The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-17

AC0usTus RAvoux, whose object was TO es-
tablish 9 mission among the Sioux. For
this purpose be visited various localities
where the pres.pce Of Catholic traders
afforded the nucleus Of . missien.
and finally built small log chapel at Chas-
IA. with the intention Of fixing his perms-
Dent residence there. But in l843, Mr..
GALrrEx was ordered away to Keokuk. (he
10 nov, We believe, officiating at Prairie du
CHEM and Mr.. RAyoux was called to take
his place at Mendoza and st. Paul, where,
ike his predecessor, he ofiiciated alternately
on alternate Sundays. The zeal and piety
OF this gentleman were exerted with marked
benefit to the manners and morals OF the set
tiers. A large number of the half. breed
descendants Of men who had forgotten the
teachings Of their youth, were gathered by
him into the folds OF the Church, and bapti.
Esd in the faith Of their fathers. Marriage
was once more sanetiGed by religion. Birth
began to he regarded a. the inauguration Of
soul and death its resignation to for.
giving God. And over all the simple peo-
pie OF those days, in whose hearts the priest
touched mysterious chords Of awe and love
and reverence, never touched before, be held
the same sway Of gentleness and goodness,
that CnArEAuBaIAND attributes to the ven
cradle missionary among the Indian tribes
Of Louisiana, where RENE sought fer spirit
ual consolation in the reocsses Of the forest.
The extent Of this reclamation from the
state OF decentralization described by Col.
SHILLING, Q few years before, was apparent
in the state Of society which prevailed here
at the period of our Territorial organization
The sanctions OF the church were accepted
by the people as social laws, and the sacred.
ness Of family ties and social thrit took the
place OF the beastly and reckless dissoluteness
Of manners which had before prevailed. Oh
summer Sunday the little log church upon
the hill was the central figure Of pleasant
picture. Too small to hold the crowds tina,
hocked to it, the reverent worshippers knelt
in ranks upon the grass outside the window
the red bolted and moccasned voya-
geur, mingling with the tawby groups Of
children rescued by the church from bar
bsrity.
Upto 1851, that part Of Minnesota lying
West of the Mississippi belonged to the dio.
csse Of Dubuque while that on the East
side was included in the See OF Milwaukee
But at this date the whole of Minnesota wal
formed into the separate Diocese OF St
Paul, and the Very Rev. Jos. CRErIs, ID. D.
appointed its Bishop. Bishop CRErry went
to Europe to be consecrated, and returned 70
/ st. Pau in 1852, bringing with him several
young men, candidates for the priesthood
and two priests. With the exception Of
two OF this number, who have since deceased
these young men have since been ordained
aud are distributed in different parishes oil
this diocese. While Bishop CaKrrs was in
Europe the Very Rev. Mr.. RAvoux, who
had become the Vicar General of the do.
cese--pnrchsscd of VErM GUERrS the
block Of land on which the present Cathe-
drsl and College buildings are situated. On
the Bishops return the brick building used
for several years as n church. was erected
At the same time Mr. RAyoux commenced
building the fine stone church. which, as il
crowns the slope Of Pilots Knob above
Mendo,a--is visible from St Paul, in a
clear day, against the western sky.
In 1853, Mr.. R,voux went to Europe
and returned with several young men-since
ordained Tor the ministry. In 1854, the
Cathedral of 81. Paul was commenced
This is one Of the most cspacious, and when
finished will be one Of the most imposing
church editices in the West. II is 73 ieet
long and 20 wide. One remarkable feature
I III knt hTCUlttttult VI tue DasciHtOt, Wnert
services are now held, deserves to be espe.
cially noted. The floor is OF solid rock
whose immense slabs. as they are marked by
regular seams, would appear to a careless
observer to have been transported from
qusrrics as immense, and by forces as vast
as those employed in laying the foundation
Of the Egyptian pyramids. A single con
tinuoas seam. running the whole length
OF the church, and as accurately as if i,
been fitted by stone cutter. along its mid
die aisle, and q lew irregular fisurcs else
where. are oil tina, divide the huge compact
block Of s,one which paves acor l,3 fee,
in length by 20 feet in breadth, In truth
the slabs were laid jus, AZ they are seen
there by God himself. aud what seems q
miracle of art, is in fact miracle pS nature
Daring the following wears the church NJ