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i
1
2
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
Il \
1
jit'ter the wo
"The most
" Reserves, wou
" 3rd and 4th "V
" over to the pa
« The Lfinds
« ment of Uppe
" farther reserve
" For the sake
" as the quantit
" be of any acc(
j^t'ter the word " Mission," at the foot of Page 17, read :—
" The most just and proper method of arranging the Clergy
" Reserves, would be, simply to carry out the provisions of the
« 3rd and 4th Victoria, Cap. 78, in all their detaiJ, and make
" over to the parties concerned, their appointed shares,
« The Lands called Clergy Reserves, set apart by the Govern-
«ment of Upper Canada, between 1791 and 1840, when any
" farther reservations were forbidden, amoimted to 2,354,668f.
« For the sake of easy illustration, we shall assume 2,400,000
"asthoquantity, being only deficient by 45,331, too small to
" be of any account."
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THE
^^'0
CLEEGY EESERTES.
LETTER
FKOM THB
BISHOP OF TOaONTO,
TO THX
HONOURABLE A. N. MORIN,
COMMISSIONXR OF CROWN LANDS.
TORONTO:
THOMPSON * CO., PBINTXBS, KUTO STBEET SAAT.
1864.
'
m'
LETTER
TO THE HON. A. N. MOWN, COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS,
&c., &c., &c.
ft
Sir, — The prominent position which you have for so many
years occupied in the Government of Canada, and the great
increase of influence which recent events may confer upon you,
induce me to address you on the subject of Church Pi-operty,
the m.ost important question that is hkely to come before the
present Session of the Provincial Parhament.
I believe that you are able, with the assistance of your friends
and colleagues, to avert any thing like injustice, and to settle for
€ver this prolific cause of agitation, if taken up in a friendly
spirit of conciliation — and deep will your future regret be, should
you return to private life without accomplishing so desirable an
object which seems so clearly within your power.
So much has been said on the subject of the Clergy Reserves,
that I shall be very brief, and confine myself to those points
which have not been conclusively met : —
First. It has baen so frequently assei-ted that the majority of
the population are in favour of Secularization in its worse sense,
that, it is generally believed ; and yet no assertior can be more
untrue. On Monday, the 13th of March last, the Anti-Reserve
Association met in Toronto, representing six Denominations of
Christians, comprising as per census of Upper and Lower
Canada, 292,294. There are sixteen other Denominations which
this Association might claim, and to prevent dispute I willingly
resign them. Their aggregate number is 204,399, wh'ch added
to the six Denominations gives a total of 496,885, or nearly one
fourth of the population of Canada which are said to be hostile
to Church endowments of all descriptions, Roman Catholic as
well as Protestant
In this enumeration I have omitted the Wesleyan Methodists,
4
because I should be sorry to consider them hostile, and since
they have never spoken out as a body, I take it for granted
that they are as Friendly as their groat founder would have
been.
On the other hand, we have, in favour of Church property and
endowments,
Koman Catholics 914,561
Church of England, 268,602
Church of Scotland, 61,589
Total 1,244,742
Thus, the friends of Ecclesiastical endowments in the Province
of Canada, are nearly thrice as numerous as their opponents.
But some may object to placing the Roman Catholics in this
category, because they have unfortunately more than once
recorded their votes as secularizers — nay, the Catholic Institute
of Toronto appears so eager to promote secularization, that at
their lata meeting, the members very modestly petitioned the
Legislature for a share of the spoils of our endowments for the
benefit of their separate schools. Yet, in the face of all this, I
have advisedly placeJ the Roman Catholics among our friends ;
because the danger is common, and they have more tha: four
times as much to lose as we have, and may be induced to
direct their attention to the strange and perilous course which
they have hitherto adopted. They hold fast their own endow-
ments, as indeed they ought to do ; and yet they are at the same
time strenuous in their endeavours to destroy those of the Church
of England. This monstrous inconsistency cannot be much
longer maintained, and if persevered in, must result in the utter
desti-uction of all Church property in Canada.
I am not much surprised that Socialists, or as they are called,
the Clear Grits of Upper and the Republicans of Lower Canada,
should band together against every kind of Ecclesiastical endow-
ment. And I can even conceive, though not without some
difficulty, that they may bo joined by those who believe, contrary
to holy Scripture and the universal experience of many centu-
ries, that religion ought to have no support except on the voluQta-
n
ry principle, — ^but I am quite unable to discover the cause which
urges you to protect tlie Roman Catholic endowments while you
obstinately advocate the confiscation of those of the Church of
England, unless from your hatred of that Church ; and because
you consider her the great obstacle to the spread of popery
through the whole Province. This, Sir, is very dangerous
ground. You are, at present, in the ascendant, and most of the
dissenters, struck with spiritual and moral blindness, are with
you ; and we ai-e comparatively alone : but Protestants will not
always sleep.
The foregoing enumeration farther proves, that if the three
National Churches were to agree in this one single thing, viz. :
the protection of their respective endowments, they might be
retained, peaceably for ages, since their number will always com-
mand a majority ; whereas, if the Church of Rome persist in
her present course, they will, in a shoxt time, bo wholly swept
away.
Hitherto the rich and splendid endowments of the Roman
Catholic Church have been kept in the back ground, and con-
cealed from the eyes of the people ; while all the bitterness and
odium which the most wicked imaginations could conceive, have
been poured on the defenders of the wretched pittance of her
original endowment, which now remains to the Church of Eng-
land, But this must no longer be permitted ; both properties
rest on the same foundation ; and both will sooner or later share
the same fate.
It is not my intention to proceed to an exposition of the false-
hoods of the manifesto already noticed, more especially as its
true character has been depicted by one more accustomed to
such work, and better acquainted with the peculiar merits and
talents of the six Ministers by whom it is signed and put forth,
and, though a stern Secularizer himself, he has still some regard
for truth and honesty of purpose.
