Letter XXXII,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRECIS HISTORIQUES, BRUSSELS.
Religious Situation of St. Louis and St. Ferdinand.-Death of Rev. Father Bax.-
The Osages.
REVEREND FATHER:
The following is the copy of a letter which I wrote to the Canon De la Croix, at Ghent. If that respected ecclesiastic will allow its publication, it may form the continuation of those which I have already addressed you:
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ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE, KENTUCKY, April 18, 1855.
REVEREND SIR:-I am informed, by a letter from one of our Fathers in Belgium, that you have authorized him to announce to us an advantageous donation, allowed by the " Propagation of the Faith" in Lyons, for the purpose of aiding the society in its labors in Missouri, which, at the present time, extends into several other States and Territories, situated in the West of this vast republic. I thank you, in the name of the Rev. Father Provincial, with sentiments of the most sincere and heartfelt gratitude.
Since the period of your departure, there have been many changes in the wild-woods which ),on were one of the first to evangelize. I thought it would give you pleasure to enter into some details concerning the cities of St. Louis and of St. Ferdinand, with which you were formerly so well ac. quainted, and of the nomadic tribe of the Osages, of which you were the earliest apostle.
In 1823, St. Louis counted but 3000 or 4000 inhabitants. There was but one poor Catholic church-and two schools were all that she could boast. At the present day her population exceeds 120,000 souls; there is a handsome cathedral, with eleven other churches, a seminary for the secular clergy, a large and magnificent hospital, directed by the Sisters of St. Vincent of Paul; a college of one hundred and fifty boarders, one hundred and twenty half-boarders and externs, and three hundred or four hundred children gratuitously admitted. There is a boarding-school for the children of good families, under the direction of the Brothers of the Christian schools ; the Ladies of the Sacred Heart, the Sisters of the Visitation, and the Ursulines, have handsome and extensive boarding-schools for young ladies. Five asylums, for the two sexes, contain beyond five hundred children ; and there is also a foundling hospital. A house of retreat is opened to penitents, and to young girls in danger. Eleven or twelve schools for boys and girls, are conducted by religious. I regret that I have not the statistics of the fructus animarum (fruit of souls) ; it must be extremely consoling, for all the churches are very well frequented.
The fervor of the Catholics corresponds everywhere to the zeal of their pastors. The union and harmony which reign between the secular and regular clergy, under the paternal administration of our venerable archbishop, contributes much to propagate our, holy religion, and to maintain the fervor of the faithful in St. Louis. The Faith keeps pace with the rapid and wonderful increase of our flourishing city, which you saw in its cradle !
The following are some details of the spiritual fruits which rejoice the pastors of the church of St. Francis Xavier : In the course of the last year the communions exceeded fifty thousand. Every year the conversions of Protestants to the Catholic religion amounts to as many as sixty or eighty. The two Sodalities of the Blessed Virgin number more than four hundred members, belonging to every rank of society-lawyers, physicians, merchants, clerks, and artists, are members of them ; all approach the holy table once a month, and wear the miraculous medal of our good Mother. The Archconfraternity numbers from five thousand to six thousand members ; the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart, two thousand. The sunday-school attached to the church is frequented by nearly one thousand children.
From St. Louis to St. Ferdinand, or Florissant, fifteen miles distant, there is a succession of beautiful farms and neat country residences. You would not easily, Reverend Sir, recognize it now. The convent, of which you were the founder, has been enlarged since your departure, and has passed into the hands of the Lorettines, a branch of the house of Loretto, in Kentucky, instituted by the venerable M. Nerinckx. The farm, formerly belonging to the bishop, is greatly extended. Of the old cottage, and of the crib which served you as a bed, there now remains but an edifying remembrance-our brothers have replaced them by a novitiate and scholasticate, built of hewn stone ; these two establishments contain, at the present day, a community of nearly sixty religious, forty of whom are novices ; among the latter many Americans.
You will undoubtedly be gratified to have some news of the mission of St. Francis Hieronymo among the Osages, to whom you were the first to announce the consolations of the . everlasting Gospel. Tile seed of salvation which you planted, and which was afterwards neglected, has not been sterile.
