The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-20
AMONG FLAI'HEADS.
How Jesuit Missionaries Chris
tanned Them.
Rev. 3. E. Kenna Lectures on Savage Tribe
That Yearned for Black Gowns and
Followed Their Teachings.

"BlackGowns and the Flatheads" was
the SUBJECT OF an unusually interesting lee
ture delivered by Rev. r. E. Kenna, S. j.,
IN 81 Francis Church last night for the
benefit Of the Children's Day Home In his
discourse he told how the Jesuit Fathers
had Christianized the Flathead Indians in
Montana over forty years ago, and how the
tribe had since prospered and remained true
to the teachings of the missionaries.
AS preface 10 the lecture Father Kenna
SAID 1t was pleasure for him to labor in
the cause Of assisting the little ones. 10
prepare day home for homeless children,
and to lay a foundation for their future hap
piness, would fit them to become the fathers
and mothers of happy homes.
The lecture began by reference to early
Christianity and the work of the apostles.
Brief allusion was also made to the trials of
the Catholic missionaries in various quar-
tiers of the globe.
UP IN THE MOUNTAINS.
II will speak of tribe of Indians way up
in the Rocky Mountains" said the lecturer,
called Flatheads. Why they are called
Flatheads no one knows, for none of them
have flat heads. They never adopted the
b arbarous system in vogue with some other
tribes of fiatteniDg the heads of children.
In 1903 they met Clark ard Lewis, the first
white men they had ever seen. They were
then cruel and tortured their enemies at the
stake. Inc women, however, seemed to
have many virtues. These red men lived
only for the present and let the future take
care OF Itself. They received their first
knowledge of religion from Iroquois
Hurons who came from Canada. So earn
estly did these Hurons speak Of the
prayers OF white men, or black gowns. as
no mic inn arIn5 hat ba Elot
BEADS wanted to meet them, and great con-
vention was held in the woods. ENNIS
sarieS were sent forth in search of the black
gowns, but they were never heard from.
Alter year OF two, in 1885, another conven-
ton was held, and it was decided to send
more emmlSsarieS to the black gowns. Two
FlatheadS, two Nez Percez aud one Iroquois
were sent forth on this mission. They
were met by the Sioux and all slain except
the lroquois, who finally made his way to
St Louis.
WANTED A BLACK GOWN.
Going to the Archbishop he asked him
to send out one Of the black gowns to the
Flatheads. So Father Nesmit was sent forth
as missionary, and, after many hapdships,
reached the FIathead nation. The arrival
Of the missionary was the cause of much de-
light on the part Of the Indians. The chief
of the tribe wanted to at once surrender all
power to the man who came to teach them
Christianity. Father Nesmit, of course, re-
fused TO accept the offer. The Indians were
anxious to learn Christianity and his teach
lngS we're willingly followed.
When the wonderful news that wild
tribe was anxious to be Christianzed be-
came generally known, many young men of
the Catholic Church volunteered to go
among them. Half a dozen of them crossed
the ocean and the mountains aud were vel
comed by the Flathead nation. In Bitter
Root Valley chapel was set up and the
work OF teaching savagPS who had yearned
for Christianity was carried on successfully.
The Indians were all anxious to be taught
and so rapid did they progress that the serv-
ices OF Interpreters were soon dispensed
with. The first chapel was named st.
Mary's. All the great chiefs entered heart
lily into the work aud enj0ined the younger
Indians to obey the teachings of the black
gowns. So dev0ut did the Indians become
that they always prayed before AID after
the hunt, and, in fact, observed religious
services every day. In short time the
whole tribe resembled the early Christians
THE WORK UNDoNE.
EVIL influences were brough to bear, how
ever, and in 1853 other tribes began to undo
the work the missionaries had accomplished.
There were other troubles TO contend with.
These were their passionate natures, rowing
dispositions and the teachings of medicine
men. The Indians also had trouble with
the Government, which did not fulfill the
treaty made in 1885. In 1872 the tribe re-
fused to move to another reservation 1t
was not until the presentyear that the Flat
heads were induced to 60 on a reservation,
which is called ST. Ignatius. That they still
cling to the teachings of the Jesuit mission
aries is shown by the fact that during the
recent Sioux outbreak they refused to have
anything 20 do with runners from the hos
tiles, and gave them twenty-fOur hours to
leave the reservation. They have settled
down to farming and are most industrious
and humane in their habits. 1t is considered
II wonderful fact that the tribe is now larger
in numbers than when the missionaries first
went among them"
THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL ONES.
Father Kenna read report made by SEN
ator Vest, who Investigated the Indian
question in 1884 IL stated that the Jesuit
fathers bad been the only ones successful in
treating with the Indians, and that the Flat
heads were hundred per cent above any
Montana tribe in civilization. These In
dams love the black gowns" continued the
lecturer, and why? They love the black
gowns because the black gowns love them"
In concluding, Father Kenna paid glow
ing tribute to the men who had Christian
lied the Flatheads. He said they were men
of such learning that they could have occu-
pied any chair in the various universities of
the land