The Leader, of the 28rd March, 1864, thus writes: " It does
"not follow that secularization is to be advanced by misstatements
" and fraudulent tricks. This is wherein we differfrora the raanifes-
" to concoctors, while they practice petty frauds, which characterise
i •
I i.
(■^
^p
II
'^dirainntive minds, we have the abiding faiUi, 'that honesty is
** the beat policy.' " After pointing out many gross misstate-
ments, " wo have," he addi\ " scarcely noticetl a ty the of the
*' errors, and wo adviso those who have inadver:ently signed such
"a string of falsehoods to remove their name as soon aa
" possible."
This is a specimen of the course pursued by the onomies of
Ecclesiastical endowments to deceive the people. They feed
them with false statement*, and thus delude them, until their
moral feelings become so blunt and obtuse, that they cease to
perceive any turpitude in robbing the Chuj*ch of Ood of her
just rights. Nor is the reviewer of the manifesto altogether free
from his shf.re of moral obtuseness on the subject: for, with
ludicrous inconsistency, he applies to this measure of spoliation
and sacrilegious robbery, the noble maxim that, " honesty is the
best policy."
2nd. The Act passed on the 9th of May last, by the Imperial
Parliament, giving power to the Colony to Liogislato on the
Clergy Reserves, ^vaa brought forward. Ministers say, in the
spirit of conciliation ; but, as it would seem, not without reluctance,
as Lord John Russell declared his regret that the settlement
made by the 3rd and 4th Viut. should be disturbed. It had given
peace to the Colony for ten years ; a peace which would have
continued but for unprincipled office hunting, and a denire for
reckless innovation. Being a coalition Ministry, which always
implies timidity and weakness, they seem to have been driven to
the measure by the violence of the address of the Legislative
Assembly — and to preserve something of manliness of character,
they determined to make a virtue of what they foolishly con-
strued into a case of necessity, and satisfied their conscience by
calling it a boon to the Colony. It is, however, right to admit
that one of their objects was to remove all grounds of religious
collision, in the hope that the power conferred on the Provincial
Legislature would be exercised with justice and moderation. So
far, the hope was creditable; and through the whole of the
proceeding, the Government and their supporters disapprove of
secularization or unfair dealing of any kind.
Mr. Peel, on introducing the Bill on Tuesday, 16th February,
f
ty 18
Htate-
f the
Huch
K)u as
1864, (loos not look forvratd to alienation c- secularization of the
property ; and contends that it reste on tho same footing aa the
endowments of tho Roman Catholic Church : but aa the policy
of Government is to give the Colonies entire control over all
their local concerns, the endowments of both Churches are
placed under their control ; and he repeats the same words in tho
debate of tho 13th April, and expresses his hope that Canada
would continue to be a home for the Church of England, and
acknowledged that, in a country so new, she could not cherish
and extend her Mission with effect, unless largely endowed by
tho public.
Mr. V. Smith, though in favour cf the bill, would rather that
the present settlement by dd and 4th Vic, chap. 78, should stand.
Sir John Pakington opposed the measure because it would
remove the guarantee from the endowment of the Church of
England, while it left in force the guarantee on that of the
Church of Rome. Whereas at present the ono guarantee was
as good as the other.
Lord John Russell — would have boon glad if tho Canadian
Government had continued the settlement of 1840 — and ho
doubted whether it was wise in tho Canada Parhament to dis-
turb it But though that was his individual opinion, and it
might even be the opinion of the Governmewi, it would not bo
proper to maintain it against the Canadian Parliament if it
wished to deal with the subject
Lord John Manners— declared in the debate of the 2l8t
March, that the bill would take away from the Chiu-ches of Eng-
land and Scotland in Canada, that protection and those safe-
guards which were recognised by statute in the case of the
Roman Church, and if tliis was their measure of religious equality,
he hoped the House would not sanction it
Mr. Drummond — stated that the measure was neither more
nor less than a measure of Church pluader ; and its progress was
towards the destruction of all religious establishments.
Mr. Child — was totally opposed to the bill, and exclaimed
— shall we show less zeal in the Propagation of our pure Faith,
I'-l
ili
1 1
I
8
than the Pagans for their corrupt worship i Our fathers Word
not so lax in the discharge of their duties. They granted the
Reserves for the support of the Christian Faith ; and much as he
desired to promote self-go vtirnment, ho could not give his assent
to a measure which sanctioned, if it did not suggest, what was
denounced by the Prophet Malachi — " Will a man rob God f
" Yet ye have robbed me — but ye say, wherein have I robbed
" thee ? In tythes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse for
" ye have robbed me, even the whole nation."
Mr. Dering — in voting for the bill, looked with confidence to
the religious feelings of the people of Canada, and that they
would follow such a judicious course as should, by heahng the
divisions which had so long Uiifortunately rent the Colony,
secure the blessings of internal peace and tranquillity, and thus
contribute to its lasting welfare.
The Duke of Argyle was in favour of the bill; but as the
endowments of the Iloman Catholics were as accessible to the
Colonial Legislature as the Reserves, he thought they would join
the Protestants in resisting secularization.
The Bishop of Oxford — voted for the bill, and called it doing
justice ; but when told that he was agreeing to vote for confisca-
tion, he said that he agreed to no such thing. If the question
was, will you vote for secularization, no voice would be more
distinct, no vote more emphatic than the negation he should
give to such a proposition. He did not undervalue what the evil
•Yould be, if the Reserves were secularized, that is, confiscated.
He saw plainly that consuming such a property upon mere secular
matters would be a degree of folly which would be barely equal-
led by consuming the seed com of a Colony, which could alone
reproduc(; its future nourishment. He had, therefore, the strong-
est hope that wo should see no such confiscation of the Clergy
Reserves.
