REPORT

ON

INDIAN MISSIONS

 

To the Most Rev. Archbishop and Right Rev. Bishops in Provincial Council assembled.

 

THE INDIAN MISSIONS HAVING BEEN INTRUSTED to the care of this Western portion of the Society of Jesus, by the Prelates of the United States, we deem it a duty to lay before them some particulars respecting their establishment, progress, and future prospects.

 

No sooner was the wide field opened to our labours, than the Rev. Father Van Quickenborn of happy memory, with his characteristic zeal began to make preparations to open a mission among the nearest Tribes. For this purpose he visited several of the Atlantic cities, in order to procure the necessary funds. He succeeded after great exertions in collecting about $1500. On the 20th of May 1836, he set out in company with another Father and two lay-brothers for the Indian country, and arrived at his destination among the Kicapoos, on the 1st of June of the same year. The agent of these Indians, not being, at first, favourably disposed, refused the requisite permission for building a house; and when he at length consented, the season was so far advanced, that all the funds at the disposal of the missioners, were expended in raising a frame building 24 by 20 feet, and several months passed, before it was ready for their accommodation. In the meantime, they availed themselves of the kindness of a Trader, who offered them his log cabin. When the new building was completed, it served as a chapel, school and dwelling. About twenty children frequented the school. The chapel was well attended on Sundays; some few were received into the church, and many baptised. This first establishment has continued to progress slowly indeed, but steadily, and affords a better prospect every year. The latest letters of the missioner give an account of twenty adult baptisms. If the success has not corresponded to the labour and expense, it is owing, first to the presence and opposition of a Methodist minister, who lives among them, to the vicinity of the whites, and to the difficulties which always attend the commencement of such establishments; for instance, the absence of all the facilities for the acquirement of the language, &c. &c.

 

A second mission was established in 1838 among the Pottowatomies on the Missouri River, near Council Bluff, about five hundred miles west of the Kicapoo sta tion. Two Fathers and two lay-brothers commenced this establishment on the 31st of May of the same year. On their arrival, they received from the Chief four log cabins, for a school, for a dwelling, and for other purposes; and from the United States officer, a block house, which serves as chapel. One of the Fathers devotes four hours every day to the instruction of the children in the Christian doctrine, and the other makes frequent excursions among the neighbouring tribes, and according to his report, he has baptised many children; nearly two hundred adults have been admitted to the Holy Communion, and the practice of bigamy has been in a great measure removed. The accounts from this station are of a most flattering character, and describe in glowing terms, the happy dispositions of thousands of those poor Children of the Forest, particularly of the women and children.

 

In the same year six hundred Catholic Pottowattomies from Indiana, who were accompanied in removal by the late Rev. Mr. Petit, on reaching their destination were transferred by him to the care of one of our Fathers. Their location is on the banks of Sugar Creek, about 60 miles south of the Kicapoo station. This is the most flourishing of all the Indian missions and realizes the accounts which we have read of the missions of Paraguay. A letter from the missioner, received in January last, states that on last Christmas-day, 150 approached the Holy Table, and all who could be spared from domestic duties assisted with great devotion at the three solemn Masses, the first at midnight, the second at day-break, and the third at half-past ten o'clock. There is but one Father at present at this station, and as his presence is almost always required among his six hundred children, he cannot make frequent excursions to the neighbouring tribes. His Catechists, however, perform this duty for him, and often return with several adults ready to receive baptism. The details of this mission would furnish materials for a lengthy and most interesting article, but cannot properly have place in a mere report.

 

We had it in contemplation to open a new mission among the Flat Head Indians on the other side of the Rocky Mountains. During the administration of the Right Rev. Doctor Dubourg, a deputy from them arrived in St. Louis for the purpose of procuring a Priest. The Deputy died shortly after his arrival at this place. In 1835 a second Deputation of a father and his two sons reached the University of St. Louis, from this far distant point, to obtain two Priests of the Society. We could not at this time entertain the project on account of the paucity of our numbers and the limited means at the disposal of the Superior of the mission. We therefore beheld with the deepest regret, the deputies returning to their country without having accomplished their object. In the month of October, 1939, a third deputation of two Indians arrived at the University, having the same object in view. Moved by the ardent desire of these distant and desolate children, who called so perseveringly for those who might break to them the bread of life, we resolved to gratify their wishes and to send two Fathers in the Spring. The two deputies left St. Louis full of joy at the happy prospect. One of them remained at Westport to await the arrival of the Fathers; the other returned to the nations beyond the Rocky Mountains, by whom he had been sent to report to them the success of his mission, and to prepare a band of Warriors with whom he was to return in the Spring to meet the missionaries and his companion at the designated point. At the opening of the Spring, the time appointed for the fulfilment of our promise, when the caravan of the Fur Company was about to start for the mountains, the want of the necessary funds rendered it impossible for us to send two Fathers. The scarcity of money was so great, that we could not obtain on loan the small amount of $1000, required for that outfit. In consequence of these difficulties we were only able to send one Father. He left us on the 5th of last April, to accompany the caravan of the Fur Company.

 

The prospect of these different missions, with respect to the salvation of souls is such as to animate the missioner with the greatest courage in the midst of labour and privation; but we cannot conceal from the Prelates of the Council, who have placed those missions under our care, that their successful continuance depends upon other encouragement and support, than the sweat of the labourers. These missions have hitherto been kept up by remittances from Europe-namely, from the Association of France, and from friends in Belgium and Holland, and also by a small annual allowance made by the American Government; the last, however, is not extended to the establishment at Council Bluffs. These resources are precarious; it may indeed be said, that they nearly failed during the last year. It then becomes a most important question-what shall be done for the continuance of the Indian missions? We leave it to the wisdom of the Council to devise the means for the promotion of this great object. [Here follow the items of the expenses of the mission of Council Bluffs, viz: 1838-$1476.78, for 1839-$1342.60.]

 

At Council Bluffs there are four members, who are to be provided with almost all the necessaries of life. The freight thither on goods is very high, and the dangers of the river require them to be insured. I would humbly recommend to the Prelates to say a word in favour of the Indian missions in their next Provincial letter. The Catholics of the United States would be induced by this means to contribute towards their support, and I doubt not, but a recommendation sent by the prelates to the Central Board of the Association, in France, would prove highly useful to the various stations.

 

St. Louis, Mo. May 3rd, 1830.

(Signed)                                  P.J. VERHAEGEN, S.J.,

 and Provincial of Missouri