The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-08-28
(comnaunicated.l

lCommunlcated.)
Sunday, August 5, will be day lone
remembered among the Sioux Indians
It marked the second day of theil
Catholic Congress, which began Au
gust and ended August 8. The place
chosen for the assemblage was the
old mission known as St Michaels
Church, Fort Totten Reservation
N. D., beside which is erected the
residence of Father Jerome Hunt, o.
S. B., the faithful shepherd of his In.
dian flock.
Glorious summer weather welcomed
the vast throng Of Indians gathered
from all over the North Dakota reser-
vations, and deputations from Mime
sofa, South Dakota, Montana, Sas-
katchewan and Manitoba. Their nu-
merous tepees scattered around the
mission, and reaching to the shores Of
the lake was a picturesque sight, as
they glistened white in the morning
sun.
The Right Rev. Bishop O'Reilly of
Fargo was the central figure at the
celebration on Sunday. He arrived at
the scene from Devils Lake at 1920
a. m. and having vested, proceeded to
the temporary altar erected in the
open, where Solemn High Mass began
at IL o'clock, the Right Reverend
Bishop presiding. The ceIebrant was
Rev. Bernard Strassmaier, o. S. B., of
Fort Yates; the deacon, Rev. Paul
Lotter, o. S. B., Fort Berthold; the
sub-deacon, Rev. F. Benedict Seethal-
er, o. S. B., Poplar, Montana; the
master of ceremonies, Rev. Paul I'm
muessig, o. S. B., Fort Totten.
After the singing of the first gospel,
a practical sermon on Divine Grace
was preached by Father MCFARLAND,
chaplain, Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake,
who took for his text the words of st.
Paul BY the grac6 s0f God am what
II am, and His grace in me hath not
been void"
Mass being concluded a forceful SER
mon was delivered in the Sioux Ian
guage by Father Jerome, the famous
Indian missionary. 1t may be noted
in passing, that Father Jerome ac-
quired a mastery of this difficult
tongue in the early years of his priest
hood. He can speak the language
fiuentIy, and instructs the older mem
bers of the flock in the vernacular.
He has published a number of Catho-
lie prayer books and hymnals in the
same language, which have proved of
great value in his religious work Be
sides, with the help of his faithful Co
worker, Brother Giles, he edits and
publishes every month from his own
printing press at the mission, a valu-
able Bulletin which circulates far and
wide among the Indian tribes in vari-
Gus states and in Canada.
In connection with Father Jerome's S
work among the Indians at Fort Tot
ten, mention should be made of the
assistance rendered by the Sisters of
Charity commonly called the Grey
Nuns. who have charge of the Sisters
School at the Fort. This school is sup
ported by the Indian Department of
the United States government. For
over thirty years, those sisters have
labored among the younger genera
tion with great success.
Mass being concluded Bishop O'Reil-
lily proceeded to administer confirma-
tion to a large class, about sixty in
all. Amongst the number were many
old Indians. A notable figure in the
group was the venerable local chief,
Little Fish, who is over eighty years
of age.
After comforting confirmation the
Right Reverend Bishop preached to
the multitude present, and In the
course of his address referred In glow.
ing terms of eulogy to the work &C.
complished by Father Jerome among
the Indians. He paid high tribute to
his noble work, to his life of self-de'
NAL, and to his faithful Indians his
joy and his crown.
During all the afternoon effective
work was accomplished in organizing
committees among the Indians. Tc
one of these is intrusted the work oi
combating the divorce evil. Unscrup
ulous lawyers at times take advantage
| of the ignorance of some of these poor
people to, secure divorce, contrary to
the laws of the Catholic Church. This
will be vigorously combated i'm the
future.
The great evil of drink was boldly
attacked. and the total abstinence
pledge administered. A new spirit Il
abroad among the younger Indians tt
break away from the letters forged Sc
llong hY drink.