''^he Duke of Newcastle maintained that if this measure were
passed, the Clergy Reserves would stand precisely on the same
footing as the Roman Catholic endowments ; and he was not
without hope that the Canadian Parliament would treat the
question in the same spirit as their Lordships : and that if the bill
■
9
became law, the decision of the Colonial Legislature would not
be for the secularisation of the Reserves ; for their Lordships
might look upon this as an axiom, that there was no better secu-
rity against the abuse of power than respoiisibility. And if thoy
could show that the Canadian Legislature would be responsible
in the administration of the Reserves, ho believed their Lordships
would be taking the only and the best security they could take
against any undue or improper use of the power which they
intrusted to the Colonists.
Lord St. Leonards said, that while defending the rights of the
Protestant Clergy, he would strenuously oppose any attempt to
destroy the rights of the Roman Catholics, but pass this bill, and
you deprive the Protestant Clergy of their property ; but it could
not deprive the Roman Catholic Clergy of their property without
sending a bill over to this country for that purpose ; which must lie
on the bibles of Parliament for thirty days, and might be disallow-
ed by the Crown at any moment within that period. Would their
Lordships sit quietly anci see the rights of the Protestant Clergy
destroyed, while those of the Roman Catholics were preserved.
I'he Roman Catholics were in favour of the mcjisure, because it
struck at the property of the Protestant Clergy ; but the timo
would come, when the Canadian Legislature would attack tho
Roman Catholic tithes and endowments. His Lordship farther
observed, that the (juestioii before the House was not, whether
they were to endow, but whether they were to destroy an actual
endowment, which the Church jwr^sessed in Canada, and pos-
sessed by as gooil a title as could possibly exist. lie voted for
.'{rd and 4th \kt, while in opposition, as he would again, upon
tho ground of its being a national settlement.
The Bishop of London said, that the simple proposition on
which he jiroceeded, Avas, that the Canadian Legislature had no
right whatever to deal with the money of the Church, in Cana-
da. Such a right was never given to that Legislature; on tho
contrary, the maintenance, in fact, of these Clergy fleserves, was
one of the conditions v)f tho Canadian Constitution, concinled
by this rountiy. I'lio Reserves were a sacred trust, placed in
the hands of the Imperial Pariiament; and that to permit tho
alienation of any portion of that Fund, would be a criminRl
li
I- !
■n
10
i I
'■ 1
abandonment of that trust, and a flagitious violation of a sacredf
compact. Earnestly, then, would he oppose any measure, which
went to deprive the Canadian Church of the means with wt' \
so much good was effected.
The Bishop of Norwich was in favour of the Bill, because it
was the fulfilment of a pledge; but, if the Koman Catholics in
the Colony should wantonly oppose thepiinciple of endowment,
thoy would expose themselves to the risk of losing their own
endowments. But he did not believe the Canadian Parliament
would commit such^n unjustifiable act as secularizing the
Clergy Reserves, If, indeed, they were unwise and unjust enough
to alienate this property, the Church in Canada would have an
equitable claim to compensation.
From this brief review of the debates on the recent Clergy
Reserves Act, I consider myself authorised to infer —
Firat, That the endowments for the support of religion in the
different sections of the Province, ought not to be dealt with
separately, or be confined to those appropriated to the sustenance
of a Protestant Clergy, but must also embrace those, which sus-
tain the Roman Catholic Clergy. Both are equally local and
domestic ; and if the control of the one is to be consigned to tho
Colonial Legislature, so must the other.
2nd, That the Ministry, as such, did not anticipate the seculari-
zation of the Clergy Reser\e8, at the passing of the Act, nor
from the recent declaration of the Duke of Newcastle, do they
anticipate such a catastrophe now; and, though Parliaments are
said to be onmipotent, they have no right to perpetrate injustice
or to trample on their own acts and engagements.
3rd, Had secularization been anticipated, they could not have
carried the measure: too mtiny of their adherents, even when
supporting them, spoke severely against confiscating tlie Church
property ; and had they suspected, that the Canadian Legislature
would commit such a flagrant and revolutionary act of injustice,
they would have voted against tho Bill, and it would have
been lost.
Cn this point the sentiments of all the Members of the Impe-
11
rial Oovernment are clear, and almost imaniraous. They give
you and your colleagues credit for honourable intention and fair
dealing, and it will neither savour of probity nor good feeling,
to disappoint their honest expectations. The Duke of Newcastle
stated, very lately, that he neither heaid from Mr. Hincks while
in England, nor any one else, a word about the secularization of
the Clergy Reserves; and that he believed the Church property
in no danger of secularization, or, as it is now called, to smooth
the iniquity, adjustment.
But on this matter we have still further evidence, and indeed
the best possible. Lord Elgin, with the frankness and honor
which distinguish a true British nobleman, thus speaks at the
great dinner given to his Lordship in London, on the 6th of
April last —
" I have ofteu warned my Canadian friends against doing any
thing that might lead the people to suspect, that they wer-o
capable of abusing the powei*s confided to them ; and pointed
out to them, that if they did not pay the same scrupulous re-
gard to the rights of property, as the people of England, they
would bring a blight upon the land, and cause the fair flower
of their prosperity to wither to its root. And, what is more,
they will bring samdal to one of the best causes ever entrusted
to a people; because, I believe, on the success of our Canadian
experiment, not only the liberties of many other Colonies de-
pend, but to a greater extent than many suppose, the future
greatness and happiness of the Mother Country. It has been
said, that the new system of responsible Government, which
has happily taken the place of the old Government, gives a tri-
umph to extreme opinion ; but my belief is just the contrary of
this, and, if the new system is made permanent, I think a more
temperate tone will prevail among Colonial Politicians, than has
hitherto existed, and will, by and by, take possession of tho
Colonial press.^'
Hence, it is evident, that the Governor General is equally
anxious with the Duke of Newcastle, to avert the crime of secu
larization, as ruinous, morally and politically, to the character of
the Province. With such sentiments, we caunot wonder that hia
U\
12
Lordship, in conversing witli the Duke of Newcastle, made no
mention even of the probabihty of such a measure, as the con-
fiscatioii of the Clergy Reserves. Yet, notwithstanding this
sound advice, with which, as a Member of Government, you
cannot be unacquainted, your proceedings altogether oppose it.
