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Scope and Contents Father Baraga had felt uneasy because he was not sure whether he followed his own will or God's will in establishing the new mission at L'Anse. After having received on May 18 the Bishop's letter of March 20, 1844 he is happy to know through the mouth of his Superior that he did the will of God. This gives him courage to bear the sorrows and cares which always go with the establishments of a new mission. He thanks the Bishop for the presents and especially for the $300. he sent for the...

Scope and Contents False reports, sent by the Methodist preachers of L'Anse to Mr. Robert Stuart, have caused a terrible persecution against Father Baraga and also a circular to be published which abolishes religious freedom and almost closes the doors to the Catholic missionaries in Indian countries. Baraga believes that the purpose of that circular was to chase him out of L'Anse. Mr. Stuart has always protected the Methodists and is very angry that Baraga had established a Catholic mission in L'Anse. But...

Scope and Contents Baraga had recieved no news from the Bishop since the arrival of Father Otto Skolla . He asks the Bishop to bring with him next summer the money which the Archbishop of Vienna had sent to him. He would like to have as much as possible in hard money, the rest in light drafts. At present there are several merchants in L'Anse and Baraga is not obliged anymore to buy everything from the Fur Company. He could have done better shopping before with cash money. He intends to be in L'Anse the greater...

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Baraga received the Bishop's letter of Nov. 13, 1845. He repeats what he has written to the Bishop in his letter of Jan. 5. On Feb. 4 he intends to leave L'Anse to go 115 miles on snowshoes to Fond du Lac. It will be a very difficult journey. He intends to be back at the end of March, still going on snowshoes. :: III-2-h A.L.S. French 1p.

Scope and Contents Baraga has returned from a trip of 600 miles and found the Bishop's letter of Jan. 24 and a copy of the Metropolitan Almanac for 1846. He was surprised to find his name in the almanac among the priests of the Milwaukie diocese. He believes that Bishop John Martin Henni thought Baraga intended to spend part of the winter and all spring at Fond du Lac to establish a mission there. He had intended to do so, but the arrival of Father Otto Skolla changed his plans. He stayed only a few days,...

Scope and Contents Baraga thanks the Bishop for his kindness, for the manual, the Almanac of 1847 and for the Lenten regulations. Baraga had made his missionary visit to Point Keweenaw in January and spent 3 weeks there. He is very satisfied with the mission and was surprised to have found so many Irish, German and Canadian Catholics in the mines. There are more than 240, according to the enclosed list, but there are still 2 or 3 smaller places which are not marked down. Baraga had heard that in the coming...

Scope and Contents Baraga asks the Bishop for advice in a matter of baptism after a premature delivery. Rev. Father Peter Kindekins had sent him a treatise about it. Baraga remembers to have heard in Carniola, his native country as well as in America, that there is no soul in the foetus and that the foetus is thrown away immediately. But if, according to the above mentioned treatise, the human embryo has a soul from the first day of conception, Baraga would like to know why such a soul should be deprived of...

Scope and Contents Baraga received the Bishop's letter of June 14 July 10 and thanks him for allowing him $200 - for his needs. He wants the Bishop to keep the money until he needs it. He has already written a money order for Mr. Sherman, one of the merchants at L'Anse. What the Bishop said about sending a priest to Keweenaw is the same that Baraga had told the Catholics when he was there last May. But Baraga's wonders why the Jesuits do not send one or two priests there as they intend to take Lake Superior...

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Baraga made out a money order to a man for $181. Under the condition that he will wait until fall, or even until spring 1848. Therefore if the Bishop has not yet received the money for Baraga from Vienna, this man will wait. Nothing should be given to him from the $200, Government money, which is destined for something else. :: III-2-h A.L.S. French 1p. 8vo

Scope and Contents Baraga received the Bishop's letter of Oct. 5 on Dec. 24 1841, the day after his arrival at Fond du Lac. Baraga is sorry not to have marked on his money orders the day on which they were payable, according to his arrangements with his creditors. He thought it was sufficient to inform the Bishop about the time. Baraga has already drawn some money from the $300.- which the government has been accustomed to pay for the schools every spring. He asks the Bishop to let him have all of the $300....

