MM Mi 
 
 ■ Hn 
 
 HHnHH H 
 
 HI 
 
 warn 
 
 EMM H9NH 
 
 ifi 
 
> ^ 
 
 
 ,v 
 
 
 CT 
 
 
 O AT 
 
 


 J.I>. (Press St 
 
 /.^■f.Jc^-. 
 
MEMOIR 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REV. C. H. 0. COTE, M. D. 
 
 WITH 
 
 51 fflmm nf $rs. %. ^. Cub, 
 
 AN I* A HISTORY OF 
 
 THE GRANDE LIGNE MISSION, 
 CANADA EAST. 
 
 4 <• # » > 
 
 BY THE REV. N. CYR. 
 
 < ^ ♦ » » 
 
 IMjilnhlpIp : 
 
 AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 
 
 118 ARCH STREET. 
 

 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 The Memoir of Dr. Cote, and the History of the Grande 
 Ligne Mission, were both prepared by the Rev. N. Cyr of that 
 Mission, at the request of the American Baptist Publication 
 Society. Several additions have been made to both, by the 
 Editorial Secretary, for which Mr. Cyr is not responsible. 
 They will be found chiefly in the latter part of the two works, 
 particularly in the concluding reflections of the Memoir, and 
 the events of the last year in the History of the Mission, 
 which the Society was anxious to have brought up to the 
 present stage of its prosperous progress. 
 
 No Evangelical Mission of modern times, it appears to us 
 has been from the beginning to the present moment, more 
 distinctly marked by the blessing of God. It has indeed 
 been emphatically a "work of faith and labor of love" — carried 
 on with "the patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." The 
 little grain of mustard seed, growing rapidly to a majestic 
 tree, with hundreds gathered beneath its refreshing shade, 
 and grateful melody on all its boughs, is truly its fitting 
 emblem. When we see a feeble woman, and she a widow— 
 self-exiled from her native land, — opening a school among an 
 ignorant and bigoted population in a small garret — with but 
 one friend and fellow-laborer near for counsel and support — 
 and then behold the glorious results — we seem to hear a voice 
 saying as of old, " Not by might, nor by power, but by my 
 Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." The whole history is full of 
 instruction — especially to those who wish to do good to a 
 Roman Catholic population. 
 
 For the Memoir of Mrs. Cote, the Editorial Secretary is 
 alone responsible. 
 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Memoir of Dr. Cote. 
 
 pagb 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Dr. Cote's Birth, Education, and Political Life, 7 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Religious Sentiments before Conversion, 11 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Dr. Cote's Conversion, 15 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Consistency. Public Profession of Religion, . 22 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 His Labors at Chazy, and his Missionary Ex- 
 cursions, 28 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Persecutions at St. Pie, 33 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Sickness, and Voyage to the South, . .37 
 
 3 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 His Ordination. Subsequent Labors at St. Pie. 
 Interesting Cases. Visits to the United 
 States, 40 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 His Labors at St. Mary, near Fort George, 
 
 55 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 
 His Last Illness, and Death, . 
 
 59 
 
 CONCLUSION, . 
 
 64 
 
 Memoir of Mrs. Cote, 
 
 75 
 
 History of the Grande Ligne Mission, 
 
 93 
 
 Section I 
 
 , 94 
 
 II 
 
 99 
 
 III. 
 
 103 
 
 IV. ...... 
 
 , 110 
 
 V 
 
 . 113 
 
 VI 
 
 , 115 
 
 VII . 
 
 . 119 
 
 VIII. 
 
 , 122 
 
 IX. • .... 
 
 , 125 
 
 X. 
 
 130 
 
 Conclusion, •••••• 
 
 . 133 
 
 Appendix, 
 
 139 
 
Memoir tf Jim. C. ft <£>. Cnfe. 
 
MEMOIR. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 DR. COTE'S BIRTH, EDUCATION, AND POLITICAL 
 
 LIFE. 
 
 The subject of this memoir was born of respect- 
 able parents, of French origin, at Quebec, the old 
 capital of Lower Canada, in the year 1809. His 
 family, three years after his birth, removed to 
 Montreal, where their son was brought up and 
 educated. After having passed through the classes 
 of the Roman Catholic College of that city, he 
 devoted himself to the study of medicine. He 
 pursued a thorough course in Canada and at the 
 Medical School of the University of Vermont, 
 where he also graduated, and entered, in 1831, on 
 the practice of his chosen profession at L/Acadie, 
 about ten miles distant from the place where the 
 Grande Ligne Mission House now stands. Napier- 
 ville, a neighboring village, presenting better 
 advantages, he settled there two years after, where 
 he resided until the memorable rebellion of 1837. 
 
