USA > Michigan > Marquette County > Marquette > History Of The Diocese Of Sault Ste, Marie And Marquette; Containing A Full And Accurate Account Of The Development Of The Catholic Church In Upper Michigan, With Portraits Of Bishops, Priests And Illustrations Of Churches Old And New, Volume 1 > Part 4
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"With utmost sorrow I inform your Reverend Board of Directors, that our most respected and beloved Bishop Ed- ward Fenwick, died of cholera on the 26th of September. As a zealous mis- sionary he always lived in poverty, and he also died on a mission-tour, like St. Frances Xavier, poor and abandoned. He was on his way, returning from a mission and visitation-tour, such as he annually makes to the great spiritual benefit of his diocese, when all of a sudden, he was seized with terrible cramps. He was com- pelled to leave the coach and enter the house of a Catholic family. The nearest priest, was about 30 miles away, but was immediately sent for; when he ar- " rived our beloved chief-pastor was dead and buried! Thus, this apostolic man de- parted this life without the services of a priest; for in order not to deprive any congregation of its pastor, he usually
10 Father Haetscher, September 17, 1832. An- nals VII., p. 29.
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LECTURIS SALUTEM!
Shyphicat.
Patentibus hisce literis testor, 9. Fridericum Barraga Cain. in Labacensi C. R. Scientiarum Lyceo præscriptum studiorum philosophicorso cursum absolvisse atque in publicis examinibus in sequentes classes relatum esse, et quidem :
Anno 1815
Semestri primo
Semestri secundo
eminentes primameminentes primam
-
Ex Scientia religionis Ex Philosophia theoretical Er Mathematien Er Itistoria uniwersali. Ex Clilologia praca Anno 1816
primam eminentes primam eminentos primam eminentes primer eminentes primameminentes primer primam primam
inventer primant
Ex Quentia religionis Er Philosophia practica Ex Physica der Flistoria universali Ex Philologie gracias
in classem
eminentes primam eminentes primam emincator prime of eminente primam emvincentas primas eminenter primam eminentes primer eminentes primam eminentes primar
Mores quod attinet, legibus academicis riprimis conformes exhibuit. In. quorum fidem has ei manu mea subscriptas, et sigillo Lycei munitas dedi. Labaci die 23. mensis Octobrio 1821.
Marchand Cauricher Cules. cathod . van. C. R. Studii philos.
Director.
FACSIMILE OF BISHOP BARAGA'S CERTIFICATE WHILE IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL COURSE.
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traveled alone. However, the angels and the Queen of angels, to whom he had, all his life time, a most fervent and tender devotion, no doubt assisted him in his hour of death. And, although his body was buried without a priest, his beautiful soul was, no doubt, conducted by the angels into the presence of God to whom he had devoted his whole life. No grand monument tells to posterity, that here rest the precious remains of the Apostle of Ohio. But he erected to himself thou- sands of monuments in the hearts of those, whom he brought, through his own wonderful zeal and pious prayers, to the knowledge of God. The tears and bless- ings of thousands follow him to his grave. May he rest in peace and may eternal light shine upon him." 11
Bishop Fenwick died at Wooster, Ohio. His body was not permitted to remain where it had been interred so hastily on account of the contagious disease. It was removed to a vault in the first Cathedral of Cincinnati, on Sycamore Street, Feb- ruary IIth, 1833. When the present Ca- thedral was built, it was deposited in a crypt, built for the purpose, on Marcl: 13th, 1848. It is still there. In the sanctu- ary, on a marble slab, his life and his merits are commemorated by the follow- ing inscription :
IN MEMORIAM Rmi et Illmi D. D. Eduardi Fenwick Primi Episcopi Cincinnatensis ortum Ducens ex honesta prosapia hujusce nominis
Quae fidem Catholicam servavit illibatam In persecutionibus ab Henrico VIII. et Elizabetha
