LETTER XXVI.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRECIS HISTORIQUES, BRUSSELS.
The Patawatomies
Father Duerinck, of the Society of Jesus, to Rev. P. J. De Smet, of the same Society.
1850.
REV. FATHER:
Called from Bardstown college to hasten on and complete the work begun by my predecessor, who for several years had presided over this mission, I arrived, early in November, 1849, at St. Mary's, and was received with the warmest welcome by my religious brethren.
I was accompanied by two lay-brothers. One was to act as treasurer, the other as cook. A third brother joined us in the course of the fall, and we made him herdsman. They also sent a young Irishman to teach the boys in our school English, having been for some time deprived of that branch for want of a teacher. It was intended, too, that he should form them to virtue, as far as he was capable.
We set to work. Although one of the brothers abandoned us suddenly, yet, thanks to the protection of the Almighty, we succeeded in covering in the buildings in course of erection before the cold set in.
We cannot here pass over in silence the aid afforded us, in our misery, by the Association for the Propagation of the Faith. Their charity, which embraces the whole world, gave us six hundred dollars, and this sum, increased by the five thousand dollars granted by government, as well as seventeen hundred dollars spontaneously offered by our neophytes, furnished means to lay at least the foundation of the work.
In the early part of 1850 our mission contained seven members; three Fathers and four lay-brothers. The Ladies of the Sacred Heart were five.
Our first care was devoted to the instruction of youth. We felt that if we could thereby gain the parents, our school would daily increase in numbers, while those of the Baptists would be deserted. But the shy became clear and serene only after a storm.
There is in this country a certain class of men called medicine-men, or jugglers. Very ignorant, they are distinguished only by the pride of their character. They have received some vague notions about the Catholic religion, and utterly despise the acquisition of the heavenly goods, a love of which we endeavor to infuse into the children. They demand from us temporal aid, which our poverty does not enable us to give. This gives rise to dissatisfaction, and even threats and insults. Some wicked ones made it a ground for exciting the people against us. They drew comparisons between the Protestant schools and ours. The consequence of all this was, that a great number of boys and girls were, so to speak, wrested from our school and taken, in spite of themselves, to the Baptist school. Elated by this first success, the partisans of that sect did not hesitate to say openly that our school and mission would soon close. But we are convinced, on the one hand, that there is, in the apostolic career, no good enterprise that the devil does not seek to embarrass; and, on the other, relying on the justice of our cause, and the almighty protection of God, always hoped that this storm would soon pass, and that excited minds would resume their ordinary calm.
We had, too, in a manner, to maintain the war against our own neophytes. All who have visited these parts are well aware that these denizens of the woods beg their bread, whether pressed by want or not, and you constantly hear them repeating I am hungry." According to one of their traditions, they believe that all that an individual possesses in private belongs, of full right, to the whole village. The previous years, as our Fathers had no scholars to feed, they were able to give abundant alms, with a certain profusion, to the tribe confided to their care, and this was a potent means of gaining the affection and esteem of all : but circumstances had changed ; we, too, had to change our tactics, and we did not feel that we could give so lavishly out of doors what we needed so much within. We had, consequently, to restrict ourselves to aiding, as far as our means permitted, those really in distress. As for the others, we told them that they ought, by their own labor, to obtain wherewith to live; that such was the law of the Sovereign Master, and that if they obeyed it faithfully, they would soon have every thing in abundance ; that their health would also be better. We especially sought to inculcate that, by destroying idleness, the source of all evil, they would soon experience in their soul the joy and happiness which a life sanctified by the practice of Christian virtues affords. Our counsels made some impression on a small number of the most sensible ; but for the rest, especially at first, the food was too spiritual for them to relish. Hence many, if they did not accuse us of avarice, at least, reproached us with being too hardhearted. Yet, as there was really no ill-will among them, and, by God's grace, they saw all the pain and trouble we took for the salvation of their souls, they did not long listen to their most deadly enemy, but returned to better feelings.
