MAIKB
547
MAINE
In 1704-5 expeditions were sent from Massachusetts
to destroy the mission stations in Maine. Those on
the Penobscot were ravaged, and the church and all
of the wigwams were burned. In 1722 another expe-
dition sent out by the Governor of Massachusetts
burned the church on the Penobscot. The same ex-
pedition in January, 1722, had proceeded to Norridge-
wock for the purpose of capturing or killing Father
Rale. On this occasion, being warned in time, he and
his flock escaped by taking to the woods. At last the
end came. The frequent attempts, all more or less
successful, to destroy the Maine mission stations,
forced the Indians to prepare to defend themselves.
After several battles between the Massachusetts
forces with their Indian allies and the Indians of the
Kennebec, a small force attacked the village of Nor-
ridgewock on 23 August, 1724. Father Rale, well
knowing that he was the one whose life was sought,
and apparently anxious to divert the attack from his
people, went forth to meet the enemy and fell
pierced by many bullets. After the death of Father
Rale, the only missionaries in Maine appear to have
been Fathers De Syresm and Lanverjat, and these
remained only until 1731. In 1730 a chapel had been
erected on the Kennebec, but for fifty years or more
the Indians had to content themselves with occa-
sional pilgrimages to certain places in Canada, notably
Becancour ana St. Francis on the Chaudidre River.
They were occasionally visited by Father Charles
Germain from St. Anne's mission, now Fredericton,
New Brunswick. At the beginning of the Revolu-
tionary War, the Abenakis having taken the side of
the patriots, all persecution for religious or other
reasons ceased, and the General Council of Massachu-
setts desired to furnish them a priest, but were unable
to obtain -one at that time. At the close of the war.
Rev. Father Ciquard, a Sulpician, was sent to Old-
town and remained there until 1794, whence he went
to Fredericton.
The foundation of the Catholic Church in Maine practically dates from the arrival of Father (after- wards Bishop) Cheverus from Boston in July, 1797, to take charge of the two Indian missions at Pleasant Point. The few white Catholics scJattered here and there claimed his attention equally with the red men. The progress made was slow, but on 17 July, 1808, he had the satisfaction of dedicating St. Pat- rick's church at Damariscotta. Fully two-thirds of its cost had been contributed by two gentlemen partners in business, Messrs. Kavanagh and Cottrill. it is a re- markable circumstance that the two most distinguished Catholic laymen of the past century in Maine were of their descendants. Edward Kayana^, son of the senior partner, represented his native district in the twenty-second and twenty-third congresses, and after his second term was appointed by President Jackson minister to Portugal. In 1842 he was elected to the state senate, and was chosen president of that body. Governor Fairfield having been elected to the United States senate, Kavanagh became acting governor. A monument to the sterUng Catholic principles of the Kavanagh family, exists in the splendid " Kavanagh School ", which stands near the cathedral in Portland, erected with means contributed by a sister of the
fovernor. James C. Madigan (b. in Damariscotta, 22 uly, 1821; d, in Houlton, 16 October, 1879) was the grandson of Matthew Cottrill. He was sent by Gov- ernor Ivavanagh to establish schools in the Madawaska territory in 1843, and made his home for a number of years at Fort Kent. He later removed to Houlton, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was the most conspicuous Catholic In New England for many ye&n. A gentleman of noble presence, of rare cul- ture, elegant manners, and high character, he was well fitted to adorn the highest office in the land. He Was one of the five members of the commission ap- pointed in 1875 by Governor Dingey to revise the
constitution of the state. He was an able and
learned lawyer, and an eloquent and powerful advo-
cate. He was a devout Catholic and probably no lay-
man in the entire country in his time stood so high m
the estimation of the clergy. At Whitefield, Rev.
Denis Ryan being pastor, a church was built and dedi-
cated in June, 1822. Rev. Benedict Joseph Fenwick
having been chosen to succeed Bishop Cheverus, who
had returned to France, he was consecrated Bishop
of Boston on 1 Nov., 1825. During his government
of the Diocese of Boston, St. Dominic's church in
Portland was built, and was dedicated on 11 August,
1833. In 1834 Bishop Fenwick, having secured a half
township of land in Aroostook County, established
the prosperous Catholic colony of Benedicta. In
1835 St. Joseph's Church in Eastport was dedicated;
on 4 August, i838, one in Gardiner; on 10 Nov., 1839,
St. Michael's in Bangor.
Knownothin^m. — The growth of the Catholic Church in Maine and New Hampshire was such that in 1853, these states were taken out of the Diocese of Boston to form the Diocese of Portland. On 22 April. 1855, Rev. David William Bacon was consecratea bishop. It was just after the outbreak of Know- nothin^sm which resulted in the tarring, feathering, and riding on a rail of the saintly Father John Bap^ at Ellsworth. This was on 15 October, 1854. On the preceding 8 July, the Knownothings had burned the church at Bath. Subsequent events appear to justify the belief that this persecution was the herald of the remarkable growth and development of the Catholic Church in Maine. It is not easy to foresee to what lengths this anti-Catholic agitation might have gone, had not events of national importance begun to loom on the horizon. The Civil War, in which so many Catholics of Maine and of all parts of the IJnion took
Eart, and so many greatly distinguished themselves y their courage and valour, put an end to this perse- cution — it is to be hoped, for ever. An attempt was made during the period from 1890 to 1895 to establish an order of the same nature, under the name of the " American Protective Association ", but it soon died a fitting death.
Early Catholic Settlers. — The State of Maine, although settled a few years earlier than Massachusetts, is peopled for the most part by inhabitants who claim descent from settlers from Massachusetts and other parts of New England. The Catholics of Maine are of either Irish or French extraction, the French-Cana- dians and Acadians constituting a majority. With the possible exception of a few Irishmen to be found here and there within its borders, the Acadians were first in point of time. At the period of the exportatnon of the Acadians from Grand Pr^ and other places in Acadia, a few escaped and formed the mission of St. Ann. at, above, and below the site of the city of Freaericton, N. B. ^ Here they remained until the close of the Revolutionary War and the arrival of the Loyalists, otherwise called the Tories. Driven out of the United States by the patriots, these latter came to the St. John valley, lanaing in the city of St. John about 11 May, 1783. Compelled to yield up their possessions to the new-comers, the Acadians went a second time into exile, and settled in 1784, with the consent of the British authorities, on the upper St. John, oocupying the territory now included in Mada- waska County, New Brunswick, and so much of Aroostook County as is within the St. John valley. Until 9 August, 1842, the date of the Treaty of Wash- ington, both sides of the St. John were under British rule. Hardly had the Acadians established themselves in their new homes, before they were visited by mis- sionaiy priests, espeHwally by Rev. Father Ciquart from St. Ann's mission, their former pastor, ooon after, in 1791 ^ they applied to the Bishop of Quebec for leave to build a church; the church of ot. Basil was built and dedicated on 7 July, 1793.