 (7) 
 
8 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. , . 
 
 Dr. Cote's ancestral family was one of those that 
 had been obliged to leave Acadia (now Nova Scotia,) 
 in 1755, after having been shamefully treated by 
 the British rulers, and no doubt he often heard 
 them relate their numerous trials and severe suffer- 
 ings, and it is very likely that the narrative had 
 some influence in leading him to the course he took 
 in regard to the English government. The remem- 
 brance of the past, and the sight of present wrongs 
 done to his fellow-countrymen, inspired him with 
 dislike, not to say hatred, of the colonial government. 
 He began to take an active part in politics, and was 
 elected member of Parliament, in 1834, for the 
 county of Lacadie. He was at that period only 
 twenty-four years of age. 
 
 Seeing the conduct of the Romish clergy, and 
 the support they gave to the government, he placed 
 it on the same footing with the latter, and resolved 
 in his heart to do his utmost to rescue his fellow 
 countrymen from their ecclesiastical as well as 
 political oppressors. He joined the patriot party, 
 at the head of which was the well-known Papineau, 
 at the time, the Speaker of the House. 
 
 In 1837 the political agitation } became more and 
 more general. Numerous public meetings were 
 held during the summer, in which the Doctor took 
 a very active part. He became exceedingly popular, 
 and was considered by the French Canadians as one 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 9 
 
 of the future liberators of his country. Serious 
 troubles were brought about in the autumn by this 
 agitation, but the field of the principal battles was 
 at a considerable distance from Dr. Cote's residence, 
 and he was not immediately concerned in them. 
 However, such was his ardor in the cause, that he 
 by his conduct and the bold expression of his sen- 
 timents, had very decidedly assumed, in common 
 with other leaders, the responsibility of these dis- 
 turbances, and he was consequently obliged to flee 
 for his life into the United States. A price had 
 been set on his head by the Governor, and no doubt 
 he would have been severely punished had he been 
 arrested. 
 
 He settled at Plattsburgh, N. Y., where a great 
 many of the Canadian refugees had repaired. 
 There, still possessed of the same great principles, 
 feelings, and resolutions, he interested the Ameri- 
 cans in favor of his fellow countrymen, and devised 
 plans for their political emancipation. 
 
 In the beginning of 1838, an attempt was made 
 by the Canadians residing in the States to enter 
 Canada disciplined and equipped as an army ; but 
 it was opposed by the United States government, and 
 failed. Dr. Cote was the principal leader of this 
 expedition. 
 
 In November of the same year, the insurrection 
 broke out about Napierville. The village, and an 
 
10 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 extensive region in the vicinity, was in the power 
 of the " patriots" for a time. Dr. Cote was one of 
 the commanders, and decidedly the most active. 
 After two battles, in which he showed himself a 
 brave and able general officer, the revolutionists 
 were defeated, but there were sad losses of life on 
 both sides. Those who happened to be near the 
 frontier were able to flee and find refuge in the 
 United States. Dr. Cote was one of the number. 
 
CHAPTER n. 
 
 KELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS BEFORE CONVERSION. 
 
 From early youth Dr. Cote had perceived the 
 true nature as well as the sad effects of the corrupt 
 religion of Rome, and he had some time before this 
 become utterly disgusted with it. Among other 
 circumstances which served to open his eyes, and 
 weaken his hold upon Catholicism, was the follow- 
 ing. For some offence he had been ordered by his 
 priest, to say so many prayers. In order to save 
 time he undertook to discharge his penance while 
 riding on horseback. Suddenly the horse started 
 and jumped one side. The movement caused Dr. 
 Cote to drop his beads. Naturally of a quick and 
 irritable temperament, he fell to swearing, and 
 cursed horse, beads, priest, and all. On returning 
 to the village, he went to the priest, and coDfessed 
 his sin, telling him, among other things, that he had 
 cursed his beads. The holy man, as if horror- 
 stricken, refused him absolution. Full of terror, 
 for he was yet held fast by the chains of supersti- 
 tion, he returned to his home and consulted his 
 
 (ii) 
 
12 MEMOIR OP DR. COTE. . 
 
 wife as to what was best to be done. After talking 
 the matter over, by her advice he concluded to go 
 to another priest in a neighbouring village, saying 
 at the same time, if the " old fool," as he called his 
 own confessor, would not absolve him, his neigh- 
 bor, he thought, would. He hastened away to the 
 ghostly father, told him all his sin, and even went 
 so far as to confess that he had called his own 
 priest an " old fool." Whether the good man was 
 most affected by the sorrow of the penitent, or the 
 absolution fee, we are not informed. He absolved 
 him, however, thus showing that all the priests of 
 Rome are not agreed as to what are and what are 
 not venial offences. 
 
