New-York tribune., 1875-02-03
THE FIRST MISSION YORK IN Ne W-YoRK.
A PAPER READ BY THE REV. p. j. DEALY, s. j., BE-
FORE THE NEw-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

A PAPER READ BY THE REV. p. j. IDEALLY, 8. j., BE-
FORE THE NEw-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY,"
The New-Y0rk Historical Society held its
regular monthly meeting last night The main feature
Of the evening was he reading of paper by the Rev.
z. j. Deag S. j.. entitled Tue First Catholic Mission
in New-York." The author announced that his paper
would chronicle the life ard deeds OF Father Isaac
Jogues the frat Jesuit missionary who IaOored IN NOV"
York State aud City, lie begun his laDors in 1886. among
the Huron nation OF Indians The IrOquos were at this
time the deadly enemies Of the Hurous and Canadians,
and they together with the MOhawks were resolved TO
ex xterminate all their foes The combination OF the lro-
Quois and Mohawk tribes was very powerful and much
dreaded Tler geographical situation on the shores OF
Lake Ontario greatly aided their schemes or war Al
ths time HurOns found 1t necessary to send an en-
vov to ebec and chose Father JOgues as f person
to perform dangerous journey His lay through
a country swarming with IroquOis and Mohawks. The
priest started on lis dangerous mission with small
escort OF IIuroDs. The little baud succeeded in reach
ing their destination IN safety ana haYns Deen rcch-
forced by "a few Frenchmen and Indians began their
Journey back to the Huron country refusing nron reh
escort soldiers. The day after that on which they
left QIebec the party fell INTO the hands OF a hostile
band Of Ioquois Father Joguos might have escaped,
being hidden IN a pile OF br1sh but seeing that his COM
pauons would be tortured II not killed by their cap
tors emerged from his hiding place. and voluntarily
Joined the band OF captiyes.
The sneaker related Ia detail the horrible suGerings
experienced By Father Jogues and his friends After
lapse Of days the band was Joined by 200 Mohawks,
and from this time suerngs of the prisoners were
increased tenfod. The Dutch settlers amlcabe
terms with Indians. and hearing OF the priests
vity they used every endeavor to obtain his liberty.
Their efforts, completely frustrated, and
only succeeded procuring PROMISE from the chef OF
the Indians that the white capIves should not be killed
FneT Joguess greatest efforts were directed TO saving
the souls OF ellow-pusonors, He seemed to forget
reached the Mohawk village. he was made the slave
OF member OF tine tribe His patient and
uhucng bearing under the ILhCtlOu OF torture begun
for bm the esteem Of certain Indians IN the viii
age. AT length the rlOe seemed 10 IRE OF torturnR
hn, ani Father J0Gues was allowed TO live IN peace
one night he offered an opportunity to escape by
OF the settlers, and after Thoroughly considering the
matter he acccded to the appeals OF his friends. After
days spent in eyadDg his recent caDors he was
placed upon vessel and brought TO Nc~-IOrk he
ing the first Jesuit missionary IN the city, he was
generally well received He found two Catholics on the
island and administered 10 tneh tnen tne SacTanen'
first time tue Office had been performed mere III
1913 Father Jogues returned 20 France where during
his stay he was treated with so much h0nor tat IL be
came painful to his modest nature Father Deay here
gave dramatic description OF Father JOSuess meeting
with the Jesuits III France.
In the Spring OF l6l4 the missionary returned to
America, bent upon continuing his iabOrS among the
Indians In the May OF lo45 he set Oh from QleDec 10
TeiOn the MOhawK tribe. His reception The very
opposite OF what had been at he e OF Ills previous
appearance among them. T4is time he came as the
OF power which the Indians felt IL was to their
interest cOucate. short time after his arrival lie
hawk settlement remarking to friend that he should
retLrn He mad lett with the Indians small box
containing sOme personal effects. few OF
the abOrgines thodgnt tile box contained an
evil spirit, and spread this notion among their com
pauOus That year the crop was destroyed by the
rayages OF "a wOrm the annual hunt proved unsuccess-
ful, aud served TO strengthen the belief
party Of warriors dispatched TO capture the
priest, and succeeded IN doing just as he voun
tarly returning TO tribe. On Oct 1s 1915 the second
morning after MS capture lie and MS companions were
murdered and their heads were lmpaled on the pail
sades forming the wal Of the settlement Soon after
Father JOgues's death mission was established among
the Iroquo, and thus once again tue blood Of mar'yr
was the seed VI Christianity.