New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-21


BISHOP DE GEANDIN's WORK OF A QUARTER OF
CENTURY.
Twenty-Five years agD the Count de Grandin.
then a yonrg man and belonging TO an excellent
family in France received the orders of PRIESTHOOD
left his home Tor the New World. and, following the
leadership of a companion entered upon the duties
of a missionary among the Indian tribes OF BRITISH
America Tie settled At point IN the British
Possessions about 30 north latitude and 1912 west
longitude The place wa : called ST. Albert, and
T. ere a mission wac established. The young priest
was accompanied by few associates and the ma
fcria for their spiritual work consisted OF nnmer-
ous savage tribe, with which the country abounded
The object Of the mission was To exert ciViiizmg
influence among the Indians. TO teach them peace
fu pursuits and TO lead them 10 the Roman Catholic
faith. The work advanced slowly. but within five
years the fruits of their labor sufficient To war
rant the establishment of bishopric at ST. Albert
and the Count de Grandin was selected for the
Office which he continues To hold The mission
has since been extended to an archdiocese pre-
sided over bv an archbishop and five bishops. -.
Albert has grown from a mere settlement 10 De
town of 1000 inhabitants, composed OF lhuiahs
a i hall-bGecds.
Ear,y IN the present year Bishop dc Grandin, ac-
c0mpaniel hv his N-caT-Gcncral Father ieauc,
visited France whence they arrived in Newly ork
rccen' ~, on their homeward journey. accom-
panied by six young French priests VINO nave
clty next day ~ the Pennsylvania Railroad ior 'he
Northwest; hut previous 10 their departure briet
talk with Father Lcduc revealed some inter
e.nc points respecting the character 81 Their wOlk
and some incidents Of their mode OF ne: .,
We have many hardsnps. said Father Leone"
but we are advancing steadily with our work.
There are now about 10000 Indians in the diocese
who have been converted to the Catholic falth; In
the first place. We tried 20 settle them, ana get
them 10 abandon their wild life We taught them
how To plough and 10 cultivate the ground lhey
take up claims consisting of $50 acres of land ana
60 TO work. We have found IT hard to convert
them. Of course. but they have never been h0stllc
to us There are ten different languages spoken by
the several tribes under our ch1rge. and the priests
are obliged TO learn these languages. In 81
Albert Diocese winch alone has an area OF ter
rtory twice rs large as that OF France we nave
tvcnty-four priests During the greater part OF the
year We travel on sledges drawn ~ dogs ana III
going from camp 10 camp IA Nlnler we nave no
place 10 sleep but ON the snow, aud frequently win
The thermometer 500 below zero We live with the
Indians all the time. When they have nothing TO
that | recall, which happened four years ago
missionary was sent out Ia one ~ the faT-on tribes
accompanied 10y an Indian guide. They reached
place where they could ger nothing To cat, and
after suffering for a long while, the Indian iualy
killed the missionary for food. In 1t. Albert
Diocese We have fifteen missions. There are thTee
good schools IN which the children arc taught ny
eighteen sisters. These sisters are what are known
a. GRAY Nuns and come from Montreal. In the
town of -. Albert We have an OrphanaGc m which
are tMrty-hVe orphan children al the Inherent
tribes. and In the diocese there are three
orphansg.> with one hundred orphans. At 81
Albrrt have. also, fine cathedral. 50 feet long
aud 81 feet wide, with gallery all around. IL Is
there that Bishop lie Graudin officiates. We have
also "a uunncry n which there are at present oight
nuns. OR food consists mainly OF buffalo meat
and FISH. Of which latter there axe many IN tie
httle lakes around Us. For ten years We had no
bread but during the past three years We have sue
cccdrl in raising wheat, and have now good bread.
We built a mil, with water power, al 81 Albert
last Fail. Our houses are all frame. We arc COM
Portable but OF course We have 10 endure many
harG-hlps.'
Father Lcduc added that within the last few
wears a number of Canadian immigrants OF differ
eut religious faiths had come among them, and
that the prospect of thorough civilization OF the
various TRIBES Is very promising He has been nj
teen wears engaged in the work with Bishop de
GTaudm.