The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-10
Fearless and Persistent Pioneers
Among the Indians.
THE LAST HURON MISSION
The Spread OF Christianity Among the
Indians OF the Northwest.
Power Of the Mission
Near Detroit.

more fearless than the pious mission
aries Of the Society OF Jesus. These
worthy priests carried with them nc
art, no industry which should harm
h dusky denizens of forest and plain.
No attributes Of civilization. but those
which would teach the gentle helpful
ness OF their Great Master were taught.
Civilization to them meant Christianity
No mission ever established by these
austere men ever played n more potent
part in the history Of this continent
than that near Detroit. 1t has been fit
tingly called the last mission OF the
Hurons.
In the last edition OF the American
Catholic Quarterly Review is an ex-
haustive article on this topic under the
title suggested In the opening para
graph OF this story. II deals extensively
with the early history OF the colony Of
Detroit, established In the midst OF the
Hurons. Miamis and Pottawatomies.
The former had embraced Christianity
long before, but a been driven from
their homes In Huronia by their enemies,
the Iroquois. When Father Charlevoix
visited Detroit in 1921 he was attracted
to the Huron village. He found that the
members of the tribe had some faint
traditional knowledge OF Christianity,
but that while not pagans they were
following their tribal customs.
The writer. describing what he terms
one of the most remarkable missionary
establishments in North America dur
ing h 18th century, speaks thus of the
efforts made 10 create 1t:
No Jesuit could look with Indifference
upon the Huron people. who were
among the elite OF the Indians of North
America. Father Charlevolx became
deeply solicitous for their spiritual re-
generation; before leaving Detroit he in
formed the chief sachem that he would,
on his return TO Quebec, endeavor 20
have a missionary sent TO their anton.
He explained the situation to the
father superior of the Jesults at Quebec.
who promised To send a missionary to
h e Hurons at Detroit as soon as one
suitable would be available. But most
OF the ~1roquoian missionaries. who were
familiar with the language OF the HUI
rons. were incapacitated by age and in
trinity for active work. Some years
elapsed before the promise made by
Father Superior Du Park could be full
filled. In 172s Father Armand DE La
Richardie, =. j., was appointed mission
AIRY to the Hurons at the post of Detroit,
and he reached the scene of his spiritual
labors early In the summer of that
year.
He arrived at Quebec in 1725. and
spent the two following years at the
Huron village OF Lorette. near Quebec.
where he acquired "A knowledge of the
Huron dialect under direction OF Father
Richer, y. j. When Father DE La Rich
ardie arrived at Detroit he found the
Recollets of Ste. Anne I'm pastoral juris-
diction over the habitants on both lit
torals OF the strait. To avoid possible
complications In the future as TO his
Jurisdiction as a missionary. he wrote
to Father Superior Du Park. and
through him obtained pastoral control
over the habitants on the south uttoral.
on which side he intended TO establish
his mission.
The location selected was the Point
de Montreal. nearly opposite Fort Pont-
chartrain. where a crescent bay. whose
.gravelly shore touched the channel, |
gave easy access to canoes n larger
boats. This locality is now known as
sandwich, I'm the province OF Ontario.
Canada.
About 800 feet above the shore, and
overlooking the strait. La Mission des
Hurons du Detroit was commenced by
the building OF a mission house 30x45
feet.
The mission church was then built OF
hewed upright timber. II was 20 GU
bits long" The church was well in
closed and rooted with boards. This
"a Piobaoi dttl(dttu OH tnt
festival Of the Assumption. 17e9. Its
built 122 years later, bears
this name. as does the parish.
The funds requisite for the establish
ment of the Huron mission were sup
piled by the government of France.
preliminary work in a letter to the
father superior. which. translated from
the Latin text Is as follows:
"On my arrival I did not find a sim
gle Huron who professed the Christian
faith. though some OF the old people
had been baptized during sickness by
the missionaries before the tribes had
removed from their former homes. one
OF the principal chiefs. Ho-a-is-ens
after being instructed. was baptized:
his example so influenced the people of
his tribe that not a single soul among
them resisted the grace OF the holy
spirit. The death Of this chief soon
after deprived me of this great in
fiuence over the people OF the other
tribes. and ] became greatly discour-
aged.
while in this state Of mind the mer-
ciful Intervention of the Savior induced
the Hurons of both sexes to come
cheerfully to the open air instructions
which I preached.
with Gods assisting grace the good
work succeeded so well that within
three years from the death OF Ho-a-is-
ems not a single soul in the Huron viii
lage cat DetroiD remained uncon-
Then follows n description of a forge
near the mission house and the engag-
ing of an armorer for the convenience
OF Indians and habitants. The writer
Father De La Richardie passed
seven years in apostolic work and then
went to the college I'm Quebec. where
he remained over winter. While there
he arranged for the permanent settle
OF the Hurons on Bots Blanc ISL
and and the attraction Of the tribe to
his mission. He provided for the es-
adjustment of a mission storehouse.
where the Indians could dispose of their
'urs and be protected from the frauds
81 local traders who used whiskey To
them TO drive sharp bargains.
He provided for n factor in Montreal
on his return established the store
house.