A hitherto unpublished Latin manuscript of the Jesuit Missouri Province Archives: A prooemium concerning the history of the Missouri Mission of the Society of Jesus and the first Christian expeditions among the Illinois Indians

This dissertation focuses on a Latin manuscript written shortly after 1837. It provides a history of Jesuit missionary activity in the St. Louis area. There are many gaps in our knowledge of the succession of Jesuit priests who worked among the Illinois Indians following Father Marquette. This, however, is the very subject which the author of the manuscript contained herein has undertaken. It thus may provide needed information to fill in some of those gaps, although a detailed reconstruction of the history of the Missouri Mission is beyond the scope of this dissertation; The manuscript edited in the fifth chapter is currently preserved in the Jesuit Missouri Province Archives of the Pius XII Memorial Library, St. Louis, Missouri. The author is a Belgian Jesuit who came from Maryland in 1823, probably Father Verhaegen. The manuscript is presented here as closely as possible to the original. Where the edited version does depart from the original, the original text is preserved by means of footnotes.; The Latin Manuscript is introduced by three chapters of background material. The first chapter discusses the Counter-Reformation and the founding of the Society of Jesus, including a look at Jesuit spirituality. The second chapter deals with the political aspects of early contact between Europe and the Americas, including a brief treatment of the quest for supremacy in North America. Included also is a discussion of the Jesuit role in the exploration of the Mississippi River Valley. The third chapter briefly deals with the dissolution of the Jesuit order, its impact upon the Illinois missions, and the eventual restoration of missionary labors in the St. Louis area.; The fourth chapter serves as a commentary to the Latin text, including such topics as style, sources used, and historical accuracy. Sources used may include an addendum to Thwaites' extensive collection. Some discussion concerning the "noble savage" concept is also included. The final chapter provides a translation of the edited text with the hope that this will make the dissertation more accessible to those who do not read Latin.