Nor do you seem to perceixe, that your threats to destroy the
Church property, are incompatible with the rights which hold
society together, and at variance with the favourite maxim of
yom- pai'ty, " to follow in all things the will of the multitude."
You have not one third of the population with you, and that the
least independent, being in a great measure composed of party
men, morally and religiously blind. Yet from, noise and tunmlt,
and violent assertion, this disreputable minority appears, to the
timid and indolent, irresistible. Of their regard for truth and
honesty, we have a notable example in the proceedings of the
An;i-Reservo Association, already mentioned ; which, in defiance
of all that is just and honourable, seeks the gratification of its
rubidness, in the sacrilegious spoliation of the Churches: for they
are equally ferocious in their opposition to Roman and Protestant
endowments; and if some of them profess a sort of outward
regard for religion, they make such profession subservient to the
destruction of all that promotes Evangelical truth and order.
As a Roman Catholic, and a native of Canada, you must bo
as much aware as I am, that since the first settlement of the
country till the union in 1840, there exist(.'d a courteous and un-
interrupted interchange of social amenities between the Mem-
bers of the Church of England and the Church of Rome; and,
although since that event, causes of irritation have grown up,
and sometimes estrangements have arisen, yet we have still con-
tinued to count your people as friendly to our endowments, as
we have hitherto been to yours; and have felt persuaded, that
all such causes of irritation might not only be greatly diminish-
ed, but effectually removed. But, if you persist in your present
course, the two churches, instead of returning to friendly inter-
course, will soon be at open war ; and the battle between them
will be fongbt on the floor of the Legislatm-e. If this indeed
be your policy, I am compelled to confess, that from all appear-
ances you will be victorious ; for the most violent enemies of our
ii
13
^
Church, although equally violent against yours, will at first asfiist
you, for their plan is, " divide and conquer." These are never-
theless victories, which destroy the conquerois, arul youi-s will
be one of them. How you can continue blind to the rise of the
Socialist party among yourselves, already in posse-r-lon of con-
siderable influence, and in close connexion with the enemies of
Ecclesiastical endowment in this section of the Province, and
eager to destroy them, I cannot conjecture. Certain it is, that
your safety, as well as ours, lies in the mutual agreement of the
two Protestant Churches with yours, on this vital question of
endowment, and on this only, leaving all the other matters free.
We cannot lose our property except by Roman Catholic votes ,
and if we are vanquished, your turn will soon follow ; for it will
be impossible for you to resist the torrent which a bitter sense
of injury will create, and which will in a little time sweep before
it all your national and Jistinctive institutions. It is true, some
of your adherents have been hoard to say, that they would fight
for their endowments, and rather risk a civil war, than give
them up. This would be the height of madness; for no longer
liaving the Protestant Churches of England and Scotland to
stand with you in the breach, you would soon be overcome by
numbers, and your total defeat embittered by the thought, that
you might have prevented such a calamity, and blessed the
Province with a long period of peace and happiness, had you
adopted a truer and more just couise of action.
Reflect, Sir, on your high position, and your numerous friends
and supporters, and inspire them with justice before it be too
iate. The national Churches of Great Britain and Ireland have
no desire to molest your Church property — on the contrary,
they hold it in reverence, because it is dedicated to God's ser-
vice, but you in return, ought to shew the like regard for theirs.
It is no longer to be concealed, that democracy.and infidelity
are the two poweis which menace religion in every part of the
world, wherever opportunity ofi'eis. In 1848 they were ram-
pant over the greater part of Europe; nor were they overcome
without much bloodshed and extensive misery. And is it not
as much our duty to join against them in this country, as it was
in Europe. Nor need such co-operation lead to any change in
14
I III'
our religious feelings and principles, for such matters are not
involved in our agreement, which is confined to a single and
"well defined object.
3rd. As regards the construction of the present Ministry, of
which you seem to me to be virtually the head, I have no desire
to speak reproachfully, much less to sit in judgment, or to search
curiously into the motives which guided them, for to their own
master they must stand or fall. My object is, conciliation and
permanent peace. And this object I must endeavour to promote
because of its infinite value, even at the hazard of many repeti-
tions. And it invites me to inquire in the first place how far
you are, as a Government, pledged on the question of Church
property ; and so far as the United Church of England and Ire-
land is concerned, in what way you may be able, if inclined, to
effect an equitable and final arrangement. I begin with dismis-
sing fiom the inquiry, all vague assertions made by the membera
of the present administration, previous to their coalition — whether
they belonged to or opposed the former Government.
The change of an administration is always accompanied with
some alteration or modification of policy. And I fcike it for
granted, that yours is not an exception. Gentlemen who have
differed on seme important points, can never settle them satisfac-
torily without something of mutual compromise ; and, if so done
for the sake of future peace, and without infringing upon sub-
stantial justice, or inherent rights, such a guarded respect for
each other's views is reasonable, and may be admitted. There
are, indeed, many questions so clear and pointed, as to admit of
no modification without incurring moral guilt, but a fair and
judicious arrangement of the Clergy Reserves does not appear to
be one of the number, nor is the present administration pledged
to any course except an honourable adjustment.
But we must take care, in coming to a wise conclusion, not to
be led away by mere words ; which may be used in different
senses by diflferent persons, and this without mutual explanations,
might produce much confusion, and even fierce contention — as
happened to the two knights with the shield, which was gold on
the one side and silver on the other. Now, it so happens that
the word secularization, which means the conversion of spiritual
16
appropriations to common use, has been applied in a bad sense
to the Clergy Reserves, as implying their absolute confiscation.
