The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-12-23
Planting De Cross
Tn n1onfana State
Concluded from page ~

DIlSSlS. but the IllDe was on It's way
TO the buffalo country for its food
supply and for skins. To delay this ex-
petition meant possible suffering dur
ing the winter, and that was to be
guarded against if possible. It was
therefore, agreed that the main BODY of
the tribe should proceed on this jour
ney to the plains Of Eastern Montana.
while the missionaries with small es-
cort should make their way to the Bit
ter Root valley, where they would es-
tablish themselves and await the re-
turn Of the hunting party. which would
return in the fall. Accordingly. Father
DeSmet and his companions crossed
the continental divide and entered the
Deer Lodge valley. From there the
journey was easy and was made with
out incidents The route lay through the
Deer Lodge valley. along the river to
the mouth of the Little Blackfoot,
which is near the site of Garrison and
the junction Of the Northern Pacific
and Montana Union railways today
still following the river the priests
passed down through He'll Gate canyon
This canyon and its stream the mis-
sionaries named st Ignatius" river
and canyon. but the other. name has
survived. Down through this canyon,
then dense forest the little party
made its way to the head of the valley
where Missoula stands today. Thence
The route crossed the valley of the
along this beautiful stream brought the
party to its permanent stopping place
which was to be made the site Of the
first mission in Montana, a point in
the magnificent meadow that lies be-
tween the present town of Stevensville
and the river.
THE BITTER ROOT REACHED.
In the calendar of the Catholic |
Church Sept. "a is designated as the
Of Or H. e
upon this day that Father DeiSmet and |
his party reached the Incompatible |
valley Of the Bitter Root and made |
their camp upon the broad prairie bot
tom beside the river Influenced by |
this propitious incident, the priests be-
slowed upon the snow-capped peak that |
rose above, their new camp the name |
St Mary's, and st. Mary's peak it has |
remained. 1t is no wonder that the |
party was pleasantly impressed by the |
scene that presented itself to them as /
they looked out over the valley that |
was to be their home. Around them |
on all sides stretched the grassy plain, |
dotted here and there with groves CT
pine and cottonwOCd-the one bright
green with their never-fading foliage, |
and the others taking on the first tinge /
of yellow that betokened the approach |
of winter. On the east rose. gradually.
the rounded hills that rose to meet the
clear autumn sky. On the west lowered /
the rugged point of st. Mary's peak
and the rocky battlements and but
tresseS Of its neighboring mountains,
all tipped with the first snow Of the au-
tumn month. To the north the valley
stretched away with its rolling surface
broken by the beautiful groves that
gave ii the appearance Of grand park,
and to the south it sloped toward the
mountains. whose broken outline was
clearly defined in the brilliant atmo-
s col T.,
reCtiOnS could the course of the river /
be traced for miles by its fringe Of trees
and shrubbery. 1t was a scene to in
spire an artist and it must have af-
forded the brave missionaries much
pleasure and satisfaction to know that
their work was 10 fab in such pleasant
places 1t is no wonder that they said,
1T is good to be here" ..z
And here, in the midst of these
maUchless surroundings, fit setting for
its holy purpose. was reared few days
later the cross that marked the real es-
adjustment of the mission of St
Mary's-a mission that has played an
important part in the upbuilding of the
splendid empire Of Western Montana
and that is associated with some of the
noblest names in the history of the
Northwest. As long as history is writ
ten these names should be preserved
DeSmet and his devoted associates, Ra-
valli, d'Aste, and the rest of the self
denying priests whose influence at ALL
times insured peace with the Indians
Of this part of the country and aided so
materially in the development Of the
region which they practically discov-
cred. This cross was not a magnificent
affair. 1t was not emblazoned with
sculpture or ornamented with inscrip-
tons. il was simple thing, built Of
rough logs crudely secured together,
for there were few implements for the
fashioninsi of finished carpentry among
the missionaries. Two logs. the longer |
about twelve feet in length, had been
bound together with thongs. That was
all. but this simple emblem was suf-
ficienr. 1t told of the conservation of
the place to the work Of the Master.
Its silent eloquence bespoke the sacred
ness of the purpose with which the
fathers had invaded the valley, hither-
to almost unknown to white men. 1t
was the emblem of the new religion
which was TO be taught to the faithful
Indians whose desire for more knowl-
edge thereof had led them to risk life
itself in the endeaVor to secure the
presence among them Of teachers who
could lead them to the narrow way. :
Rude it was in workmanship and de-
void of characterization, but its simplic !
lily told the whole story more graphic
ally and with more force than could
the most ornate emblem Of the Church
that was ever reared toward heaven.
TIE CROSS. i
Father DeSmet, Father Mengarini l
and Father Point soon after their ar c
rival in the valley proceeded to the t
erection Of this cross. They were as {
sisted by the three lay brothers who /
had accompanied them Brothers q
S9echt, Huet and Claessens, while the c
Indians, gathering around. lent what c
aid they could. 1t was an impressive @
No ora (
echoed TO a more significant service i
than that which was performed by [
these young missionaries upon this oc-
oasi0n. With the infinite dome of heaY- [
en- for a roof with the rugged noun t
jains for the walls, with aisle and choir {
and transept carpeted with the rich |
grassy lawn that formed the valley, t
with the bright splendor of the autumn t
sun streaming over all-there was /
nothing lacking in the rich provisions t
ot the Creator for this important and f
deeply significant event. Priests and 2
lay brothers all wore the simple black i
robes of their order. This uniform in +
sured immunity from attack by the q
savage tribes through whose territory n
they had passed on their long summer
journey. AS the brothers planted the
cross the priests chanted the 'NeXilla
Regis The soft earth was thrown I
around the base Of the cross a prayer il
OF thanksgiving was offered and the u
mission Of St Mary's was established. f
The hopes Of the Indians and the real o
t-rnf &c g -