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MICHIGAN AS A PROVINCE 1 - 5
The earliest of all the French missions were those established among this tribe by the Recollet friars. These sought the interior by way of the Ottawa river and from its tributaries crossed over to Lake Nipissing and thence to the shores of Georgian bay, where flourishing missions were soon entering upon a promising career. Though the Recollets were pioneers in the fields they did not persist in the face of opposition from rival orders. As they were the first to enter Canada, they were also the first to disappear from the country.
The attention of the people of Europe was sharply drawn to the spiritual needs of the savages of America.. The authorities of the Church felt the responsibilities for prompt action. The authorities of the State also, being devotees of Mother Church, were disposed to favor in all possible ways the plans for evangelizing the new world. There were some sordid minds which contemplated the profits of dealing in peltries, but it must be said that, for the time being, at least, the religious took precedence over the commercial in the views of those who came over to New France.
The Sulpitians, Franciscans and other religious orders were represented by active and energetic missionaries, but the best known of them all were the Jesuits. These latter came to America, inspired by holy zeal. They were thoroughly organized and subject to the severest discipline. For a period of upwards of fifty years
each missionary made regularly a detailed report to his superior and these reports were sent to the provincial of the order at Paris. They were annually printed and together constitute the body of writings known as "The Jesuit Relations.
MICHIGAN
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