Copyright 2000 - 2003 - Janine M. Bork
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Union County, OR AGHP
CHAPTER XXVI.
(1838 - 1848.)
The Roman Catholic Mission.
THE Oregon Roman Catholic Mission was intrusted to two zealous priests, to whom the Hudson's Bay Company gave free passage into the country. It depended for sustenance upon associations for the propagation of the faith in Lyons and Quebec; the voluntary donations of the few Catholic inhabitants of the territory; the contributions by the officers and employés of the Hudson's Bay Company; the mite contributed by natives; and products of the mission farms on Cowlitz and French Prairies.
On July 3, 1834, and February 23, 1835, the Canadian-French families of the Willamette valley addressed the Roman Catholic Bishop of Red river (1), requesting that "missionaries be sent to instruct their children and themselves." On the 6th of June, 1835, the bishop answered that there were no disposable priests at Red river, but promised missionaries from Europe or Canada. In that eloquent paternal letter "to all the families settled on the river Willamette and other catholic persons beyond the Rocky Mountains," he foreshadows the purpose of the Oregon Roman Catholic Mission. "My intention is not to procure the knowledge of God to you and your children only, but also to the numerous Indian tribes among which you live.:
The bishop applied to the Hudson's Bay Company for passage for two priests from Red river, and for consent to establish a mission on the Willamette river; but the governor and committee in London, and the council at Hudson's Bay, would not consent to any establishment south of the Columbia river.
On the 13th of October, 1837, the bishop of Red river renewed his application for the privilege to send two priests to Oregon. On the 17th of February, 1838, Sir George Simpson addressed the Archbishop of Quebec:
"When the bishop first mentioned this subject, his view was to form the mission on the banks of the Willamette, a river falling into the Columbia from the south. To the establishing of a mission there, the governor and committee in London and the councils in Hudson's Bay had a decided objection, as the sovereignty of that country is still undecided; but I last summer intimated to the bishop that if he would establish the mission on the banks of the Cowlitz, or the Cowlitz portage, falling into the columbia from the northward, and give his assurance that the missionaries would not locate themselves on the south side of the Columbia river, but would for their establishment where the company's representative might point out as the most eligible situation on the north side, I should recommend the governor and committee to afford a passage to the priests, and such facilities towards the successful accomplishment on the object in view as would not involve any great inconvenience or expense to the company's service. By the
(1) Very Rev. Joseph Norbert Provencher, whose title was Bishop of Juliopolis.
(208)
letter received yesterday, - already alluded to, - the bishop enters fully into my views, and expresses his willingness to fall in with my suggestion. That letter I have laid before the governor and committee; and I am now instructed to intimate to your lordship, that if the priests will be ready at Lachine to embark for the interior about April 25th, a passage will be afford them; and, on their arrival at Fort Vancouver, measures will be taken by the company's representative there to facilitate the establishing of the mission, and the carrying into effect the objects thereof generally."
Rev. Francis Norbert Blanchet, of Montreal, on April 17, 1838, was appointed by the Archbishop of Quebec to the charge of the oregon Roman Catholic Mission. His associate was Rev. Modeste Demers, selected by the bishop of Red river. The instructions to the "missionaries for that part of the diocese of Quebec, which is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains," drafted by the Archbishop of Quebec, exhibit the designs of the founders of the mission:
"First. They must consider as the first object of their mission to withdraw from barbarity, and the disorders which it produces, the Indian nations scattered in the country.
"Second. Their second object is. to tender their services to the wicked Christians who have adopted there the morals of the Indians, and live in licentiousness and forgetfulness of their duties. In order to make themselves sooner useful to the country where they were sent, they will apply themselves, as soon as they arrive, to the study of the Indian languages, and will endeavor to reduce them to regular principles, so as to be able to publish a grammar of them after some years of residence there.
