The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-07-30
: 'cAEHoLIc INDIANS.
corpu, Christi c.l.srasioa at tho Colvpis AGENCY.
NrNs HuaDazp eoalnUNIoANFs

NINE HUNDRED eOEHUNICANTb
FoRr CorvulR, June %. 1867
Rditor Catholic sentinel,
Dear Sir-It 10 truly touching to zee our glo-
rious old Faith triumphipg even in the wild
western forests of the New World amongst the
Door, ignorant Red Men.
The Feast of Corpus Christi was the occasion
OF drawing together q vast concourse Of In
dams from FAR and near, some coming from
distance OF three and four hundred miles for
two weeks before the feast caravans Of one,
two and even three hundred arrived at a time
and pitched their tents around the church, TIE
yonng and strong the old and infirm, the blind
and lame, every one in fact exerted themselves
to the utmost, so as to be-in season for the
great flower day" as they call it in their Ian
gnsge; A most friendly feeling excited among
TOE dinerent tribes. On the arrival Of each
new tribe the Colville Indians would assemble
at the church door in doSble file, with the flag
OF truce and discharge of Arearms, to welcome
their brothers in Christ, and after q hearty
shaking Of hands all round, conduct the new
oomers 20 the camping ground. After this they
the soul.
we're in the confessional from the first break of
day till midnight, leaving, as may be seen, but
two short hours for repose. For eight days be-
fore the feast this was the course of things for
them notwithstanding all this fatigue the
harvest they reaped was great.
On the morning of the Feast, over nine han
area lRdidnS received Holy Com munion, 1t was
really edifying to see how fervent these poor
creatures were, how many melted to tears at
the approach OF their God. and after having
tasted the sweets of heavenly consolation they
went their way to wait for High Mass, which
began at II O'clock. The greater part of the
people OF this valley came also to adore their
Lord, thus testifying that the Faith was still
alive among them. The soldiers too, although
the greater number are nom Catholics, obtained
permission to attend, and all the citizens came
TO take part in the festivities.
The spacious church was crowded SO that q
great number were obliged TO stay outside.
dressed few words to the white people, beg
giDg them to behave themselves, SO as not TO
to dc" said he, :" we do for the honor of God.
and We will not be kept back by any human
respect, and if You whites wish to laugh or
mock at US, you will MSS your mark, and the
best thing for You TO do is to conform your
selves to our rules or else go home"
. guard OF honor, consisting of twenty of the
best Indians, dressed in a tasty uniform of
white Abs and red cspes, knelt two by no in
the aisle to keep order. Daring the Mass the
Indians sang the Gregorian Angels Mass with
very foe effect. The conservation was an
nounced by discharge of guns, and at the
Domino non sum dignns another salute was fired
to show their thankfulness to their Heavenly
Visitor. During the silent parts of the Mass
appropriate hymns were sung by the Sisters
commenced to form it was led by three horse
men, carrying q large standard, followed by
the women bearing a lovely banner of Our
Heart. The Guards of Honor came with light
ed candles, then the Acolytes and incense
bearers and flower boys, then the canopy borne
oy to th CITIZENS az came In sight under which
Lord Jesus Christ, who thus deignsd TO emile
benignantly on His dusky, Supplemented
children Of the forest. After the canopy came
the Sisters, followed by all the little children,
in the rear OF whom were several Protestant
Indiana. The procession wound round the foot
of the hill, and was nearly three-fourths of Q
mile in length.
Looked at from the summit on which the
church is built it presented a spectacle worthy
of the occasion; to see the profound recollection
by two, singing hymns, reoiting the beads, etc.,
was sight never to be forgotten. There were
two repositories beautifully decorated, at each
of which benediotion was given to the devout
multitude. Arrived at the second repository
the women passed on into the church, while
the ranks of men formed a wide passage-ex-
tending from the church door to the foot of the
hill to the summit, through which the Blessed
Sacrament was triumphRntly borne, accom-
panied by cavalcade of fifty. In this manner
the Divine Goest " as carried to the home which
His love made for Himself amongst the chill
dren of men, and from the hearts of these
loving children may He never be driven by any
of the wolves in sleeps clothing, os He has
already been in different places. At two O'Clock
the crowd dispersed, much pleased with the
ceremonies; and one may truly ssy that such q
procession might grace even the streets of the
Eternal City. Nothing better could be wished,
for suoh order and such recollection can seldom
be found among civilized people.
Now take birds eye view and ask your
selves this question: Where do the Indians
learn to do these things 30 WELT Is il from
those well-paid "ministers of the Lord" as
the call themselves7 Go where you will aIbng
these mountain passes and only in Catholic
missions will you find such advancement, and
only the Catholic priest, who has left all to
take up his Cross and follow Christ, will devote
his entire life to evangelize the least Of his
fellow creatures-end do that without ever
being anxious about HE quarterly check.
LOVER OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.