PREFACE TO THE BELGIAN EDITION.
BY FATHER EDWARD TERWECOREN, S. J.
-
CHARLES NERINCKX, formerly parish priest of Everberg-Meerbeek, near Louvain, in Belgium, and early missionary of Kentucky, made two voyages to Europe to obtain pecuniary aid and fellow-soldiers for the conquest of souls in the New World.
In July, 1521, on leaving Belgium, which he was never again to see, be was accompanied by several Belgians - namely, Felix Verreydt, of Diest; Josse Van Assche, of St. Amand; Peter Joseph Verhaegen, of Haecht; John Baptist Smedts, of Rotselaer; John Anthony Elet, of St. Amand; and Peter John De Smet, of Termonde.
The last named, who had just attained his twenty-first year, began by this first voyage his long and perilous courses by seas and torrents, deserts and forests, amid whites and Indians - in a word, the thousand dangers and privations which surround an apostolic man in his far-distant and solitary expeditions.
The bold and evangelical peregrinations of our fellow-countryman. and brother in Christ have been crowned with the most consoling results for the Church, and by a necessary consequence for true civilization, which is effected by Catholicism. The apostolate of Father De Smet is pursued until this day with zeal and perseverance. Already, in 1853, his united journeys represented an extent of land and water surpassing five times the circumference of the globe! Since then he has crossed the ocean three times, and traversed immense countries. We offer ardent prayers that God may long preserve this untiring laborer in the vineyard of the Lord.
Following the example of his predecessors in the labors of foreign missions, Father De Suet has taken numerous notes concerning the countries lie has visited. These notes, the result of profound study of men and things, have a bearing on several branches of science and the arts: Geography, Natural history, Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Manners, Customs, Creeds-all are here. To be convinced of the extent and variety of these notes, as well as of the picturesque and curious adventures of the traveller, it suffices to look at the contents, or glance through the volume.
Similar subjects have been treated in the preceding works of the missionary, of which we doom it useful to give the bibliography.
1. Letters and Sketches, with a Narrative of a Year's Residence among the Indian Tribes of the Rocky-Mountains. Philadelphia, published by M. Fithian, 1843. 120, pp. ix.-252. Voyages aux Montagnes-Rocheuses, et une année de séjour chez les Tribus Indiennes du vaste Territoire de l'Oregon dépendant des Etats-Unis d'Amérique, par le R. P. Pierre De Smet, missionnaire de la Compagnie de Jesus, Malines, P. J. Hanicq, 1844. In-12, pp. vi.-304.
Reis naar het Rotsgebergte (Rocky Mountains), door Eerw. vader De Smet, Belgische zendeling in de Vereenigde Staten. 1840-1841. Deventer, bij J. W. Robijns en comp.
An edition in Italian, issued by Louis Prevete. Palermo, 1847.
2. Oregon Missions and Travels over the Rocky Mountains in 1845-46. New York, published by Edward Dunigan, 1847. 12°, pp, sii.-408.
3. Missions de l'Orégon et voyages aux Montagnes-Rocheuses et aux Sources de la Colombie, de l'Athabasca et du Sascatshawin en 1845-46, par le Père P. J. De Smet, de la Société de Jésus. Gand, Van der Schelden. In-12, pp. ix.-389. (L'approbation est de 1848.) Translated by Father De Smet.
Missien van den Oregon en Reizen naer de Rotsbergen en de Bronnen der Colombia, der Athabasca en Sascatshawin in 1845-46. Door Pater P. J. De Smet. Gend, We Van der Schelden. In-12.
Missions de l'Orégon et Voyages dans les Montagnes-Rocheuses en 1845-46, par le Père P. J. De Smet, de la Société de Jésus. Ouvrage traduit de l’anglais par M. Bourlez. Paris, librairie de Poussielgue-Rusand. A Lyon, chez J. B. Pélagaud et Cie. 1848. In-12, pp. 408. (Paris, imprimerie de Poussielgue.) A different translation from that issued in Belgium.
4. Voyage au Grand Désert en 1851, par le R. P. Pierre De Smet, missionnaire de la Compagnie de Jésus. Bruxelles, imprimerie de J. Vandereydt, 1853. In-18, pp. 436, tiré à part des Précis Historiques du P. Terwecoren.
5. The Indian-Missions in the United States of America, under the care of the Missouri Province of the Society of Jesus. Philadelphia, King & Baird, 1841. 12°, pp. 34. Contains: To the most Rev. Archbishop and Right Rev. Bishops in Provincial Council assembled. Dated St. Louis, May 3d, 1830, signed P. J. Verhaegen. Extract from a Letter of Father De Smet, missionary among the Pottawatomie Indians, 1838, pp. 9-22. A letter from the same, dated St. Louis University, February 4th, 1841, pp. 22-34.
6. Cinquante Nouvelles Lettres du R. P. De Smet, de la Compagnie do Jésus et missionnaire en Amérique, publiées par Ed. Terwecoren, de la même compagnie. Paris et Tournai, H. Casterman, 1858. In-12, pp. ix.-504.
Such are the principal publications on the thirty-seven years' journeys of the missionary of the Rocky Mountains. We hope soon to be able to complete and publish in the Précis Historiques a succinct table of all these expeditions, or an Itinerary of the Voyages and Missions of Father De Smet. This table, drawn up in chronological order, will contain the names of the places visited or seen successively since 1821, and some brief remarks, as well as the number of miles travelled.
We adopted as the motto of the work which we edit these words of Father De Smet : "Never have I remarked the least sign to alarm modesty." They show that the works of Father De Smet may be read by all without distinction. And although this correspondence relates to the gross and nomadic tribes, there is never a word which need alarm the most chaste, or excite a blush on even a virginal brow. "Never," says he, speaking of the amusements of the savages at Fort Laramie-"Never did I remark the slightest indication which could shock the most conscientious modesty!" These words are a lesson to those civilized men and pretended civilizers who style savages the unfortunate Indians, whose morality Europe does not possess.
May the reading of these interesting recitals arouse Catholics to contribute their aid to Foreign Missions, and promote in hearts of generous mould the vocation to the apostolical ministry !-there are so many souls to save.
How beautiful is the faith which produces those valorous missionaries ! Armed with the sole standard of the cross, with no other compass than obedience, with no star of the ocean but -Mary, they run fearlessly to their goal, which is the attainment of God's greater glory by the salvation of souls. They wait but for the opportunity of saving one soul, to fly to unexplored countries, to ever-growing dangers of death. Strangers to the wealth, the honors, the pleasures of this world, disinterested in all their undertakings, they taste no other consolation amid infuriated waves, in frightful solitudes, in the primeval forest, than that of passing through them to do good. How efficacious is the grace of God! It -creates heroes! To these apostolic men, the natural courage and strength which form noble characters and men of superior stamp will not suffice. All human qualities are powerless in accomplishing such vast designs, and in correspondence with the inspirations of those magnanimous hearts. Athletes of heaven, heralds of faith, missionaries of the everlasting Gospel, they take their weapons at the foot of the tabernacle, and derive their force from the flesh and blood of the Lamb.
ED. TERWECOREN,
OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS.
Brussels, 3d of the month of Mary,
Feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross, 1858