The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1874-02-14
ALEAF FROM EARLY MONTANA
HISTORY.
Establishing Missions---Traditions and
"reminiscences of the Indians.
BY CHARLES SCHAFFT.

THE following paper was written in 1867 but has
| remained unpublished until the present tme.l
In the year 1740 Father De Smet, a mis-
sionary Of the Society of Jesus, made his
first appearance in the Rocky Mountains to
convert to the faith of the Cross the Red
Men who heretofore had only seen small
rays from the great lights of Christianity
reflected from a few Canadian voyageurs or
Iroquois Indians that frequented the coun-
try for the purposes of trapping and trading
for furs
THE FIRST MISSIONARY, FATHER DE sMET.
The Flatheads, inhabiting the Bitter
Root valley, were anxious to try the neao
trait, which promised immortality to all
who followed it's windings, and repeated
messages were sent by them to st. Louis
for priest, or, as they term it, ''Black-
gown" One of these ENJOYS, consisting of
five or six Indians and Protestant clergy
man, (who accompanied them to go on some
distant mission of his OWN were all muir
dered Except the clergyman on their re-
turn from St. Louis by party Of Sioux,
who mistook their nationality and believed
them to be enemies.
Catholic priests were not very plenty in
those days, and it was only upon final eff
fort on the part of the Flatheads, that the
Superior of the Jesuits in St. Louis felt
himself called upon to send them a teacher.
Father De Smet was chosen for the peril
our task Of carrying the cross to an unknown
| wilderness and teaching it's symbolicalm
ings an efficacy to the nations of red men
dwelling in the mountains. With the true
spirit of the Jesuits of old, who enriched
the soil of Canada with their blood, the
young Father started to his new field alone.
The principal part of his journey lay along
the great Missouri, but the Flatheads knew
of his coming and at considerable distance
from their village he was received by del
egation of the tribe, who escorted him in
triumph to the Bitter Root valley.
PREACHING THE FAITH.
! The Father found here in the elevated
regions of the mountains fine country,
with soil sufficiently rich to produce all
| that husbandman need require; timber,
grass and water were abundant, and could
not be excelled anywhere. The people
whom he came to instruct looked as yet
| kindly upon the faces of white men, with
whose vices they were unacquainted. He
found them ready and willing to be taught,
and after the principal features of the Cath
olic religion had, by means of an interpre-
ter, been impressed upon their minds, the
chiefs and head men came forward to be
| baptized These Indians as well as the
neighboring tribes had always practiced
| polygamy, and the sincerity of their con.
version was proven by their readily resign.
ing all extra wives and becoming united
to only one, in accordance with the articles
of their adopted faith.
ExEMPIIFYING THE TRINITY-A BEAUTIFUL
ILLUSTRATION.
However, it happened at times that Z
doubt would spring up in the Catchumen's
mind which it was not always easy to dis
pei For instance, in after years there was
an Indian who could not see into the mys
terry of the Holy Trinity. It was impossible
| to make hlm understand how three coule
be one. At last chief (probably instructed
how to actl told the skeptie to provide him
self with shovel and an axe, and follow
| to the river. Tt was winter: the river wa
frozen and covered with snow. The doubt
ing Indian was asked what is this snow ans
he answered, swater =; the snow was thel
| removed and the same question repeated il
regard to the ice, with the same reply;
hole then being cut through the ice, flow
ing water was discovered, and the skepti
felt convinced that three cossld be one ant
subsequently applied to be admitted TO tn
church.
MAKING aMEDIcIEE.
Like all other Indians they had heretofor
believed in the Happy Hunting Grounds
and in Great Spirit, who, assisted BY
lesser one, governed and ruled the universe
and from whom came all that was good
They also believed In the existence Ct ba'