APPENDIX.

EARLY CATHOLICITY IN MONTANA,

BY LUCIAN F. LA CROIX.

The following paper is placed at our disposal by its esteemed author, one of the pioneer Catholics of Montana, and whose name has been mentioned several times in connection with that part of our history that treats of the Helena Mission. It contains interesting particulars on the beginning of the Church in Helena and on the coming of the Sisters of Leavenworth into Montana, and throwing as it does additional light on these subjects, L. F. La Croix's paper is not only of special interest, but must important. Hence we reproduce it in its entirely a a valuable contribution to the Early history of Catholicity and Montana.

But whilst doing so, we must also point out two slight inaccuracies or over-sights that occur therein. The first inaccuracy regards the time that Fathers F. X. Kuppens, S. J., and Jerome D'Aste, S. J., were sent to Helena. This was not September, as stated by L. F. La Croix, but the latter part of October. The other inaccuracy is the implied assumption that Montana belonged to the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Leavenworth, whereas Helena and the whole of Eastern Montana, as we have seen, were subject to the Vicar Apostolic of Nebraska.

L. F. La Croix wrote his paper, as he tells us, some twenty-five years after the events which he relates, and ones memory is often misleading with regard to dates, especially, if the lapse of time intervening is considerable, as in the case before us. Further, the ecclesiastical organization of places is not often well understood by lay people. Hence the inaccuracies here adverted to, but which, after all, are irrelevant, cannot detract from the otherwise correct narrative of L. F. La Croix, and its historical value.

Nothing better illustrates the Catholicity of the Church of Christ than many incidents connected with the foundation of the Church in Montana. The almost fabulous accounts of discoveries of gold in that far-away and unknown region had attracted people from every country of genealogists, and never was there a more heterogeneous gathering of men that formed the population of Montana. Looking back through a long vista of years, and bringing to mind the most striking characteristics of the pioneers of this country, we behold a race of men conspicuous for the possession of all the most shining virtues that ennoble mankind. With a rough exterior and but little regard for the conventionalities and polish of cultured commentates, they had a high appreciation of, and respect for, the laws of the land and were especially noted for their generosity, liberality and love

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of fair play. A man stood upon the pedestal of his manhood and all recognized the validity of his claim. Nor were the Catholics of Montana a white behind their brethren in the matter of civic and social virtues. They were foremost in the establishment of a territorial government, and were always found staunch defenders of the law.

In the city of Helena was soon felt the want and necessity of a church and the ministrations of a pastor. There was prevalent a rather indistinct idea that Montana was attached to the Diocese of Leavenworth, but the worthy functionary of that place has taken no concern for his far-distant children. with an energy, an enthusiasm born of their love for Holy Church, they awaited not the movements of high dignitaries for the fulfillment of their desires. Helena had been visited by the Jesuit Fathers on their travels through the territory, and on such occasions the Holy Mass was celebrated in any vacant cabin that could be obtained for the purpose; and well and painfully does the writer remember the efforts that were made to cover the rough, unflustered wall, and to give a decent appearance to the rude dry-goods box that was to serve as an altar for the sacrifice of the God-Man.

It was known that a piece of ground had been staked off b y Governor T. F. Meagher for the church. A committee had been appointed to look up the ground. Accordingly, they proceeded up Broadway to appoint opposite the present Court House, when they discovered that access to the church ground was interfered with by a fence extending along the south side of Broadway. The committee crossed the fence and going to the building, then occupied by the Gazette printing office, conducted by Messrs. Wilkinson and Ronan, were told that Judge Wilkinson owned the ground enclosed by the fence. They represented to him that they were appointed to look after the ground belonging to the Catholic church, and that preparations were in progress for the erection at an early day of a church, but that they had just discovered that access to their ground was blocked by his fence on Broadway. At once, taking in the situation and not giving the speaker time to finish his speech, the Judge said, "Is that all?" and taking an axe he demolished the obstructing fence for a distance of about seventy-five feet, and stopping to take breath, he said: "Now you will have a free passage to your church." The Judge is not a Catholic, and his generous act is now mentioned after so many years in recognition thereof. Passing on, they came to a small piece of ground enclosed by a frail fence. In those days it was the fence that was expensive, not the ground. After consulta-

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tion, it was concluded that the quantity of ground secured was nto sufficient, and that the prospective needs of the church required that they should take a tract of one hundred feet from north to south on the summit of church Hill and extending from Ewing Street to Warren Street; and the wisdom of there action has been apparent ever since, as the ground is now covered by the Church, the Bishop's Residence, St. John's Hospital and St. Aloysius Hall.

