September, 1763. Unexpected and shocking news has arrived in the Illinois settlements; the Jesuits, who have ministered to the French, the Africans, and the Indians for many years, have been ordered to disband by the royal government in France. Their chapels are to be demolished, their property auctioned; they are not to wear Jesuit garb nor use the name Jesuit; they are to proceed to New Orleans and from there take the first ships ready to depart. They are to return to France.

Father Sebastian Louis Meurin is one of them.