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F-**' yl^' :**^[ U'-y' ■}■ PubJ K.-*,ti^' THE CASE Of ST. PATRICK'S CONGREGATION, AS TO THE ERECTION OF THE'NEW^CANON[CAL PARISH OF ST. PATRICK'S, MONTREAL. Published by order of the Committee of the Congregation. PRINTED Br JOHN LOYELL, ST NICHOLAS STREET. 1866. CONTENTS. I. Explanatory Note ^^°* II. Remonstrance III. Pastoral Letter of His Lordship to the Congregation' of St.'pllricks' in explanation of His Decree ' IV. The dutiful and respectful reply of St. Patrick's Congregation,' 'to'ihe Pastoral Letter of His Lordship, of November 30, 1866 is ) V. Appeal to His Grace the Archbishop of Quebec " * " 26 VI. Letter to J. P. Sexton, Esq, Chairman of the Depn'tat'lon "to'Que'bec" from His Lordship the Administrator of Quebec ' 31 (No. I.) EXPLANATORY NOTE. The following Documents sufficiently exhibit the case of the Congrega- tion of St. Patrick's Church, of Montreal, in relation to the erection of the new Canonical Parish. A fow words of preliminary explanation may, however, be necessary. On the 28th October and 4th November, the official notice of the lit. Rev. Bislitip of Montreal, declaring his intention to erect a certain dis- trict attached to St. Patrick's into a Canonical Parish, was read from the Pulpit (if that Church, and proceeded to invite all interested to attend a Canonical Inquiry do cominnlo ct incommodo, to bo held at the Sac- risty of St. I'atrick's, before the Very Rev. Vicar (loneral, on Thursday, the 8tli day of November. At that .solemn inquiry, the remonstrances of the Cure Habituel, the Cure Actuel, the Rov. Mr. Dowd, and alibis am- frcfcs, especially charged with the ministry among the English speaking Catholics of the city, and of the Fabri((ue, were duly read and presented to the Aery Rev. Vicar General. The remonstrance of the laity of the St . Patrick's Church, which forms the first of the following documents, was also read and presented. (Sec paper No. I.) On Sunday, the 25th of November, the Pastoral Letter, dated 21st idem, next following in order, (See No. IL) was read from the pulpit of St. Patrick's Church, and was immediately followed by the reading of his Lordship's decree, also dated the 21st November, erecting the new Canonical Parish. A copy of the decree itself, on application to his Lordship by the Com- mittee was, by his Lordships Secretary, on the 7th of December, refused to the Congregation. Of this, if our application was irregular, we do not complain ; but as the Pastoral Letter, explanatory of the decree, was addressed to the Catholics who fre jaent St. Patrick's Church, and to all others interested, the latter, at a general meeting held in the grounds of the St. Patrick s Orphan Asylum, on Sunday, 2ud December, appointed 6 a Committco to draw up u dutiful nnd rcHpcctful reply thcivto, whioh m also included in the present publication- (See No. III.) At the sanjo nieetingnn appeal wa.s adopted, and a delegation appointed to present it to his Grace, the Archbisliop of Quebec, agaiimt the decree of his Lord.ihip, the Bishop of IMontroal ; and on Friday, the 14th of December, the Appeal and acoon)panying dueuiiientrt wore jiroscnted to the most Reverend Administrator by the following Menibeis ol'the Con- gregation: — J. P. Sexton, Es(j., Chairman; Hon. Mr. JMcGce, and Messrs. M. V. lJy;m, J. IMcGauvian. T. McKcnna, Dl. Shannon, Wui- O'Brien, Luke Moore, J. McShaiio, jr. This Appeal, and the official roply of the Most llcv. Administrator, arc also included in those papers: (See Nos. IV. and V,) and so far com- plete the ca.se of this Congregation. oh in in ted Dcreo thof id to Con- and Wm. ator, com- (No. II.) TO THE VERY llEV. F. A. TRUTEAU, Vioar-General, &o., &c., &0. Very Rev. Sir, — By " notice*" read from the pulpit of St. Patrick's Church, on Sunday, October 2Sth, and Sunday, November 4th, the con- greptution wore informed, in the name of his Lord.ship, the Bishop of JMoiitreal, that, by his special delegation, you would, on Thursday next, November 8th, hold a canonical iiKiuiry dcrommodo ctincommodo as to the erection of a canonical parish, ^\ liich will comprehend the territory contained within the limits of the following streets in the city — viz. : Bleury, Shcrbrooko, Mountain street, St. Antoino and Craig streets. In accordance with this notice, and the invitation accompanying it, to all persons concerned, to present their objections (if any) in writing on that occasion, the undersigned jicw-holdcrs and members of St. Patrick's congregation beg leave most respectfully to .submit for the impartial con- sideration of l»is Lordship, the following reasons why they view with alarm and apprehension, the contemplated erection of a parish in connexion with St. Patrick's Church, and limited, as above stated. First. 