamette river, requcstiuit that inis-'iormrii'si be sent to ir.struct tlielr children •111(1 lheMi-*elve«. My Intention Is to «lo all 1 c m to grant them their rerjuest us soon as pos- sible 1 have no priest disposable at Red River, but 1 am g:)lng this year to Euro|)e, and I will en procure those fi-ee people and the Indi ins afterwards, the means of knowing Go.l 1 send togi'ther with this letter an an- swer to the petition which I have rece'ved; I re(i'i«--< von to delivei- It to them; I add some eateiiiisins which might l»e useful to those peo- ple. If there is any one among them thit cm read. Tiiose people say they are protected by you. I'lease Indnr-e them to do their best, and to (k'scive liy giwid behavior, to derive benettt from the f.ivor they Implore. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your most humble servant, ^ J. N. Provencher, Bishop of Juliopolis. The Bishop ok Juliopoms to all the families SETTLED IN THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY AND OTHER CATHOLICS BEYO ^ D THE Rocky Mountains, Greeting: — I have received, most beloved brethren, your two |)etition8, one dated July 3d 1834, and the other February 2Hd 1835. Both call for mis- sionaries to instruct your children and your- se'.v.s. Such a r.quest from persons deprlvetl of all religious attendance, could not fall to touch my heart, and if it was In my power, I would send you some this very year. But I have no priest disposable at Red River; they must be obtained from Canada or elsewhere, which requTes tlmo. I will make It my bus inesa in a jiuirney which 1 am going to make this .year in Canada and in Europe. If I sue- fi din my efforts, 1 will soon send you some lie In. Mvlntcntion Is not to procure the knowledge of God to you and vour children only, but also to the nunieious Indian tribes among which you live. I exhort you meanwhile to deserve, by a >f ood l)ehavlor, that Got! may bless my un- dertakiug. R use your children the best way vou can. Teach them what you know of re- ligion. But remember, my dear brethren, that ihe proper means of procuring to your children and your wives some notion of God and the re- ligion vou profess, is to >{lve them good exam- ple, by a life moderate and exempt from the great disorders which exist among the Chris- tians l)evond the niouotaiiiH. What idea do you give"«»f God and of the ; c-llgion you profess, to the Indians esiwclaHy, who see in you, who are calling yourselves the servants of t hat great God, dlsfirders which etiual, and perhaps sur- pass their own? Yon thereby prejudice them uyalnst our holy religion which you violate. When this same religion, which condemns all crime, shall ite preached to them, the Indiana will object the wicked conduct of those who profess it as a protest not to embrace it. On receiving thl« letter which apprizes you that probably you will soon receive the priest whom you seem to pray for earnestly, renounce then at «)nce sin; l)egin to lead a life more conform- able to your belief. In order that, when tha mlsslunarieti will arrive among you, they wiU c5UJ ^. ^, Catholic Church in Orkgon. — «— ^,^»^ \i iZji^ ,<^-u^>^, ^f^~f find you dispdeed to avail yourselves of the in- structions and other religious assititance which they shall brin^ you. 1 wiub God niaj' touch your hearts and change them. My greatest consolation would be to loam hereafter that as soon as this letter was read to you, you be- gan to pay a little more attention to the great affair or your salvation. Given at St. Boniface of Red R!ver, on the Sthday of June 1835. ^ J. N. Provencheb, Bishop of Juliopolis. Demand or a Passage for two Priests. The only aieansofcounnunication from Can- ada to Oregon being in the hands of the Hud- son Bay Co., by scndiug every year a unmber of canoes laden with goods and conducted by a number of Canadian voyageurs, the bishop of Juliopolis made an application for the pas^iH^^e of two priests in one of the cauoes to Oregon, with the design of forming an establishmeut in the Willamette valley. To this last point the Governor and Committee in London objected, but would grant a passage on the condition that the priests would form their establishment on the