The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-03-05

ty and he went there. When his
mission was made known the six
sisters mentioned volunteered to
come to the United States. Moth
er Theodore, whose family name
was Guerin, was then forty-two
years old, and had proved her abili-
ty. She had brought order out OF
chaos in the schools of Rennes.
She was born in Brittany, in 1898,
and her father was never heard Of
after he started as one of Napoleon's S
officers on the Spanish campaign.
In 1923 Mile. Guerin entered Ruille
az a postulant. Her ability was
qnickly recognized by the foundress
Of the order and she was early placed
in charge of the larger establish
ments of the community.
1t was long journey from the
north of France to Vincennes, Ind.
in those days, and the stage coach
ride from Vincennes to the location
of what came to be known as St.
Mary's of the Woods was through
forests with only here and there evi-
dences Of cultivation Of the land.
1t is true that Terre Haute was then
town of some importance and that
Harrison and Taylor, each OF whom
afterwards was president OF the
United States, had commanded the
troops at Fort Harrison, in sight OF
st. Mary's, and driven the hostile
Indians from the valley generation
before this time, but it was frontier
country where the coach stopped.
Mother Theodore wrote OF their
arrival that when their guide, Faith
er Buteaux, told them to alight that
they were at their "home," they
were surprised to find themselves
still in the wilderness. They oc-
cupied one room in Farmer Thrall's s
house with four postulants, who
had been awaiting their arrival.
The next month they bought the
Thralls' house, and that was the
beginning of the acquisition Of
property, which was so rapid that
in 1S45 legal incorporation papers
were taken out. The Sisters Of
Providence is still corporation, and
holds its property entirely distinct
from the property of the church.
In 1S41 Mother Theodore sent to
France for a young religeuse at
Ruille, who, before she entered
Ruille, was Mile. Irma lie Fer de la
Motto, Of honorable lineage among
the nobility of st. Servan, Brittany.
She was highly accomplished lady
and had applied herself to bellies
letters. She came and labored at
the mother home until her death
many years later.
In 1913 Mother Theodore and
Sister NJ. Cecilia, ayoung American
novice, went to France to solicit aid.
Mother Theodore left brief story
of the reception of the two women
from the "forests" by the great
people Of France. She says that
they had letters Of recommendation
from Marquis and Marchioness De-
Brissac to many people Of prorni-
nence in Paris, but that when
they arrived at the capital most Of
the persons had gone to their coun-
try seats. "Only one letter re-
mained,' writes the mother su-
perior, land it was directed to Mile.
Lebrouche, at the chancellor's Of
flee. We passed by the Place
Vendome more than once, but we
did not even look toward the chan
cellor's Office, thinking it would be
useless to present ourselves there.
Sister M. Cecilia begged me to make
one more trial and use the last let
ter. / yielded through mere CON-
plaisance feeling great reluctance to
call. The ministers Of Louis Phi
lippe lived there. They were the
men actually in power. What
could two strangers, especially re-
ligeuse, expect from those men?
Having presented ourselves at the