The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-05-15
FIRST HISTORY or THE INDIANAPOLIS
CATHOLIC DIOCESE JUST OFF THE PRESS

The first complete and authentic his
tory of the Diocese of Indianapolis is
contained in the new Catholic Ency-
clopedia. The early strivings of the
Catholics in this vast territory are
graphically described and the rise of
the see from it's humble beginnings
to its present important position has
been treated at length. Interesting sta
tistics illustrating the general scope
and influence of the ecclesiastical, ed
ucational and charitable work of the
diocese has been compiled by the
greatest authority on this subject, and
considerable new Information will be
found in the following excerpts taken
from its pages:
THE Diocese of Indianapolis, suf-
fragan of Cincinnati, was established
as the Diocese of Vincennes in 1884,
but by brief dated March IS, and pro-
mulgated April 30 1898, the pope
changed the see to indianapolis. 1t
comprises the southern half of the
State of Indiana, south of Fountain.
Montgomery, Boone, Hamilton, Madi-
son, Delaware, Randolph and Warren
Counties, an area of 1S,479 square
miles. In 1884 the diocese extended
over Indiana and eastern Illinois and
was detached from the then Diocese of
Bardstown. The Catholic history of
Vincennes runs back to the establish
ment there of a fort by some French
traders in 1902 and it takes it's name
from one of these intrepid Canadian
explorers. In the settlement that grew
up about it, as through all Illinois.
Kaskaskia. and Indiana country, Cath
Ollie families settled and rude churches
were built for the Jesuit and Recollect
missionaries who from time to time
visited or were stationed among them.
Pere Sebastion Meurin, a Jesuit, set
tied there in 1854 to care for the desc
late chapels and disorganize congre-
cations. The British having taken pos
session of this territory in 1863, it
formed part of the diocese of the Bish-
op of Quebec, who lived at Kaskaskia,
and occa sionally visited Vincennes,
which had no priest. In 1869 he sent
there Pierre Gibault, the partiot
priest of the West" who spent two
months reviving religion among the
Catholics of the district, about seven
hundred in all. This was the same
Father Gibault who, when Col George
Rogers Clark captured Vincennes in
1779 for the cause of the revolving col
onies, was chiefly instrumental in per
sua ding the settlers of this part of the
west to throw in their fortunes against
the English and Immediately accept
the new government of the colonies.
The Catholic population of the do
cese was poor and ignorant, scattered
widely, without priests except a few
who belonged to other dioceses. To
rule over them Rev. Simon William
Gabriel Brute de Remer was conse
Grated as the first bishop Oct. %, 1884
mo priests, not one except those from
other dioceses. Having come alone,
reside alone, in most depressing sit
uation,' he wrote after having made
tour of his charge. He went to Eu
rope to seek help, in July. 1885, and
returned to Vincinnes in August, 1886
bringing back nineteen priests and
| seminarians and enough money tC
start seminary, an orphan asylum
and a school, to finish humble ca
thedral in Vincennes, and to aid sew
eral small churches elsewhere. This
whole western section awakened a
new religious life under his jealous
| inspiration but the hardships of the
missionary field broke down his
strength and he died June 26. 1886.
ny
de la Hailandiere, his vicar-general
succeeded him as second bishop. Borr
May 2, 1898, at F'riandin, near Cam
bourg, France, he was ordained priest
! May %, 1925, and volunteered for the
American missions in 1886. He had re
turned to France and was begging fol
aid in France when he was named titu