Cowlitz river. The bisliop of Juliopolis having complied with the suggestion, Sir Geo. Simpson wrote to the archbishop of Q;iebcc, that if the two priests would be ready at La- chine to embark for the interior about the 25th of April, a passage would be aflPorded them. The following is the correspondence on the subject : — LkttebofSih OkoroeSimp^ox, (!ov- KRNOR OF THE HirDSt)>? BaY Co. IS THE Interior, to his Lordship the Akch- RI8HOP OF QUEHEC. Hudson's Bay House, London, Feb. 17th 1838. "My Lord: 1 yesterday had the honor of re(soiviim a letter fioiii the iji^hopof Juiio|)olis, dattd Red River, Octolier 13th, 1837, wherein I am requested to oininunicate with your Lofilsliip.on t he snliject of sending two priests to tlio Colundtia river for tlie purpoeeof estab- It ;l;iiiu' a Catholic Misalon In that part of the countiy. "VVlien tlie liirflirn) first mentioned this sub- ject. Ills view WHS to fiirni the Mission on the banks of the Willamette, a river falling in the Columliia from the south. To the establish- ing of a Mission there, the Governor ii ml (.*( in- niittee in London, and the Council in Ili.d- son's Bay, had a decided ol.jiction, as the so- vereignty of tliat country is ^till undeeidewariis the successful accomplishment of the object in view us would not involve any gre-Jt inconvenience or expense to the Co's service. "By the letter received yesterday, already ulludetl to, the bishop enters fully into my views, and express*^ his willifigness to fall in \\ ith my suggestions. That letter I have laid before the Goveriior and Committee, and am now instructed to intiunite to yv>nr Lordship that if the priests will be ready at Lacbine to embarli for the interior about the 25th of April, a pass:ige will l>e afforded them, and on arrival at Fort ViiiKouver measures will !« taken by the Co's representative there to facilitate the establishing of the Mi^sioll, and the carrying Into effect the olgetls thereof generally. I have the honor to be, my Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient servant, Geo. Simpson. Appointment of Missionaries. The archbishop of Quebec had no sooner received the foregoing letter than he immedi- ately gave the charge of the Mission of Ore- gon to Rev. Francis Norbert Blanchet, then curi dea Vedres, district of Montreal, by send- ing him letters of Vicar General under the date of April 17th 1838, and instructions bear- ing the same date. His companion. Rev. Mo- deste Demers, who was already at Red River, was to be named by the bishop of Juliopolis. The.se instructions were as follows: — Instructions oivkn to V'ery Rev. F. N. BliANCHBT and REV. M. DEMEBS, AP- POINTED Mission ARIF.8 for that part OF THE Diocese op Quebec WHirn is SITUATED BETWEEN THE PACIFICOCKAN AND THE ROCKV MOUNTAINS. 31 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THB April 17tb 1838. My Rev. Fathers. You must connider as the first ohject of your Mission to withdraw from barbarity and I he disorders which it produces, the Indians scat- tered in that country. Yourseciuid oiilet-t is, to tender your services to tlie wicked Christians who have adopUni there the vices of Indians, and live in licen- tiousness and the forgetfulnessof their duties. Persuaded that tlie preaching of the Gospel is the surest means «>f obtaining these happy results, you will lose no opportunity of incul- cating its principles and maxims, either in your private conversations or public instiuc- tions. . ... In order to make yourselves sooner useful to the natives of the country where you are sent, vou will apply vourselves, as soon as you ai- rive, to the study of the Indian languages, and will endeavor to reduce them to regular prin- ciples, so as to be able to publish a grammar after some years of residence there. You will prepare for baptism, with all pos- sible expediticiu, the infidel women who live ill concubinage with Christians, in oruer to substitute lawful marriages for these irregular ui'l'^ns. . ^ , .,1. , , You will take a particular care of the Christ- ian education of children, establishing for that purpose, schools and catechism classes in all the villages which you will have the occasion to visit. ... .. . . In all