Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-09-05
CATHOLICISM IN VERMONT,
AN IMPORTANT EPOCH IN THE HIS
TORY OF THE CHURCH.
The Early Years of tho Dioocse-Increaso
In the Number of Priests, Churches
and Communicates During Bishop
DeGoesbriand's Episoopate.

/
! 1.-THE Church in Vermont" which is here
| with reprinted.
The present year of grace marks an inn
portant epoch i'm the history of Catholics
in Vermont. Exactly half-a-ccntury age
the Rt. Rev. John Bernard Fitzpatrick
then Bishop of Boston, had "A census made
of his catholic flock in this remote part OF
his diocese, and has thus furnished us
with a standard of comparison.
Figures are infalible, but like many in
fallibe utteranCes they require explana-
ton and without ii are often paradoxical.
At the first blush the figures of Catholcty
in Vermont would seem to Indicate this
part of the fold as the Sleepy Hollow of
the church; a closer examination will
show that they record "A progress and Il
prosperity that will compare favorably
with most if not all parts of America, and
that give very cheering prospect for the
future. In the light of these facts and this
hope the birth and growth of Catholicity
in Vermont are fun of interest
Passing by the probably apocryphal
"Johne Graye" who is supposed to have
written his own cpitaph near Swanton in
1854, Champlain was the first civilized man
waters of the lake that now bears his
name. This was in 1909, and period of 3}
years clapses before history speaks again
with certain voice on Vermont Chris
tianity.
Meanwhile legend has something to tell
us about the Wcll-head of the mighty
river. According to an Indian tradition.
the pioneer of Christianity in the state
was A son of ST. Francis who accom-
panied by a band of Indians sailed down
the river from Canada. landing on what
is now known as Isle La Motto on Lake
Champlain, and proceeding thence to tlfc
Missisquoi river which they naVigatcd as
far as the first falls where the town of
Swanton now stands Leaving their boats
here the party suont some time in the
neighborine country, and two missions
were preached by the Franciscan on the
present site of Rurlinpton As the first
Recoliccts came TO Canada in 1913 this,
mission must have been posterior to that
date
Tho twilight of legend broadons into
the daylight of historical fact i'm 1912. In
that wear Father Jopues : with two
companions. Rene Gounil and William
Couture, and 20 Algonouins. were taken
prisoners by the Iroauois i'm Canada and
led by them into Vermont probably halt
ing at Isle LA Motto Isle a Matte Tins
figures early in Vermont Catholic history
We shall see that it also figures often and
late. Goupil whose purify" saws I,r
Jogues. was that of an angel. was slain
on Sept 81 1G42. with the Ifolv Name on
ms lids, The Jesuit missionary had
wait a few years longer for his crown. but
the mar-vr's blod sowod the seed Of chris
tianity at every stopping place on the
march Father Jopues' nails were nul1nd
out and MANY other species of torture of
which the Iroouois were past masters
were inflicted on him At the end of u
months captivity he was delivered hut
the yearning of Christ was on him ana in
1916 he returned voluntarily TO work
he obtained the reward of the martyrs
crown at the village of Guadavag,Ie
1t is improbable that Father Jogues ever
celebrated the HOLY Sacrifice on Vermont
soil Twenty wears later the French
pushed their line Of forts as far &C le,e 7 =,
Motto and here we know with certainty
of mass being celebrated. The garrison
of Fort St. Anne as the new defence was
named was scant. and few if any settlers
accompanied the soldiers During the first
few months they had no chaplain. Then
scurvy broke out among the troops and
two soldiers had died without tho sacra-
mcnts and two-thirds of the inmates vero
down with the disease. when FIR Dolier de.
Casson, "A Sulpician priest from Montreal
was sent to minister TO their spiritual
wants. Mass was then regularly cole
bratcd and the first chapel in Vermont
and one of the FIRST i'm the United states
was dedicated to St. Anne within the fort
In the following year, 1861, a mission was
preached by three Jesuit fathers who pro-
Cccded thence to Guadavapue. tho scene
of Err. Jogues' death, where they made
many converts among the Indians.
Up to this time there was no diocese i'm
all North America. MIR. Laval who il,
1914 became first bishop Of Ouoboc vas
until then Vicar Apostolic and tit,l4r
bishop of Petrea. with n jurisdiction ON
hracine the entire continent Of North
America. He made his first visit into mo
United States in 1865 whom no rroLoS,t,,
administered confrp,a+io, o,,I .il ~
at Fort ST Anne shea has oynr,ooi,ad
the fact which is clearly nro,,ed fr1n, tba
accounts in the Relations of Tho Ias,,it
fathers and tho u,itings 90 IT.. - -
Incarnation. The incident &c in,,o,,a,,t
not only for Vermont which VOC nc ~
first New England STATE u,boro o,,i,o,,,,,
functions were exercised hut fo,. al, A,,n,.
lean Catholics &c Nr,r I,,.ai L w.,
bcen declared ,,onorobio ~,
and the United states n,o,, a,, -
one of Gods canonizod Saints fnr ,Lair
first bishon In tho a,,ort 80 ~, ,i,.,,t..
tion the Cree, Mo,,ntair 49,. IN, r,l.
special cause FOR oro,iGno+ia,, '' -''
Twentv-two vo,rs of 5000 s,,,o.,.e.,
missions uoro esta blisbaI L, NV I',,
fathers ovar,,n,bora H., 1a ~ '.io I ,C
tho, rnt;1 ,7eG C,a,,,,, ~ Nrlilont' FROM
resented hv tho Aha,aI',a ""1 - ~
heightened neriode ~, thn srn.oa ~ 10.
Champlain tho Miseieoo,,i ri,,o, ~ H..e.
-''''''i'Hi iiNNi anu o'N'l