CHAPTER XX.

THE DIOCESE OF HELENA.

Helena heard that summer for the first time the whistle of the locomotive, and the Northern Pacific Railroad Company that had struggled for many a year to accomplish the gigantic work, finally spiked the lat nail of the steel highway which brought Montana in closer contact with the outside world, east and west. No doubt, it was an event of the greatest importance, of far-reaching consequences for the development of the country.

But from the viewpoint of religion, morality, and the spiritual welfare of the whole community, no less important was the arrival in our midst of the Mitered Envoy graciously vouchsafed Montana by Leo XIII, our Lord's Vicar on earth. The Rt. Rev. Administrator arrived on his new field early in the summer began his Apostolic labors by first visiting the western part of the Vicariate.

His Grace Archbishop, Seghers by letter had urged Bishop Brondel to leave Vancouver Island and hasten to Montana, in imitation of the Blessed Mother of God, of whom it is written in the Gospel that she went into the hill country with haste; hill country being rendered in Latin by the word Montana. Bishop Brondel did so, and, as a coincidence, received the Bulls of Our Lady, the very day on which Holy church honors the mystery to which the words quoted by Archbishop Seghers referred.

But yet, "hasten slowly" is the best and wisest course to follow, as a general rule. His eminence Cardinal Simeoni, Prefect of Propaganda, using the same words with regard to the matter in question, remarked to Dr. Schultz, Pro-Rector of the American College, Rome: Administrator Montanensis abiit in Montana cum festinatione. His Eminence alluded thus to the

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fact that the new Administrator had gone to Montana before having in his actual possession the Bulls of his appointment, an oversight unintentional, beyond doubt, yet serious enough to call forth the animadversion. However, any and all irregularities that might have attended the innocent oversight were soon remedied by the Holy See.

Having visited the western part of the Vicariate, the Rt. Rev. Bishop came over to the east side of the mountains and took up the visitation of the rest of Montana.

Besides administrating to the spiritual wants of his flock, his Lordship had also another object in view in his first visit of the Vicariate, and this was to select, after seeing the country, the place best suited for his permanent residence. As Helena was doubtlessly the most favorable location, the Jesuit Fathers, who h ad been the first and only priests there since the community had come into existence, offered to withdraw and turn over to the new Administrator church, premises and whatever property rights they had acquired on Catholic Hill. While by his timely and most commendable disposition on their part, they facilitated and hastened the erection of the new Bishopric, they were thus instrumental in Helena becoming an Episcopal See as well as the name of the new Diocese. This is made clear in the Bulls of erection, wherein Leo XIII alludes to the matter by the following words: Conventione facta cum Sodalibus Societatis Jesu, etc.

The property was conveyed to his Lordship by Father J. M. Cataldo, on the authority of the Father General of the Society. Being shown the draft of the conveyance by the same Cataldo, the writer, who was connected with Helena at the time, suggested that there be inserted in the agreement the restoration of the church to Missoula to the Society. The grounds of the suggestion appealed to the Superior, and a clause to that effect having been added, bishop Brondel, as well as Father Cataldo, and also the writer appended their signatures to the conveyance.

The paper, however, had not been drawn up in the technical phraseology of the law, nor in the strict form usually followed in similar transactions. It was therefore replaced, at the Bishop's won request, by another which carried the date May 1, 1884, and the signatures : J. B. Brondel, Jos. M. Cataldo, S. J.,

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C. Imoda, S. J., and Joseph Guidi, S. J. From this latter document we copy the following as pertinent to our subject:

The party of the first part (that is J. B. Brondel) gives to Jos. M. Cataldo, S. J., the part of the second part, the right, possession and deed of all the property of the white Mission in Missoula, with all future improvements, to be henceforth the property of the Society of Jesus, in consideration of the property of the Society of Jesus in Helena, Montana, which by this agreement is deeded to the said Right Reverend J. B., Brondel, Bishop of Helena, the party of the first part. Given, etc.

It was also provided in the same agreement that another place along the course of the railroad would be confided to the care of the Society by the Bishop.