the places remarkable eillier lor then- iiosition or the passage of the voyagers, or the fathering of Indians, you will plant cnwses, «o as to take possession of those various places in the name of the Catholic religion. * * * Given at Quelicc ou the 17th of April, 1838. ^ Joseph Sign AY, Bishop of Qiiclec. (published FEBRUARY 28th 1878.) Journey of the Mie^ioNARiES from Lachimb to Fort Vancouvkr. t CCOMPANIED by chief trader Har-jrave, \ Vicar General F. N. Blanchet embarked hi one of the light bark canoes carrying the express of ll\e Hudson Bay Company, leaving Montreal on Thursday, May :3rd 1838, reach- ing Fort Vancouver on the 24th of the follow- ing November. The journey from La^Mne to Red River (2,100 niili's) was' made in caii.-"'8, with occasional portages, in thirty-three days. The journey from Red River to the Rocky Mountains (2,025 miles) occupied eighty-four days, including detentions. The river route was made in eleven light barges and the land trip — occupying five day 8 — was made on horse- back Horses were also used in making the tedious trip across the Rocky Mountains, from Jasper's House to Boat Encami)inent or Big Bend on the Coluuibia river. This trip occu- pied nine days, a band of seventy-two horses being provided for the use of the company. It took six days to make the ascent on the East- i-rn slope, and three days to descend to the plains on the Pacific side, but the missionaries were well repaid for tlie toils they underwent in the gramleur of the scenery that surrounded thei.i at every step. The remainder of the journey, from Big Bend to Fort Vancouver (about 1.200 miles) was made in light boats down the Columbia river. Vicar General Blanchet, having passed 35 days at Red River, took his departure in com- pany .vith Rev. Modeste Demerson July 10th, slopping en route at Norway House and Forts Constant, Cumberland, ('arleton, Pitt and Ed- innudton on the Saskatchewan, and Fort As- siniboine and Jasper's House on the Athabaska river. During this journey the missionaries baptized one hundred and twenty-two on the Eastern slope aud fifty-three on the Western. After passing the snmniit of the Rocky Moun- tains the missionaries stopped at the House of the L ' "S and Forts Colville, O'Kauagan, and Walla Walla, at each of which immense crowds of Indians af sembled in order to behold the Black-gowns whose presence they so long waited lor. During this long and tedious trip the missionaries had the happiness of cele- brating Mass and delivering an instruction every Sunday, and ou every day at which they sojourned at the Forts on their route. By this means the consolations of our holy religion were bestowed on many Catholics who for years had been strangers to the presence of a |iriest. MN m Catholic Cbvbch im Orkoon. 9 GONBBCKATION OP THB RoCKT MoCNTAINS TO God. , FmsT Mass m Oregon. As the summit of the Rocky Mountaius was to be reached and crosBed ou Wednesday the 10th of October, the missionaries thought it iiicunibeut upon them to celebrate Mass, and pronounce the glorious words whiclj make the God-man descend upon earth, in thanksgiving for God's protection and favors, and to con- ecrate, in a special manner, to their Author these sublime Rocky Mountains which by their •rrandeur and sublimity seem anxious to cor- rejipond to the invitation of Holy Scripttire : >'0 ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord ; praise and exalt Him aboi^e all forever. "(Dan. iii. 15.) The country or region of the Rm-ky Mountains appeared as a vasl^ sea of number- less isolated high mountains, and abrupt peakf of all shapes, where the eye of the traveler fan- cies seeing here and there perfect t(»wers, beau- tiful turrets, strong castles, walls and fortifica- tions of all kinds ; as well as barren heights which forms the base of higher hills and moun- tains raising majestically their lofty heads to heaven. Magnificent indeed is the spectacle displayed before the eyes of the voyagers in •he greatness of the gigantic nature where the hand of the Eternal was pleased to retrace the image of His creative power. Early on that day therefore, at 8 a. m. the vicar general cele- brated the holy sacrifice of the Mass, to