'I'lie Church of St, Patrick was erected twenty years ago for the use and benefit of the English speaking Catholics of Montreal, and not for any particular section or division of that population, and on a scale of size and cost calculated to make it the principal ecclesiastical edifice for a very great number of them. That during the twenty years last past, this arrangement has been productive of tlio greatest spiritual benefit to all concerned — has insured unbroken harmony, unity, !and contentment among the people, and edified religion and society proportionately. Second. That the cost of the erection of St, Patrick's Church, amounting in all to the sum of one hundred and forty thousand dollars, was partly provided for by special grant from the seminary of St. Sulpicc to the amount of forty thousand dollars, and a large subscription, in proportion to their means and numbers, from the English speaking Catholics, for whose use and benefit the sacred edifice was, from the first, understood to bo especially devoted. That acting on this understanding, the present congregation have further expended, from time to time, sums amounting in the aggregate to between thirty-five and forty thousand dollars of their own money in erecting altars, an organ, confessionals, and in other respects adorning and completing the interior of the Church. 8 I I Third. Because the' erection of the above described territory into a canonical parish would necessarily exclude as parishioners the majority of «iie original contributors, •who still survive, as well as the majority of these who have since contributed to finishing the interior, and thereby break up the solemn and endearing associations which unite whole fami- lies to their habitual place of worship and its beloved clergy. Fourth. Because the erection of the above described territory into a canonical parish has not been asked ffJr by any Catholic within the limits assigned, or elsewhere; but, on the contrary, such a division of the exist- ing congregation would be most painful and grievous to those who have been so long fellow-worshippers in the same sacred edifice. Fifth. Because no necessity is felt for the erection of the said territory into a canonical parish, as St. Patrick's Chuich enjoys, as a succnrsale or chapel of Ease, all the advantages r.nd privileges of a Parish Church for those who attend the ministrations of its Pastors. JJecause, by the erection of the said territory into a canonical pari^h, the Church of St. Patrick will lose its status as a succursalc, and no marriage, or baptism, or funeral may hereafter be soleuinized therein, without the forfeiture of the civil rights of the cnregistcrmentof the same. tSLvth. — Because any direct departure from the original understanding with which the Church was erected, and on which tlio Congregation have hitherto relied as sacred, would tend to weaken the confidence, afiection and veneration of the English speaking CaUiolics of Montreal, in their Ecclesiastical Superiors, and injure most materially the several institutions which, in process of time, have sprung up around St. Patrick's Church as their source and centre, such as the Male and Female Orphan Asy- lum, the Servants' Home, and the St. Bridget's Refuge To sustain these Institutions, on a scale at all conmicnsurate with the wants of the English speaking Catholic poor, it is essential to concentrate the efforts and alms of all those who contribute annually to their maintenance, and any permanent separation or exclusion from the Church of St. Patrick's, of a large number of thcso bencfictors would ba an irrep;irable blow to each n al those Institutions. The undersigned therefore, for all these reasons, object to the pr oscd changes, and earnestly implore his Lord- ship «ot to disturb their present po;ecial manner, the eccletjiastical operation contained in ihe above mentioned decree, so as to guard you against cer- tain apprehensions which prevent you from appreciating our motives, and from viewing in its true light the grave question now before us. When St, Patrick's Church was built twenty years ago, we thought it sufficient to bless it, and to open it to public wor.ship as a simple chapel of ease for the; Churcli of Notre-Dame. Wo did not fix the number of priests that should be attached to its service, nor did we enjoin the placing of Baplisuial fonts, or authorize that Baptism or ^Marriage should be there administered. It was not till after some time, and as it were owing to the very force of circumstances, that St. Patrick's from a simple chapel became a