The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-03-25
MGR. RtCH0T GONE BEYOND.

MGR. RiCH0T GONE BEYOND.
Winnipeg, Man., March 11.-Mgr Richot, one
of the pioneer Roman Catholic missionaries OF
Western Canada and for the past 43 years parish
priest at the French settlement of ST. Norbert on
the Red river is dead, aged so years The deceased
priest took prominent part in the Riel rebellion
in 1881, endeavcrng on behalf of the hafbreeds to
bring about "a peaceful settlement and was one Of
the delegates appointed by the provincial govern
ment of Ottawa to draw up bill of rights
Associated Press.
Thus closes, unsUng, but not unhonorcd, the
career of another hero in the Of civilization
and of Catholic Propaganda. Prior to 1867, the
vast eHpanse of land which stretches from old Fort
William ON Lake Superior westward to the Pacific
and northward to the Arctic was known commonly
as the Territory of Hudson Bay 1t was inhabited
by wild Indians and few white men, mostly
trappers and hunters. In that year it was incor-
porated into the Diminion of Canada and oil
government organized. 1t has since been divided
into several provinces and territories of which our
neighbors are so justly proud. But for a long
period before this, the work of civilization had
been going on devoted band of Catholic mis-
sionaries had preempted these regions and made
them the seat of their successful labors. Their
work was done without blare of trumpets lTodesty
has ever been the characteristic of the genuine
labOrer i'll the vineyard of the Lord. The years
rolled by. The rowing Indians were congregated
into settlements, taught agriculture, schools
for boys and girls, and churches arose. Tie prac
tice of Christian virtues replaced that of Pagan
vices Peace and contentment were abroad i'll the
land The government of Canada has had trouble
only twice with its Indians and halfbreeCs In each
instance, the government was to blame. Common
justice and forbearance would have prevented the
outbreaks Father Richot and his fellow mission
aries made possible the peaceful settlement of the
Canadian northwest We can the more easily APP
preciate the greatness of this victory of peace and
enlightenment when contrast it with the history
of the relations of the United States with its
wards"
Strange to say the outside world did not know
of these wonders until they had been ac 2orplsied
and then the world failed to realize the magnitude
of the achievement and the wondrous qualities Of
heart and mind of these heroic Fathers From
human stanpoint they should have failed. They
received no government aid. and had no great
financial support. Their only equipment was the
breviary and the cross. Though their eloquence
kindness and patience must have lecn great more
effective the argument of their pure and
virtuous lives. They conquered half continent,
yet few obituary lines, an humble cross of wood
is their reward" in this world!
How true it is to say that OLE half this world
does not know what the other hall is doing when
such noble deeds pass unknown and un-
hnr Al -. a.
settlements of Hawaii, would have lived and died
unknown but for his accidental discovery by
Stevenson! How many of us can name his sue
cessor who, of his voliton, elected to minister
to the unfortunate recluses Of Molokai-that liv-
ing tomb from which death alone will release him?
Given such examples of devotion and of ac-
complishment, who can be tempt,l to doubt The
virility of the old Church! WHO will dare say that
she has not kept intact the Deposit of the Faith
and that she will not prove he self in days
as she proved herself in ages past-the buwarll of
true civilization and the prcscryer of society.