con- secrate to their Creator these mountaius and abrupt peaks whose prodigious heiglils ascend towards heaven to celebrate in such beautiful language the praise of the Almighty. It was ou Saturday, the 13 of October, a day dedicated to the Immaculate Mother of God, that, being at the western foot of the most lofty mountains, the two missionaries began to tread beueath their feet the long-desired land of Or- egon; that portion of the vineyard alloted them for cultivation. Filled with joy they retired a short distance from the place where the car- avan was resting oo the bosom of a beautiful prairie, aud there fell ou their knees, embraced the soil, took possession of it, dedicated aud oousecraled their persons, soul and body, tu whatever God would be pleased to require of them for the glory of His holy Name, the prop- agRtion of His kingdom and the fulfillment of His will. The caravan joyfully reached Big Bend towards the evening. The fact of find- ing there but t wo boats insieud of four required, grcntly checked the joy of all. The captain of the expedition decided that one thii*d of the parly should remain until the rest having reached the House of the Lakes one ox the boats would return to their relief. The following day (Oct. 14lh 1888) being Sunday, it was on that day that the holy sac- rifice of the Mass was offered for the first time in Oregon at Big Bend, ou the banks of the dangerous and perilous Columbia. At this greflt act of religion, performed by Rev. M. Demers, the two missioimries being much moved, consecrated themselves to the Queen of angels, imploring her special protection for the rest of the voyage. The boats being laden and reav an Indian express had also arrived with pro- visions ; there were then two good boats. All being ready and the missionaries biddingadieu to the good Indians of the lakes, the caravan left ou November Srd the House of the Lakes, Catholic Church in Oukoon. 11 where llie Irtst ten days of sojoiirniog h\f\ been go sorrowful, and reached Colville on ih'* 6ih. Tin; exiiress boat had aniioiinfed the ooiniii-j; of lln! /Iinrkgowni.; the news had spread like lij^htuiii^, hence the gathering there of the chief* i)f fi.e uationa. As soon ii ; they !*aw the hoiilft coining they riisbed lo the shore and placing themselves in file, men, women and children, they begged to tone!) tlie hands of the priests, which ceremou took a ioiig time. A large house having been placed at their disoo- sal, they nsed it to assemble the Indians in, and g »ve them all the instrnction they could, during the short time of four days they ent Rt this ]U)st. Having baptized nineteen persons and cele- brated Mass before the chiefs ".nd the-- people, who assisted at the sacred mysteries as if i 1- rcady fervent Christians, the missionaries left Colville on November the 10th and reached Fort G Kanagan on the I3lh, after having j)a8sed through many dangerous rat)i«n on No- vember 14th, they readied Fort Walla V/uIIh (now Wallula^ on Sunday morning, the IHih. During the twenly-iour hours they remained at this post they had three baptisms, celebrated one Mass, and were visited by the Walla Walla andCayuse India. :s, who, liaving heitrd liy the express of the coo'ing of the priests, hail come to see and hear them on their passage, not- withslai.ding the contrary orders of the Head of the Wailalpu mission. Holy Mass was cele- brated before the Indians, who assisted at it struck with amiizeineut. In so short a time the priests could give them btii a short explan- ation of tlie most necessary iru'hs of salvation. As this is the closing chapter descriptive of the (rip (.-f ihe missionaries across the plains, ;»n(i as our recital liereafier will be iniiinly ih'voled to events and incidents which trans- pired during the residence (;rthe missionaries in the Northwest, we think it desirable to iii- .