The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-03-26
FREDERICK BARAGA.
Interesting Biography Of the
Great Indian Mis-
siOnary.
AMONG THE CHIPPEWAs.
The Inauguration Of the SANITY
Priests ApOstOlate Among the
Chippcwas of Lake Superior.


Elected from the field of his mis-
sionanary work among the Ottawas
in the Grand River valley by the
United States Indian agent, Father
Baraga returned to Detroit in the
winter of 1894, determined to enter
upon the more extensive and hazard
Gus field of missionary work among
the Chippewas of Lake Superior.
AS the upper lakes were not open
to navigation, he was, at his own
request, sent by Bishop Rese to look
after the struggling members OF the
Catholic faith in St. Clair county.
This county borders the river and
lake of this name, and is from
twenty to sixty miles from Detroit.
He worked in this locality for five
months, doing much good, and then
returned to Detroit; in the mean
time he had acquired a fair knowl-
edge of the Chippewa language.
Father Baraga's relations with
the chiefs of the Ottawa nation was
such that he became fully posted in
regard to the economic status of the
remnants of the Chippewa tribes on
the Lake Superior coast, their utter
pagGnism and their woeful condition.
This knowledge, however, moved
his charitable soul to undertake
their regeneration and conversion
to Christian life. This is evident
from letter to his sister, written
durir = his missionary labors among
the 'shite settlers on the Saint Clair
river:
1T appears strange to me, he
writes, ''to be in a congregation OF
whites | live here in peace, and |
am much more comfortable than
among my Indians, but feel like u
fish thrown on dry land. The Indian
mission is my life; now having
learned the languages tolerably well
l am firmly resolved to spend the
remainder Of my life on the Indian
mission, if it be the will of God, |
am longing for the moment of my
departure for Lake Superior. Many,
| hope, will be converted to the re-
ligion of Christ, and find in it their
eternal salvation. OH how the
thought elevates me! Would that !
had wings to fly over ice-bound
lakes, so as to be sooner among the
pagans. But what did | say? Many
will be converted?. Oh, no! IL
only one or two were to be con
verted and saved it would be worth
the while to go there and preach the
gospel. But God in his infinite
goodness, always give more than we
expect.
These lines mirror the aspirations
of the soul of Frederick Baraga. He
was then in his thirty-eighth year.
July 9, 1888, Father Baraga en-
barked on his voyage to the upper
lakes by the way of Mackinac. From
this island he sailed by open boat to
Sault Ste Marie. and thence by
batteau. coasting the shores of Lake
Superior, he finally reached LaPoint,
near the headwaters of Lake Su
perior, July ~ 1888
His reliance upon the aid Of di-
vine providence must have been
great, for when he arrived at this
island, where he intended to com
mence his missionary works. he had
but 80 in money. He found mixed
population on the. island French
and American Indian traders, half
breeds and native Chippewas.
Having located the site of his
mission near log cabin, which he
had procured for his residence, he
began the building of log church,
which he completed in seven days
aud then dedicated it to St Joseph.
BY what means he was able to build,
to furnish his little cabin, and 10
provide the requisites for the in
stallation of his missionary work, |
have no definite knowledge 1t is,
however, probable that the traders
on the island gave him credit for