The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-12-06

at least would oppose it.
Continued from Page ~
MINNESoTA'S CATHOLIC HISTORY.
now offered him his freedom; and the
missionary set forth down the Mis-
sissippi, in the hope of receiving aid
and provisions from the explorer de
la Sale. But failing in this, he re-
turned once more to the Indian camp.
1t was at this time that Daniel Du
Lhut was engaged in exploring the
Lake Superior region. A rumor hav-
ing reached him that some white men
were among the Indians, he repaired
thither, and at last on the 25th of
July, 1880, found Father Hennepin
and his companions. All returned to
Mile Laos where they arrived about
the middle o. August. In September,
they took leave of the Indians and
spent the winter at Michilimakinack.
Early in the following spring, Father
Hennepin set out for Montreal; and
in the autumn he sailed for France
and published his adventures in the
description of Louisiana.
Like Pere Marquette who in June,
1879, took possession of the Missis-
sippi Valley in the name of France,
and whose name will thenceforth be
forever associated with it, Father
Hennepin is enshrined in the history
of Minnesota. A county of Minnesota
and a street in Minneapolis have been
named in his honor; and among the
paintings which adorn the new capitol
at st. Paul is one by Douglas Volk
that recalls a memorable scene-the
baptism of the falls of St. Anthony
by Father Hennepin.
Early Missionaries.
The seed cast into the soil of Min
nesota by Father Hennepin bore in
due season an abundant harvest.
From that day to this, no generation
has been left without it's witnesses to
the faith of this fearless explorer
priest. Missionaries, voyaging for
God-"peregrinantes pro Christo'-as
Jealous as those who converted Eu-
rope, have stemmed with their frail
banks the waters of our mighty river,
have sailed over Minnesota's ten thou
sand lakes, have planted the cross on
her fertile prairies. Received with
open arms by the scattered settlers,
hn nnd0Qrn6
themselves to the Indian; and the
noble redman reveres the person and
drinks in the instructions of him
whom he invariably and lovingly
styles "the Black Robe"
The history of Christian civilization
in Minnesota reads like romance.
In the medieval times villages
grouped themselves around the castle
of the feudal lord, for protection in
those lawless days. In like manner
the early pioneers of America were
wont to seek the sheltering shadow
of the Governmental forts. Thus it
came about that Fort Smelling became
the center of the first white colony
founded in Minnesota.
Father GaItier.
1t was in the summer of 1889 that
Bishop Loras paid his first visit to
Fort Smelling, and the adjacent colony
Mendoza. There he found 185 Cath
olics. 1t was Immediately decided to
build a church; and the new parish
was given in charge of Father Galtier.
The city of st. Paul was not yet in
existence; but on the site of the future
capital, stood single cabin owned by
Phelan, veteran of the fort. Soon
a few families built their simple
dwellings beside that of Phelan; and
finally church was erected of rough,
unhewn logs. 1t was dedicated to the
Apostle of the Gentiles; and at the
suggestion of Father Galtier the in
FAINT colony round the Irishman's
cabin received the name of st. Paul.
This humble log hut was the seed
of the present metropolitan see, and
the handful of cabins have now be
come the populous capital of a great
and prosperous State.
Father Ravoux.
In 1874 Father Galtier entrusted his
work to the care of Father Ravoux.
For three years the latter had so
journed among the Indians, preaching,
converting, baptizing. Following the
course of the Little Minnesota, he had
reached the Dakota prairies and there,
on the watershed of the Red River
and Mississippi Valleys, on the barren
shores of Lake Traverse, he had con-
Quoted his saving mission. It was not
without keen regret that he answered
the call of the Bishop, and often he
pleaded to be allowed to return again
to his beloved Sioux. A few times,
however, he had the qualification of
preaching to them at Fort Pierre, and
along the Missouri River. His power
for good, and influence over the In
dams were strikingly illustrated on
many occasions notably in that of
the execution of thirty Eight Sioux
braves at Mankato. In this instance,
out of the entire number, thirty-three
received the spiritual ministrations of
Father Ravoux.
In 1916 Father Ravoux moved to st
Paul-he had up to that time lived
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