The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-05-16
CUSHING EELLS.
Always Astounding in Good Works
ME ROMAN CATHOLICs.


Observation-Disclosures. ..........
THE ROMAN CATHOLICS.
The mission of the Roman Catholic
church to this country was only few
years behind that of the Protestants. The
Rev. Father Demers came in Novem-
Der. 1885, visited Colville, Walla Walla
and Okanogan in 1882 and the labors Of
the venerated De Smet among the Flat
head Indians began about the same time.
While the Protestant faith had the
mighty assistance of the missionary wo-
men. and family life to exemplify it's pre-
cepts, yet the Romish church had the
advantage of a white membership already
on the ground, in the persons of many
members and employees of the Hudson Bay
Company, and the ministry of woman
was soon supplied by the advent of the
Sisters of Charity. Father De Smet made
trip to Europe in quest of missionaries
and returned in 1874 with four clergy
men. some lay brothers, and six religious
ladies' of Notre Dame d'Anvers.
The mission of the Sacred Heart, IN
the Couer d'Alenes, is said to have been
established in 1912 on the St. Joseph river
but was removed to it's present site in
1916. This enterprise was founded by
Of constructing the buildings-quite nu-
merous and splendid for the time-was
done by the priests with only the help of
the Indians and "a saw, an augur an
AK and an old jack-plane." Father Ra-
valli is mentioned as a physician of the
body as well of the soul, and was a
valued friend of Governor Isaac I. Ste
vens during the days of Indian troubles.
Father Josef, like the Protestant mis-
siCnarles Eels and Walker, spent 10
years of labor and privaton, and wait
! ing before he Witnessed any evidence of
the success of his mission, but he lived,
and sLill lives to see his Indians among
the most civilized and Christianized of red
/ men. OF them, the well known Chief Sell
tce. a manly and admirable old gentle
! man who lives not far out of our city.
| dresses better than the ordinary white
farmer and drives his own spanking
team and carriage, is a fine and credita-
/ HE specimen. OF the venerable priest we
will speak somewhat more hereafter.
The early work of the Roman Catholic
church still remains in the shape of many
mission buildings, farms and schools in
the country to the north and east of us,
and in some historic buildings in Spokane
while such institutions as Gonzaga col
cred Heart hospital may all be classed as
pioneers Of learning and benovoleace.
CONFLICTING CREEDS.
Pity it is that in the rarity of Chris
tan charity" the converts to the two
kindred faiths among red men can nc
more dwell together in unity than theil
divided white brethren. The Coeul
d'Alenes are said to prosecute and de-
spse the Spokanes, while the Spokanes
represent enemies by the sign Of the cross
and utterly refused to go upon the Col
VILE reservation, when they were as
signed to It on account of religious diff
fcrenc with the Colville Indians, though
the sincerity of both parties is unques
| tionahle. The writer Of these papers has
seen both Catholic and ProtCs slant In
dams say a solemn grace over a few
scraps of food and resist temptations OF
various nature with folded hands. up
lifted eyes and the simple argument "M'
been baptized"
In 1874 Mr. II. T.. Cowley. then mis-
sicnary to the Spokanes. reported over g
hundred communicates among his
charges and we quote from a work pub
l.ehed in 1894: at the present time there
are 129 Of these spokanes who are mem
bers OF the Presbyterian churcn. They
which is al Chief Lots settlement abou
seven miles from Walkers prairie. anC
the other is near the mouth of the Spo
kane. Each organization has house o
worship. Native Nez Perez ministers
have preached TO them mainly during thu
last five years"
A set of medalions representing many
famous Indians of this northwestern
country, was executed by the American
sculptor Ohn Warner. few years ag'
and Illustrated in the Century for July
1898. with a short character sketch o
each. Among them are Setlce and TIT
srperannuated Vincent OF the Coeu
d'Alenes. and Lot Of the Spokane tribe
q we'll as Joseph. Moses and others, wei
known to many of us. All old-timers pro
ncunce the portraits excellent and mos
cf them agree with NJ. NJ. Cowley that tn
sketches are "fair, but fowery."
BLASTS FROM THE RAMS HORN