11 Annals V., p. 33.
Suscitatis in Anglia patria sua piis Parentibus Ignatio Fenwick et Eleonora Neale
Natus est in Comitatu Stae Mariae In Marylandia anno MDCCLXVIII Adolescens adscriptus Ordini Sti Dom- inici
Studiorum gratia missus est in Belgiam
Ibique captivus factus est ab impiis Asseclis magnae perturbationis Gallicae Libertati redditus et sacerdotio initiatus Ad sacras Missiones in Ohio et Kentuckia Zelo indefesso per aliquot annos incubuit Anno MDCCCXIV Adm. Rev. N. D. Young
Nepotem suum venerabilem senem Misit Cincinnatim ut hic constitueret Sacellum pro congregatione solum octo vel decem familiarum. Anno MDCCC- XXII
Episcopus renunciatus et in almo festo Ssmi nominis Jesu consecratus Per decem annos munus apostolicum Mitis, pius, strenuus exercens Morbo Cholera correptus obiit in Wooster MCCCXXXII. Sacra ipsius ossa ab Ejus successore in hac Ecclesia Metro- politana recondita sunt titulusque Hic inscriptus et positus ab eodem Qui in quantum fas est se precibus Ejus commendat ut per gratiam Dei Opitulante Immaculata Deipara simul Cum Protopresbytero Statuum Unitorum Revdo Stephano Theodoro Badin Heic etiam sepulto cumque fidelibus sibi Commissis gloria perfruatur coelesti
IN MEMORY.
Of the Most Reverend and Illustrious Edward Fenwick, First Bishop of Cincin- nati. Descended from honorable Ances- try of same name who preserved their
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Faith undefiled during the persecutions incited in England, their Fatherland, by Henry VIII., and Elizabeth. He was born of pious parents, Ignatius Fenwick and Eleonore Neale, in St. Mary's Co., Maryland, in the year 1768.
Entering the order of St. Dominic as a youth, he was sent to Belgium to make his studies. There he was made a captive by the godless adherents of the great French revolution. Upon gaining free- dom he was ordained, and labored with incessant zeal for several years in the mis- sions of Ohio and Kentucky.
In 1814 he sent his nephew, the Very Reverend N. D. Young, now a venerable old man, to Cincinnati, to build a chapel for about eight or ten families. Created Bishop in the year 1822 and consecrated on the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, he exercised the Apostolic office with hu- mility, devotedness and zeal for ten years. He died of cholera at Wooster in 1832.
His sacred remains were placed in this Metropolitan church by his successor who erected this memorial and commends him- self to his prayers, in as much as is right, that by the grace of God and the interces- sion of His Immaculate Mother, he may attain heavenly glory together with the first priest ordained in the United States, the Reverend Stephen Theodore Badin, who is likewise buried here, and with all the Faithful entrusted to his care.
Baraga upon his return from Detroit found winter in his nothern home. The long winter season was not to his liking, because it confined him to the narrow cir- cle of his Arbre Croche mission. His un- dying ambition for new conversions made him restless, all the more so, on account of the continual rumors that the redskins,
living on the shores of Lake Superior, would gladly welcome a Black-robe, if he would only come to them. These were well grounded rumors, too, for during the extreme cold season many northern Indians found their way to the somewhat milder climate on the shores of Lake Michigan, thus coming into contact with the Christianized Indians. In their com- mercial and Canadian trips, they could also observe, with an inborn keenness, how much better was the condition of their Christianized brethern, than their OWII. "Frequently I receive tidings," he writes to his Sister, under date of March 4, 1833, "of how heartily the savages of the northern countries, would welcome the Black-robe, if he would come to them. O how my heart aches when I see so many opportunities, to save immortal souls from everlasting abandonment, and I dare not go there, because I have not yet received permission. And if my Ordi- nary refuses his sanction, I shall be more severely tempted than ever before to go anyway. These savages live about the Lake Superior." Baraga evidently had applied for permission to extend his ac- tivity north of the Straits, and was now, with impatient zeal, awaiting a reply, the long delay of which made him fear that he would be tempted to go there anyway.
His trip to Michili-Mackinac which was made during the winter of 1832-33. seems to have been his first long-distance tramp on snow shoes. It was a lesson of indescribable fatigue, and but for the In- dians, who accompanied him, he might have perished. Speaking of this trip, he says-"The only possible mode of travel- ling in winter is on snow shoes. After two days, extraordinary exertion and fa-
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tigue, I reached my journey's end. Often I sank in the snow exhausted, to rest up a little. The return trip was even more dif- ficult ; I thought many a time, that I could go no further. The good Indians, who accompanied me, had compassion for me, waiting every now and then, so I could follow.
"However with the spring tide comes a
his way to the Island "Little Detroit," in Lake Michigan. He remained there eight days and on the 14th of May he christened 22 Indians. The remainder were not opposed to the Christian religion. They gave Baraga good hopes if he visited them again. This time he could not miss visiting his friends at Manis- tique. He found them in their first zeal.
