The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-10
St. |GNATIUS MISSION.
The Charming Story Of the Christ
ianizing and Civilization OF
the Flatheads.
A. Great Catholic Event Fittingly
Celebrated Where it Took
Root.
The Missionaries Who Came Among the
Red Men of Montana Halfn
Century Ago.

A staff correspondent of the Catholic SEN
tinel, of Portland, under date of Aug. 3,
writes as follows of the st. Ignatius mis-
sion in the Flathead country of Montana:
Last Friday being st. Ignatius day, / paid
a flying visit to the great st. Ignatius ln-
dian Industrial Mission schools within a
few miles of this point. st. Ignatius day,
be it remembered, is first and before all a
memorable Catholic festival, co~mmemora-
tive of, and indissolubly linked with the
conversion of the Flathead people to Chris
tianity, through the instrumentality of the
celebrated jesuit. the late Father Do Smet.
Therefore it is that the assembled Indians
of various tribes honor first of all and be-
fore all st. Ignatius' life, st. lgnatius'
work and st. Ignatius' faith. 1t is the only
day in the round of the year which can DO
regarded as Montana'sc christian anniversary
and it has therefore, a two-fold significance
to the American mind and the Indian heart.
1t suggests and recalls every historic
memory. Ii brings before us not only the
great saint and his successors who labored
and toiled for the spiritual veal of human
ity, but it also the martyrs who
were scalped or persisted at the stake, whilst
endeavoring to ~civilize and Christianize the
children of the forest. On st. lgnatius
day at least We have a right to homo the
Jesuits whose names and memorable
ACHIEVEMENTS illuminate the pages of North
and South American history; and we may
Justly take pride in the genius, the endur-
ance, the purity. the capacity, the rellg-
ious zeal and patriotism which they have
shown whenever and wherever an oppor-
tunity was offered for the free exercise of
their wonderful talents and resources.
The appropriate manner in which st.
Ignatius day was celebrated at st. lgnatlus
mission by the pupils of the Indian Indus
trial schools located there would certainly
have electrified the warrior heart or the
soldier sage and priest of Mauresn could
he only be present in the flesh to see how
his children and sons enjoyed themselves
at this celebrated mission the other day.
There is something about the st. lgnatlus
mission that commands my RESP ect and ad-
miration, though for the life OF me | can't
very we'll explain. 1t is not in the glorious
scenic surroundings of the place, though
admire them: not in her institutions OF
religious education and industry. though
respect them: not in her graceful towers
and spires pointing heavenward. though
honor them: not in the prlncely hospitality
of the good Fathers which | have frequently
enjoyed as a visitor. 1t is something higher
and above all these that claim my respect
and admiration. 1t is that in the practice
of religion there is nothing inconsistent
with the stern realities of life.
United States history is replete with beau
tiful illustrations of this fact. Columbus
standing triumphant on the deck of his
small vessel, surrounded by his repentant
companions is not a more inspiring figure
than Columbus the Christ bearera bowling
in humble admiration before the Cross on
the shores OF the new world. Victorious
Washington receiving the sword of the con-
quered CORVALLIS at Yorktown is not a
more thrilling sight than the same great
FEATHER of his country suppliant and or
Bonded knees in the now nt Valley Forge
b%eseeching the God of heaven and earth"
for strength and fortitude in the extreme
hours of his tribulations.
The planting of the Montana's pioneer
Catholic missions forms a most interesting
page in the romantic history of this great
Rocky Mountain state.
The illustrious Father De Smet, S. j.,
read the first mass in Boulder valley, Mon
tana, early In 1910. Going back to st. Louis
in the fall of that year, he promised the
Flatheads that he would return in the
spring and establish a permanent mission.
He faithfully kept his promise, as he re-
turned in the spring of 1S4l, accompanied
by Fathers Nicholas Point and Gregory
Mengarini, with Brothers Joe Specht, Will
lam Claessens and Henry Heut. Thus was
established st. Mary's mission IN the Butter
Root valley. At this Bitter Root mission
the first agricultural attempts were made
by the Jesuits in the wild, unknown state
of Montana. Soon after the fathers started
the first grist and saw mill in Montana.
St. Ignatius mission was started next. 1t
is some forty-three miles west of Montana's
garden city, Missoula, within four miles of
Rayalli station on the Northern Pacific
road. St. Xavier's mission is located on the
Big Horn, among the Crows. st. Paul's
mission is some foIty miles from Glasgow,
among the Assinaboines. st. Lubre's mis-
sion is for the benefit of the Montana Chey-
ennes, who fully appreciate its advantages.
st. Peters mission is located among the
Blackfeet. at SIM River.
A visit to their schools is worth a thou
sand sermons, editorials, speeches or essays
on practical education. An observing
stranger or a wandering newspaper man
will regret that the excellent programme of
manual labor did not form a portion of the
curriculum in his younger days. Some per-
sons deeply regret the time wasted in their
younger years over Latin, Greek and Il
lot of "oligies' which have been a him
drance rather than an aid to them in life's
desperate struggle. There are too many
wrecks On the sea of life, and the majority
of them are caused by defective education.
Father L.. Is. P%alladiua, S. j., now rector