The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-09-16

quaintance with American customs
much less with wild west proclivities,
inadequate to make him self-reliant,
and his character. possessed none of
those qualities which tend to assimi-
late the sentiments of men lately
awakened from wars nightmare and
bent on worldly gain.
On December 8, 1866, the first abode
of the living Savior in this wild region
was blessed and Holy Mass celebrat-
ed therein. Thus under the patronage
of the Immaculate Conception was
Catholicity to flourish through the re-
volving years in Deer Lodge and the
surrounding territory.
About 1874, the log chapel having
become inadequate to the needs of
the increasing population and the
| surrounding valley, Father De Ryckere
started the erection of stone church
on the old cemetery grounds south
west of the original townsite 1t was
completed at cost of about $1,000,
Ke1leher of Virginia City on March 10,
1875. This church of solid masonry
with gable roof and belfry was con-
sidered an imposing structure at the
time in Deer Lodge. Three small
| rooms at the rear served as a paro-
chial residence until 1892. But the
debt absorbed all the satisfaction Fa-
Their De Ryckere might have enjoyed
at the completion of his second ven
ture in Deer Lodge.
The present day Impression that
gold was plentiful and every one was
rich in those early days is erroneous.
The few who made fortunes returned
to the Estates" and those who re-
manned could scarcely support them
selves. By 1870, the placer mines
were showing signs Of playing out"
By 1876, Rocker, Silver Bow and 9TH
er camps were abandoned. Quartz
mines were not discovered and the
agricultural possibilities of the ter
ritory were not realized. From 1874
to 1876 was a transition period Mon
ey was scarce and restlessness pre-
vailed. Many men left bearing the
stings of poverty and the remnants of
wasted lives. To Father De Ryckere
these conditions were most trying.
He sent a report to his Bishop and
asked to be relieved The reply was:
mo one to send. Do the best you
can. God will help you" At the
end of the year he received. an order
from the Bishop to go to an Idaho
mission, but having reconsidered the
matter, he deemed it unfeasible to
leave the church debt to another to
pay and petitioned the Bishop to per-
nit him to remain until he would pay
the debt. The petition was graciously
granted
Perhaps the fourteen years during
which little by little he paid off the
debt were the most wearisome of his
priestly career. Discouraged and dis
heartened, longing once more to see
his mother in far off Belgium, he con-
tinued his ministry in Deer Lodge and
the disintegrating camps.
The black quartz outcrops at Butte
had attracted attention for some time
but not until 1875 was copper discov-
cred. sAbout the same time, silver
quartz was found at Philipsburg and |
gold quartz in other places. Cattle |
raising and dairying in the valleys was |
beginning to elicit the interest of |
the "mining-weary," and a new i'm
petus was given to immigration.
In 1878. Father De Ryckere erect
ed at Butte frame church and bless
ed it under the patronage of st. Pat
rick. 1t was formally dedicated by
the Most Reverend Charles J. Seq
hers, Archbishop of Portland, on the
occasion of the first episcopal yisi-
tation in this part of Montana, on
August 1, 1879. Father De Ryckere
attended Butte regularly until March.
1881. when the Reverend J.pJ. Dolls
was made first resident pastor of
Butte.
Father De Ryckere also erected
at Anaconda, Philipsburg,
4elmville, Flint Creek, Granite and
Gold Creek and attended all for sew
sral years. For a short time in 1876 !