You are acquainted with the difficulties of the Osage mission. Being in the neighborhood of the boundary line of the United States, these Indians learn to adopt, very easily, all the vices of the whites, without joining to them any of their
virtues, They forget the frugality and simplicity which formerly characterized them, and give themselves up to intemperance and the perfidiousness of civilized life. However, every year a considerable number of adults enter the bosom of the Church; a great number of children receive baptism, and as they often die very young, they are so many innocent souls who intercede in heaven for the conversion of their unhappy parents, buried in the grossest superstition and idolatry of paganism.
In the spring of 1852 an epidemic malady, which made great ravages, became for a large number (although weakening the power of their nation) a blessed occasion of salvation. The violence of this disease, against which the Indian cannot be easily induced to take necessary precautions, the sufferings of the whole tribe, the universal panic, the grief all these miseries presenting themselves under a thousand different forms-wrung the hearts of the missionaries. Naught but the reflection that Providence bad sent this terrible scourge for their spiritual good, was capable of consoling them.
During this unhappy year, and when the extreme violence of the epidemic had ceased, we were called to deplore the loss of Father Bax, who fell a victim of truly heroic charity, exercised towards the poor savages, in order to soothe their sufferings, and win their souls to God. Father Bax was born on the 15th of January, 1817, in a village near Turnhout, in Belgium. The disease, which commenced among the children of the mission, spread rapidly throughout all the villages of the tribe. Father Bax, by his knowledge of medicine, and the cures which lie effected; was renowned throughout the nation. The savages came in troops from every side to call him into their camps. It would be difficult to form an idea of all the fatigues lie was obliged to endure. From early morning, after having given some assistance to the children of the mission school, he would go into the environs, from cabin to cabin, hearing gladness and comfort in his passage. He afterwards would turn his steps to the other camps of the nation, to offer them the same blessings. To do the last, it became necessary to employ several days, and endure very heavy fatigue in visiting them. The zealous religious administered the last sacraments to the dying, baptized the expiring infants, taught the catechumens, exhorted, and often succeeded in converting, the most obstinate. He performed at once the office of physician, catechist, and priest. He returned to the house of the missionaries, exhausted with fatigue, only to renew on the morrow the same deeds of charity, braving the inclemency of the seasons-the frequent rains of spring, the sudden and overpowering heat of summer, with the sudden cold which succeeds the heat in these sections, at this epoch of the year.
All this devotedness was not capable of hindering the malice of some enemies-let us rather say, the rage of hell, irritated at the view of so many souls rescued from its grasp. The devil invented against the excellent missionary, and against the whole mission, a calumny,-extremely ridiculous, without doubt, in the eyes of the civilized, but entirely in accordance with Indian prejudices, superstition, and credulity. A report was spread throughout the camps, that the whites were the authors of the scourge ; that the Black-gowns (the priests) bad a magical charm, vulgarly called medicine, which killed all the Indians; that this charm was a certain book, in which they inscribed the names of the Osages, and thereby obtained a power of life or death over all those whose names the book contained. The register of baptisms
was meant. They hold the superstitious belief that whosoever possesses a book, has an absolute empire over the life of those whose names are written in it. The calumny spread from village to village, in all the cabins ; as it was' propagated, its details assumed a darker hue. The malevolent went about exhorting their companions to attack the mission, saying that they would arrest the course of the malady, if they could attain the destruction of the terrible magical charm, by burning the enchanted book possessed by the missionaries. This absurd tale was sufficient to engage several parents to withdraw their children from the mission school.
Fortunately, the Black-gowns had influential friends among the chiefs of the Osages. They went no farther-on reasoning with the most intelligent Indians, they succeeded in appeasing their rage and ill-will. The Lord, who permits the rising of the tempest, can calm it at his own good time!
Heaven accorded its benedictions to the efforts of Father Bax and his companions in this painful ministry. Of nearly 1500 savages, who were swept away by the epidemic, all, with a very few exceptions, bad the happiness of being fortified by the last sacraments of the Church before dying. Seized, at last, himself with symptoms of the illness, Father Bax continued his ordinary labors, and dragged himself around to visit the sick and dying. His zeal would not suffer him to attend to himself. Strength soon failed him.