Towards the latter part of February, Father Hoeken, after giving the eight days' retreat in our mission, started for St. Louis, whence he proceeded to Michigan, to assist the Potawatomies of that State. It would be impossible to describe the joy experienced by these poor men of the woods at the sight of a minister of the Gospel, whose great age rendered him so venerable, and who proclaimed the eternal truth in their own language. Father Hoeken, unable to prolong his stay, left them, after a few clays, to the great regret of all. He immediately returned to those whom he could so justly call his children in Christ, bringing a lay-brother to teach the boys. Another brother had joined us, not long before, who acted as shoemaker, and, at the same time, endeavored to restore somewhat our little church choir, which had greatly declined.
As the Potawatomies occupy a large tract, in order to afford more easily the consolations of religion to all the Catholics, we have erected two churches beyond the Kansas, one, dedicated to Our Lady of Dolors, is about seventeen miles from our residence; the other, dedicated to St. Joseph, is in a little village six miles hence. Before erecting these two churches, we agreed that every Sunday one of our Fathers should go to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice alternately, in one of the two.
St. Joseph's village has a Baptist establishment, where children are instructed. Boys are mixed up with girls, and it is needless to say that this cannot be without detriment to morality. The superintendent of the school is a physician also; so that, being at the same time teacher, physician, and preacher of the Word of God, as he says, he enjoys a triple income not to be despised. He has been among the Potawatomies since he was a boy, but Call his efforts to win them to his doctrines have been thus far fruitless. He had formerly one adherent, but one day he happened to sell his friends a great deal of strong liquor, and they becoming intoxicated, rushed on the Baptist house and burst in the doors with great uproar. In consequence, the only neophyte they had in the country was, ipso facto, visited with major excommunication as they call it. The Catholics have such an aversion for the Protestant ministers, that they will not even receive them as physicians. We will -cite one fact, although we cannot approve it. It will show how greatly the Catholics fear being perverted by the Protestants.
A woman was dangerously ill. As soon as the Protestant minister heard it he went to see her as a physician, though without ceasing to be a minister. When he arrived at the sick woman's house he was met by some very stout men, who called out: "What brings you here?" "I come," replied the minister, "to bring medicines to the sick person, and I am sure that she will be helped." " We have medicines as good as yours," they replied, roughly. "If you will not let me give her remedies, at least permit me to offer her some consolation." "Gently; she needs rest, not consolation."
"But let me see her." "No, she will not see any one." At these words the minister retired, accusing us as the authors of his ill reception, and vowing summary vengeance.
In fact, a few days after, one of our community, called by a sick man, went to see him. At the door of the lodge he found a furious young mate, who addressed him in about these terms : "The sick man has been confided to my care; the physician does not want him troubled, so that you shall not see him." The Father replied in a calm but firm tone, that he was a priest and not a doctor; that he had no intention of contravening the doctor's orders ; that he gave him. all due respect ; that he had still less intention of troubling the sick person ; that, on the contrary, he came to afford him the consolations of our holy religion; that as he had been called in by the sick man himself, he would not go without seeing him. On this the young man desisted ; but at the very moment the minister, who had kept out of sight in the house, appeared and apologized for the young man's conduct.
A Methodist minister also came along. He tried to sow cockle among the Potawatomies. As he had resided nearly twenty years among the Ottos, he speaks the Potawatomie with uncommon ease. He, too, settled in St. Joseph's, hoping to gain the people more easily, as they were remote from us. He especially endeavored to get the chief (Joseph Mechkomi) into his toils. Fortunately, however, he was not a man-to be caught by words. One day the minister went to see him, and found him reading the Bible. "What are you reading?" said he, as he entered. "The Word of God," replied Mechkomi.. "And what does the Lord say to you?" "He says, I beware of false prophets, for they will come in the form of lambs, but within they will be ravening wolves."' Then, he added, in a still firmer tone, " And do you stop laying snares for us, or go elsewhere, for here you lose your time and trouble." The minister, astonished, took the advice, and withdrew to another part.