FACULTAS ARTIUM IN ANTIQUISSIMA" AC CELEBERRIMA UNIVERSITATE VIENNENSI
Lecturis Salutem a Domino
N Totum ac manifeftum effe volumus omnibus & fin. gulis omnium Facultatum Doctoribus, Licentiatis, Baccalaureis, ceterisque omnibus , prenobilem Dominum Fridericum Barraga Gly. reum Treffenensem, et Philosophie in strin annum auditorem in Album Studioforum Academicorum rite relatum effe, id , quod manu propria & confueto Inclyta Facultatis ftræ Sigillo præfentibus appreffo teftamur. Vienna ie 1816 Die 29:" Novembris.
Joan: France: Fieber. pt Decamus. .
FACSIMILE OF BISHOP BARAGA'S MATRICULATION AND ATTENDANCE IN THE LAW DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA.
more joyous season for me. On the boats of Lake Superior I can again sail round- ing up the lost sheep of Christ." 12
True to his word, the 30th of April finds him out on his first mission trip of the spring. The weather was still rough, the winds piercing and cold, but he made
12 Letter Leop. S., June 3, 1833. Annals VII., p. 5.
They were engaged in building a larger and more substantial church. "I cannot praise the Christians of Manistique suffi- ciently, especially on account of their ex- ceedingly great love for prayer. Besides the lengthy, beautiful morning and even- ing prayer, which they faithfully perform daily, they assemble twice and three times to recite the Rosary. At every little spare
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moment they take their books, which I had printed last summer in Detroit, pray- ing and singing from them and learning the catechism by heart, for the most of them know, by this time how to read and those who do not are diligently learn- ing." 13
From Manistique Baraga sailed to Beaver Island. Here he found the Christ- ian Indians constant in faith but much harassed by the pagans, who were still in overwhelming majority. They subjected them to all kinds of despicable trickery and contempt, to induce them to aposta- tize. They would not allow them to build a church under any circumstances, and even threatened to burn it down, in case they attempted to do so. Appraising the sad condition of his converts, he returned to the shore determined to gain the confi- dence of the savages. He came again ; this time bringing with him many entic- ing gifts, such as striped shirting, small scissors, needles, thread and a large quan- tity of tobacco, things which they coveted with an envious greed. After repeated visits and continuous distributions of such articles, the savage character yielded. Out in the forest; far away from their dwel- lings, they apportioned a parcel of ground, where the Christians might build their church. "I am grateful to divine Provi- dence that the matter was finally settled. I would rather have the church far from the habitation of these obdurate pagans. as we can hold our services in this quiet place without disturbance. This time 1 spent several days on Beaver Island and on the 23d of May I baptized three more pagans." 14
On the 24th Baraga returned to Arbre Croche, where ample work awaited him. Pentecost was at hand, May 30th. He devoted his time to hearing confessions and instructing neophytes, who had come thither from the surrounding country. "Pentecost Sunday was the happiest day of my life. I baptized on that day 38 pagans in the mission church of Arbre Croche. I never before baptized so many at one time! Among them there were only six children. On Monday I baptized six adults. On the first of June three, and today, which is the 3d of June, two. Twelve others are preparing for Baptism during this week. God be eternally praised for it !" 15
On the 5th of June Baraga baptized. fifteen pagans, at Old Arbre Croche, a vil- lage twenty one miles distant from New Arbre Croche, afterwards called Little Traverse, now Harbour Springs.16
With the summer of 1833 begins the second chapter in Baraga's missionary life. His unqualified success in the con- version of the Indian, and, as we have mentioned above, his own request gained him the desired permission to establish another mission. It was to be at Grand River. He went about it with much cir- cumspection. "Last winter," he writes, "I ordered a pious and well instructed In- dian, who had a mind to winter at Grand River, to visit the scattered villages fre- quently, to speak to them of the Christian religion, and of the Priest who lives with their countrymen at Arbre Croche, who would assuredly visit them thecoming summer. This good Indian fulfilled his mission according to my wishes. He vis-