He was dying while still laboring! He was obliged, at last, to consent to allow himself to be transported about forty miles from the mission, to Fort Scott, a military post, where one of the most skilful physicians of the United States army
then resided. It was too late, all the cares of the doctor, proved useless. The good religious, the indefatigable missionary, was a fruit ripe for heaven. At the end of six weeks he died as he had lived. His last aspirations showed still his unfading zeal for the conversion of his dear savages.
During the five years that he passed in the missions, he brought back to the faith a great number of half-bloods, formerly baptized in the Church, but for want of priests and instructions, unfortunately perverted by Protestant ministers; besides, he baptized more than 2000 Indians, as well children as adult.-,, of every age. He instructed his neophytes with the greatest care, and the most pains-taking assiduity. His charity had so gained the hearts, that all these savages called him only by the beautiful word, which in the Osage Language signifies, "the Father who is all heart."
His death excited profound regret. His fellow-religious cherished him, and bad always been edified by his example and his virtues; the whites whom he visited on the frontiers of the States, whom be fortified and encouraged in the abandonment in which he found them, loved him as a protector; but his loss was especially felt by the tribe which be evangelized with so much constancy, ardor, and success.
Some days before his death, Father Bax wrote me as follows:
"The contagion is spreading among the Indians, and the mortality is very great. The difficulty will be, to collect the scattered flock; however, I have the consolation of being able to sap, that never yet, either among the negroes, or among tile whites, or among religious, or among persons of the world, have I ever been witness to as much fervor and piety on the bed of death. Edifying is the death of which our young neophytes have given the example. Some, of their own free will, asked to hold the crucifix in their bands; they clasped it without leaving it, for more than two hours.
The statue of the Blessed Virgin was to be placed by their pillows. Imploring the assistance of their good Mother, they fixed their dying eyes on her image. I have the strong hope that they already enjoy the presence of God. The Lord seems to wish to gather into his granary the little that we have sowed here below. What may be the designs of his Providence for the future of our mission, we cannot, and we dare not conjecture. May His holy will be accomplished !"
This is the last letter I had the happiness of receiving from Father Bax.
The Osage nation, like the greater part of the other tribes of the Great Western Desert, which were formerly so numerous and flourishing, is rapidly diminishing in numbers. It is now reduced to 317-00 souls, and divided into twelve villages, situated in different directions around the centre of the mission. Ordinarily, the Osages dwell or encamp in the valleys oil the borders of the rivers, or near some spring of pure and overflowing water. They live, for the most part, as in the primitive times, on the roots and spontaneous fruits of the earth, and the animals which they kill in the chase.
There are but two Fathers to visit these different villages, situated at the distance of fifty and seventy miles from each other. The toils and fatigues of the holy ministry there are excessive. The catechumens must be instructed, the neophytes sustained, the sick and dying visited, and continual efforts made to convert obstinate adults. Amid so many obstacles, so many privations and difficulties, the missionaries find also sweet consolations in the fruits which the Lord deigns to grant to their labors. Every year they baptize among the Osages about two hundred and fifty persons. The missionaries also visit the neighboring tribes, such as the Quapaws, who number only three hundred and fifty, and of whom one hundred and thirty adults and children have been baptized in the course of the last two years. Entire families have received baptism among the Piorias and the Miamis. The Senecas, the Cherokees, Creeks, Shawnees, and other nations, situated two hundred miles south of the mission, can be visited only once or twice in the year. Notwithstanding the opposition of Protestant ministers, there are some Catholics among all these tribes. A great number of European Catholic families live dispersed on the frontiers of the States of Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas, which border on the Indian territory now called Kansas. They receive, from time to time, the visit and the spiritual aid of one or other Father of the mission of St. Francis Hieronymo. The sight of a priest, the happiness of hearing mass, and of approaching the holy table, draw tears of joy from these excellent children of the Church. Without these visits they would be entirely abandoned. The destitution of priests is one of the principal causes of the defection of thousands of Catholics, who gradually lose their faith.
