The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-09-16
THE GROWTH OF CATHOLlClTY
IN DEER LODGE, MONT.

Deer Lodge, the geographical appel
a county, of Montana, is unique and
perhaps antique in its origin. Through
4 picturesque valley hemmed in by the
lowering foot hills of the main range
Of the Rockies on the east, and Sec
ondary range topped by Mt. Powell on
the west, flows in a northwesterly di-
rection a mountain stream. In the
south central part of the valley at
some distance from the stream rises
a mound from which flows a spring
of hot water. In winter, this mound
with the steam rising from it pre-
sents from distance the appearance
of an indian lodge. The hot water
flowing down into the stream carries
with it a genial atmosphere which pre-
serves a verdant vegetation through
out the year. To this spot in pri-
meval time, when Indian and animal
held sway, the white-tailed deer flock
ed during the winter season. Associ-
ating the deer with the mound, or
lodge, the Indians called the place
f.Deer Lodge" When the whites were
gaining ascendancy other names were
given but none survived. The town,
though several miles from the mound,
perhaps through Indian pertinacity,
has preserved the name.
The heralds of Catholicity in Deer
Lodge and throughout Montana were
the Jesuits. Indian missions had been
founded since 1912. In 1861, when
the influx of the whites began, the
Jesuit Fathers visited the camps.
However in 1864, the Fathers, realiz-
ing that were they to attend to the
spiritual needs of the rapidly increas-
ing number of whites, the Indians
would be neglected, lay the matter
before Right Reverend A. M. Blan-
Chef, Metropolitan Of Oregon and Vic
ar Apostolic of Idaho Of which west
ern Montana was then part.
The dearth of priests in the great
Northwest was deplorable. The Bish-
OPP appealed to Europe for help, and
several heroic young priests needed
the Masters CALL Among these was
Reverend Remigius De Ryckere with
whose name the growth and develop
ment of Catholicity in a large part
of the state is associated. Father De
Ryckere, native of Belgium, pursued
his theological studies at Louvain and
was ordained at Mechlin May 81, 1864.
He arrived at Vancouver, Washing
ton, in 1865, and the following year
was given a rather indefinite appoint
ment. Co." said the Bishop, ''to the
the extreme eastern boundary of the
diocese and see what you can do
there" (The eastern boundary was
the main range of the Rockies.)
The young priest set out, carrying
with him all his worldly possessions
on horseback from Walla Walla in
company with some miners as far as
the Occur d'Alene Mission where he
was Joined by Father Giorda, S. J.
Not knowing where he was going, he
exposed his dilemma to his compan-
ion who was fairly well acquainted
with the territory. The good Father
advised the young Levite to make
Deer Lodge the center Of his apostolic,
activity, which advice he followed and
ever after appreciated. He reached
Deer Lodge July 81, 1866, and had
some difficulty in finding the few Cath
olics there and in securing a lodging
place. He was finally taken in BY
Mr.. John Grant in whose cabin was
celebrated the first Mass in Deer
Lodge. A few weeks later he re-
ceived generous hospitality from Mr.. |
and Mrs Thomas Coleman with whom |
be boarded until they moved to their
ranch in Helmville where they form
ed the nucleus of a subsequent thirty
ing Catholic settlement
In the autumn of 1866, Father De i
Ryckere erected hewed-log chapel |
on what is now Main street between
Fourth and Fifth. We may fancy his
and interest in this, his
first enterprise in strange land and
among strange peoples. His knowl
edge Of English was meager, his ac-!