The Irish standard., 1898-05-14
SKETCH OF HIS WORK AMONG THE
SIOUX FROM '70 TO .04.
ARRIVES At STANDING ROCK AGENCY
FROM allS PEACEFUL AND SECLUDED
HOME IN INDIANA,
he lABoREO WITH THE REQ MAN
EVEN AFTER BEING ADVANCED TO
THE PURPLE.


Spencer county, Ind, on February ii,
recalls the heroic and extraordinary
work performed by his immediate pred
ecessor, the Abbot Martin Marty, among
the Sioux Indians, from 1876 to 1894. says
Edward Fitzpatrick. in the Louisville
Courier Journal.
Although this was a labor Of love,
romantic and adventurous to high de-
gree. very little has ever been written
about it. Perhaps in time the novcists
will take it up and make Il great his
toric story out of 1t, but the modest Alb
bot Martin Marty will receive the just
praise TO which he is entitled as mis-
sionary and philanthropist.
Distance and time lend cnchantmcnt
to the stories related of the valor and
daring of historic characters and when
we read of them. we come to believe
/ that there are no modern heroes and
martyrs, or at least, no local ones.
In the Sunday number OF the Courier
Journal OF q recent date an interest
ing story was told of how Il Jesuit priest
taught a tribe of Northwestern Indians
a system of shorthand and how he is
now printing newspaper for them in
phonetic characters at Kamloops, in tho
British posscssicns This work so high
ly regarded by philologists was but
child's play to the undertaking of Il
learned but exceedingly modest man,
who has often been in Louisville, and
who went forth from this section of the
country as voluntary missionary
| among the savage Sioux Indians % years
| hgo
The Benedctinc Order. of which he
was member. WAS founded in $50, in
: the Kingdom of Naples, by ST. Benedict.
1t has furnished 90 popcs and many dig
nataries of cmnence to the Catholic
church. The order has monastcrics all
over the world, but few in this country,
the principal one being at st. Mcinrad,
in Spencer county, Ind, about 80 miles
west of Louisville. Here in a pleasant,
secluded spot. this order maintains Il
college for the education of boys and
young men. The discipline cnjoined on
those who become members requires;
continual residence in the monastery,
md in addition to tho usual religious
exercises directs that the monks shall
employ themselves in manual labor, i'm
parting instruction to youth, copying
manuscripts for their library, etc.
St. Meinrad was founded about Sc
years ago, and in 1870 Martin Marty
who had been a professor since 1860
was made first Abbot, having practically
tho same rank as Bishop. The order has
a splendid estate IN Spencer county, and
the Abbot, being master Of all he sur
veyed, could have lived and died peace
fully in this place, teaching and enjoy
ing literature. From his youth, howeve
cr, he cvinced a strong desire to work
as Il missionary among the Indians but
his duties as president of the collcg,
of st. Meinrad prevented him carrying
out his long cherished desires until july
sion from his superiors, he set ont FOL
Dakota, the home of the Sioux Ther,
We're no railroads in the ter
ritory at that time and i
was August, 1876, when he ar
rived at Standing Rock agency, then thG
headquarters of the principal rcscrva
tion of the tribe. He WAS then in th'
prime of life, having been born AZ year
tnguishcd- and beneath hi
black gown there was a kindly heart
but IT was absolutely without fear.
On the occasion of tho placing Of th
statuary hall, in Washington city on
of the senator's, speaking of the grca
Jesuit missionary and explorer, told o
; how the Illinois Indian chief receive
Marquette when he first went on shore
Welcoming him as Black Gown he toll
him. among other things, that the 81
, shown brighter, the corn grew taller an
the river flowed more plncldly by III
| | 1Uuldu WIBW Dy Itd-Ol bl MS klIlbl
presence among them.
No such friendly greeting reached In
| car of Abbot Martin Marty when h
? stepped off the Missouri river crai
; which conveyed him to Standing Roe
; agency in 1876, fresh flcm his peaccfl
, and secluded mcnastic home in the hill
of Spencer county, Ind. Fircwatcr an
| firearms had made the Sioux less peace
full than was the Illinois tribe that M
Marquette about 203 years before. Th
Sioux had been visited by French mis-
+ sionarcs as early as 1860 and som
8 traces of their teachings were left. Th
}, Abbot was aware of this and he resolve
9 to learn their language. preach to thel
4 in their own tongue and to give thel
4 If possible, written language. A
tempts along this line had previousl