Parish Ciiurch in fact, but not however in law. We thought fit to tolerate for a time this order of things, although it is not in accordance with the TFoly Canons that a Vicar or Chn))lain should have Baptismal fonts, publish bans, marry, give Paschal commu- nion in a simple chapel of case. Tliesc functions only belong to a l*arish or Succursale Cliuroh. or the Catliedral under certain circumstances. Moreover, we must renund you that the Holy Catholic Church has in her wisdom determined the diiferent ministries belonging to the various temple? she raises to the glory of God, and for the spiritual welfare of her children. Thus there are fJasilicas, Cathedrals, Pari.sh Churches, Succursales, public and private Oratories, etc., each of which enjoys special and proper rights and privileges not common to all, (and to each are HI 10 accorded the sacred functions which belong to its special character or title.) Since however from the very force of circumstances, it has become necessary that Baptism, Marriage and all other Parochial functions be celebrated in St. Patrick's Church, and since strong representations have been made us that we should accord to the priests, charged with the service of this Church, liberty to continue the same functions now exer- cised by them, we consider ourselves not only authorized, but even obliged by the Holy Canons to convert St. Patrick's Church into a Parish Church, so as to render all that hereafter shall be done within its precincts conformable to Canon law. Evidently it is not a simple Vicar of the Parish priest of Notre-Dame that is needed in this Church, but a real parish priest and recognized as such by the Church. For just as a Cathedral supposes a Bishop, a Chapel a Chaplain ; so also a Church where all Parochial functions are exercised, supposes and requires a true Parish Priest. The Holy Canons lay down, that both secular and regu- lar priests charged with the cure of souls shall be wholly under the jurisdiction of their Diocesan, from whom they shall receive mission or canonical institution, and that they shall be subject to removal or depri- vation whenever he judges necessary for the good of souls. Indeed, had the Bishop not this right over the laborers whom Divine Providence sends to till that portion of the Lord's vineyard committed to his charge, he could not answer for the souls confided to his pastoral solicitude. Now, it is to the perfect observance of these wise dispositions of the Holy Cunons that we have been fortunately brought back by the apostolic decree of the twenty-second of December, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, the injunctions of which we are scrupulously following, in erecting canoni- cal parishes within the limits of Notre Dame ; and in erecting these, we are bound to provide them with pastors, who will remain wholly in our dependonce, in the same way as the other Parish Priests of our Diocese. This dependence on the Ordinary, to whom God gave special grace, that he may communicate vigor and life to his clergy, is the more necessary in great centres of population, a in these the cure of souls is more difficult, requiring conscfiuently a more perfect organization, since, ns must be clear to every one of you, in large towns there arc more disorders to cor- rect, more i'alsc principles to root out, more scandals to remove, more enemies visible and invisible to overcome. For nothing is more evident than that an army, if it is t) combat with advantage, must observe an exact discipline under the orders of its chief. hi 11 Now, dearest Brethren, we feel bound -> tell you, that in the erection of these Canonical Parishes, it has nevt-. red into our mind to have any partiality for whomsoever it may be. )ur conscience bears us witness that we entertain for all the children of the Church aa equal love, one same affection, and that never has our heart been open to considerations of race or origin. Here we will declare to you most solemnly, dearest Brethren, that when our illustrious predecessor laid on our feeble shoulders the heavy burden of the Episcopate, he at the same time bequeathed and left to us as a heri- tage all his affection for the children of Ireland. One of his first acts in 1825, when he opened his church of St. James to public worship, was to assemble there on Sundays and festivals, the Irish, who not then forming? as they now do, an entire congregation, attended with the rest of the faithful the church of Notre Dame, then the only one open for worship, for the fulfllmcnt of their religious duties. It was a source of happiness to this zealous Pontiff himself to give them instructions, speaking their own language, and that he