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CHAPTER II.   Northern Indiana within the jurisdiction of the Bishops of
                                Quebec, Baltimore, Bardstown and Vincennes. . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
CHAPTER III.  The Right Rev. John Henry Luers, D.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
                                The First Bishop of Fort Wayne.

NORTHERN INDIANA WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BISHOPS OF QUEBEC, BALTIMORE, BARDSTOWN AND VINCENNES--BISHOPS OF QUEBEC, 1674-1789; BISHOP CARROLL OF BALTIMORE, 1789-1810; BISHOP FLAGET OF BARDSTOWN, 1810-1834; BISHOPS BRUTE, DE LA HAILANDIER, BAZIN AND DE ST. PALAIS OF VINCENNES, 1834-1857.

     Naturally, the heads of various orders and religious communities exercised jurisdiction over their subjects, such as the Franciscans, the Dominicans, the Jesuits and others, who labored in various regions of this vast country, from the earliest days.  When, however, the first Bishop of Quebec was installed in the year 1674, this Bishop and his successors exercised jurisdiction over the territory, now known as Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Main, Ohio and New York.  The British Colonies on the Atlantic coast, from New Hampshire to Georgia, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, were subject to the Vicars Apostolic of the London district, England.  During this time, Florida and Louisiana, embracing all west of the Mississippi, belonged to the diocese of Santiago de Cuba; Texas was part of the diocese of Guadalajara; New Mexico of that of Durango, and California was governed by a Prefect Apostolic.
     Pope Pius VI appointed the Rev. John Carroll Prefect Apostolic in the United States, in June, 1784; but the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Quebec continued, until the same Pope erected the new See of Baltimore, on November 6, 1789.  Bishop Carroll was consecrated August 15, 1790, and his diocese was made coextensive with the United States.  A diocesan synod was held at Baltimore, with an attendance of twenty-two priests, on November 7, 1791.  In 1800, Bishop Neale became Bishop Carroll's Coadjutor.  On April 8, 1808, Pope Pius VII raised Baltimore to the rank of a Metropolitan See, and founded the new dioceses of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Bardstown.  The Catholic population, at [22] this time, was estimated at about 25,000, with 68 priests, 80 churches, several religious orders and three colleges.  Rt. Rev. John Carroll was born in Maryland, January 8, 1735.  He attended the college at St. Omer in Flanders, and entered the Society of Jesus at Watton, 1753.  He was ordained priest in 1761.  In June, 1774, he returned to America and labored there, as a secular priest, in Maryland and Virginia.  He was consecrated Bishop, August 15, 1790, and was made Archbishop in 1808.  He died December 3, 1815.  Pastoral letters show the Bishop caring for his flock; his controversy with Wharton and others show his ability in defending the faith against assaults.
     Rt. Rev. Benedict Joseph Flaget was born of a widowed mother, November 7, 1763, at Coutournat, France.  Two Years old his mother died, and an aunt took charge of the boy.  He began his study of philosophy and theology, at the age of seventeen, in the seminary at Clermont, finishing the same at Issy, and was ordained priest in 1788.  When the French Revolution broke up all institutions of learning in France, Father Flaget sailed for Baltimore, in 1792.  Bishop Carroll sent him to Vincennes, Indiana several times as Bishop, but whether he came as far as the present diocese of Fort Wayne, is not known.  Bishop David became his Coadjutor in 1819, Bishop Chabrat in 1834, and, at the time of his death, it was Bishop Spalding.  "He died, as he had lived, a saint," says Bishop Spalding, "on February 11, 1850."  The diocese of Bardstown, when first established, comprised Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and all the Northwest.  Our historian Shea says of Bishop Flaget:  "No Bishop, in this country, has ever been regarded as equaling Bishop Flaget in sanctity, in the spirit of prayer, in the ardor of his devotion, his firmness, patience and constant devotion to all the duties of his State."  A number of seemingly well-authenticated miraculous cures were ascribed to Bishop Flaget, while visiting France.  An account of these  cures, bearing every evidence of a miraculous nature, was given in "The Record," published at Louisville, under dates of January 26 and February 2, 1905.  It was in 1841 Bishop Flaget's See was transferred from Bardstown to Louisville.