13 Letter June 3, 1833.
14 Ibidem.
15 Ibidem.
10 Verwyst.
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ited many Indians of that region, speak- ing to them of the Christian religion as well as he could, and thus prepared my way as once did John the Baptist for Christ the Lord. Many promised to ac- cept the teaching of which he spoke, if they only would have the happiness of seeing and hearing the envoy of the Great Spirit. I awaited anxiously this spring the return of my John. At length he came. Grasping my hand, he said, smil- ing : "Happy news, my Father! Happy News!" Then he told me of the bright prospect for the holy religion on the Grand River, if but a Catholic missionary came there, for all the Indians long for him." 17
It had been always a pet ambition of Bishop Fenwick to have a Bishop ap- pointed at Detroit. But this he did not live to see realized. One year after his death ( 1833) the Cincinnati Diocese was divided. Vicar General, and administra- tor of the diocese, sede vacante, the Very Rever Frederick Rese became the first bishop . the newly erected diocese, which comprised all the territory of Michigan and the Northwest. The new bishop was well acquainted with the territory of his new diocese, having made an extensive visit of all the missions during an almost continual tour of two years. He visited in their turn missions among the Menom- inees of Green Bay, the Sauks and Foxes East of the Mississippi, the Ottawas in Arbre Croche, and the Pottowatomies on the St. Joseph River. Therefore, we need not wonder that he readily acceded to the wishes of so zealous a missionary as Bar- aga, when he knew of the numerous set-
tlements of Ottawas in the region of the Grand River. He gave Beraga such pe- cuniary support, as was within his power, and ordered him to make such prepara- tions as he saw fit for the establishment of a new mission on the Grand River. Baraga delivered himself of this task well. By means of the Indian envoy, as above narrated, he found out, for certain, the good disposition of the Indians to accept the Christian religion. Now it remained for him personally to inspect the pros- pects of the new mission.
Upon this he set out without delay.
The nearest Catholic mission is that amongst the Pottowatomies at St. Jos- eph, one hundred and sixty miles distant.
"It was the 7th of June ( 1833), and after suffering many hardships and over- coming many difficulties, I arrived at the Grand River on the 15th. Never before had a Catholic priest penetrated into this region.
"This so called Grand River is the boundary line between the Ottawa Reser- vation and the lands belonging to the United States, in the territory of Michi -- gan. All the country north of the Grand River, even further north from Michili- Mackinac, is property of these Indians, while lands lying south of it are owned by the United States. The largest Indian village, (on this river), a day's journey, where the river empties into Lake Michi- gan, is a wonderful country, situated on the north bank; the reservation side, was the aim of my journey. On the south shore of the river, opposite to the village, a wealthy French family of Detroit had bought lands from the United States gov- ernment and had settled there. This Catholic family was overjoyed at the arri-
17 Leop. Berichte, VII., p. 13.
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val of a priest in this region. I had to stop at their home and was made to enjoy all possible courtesies and comforts they could bestow upon me. A new house, which they had but lately erected in close neighborhood, they turned over to me for the purpose of holding services. There I read Mass with grateful feeling; morn-
tismal ceremony. I christened 46 pagans at this one time; the first fruits of this new promising mission, in which, as I hope, with the grace of God, many souls will be rescued from perdition and con- ducted into eternal salvation. O what an unspeakable consoling prospect for me, who am come into this wild country, only
N os N. N. Decanus et Facultas Juridica studii
Viennensis tenore praesentium fidem facimus, quod Granol & Frider Beraga, Pleys Treffens, puis in im annum audition, aber a minervali
die et anno infra- scripto nostrae facultatis albo legitime immatricu- latus fuerit. Actum Austriae die " Novembro Anni 1817
Soyez QuiDeianu,
FACSIMILE OF ATTEST OF BISHOP BARAGA'S MATRICULATION AND ATTENDANCE IN THE LAW DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA.
ings and evenings I preached to the In- to seek lost souls and to rescue them, with dians, who flocked together from across the help of God, from eternal ruin! the river to listen to and to ponder over "The 46 Indians I baptized in the prin- cipal village, which shall be the centre of the new mission to be established, because it is the main point of settlement of the savages on the Grand River. Later I was pleased to observe also in other the teachings of salvation. I remained there quite a long time and the day before my departure, to the great consolation of those Indians, whom I considered dis- posed and prepared, I had a solemn bap-
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places, which will belong to this mission. ion. On the other hand, a Catholic priest, many Indians disposed with great faith to accept our holy religion and with firm enthusiasm to live according to it. Be- sides those in the principal village, I bap- tized in three others. In the first six, in the second twenty-one, and in the third thirteen. A total of 86 in the entire re- gion. Thus, the 86 converts are the first fruits of the to-be-established mission on the Grand River, which will most likely develop into a large proportion. And now, I will lay also before you, the es- teemed directors, the reasons which have moved my most Reverend Ordinary to permit the erection of a new mission on the Grand River.