And this sense having been adopted by the enemies of ecclesias-
tical endowments, it has obtained very general currency. But
the word admits of a good sense, and one much more appro-
priate to the subject. For example: when A or B purchases
one or more Clergy Reserves, and they are turned into Farms,,
their secularization is complete. But the price paid for them
remains with the Church, or the Government, as the case may
be, and can be applied to ecclesiastical purposes. In this man-
ner may all the landed property of any Institution, sacred or
profane, be litei-ally secularised ; but it is not a necessary conse-
quence that the institution should be robbed ; if it has lost the
land, it possesses its value in the purchase money.
I do not think that there is a member of the present Govern-
ment, who adopts the bad interpretation of the word seculariza-
tion; but be this as it may, so sensible was the late ministry of
the inconvenience of the word, that adjustment was substituted
in the Governor General's speech, and adopted in the House of
Assembly by a very large majority. The word adjustment means
to put in order ; to settle in the right foi-m or way ; to make
accurate. This allows ample scope, but implies fairness and
justice, and evidently excludes any thing mean, niggardly, or
disingenuous. Htnce, the ministiy, by the vote of the Legisla-
tive Assembly, seem to me, pledged to an honourable adjustment
of the Clergy Reserve question. They can therefore, come for-
ward without party bias, to the jiist settlement of the question —
and united fully in principle, although there may be some latitude
in detail.
Thufi, a measure fair and honourable to all parties, may be
framed without any great difficulty, wliich shall command a
triumphant majority. First, the Conservatives, who, notwith-
standing their misfortunes, still muster a formidable Phalanx,
would readily give their support to such an arrangement ; nor
can I hesitate in believing that the Roman Catholics, now fully
sensible that it is a common cause, will give you a majority ;
since, besides their magnificent endowment in Lower Canada,
they are entitled by the 3rd & 4th Victoria, to a large interest in the
«lii
mm
:; i
'! '^
, iv
: J
; /
■I
u
? :
J
Clergy Reserves of Canada West, of which, coirfiscation would
deprive them. And singularly blind must they be, if they do
not see fiom the occurrences of every day, that the present sup-
porters of secularization are the most bitter foe» of all Churches
possessing endowments.
4th. I now proceed to mention what I consider the true
method of settlement, and here I would premise, that it must be
one which shall carry along with it a friendly connction of
the more intelligent inhabitants of the Province, that it is the
best possible arrangement to insure future peace and harmony.
It must also be truly final ; and we must substitute permanent
for life, incumbencies: a treacherous provision, which would
gradually waste away the Church in a manner most heartless
and degrading, and keep her still in thraldom to the Govern-
ment, and open to incessant irritation and growing agitation ;
which skilfully managed, may soon give rise to more bitter reli-
gious contests than we have yet encountered.
It was the intention of the British Parliament in 1791, to
make ample provision for the maintenance of a Protestant Clergy
in Canada, and to ])lace the National Church on an equal foot-
ing with that of R.yiiie. How that gracious intention has been
frustrated, by neglect and misinanagemeut, and the pernicious
interference of the Provincial Government, will best appear by
contnvsting the temporal position of the two Churches at the
present time.
1st. The average livings of the French Clergy, abc^iit four
hundred in number, exclusive of those employed in Colleges^
Monasteries, and other religious houses, may be taken at £250
per annum ; shewing an annual revenue of £100,000 per annum;
a sum which represents a capittU of at least two millions.
2nd. Various endowments — some of great value, such as the
St. Sulpico endowment, covering the whole Island of Montreal,
and considered to be worth nearly a million ; bosid&s lands, wild
and cultivated, to the extent of rather more than two millions of
acres, and which are in the aggregate, at the present time, worth
at least two millions more; shewing that the endowments, tythes,
and other dues of the Roman Catholic Church in Lower Canada
; '1
17
may be fairly taken at a capital of four millions sterling : which
at five per cent, would yield an incoino of two hundred
thousand pounds sterling, yearly. I do not mention these par-
ticulars as gmdging, and finding fault with their largeness ; on
the contrary, I would not willingly diminish them by one far-
thing, because they have been dedicated to holy purposes; and
even, should wo lose our expected on<.lowment by your lloiuan
CathoUc votes, I should be most reluctant to meddle with their
property; but my abstinence would be of little account, for the
moment that Roman (!atholic votes disix)se of our Church pro-
perty, and we never can lose it but by their votes, they seal the
doom of their own, and inako it a me*'e question of time. And
indeed it does seem clear, that if you continue as you have been
doing, since 1850, 1 may sjiy since the Union, it would be absurd
to expect that wo should possibly submit to the additional
injuries which your means thus increased, in comparison to our
poverty, may enable you to inflict.
But leaving this bitter contemplation — what can we shew in
contrast with your Church property, with two hundred thousand
per annum — why, absolutely nothing. Our Church neither has,
and never has had, any secure and independent endowment at
her dispasal ; she has not even a ewe-lamb, and has been from
the beginning, a mendicant Church. She has been supported
by the charity of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
in Foreign Pai-tfi — till 1845 entirely. Since that time the
Clergy Reserves, which are in truth her patrimf>ny, but over
which she had never any control, not even to prevent their being
wasted, have yielded her an aimual driblet, gradually increjising,
of one, two and three thousand annually ; till hist year it amount-
ed to fourteen thousand pounds; the deficiency being made up
to £18 or £20,000, the annual expenditure of the Church, by
grants from the Propagation Society.
This year it would appear from the Report of the Inspector
General, an abstract from which I have just seen, that the Church
will be entitled from the Clergy Reserve fund, to £21,658, or a
sum, exceeding by a few pounds her present expenditure, but
without the means of opening new missions.
And it is at this time, that after waiting in vain 63 years, for
c
(1
f']!