The following is a general view of the spiritual fruit that, with God's grace, we have been enabled to gather this year. I will sum up all briefly. Fifty couples have been united in the holy bonds of marriage; 36 dead have been buried with all the ceremonies of the Church; we have heard about 5000 confessions ; 117 persons, including 30 adults, have received holy baptism. I will relate the conversion of but three, because they are the most remarkable, and suffice to show us the infinite goodness and mercy of God to sinners.
The first of these converts, Chawnekwok by name, had experienced for years the inward struggle of grace, which urged him to bridle his passions and devote himself to God's service; but he had always resisted this appeal till he was was far advanced in years. At last, however, alarmed by the thought of eternal pains, and pursued night and day by remorse of conscience, he durst no longer defer, and resolved to give himself forever unreservedly to his Creator and Sovereign Lord. Then, painting his face various colors, he went to a priest and imparted his courageous resolve. He told him at the same time, that he had selected for his abode a spot near the church; that he would soon return to his family to acquaint his wife with his design ; that then, having washed his face, he would come back to be instructed in the faith. For a month our good old lean used every imaginable means to gain his wife to Christ, or at least to bring her with hire to the village. As nothing could induce her, but instead of yielding she only increased in obstinacy, he addressed her in about these terms: " Go, wretched woman! go on provoking the wrath of the Almighty ; for my part, I shall not expose myself to the eternal flames of hell on your account!" After these words he left her, and came to reside with the Christians. Desirous of ridding himself of all that had formerly served for the worship of the devil, he placed in the missionary's hands a bag full of medicines and herbs, begging him to choose such as could really help the sick, and to destroy all those to which a magical or a superstitious power was attributed. Some were very strange. To some were ascribed power to kill enemies, even at a great distance; to others, power to attract whole herds of stags ; to others, power of getting the coat, pistol, or other articles of a person met on the way. There were some, too, to win the friendship of whoever you wished, and to excite in others improper thoughts. All these objects, and many others which the devil employs to deceive the people, were committed to the flames, in the presence of the good old man, who at the sight felt such profound joy that he could not refrain from tears. After a due probation, he received holy baptism. From that moment he changed completely his mode of life; in all the difficulties and miseries of life, he maintained so calm and cheerful a spirit, that the missionary s could not help one day asking him the reason: "Father, once our name is inscribed in heaven in the Book of Life, nothing should afflict us on this earth."
Chawnekwok, having seen and felt himself how sweet it is to serve the Lord, ardently desired to communicate his happiness to the members of his faintly. He took especial
care of a niece aged about eight. By a pious stratagem, he induced her parents to let the little girl come and live with him. In three days he taught her all the prayers that catechumens are accustomed to learn, and then took her to the priest to be regenerated in the waters of baptism.
He then tried to gain his own son, who, at last, gave him as much consolation as he had given him pain at first. This young man had formerly been among the catechumens; but he was such a slave to vice, and his relapses were so frequent, that the missionary, finding him deaf to his father's counsels and exhortations, bad lost all hope of ever gaining him, and resolved to abandon hire to the tyranny of his shameful passions. The pious old man, on learning the missionary's resolution, threw himself at his feet and implored him with tears to take pity on his wretched son, and not to give him up ; he told him that he would go and see him himself, that he would once more beseech him not to resist the grace of God, and that he had no doubt that if the missionary would join his prayers to his, the lost sheep would return to the fold. The missionary could not resist this touching appeal, and consented to accompany hint, more from esteem for the father, than from hope for the son. The old man set out at once, although it was midwinter, and he had taken nothing that day. The missionary followed hire closely, and had the consolation of restoring to the strait path of virtue this new, prodigal child, gained by the prayers and tears of his virtuous father.
