The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-17

In the heart of the beautiful Bitter
Root valley, beneath the shadow of st.
Marys peak, whose rocky summit, tow
erins into the western eky, is land
mark for many miles; shaded by
grove of cottonwood trees planted years
ago by missionary priests; its SIM
plicity Of design testifying to its age:
its slender spire pointing heavenWard
stands the mission church OF st.
Mary's, rich in historical association
and telling silently the story of lives OF
devotion to a sacred cause Around this
little church is halo of romance and
religious legend. 1t was upon the site
of this chapel that almost 60 years ago
and so years is long time in this coun-
try-Father DcSmet established the
first mission in Montana and raised
there the emblematic cross that repre-
scented the cause for which he and his
associates labored. 1t was here that
much of the noble work of Father RAJ
valli was done and 1t was here that.
after years Of toll and devotion, the
venerable priest passed to his reward.
Dear old st. Mary's," he always called
1t and the place was fittingly selected
as the resting place of all that was NOR
tai of this good man. In the little ceme-
terry back of the church, in unobstructed
view of the grand mountains that he so
dearly loved, rises plain marble shaft
that marks the last resting place or
Father Ravalli. A visit to this interest
Ing mission calls up flood tide Of recol-
iections and imaginations and the WISH
tor feels that he treads upon halloWed
ground. The mission buildings and their
surroundings are monuments of services
!, I,rA T ,
and of greater benefit to mankind than
any conquest of the sword.
Scattered through the Northwest, and
in Montana particularly, are many
places that are rich in historic interest.
The landing at Fort Benton speaks Of
the invasion of commerce. The Custer
monument tells its simple story of
brilliant military daring and bravery.
The white shaft that oyerlooks the
Ruby valley in the Big Hole basin re-
calls bloodshed and warfare The crum-
bling houses of Bannack, of Montana
City and of Beartown speak of the rush
for treasure. The high-heaped piles OF
gravel in Alder gulch and Last Chance
tell of successful gold seeking. All or
these have played important parts in
the development of Montana. With
each is associated a wealth of story and
around each cling many incidents of
bravery and sacrifice. All, however.
sink into insignificance in comparison
with the story that belongs to that plain
little church in the Bitter Root valley.
Before there was commerce at Fort
Benton; before it was known that there
was yellow dust in the shining sands of
Montana's rivers before the greed for
gold had brought thousands to populate
the wilderness; before the beginning OF
the strife that followed the march of
the rapacious gold seekers and the I'M
princpled traders-before any perma-
nent habitation had been built in Mon
tana's territory came the Black Robes
to the Tlathead Indians with the mess
age Of salvation. st. Marys mission
was the first permanent settlement Of
whites IN this region that has since de.
veloped into the state of which every
Montanan is SO proud. 1t is the pur.
pose of this Christmas story to tell OF
the coming of the Black Robes and the
establishment of the first mission. I
is a tale of more than passing interes
and is especially timely at this season
of the year. That first Christmas at St
Mary's mission was an event of deel
significance. The incident that Is de
picted upon the first page OF this edi
ton of the Standard-the raising of thu
cross at the founding Of the mission o
St. Mary's was an event that should b.
perpetuated in local history. Its ami
versary should receive fitting recogni
ton from the people of the state who's
beginning it marked.
The Bitter Root Indians.
"Send us a Black Robe that we ma,
learn the religion of your God"-sucl
was the message that the Indians o
the Bitter Root valley sent eastward
by their messengers almost 70 year
ago. From wandering 1roquois ant
from the white representatives Of TIL
fur COMPANIES that they had seen, tn
Flatheads had learned of the strange
wonderful religion of the white man ant
their interest had been aroused From
the IroQuois the Flatheads learned tina
the story Of Christ had been broueh
by the Black Robes. as the Jesuit faith
ers were called by the savaees, who's
religious instincts We're always str0nt
and who respected deeply the holy mel
who braved the dangers of savage TO
and wild beast to carry to the paea1
denizens of prairie and mountain tn
message of love and salvation that the
taught.
It was In 1881, according to the tradi
lions of this tribe, that a council wa
held among the Indians and It was dc
termned to send to st. Louis for teach
ers of the new religion. OF white me
these Indians had seen but little TIL
first to visit their beautiful valley wel
the members of the Lewis and CIar
expedition, who had penetrated the va
ley in 1905. These white men had rt
ceived friendly treatment from the II
dams of the Bitter Root and the SUI
rounding country. "Selish" or "salst
Is the proper name of these Indians, bl
the appellation "Flathead" was b
slowed upon them by Captain Clar
not from any malformation of the hea
as Is the case with the true Flathead
but because when ne crossed the divit
into the valleys where he found the!
Indians he thought that he was in Il
Columbia basin, where he had bee
told ne would find the red men who d
Si,1fr oh Nv fhn Cot chi
process. So the name has chung to ther
and as Flatheads they have been know
ever since.
Later they had received friendly visi
from the white men and the red repr
sentatives of the Hudson Bay compan
and it from these, especially the Il
dams. that they had received their fir
Information regarding the new reltgit