New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-21
A CANADIAN MARTYR
The Beati6cation Of Father Isaac Josues,
Slain BY Mohawk Indians in 1852.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir, A cablegram from the Rev. Charles
Mscksey, Of the Gregorinn University, Rome,
announces that the cause Of the bsatihcation
Of Father Isaac Jogucs has been introduced
before the Congregation Of Rites FOR dshh'''
consideration and settlement.
Although the death Of Father Jogues at the
hand, Of the Mohawk Indians occurred In
1862 on the site Of the present village OF
Auriesyille. the cause Of having him declared
a martyr and worthy Of the veneration OF
all who hold the Christian faith was not
actually begun until the year 1908. Prior 70
that time considerable preparation was made
by the compilation of documents concerning
Father Jogues and other missionaries who
had Iabored with him, and who wlH put to
death by the Iroquois in Canad 3rebeuf,
Ialemant, Daniel and GARNER N result
Of these Investigations was laid before
tribunal Of ecclesiastics in Quebec, headed by
the present Cardinal Begin, OF that city
Prominent among the witnesses before TINS
tribunal were persons who had made studies
in the lives of these martyrs; among them
the Rev Arthur Jones, Of Montreal; the Rev
Daniel Lowery, representing the Albany dio-
ccse, as Father Jogues was tortured and pu'
to death in the limits of that diocese. and inc
Revs. T. J. Campbell and John j. Wynne, OF
this city. The evidence then presented mas
since been properly submitted to the author'-
ties in Rome who advocate the canonization
Of persons eminent for holiness, and to the
DEVILS advocate, whose Office it is to oppose
the canonization in every way, and to show
If possible, that the persons in question are
not worthy of special veneration.
This part Of the process is so thorough
and searching that the consent OF the ad-
vocates on both sides to the formal introduc-
lions of the cause before tho Congregation
of Rites is usually equivalent to the declara-
ton that the persons involved led sanity
lives, doing great service for religion, and
in this instance, shedding their blood for it.
How long the Congregation OF Rites may
require before declaring these martyrs beati-
fed and deserving of generation it is impossi-
bio to say, though there is no reason why
there should be any serious delay. In canon
izing such men the Church will only be ap-
proving a universal sentiment in favor OF
their generation, which exists not only among
Catholics but among Protestants also.
Among other items of evidence presented
ut Quebec was letter from a prominent
Protestant divine who had gone so far in his
veneration for Isaac Jogues as to place
stained glass effigy Of him in his church.
Among those who took principal part in
locating the site of the Jogues martyrdom
and in tracing testimony from the customs
of the Mohawk families to prove that they
killed him out of enmity to religion was the
late General Clark. Of Auburn, who, though
not Catholic, was most devoutly impressed
by the life and sufferings of Father Jogues.
The one who is now looking after the
process Of his beatifcation in this country
is the Rev. John J. Scully, located at Auries
vile, n. Y, in charge Of the shrine erected
on the site Of the martyrdom.
JOHN J. WYNNE.
New York. Aug. 10, 1916.