     The Rt. Rev. Simon Gabriel Brute de Remur was born at Rennes, the capital of Brittany, in France, on March 20, 1779.  The untimely death of his father threw the responsibility of his education on his mother, a woman of strong Christian character.  How well she succeeded may be learned from the Bishop's reminiscences referring to his first Communion, where he says:  "I thank Thee, O my God, for the state of innocence and piety I was in the day I performed this most important act.  My heart is full when I think of that day--thanks, thanks, O my God!"  A retentive memory, a lively imagination, and close application made him a ripe and accomplished scholar.  He was well advanced in his studies, having become familiar with Latin and Greek, when the revolution broke out.  During this reign of terror, unhappy France was deluged with the blood of her best and noblest sons.  He witnessed it all.  Having entered the medical college in 1796, he graduated 1803.  In the same year, however, he gave up the practice of medicine and entered the Seminary of St. Sulpice, at Paris.  Five years of earnest and brilliant studies in theology, brought him to the gates of the sanctuary, and he was ordained priest in 1808.  Following Bishop Flaget to America, he landed at Baltimore on August 10, 1810.  He was there made president of St. Mary's College, and donated it his library of 5,000 volumes.  We are told, "He was an oracle of learning to the clergy and bishops of the country.  Indeed, from his secluded home in the mountain, his influence was felt throughout the entire Church of America," --the influence of a learned and holy man.
     He was consecrated Bishop of Vincennes, October 28, 1834, at St. Louis by Bishop Flaget, assisted by Bishops Rosati and Purcell.  He was duly installed on November 5, by the same Bishops, at Vincennes.  What he found  in his diocese [24] was:  Two priests, a cathedral of four brick walls and roof unplastered and unwhitewashed, without sanctuary, a residence of a single room 25X12 feet, a revenue of $100 pew rent per annum, and a subscription list of $240 for his support, A visitation of his diocese revealed to him the great need of priests, and means to erect churches, and to supply these he visited France.  After incredible hardships and labors, he died June 26, 1839, of consumption, the result of a severe cold caught while riding on the outside of a coach, in Ohio, on his way to the Council at Baltimore.  His remains rest in the crypt of the Cathedral of Vincennes.
     It must be of great interest to the reader, to ascertain the status, in those days, of what is now the diocese of Fort Wayne.  We can do no better, in this respect, than to quote from Bishop Brute's letter to the Leopoldine Association for the propagation of the faith, giving a full account of his first episcopal visitation in his diocese:  "I went North in Illinois as far as Chicago on Lake Michigan.  Rev. St. Cyr had arrived there from St. Louis, and enabled the Catholics to make their Easter Communion, so I gave only a few Confirmation.  Chicago is now composed of about four hundred souls, French, Canadians, Americans, Irish, and a good number of Germans.  From Chicago we went around the end of Lake Michigan to the Indian village at Pokegan, situated just outside of our diocese, and in that of Detroit.  This mission was established, many years ago, by the Venerable Father Badin.  Father de Seille has lived three or four years at Pokegan.  On Thursday evening we arrived at South Bend, a little town beautifully situated on the high banks of the St. Joseph river.  It is growing rapidly, owning to its many advantages.  Crossing the river, we visited St. Mary of the Lake, the mission house of the excellent Father Badin, who has lately moved to Cincinnati.  He had a school there kept by two Sisters, who have also gone away, leaving the place vacant.  The 625 acres of land attached to it, and the small lake named St. Mary's, make it a most desirable spot and one soon, I hope, to be occupied by some prosperous institution.  Rev. Badin has transferred it to the Bishop on the condition of his assuming the debts, a trifling consideration compared with the importance of the place.  On [25] Friday morning we left for the Tippecanoe river, and the village of Chickagos.  The Indians had heard of our coming, and had sent some of their number in advance, to ascertain our movement.  They gave notice of our approach to others, who had camped out a few miles to wait for the Bishop, and to make a more worthy escort for him.  The chief of the Chickagos was there and directed the movements.  Coffee had been prepared at the small village, only three miles from the principal one.  We dismounted, and sitting on mats of woven straw partook of their kind cheer.  Then we crossed the river and soon arrived.