>o't the following interesting letter of his Grace Most Rev. Francis Norbert lilanchet, then vicar get. eral, to tlie archbishop of Quebec, desc-ribing in detail the daily incidents of the journey across the plains and the arrival of the missioiuiries at V'aucouvt r. LiCTTKROF VICAR OKNKH.AI, BlA.NCHET T()HIsL()l!I>8HIPj<)SEI'H8mNAY,AHCH- Bti^IlOI' OK QUKHKf, r y< ur Hock. I willliegin with an account of my trip from Lacbine to Ileil River (St Boniface"), where I had to stop to receive the orders of Mgr. Pro- vencher, bishop of Julio| olis, and to take along Rev. M. Demeis, my traveling companion, al- •^jady therefor a >ear. I left Montreal, Thurs- ■ v 'May 3rd 18S3. The 700 leagues from that y to Red River were travele'8 canoes, c«ra- matided by Mr. Hargrave, chief trader. The loaded catn es which st^irtefl some days after the light ones, with a number of families, ar- rived three wieks af'ev. Everyone knows liow dangerous this mode of traveling is. Tosi>end daysand often nights in an uneomfoi table position; to undergo the Inclemency of seasons, the gusts of wind and the torrential rains; to run down numberlesa rapids at the peril of one's life; or to travel ou u Historical Skktches of the foot long portages thmujrh forests, rooks ami ponds; to «)an'p "Ut in cold and damp plat-es; to devour In haste a scanty meal, badly prepai-ed; to stop at the different posts, inhabited by white people and visitetl by Indians, for the administiation of tlie sacrament**, tlie visitri- tion of tliesicit and tlie exhortalion of jKior sinners; such was, my Lord, the life of the mis- sionaries on their way to the far West. For eiKlJt days we went up, Mr. Hargrave and I, tlie Ottawa river. We left It and went up anotlier river to its source. That took us a whole dav. After that came a ponage, tLree miles ill length, where Is the summit of the lan<' - dividing the waters of tlie Ottawa from thone fliwlnginto lake Nipisslng. At the end of the iMirtage, we came down a little river in one day. We were then on lake Niplssing, which we crossed in twenty-four hours. Alter a sliort portage, we began to go down French river tlirough which the lake discharges its waters into lake Huron; that also took us a whole day. The crossing of lake Huron to Sault 8te. Marie, took us three days. From thence to Fort William on lake Suiierior, six days and a half. Leaving lake yuperior, we astinded, for three days, the Timlnistigouia river up to a portage nine miles long, wliicli is the height of lands, and divides the waters running into lake Superior from those ttowing into lake Winnipeg, and thence into the Hutl- sonBay. After that long maid we embarked, "near ito source, on the river IJes Embarrux, which flows into the Milk Imcs. We crossed the latter and also lake La I'luie liefore reach- iiic tlie Fort of the same ninne. Our journey from the height of lands t<> this post had la aed live days. It took us ihi-ee da\8 to go down the river La I'luk, two days lo iiross liike Des £o/s. thri-edayslogodown the \Vinuip.g,<.ne dav to cross lake Winiili>ej.', and another d-y to 'ascend Red river up to Kt. B<>nif..ce, the residence of the bishop of Juliopolis. Our Canadian and Iroiiuols traveling com- panions were exhausted. Itwasthesamewlth Mr Hargrave and myself, and that for good reisons; for, very often, we would leave our camp at one in the morning, and encamp only at about 7 or 8 in the tvcning. Many times we were exposeil to great dangers, in the mid- dle of lake-s or in coming down or going up rapids. Tlie current used to set adrift our ca- n'ot-on liidden n.cks, and .nceouri'miill bark canoo was nearly daslieil to plec«^s on »»ne re;.'on. Rev. Poire, missionary in the White Horse Prairk, came two days after. Rev. Belcourt returned from his mission <»u the 14th. On the 18th Rev. Poire left to ac- company a caravan of 800 or 900 wagons on a buffalo hunt. It was after his return that this geiiileman went to Canada with Mr. Belcourt. Rev. Mayrand arrived on the 22nd. It is easier lrers in the vineyard of the Lord. This was the most nu- merous gathering of priests ever witnessed by the inhabitants of these remote regions. The mustard-seed was beginning to appear as a vi- gorous tree, already shadowing a multitude of souls draw n from the darkness of idolatry and tninsplanted in the kintrdom of God ; precious fruits of tl e evangelical zeal animatinK these missionaries. Hajipy the prognostics of a still richer harvest to be gathered. Having spent five weeks in v.iiitingall the missions of Red