from the Saturday, March 18, 1903 edition (front page) of the Kankakee Daily Republic. [correction: not "reporter" as given yesterday] [BEGIN QUOTED MATERIAL] [great big headline] RETURNS TO OLD FAITH [sub-big headline] Missing Ex-St. Anne Priest Reported to be in a Monastery [secondary headline] AGAIN EMBRACES CATHOLICISM [sub-secondary headline] After Being Outside the Church Fifty Years [third-ranking headline] BECAME A CONVERT OF FATHER CHINIQUY [sub-third] The Rev. La Fountaine Left St. Anne Three Months Ago After nearly fifty years outside the fold of the Roman Catholic church, during which he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister, was married, and raised a family, the Rev. I. LaFountaine, an ex-priest, at the age of 75 has returned to his old faith and left all else behind. This is the explanation given for the disappearance of Father LaFountaine, who came to Chicago from his home in St. Anne, near Kankakee, last December and apparently dropped out of sight. He is believed to be confied in some monastery in Canada, there to do penance for the remainder of his days, as he had been excommunicated after accepting the protestant faith, Father LaFountaine became a convert to the teachings of the Rev. Father Chiniquy when that celebrated ex-Catholic was in Canada. He followed Chiniquy to St. Anne, taught for several years in a parochial school, and then was ordained as a Presbyterian preacher. He officiated in the St. Anne Presbyterian church for many years and finally resigned to open the largest store in the village. He became rich, married into one of the most aristocratic families of the xxxxx of the little Franch-Canadian town, and was the father oftwo daughters. One of these is Mrs.L. Blanchette, teacher of music in St. Anne, and the other is Mrs. L. E. Scott, wife of a Denver capitalist. Though he prospered beyond the most sanguine expectations, it was always evident to the close friends of Father LaFountaine that his mind was not easy and that he yearned for his old faith, and he has been heard to express regret because he left the church. This feeling became so intense that he left his home in St. Anne three months ago and, without giving any one the slightest hint of his intention came to Chicago and held a conference with his son-in-law, L. Blanchette, a photographer and a [Roman] Catholic. Mr. Blanchette lives at St. Anne but is at present in Chicago, stopping at the St. Nicholas Hotel, 212 WAshington Street. "Three months ago Mr. LaFountaine came to Chicago on business," said Mr. Blanchette yesterday, "and for a few days visited with me at the hotel. Then he met a nephew of his who came from Canada. I do not remember the name. His nephew wanted him to take a month's trip through Canada and as it would cost nothing he accepted. Mr. La Fountaine wrote to his wife at St. Anne, and I read the letter, explaining that he had this chance to make the trip and that he would be back in four or five weeks. "After that we heard nothing from him for a month, when he sent a letter to me, just enclosing another to his wife which he wanted me to address so they would not see his handwriting in the postoffice at home. There was no other message. I heard from his wife that the enclosure said that he had entered a refuge, that it had long been his desire, and now he had the chance to follow it." Letter Post-marked "Quebec": No one knows where Father La Fountaine is beyond that he is in Canada. The letter received by Mr. Blanchette was post-marked "Quebec", but there are several monasteries within reach of that city. The family hopes to locate him before long, and some of the relations believe he is being held contrary to his wish. Mr. Blanchette in a letter to his wife told her and his mother-in-law of the purpose of Mr. LaFountaine to re-enter the fold of the [Roman] Catholic church, there to do penance until the end. Aside from the one letter received, the family has heard nothing from the missing man. from the CHICAGO TRIBUNE [END QUOTED MATERIAL]