The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-03-14
A PLEA FOR THE BLACKFEET

Calgary, Alta. March 10-Stoop-
ing under his burden of four score
years and six, his silver locks droop-
ing to his shoulders, and his count
enance creased by deep burrows born
of years in the open, Father Lacom-
be, or "Arsous-kitsi- rarpi" (The man
Of the-good -Heart) as the Blackfeet
Indians know and call him, stood in
st. Mary's Roman Catholic church
Sunday, and with tears of emotion
and gratitude streaming down his
cheeks, pleaded for funds for his Mis-
sion among his proteges, the Red
men.
AS the Indians worship hiil, the
whitemen reverence him. The op.
portuntiy of hearing the little black
robed priest, who has given his
whole life that the Indian might hear
and learn of the Great White Spir-
it" and be saved, was a golden one
to Calgary people, and the large
church auditorium was packed tc
capacity, by members of all creeds
and nationalities.
AS the black figure, leaning on q
cane, stood on the alter and waved
for silence a thrill of admiration pass.
ed over the audience. There was
something melo-dramic about the
hush that followed in the wake OF
the uplifted arm. The bent fig
ure silently gazed at the sea of fac
es before him and the gaze was re-
turned by thousands of eyes and so
profound was the silence that even
breathing seemed sacrilege.
A sob, audible in every part of the
church, came from the grizzled Faith
err The man who in times of peace
and war, plenty and famine, had
conquered and held the hearts of a
belligerent race, was unable to say
word before such vast assemblage
of his own people. The profound
truth that this appeal might be his
last in public, seemed to dawn on
the aged man and his audience at
the same time, and there was another
lull until the realization of the fact
had sunk into the hearts of every
one present.
But the figure on the altar stiff
fened, the withered lips moved, and
perhaps what will be the last address
of the greatest missionary among the
Indians of the Canadian Northwest,
was begun.
In simple word, but direct man
ner, clear and deliberate, audiable
to the farthest corner of the church,
he plead the cause of the Indian
He remained standing with the sup
port of his cane, until shaken with
emotion, and overcome with the eff
forts of his task, he was forced to
sit down and in that position finished
his plea. At the conclusion of his
remarks there was hardly a dry eye
in the audience. Coming down from
his place at the altar, Father Lacom-
be, plate in hand, passed down each
isle, receiving donations as he pass
ed by. Many times, the plate was
taken from the quivering hands and
emptied, only to be retilled again in
a very few moments. Many hun
dreds of dollars were taken in to be
devoted to the Lacombe Home, near
Calgary, of which Father Lacombe is
the head.
With great joy in his heart. Father
Lacombe, returned after the services
to THE Home. 1t is probably the
last time that he will ever attempt
to address an audience The black
robed voyageur of the Oblates, has
probably made his last appeal in be-
half of the Blackfeet for the time is
not far distant when Albert Lacombe.
o. M. l.. Arsous-kitsi-rarpi, THE
man-of- the-good-Heart) who carried
religion and civilization into the pa
gan wilderness of the early fifties,
will be called to his reward