might the better acquit himself of a duty in which he took supreme pleasure, he c:illed to his aid priests of their own nation. Nor did he cease to bestow upon them this care till he was convinced that the spiritual wants of this people, whose lively faith he so much admired) could be provided for in other churches of the city. Animated by the same sentiments for the children of St. Patrick, we have never lost any occasion since we first entered on the adminitration of this Diocese, twenty -six years ago, of giving them the strongest proofs of our zeal and affection. It is indeed with all the heavenly blessings which flow from the Episcopal authority with which we arc clothed, that all tho.se edifices consecrated for them to the service of the Divine Majesty, and to Catholic charity have arisen. When, in 1847, this unfortunate people were dying of hunger in their native land, we raised our voice in the city of Home, where we then were, appealing in their behalf to the charity of the lloman people, and to that of the thousands of strangers who from all countries assemble there. Wishing to behold with our own eyes the affecting spectacle of a whole people become a prey to the horrors of famine, we on our way home visited Ireland. Hardly had we returned to our Episcopal city when Point St. Chai'les was covered with the multitude of sick, who seemed only to sock our shores that they might there receive the consolations which the Holy Church lavishes on her children during the last moments of life. 12 All the clergy, all the communities consecrated to works of charity, found themselves in presence of a terrible calamity, entailing on them a great pnd diflficult duty. Now you know in what way they all fulfilled this sublime ministry of zeal and charity, how nine priests and thirteen nuns fell victims to their devotedness. You know how a groat number of Pastors from the different parts of our Diocese hastened to bring assistance to their brethren of the city, who, after acts of heroic courage descended before our eyes one after another into the tomb. How in line all oui nuns devoted to works of charity, sacrificed themselves to bring solace to such extreme misery, sixty of them actually contracting and almost succumbing to the pestilential sickness, which brought daily hundreds of your fellow-coun- trymen to the grave. With acts so heroic before your eyes, done in favour of your unfor. tunate countrymen, and to which as every one knows, wc did not remain a stranger, could wo ever have thought that we should one day be publicly accused of wishing by our Decree, that is by the mosfc solemn act which can emanate from our episcopal authority, to ruin your Orphan Asylum, your Asylum for servants and infirm women, St. Bridget's House of Refuse, and the other benevolent institutions which do so much honor to your cliarity ; or that we should wish to annihilate, as it were your admirable St. Patrick's Society, and others which we have always felt so much pleasure in blcs.sing on the occasion of your religious or national festivals. These insinuations arc so devoid of all appearance of rea.son, that it is impossible for any serious and just mind to give credit to them. Wc believe, dearest Brethren, wc have every riglit to your confidence ; for when have we ever lailed in our duty as Bishop or Father towards you all ? When did we neglect any one of your interests, which besides arc our own ? Connt, if you are able, all the works undertaken for the Irish people alone, of which we Ik-vc been the life and promoter. When the ravages of the typhus left tlio children of your unfortunate countrymen by hun- dreds orphans on ouv shores, did we not make an ap})eal to all our Diocese, to obtain for them other f ithers and other mothers, who as you know, reared and cherished them as their own ? But this was not enough. Wliat then did charity oblige us to do more for these children, the sight of whose sufferings atllicted our pater- nal heart. Did we not interest in their behalf the Seminaries, Colleges, ('(invents and charitable institutions? Was it not under our care that St. Jerome Emilian's Hospital was opened, which gave these poor children 13 shelter until they could be properly providel for elsewhere? la it not also to our pastoral solicitude that you owe the establishment of St Patrick's Hos- pital, when the Priests by whom you were attended, complained of your sufferings at the Protestant General Hospital of this city and of the difficulty of administering to you there the consolations of religion? When the need of a journal to defend your interests was keenly felt, was it not to us that your principal fellow countrymen, with the