river, we started. Rev. Demers and I, on the 10th of July for our destination, after having sang a high Mass in honor of St. Ann to ask from God the benediction of heaven on our journey; for we had to penetrate Intoa country never yet visited by a Catholic priest. The rivers, lakes, mountains, prairies, forests and hills of Oregon would soon resound with the praises of the holy name of Jesus; the cross would be planted from place to place, from shore to shore, over the thousand leagues we had vet to travel, and the word of Him who said that that sign would "attract ail to Him" in the person of these po«>r wandering sheep to which we were sent. What a joy! What a sweet consolation f<«r missionaries! From St. Boniface we went. In seven days of dangerous navigation, to Norway House, a small fortres.*, 130 leagues distant from our starting point, and 10 leagues from lake Win- nipeg. Tbe'.ommandinsr chief Factor had the kindness to give us fof lodging and chapel the apartments destined for the Governor of the company. We sjieiit there eight days, saying Catholic Church ?s Okkcon. 13 holy Maps, dl(«tributiug catechisms, haptizinjr chiklroii and some adults, itmtrucliiigaiid t>x- hoiUipfj the whites and Indiniis ai the Fort. We h1s>> iKTfi Hilled two marriaKes tiiere. On rtuiidity, the 22iid, there wasa higli Mass, ves- pers iiiiid I WD serinoiis, to whieh some of tlie jivjitlemen aiideierltsof tlieeonipniiy assisted. Dniinir 1 1 lis brief stay of eljrhtdavM, many small buiKls i>f travelers came fr uu York Factory, on Uu Ison's Bay, to Norway House, from wheiu-e ;hey were all to start together to cross the mountains. On til" 26th of July every tidiig was ready. The brlrwle assembled and liegaii to march uiidtir tliB command of Jolni Rowand, Esq., Chief F.ictor of the Comoany, a Catholic, whose at tent ion, Itindnessaii I constant efforts to alleviute the fatigues and privations of tiie route, we will never forget. The lirigadecon- air,ied of eievon boats laden with inerchaiidiM?, agreat number of hired men, women and chil- dren. Among the travelers were Messrs. \V;il- lace and Banks, botanists, sentfioin Etigliiii'! by a scientific society. Having passed the head of lake Winniiejr, the river .Saskatchewan, or 8t. Peter, wliicli we had to ascend for 37 days, apjieared with the I M;;ues from Fort Constant, and (Ui the ISth .it Fort Carletoii, 88 leagues from the last. 'I'nere we peit'ornied 36 liaptisms and 7 iiiariiag<'s. .\- mong tliose l).iptizea«lii!rle!«tt'|.! AfU-r b:iviiipc11iil>- ed very liigli rtK-U.n luiii traveleil 4 I*>iik"*^<' '" 3^ hourn, we c-aiiipetl 0)>i)0!!itf tl»« nick cHllfd the (Md Mii». On thf Till, after two lioure of iiiun-b over a nice little prairie liiilitly covered witli wimmK on a level ground, we took breakfast hi a ttne l>rairie. \Ve then went up and down 12 fr.>ve«of li;jlit woods and beautiful wil- lows."' H ivlng walked 7 leagues in If, hours, wecampe I near th.- south fork or branch of the Athabas .a in a place covered witli burnt tives. (PUBLISHED MARCH 14tH 1878.) V'ICAH (IKNERAI/S I.ETTKR CONrLfDKn. /In tlie Hth, the luggage and pet)|)le were \f carried over, in a canoe wliitii liad been brought BO far witli infinite pains and lubur from Jasper's. The horses sw;mi across. This branch of the river was a real torrent, 45 steps or yards wide. The southwestern branch is but 30 feet wide, we had to cross it on horse- hack from its right shore at a place civlled 27« Hole, where the horses lost f«K)ting for 18 feet. The baggage and horsemen did not get v.et; SIS to tliose who were on foot they had toswini, holding the luggage or the hoi-se"s tail. Pro- ceeding now along the shore, then on the top of iiigb roclss, we met with niaiiy olts acles offered by hi!eing > U leagues from the top of the Rocky Mountains, at 3 o'clock in the morning, I celebrated under a tent the august sacrifice of ilie Immacnlale Lamb in tbanks- giving for all the l)eiKfits the Lord hud be- stowed upon IIS, and to consecrate by the sac- rifice of the ( r. ss these sublime mountains, to tlie glorv of their Creator, the all-powerful God, of whom ihey sing the praise and power. Having walkt.d with much fatigue 2^ hours, across