Scope and Contents Baraga is disappointed that he has not yet received a letter from the Bishop to assure him that the Bishop has received the "Answers" to the questions of the government, which were sent in the fall 1847. Baraga worries and asks for just one line about that matter. A short time ago he returned from a mission which he had opened in the mining camps at Keweenaw Point. There were not as many people there this winter, as last, but they are still numerous everywhere and Baraga hopes that more will...

Scope and Contents Baraga received the Bishop's letter of March 9 on April 11 and is happy that the manuscript for the government is in the Bishop's hands. He thanks him also for the $200.- and hopes that a little more money will come for him from Europe during the summer, so he can do more good for this mission. As there are still new conversions, he has to build new houses in his Catholic village. Each house costs him complete $50. He is covering them with shingles, because the roof made of bark has to be...

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Baraga has just received all his accounts for this year. It pains him that they will exceed by $ 70 the $ 200-granted by the Bishop. He asks him to add that amount to the rest. He gives the Bishop his word that this is all for this year. He has made an agreement with the merchants, that every thing which he will take hereafter shall be put on his accounts for the following spring. :: III-2-h A note apparently enclosed in another document French 2pp. 16to

Scope and Contents The Bishop's letter of April 25 reached Baraga on May 22 and he fears this answer will not reach the Bishop on time for him to give a report to Mr. William Almy Richmond . It takes at least a month and a half between the writing of the Bishop's letter and the receipt of Baraga's answer. Baraga finds it surprising that the government could have doubts "of the propriety of a portion of the school fund being allowed for the support of the Catholic schools." They know or at least ought to know...

Scope and Contents Baraga is sending to the Bishop a report of his mission to have it sent to the editor of the Almanac. The report speaks of the mission at L'Anse, Keewenaw Bay under the title of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and under the care of Baraga as vicar general. He speaks of the spiritual welfare of the Indians, especially of their Temperance Society, and of their interference with others who bring whiskey into their towns. He speaks of their industry and progress. The number of Chippewa families in...

Scope and Contents Baraga answers the circular written in the Superintendency of Indian Affairs, Detroit, April 3, 1844. He received it May 18, 1844, therefore for him this is the day of its publication. He intends to abide by everything in the circular, but as a law cannot be in effect before its publication so that circular cannot be applied to his mission and school before May 18. By that date, Baraga's mission was already established nearly 7 months. The Circular, being a law, states that wherever a...

Scope and Contents Baraga has not heard for a long time from the Bishop, although the mail passes through these parts every month. But the Bishop's letters might have arrived in Saut and stayed there. The mail that passes through L'Anse up to April 1st. comes from Fort Howard, Greenbay, Brown County, Wisconsin Territ. All the Bishop's letters written before that date should be addressed via Fort Howard, etc. as above. He should do that hereafter with all the letters from December 1st to April 1st., because as...

Scope and Contents Baraga has just received the Bishop's letter of Nov. 15, 1844. He had indeed with great reluctance consented last year, that Mr. Crook should draw $300. form the Bishop's account, but the Bishop does not have to pay it until July 1, 1845 and should consider that sum as a contribution for the year 1845. In 1846 Baraga hopes to receive more help. He wants part of the school fund every year as he is entitled to it. He has been teaching school alone since last fall for Mrs. Cotte has veen bery...

Scope and Contents Baraga stopped again in Lapoint on his way from Fond du Lac to L'Anse. He intends to go on the next day. Again Baraga asks the Bishop to consent to Father Otto Skolla's dismissal from the diocese. He also asked Bishop Henni to accept and confirm Skolla as a missionary in his diocese. Skolla is very useful in Lapointe and the congregation would not like to lose him. This also help Baraga as he could spend more time at his own mission. Once more Baraga gives instructions about the money sent...

Scope and Contents Father Baraga is very glad to hear of the happy return of the Bishop from Europe. He hopes that all the Bishop's affairs have been arranged with the best success, and that the Bishop will visit at Lake Superior next year. He sends him the episcopal seal which the Bishop had ordered him to have made with a press which he bought in Vienna. If the Bishop has some interesting news, especially about Rome, he would like to get it before the end of the navigation on Lake Superior. The medals in the...