Rev. Mr. Connolly, then chaplain of St. Patrick's, at their head, addrossed them- selves for that object, and that journal was founded which has since so nobly fulfilled its task. Is it possible, after all this, that we can be suspected of wishing to destroy all that which wo have labored to build up with you and for you ? No, assuredly we do not wish to take from you, from your families, from your ophans or your poor, these Churches, and Asylums and Refuges, which for so many reasons are justly dear to you. We have in view a more rational object ; for instead of destroying we would wish to edify. Moreover that you may be fully convinced of the falsity of all these insinuations, we will only draw your attention to the fact tliat the decree erecting into a Canonical Parish the locality in which the Church of St. Patrick is situated, gives you the fullest liberty to frequent that Church, and there as in past times to receive all the consolations of religion ; and that the priests who serve it are empowered to administer to you the last sacraments in whatever part of the city you may reside. Nothing then in this respect is changed ; consequently you have no reason to fear the grave inconveniences which have been suggested to you without any foundation whatever. No one can take away from you St. Patrick's Church, the pews of which you occupy and can legally retain as long as you choose to frequent it. It is for this reason that we have made provision by our decree that you be not obliged in any manner to withdraw from the Church, which will remain your principal church, and on which your affections no doubt will continue to centre as the instructions will be made there as in past time, in your own tongue. The rest of the faithful speaking the French language, and who reside in the locality forming the Canonical Parish of St. Patrick's, will continue to go to the same churches they have hitherto attended, nor will they ever entertain the thought of troubling you :.n the peaceable possession of your Church of St. Patrick, so justly dear to you. Instead, then, of allowing yourselves to be led into those unhappy divi- sions, let us be, dearest Brethren, of one heart and one mind, laboring i ' 14 for the glory of our common mother, the H0I3' Church, whoso interests ought to occupy us before everythitig else. At the sight of those magnificont towers, which our sep:arated brethren raise almost to the skies, let us bo animated with holy zeal, and let us labor with courage to multiply in our city both Churches and Houses of Charity, Religious Institutions, and Benevolent Societies — in a word, let us promote all that is good, all that is useful, all that is holy. Once more, let us unite for that purpose all our forces ; for we must not deceive our- selves ; there remains yet for all of us, much to bo done for the glory of the holy name of God, for the honour of His august Mother, and for the good of religion in this great city, and for the salvation of our separated breth- ren, for whose conversion we should bo happy to shed our blood, oven to the last drop. Remain, then, in peace, dearest Brethren, and do not occupy yourselves any more with that question which may, for a moment, have troub! id you and caused you some uneasiness. Remember that you are constantly seen by our separated brethren, and reflect seriously on the bad effect which your words and actions could produce on them, had they reason to think that you are not as you ought to be — hnmbly submissive to your chief Pastor. Do not forget the terrible words of our Lord to His Apostles, " He that heareth you heareth me, and he that despiseth you despiseth me." Leave us, then, to rule all things according to the essentially equitable and just laws of the Church, remembering that wo have all at Rome a superior and a common judge, the Sovereign Pontiff, Pius IX., whom we venerate as Jesus Christ, whose vicar he is, and from whom we receive our inspirations for the good government of our Diocese. May the peace of the Lord be with you all. The present Pastoral Letter shall be read at the Prone of St. Patrick's Church, Sunday, the 25th day of this present month of November. Given at Montreal, from Our Episcopal Palace, this twenty -first day of November, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, uuder our sign and seal, and the countersir;n of our secretary. (Signed) f IG., Bishop op Montreal, By order of his Lordship, (Signed) J. 0. PAR^, Can. Secy. )! ' t: •; ' '■Jr. (No. IV. Montreal, December lltli, 1866. To His Lordship the Rt. Kevd. Bishop op Montreal. Your Lordship, — One of the resolutions unanimously adopted at a general meeting of the English speaking