In compliance with this clause, and with the further view to facilitate and help along their missionary work among the Crows, Bishop Brondel tendered Billings to the Jesuit Fathers. The reason of this will be better understood when it is known that the Crows depreciated the Black Robes and their work among them, because they did not see them occupy any place among the whites in that whole section. Whence they concluded that the Fathers could so little for the Indians when they were doing no work among the whites, and, as a consequence, this loss of prestige impaired the efficiency of the Fathers' ministry among the natives.

The tender was accepted. But some time after, as appears from the Archives of the Diocese, and before taking actual possession of it, the place was surrendered by the Superior on the ground of his inability, for want of men, to assume the charge.

The Bulls creating the Helena See and appointing to it the Rt. Rev. John B. Brondel, as its first Bishop were issued by Leo XIII March 7, 1884.

With due appreciation of the favor bestowed on Montana and the city of Helena in an especial manner, the Catholic community, in general meeting assembled, adopted unanimous resolutions and took proper steps toward a becoming expression of their grateful feelings and filial devotion for their chief pastor. Accordingly, on the occasion of the first Diocesan Synod, the Hon. t. H. Carter, on behalf of the whole Catholic

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community, presented to the Rt. Rev. Bishop the following address and testimonial:

RIGHT REVEREND JOHN B. BRONDEL, BISHOP OF HELENA;

Esteemed and Venerable Sir:

As a committee selected by the Catholic congregation, we humbly assume the pleasant duty of bearing testimony to your Lordship of the great veneration and profound respect in which the members of the Congregation hold your exalted spiritual position, and their sense of gratitude for the conspicuous favor shown them in the selection of Helena, as your Lordship's Episcopal See.

In making this presentation on behalf of the Congregation, we desire to express our thankfulness to God for the great blessing bestowed upon this Territory in the creation of the Diocese of Helena, and of our deep feelings of gratitude to His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII, for his kind consideration and paternal solicitude for our spiritual welfare.

We further and particularly desire formally to bid your Lordship welcome to Helena, and to express our cordial appreciation and affectionate regard the congregation entertains for your Lordship's distinguished attributes. We but voice the conviction of the entire people saying that your pious example, dignified, prudent and wise course of action during your residence in Helena, have elicited the profound respect of all the citizens of the community, to the signal benefit of the church, and that in the hearts of this Congregation your Lordship has secured abiding confidence, veneration and love. Actuated by a desire to give some substantial expression to these existing sentiments, we most respectfully tender your Lordship the enclosed Certificate of Deposit, and beg you to accept it as a donation from the Cathedral congregation, accompanied as it is with their fervent prayers for your preservation and continuance in the enjoyment of good health.

The address was delivered on the front steps of the Episcopal residence and, besides being spoken in a manner no less pleasing than impressive, elicited the warmest approval from both the clergy who surrounded his Lordship, and the laity who were present in great numbers. The rt. Rev. bishop's reply was couched in language appropriate and grateful. The certificate of deposit represented the sum of $650.

With the transfer of the Mission to the new Bishop, Helena had ceased to be a residence of the Society of Jesus. But as it did

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not seem advisable for the Jesuit Fathers to withdraw entirely and at once from the place, a couple of them still continued to reside there. It is clear that it could hardly have been otherwise, there being no secular priests in the new diocese to replace the Jesuit Fathers. Hence the sudden and entire withdrawal of the latter, besides proving detrimental to the spiritual welfare of the faithful, would have also much displeased the Ordinary, as obviously, instead of lessening it, it would have added to and aggravated the difficulties of his position. This will explain why, notwithstanding the fact that Helena had ceased to be a residence of the Society of Jesus, some Jesuit Fathers still remained on duty in the place, not only for the time being, but for several years after.

The writer remained till the latter part of December, 1883, when on his being assigned to another field, he was superseded in Helena by Father C. Imoda, who, as we shall see later on, died at his post. His place was now taken by some of his confreres, namely, Father P. Barcelo; then, for awhile, by Father A. Ragaru, and lastly again by the present encumbrance, we mean ourselves, who have camped on Catholic Hill ever since our return from St. Ignatius Mission in the spring of 1887. Adding to these, whom we have just mentioned, Father J. Guidi, who also had previously labored on this Mission and who, returning, was now Father Imoda's companion for about a year, we shall have named all the member of the Society of Jesus who to the present day have resided in Helena at the service of the Ordinary from the date of his arrival.