The Catholic population of Helena and vicinity was estimated at three thousand, and so urgent and unanimous was the sentiment for a church that meetings were held, the general want was discussed, a subscription was raised and arrangements were in progress for the building of the first Catholic church in Helena. There were numerous contestants for the building of that Church, and the award was made to John M. Sweeny, who desired the work, not for the money he could make out of it, but that he might gladden his old mother's heart that he was engaged in building a Catholic church. About the time the church was nearing completion Father F. X. Kuppens, S. J., passed through Helena on his way to St. Ignatius, and he was consulted regarding getting a priest to reside permanently in Helena. The Rev. Father was fully convinced of the needs of the people, and advised that a petition, numerously signed, and addressed to Father Grassi, should be gotten up and that he would be the bearer of it, saying at the same time that he would get a scolding fro doing so. The petition is now carefully preserved among the archives of the church. In September, 1866, Father Kuppens, and D'Aste were sent to take charge of the new church, and on November 1, following, the first Mass was celebrated in it. And thus was accomplished a work of which the pioneer Catholics of Helena may well be proud. , recognizing, however, the spirit of god, which guided them.

The conditions of the country at that time were such that serious accidents were of frequent occurrence, and the poor accommodations, offered by the authorities for the care of the unfortunates were so striking, that there arose a general desire that sisters of Charity might be invited to establish a hospital in Helena. Mr. L. F. La Croix on the occasion of a business trip to St. Louis was entrusted with a mission to Mother Xavier, superior of the Order of Sisters of Charity, at Leavenworth, Kansas, urgently requesting that Sisters might be sent to Helena. In the month of January, 1867, he started from Helena by stage-coach on a journey to the States which lasted twenty-one days--and this was then considered pretty good time. Exposure to the cold, the jostling of the coach and loss of sleep during the first few days of travel made the journey exceedingly painful,

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but afterwards these inconveniences were scarcely felt. After arriving at Leavenworth and being installed for the night in a fine feather bed in Bishop Miege's residence, the messenger was wonderfully surprised to discover that such a excess of comfort was positively more than he could bear, and while overpowered nature compelled him to toss from side to side in hope of winning much-coveted sleep, how he longed once more for the seat in the stage-coach, that he might be cradled to sleep by the lunging of the vehicle as it whirled over mountain crags; of descending thousands of fee to the open plain below, tossed the unconscious dreamer from front to rear and from side to side, finally landing him on his head as the coach plunged against the mountain boulder. The messenger, anxious to succeed in the object of his mission, and finding the good Bishop very averse to parting with the Sisters, taxed his ingenuity in offering arguments to overcome his objections. But the Bishop, who was a cunning Jesuit, skillfully parried the replies, and as a polite Frenchman, found no difficulty in evading the subject by passing the cigars. The good Mother, however, received the visitor more cordially, and expressed herself as most desirous of acceding to the invitation, but under their rules, they were under the direction of Bishop Miege, who was very averse to granting the permission. The Mother wished the people of Helena not to despair of having Sisters in their midst; she would always bear them in mind, and would hope to gratify their wishes before very long. It was in the year 1860 that the Venerable Father De Smet used his good offices with the Bishop of Leavenworth, and the result was that in the month of October of the same year the people of Helena were gladdened by the arrival of five sisters from Leavenworth, viz: Sisters Regina, Bertha, Loretto, Mary and Miss rose Kelly.

In the twenty-five years that have elapsed since the sisters came to Helena, the beneficent providence of God has marked their abundant success here in the establishment o an elegant seminary for young ladies, a spacious and well-appointed hospital and an orphan's home.

And now we behold accomplished the prophetic utterance of Father Kuppens, "This rocky hill will bloom like a garden of roses."