1 -n
'iii
i
18
the trust of her patrimony, the Church finds, just as it begins tdf
come to her aid, that it is to be taken from her. That new mis-
sions are no longer to be opened : and that the income from her
endowment, now equal to her current expenditure, and rapidly
increasing, is to be further decreased by robbing the Church
piece-meal, by not filling vacancies as missionaries die : and that
the whole endowment given by a pious King, is to be diverted from
the support and extension of the Church ho loved, to be made a
source of common state revenue. Such a base and refined case of
sacrilege is no where to bo equalled in civil or profane history.
By the Statute 7 and 8 of George 4th, power was given to
the Colonial Government^ to sell one-fourth of the whole quan-
tity or six hundred thousand acres ; and after paying all ex-
penses attending such sales, the net proceeds to be invested in the
public funds. By the 3rd and 4th Vict, c. 78, the remaining
eighteen hundred thousand acres were also directed to be sold.
This Act also provides for the distribution of the procpeds, as
folIoM's: of the six hundred thousand acres, sold under the Vth
and 8th Geo. 4, two thirds^ of the net interest and dividends
accruing from the investment of the proceeds of four hundred
thousand acres to the Church of England ; and one third of the
net interest and dividends accruing from the investment of tho
proceeds of two hundred thousand acres to the Church of
Scotland. In regard to the eighteen hundred thousand acres
sold, C7 to be sold under the provisions of 3rd and 4th Vict.,
the net interest and dividends from investments of the proceeds
of all sales of such Reserves, are divided into six equal parts, of
which two are appropriated to the Church of England, and one
to the Church of Scotland ; and the three remaining parts shall
be applied by the Governor General of Canada, with the advice
of the Executive Council, for the purposes of public worship
and religious instruction in Canada. From this, it appears, that
if the appropriation had been in Land, one million of acres
would have been the endowment of the Church of England;
five hundred thousand that of the Church of Scotland — com-
prehending at the time the whole Church, the disruption not
having then taken place; leaving nine hundred thousand to be
distributed among all other denominations. , . .
19
The Church of England, under such distribution, would have
acquired an endowment nearly equal in value to one-fourth of
the endowment of the Roman Catholic Church in Lower Can-
ada. But as all the lands are sold, or in course of sale, it would
be necessary, to satisfy the provisions of the Act, to make over
to the Church of England the proceeds of the sale of one
million of acres, deducting expense of sales ; such to be funded
for the benefit and extension of the Church : nor would such
sum be found too large for the purpose, nor by any means so
large as it would have been, under faithful management A
committee, carefully selected, might be appointed to ascertain,
from strict inquiry, the amount of the net proceeds of one
million of acres; and this would render such settlement easy.
For it would only be necessary to liand it over to the Church,
making the regular payment of all the present salaries, pensions,
&c^ the first charge on the Fund thus created, as ought to be
the case under any arrangement that may be adopted.
Another mode of settlement, in virtue of the provisions of
the 3rd and 4th Vict., chap. 78, and perhaps more in accordance
with the present state of the property, is the following : — The
share of the whole endowment belonging to the Church of
England, is five-twelfths; to the Church of Scotland two one
half-twelfths ; and the remainder, four-one half-twelftlis, to various
other Denominations.
Suppose that the original endowment, 2,400,000 acres, when
sold, realised an average of ten shillings per acre, it would pro-
duce twelve hundiwl thousand pounds currency — of which, by
the Provisions of the 3rd and 4th Vict, chap. 78, five-twelfths,
or five hundred thousand pounds, belong to the Church of Eng-
land; two and a half-twelfths, or two hundred and fifty thousand
pounds, to the Church of Scotland ; leaving four and a half-
twelftlis, or four hundred and fifty thousand pounds, to be divid-
ed between the Roman Catholics and Wesleyan Methodists of
Upper Canada; because all the other Denominations refuse their
respective shares. Unless, indeed, these bodies (as would be
more desirable) should so far modify their opinions, as to accept
their respective portions, on the condition of expending them
for religious purposes; such as, the support of their Theological
; I'
•■1
^..'l
20
Oollegos — buildinj? places of public worahip— rMidencoi for their
Ministei-a, (kc; for nil of which the fund would afford ample
means. And surely this would be a more rational way of
spending the money, than to scatter it among ^unicipalitiea,
whore, from its trifling amount, it could do no good.
It is, indeed, much to be feared, that the sums to be divided,
from the unscrupulous proceedings of the former liberal govern-
ments, as they have been called, will be found far short of those
mentioned. Hut, for such deficiency, there is, alns, no remedy:
whiitever, therefore, the proceeds still loft of all the lands sold
may be found to be, those are the proportions by which, accord-
ing to the provisions of the 8rd and 4th Vict., they must be
appropriated.
A third scheme of settlement has been suggested, not perhaps
resting so strictly upon the provisions of the 3rd and 4th Vict.,
chap. 78, but nevertheless simple, and flowing from an anxiety
to do substantial justice, in case the sum to be divided should
prove far short of what might have been fairly expected, viz. :
to the Church of England, two-thirds of the net proceeds of the
sales, under the 8th and 9th Geo. 4th, chap. 61, and two-sixths
under the 3rd and 4th Vict., chap. 78; and to the Church of
Scotland, under the provisions of the same two Acts, half that
amount; leaving three Jixths of the proceeds accruing, under
the 3rd and 4th Vict., chap. 78, to be dividetl among other De-
nominations. This scheme is in accordance with the Act 3rd
and 4th Vict., chap. 78, so far as it goes, but apprehends some
deficiency ; which, nevertheless, ought to be made up by a fair
allowance from the Provincial Government, through whose fault
it has been occasioned.
