The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-06-02

ne encounters in all parts OF this N"S
area, and the bronzed ana haFueneu
prospector and the veteran rapper'
accustomed as they are TO tne sish''
can never fail TO be impressed oy 'hess
silent monuments TO the deVouoh anu
sacrifice of those noble men VINO lelt
behind them the hopes ana amoltiohs
of early life to bring to the Iholahs OF
this section the light OF the gospel 10
the advancement OF which lney nave
consecrated their lives. In Montana
and idaho the traveller finds these
white crosses and tiny spires in the
most unexpected places, and the sur
prise is invariably a pleasant one. NO
valley was too secluded and no noun
tain range too inaccessible for the zeal
Gus ardor of these black-gowned mes
senrers of peace and no tribe was too
fierce for their earnest endeavor. And
thus IL is that the white traveller. from
the gold hunters of the early days TO
the Measure seeker of the present,
finds in lonely vale and upon towering
peak the white cross which tells OF
sanity devotion TO the Gospel OF Peace.
The crucifix penetrated where the
sword was powerless in those days of
old. and in the reclaiming OF the will
derness of the Northwest the priest
has played as important part as the
soldier. Without their peaceful agency
the white mans progress would have
been retarded for years. and the set
Element OF the fertile fields and the de-
vlopment Of the mines Of wealth would
have been seriously checked. The
PRIESTS was a peaceful conquest. No
trumpet of fame has ever heralded the
noble deeds of sacrifice and devotion
wrought by these holy men. Their
names are comparatively unknown
and their sole earthly reward is found
In the respect and veneration enter
tanned for them by the sons of the for
est and plain whom they came to re-
claim for the Kingdom OF their Mas
ter.
Long before this great Northwest
had ceased 10 form portion OF the
Great American Desert" of the atlas.
these black-robed priests had begun
their work of Christianity and civili-
cation. The earliest of the gold seek
ers found the Catholic missions an es-
tablished feature of this unknown
country, and the outposts of the fur
companies were scarcely in advance
of the westward march of these her
aids of the Gospel. They were more
than priests. They were physicians.
teachers and counselors. Many a min
er and trapper owes his life to the
ministrations of these men and TO the
Indians they are still, in memory. the
embodiment of the peace and goodwill
which they taught. At the mention of
the name of Father Ravalh the stern
est Indian will display emotion. and
even old Chariot, the stubborn chief
HIS name with reverence. 1t was of
these men that Longfellow wrote:
ION the western slope of these noun
tains
Dwells in his little village the Black
Robe chief Of the mission.
Much he teaches the people, and tells
them of Mary and Jesus"
II was nearly IS years ago that the
Indians of the tribes now represented
upon the Flathead reservation first
learned of the Christian religion. The
bearers of the tidings were men of
their own race-Iroquois attaches of one
of the fur comprehensive had been
taught the new religion in the mis-
sions of the Mississippi valley. The
story told by these messengers awak-
ened a desire among the Selfish to know
more OF the wonderful religion and 10
have among them some of the white
teachers of whom they had been told
Around the council fire the matter was
discussed again and again until. In
1881. IL was decided 10 send representa-
tives 10 ST. Louis, known TO the In
dams through the fur traders. to Sc
cure for them a Black Gown. who
should tell them the story of the new
religion. No tidings ever came back oi
this party, which probably was exter
minated by some of the hostile tribes
through whose territory IL had to pass
Undaunted by this occurrence, a sec
ond delegation was sent forth, and this
time the Indians secured a promis,
that a priest would be sent to them
Patiently they waited until 1887. wheI
they sent a third embassy to the set
Elements. This party was massacreC
by the Sioux, and still no priest came
But the desire for knowledge of tn,
new religion was so strong that tn,
Indians were not deferred by the fail
ure OF these successive expeditions, ant
in 1899 two young Iroquois braves sc
out 10 run the gauntlet Of foes and q
brave the hardships of the long jour
ney. Their attempt was doubly sue
cessful. They made the journey safel,
and brought back with them Fathe
DeSmet, the pioneer OF Christianity Il
the Northwest.
One of these young Indians, WHOM
the fathers christened Peter. set for
ward in haste TO prepare his people 70
the coming Of the Black Gown. Will
the other. Ignatius. remained TO &C
company the missionary on his lon
journey TO an unknown land and a
unknown people. IL was April, 1S4(
when Father DeSmet and his dusk
companion Joined a west bound cara
van for the trip to the mountains. Tn
priest was stricken with fever on tn
plains but recovered and, in June. a
the Green river in Wyoming, met
delegation sent by the tribe to welcom
him. One month later. July Il. he me
in the valley Of the Bitter Root, $50
Indians-Selish FlatheadsD and Pen
d'Oreilles-and Immediately began hi
labors as a missionary. II is relate
- rshfrFe Of