Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-08-10
Tooth Anniversary of DeSmet's Arrival
I'm Montana Will Be Marked August Is


s field mass to start at II a. m, Sunday
:. Aug Is.
= Father De Smet came to Montana
: at the request of the Salish tribe o.
Indians who, in the 10 years preceding
had sent four delegates to request the
, bishop at st. Louis, Monsignor Rosati
to send BLACK robes" to the 'spetel-
man." which was Indian for the Bitter
Root valley. One of the delegation was
maSSacred by the Sioux
The Indians asked Bishop RoSati t.
send priests TO the Flatheads to preach
the doctrine and explain the ritual
of that form of Christianity which
Big" Ignace, the Iroquois, had told
them about
Ceremonies at Camp
The spacious, Well-kept esplanade Of
the CCC camp cavern on which the
centennial ceremonies will be held is
an ideal location for the field mass
which will be celebrated to comment
crate the Tooth anniversary of this
historic event.
Through the courtesy of Capt. Wes-
ley Bowman, commanding officer of
the camp, the site has been made avail
able. Project Superintendent Rankin
also is cooperating with Father Har-
rington.
A suitable platform and temporary
altar will be erected. The Most Rev.
Joseph M. Gilmore, d. D., bishop Of
Helena, will celebrate the pontifical
mass. and the vested choir of the I'm
maculate Conception parish, Butte, un-
Joseph G. Willging, vicar general of
the diocese, and Karl Wright, organist.
will furnish the music.
The Rev. M. M. English, pastor Of
st. Ann parish of Butte, will deliver
the sermon. A tentative list OF as
sisting clergy has been prepared but
because these appointments are sub
ject TO change the list is not ready
for publication.
Public Invited to Attend
Following the ceremonies of the CEN
tennial mass, Bishop Gilmore and the
visiting clergy will be luncheon guests
Of Shadan LaHood at the park. The
vested choir which will take an inn
pOrtant part in the ceremonies viii
be entertained at lunch by Capt Wes-
ley Bowman
The public is cordially invited to
take part in the historic celebration,
Father Harrington said.
Since Morrison cave is in this area,
the occasion will furnish a splendid
opportunity for many to visit the
caverns.
Father De Smet came to Montana
in answer to the appeal of delegation
headed by young Ignace," the son
and namesake of father whose heroic |
conduct, in the face of overpowering |
odds, entities him to a proud place |
in the list of the worlds martyrs-of |
that glorious horde who valued loyalty |
more than human life
Father De Smet had been mis-
sionary among the Indians in Kansas.
He knew nothing of the Salish Ian |
were several tribes of /
that division of the red men-but Ig- /
mace. the Iroquois, spoke both French |
and Salish and offered a medium of
communication until the missionary
had mastered the SaliSh tongue.
Camped on Beaverhead
In July, 184O," says the announce
ment of the coming centennial serv-
ices, Father De Smet and his party, l.
snroute from st. Louis, crossed what
IS now the Idaho line and camped in
Montana, first at the headwaters of
.he Beaverhead river, not far from
Red Rock lake: then along the banks
If the same river and In the Big Hole (
)aSin and, finally, on Jefferson island,
1t the junction of the Boulder and /
he jefferson rivers. The exact spot Is
carcely 200 yards from the present 8
tie of the CCC camp at LaHood park," /
N the eSplanade Of which the mass
viii be celebrated. Y
Young" Ignace La Mouse and I
'ierre Gaucher, "Left-Handed Peter" E
7ere as much excited as were the
alish when they finally learned their It
rip to st. Louis was q success and a
nat Father De Snet was on his way. a
ynace, history relates, waited at the
louth Of Bear river through the win f
n in order to be ready to guide the Fl
riest TO the Salish with the coming b
[ spring" Left-Handed Peter hot p
1oted to the tribes with the news. n
oil | -,
'Oreilles, to the number of 1900, b
lShed to the rendezvous with the n
ale-faced priest whose memory Is h
cid in reverence even by the Indians S;
the present generation" as well as D
? the church for which he labored a.
, conscientiously and effectively dur
e many years. Of
was Native of Belgium II
Father De Smet was a Belgian, born II
irving as a missionary among the m
in Kansas he volun- W
cred for service in the Bitter Root ci
hen he heard of the Salish appeal M
r black robes" After serving here fl
70 months he returned TO st. Louis bt
plead for the establishment Of a
mission among the Flat NJ
lads. His wish was granted and two al
Italian priests, Fathers &C
engarini and Point, were assigned to We
him. So
They were greeted on their return tie
lp in the Wind river mountains by II
delegation headed by Simon, the eli
deSt of the Iroquois tribe, and by
larles, Francis and Young" Ignace, w
of whom travelled four days without bI
cd or drink to keep their promise &c
meet the BLACK robes" at the des- na
mated place. ar
The priests supplies were also ex- ca
.usted. The party proceeded to Fort 10
LII, where they obtained provisions, Su
ID then moved to the Beaverhead
'er to join the Salish tribe, who were NJ
en- occupied with buffalo hunt.
The priests, Fathers De Smet, Point he
d Mengarini, after few days stop, All
oceeded into the Bitter Root where on
was decided to build "a house of iol
e Great Spirit"-a mission. 1t was 81
scted near StevenSville and was sl
81