 Still, like thousands of others in this country and 
 Europe, he retained his outward connection with the 
 Romish church. But at this time he began to hate it, 
 for he saw in it a system of apparent piety which was 
 really one of arrogant hypocrisy, of subtle cunning, 
 or of bloody violence, according to circumstances. 
 He deplored the influence of the clergy on his fellow 
 countrymen, and could not think that a religion, 
 whose ministers keep their people in ignorance, 
 superstition, and abject misery, had emanated from 
 God. He conceived of religion as a noble system, 
 destined to enlighten and elevate the people ; but he 
 found just the reverse in Popery. And as a natural 
 consequence of confounding the religion of the 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 13 
 
 Gospel with that of the Pope, he was led to Infi- 
 delity; hoping to find in Deism the light he was 
 seeking, to enable him to worship and serve God 
 aright. Desirous of being enlightened on the sub- 
 ject of religion, he commenced a correspondence 
 with distinguished Deists, and read their works ; by 
 which almost fatal step he was more and more con- 
 firmed in their pernicious errors. He went but 
 seldom to the Romish church 5 and spoke out 
 frequently and fearlessly against the priests, whom 
 he greatly despised. The priest of Napierville, 
 offended at his bold course of conduct, and at his 
 not submitting to the requirements of " mother 
 church/ ' preached against him in such a manner 
 that Dr. Cote, who was not more enduring than 
 submissive, thought best to prosecute him. A 
 lengthy and expensive law-suit ensued, which ter- 
 minated, however, as in the recent case of Dr. 
 Achilli and Dr. Newman, to the confusion and cost 
 of the priest. 
 
 We must not, however, conclude from the 
 foregoing facts, that Dr. Cote was a decided enemy 
 of the Christian religion. Indeed, he knew little 
 of real Christianity. He was willing, and in 
 some good degree anxious, to listen to the truth, 
 in order to be able to examine and judge it under- 
 standing^. It is worthy of notice here, that when 
 Mr. Roussy, the first of our missionaries that 
 2 
 
14 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 labored among the French Canadians, came and 
 preached at Napierville, in 1836, Dr. Cote went to 
 hear him ; and even paid him a visit at the house 
 where he was stopping. This was certainly show- 
 ing a spirit of inquiry, and more willingness to 
 become acquainted with the Gospel, than is gene- 
 rally met with in this country. But he was still 
 far from the truth as it is in Jesus ; and far from 
 God. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 DR. COTE'S CONVERSION.* 
 
 It was at the beginning of the year 1841, that the 
 Lord, who had preserved his life in the midst of 
 battle and perils of almost every kind, drew him to 
 himself with the cords of love and the bands of a 
 man. A thorn had been planted in his soul. Dr. 
 Cote was wretched ; he carried every where a heart 
 void of hope and very unhappy, a prey to great 
 internal anguish. His chequered life, blasted by 
 his misfortunes, appeared to him suspended on a 
 few threads, whose frailty filled him with apprehen- 
 sions. Death was to him the king of terrors. In 
 the midst of his sufferings he felt the need of con- 
 solations, but knew not where to find them. He 
 gradually discovered the insufficiency of his system 
 (Deism) to impart peace, happiness, and the power 
 of resisting temptation. He asked nothing of a 
 religion which appeared to him only an arm of the 
 civil magistrate to restrain the people, or at least 
 
 * This chapter is taken from Mr. Roussy's correspondence 
 with the Evangelical Society of New York in 18 11. 
 
 (15) 
 
16 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 an insupportable yoke, and which was utterly inade- 
 quate to their wants. He became more and more 
 unhappy. Not knowing what to do to fill up the 
 frightful void of his heart, he sometimes attended 
 the meetings for prayer in the church at Swan ton, 
 where he then resided. The sincerity and spiritual 
 life which he there witnessed affected him ; it dis- 
 tilled like the dew-drops upon his thirsty heart. 
 The tranquillity, the peace, which he discovered in 
 many, made him sometimes desire to be as one of 
 them. 
 