Lastly. It has hoon proposed to purchase from the Church of
England, her present annual income from the Clergy Reserves,
"which amounts for the current year, as the Receiver General
reports, to £21,658, and rapidly increasing; and this, at so many
years' purchase, say 20, but in the view of giving some compensa-
tion for future increase, to add to the twenty 5 years, making in
all 25 years' purchase, which amounts to £541,460; thus ena-
bling the Government to get rid at once of all connexion with
the Church. And, indeed, this mode ot settlement, so conduct-
21
eel, vrould deserve sorae favour, if found consiBtent with principle
and the rip;hts acquired by the two Churches, under the 3rd and
4th Vict., chap. VS. It would relieve the Government from
many annoyances, and it would etise, if it did not fully satisfy,
the Church of England: because, after providing for her present
establishment, a small residue would be left to extend her limits
by opening new Missions.
Any of those schemes may be easily mollified, so as to become
acceptiible, if the Government can be induced to treat the question
with the same scrupulous reji,ard to the rights of property as the
peoi»le of England. This, indeed, u tlie Governor General's
advice: and if the power conferred upon the Legislature be
abused in this weighty matter, it will bring a blight on the land,
and scandal to one of the best causes over entrusted to a
people.
I cannot leave this part of my subject, without noticing the
Earl of Derby's amendment, so characteristic of his noble
nature. This amendment to the Bill, offers as moderate a
scheme for the final settlement of the Clergy Reserves, as
pledged Faith and Power would permit. His Lordship pre-
serves to the Churches of England and Scotland, all proceeds of
the Revenues guaranteed to them, and already distinctly appro-
priated under the 7th and 8th George 4th, chapter G2, and under
the 3rd and fourth Victoria, chapter 78, in absolute and perma-
nent possession. But conferring upon the Legislature, the free
and unlimited power of dealing with any portion of the Clergy
Reserves, not already so appropriated and allotted, — or in other
words, giving the two Churches in perpetuity, all that is confer-
red upon them by the provisions of the 3rd and 4th Victoria,
chapter 78, and of which they have been in actual possassion
fourteen years. But leaving what remains of the land unsold,
and not so conferred and appropriated at the passing of the Act,
to the future disposition of the Colonial Legislature.
In conclusion, I would observe that the Roman Catholics and
Protestants in Canada, are nearly equal in number. They enjoy
the same civil rights and privileges, and till now, their spiritual
advantjigea, tho'gh greatly preponderating in your favour, have
never on the part of the Members of the Church of England,
22
I !
! ,
been made matter of complaint. In Canada, both parties must
live, mix in the same society, and vote in the same Legislature.
Would it not then be better to live in harmony, and to permit
each other to enjoy unmolested, their social rights and comforts,
with which they seem in general content, and make no attempt
to disturb a state of things with which all appear so well
satisfied.
Irregularities will arise from causca over which we have no
control ; and if instead of exerting ourselves to counteract their
evil tendency, we permit self: hness and envy, or the love of
mastery to interfere, the real sources of our social happiness will
not only be impaired, but may give place to contention, ennrJty,
and disorder. You must not forget, that the population of
Canada, will ever be essentially English, surrounded by Colonies
inhabited by the same race. Reflect also on the fact, that our
Republican neighbours are Saxon, and from their peculiar
institutions and mode of thinking, are unfriendly to all religious
Establishments Hence, every principle of duty and interest*
directs us to adopt such measures as shall unite more cordially
the French and English population of the Province, — and thus
by respecting their peculiar manners and habits, to cherish every
friendly approximation, while we steadily discourage evcr^
attempt to foster jealousy and heart-burnings. You have been
received into the national family, and whether at fii-st, willingly
or not, here you are, and your position cannot be altered. We
are already exceeding you in numbers, and wo increase more
rapidly ; and, in a brief space, we shall be thrice as numerous
from emigration and natural causes. While, then, you are in
the r 3cendancy, exercise your power with wisdom and modera-
tion — and do not consent to an act of such grievous oppression
as the secularization of our Church property, and which your
Roman Catholic votes can either destroy or secure. If from a
wicked and wanton exercise of the j)ower recently conferred
upon you by the British Parliament, trusting in your integrity
and honor, you perpetrate an act so otfensive, it will never be
forgotten ; but will be fatally remembered when we far surpass
you in population, and of consequence in the numbers of Repre-
sentatives, and then the evil you have dc e to us, will be
23
returned to you ten-fold, and the besom of bitter retaliation will
sweep away your magnifice-.it endowments^
Think not that I take pleasure in such a contemplation ; on
the contrary, I most earnestly desire tc avert such a terrible
result, by claiming from you and your countrymen, a wise and
upright policy at the present moment We cannot be spoiled
■without your active and voluntary concurrence.
Canada is inhabited by two races; and the true policy is to
make them as much as possible one people : and to bring this
about, nothing unjust should be done to depress the one or
unduly to raise tl^e other. A spirit of good will and kind.. »s,
should be promoted between them, and the stiictest impartiality
exercised by their Rulers.
One of the highest duties of Govei-nment, and one of the first
obligat" .18 of humanity, is to diminish or remove, as far as pos-
sible, all grounds which might in any way promote future col-
lision or blood-shed, cr estrangement, or animosity among its
people.
Controversies will indeed sometimes arise, but even those of a
religious character, which are often the most bitter and unrelent-
ing, may be kept within resisonable bounds without periUing in
any manner the progress of truth ; and they may be conducted
in ^ Christian si»irit without rancour or personal violence.
No Brownson's or Gavazzi's should be invited to vilify and
irritate our people, living in th/3 same Parishes, Villages, Towns,
and Cities, and under the same Government. It is our duty to
exclude all such incendiaries; or if there be no law to prevent
such criminal and otiensivo intrusion, let us not attend their in-
flammatory harangues ; and hold the civil authorities res])onsible
for the jnestjrvation of the peace
Our liberties, whether civil or religious, are not jwomoted by
itinerant vagi-auts abusing for hire the Protcfitauts one day, and the
lloman Catholicc the nt\t. Freedom of speech, and freedom of
Divine worship, require not the aid of unprincipled Lecturers
go'iig round the Province, and earning their living by sowing
the seed of calumny and dissansion, falsf^hood and misrepresen-
tation.
