PROGRAM OF EXERCISES OF THE SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. SUPREME COURT ROOM, STATE CAPITOL, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1905, In the Supreme Court Room, State Capitol. FIRST SESSION, 9:00 O'CLOCK, A. M. Election of Officers. Committee Reports. SECOND SESSION, 2:00 O'CLOCK, P. M. Social Life and Scenes in the Early Settlement of Central Illinois.. Music. St. Clair County.. ... Hon. James Haines, Pekin . Hon. J. Nick Perrin, Belleville A Short Sketch of the Life and Public Services of General James Semple, by his grand daughter.... Mrs. Mary Semple Ames Cushman, St. Louis, Mo. THIRD SESSION, 7:45 O'CLOCK, P. M. "The Value to Both of a Closer Connection between the State Historical Society and the Public Schools.. Professor Henry McCormcik, Normal, Ill. Music. Bishop Chase and Jubilee College.. The Republican State Convention of in It.... Rev. C. W., Leffingwell, Knoxville, Ill. FIFTH SESSION, 2:00 O'CLOCK, P. M. Ancient Fort Chartres. the Birthplace of Illinois... Dr. George Cadwell. Homer Mead, M. D., Camden, Ill. Father Gibault, the Patriot Priest of the Northwest.. SIXTH SESSION, 7:45 O'CLOCK, P. M. Music. Quartette-Illinois. Mr. Stuart Brown, Springfield, Ill. Reception in the Rooms of the Illinois State Historical Society. ANNUAL ADDRESS. FATHER GIBAULT: THE PATRIOT PRIEST OF THE NORTHWEST. (By J. P. Dunn) There are no two states of the Union which have been so closely and yet so diversely united in their history as Illinois and Indiana. Since their admission as states their common interests have been, of course, much the same as those of other adjoining states. In the territorial period, from 1800 to 1809, Illinois was a part of Indiana Territory, and, as the Indiana side was settled the more rapidly, it dominated in the territorial government. The seat of government was within the bounds of Indiana. Under the Northwest Territory, both were subject to Ohio domination. Prior to American occupation, under the British both were ruled from Quebec through Detroit; but under the French both were ruled from New Orleans; and under both British and French rule Illinois was the dominating factor. The dominance of Illinois began in the time of LaSalle, who induced all of the Indian tribes of Indiana to move into Illinois and join his confederacy, which was located around Starved Rock on the Illinois river, leaving Indiana uninhabited. After his death the tribes gradually moved back to their old homes on the Wabash, and north of it, but there were no permanent white settlements in Indiana for many years, though there were probably French trading houses near the site of Ft. Wayne as early as 1718, and at Ouiatanon in 1720. ("Indiana," American Commonwealth Series, Chapters 1 and 2.) In this latter year there came to Kaskaskia a man who was destined to have a more permanent influence on the region than LaSalle. This was Nicolas Ignace de Beaubois, a Jesuit priest, born at Orleans, France, Oct. 15, 1689, who had come into Canada in 1718. When he was appointed curé at Kaskaskia, two years later, the place, which had until then been a mission only, was established as a parish. It should be understood that although the Bishop of Quebec was ecclesiastical superior over Louisiana as well as Canada, the church establishments of the two provinces were practically distinct, and that of Louisiana was largely controlled by the Company of the Indies which supported the priests and missionaries of that province. In |