 His mental sufferings now became intolerable, 
 and convinced that his system of philosophy had 
 deceived him, he resolved to read the Bible, of 
 which, alas ! he was almost totally ignorant. This 
 he did in order to study our religion at its very 
 fountain, the teachings of Jesus Christ and his 
 apostles. Although he read the Bible with great 
 prejudice, yet he was struck with the divine majesty 
 which is enthroned on its pages, and with the beauty 
 of its instruction. Although it. spoke to him with 
 supreme authority, he disputed with it ; he reasoned; 
 he compared it with the works of Deists ; but this 
 divine word, mightier than any human book, sharper 
 than any two-edged sword, pierced his heart; his 
 soul was astonished at its searching power; he 
 groaned at the sight of himself; violent doubts 
 arose in his heart; he was overwhelmed with 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 17 
 
 anguish and weeping. He experienced one of the 
 most subtle attacks of the natural unbelief of the 
 heart against the truth ; and the Wicked One who 
 did not remain inactive, tempted him violently to 
 abandon every religious thought. He even passed 
 entire nights in this horrible anguish, without clos- 
 ing his eyes, prostrate on the floor, and scarcely 
 knowing where or what he was. In those moments 
 he asked the Lord, in the fullness of his heart, to 
 guide him in the way of truth. He read the Bible 
 more assiduously ; his admiration for it increased, 
 and other books were regarded with more indif- 
 ference. His mental state so reacted on his body, 
 that his friends perceived it, and said that he was 
 becoming crazy. He would have been ashamed to 
 avow the cause to them ; and he was frappy to 
 escape the importunity of their questions, by accept- 
 ing the invitation of a sick friend to accompany 
 him to a watering-place, where he could give him- 
 self with more freedom to the search after truth. 
 He read with great profit a history of the Church 
 by Goodrich, which completed his conviction of the 
 truth of Christianity. His friend, not being a 
 disciple of Jesus Christ, died at the watering-place 
 in despair. Dr. Cote would fain have counselled 
 and consoled him ) but he knew not what to say to 
 him. This death made a profound impression upon 
 his heart, filling him with solemn terror. 
 2* 
 
18 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 Sometime afterward s, he heard Mr. Williamson 
 of New York, preach on the words, " Believe in 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." 
 This precious truth deeply affected his heart, which 
 the grace of God had prepared like the wax, when 
 it receives the imprint of the seal ; it was a ray of 
 light that gave him a glimpse of the only means of 
 deliverance and salvation. He bowed at the foot 
 of the cross, and formed in his heart the resolution 
 to be a Christian. From that time he experienced 
 great consolation, and avowed his new convictions 
 to his friends. He spoke of them especially to the 
 Canadians, went to their houses to read the Gospel 
 to them ; he assembled them that he might pray for 
 and with them, and he earnestly exhorted them to 
 follow the teachings of the Bible and to serve God 
 more faithfully. 
 
 Although his heart was comforted, it was not 
 happy. Jesus, he feared, had not yet said to him, 
 " Thy sins are forgiven thee, thy faith hath saved 
 thee ; go in peace." 
 
 " He was convinced of what he yet lacked," says 
 Mr. Boussy, " and it was while visiting the dear 
 family of Brissette, members of our church. The 
 expression of peace which he there remarked, greatly 
 impressed him ; he said that he did not possess it, 
 and he knew not how to obtain it. Our friends 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 19 
 
 persuaded him to write to me, assuring him that I 
 would do him good. He consented, and immediately 
 wrote, entreating me to come and see him. I 
 received the letter and started immediately. I 
 found him waiting for me. He related to me the 
 change in his convictions, but I immediately per- 
 ceived that he had not felt the efficacy of regene- 
 rating grace, nor sufficiently comprehended the 
 defilement and condemnation of sin, nor the pleni- 
 tude of the love and power of the expiatory sacrifice 
 of Christ, imputed to him through faith. Yet I 
 blessed God from the bottom of my soul for this 
 work of his grace, which had overthrown and 
 removed so many obstacles, and which was about to 
 glorify itself in him. On Sunday I preached twice 
 to fifty Canadians. . . . The rest of the day I passed 
 with Dr. Cote in visiting some of them. It was a 
 day of great conflicts for him ; the tempter excited 
 in him all kinds of doubts, showed him the advan- 
 tages of the world and its glory, and sought to 
 persuade him to return because he had already gone 
 too far ' but he came off conqueror by prayer, and 
 by faith in the realities of the invisible world. In 
 the evening of that day, conversing with him con- 
 cerning the state of sin and condemnation, and of 
 the only means of salvation given him ; suddenly 
 my friend burst into tears, exclaiming, with the 
 
