Laurel outlook., 1946-12-25

which sometimes was marvellous.
Mrs. Morris searched far for ma
terial for a Laurel Woman's club
program on the early Christmases
in what is now Montana. The ma
terial she assembled includes the
written history, stories told her by
friends who were either pioneers or
early residents, and some of her
own recollections.-The Editors.
By MRS. c. L. MORRIS
The first Christmas service held
in the Territory of Montana, ac-
cording to printed records, was at
st. Mary's mission in 1841 near the
present town of Stevensville, with
more than 700 F1athead Indians and
some from the Nez Perez tribe in
attendance, together with a few
white trappers and fur traders.
This service was conducted By
Father LeSmet who founded the
mission at the request of the Flat
head Indians. They, in 1881, sent
four of their courageous tribesmen
to st. Louis to consult with Gen.
William Clark of the Lewis and
Clark expedition in their search for
a "Black Robe" and the White
Mans Book of Heaven" They had
learned of the "Black Robes" and
the white Mans Book of Heaven"
from the Indians of the Iroquois
confederacy who had come among
the Flatheads and who had been
converted to Christianity by the
Jesuit priests in the days when the
French held Canada. These priests
were called "Black Robes" by the
Indians who treasured the teach
ings from the "White Mans Book
of God"
The hazardous journey of the four
Flathead tribesmen did not produce
results until nine years later in the
year 1910, when Father DeSmet
came to minister to them. Two of
the tribesmen died in st. Louis and
were buried there; n died on the
return trip; only one returned to
the home of his people.
Though their journey did not pro-
duce direct results its influence on
the history of Montana and that of
the entire northwest was far-reach-
The story of their long journey
and it's unsatisfactory outcome was
published widely, including among
The religious papers of the time the
Advocate, and young men
If various faiths, eager for service,
west. These included Marcus
Whitman and Samuel Parker who
their field of endeavor far to
he west of the Flathead Indians.
Peter John DeSmet, a young Cath
,lic priest of the Jesuit order was
stationed at a mission in Kansas
md heard the story of the Flat
reads search for a "Black Robe"
.S37. In the spring of 1910 he
tarted with a party of fur traders
md after an ardous trip he reached
he jefferson river where the en-
ire Flathead tribe was encamped.
hey received him with great re-
He soon saw that he needed help,
o attended by the whole tlathead
ribe he journey to Three Forks and
eft them, with a promise to re-
This he did on Sept. "a, 1841.
1t seems significant that the first
christmas service held in Montana
'as largely attended by the first
itizens of this vast territory. !
Because of the number present, !
'ather DeSmet held a continuous ,
ervice from Z a. m. until 5 p. m. !
Twenty Indian couples had by that
me been convinced that the Indian {
larriage ceremony was not suffi- !
Ient and they presented themselves Z
Or a Christian ceremony with the
Black Robe" presiding. :
Charley Russell, the cowboy artist,
Ills in his book Trails Plowed |
'nder" about a Savage Santa !
The story is about two men S
no had been trapping and pros {
Getting in the '60s. Having to
nd shelter from a heavy snow {