Scope and Contents Baraga is sorry to have to inform the Bishop that Father Angelus Van Paemel will not become an Indian missionary. Baraga is quite displeased. Van Paemel has given up the study of the Indian language and intends to return to Detroit as soon as possible. Father Francis X. Pierz will be very disappointed. Baraga's mission in L'Anse is considerably increasing. 25 persons are preparing for baptism, besides the annual increase of newly born children. It would be a pity if this mission be...

Scope and Contents Baraga received the Bishop's notes of Feb. 8 and 12 some days ago. He is grateful that the Bishop had advised Father Angelus Van Paemel to remain on the Indian mission, who is an excellent priest for the missions. Van Paemel will remain in L'Anse about 3 months more, and then go to L'Arbre Croche, for 3 reasons: 1. He is destined for the Ottawa missions and their dialect is quite different from the Chippewa dialect. He should study their language there. 2. L'Arbre Croche is a better place to...

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Baraga has decided to write his Dictionary only in 2 languages, Indian and English, omitting the French. He has 3 reasons: 1. The Dictionary is connected with the Grammar which is only in English and Indian. 2. It will take him 15 months to write it, but fully 2 years if he would add French to it. 3. A third language would increase the printing expenses by a third. Baraga likes to know soon if he is doing right. :: III-2-h A.L.S. English 1p. 8vo

Scope and Contents Baraga was requested by a young man who died in L'Anse at the mines to forward $ 56.40 to his mother in Switzerland. Baraga asks the Bishop to have the amount sent to the person named on the outside of the letter enclosed, together with this letter. He wants a receipt of the money enclosed, to show to those who requested him to forward it. He also begs the Bishop that he request the persons through whom he will send the money to write plainly the direction on their letter to Mr. Biser and in...

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Baraga refers to the Bishop's letter of Feb. 8 in which the Bishop allows Baraga $150.- for this season, besides the 2 money orders on Messrs. Rood and Brady. Baraga has now written the last 2 orders on this amount. He enumerates 6 orders which he has written for the $150.- payable to Messrs. Barbeau, Crebassa, Senter, Brady interest, Barbeau, Bendry. :: III-2-h A.L.S. English lp. 8vo

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Baraga wants the Bishop to ask Mr. Krug, a German bookseller in Detroit, if he is in need of the $60.- which Baraga has in cash, having sold some books for him. He cannot send the money now after the close of navigation. If Mr. Krug needs it urgently then the Bishop should advance it to him and Baraga will send it by the first opportunity. Perhaps this winter if a trustworthy man goes through Detroit. If not then on the first boat spring. :: III-2-h A.L.S. English 1p. 8vo.

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Baraga sees the advantage of cash money, he has not issued a single order on the Bishop. He wants the yearly $300.- sent to Father Jean Baptist Menet S.J. at Sault Ste. Marie who will send it by boat to Baraga. He has received the the Ordo for 1852, together with the Faculties and Statutes. He has not yet received the Almanac of 1852 and would like to have it. :: III-2-h A.L.S. English 1p. 8vo

Scope and Contents Baraga received the Rescripts and Statutes of Dec. 25, 1851 and of Jan. 20, 1852 and wants to make the following request: 1. To be dispensed from burning a lamp before the Holy Sacrament, as he goes to the different missions on Keweenaw Point 3 or 4 times a year and as often to those of Ontonagon. Every such missionary visit takes almost 3 weeks. Besides his oil is so coarse that the lamp requires constant care. It would be difficult to keep it burning all night. 2. In regard to the...

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Baraga is constantly asked for the little Catechisms when he goes on a mission to the mining settlements. As he has none he asks the Bishop to send him a good number of them as soon as possible through Father Jean Baptist Menet S.J.. He also wants the Almanac for 1852, and the $300 which he was to receive this spring. It should be sent to Father Menet who will find a sure opportunity in Captain Bendry to send them to Baraga. :: III-2-h A.L.S. French 1p. 8vo.

Scope and Contents Baraga requests the Bishop to send the little box which he is sending with the letter to Vienna Austria by the surest opportunity. He also wants to know what to do about sick-calls to distant mining settlements. There are many Catholics on Keweenaw Point and Ontonagon. If every one that falls sick calls for a priest, it will be very hard on him. He does not think that he is obliged to answer such sick-calls, as he is not the regular pastor of all these distant congregations. He does for them...

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Baraga reminds the Bishop that he has not yet received the $300.- for this spring or summer. He wants the money to be sent to Father Jean Baptist Menet S.J. who will forward it to him. It would be very distressing to him if he were not to receive that money as he has already made arrangements to make the payments in cash and not issue any orders on the Bishop. :: III-2-h A.L.S. Enlish 1p. 8vo

Scope and Contents Baraga thanks the Bishop for the note of July 14, which he received on July 30, and for sending the $300.- to Father Jean Baptist Menet S.J. who will forward it to him. Baraga is enclosing the School-Report, which the Bishop should address to whom it may concern. In regard to the little box destined for Archbishop Vincent Eduard Milde Vienna, Baraga is sorry to hear that it has not yet been sent away. He wants the Bishop to send it by railroad or boat to some acquaintance in New York who...

Scope and Contents Father Baraga arrived in L'Anse on Oct. 24. The Indians received him with joy, though at this time most of them were either pagans or Methodists. The new mission of St. Francis Xavier is doing well, many conversions were made and many are being prepared for baptism. A number of Methodists who have been in L'Anse for 10 years are becoming Catholics. On Christmas day he baptized 29 persons, almost all grown-ups. Altogether he has baptized 54. He is satisfied that he came here this winter as he...

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 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 arrived in Lapointe June 28, where he received only the Bishop's letter of May 4; the other letter got lost. He was instructed about an error he made in an important case, both by the Bishop and by a letter of Mgr. Power of Toronto. Baraga had not known the rules of Pope Benedict XIV and Pope Clement XIII. He wrote a long letter to Monseigneur and hopes that he is satisfied. When the Bishop comes on his visit, Baraga intends to discuss that matter in detail with him. He also...

Scope and Contents Baraga wants to have pamphlets printed about temperance as he intends to form temperance societies in his 4 missions. They should be made according to the encloses formulas and the Bishop should bring them along when he comes to L'Anse. In 1846 he will be in L'Anse and during June and July, the rest of the year he intends to divide between Lapointe, Fond du Lac and Grand Rapids. Therefore he asks the Bishop to be in Saut Ste. Marie at the beginning of June to embark to Copperharbor, to take...

Scope and Contents Baraga and Father Otto Skolla are in Lapointe because the mission in L'Anse is too small to occupy two priests. Even the priest's house is so small that it can hold only one priest, though Baraga had to use the only room it contains also for a schoolroom. Father Skolla had to sleep in another house which was quite embarrasing for everybody. Therefore Baraga decided to bring him to Lapointe for the winter as there is no priest in that mission. If Father Skolla likes the place and if the...