Two boarding-schools have been established in the mission of the Osages : one for boys, under the direction of a Father and of several brothers; the other for girls, under the direction of the Sisters of the Loretto, front Kentucky. These two schools ordinarily contain more than a hundred Indian children. They teach them the elements of literature, with the principles of civilization, at the same time that they excite and cultivate piety in their hearts. These schools encourage the hope, that the day will come when these savage tribes may become changed and civilized and Christian communities. It will be difficult, above all, in these districts, to bring the adults to this mode of existence: they are too much accustomed to the nomadic life ; too. proud of their barbarous independence, and frequently enslaved to the degrading vices of the whites, and to the immoderate use of ardent spirits, which they easily obtain by their commerce with the, latter, and in their frequent visits to the frontiers of the States. Each sincere and durable conversion among these,, is a miracle of grace.
The United States government grants to the Osages, for the support of their schools, an annual subsidy, accruing from the sale of their lands. This assistance being insufficient, and in order to give a striking testimony of attachment and friendship towards the Black-gowns, all the chiefs of the nation have obtained, by treaty, from the government, an augmentation of funds destined to. the maintenance of the schools; and also a liberal donation for making provision for the other necessities of the mission. The mission owns a farm, which contributes towards defraying its expenses. With all this, it may be said, that the missionaries are still obliged to live a poor and hard life, in the midst of many privations. Yet it must be admitted, that the mission among the Osages is established on a tolerably solid footing.
We give the following extract from the annual message of the President of the United States, in 1854. The agent of the Osages, in his report to the government, speaking of this nation, says:
"The schools, under the direction of the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, among the Osages, are very flourishing. These Fathers merit great eulogiums for their endeavors to ameliorate the condition of this nation. Having had the pleasure of assisting at the examination of their scholars, I cheerfully add my testimony to that of others in favor of the method pursued in these establishments. I doubt whether there are any schools in the Indian territory which exercise so salutary an influence on the minds of the Indians, or that can even be compared with them. The pupils progress rapidly in their studies; they are well fed and well clothed, and appear happy and satisfied.
"The Catholic establishment, as well as the whole nation of the Osages, have met with all irreparable loss by the death of the indefatigable Father Bax. The most rigorous season could never hinder him from visiting the most remote tribes of the nation, when there was question of carrying consolation to the sick, and of accomplishing the duties of his sacred ministry."
We cannot without sighing cast a look over the immense Indian territory, which stretches far away to the Hooky Mountains. There a great number of nations still continue their errant life. There remains but a feeble ray of hope that they will obtain spiritual aid. It is not because the field is barren ; it has been already explored by the Fathers Hoeken and Point, both of the Society of Jesus, and by the Rev. Messrs Bellecourt and Ravoux. I have gone over its whole extent at different periods. All the missionaries declare unanimously, that everywhere, in all their visits, they have been received *With the most touching deference by the savages; that the various tribes have testified the deepest interest in our holy religion. Several thousand children and a great number of adults, particularly among the Black-Feet, the Crows, the Sioux, Poncahs, Ricaries, Minataries, Cheyennes, and the Rapahoes, have already been regenerated in the holy waters of baptism. The personal and material means have hitherto been wanting for beginning therein durable establishments. The Indians year after year renew their invitations. We shall continue to supplicate the Master of the vineyard, to deign to send us auxiliaries, so as to diffuse our missions in this extensive region. "The harvest is great, but the laborers are few."
By a letter recently received from the Rocky Mountains, and written by Father Joset, I learn that the Indians of our different missions in Oregon continue to give much consolation to their missionaries, by their zeal and fervor in trio holy practices of religion. " I hope," writes Father Joset, " that the Sacrament of Confirmation, that they have just received, will give greater stability to their good resolutions. Although the arrival of Mgr. Blanchet was announced only some hours before (for there is as yet no post in those wilds), and that we found it impossible to assemble more than half of the neophytes, the prelate however gave Confirmation to more than six hundred faithful. The pastor was enchanted with our missions and our neophytes. The conversions to the faith in these missions are every year very consoling."
Our new establishments in California succeed well; our college of Santa Clara has nearly a hundred boarders.
Be so good, Reverend Sir, as to present my most humble respect and esteem to Monseigneur, the bishop of Ghent; to the President of the Ecclesiastical Seminary, to the Canons, Van Crombrugghe, De Smet Helias, De Decker, and to our Reverend Fathers.
Commend me, if you please, to the prayers of your good Religious, and allow me to commit myself in a particular manner to your memento at the Holy Sacrifice, in which union I have the honor to be
Your most humble and most obedient servant,
P. J. DE SMET, S. J