Girard0335

10 July 1844 - Father Charles Mathieu to Father Jean-Claude Colin, Wallis

Based on the dispatched original, APM OW 208 Mathieu.

One sheet of “Bath” paper, forming four pages, three of which are written on; the fourth bears only the address and Poupinel’s annotation.

Translated by Merv Duffy and ChatGPT, August 2026.

[p. 4]

[Address:] To the Reverend Father ¤ Collin, Superior of the Marists ¤ Lyon

[In Poupinel’s hand:] Central Oceania ¤ Wallis, 10 July 1844 ¤ Father Mathieu.

[p. 1]

My Reverend Father,

[1]

In the enclosed letters you will find some details concerning the Wallis mission. Please acquaint yourself with them and send them to their destinations if you consider it appropriate. I am addressing one of them to my brother. For me, this is a duty of gratitude. I know how deeply he will appreciate it. If he is no longer in this world, please send it to the Bishop of Amiens, who will be kind enough to communicate it to my family. The other is for the procurator of the missions; it contains a few notes on the various consignments that should be sent to us and on the manner in which they should be sent. Before his departure, Bishop Bataillon had also instructed me to write a letter for the mission’s benefactors. I believe it will be impossible for me to do so. Until now, I have lacked the time. I am now expecting his ship from one day to the next. I cannot express to you, my Reverend Father, how happy we are to work under the direction of so good and worthy a bishop. During the six months that I lived with him, I was able to appreciate his zeal, his prudence, and his charity toward his priests. I believe that the good Lord will bless his ministry and that the mission will make rapid progress under him.

[2]

Until now, we have all been united, each working according to his ability, and at present I know of nothing among your children that might disturb our unity and charity. During Father Calinon’s stay here, we held several meetings in order to exhort one another to practise our duties, and each person departed joyfully for his post. I was the only one who raised any difficulty about remaining at mine, and in doing so I caused the Bishop pain. Nevertheless, he was later kind enough to forgive me. The Brothers are also well. Augustin works at Wallis with astonishing courage. What he has already accomplished in the construction of buildings and churches, the making of furniture, and so forth is incredible. The indigenous people are surprised by it. [p. 2] Joseph has swollen legs. At times he suffers greatly from them. Everywhere he applies himself very actively to the linen, the sacristy, and the kitchen, and he also does some small carpentry jobs. The two Brothers, Renaud and Anet, who came with Father Calinon, appear to be very good and most edifying in their charity, obedience, and goodwill. Although we are not yet able to perform our spiritual exercises with great regularity, each person arranges matters as best he can and remains well.

[3]

Father Calinon will undoubtedly have written to you about Mr Grézel. He is the only person whom we consider poorly suited to the mission. This is not because there is anything serious with which to reproach him, but we all believe that he is unsuited to his vocation. Perhaps he will develop a liking for it later and render us greater service by working at the printing press. Otherwise, it would be advisable, it seems to me, to have him return to France with the Bishop or with one of us when the time comes. He lives at Saint Joseph with me. We have lived together in peace until now.

[4]

As for letters, one reason why some of the Fathers and Brothers are reluctant to write is that they imagine their letters will not reach their destinations. If the letters are good and interesting, they say, they will be kept in Lyon and someone will then forget to send them on. If they are not good and interesting, they will still be kept there. I thought I should tell you this so that you might correct their misconception, if you consider it appropriate. I recommended that the Brothers who are here write to you; I believe they have already done so.

[5]

Strictly speaking, my Reverend Father, there are no great dangers for the men whom you send to the islands. Nevertheless, they must be endowed with a good measure of patience. This is one of the principal qualities required. They must also possess a certain firmness of character so that they do not allow themselves to be overcome by the climate or discouraged by difficulties. Those of weak character would waste away here from boredom and sorrow. They must also possess proven moral character. A man who caused even the slightest scandal would do immense harm to the mission.

[6]

From the letter I am writing to my brother, you will be able to judge the obstacles we encounter at Wallis. They all come from the chiefs. The good Lord alone can [p. 3] put an end to them. The Protestants are merely the rabble of the island. For the most part, they are people who were losing their souls within the Catholic religion. By excommunicating themselves, they have inflicted upon themselves the punishment they deserved.

[7]

Despite this, there is much that is good on the island. All the Catholics are very fervent, with the exception of a small number of individuals. One would certainly not find a parish in France containing, in proportion, so great a number of good souls. The people are very devoted to us. We do not lack food; it is sufficiently good and nourishing. I hope that the same will later be true at all the other stations.

[8]

Our young men ask only to depart with the new missionaries for non-Christian lands. They are an immense resource for establishing new missions. These young men feed the missionary while also serving him as catechists. I believe, my Reverend Father, that it is time to consider establishing a college and a seminary. Once the islands have been converted, I fear that the zeal of the French clergy will not suffice to preserve the good accomplished there without the assistance of indigenous priests. This work rests entirely in your hands.

[9]

You must also give thought to Hamoa and Rotuma, which still have no one.

[10]

These are the few observations that I thought I should write to you today. I am still a novice and inexperienced. The Bishop, who has just travelled throughout his vicariate, will give you details that are much more accurate and reliable. We commend ourselves to you, my Reverend Father, so that you will not forget us at the feet of the Blessed Virgin and will obtain for us the grace to become her worthy children and to advance her glory in every place.

[11]

I remain, with the deepest respect,

my Reverend Father,

your devoted child

and obedient servant in Our Lord,

Mathieu, missionary

Saint Joseph, Wallis, 10 July 1844