PREPARATION 17

would not content itself with imbibing theological lore. Even at such an early date, he was more or less of a missionary, teaching catechism to the boys of the local school, and especially music, both vocal and instrumental.

About ten years before, a Father Denis Lamure, who met an untimely death by being accidentally shot by his companion, as both were trudging through the bush in search of much needed game, had gathered up the elements of a brass band which, never being used since, but, on the contrary, getting kicked about and ill-treated by successive newcomers, had finally been put out of order and were then resting under a layer of dust.

Brother Morice tried to remedy their ills; he healed their wounds, patched up the best he could their broken limbs and stopped the holes in their carcasses. With these he formed a band of Indian boys who soon attained a high degree of proficiency, the natives being naturally musicians. So much so, indeed, that, as an organ was needed for the local church and no funds were available to acquire it, the young band- master hit upon a plan which did not lack the element of boldness, considering the little experience he had as yet of the ways of the country. Piloted by Father Jean-Marie Le Jeune, a young priest of the same Order who had reached British Columbia but nine months before himself?? and who did all the talking, though he was the most unmusical of men, he went up with his native band, first to Yale, at that time a fairly lively place where a regular concert was given, and then above, where the Canadian Pacific

20 Father Le Jeune is still alive and hale at Kamloops, and is to-day

the doyen of all the priests of British Columbia, as Father Morice is of those of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.