The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-11-08

TON OF THE FIRST CATHOLIC
CHURCH IN NORTHERN INDIANA
RELICS OF THE EARLY MIS-
sIoNARIEs-IN 1912 FATHER
soRIN, C. S. c., FOUNDER OF
NoTRE DAME, TOOK CHARGE
OF THE OLD CHURCH.
A little Uncovered log chapel close
to the south shore of ST. Mary's Lake
at Notre Dame University is asso-
ciated with more history than any
other building in northern Indiana,
writes Charles J. Flynn in the Cleve-
land Universe" The present chapel,
built in the spring of 1906, is a repro
duction of a chapel erected on the site
long before there was a state of In
diana or a diocese of the Catholic
Church in America.
Founders day, October Is, at Notre
Dame always recalls the historical
significance of this reminder of pio-
neer days, because the early years of
the college were closely connected
with the original chapel. 1t is seven
ty years since Father Sorin, C. S. c.,
came to the present site of the uni
versity and located himself with six
Brothers of the Holy Cross in the log
| chapel.
Eight years ago an heroic size statue
OF Father Sorin was unveiled on the
college campus and the reproduction
of the original chapel blessed. The
log building is barely 40 by "a feet
and has five old fashioned windows.
the ancient one, according to the
opinion of some of the descendants
of the early Catholics whose fathers
and mothers gave them fair descrip-
ton of the place where they went to
hear Mass. It's quaint appearance is
quite contrast with the other uni
versity buildings, and the obscure spot
on which it is situated surrounds it
with much of the primitive atmos-
phere this nursery of civilization once
had. All around the chapel plot the
halls of the university are located and
everywhere else are signs of modern
activities. Occasionally the silence of
the spot is broken by the merry laugh
ter Of some student out to enjoy a
walk around the principal meeting
place of the Indians and early white
settlers of pioneer days, but usually
quietness reigns here and only the
ripple of the water of the lake dis
turbs the stiffness of the place.
Within the present humble sanctu-
airy are preserved few relics of the
early days of Catholicity, an altar that
is worm-eaten and cracked occupies a
prominent place, a rude kneeling
bench, and an old crucifix. On the
walls are tablets inscribed with brief
sketch of the lives of the missionaries
who attended to the spiritual wants
of the Indians. AS one stands and
gazes at the altar sense of rever
ence steals over him as he contem
plates the sacrifices men of hundred
years ago made in order to worship
God. Here, before this shrine, they
tried to keep alive the spark of faith
that glowed in their breasts, even
when the primitive marks of civiliza
ton were absent. From the altar the
eyes of the visitor turn to the kneel
ing bench. A rude prayer desk with
old faded cushions, so dilapidated that
the least pressure on it makes the
bench creak. But to the early mis-
sionaries this prayer stool was q
priceless gift and was not an orna
ment to take up space in the small
room, as may be seen from the thread
bare spot in the cushions.
One becomes acquainted with the
chapel's history from the printed
cards on the door and the various
tablets on the walls. A few facts
taken from the card on the door gives
the foundation of the building. II
1886 the great Father Allouez, S. j.
visited this region and erected
a chapel The log house contained
two rooms, one an oratory, the othel
living room for the missionary. II
the first room Mass was said for the
first time in the state of Indiana abou
the last decade of the seventeenth
century BY the year 1859, on &C
count of the death of Father Allouez
this rudely constructed cradle of re
ligion fell into disuse But this seed
ling of Christianity was not doomed
to perish. Father Theodore Badin
the first priest ordained in the United
States, crossed the Alleghenies IL
1881 and established a mission for the
Indians on the same spot. Previous
to Father Badin's coming to northern
Indiana, the Jealous missionary was
pastor of st. Francis Church at Bards
town, KY. 1t is said that when he
was displeased with his parishioners
at Bardstown he would leave then
and come to his mission in the wilds
of Indiana. Considering the fact Fa
Their Badin was for nearly sixty years
a missionary in the Mississippi val
ley, one is not surprised his visits
were infrequent to this settlement.