"The territory which is particularly assigned to them is that which is comprised between the Rocky Mountains on the east, the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Russian possessions on the north, and the territory of the United States on the south. It is only within the extent of that territory that they will establish missions; and they are particularly recommended not to form any establishment on the territory, the possession whereof is contested by the United States. They can, however, in accordance with the indult of the Holy See, under date of February 23,1836, a copy whereof accompanies the present, use their powers, when needed, in the Russian possessions, as well as in that part of the American territory which borders on their missions. As to that part of the territory, it is probable that it does not belong to any of the dioceses of the United States; but if the missionaries were informed that it forms a part of some diocese, they will abstain from performing any act of jurisdiction there, in obedience to the aforesaid indult, unless they be authorized to do it by the bishop of such diocese.
"As to the place where they will fix their principal residence, it will be on the river Cowlitz or Cowiltyha, which empties into the river Columbia, on the north side of the river. On their arrival at Fort Vancouver, they will present themselves tot he person who represents the Honorable Hudson's Bay Company; and they will take his advice as to the precise situation of the establishment.
"They are particularly recommended to have all possible regard for the members and employés of that company, with whom it is very important, for the holy work with which they are charged, to be constantly in good intelligence.
On the 5th of July, 1838, the bishop of Red river, in a pastoral letter to the Catholics established on the river Willamette, having referred to his endeavors for three years, to send them priests, says:
"At last it has been granted
this year; and two pious and zealous priests abandoned all the hopes of
this world, in order to go to you, and to speak to you of God, and induce
you to practice His holy religion. You will, though, be a little disappointed in seeing that the missionaries will not settle among you at the Willamette. Your settlement is situated on the territory of the United States, and consequently outside the diocese of Quebec. The company cannot favor the establishment of a colony in a foreign country; and I, as a bishop, British subject, cannot allow the priests whom I send to establish themselves anywhere else than on British territory, because the line which divides the two powers also bounds my jurisdiction. It is the reason why the passage of the missionaries was refused last year; and it has been granted this year only on the special condition that the missionaries would fix their residence on the north side of the Columbia river; thus this change does not come from any ill will on my part, which I thought proper to let you know. The missionaries, however, can go and visit you, but always temporarily, and will not be able to fix their residence among you. You might, perhaps, in course of time, join them in moving to their establishment. The desire of the salvation of your souls shall induce you to do it."
The Very Rev. F.N. Blanchet, V.G., left Montreal May 3, 1838, in a bark canoe, carrying the express of the Hudson's Bay Company. He arrived June 6th at St. Bonifacius, where he was joined by his associate, Rev. Modeste Demers. On the 10th of July, they commenced their journey for Oregon, reaching Norway House in seven days. On the 26th, the annual brigade, under command of Chief Trader Rowand, started westward. It consisted of ten boats laden with merchandise, a large number of hired men, women and children. Among the travelers accompanying were Messrs. Banks and Wallace, English botanists, on a tour of scientific exploration.
The journey of those two devoted priests to the field of their future missionary labors was a long and toilsome one, but unaccompanied with special danger or accident until the arrival of the brigade at the "big bend" of the Columbia river. In the transfer of persons and freight from that point to the House of the Lakes, one of the boats was badly wrecked; and, of twenty-six on board, twelve were drowned. The travelers, banks and Wallace, with the wife of the latter, were among the lost. The brigade remained eighteen days at the House of the Lakes, after which the journey was resumed. The two missionary priests en route, at the various forts and stopping-places of the company, baptized and confirmed Indians and company employés who had assembled to meet them. Fathers Blanchet and Demers arrived at Fort Vancouver on the 24th of November, 1838.
On Sunday, November 25th, the two priests celebrated their first mass at Fort Vancouver. To obey the instruction establishing at Cowlitz the principal station, Father Blanchet left Vancouver on the 12th of December, reaching Cowlitz Prairie on sunday, the 16th. The settlement consisted of the families of four retired servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, who had taken claims upon the prairie on the west side of the river. Mass was celebrated on Sunday and Monday, at the house of Simon Plemondon. A section of land was taken for the mission, and preparation made to obtain timber for buildings, after which Father Blanchet returned to Fort Vancouver.