"The first and main reason was the great number of those heathens, of whom many, even now appear to have a good disposition toward the Catholic religion. so much so, that there is reasonable hope that the most of them will be converted to the infallible church, if in the place, where I baptized the 46 Indians, a perma- nent mission is established. The Indi- ans. above all the Ottawas, are much in- clined to accept the Catholic religion. The non-Catholics, with all their inexhausti- ble means, cannot make much of an im- pression upon the Indian. A striking example of this may be seen in the place itself, where I christened the 46 savages. A Protestant preacher has undertaken to gain the savages for his doctrine. He has spent almost nine years there, and is being amply supported by his co-religionists. Besides the 400 dollars, paid annual sal- ary, provisions and clothing are sent him. But with the help of all these means, he has been able in the period of nine years, to win over only ten Indians to his relig-
poor and despoiled of all temporal goods, but well supplied with treasures of truth and salvation, not only completely wins over 46 in the same place, and that in a few days, but secures the promise of many others to accept the Catholic religion, as soon as I shall come again to stay with them permanently. Nor has the Protes- tant preacher converted a single Indian in any other village of that region,-most likely because it does not belong to his calling! On the contrary, during a single missionary tour 40 Indians have been con- verted in the neighboring hamlets, and by far many more have given me their prom- ise to become Christians as soon as I shall live among them. O, what a glorious tri- umph of truth we profess! Glory and praise be to the Good Shepherd who so lovingly looks after his lost sheep!
"A second reason for establishing a mis- sion in this region, is the significant num- ber of Catholic Canadians, who living amongst these savages and trading with them, are deprived of all spiritual conso- lation. Many of these, I know, have be- come almost savage themselves, but I, hope, that when a priest lives amongst them, they will again be brought into the right path, like in many other places of our diocese. Their children, too, who are now growing up without instruction, will then have opportunity to go to school.
"Finally, the third reason is, that great crowds of Indians from Arbre Croche and vicinity winter in the region of the Grand River and thus, during the entire winter do not see a priest. However, if there is a mission established as now con- templated, the Christian Indians will have, from time to time, an opportunity
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SAULT STE. MARIE AND MARQUETTE
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Des juribilden Studiums.
FACSIMILE OF BISHOP BARAGA'S CERTIFICATE WHILE TAKING A LAW COURSE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA.
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to hear Mass, to receive instruction and the holy Sacraments. For the pagan visi- tors, likewise, it will prove a good chance to profit for their salvation.
"It was the 7th of June 1833." 18
In view of such unexpected success on his first trip, Baraga was naturally ani- mated with great expectations as to his
LECTURIS SALUTEM!
Presentibus hisce literis testamur, I Fridencum Barragan Cain. Trebuie. in C. R. Labacensi Scientiarum Lyceo praelectiones in historium enly diligentifine exupippo atque in examine, L. publico fecundi" semestris in classem primam cum Eminentia relatum esse.
Mores quod attinet, legibus academicis apptime: conformes. exhibuit.
In quorum fidem has ei manu nostra subscriptas, et Lycei sigillo munitas dedimus.
Labaci die 1. mensis Septembris 1822.
Urbanisi Alahlyme
Clearque Dollinen ps 4. I. I just early. achild ecchy.
Cabarenfin Canonians
C. R. Studii Haologici
Professor publ.
Director FACSIMILE OF BISHOP RARAGA'S CERTIFICATE FOR ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY IN THE SEMINARY AT LAIBACH.
"These reasons have induced my Most Reverened Ordinary to place at my dis- posal some limited means and to order me to establish this new mission.
new mission. He had firmly resolved upon the undertaking. Arriving home, in Arbre Croche, he received on the 10th
18 Letter July 26, 1833. Annals VII.
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SAULT STE. MARIE AND MARQUETTE
of July a box of religious articles together with 1,100 florins, a present from some kind benefactors of his native diocese of Laibach, especially intended for him. This served only to confirm him in his resolution. The report of his trip, and plans for the future were much pleasing to the Bishop. But one thing to do before leaving, was a final, so to say, a farewell visit to all the missions, which he had es- tablished during his stay in Arbre Croche. Of this last visit he writes :
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