     "Chickagos village is not so large as Pokegan, yet the chapel is nearly as large.  It is however without ceiling, and without a room for the missionary overhead.  The mission being of later standing, Father de Seille had baptized only about 120 persons, of whom I confirmed sixteen.  Our interpreter was a Canadian woman seventy years of age, a truly deserving person.  On our arrival all assembled in the chapel and Father de Seille introduced me as their Bishop, the head in these parts of all the other Black Robes.  On Sunday morning, Father de Seille and myself sat upon two little stools in the chapel, and some twelve of the leading men came in and took their seats upon some of the opposite benches.  Chickagos made the speech and, having expressed his confidence in Father de Seille and in me, he said he would present me with half a section, 320 acres of their land.  Having replied through the interpreter, we prepared for Mass and Confirmation.  Before Mass six children were baptised by me.  We slept on the benches of the chapel, and some of the straw from the floor, wrapt up in our great-coats, after the manner of the good Father.  Our food was boiled corn, fish, venison, and wild turkey, minced together in one dish, and some cranberries broken and mixed with sugar, they got from trees.  Our drink was water, coffee was not to be had, although this was the principal village.  I was to leave them after vespers, so before we began they came to sign the deed of the land, presented to the Church, which we had drawn up in as legal a form as we could.  After a few parting words, and giving them my blessing, we mounted our horses and were escorted for some miles by a large number, Chickagos at their head, who before leaving us dismounted from their [26] horses, and asked their Bishop's blessing again.  We spent the night at the house of a settler, fifteen miles from Chickagos, and found the house so full that many had to lie on the floor, as I had done once on my way to the lake.  Here we had a bed for two, as was often the case.  Through all that journey of 600 miles, we seldom came to any regular taverns, but almost every family would allow you to share their meals, and give you a place under their roof.["]
     "The day after we reached Logansport, a rapidly improving town on the canal, that is nearly completed and will unite the Wabash with the Maumee at Fort Wayne, and thus Lake Erie with the Ohio and the Mississippi, through the States of Indiana and Illinois.  I found there a good number of Catholics, and promised to send them one of the first priests I could obtain.  I said Mass the next morning and then left for home, at some days' journey, passing through Fayetteville, Attica, Covington, Terr Haute, etc.  Few Catholics are as yet collected in these growing towns, but soon there will be more.  Shortly after my return, Father Lalumiere came home and the account of his journey was very consoling.  He had found more Catholics than I had, and many places ready to receive a priest.  In three places they had begun to build churches.  At Fort Wayne they had finished one, 60x30 feet, and the congregation numbered 150 Catholic families.  I was happy to send them the Rev. M. Ruff from Metz, in France, recently ordained and speaking the three languages, French, English and German.  Of the latter there are a good many living there and in the environments.  I had ordained Rev. M. Ruff subdeacon and deacon before my journey to Chicago, and had sent him to the Seminary of St. Louis (St. Mary of the Barrens), to make his retreat, and there he was ordained priest by that excellent prelate, Doctor Rosati."
     RIGHT REV. CELESTINE RENE LAWRENCE GUYNEMER DE LA HAILANDIERE, the second Bishop of Vincennes, was born at Combourg, in Brittany, May 2, 1798, and was baptized the same day, this being the time of the revolution, by a priest who was concealed in the house.  He studied law, to fit himself for the magistracy.  At the age of twenty-four, attending a mission given by the Fathers of the Faith, he resolved to renounce the world and the flattering prospects held out to [27] him.  He entered the Seminary at Rennes, and was ordained at Paris, on May 28, 1825.  When Bishop Brute requested the Bishop of Rennes, to give him the name of a priest worthy to be his Vicar General and Coadjutor, the Abbe de la Halandiere was selected.  He came to America, in 1836, but two years later was again sent to Europe in the interest of the diocese.  While there busily engaged, information reached him at Paris, that Bishop Brute had died, and that he himself had been appointed Bishop Brute's Coadjutor.  He was consecrated Bishop at Paris, by Bishop Forbin Janson, on August 18, 1839, and made every exertion to obtain needed aid for his diocese.  He sent over vestments and sacred vessels for the churches, the Eudists to found a college, Fathers and Brothers of the Holy Cross, Sisters of Providence.  After returning to his diocese, one of his first acts was to hold a retreat for his clergy, which was followed by a diocesan Synod, in 1844.  Bishop Hailandiere was a man of restless activity, and his energy made him unpopular with many.  Aware of this, he visited Rome, in 1845, to resign his see, but Pope Gregory XVI induced him to return to his diocese, and resume his labors.  He did so, but the old troubles continued and new ones were added, so that in 1847 the Holy Father accepted his resignation.  He returned to his native country and died on an estate belonging to the family, at Triandin, on May 1, 1882.  It was his desire that his remains be buried beneath the sanctuary of the Cathedral at Vincennes.  His wish was complied with.