God, who shows himself so good and so merciful to the greatest sinners, will certainly not forsake those whom lie beholds leading, amid the shades of heathenism, a more orderly life. The Supreme Truth has promised that heaven will not refuse ulterior graces, to those who employ well what they have.
The realization of this has appeared in the conversion of .a woman named Misseniko. She was dangerously sick. Although she could not reproach herself with any grievous fault, she was not tranquil; for she knew that without faith, it is impossible to plea-se God. Hence, without delay-for she always did what she deemed the surest and most perfect -she called in the priest. The minister of the Lord taught her what God required of her. She at once asked and received baptism. With every desire gratified, she constantly exclaimed amid the pangs of sickness: " I shall die willingly; for I have received holy baptism. I shall see God and all his saints for eternity." The conversion of this woman is due, we believe, in a great measure to the prayers of her daughter, who had gone, a few days before, to receive her reward in heaven. Young Miisseniko was always distinguished for her tender devotion to the Mother of God. She preserved, with great respect, the scapular which she had received at school. She held this object of devotion in such esteem that, during her illness, while delirious she raised her hand to her scapular whenever it was touched, for fear any one should deprive her of her precious treasure.
The pious girl died, and her mother bewailed her bitterly. But one night the eldest sister of the deceased saw her, not in a dream, as she herself relates, but when perfectly awake,-saw her all radiant with light, and beard her utter these words: "Why do you weep so bitterly for me ? I am enjoying eternal happiness. I died in the morning, as you recollect, and I remained in the flames of expiation till about noon, then the Blessed Virgin delivered me and took me up to heaven" Although stories of this kind should not be lightly credited, we must nevertheless admit, that the Lord is admirable in his saints, and in his manner of guiding his elect.
And, doubtless, the sun of divine justice enlightens all men. God wills not the death of the sinner, but that he be" converted and live. He not only, so to speak, goes forth to meet those who come towards him, but lie even pursues those who fly from him ; he urges, be presses them constantly to do penance, that thereby we may better understand that what good there is in us, is not due to our own merits, but to his sole goodness, to the infinite mercy of God.
Here is a remarkable instance. There was in the southern part of our mission, a man named Kamchas, a slave of liquor, and of all the vices which usually attend that bad habit. One night, he was suddenly awakened from a deep sleep, and seemed to hear a voice cry: "One of your relatives has just died suddenly over the river. Get ready, for you will soon follow him." At first, Kamchas took this cry for a dream, endeavored to banish the disagreeable idea, and get to sleep again ; but the terrible voice troubled him. To calm his mind, he crossed the river as soon as it was day and came to our village. He had hardly got there, when, to his amazement, he heard of the death of a young kinsman. You may easily conceive his feelings, his pain, and his anguish. One day, while reflecting On the event, and more than usually troubled, he met the missionary, who, seeing hint persist in his idolatry, explained to him the duty of all men to know and serve one only God, creator -of heaven and earth. He urged him to determine the course of his future life, and to make an humble confession of his faults. Kamchas hearkened to the advice. Four weeks after, lie came to the Father, humbly to solicit baptism ; but, according to custom, obtained this favor only after a long preparation. The neophyte really put off the old man to put on the new. Thenceforward patience, mildness, temperance, diligence, a spirit of prayer, and a remarkable devotion to the blessed sacrament, were the virtues most resplendent in, him. When he met any thing difficult, or less agreeable to corrupt nature, he was accustomed to excite his courage by words like these :"To become a slave of Satan, you overcame the greatest difficulties; and you cannot surmount a little one to be a child of God!" Although, as warned from above, he spent but a short time longer on earth, he thus laid up the merits of a' long life.
Such are, Reverend Father, the chief benefits received from heaven during the year 1850 ; and for which, on the 31st of December, we, with unanimous voices, thanked God by the joyous Te Deum.
Accept, Rev. Father, the assurance of my profound respect
Your devoted brother in Christ,
J. B. DUERINCK, S. J.