Catholics of this city, held on the 2nd instant, a copy of which has been sent to your Lordship, imposes on us, a committee then appointed, the duty of acknowledging in a respectful and suitable manner, your Lordship's Pastoral Letter read to us in Saint Patrick's Church, on Sunday the 25th of last month. It would not bo right or becoming in us, as laymen, to express any opinion on the instruction it has pleased your Lordship to give us in that Episcopal Document ; we have always held it to be a s icred duty to listen with docility to tho teaching of our Pastors; this tradition wc have re- ceived from our fathers; and indeed it is dearer to us, as it was to. them' than life itself Bat, apart from religious instruction, the letter of your Lordship refer- red to a number of facts which have all taken place in our own day, and under our own eyes ; we presume to say that, in regard to them wo are competent witnesses. Now, without any spirit of cavil or disrespect, and in the mere interest of truth, we feel bound to declare that several of these facts seemed to us to have been unfairly stated or so stated, as to be cal- culated to mislead. This was the general conviction of those who heard your Lordship's Pastoral Letter read. The result is now before us. It is far from satisfactory. Your Lordship has a right to be informed on what ground this unfavorable impression rested. We shall, in the briefest form, endeavor to satisfy your Lordship, and in doing so, we trust that our candor may not be mistaken for want of respect towards your Lordship. It was with no little surprise that the following statement of the Pas. toral Letter was heard : " It was not till after some time, and as it were owing to the force of circumstances, that St. Patrick's from a simple Chapel, became a Parish Church in fact, but not however in law." We were surprised at hearing this, for the following reasons . No member of the St. Patrick's Congregation at any time looked upon his church as a' simple "Chapel of Ease," neither did any one consider it to be a " Parish Church," either in fact or in law. During the past eighteen or nineteen years, Easter duty, first Commu- nion, and Confirmation haye been performed in St. Patrick's Church. Are 16 ! i 1 i !■! these things done in a mere ohapol— and that chapel at the very door of the Parish Church of Notre Dame ? But " after some time, and as it were owing to the force of circum- stances," marriages, baptisms and all the parochial duties were performed in St. Patrick's. It is true they wore ; yet no one was led to think that in consequence St. Patrick's was u Parish Church either in fact or in law. Wc all knew full well that it was simply a succursale of the Parish Church of Notre Dame. In the next paragraph your Lordship states that Easter duty. Marriages, Baptisms, &c., &c., arc functions whicli belong of right to " a Parish or succursale church." Then we were not in error in believing that St. Patrick's was a real succursale church. All these paro- chial functions were performed in it for many years, with the full know- ledge of your Lordship; and that too from " the force of circumstances," that is because the spiritual wants of the faithful rendered it indispen- sably necessary. What then could bo wanting to make St. Patrick's a regular succursale — was it your Lordship's consent ? But how could your Lordship refuse your consent, since the '• force of circumstances " ren- dered it necessary that these parochial functions should be performed in St. Patricks? We will not suppose that your Lordship, with full knowledge, would tolerate the irregular performance of parochial functions when it required but the consent of your Lordship to bring all under the regular discipline of the Church, by changing the chapel of ease into a succursale church. Your Lordship will scarcely refuse to admit that we had just reasons for our belief, that St. Patrick's was a regular succursale to the Parish Church of Notre Dame. In fact we could not think otherwise without imputing to your Lordship, either indifference to our spiritual wants, or indifference to the observance of the Holy Canons of the Church, OS explained by your Lordship. Believing as we had good reason to do, that St. Patrick's was a true succursale church, in which all parochial functions were regularly performed, in accordance with the discipline and laws of the Church, we did make " strong representations " to your Lord- ship, " to accord to the Priests charged with the service of St. Patrick's, liberty " to continue the same functions." Your Lordship concludes from this, that you were " not only authorized, but even obliged by the Holy Canons to