(1839.) Early in January with the approbation of Chief Factor Douglas, Father Blanchet visited the Catholic families residing on French Prairie. A log church seventy by thirty feet had been built in 1836. On Sunday, January 6th, the Vicar-General blessed the chapel under the patronage of St. Paul, and celebrated the first mass in the Willamette valley. This visit continued for five weeks, after which Cowlitz mission was established.
In the spring, Father Demers
visited the Indians of Puget Sound. He returned to Fort Vancouver by June,
and met the trading expedition of the Hudson's Bay Company
on its annual return to Vancouver from New Caledonia and the interior posts. After which he visited the Upper Columbia, Forts Walla Walla, Okanagon and Colvile.
On the 9th of October, Governor James Douglas communicated to the Vicar-General "that the governor and committee have no further objection to the establishment of a Roman Catholic mission in the Willamette, and that the missionaries were at liberty to take any means towards the promotion of that object." Father Blanchet assumed charge of Willamette mission, and assigned Cowlitz mission to Rev. Modest Demers.
In the spring of 1840, Vicar-General Blanchet visited the Indians of Puget Sound, extending his mission as far as Whidby Island. There he erected a cross, taught the Indians, baptized children, and reconciled two hostile tribes engaged in war. Father Demers accompanied the brigade of the Hudson's Bay Company, which started from Fort Vancouver for the Upper Columbia June 29th, extending his missionary visits to Forts Walla Walla, Colvile and Okanagon. While at Colvile, he learned of the presence of Father Peter J. de Smet among the Flatheads, who, with equal surprise, had become advised that Father Demers labored in that vicinity. The two missionaries succeeded in communicating with each other; and Father Demers carried a letter from Father de Smet to Vicar-General Blanchet. The Flat head Indians had sent a deputation to St. Louis asking for religious teachers. In response thereto, and in entire ignorance of the presence of Rev. Messrs. Blanchet and Demers in the territory west of the Rocky Mountains, the Roman Catholic Bishop of St. Louis, Missouri, in October, 1839, had addressed the Superior-General of the Order of Jesuits at Rome, invoking missionary aid for the Flathead Indians. The diocese of Missouri then included the territory of the United States westward to the Pacific Ocean. Rev. Peter John de Smet, S.J., was selected by the Bishop of St. Louis, co-operating with the provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus, in Missouri. In the summer of 1840, Father de Smet visited the Flatheads, remained two months and was so encouraged that he returned to St. Louis for additional priests. In 1841, he again crossed the Rocky Mountains, accompanied by Fathers Point and Mengarina. Having established the mission of St. Mary, in the valley of the Bitter Root, he returned to St. Louis, from whence he visited Europe to secure aid for the Oregon Catholic Mission.
Sir George Simpson, upon his tour to Oregon, in 1841, made such a favorable report of the missionary labors of Messrs. Blanchet and Demers, that two other priests from Canada, Revs. Anthony Langlois and John B.Z. Bolduc, were added to the mission. Refused by the Hudson's Bay Company passage overland, they came by sea, via Cape Horn, at the expense of the society at Quebec for the propagation of the Faith. They arrived September 17th, 1842, at St. Paul, on the Willamette. The Vicar-General assumed charge at Vancouver, assigning Mr. Langlois to St. Paul, Mr. Bolduc to Cowlitz, Rev. M. Demers being on a mission to the Upper Columbia.
On the 25th of November, Chief Factor John McLoughlin addressed the following to the Vicar-General: "I am instructed to place one hundred pounds sterling to the credit of your mission, as an acknowledgment of the eminent services you and your pious colleague are rendering the people of this country."
(1843.) The missionary force
was increased by the arrival of Jesuit Fathers de Vos and Hockens, from
St. Louis. On the 17th of october, St. Joseph's College was opened at St.
Paul, with thirty scholars, Rev. A. Langlois, Superintendent. With the
arrival of the Hudson's Bay Company brigade came five men and two women,
aids to the mission, to whom free passage had been furnished. On the 1st
of December (although unknown to
him until the subsequent November), the Rev. Francis N. Blanchet had been appointed Bishop of Philadelphia, which titular rank, before consecration, had been changed to Bishop of Drasa.