     RIGHT REV. JOHN STEPHEN BAZIN, third Bishop of Vincennes, was born in 1796, in the diocese of Lyons, France, where he entered the priesthood and came as a missionary to the diocese of Mobile, in 1830.  He labored with great zeal and devotedness for the Church, in the city of Mobile, for a period of seventeen years.  He was Bishop Portier's Vicar General.  Upon the recommendation of the sixth Provincial Council of Baltimore, he was appointed Bishop of Vincennes.  His consecration took place in the Cathedral at Vincennes, on October 24, 1847, Bishop Portier being the Consecrator.  He issued a pastoral letter, in which he said to his clergy:  "Having been inured for many years to the labors of a missionary life, we feel ready, in spite of our advanced age, to share with you all the hardships of the ministry.  We are ambitious of no [28] distinction.  We expect to find in each of you a friend."  But in the Providence of God he was almost immediately stricken down, and expired on April 23, 1848.
     RIGHT REV. JAMES MAURICE DE LONG D'AUSSAC DE ST. PALAIS, D. D., the fourth Bishop of Vincennes, was born at La Salvatat, diocese of Montpelier, France, on November 15, 1811.  He descended from one of the noblest families of France.  His forefathers fought against the Moors and in the Crusades.  His friends and relatives entertained well grounded hopes, as to the brilliancy of the future awaiting him.  He received an education such as became a nobleman.  The downfall of Charles X, and the revolution of 1830, convinced him of the vanity of all earthly things.  In the twenty-fifth year of his age he was ordained priest, by the Archbishop of Paris.
     He heeded the invitation of Bishop Brute, seeking laborers for the Lord's vineyard in the wilds of Indiana, and following him arrived in Vincennes in 1836.  He was assigned to a station about thirty-five miles east of Vincennes, where he built St. Mary's Church.  Not understanding the German, he frequently made use of a Lutheran as an interpreter, translating his French and English sermon into German.  The bulk of the money to build St. Mary's Church, was realized from the sale of a herd of hogs, which had been donated by the heads of families.  It is said this was the best herd of hogs ever sold in Daviess county.  He remained until 1839, when Bishop de la Hailandiere sent him to Chicago.  Conditions in Chicago were not favorable; he met with much opposition from the dissatisfied portion of his flock.  They first burnt his little shanty, and for two years refused to pay him any money, with the avowed purpose of starving him out, but he built St. Mary's Church at Chicago, which shortly after, in the year 1844, when Chicago was made an episcopal see, became its first cathedral.
     In that same year Father de St. Palais was removed to Logansport.  He underwent incredible hardships, travelling through the wilderness without roads and without meeting a human habitation for fifty or a hundred miles.  His saddlebags contained the requisites for the holy functions, together with a little sack of salt and cornmeal for his meals.
     In 1846, Father de St. Palais was sent to Madison, where he remained one year only.  Bishop Bazin, in 1847, made him [29] his Vicar General and the Superior of the Seminary at Vincennes.  He was administrator of the diocese from April 23, 1848, until January 14, 1849, when Bishop Miles of Nashville consecrated Father de St. Palais Bishop of Vincennes.  Almost the first work which he undertook and brought to a successful issue, was the erection of orphan asylums.  And the other important work was, to look after the Seminary.  He paid three visits ad limina, the first in 1849, the second in 1859, and the third in 1869.  In 1844 the diocese of Chicago was established, and thereafter the diocese of Vincennes was restricted to Indiana.  Thirteen years later, in 1857, the Northern half of Indiana was made the diocese of Fort Wayne.  Bishop de St. Palais had been present at the commencement exercises at St. Mary's of the Woods, when on the morning of June 28, 1877, at five o'clock, he suffered a stroke of paralysis and died peacefully on the afternoon of the same day, at four o'clock.  His remains rest beneath the sanctuary of the Cathedral at Vincennes.