24
!f
Seriou& and well-disposed persons ieel, that there are certain
objects of religious faith and atfectiou, which may be made the
subject of calm and rational controversy ; but cannot be made the
subject of ridicule, without awakening the most exquisite feelings
of distress, horror, and indignation. Every true friend of reli-
gion, therefore, whether lioraan Catholic or Protestant, while
claiming full liberty of speecb, will readily admit that such
liberty should be tempered with moderation ; and that scoin and
reviling, a^>plied to holy things, should be reprobated and put
down, from whatever quarter they may come : and that it is the
duty of every friend of decency and order to abate tbo nuisance
of those fire-brands, whether stationary or migratory, who think
themselves entitled to rouse the bad p^issions against any one
mode of religious belief, since it cannot fail to provoke violent
reprisals.
We are not warranted by the Christian law of love in pouring
contempt and abuse on any man's cieed, however erroneous it
may be, unless it otFends against peace and good morals. We
may be charitable without unfaitlifulness, and defend our own
belief without exaggeration, acrimony, or suspicion of motives ;
and thus patiently to arrive at the truth to be embraced, and the
error to be rejected. A good life is more elo< juent than language,
and practice the best comment upon profession.
In fine, I call upon you. Sir, as the virtual head of the present
Government, and the honest men of all parties, to help us in
averting the confiscation of the small remainder of our Church
Property, with which wo are threatened. To her the property
belongs, by a title which Lord St. Leonards— a great authority —
declares to be as good as could possibly exist; and which, in the
present civilized age, no just Government can rudely touch,
without loss of character. If, therefore, you proceed to legislate
on the subject, let it be in a fair and honourable spiiit, to carry
out the provisions of the 3rd and 4th Victoria, chapter 18, by
making over the endowment it secures to the Cliiuoh of England
forever, and without diminution, that she may, in accordance
with the views of that devout monarch who gave it more than
half a century ago, apply it to the support of public worship, and
25
the extension of Christianity, through this vast diocese, for all
future time.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient, humble Servant,
JOHN TORONTO.
Toronto, Canada,
20th October, 1854.
POSTSCRIPT.
Sir:—
After ray letter had gone to press, I was favonred with a copy
of your bill, providing for the confiscation of tbe Clergy Re-
serves, and I declare, without hesitation, that it is the most
atrocious specimen of oppressive legislation, that has appeared
since the days of the French Convention.
Can the members of the United Church of England and
Ireland be expected to submit calmly to this monstrous robbery ?
Is it not intended, by its silent and venomous operation, to un-
dermine and destroy every Parish and Mission in this Diocese ?
and ai-e not you and your friends already gloating on the'pros-
pect of our Churches in ruins; and of their being closed and
deserted one after another ? And, are you not rejoicing in the
hope that the voice of prayer, and praise, and the preaching of
the Gospel, will soon cease to be heard in Upper Canada ? And
that nothing may be wanting, on your part, to hasten this sad
state of things, and to satiate your vindictive hatred to the
irrotestant Faith, you proceed in your intolerance, to the
utmost extent of the unhallowed power, recently conferred
upon you by a credulous Government, and leave us nothing that
you can by any possibility take away.
But gloomy, and, I venture to eay, fearful as the consequences
are likely to be, should this measure of religious spoliation be-
come law, we do not despair, nor allow ourselves to dread the
final result.
';l
Ti'&.
26
We may see, from day to day, our Missions desolate, as their
incumbents die, till many have departed in sorrow to the grave ;
but though, for a time, the ministrations of the Church may, in
some places cease, and in many become less frequent, yet so long
as we trust in God, help and enlargement will be cent, and
restore us to greater strength than evei", — " For the foundations
" of our Church are upon the Holy Hills, and the gates of hell
" shall not prevail against her."
How would you like the treatment, which, in this the day of
your arrogant power, you are meting out to us, were the case
reversed, and were we to take three-fourths of your endowment
of four millions, leaving you the interest of ore million to bo
annually divided among the Ministers of your Parishes, and to
return to the public treasury as tx. y perish from grief, and want,
and untimely deaths ? Would you bear all this patiently ?
Before you proceed farther, it may be well to recollect that
your tithes and dues, the only portion of your Church Property
that has any legal security, are already in jeopardy, and will not
bug survive the passing of your bill, for it will form a precedent
for the pillage of all your Ecclesiastical endowments ; and these
will be the more easy, as you hold them only on sufferance ;
although, equal to one-seventh of Jill your Seignories ; for the
14th of George 3rd, still in force, declares, that Keligious Com-
munities shall not hold Estates.
It would be premature, at present, to hazard any conjecture
as to the measures which the Members of the United Church of
England and Ireland, may take, should the bill pass : but when
that event happens, I feel persuaded that they will not shrink
from their duty.
In the meantime, I leave you a solemn warning, by a Roman
Catholic of Lower Canada; which, although it has been already
quoted more than once, appears peculiarly well-adapted for the
close of this Postscript.
" Think you, (says the writer,) that those who abrogate the
" law, which gives the Church of England, her rights, will
" respect that which regards youi-s ? Will they hold sacred that
" treaty which gives your Church in Eastern Canada, wealth and
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power? "When you do this, remember that the Destroyer in
his turn, shall perish ? The Clergy Reserve question, is the
outer-wall that protects your rights ; and, against which, now
beats, the swelling tide of irreligion, and threatens destruction to
all you hold, dear and Holy. It is our duty and interest,
therefore, to aid in preserving to the Church of England, her
rights. Is there any one so obtuse, as not to understand the
import of the fearful denunciation, secularization of the Clergy
Reserves ! Is it not a declaration of war against all that Catholics
hold sacred and holy ? What does it mean, but a present and
temporary forbearance to the Catholic Church, and future
proscription ?"
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient humble servant,
Toronto, Canada,
21st October, 1854.
JOHN TORONTO.
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