convert St. Patrick's into a Parish Church, so as to render all that shall be performed within its precincts hereafter conformable to Canon law." Will your Lordship tell us how such a conclusion can po&%ibly be drawn from the premises established by your Lordship ? The Pastoral Letter tells us that all the parochial functions can be properly performed in " a succursale church." To regularize therefore the funotiona of a parochial nature performed in St. Patrick's, would it not have been Buf- !i! 17 ficient to make it a siiccurs'ile church, if it was not one already? How then could your Lordship be " obliged by the Canons to erect St. Patrick's iato u Pariah Church, so us to render all that shall bo performed within its precincts conformable to canon law ? " Resting on the notorious fact that kSt. Patrick's was a regular succursale to the Parish Church of Notro Damo, and that the parochial functions performed "within its precincts " were in strict conformity, with canon law ; we asked for nothing now but simply to bo allowed to enjoy the happiness of our old position, in peace, and without distuibing changes — this was simply the object of our "strong representations" addressed to your Lordship. We do not pre- sume to discuss Canon law with your Lordship. But your Lordship, having addressed a Pastoral Letter to us, cannot complain if we exercise our reason in order to understand it. This is the extent of the liberty we claim ; and certainly we must confess that some of the conclusions wo meet with, surprise and embarrass us not a little. We are neither qualified nor disposed to meddle in matters that con- of.rn your Lordship's relations with our Pastors ; we cannot however but regret that your Lordship thought proper to introduce the subject into tlie Pastoral Letter, in such a way as to give rise to suspicions, (hat we have been served by priests who did not enjoy the entire confidence of your Lordship, and over whom you had not sufiicient authority to correct delinquencies detrimental to the good of souls. A suspicion of this n iture can do no good ; and we are of opinion that your Lordship did not intend to give occasion to any such suspicion. We would fain understand your Lordship as explaining a general principle, not at all applicable in the present case. In this way we find relief from a painful state of mind arising from the doubt, whether it was that our Pastors were unfaithful, or that our Bishop was unjust to our Pastors. Repeatedly, since the introduction of the recent changes, your Lordship has told us that your only object was to multiply the succours of religion for the faithful ; to communicate new vigor and life to the clergy ; and to render the ministry more vigorous and fruitful by making it more canonical. Now, what do wc already witness as the result of )'our Lordship's reform and renova- tion ? Instead of additional religious aids, which we did not want, wo are threatened with the loss of many which we had before, and at the same time, our former peace and contentment are gone. The reverence and confidence that hitherto surrounded the episcopal authority amongst us, have suffered grievously, or rather have given place to feelings of grief and anger in the hearts of the faithful. These deplorable results were not, we are convinced, intended by your Lordship, but they are not on that account less deplorable. With the truth of your Lordship's B 18 I I iM remark — tliat an army, not under strict discipline, cannot fight with advantage — wo entirely agree ; but for the same reason, your Lordship will agree with us, that when an army has long fought with advantage, strict discipline must bo in vigor. Now, what was the condition of Catholics in Montreal before the late changes ? Was their condition of recent creation ? — some untried novelty whose evils had not yet time to manifest themselves ? Your Lordship will not say so. And who were the Pastors entrusted with the ministry of this important city, and over whom your Lordship claims a more vigorous control, as necessary for the good of souls ? Are they new men, whose antecedents are not known ? Your Lordship would, we are sure, be the first to say an emphatic No. In Montreal, our Pastors have a glorious history of two hundred years. Through that long period, in an unbroken succession of holy, learned, and devoted priests, they have labored for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Through good report, and through evil report, they never faltered ; the result of their labor is now before us, in a work of religion, such as has rarely been witnessed in any part of the (''"•'stian world. They watched over the infant church of Montreal,