ponds, rocks, fallen trees and other obs- tacles, on the slope of mountains, alongside of tiio narrow Itui swift torrent, we came, by a steep way to the gorge or pass half a league ill width t'erweiMi (he two mountain ranges, liiotrn and Honker, wliose grand summit, per- petually coviitd with snow, rises some 17 or 1K,0»;0 feet above tlie level of the sea. This pass, pretty sle«'p in its central slope, Is cov- ered on both sides with masses of rocks fallen from the ab; upt mouiituins, whilst otberrocks, Hiispendeii atnive, seem to threaten the fright- ened traveler. Half way in the gorge is a round lake called Puiich Bowl. It is 311 yards in diameter. Its wateis communicate, uiiuerground, with twc other lateral lakes, whciein originate two riv- ulets. One is the source of the east branch of the Atliabasca, the other is the source of the Por(age river of the Wi-st. These two rivers are supplied l)y a great many streams from the mountains; so little at first they soon become impracticable torrents rolling their waters with an extraordinary noise. There, at Punch Bwrl. we were but one league and a half from our morning camp, and it had taken us 2j hours to travel that sliort distance. We were 27'. Iciigui-M from Jasper's. 700 leagues from St. Boniface, and 1,400 from "lonti-eal. One may Judge, thereby, of the obMucles encountered in that day, witliout speaking of the obstacles and dangers met witli for 6 days on the East- ern slo))e, in the ascent and descent of bills, rocks and heights, from Jasper's. We still Catholic Choicb in Okkoon. 15 walked one mile and a half in 2 boure, going down tlie WeMtern Mupe, niucb atet-per timn tl>o EaxU-rn; and going over rocks, frugments of rockw, and tre«B along the Portage river. We liuliod a abort dietanoe from La Grande ihtf, A great ateen hill we liad to dt.iicend, and whither our loaded horses arrived but 2 hours aftev thoste of the light cavalry. They were tired ami unable to go any further. On the 11th, the Onat HtUapwared with its Icing circuits In zigzags, to facilitate the steep- ness of it't descent. We descended it in 3 hours; the first part on horseback, the second on foot, and the third on horseback again; after which the caravan rested for acme hours on a t>eauti- ful buxh-prairie, the first portion of the large field we were sent to cultivate. We took pos- session of it, and consecrated ourselves to Its cultivuti.in. We crossed the Portage river 8 times, and made 4 leagues in 5} hours. On the next day, our riding hordes walkeil 2 leagues in 4\ Itours through the mud boles of the grcttl timber Point. It took the laden ani- mals 8 hours to make that distance, l)ecAnse they had to be unloaded and loaded again, every now and then. On the l.Sth, the traveling was easier and more agreeable. Having walked for 6 hours and crossed several points of w(M>ds and hills, we reached Boat tneampment on the right shore r)f the Portage river, some distance below Its ji! nctlon with tlie Canoe river flnwi iig from the North. We had come down the West slope of t he njoun tal ns I n .S days. We were 13} leagues from Punch Bowl, 41 from Jasper's, 4-5 froin t he entrance of the Ricky Mountains of wliich the range seems to continue up to the head of the lakes, .55 leagui-s further below. The t'oUunbla river has its source 5) leagues on the South. From Boat enrjimpment, it ab- ruptly turns to the West, hence the name of "Big Bend" Is given to this curve. It then flows Southwest down to the Spokan ■ river, below Colville;then Northwest to Okimagan; then Southwest to Wallulu; thencj West to Vancouver; thence Northwest to Cowlitz; thence West to the Pacific Ocean. This rapid river, about 60 yards wide at Bij Bend, which rolls itsswollen watersamtdst nunitMtrless dan- gers and was to ofter us In Its rapids, its whirl- pools, its dalles, its falls, its abysses, a tliou- sand more dangers than all the rivers we had yet navigated, was now iiefore us. We had iiow to eiic >unter Us dangers; and we were remly to meet them. On tlie I4tli, it being Sunday, the h<»ly sao- rittce of the Ma;^ was celebrated to consecrate us to the Queen of angels and beg her to take us under her protection. It was tlie first Mass