(1844.) Several Jesuit priests from St. Louis came to the Rocky Mountains this year. Father de Smet sailed, on the 9th of January, in the ship L'Infatigable, from Anvers, Belgium, for the Columbia river, and on the 6th of August arrived at Fort Vancouver. He was accompanied by Revs. Accolti, Nobili, Ravalli and Vercruysse, several lay brothers, and six religious ladies of Notre Dame de Namur. In November, the sisters opened an academy for girls at St. Paul. On the 4th of November, the briefs arrived by which Oregon had been constituted a vicariate apostolic, with Francis Norbert Blanchet, Bishop. Upon the 8th, he announced his resolution to return to Canada to receive his consecration. The mission of Oregon included nine permanent stations or missions, four of which were conducted by the Jesuit fathers from St. louis. Eleven churches had been built. There were two educational establishments, one for each sex, and fifteen priests and six sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Leaving Rev. Modeste Demers, vicar-general and administrator, the bishop-elect, on the 5th of December, sailed for London in the Hudson's Bay Company's bark Columbia; from thence he proceeded to Canada. At Montreal, on the 25th of July, 1845, the pioneer head of the Oregon Catholic Mission was consecrated Bishop of Drasa. In August, Bishop F.N. Blanchet sailed for Europe, to solicit help and necessary funds. On the 24th of July, 1846, Oregon became an ecclesiastical province, Oregon City its metropolis, and Bishop F.N. Blanchet its archbishop. His brother, A.M.A. Blanchet, canon of Montreal, was appointed bishop of Walla Walla, and Modeste Demers bishop of Vancouver Island. Bishop A.M.A. Blanchet was consecrated at Montreal, September 27, 1846, and crossed the plains the next season, reaching Walla Walla September 5, 1847. He was accompanied by Very Rev. J.B.A. Brouillet, Vicar-General, Rev. Messrs. Roussau and Leclaire, four fathers of the O.M.I. of Marseilles, and two lay brothers. Bishop Modeste Demers was consecrated on the 30th of November, 1847, at the Church of St. Paul, by Archbishop F.N. Blanchet, his former companion and colleague in the Oregon Mission.
In the fall of 1847, the ecclesiastical province of Oregon City numbered three bishops, fourteen Jesuit fathers, four Oblate fathers of the O.M.I., thirteen secular priests, thirteen sisters and two houses of education.
The Catholic missionaries acquired
and retained over the native population west of the Rocky Mountains an
almost perfect control. The uninterrupted continuance of Indian veneration
to the priests, and to the impressive ceremonial of the Roman Catholic
Church, not only attests the zeal of the teachers, but also that their
plan of educating was peculiarly adapted to the mental capacity of the
Oregon Indian. In some instances, tribes have imposed upon themselves the
restraints incident to a semi-civilized condition of life. In national
caste and predilection, the Oregon Catholic Mission must be regarded British.
British subjects present in the country, petitioned a bishop of a diocese
in British territory, for its establishment. The archbishop who founded
the mission expressly intended that its operations should be restricted
to "north of the territory, possession whereof is contested by the United
States." His grant was based upon British expectancy that the Columbia
river would be recognized as the northern boundary of the United States'
territorial claim to Oregon. Before acting upon the petition, permission
of the Hudson's Bay Company to enter the territory had been asked and obtained.
The fields in which the missionaries were to operate were to depend upon
the approbation of officers
of the company on duty in Oregon. Nor was the mission reinforced until the company had yielded its assent. But those missionaries were not narrow men; in their good offices, their charitable labors, they disregarded nationality and race. The mission had been originated for the amelioration of native tribes and the French Canadians then in the country; nor have those features ever been lost sight of in its whole history, or that of its successor, the church into which it has amplified. That church, with the same success, with the same interest in the aborigines, still continues its missionary work in that vast region once so ably occupied by Blanchet and Demers, the zealous pioneers of the Oregon Catholic Mission.