Page 8 THE TRIBUNE, WILLIAWS LAKE, B.C. Thirsday, January 26, 1936, OUTLINE OF PLACE IN HISTORY Early Cariboo Clergymen Established Churches, School ( An outline of the religious growth of the Cariboo, together with stories of individual men of the cloth who preached in the territ Historical Society meeting ory was given at a recent by president Henry Windt. Excerps from his speech are given below in the first of two instalments of this interesing part of our history. In our history the first white | Man came to Cariboo in 1793 when Sir Alexander McKenzie, on a hunt for the mouth of the Fraser, travelled down the river to a point 35 miles north of here, where Fort Alexander was established. As the Roman Catholic Church was the first to bring Christian teachings to the Cari- boo, I will start by giving an outline of their work. Apparently no definite steps were taken to bring Christianity into the country until 1834. In that year Peter Skene Ogden (great grandfather of the Og- dens at Lac ‘La Hache) was ap- pointed chief factor for the Hud- son’s Bay Company for the ter- ritory from the mouth of the Columbia River to Fort St. James. Mrs. Ogden made some effort to teach Christianity among the indians but in this year two natives of Oregon who had had some Christian teach- ing from missionaries of the lower Columbia River came po a velled as far as Fort George, holding meetings at the Indian villages along the route. Their ceremonies were partly religious and partly pagan and they did not create a very favourable im- Pression on the natives. FIRST MISSIONARIES In 1838 two Roman Catholic missionaries came west to work on the lower Columbia and the settlement at Fort Vancouver at the mouth of the river. In 1842 the R.C. bishop who had as his territory all that country west of Fort Garry and north of the Columbia, decided to send a missionary to New Caledonia, as the area we know as Cariboo was then called. In July of that year Father Mo- deste Demer, a native of Quebec, born in 1808 and ordained in 1836, was chosen for this un- dertaking and so became the first clergyman in the Interior of British Columbia. At the time he was ready to take up his post, Peter Skene| north to the Cariboo. They tra- Ogden was leaving Fort Van- HORSEFLY Formation of 4H C lub Discussed By Meeting of Girls’ Group The girls club” met at the home of Mrs. Charlie Simmons on January 14. Plans of start- ing a 4H Club were discussed. Girls elected were, Barbara Mac- Leod, president; Georgena Hock- ley, vice-president; Alice Critch- low, secretary; Phyllis Luff, treasurer. A doll was presented to the girls as a donation from the Women’s Institute, also patterns for doll clothes as a project for them to work on. HONOR SENIOR CITIZEN A surprise birthday party was tendered Mr. Margaret Gruhs, eur oldest senior citizen, on January 6, honoring her 86th birthday. The party was held at the home of Mrs. Agnes Wil- liams, daughter of Mrs. Gruhs. Gifts and birthday wishes were presented by the guests, Mrs, T McDougal, Mrs. Alice Stober, Mrs. Hazel Gibbons, Mrs. Ester Grubs. WEDDING. ANNIVERSARY A large happy crowd gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Bourelle on January 16, this occasion being Mr. and Mrs. Bourelle’s twenty-fourth wed- ding anniversary. After a most delicious and hearty dinner the evening was spent with games and music. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. L. Brigden, Mr. and Mrs. W. Walker and Beatrice, Mr. and Mrs. R. Standley and tam- ily, Mr. and Mrs. C. Simmons and family and Mrs. T. McDou- gal. INSTRUCTORS FETED It is with sincere regret that the people of the community bid Horsefly ratepayers Inspector D. Chamberlain at the school. An explanation of facts and figures regarding the refer- endum for School District 27 was given to the audience. A question period followed, and Mr. Chamberlain’s replies were courteously given and to the ple started the Square Darice classes it has given adults and children alike, many happy hours, and a great deal of credit goes to them as was expressed by Arbor Otson in a farewell presentation to them. Many good wishes go with the Standleys as they leave to make their home in Oregon. A turkey dinner and evening of square dancing in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Standley was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. L. Thygasen on January 19. The ladies of the group joined to- gether in preparing the sumptu- ous meal. The children also did their share for the party by do- ing all the dishwashing. Present were Mr. and Mrs. Roy Stand- ley and boys, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fetters and family, Mr. and Mrs. G. Hockley and family, Mr. and Mrs. L. Walters, Mrs. C. Sim- mons, Miss Barbara MacLeod, Joe and Barrie Thygasen, THE LADIES of the Horsefiy Women’s Institute met at the home of Mrs. H. Gibbons on Wednesday. Following a quilt- ing bee, a farewell tea, and pre- ing bee, a farewell tea, and presentation was given in honor of Mrs. Betty Standley. RATEPAYERS MEET On the evening of January 18, met with Roy and Betty Standley farewell | point. at the Square Dance practice on Friday evening. . Since the popular young cou- REV. J. COLCLOUGH held church service at Barretts’ on January 16. FOUR DEPARTMENTS cauver for Fort St. James and the priest was invited to join the company Father Demer went as far as Fort brigade. George, organizing native bands along the route into religious groups. On the return journey he stopped off at Fort Alexander and persuaded the Indians to build a “chapel. During its con- struction he came to Williams Lake where he obtained land from the. Indians for a mission. He also built a church at this point which was the first in B.C. FIRST MASS He then returned to Alexan- der and completed’ the ehurch there. It is recorded that the first Holy Mass celebrated in British Columbia was held at Fort Alexander, December 4, 1842. These churches were crude log buildings with a cross at one gable and a stone chimney for the fireplace at the other. Ani- mal skins were stretched over openings to serve as windows. It is a question which building was first used for Christian worship but the one at Fort Alexander seems to be favored. In 1861, th time of the gold rush to Cariboo, a Father Charles Grandeeier went up as far as Williams Creek (now | Barkerville). yas vea| ib Ci if d mane trouve; US@ Tribune Classifeds itely established the missic LOW IN Cost’ ~~ SENSATIONAL IN RESULTS ther Demer started at Will Lake. When I first came to the Cari-| boo in 1901, Father Thomas who still resides at the Mission, Was the travelling priest, and 1| often met him on the road riding | his gentle saddle horse while | making the rounds of his large | Parish. | The mission at Williams Lake soon became famous for its} boarding school cannot give-the opened, but 1868 2 boarding school was started which drew white children from a far away a Victoria, Barker- ville and the Okanagan. It w: referred to as a college. convent for girls was started and at the present time it is still a boarding school for Indian children. One of the school’s oldest pu- pils-is Mrs. Angelique Lyne of Soda Creek. She attended the school in 1875. Mrs. Lyne’s hus-| band, Bill Lyne, is a son of in| Lyne who was a partner of Wil- liam Pinchbeck in the ranch that stood on the present townsite. (continued next week) | WB STAR CHIEF 4-DOOR CATALINA (Aer Introducing A BIG AND VITAL GENERAL MOTORS “AUTOMOTIVE FIRST”! 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