Scope and Contents Baraga received the Bishop's letter of March 26 on June 11 and thanks him for all he has sent. He regrets that his little Indian primer is printed with so many mistakes. It is almost useless: there are hardly five or six pages with less than 14 mistakes on them. It is the printer's fault. Baraga is quite surprised about what the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda demands from the Indian missionaries. It astonishes him that a Congregation, otherwise so wise and respectful, could now demand...

Scope and Contents Baraga is quite distressed about his money. He is building a new church and he implores the Bishop to let him have the money which is his, according to all rights. He includes a letter from his agent in Triest, Italy, Mr. J.P. Suppautschitsch, who informs Baraga of all the money that was sent to him from Europe since his return to America. But Baraga has received only about $255 - which Father Vincent Badin has sent him through Mr. William Brewster. Baraga demands now from the Bishop the...

Scope and Contents Baraga read with great emotion the Pastoral Letter of the Bishop. He is anxious to meet him and receive his episcopal blessing, but as he cannot leave his mission, he begs the Bishop to give him the blessing in spirit when he reads these lines. Baraga also declares with God as a witness that he will render obedience to the Bishop in everything pertaining to his holy office. He thinks that obedience is the soul of spiritual life. Then Baraga cites in Latin 7 phrases about the virtue of...

Scope and Contents Father Baraga received the Bishop's letter of August 21 on September 16. It has given him great consolation to learn of the zeal of the Bishop's congregation during the 10 days retreat, but it grieves him to think that his own little congregation, especially the Canadians, make such little efforts to obtain the Indulgences which the Holy Church offers and of which he preaches so often. The Indians are much more zealous. Almost all of those who go to Holy Communion have fulfilled the...

Scope and Contents A treaty has been made and signed yesterday in Lapointe in which $2000 are to be allowed for the schools. Robert Stuart, the Indian agent who made the treaty, came to see Baraga and gave him hope that something might also be done for a Catholic school. Baraga wrote to him in the morning the enclosed letter. Stuart answered that Baraga should write to his Bishop about it - Baraga encloses also that letter. He asks the Bishop to represent this matter to the Secretary of War in Washington,...

Scope and Contents Baraga acknowledges the receipt of 2 boxes of beautiful candles, and a box of crackers. He is very happy about it. Baraga apologizes for having charged $400 to the Bishop's account, but he is sure that he will receive the money next fall from Europe. If the Bishop was unable to pay the money, it does not matter because the Company does not lose anything, Baraga will pay the interest. There were many sick this fall. Within the last 19 days 4 children died and 3 men. Two of the children were...

Scope and Contents Enclosed are the details of Baraga's little mission. If the Bishop should wish any other information Baraga will do his best to satisfy him. But he cannot give reports about any other mission as for instance Father Francis Pierz's, because he was never in that part of the country, but he hopes that it will become a very interesting mission. Father Otto Skolla should remain at least another year in or around Detroit to learn French properly, because he cannot be of use to Baraga without the...

Scope and Contents Baraga who was in L'Anse on a mission during Spring, on returning June 16 found among many letters which arrived on the first boat on May 30, 4 letters from the Bishop written on Oct. 17, 1842-Feb. 10, 1843- April 10 and 20, 1843. Sault Ste. Marie had no postoffice last winter, therefore the delay. Letter of Oct. 17 contains the rights and powers which the Bishop conceded to his priests. Baraga promises to observe them strictly. He asks the Bishop's advice in one matter. He had been told by...

Scope and Contents Baraga is at present with all his Indians from L'Anse in Lapointe, who came to receive their payment. He is greatly disturbed that his Indians of Lapointe have not yet received a missionary since he left. They desire one so much, that he promised to spend every summer with them until they will have a priest. He wrote to Bishop John Martin Henni of Milwaukee to send them one as soon as possible. The Indians of Grand Portage and Fond du Lac, who are also here are even more to be pitied. Baraga...

Scope and Contents Father Baraga is again in need of $300. and asks the Bishop for it. It will be the last time for the next two years. To build a settlement is always expensive in the beginning. Mr. Crooks, the president of the Fur Company, would like to have all accounts settled before he leaves, but he gives Father a term of 10 months for the payment. Baraga spoke with Mr. Robert Stuart about the Circular. Mr. Stuart hopes that it will not affect the Catholic Mission in L'Anse and that the blacksmith may...