, 1875-01-22

Lecture by thc Rev. Father Esiordnn.
The Rov. +. ". Ilorian lcclnrcd on "FAther
Marquette" in the Union Catholic Library Hall,
cornor State and Monroe streets, last evening.
Thcre WIS very good attendance, and tile ut
most interest WIS manifested in tho discourse,
although tho lecturer reading from manuscript,
had not tho best possible opportunity for dis
playing his acknowl lodged oratorical ability.
Father forlan commenced by a!llding worry
eloQucntly to tho Jesuit Order. which, founded
In tho sixteenth century. suddenly srrang into
fame, md displayed spirit Of chivalric devotion
in tho advancement Of religion never excelcd
Binco Apostolic times. At this day tho snmo
celebrated body WAS the object Of moro veilern-
lion and more hatred than any organization
known to mankind. For lis own part,
he e1nrossel the highest admiration for
the supreme courage, the ardent devotion,
tho splendid Learning. and the self-sacr,Iicing
spirit OF t!le Jesuit Fathers. Tho Roman
Catholic Church waa the pioneer Of tho Aneri-
can Continent. a1ld the glory Of tho Cross follow
Cd its march through tile wide domain Of tho
aboriginal tribes, from tic forests OF Canada to
tic waters OF the Huif. Columbus himself,
horn in Catholic country and sailing boneath
o Catholic ling showed this spirit Of ovanEeliza-
ton Ill tho natnes which he bestowed on tho
reserved for tho French missionaries to
preach tho word OF uol III regions OF
this continent whoro tic foot OF civilization had
never trod before, and wlero tho 1ndlaus sat III
the shadow of tho valley Of death.
Tic discovery Of the MissisAipri by Do Soto
was briefly referred To-. uo saw the mighty
stream only to die, and his body WINS buried il,
its watcrA. Tho survivors Of his party spread
the nows Of tho great river Which, lou years lnter,
bocamo M obiocs Ut discovery to all tho
atlronturous spirits Of those tlmos. Tile
Jo.ults, spreading tho light OF tho Gospel
IL the Wilderness, heard Of tho ''fathor Of
Waters" from tl!o Indian tribos, and many at-
temrtB waro made to roach 1t, but without suc-
cess. no far nj known, until Father Marquette
and his companion, Joliet, dnre1 all tho dangers
Of 10 tremendous nn undertaking, and, in tho
canoes, aftor navigating the Fox and WISCONSIN
Rivers. s1trmouutuE incredible ultttculteB finally
bslcM tile a1isslsHiprI at tho point now known
as Iralrla lu Chien, Antl sailed upon itR bosom
to tho land Of the Arkansas. Tue aiestic sceory
pf tho virgin country was moat poet.caIly
described, tho lecturer following tho WanJoripep
Of tho bravo Jesuit With clnseness which
showel how deeply he Ryrnpnthixcd with tic
cause which brought him from distant franco to
end his career on the shores OF the great noEth-
ern likes.
Fathcr Rlordan graphically described Mar
quotes lahpra nn,onE tho Inuiana, par-
glowing; tribute to Lis holy yea. and
almost anrorhuman perseverance. The death
hcene OF tho gool man, fur from country and
from civilization, was most afrcctingly dealt
with md. n that connection, the speaker did
mot forget tue many mar tyra vi tho Isoman CATH
oIc Church who had died at tho hands OF tho
saYages iu the performance Of their sacred mls-
aiou.
Having followed tho career Of Marquette
FROM itH early beginning to llts DEATH which uc-
CURED on tho 18th or l9th Of May A. u. 1876,
tho iectuter next devoted some space 10
I.asaile and Ilennepiu, both Of whom
bave loft their mark on tho history
Of this State. 1Io related somo interesting anec-
uotcH OF those early days, and did mot forget the
Remarkable story Of "6taryod Rock," OH the H.
luois River. where ono OF tho last OF tho Illinois
tribeR lpdans sought refuge from the Tottawat-
tnnieH, and there 1niserably perished Of lungor.
Ths nalnos OF many Of tho towns and Hettle-
showed how deeply the jesuit Order penetrated
into oprimoval continent. Their sway among the
sayuges wns gentle, and did not bling death aud
destruction i'll its track. That WAS reserved for
what WAS called our modern civilization. whose
weapons wore tho sword aulithe ric,-tho rail-
read, tue telegraph, and the bnnk, whoso tom
plo WAS thu Board OF Trade,-a civilization des-
titnto Of heart, Ut son, Of sontinlent Ut ivory
.liiG thus could win tho Hnyase heart to love. II
civilization. and, beneath it, tho pbo-
rig,uai tribes Iecoded hoyonl tho great
river. md. one by one, decayed
and Disappeared. or else woro horclessly lost to
tho Chrihtian form OF worship Ilb civilian
tlon, failing To convince the Indian Of its OK
cel!eMcu, resolved tu exterminRte him. and lad
MI but succeeded in finally accomplishing tint
mcrciless mission. But. although tho advance
1nent or this ago might DO tho subject Of oulogy
aud OF self-gtatulation to somo rooplo, it should
not 10 forgotten tliat the Indians woro not ye,
| altogether extinct ln America.
Tho lecturer conclulod amid repeated p}aud.
| it's.