20 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 accent of a profound conviction, " On ! what an 
 abominable sinner I am in the eyes of God ! my 
 past life fills me with insupportable anguish ! what 
 shall I do?" Instantly we prostrated ourselves 
 before God, and poured out our hearts alternately 
 in fervent prayers to obtain pardon and deliverance 
 from Him. I do not remember ever to have seen 
 a man weep over his sins with so deep anguish, as 
 did Dr. Cote that night. The morning, which found 
 us still on our knees, told us to our surprise that the 
 night was passed. In rising, Dr. Cote was calm 
 and peaceful. At noon he was again seized with 
 the same distress. We again passed many hours 
 on our knees, in which we were abundantly blessed. 
 We felt that we were on the steps of the throne of 
 grace, and with the boldness which faith inspires I 
 exclaimed, ( I will not let thee go till thou hast 
 blessed me, until thou hast said to the soul of my 
 friend, I am thy deliverance/ Then Dr. Cote, 
 filled with the spirit of adoption, exclaimed, i Glory 
 to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to 
 men/ and with fervent praises, rendered thanks to 
 God, that he, a miserable and abominable sinner, 
 was accepted, saved in his well-beloved Son, and 
 filled with the peace of Jesus. We wept together, 
 but ours were tears of gratitude, of happiness, and 
 of love. All was solemn around us ; the blessing 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 21 
 
 of our God was descending; our cup was filled. 
 Oh ! blessed moment, to all eternity, blessed ! 
 Although several months have passed since this 
 happy period, these sentiments are still vivid in 
 my heart; I cannot write to you the description of 
 them without weeping." 
 
CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 CONSISTENCY. PUBLIC PROFESSION OF RELIGION. 
 
 Any one reading the foregoing chapter, cannot 
 entertain a single doubt in regard to the reality of 
 Dr. Cote's conversion ; it bears the stamp of God 
 himself. We there see a man naturally proud and 
 haughty, a professed Infidel, brought under the 
 influence of the Spirit of God, made sensible of the 
 everlasting interests of his soul, and bowed down 
 to the foot of the cross, where he finds peace and 
 happiness in believing, after having passed through 
 those great struggles which sometimes characterise 
 the new birth. Had he died then, we should have 
 felt confident that his soul would have been received 
 into Abraham's bosom, though we had seen no 
 other proof of his change of heart. But the Lord 
 granted him a few years of life, in order that he 
 might show forth the praises of Him who had called 
 him from nature's darkness into His marvellous 
 light. And we have the pleasure of seeing him, 
 from this time, engaged in spreading the knowledge 
 of the blessed Redeemer among his benighted 
 (22) 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 23 
 
 fellow-countrymen, and doing a vast amount of 
 good in this difficult but interesting missionary 
 field. 
 
 One of the prominent features of Dr. Cote's 
 character was consistency, and hence sprang prose- 
 lytism. When he had an idea he wanted to impart 
 it immediately to others, and bring them to his 
 sentiments and views. It was eminently so in 
 regard to religion. He had found a treasure too 
 precious for concealment ; he preached the truth as 
 soon as he received it, and sought to bring souls to 
 the Saviour, in whom believing, he had found 
 peace. 
 
 Mention must particularly be made here of Mrs. 
 Cote, to whom he hastened to announce Jesus and 
 Him crucified. The day Mr. Roussy left him to 
 return to Grande Ligne, the Dr. sent to her a Bible, 
 and wrote to her in Canada, where she was staying 
 at that time, a remarkable letter, which must be 
 inserted here almost in full : — 
 
 " Swanton, 15th June, 1841. 
 My dear, my tender Love, — 
 
 This letter will be handed to you by Mr. Roussy, 
 whom I wish you to consider as one of my good 
 friends; as a special consoler that God, in his 
 divine providence, has sent me to relieve me from 
 the terrible anguish of my soul in consequence of 
 
24 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 the criminal life I have led in the sight of God and 
 of men. rriy dear Marguerite, you cannot 
 imagine what sweet consolations we experience 
 when we return sincerely to Jesus, the Saviour of 
 miserable sinners; when we weep bitterly over the 
 sins of our life at the foot of his cross; when we 
 ask him for pardon with a true and boundless con- 
 fidence in his infinite mercy; when we supplicate 
 our Heavenly Father to forget and blot out our 
 sins, that are washed away in the precious blood of 
 his Son, who died on the cross to save us all. Oh ! 
 my dearly beloved friend, how unspeakably sweet 
 is the close communion with our Father who is in 
 heaven. You know my love for you,*and for the 
 tender fruits of our union; you know there are 
 no mortal beings so dear to me as you three. Oh ! 
 I would, my dear friend, that your soul, which is 
 so precious to me, could feel all the sweet emotions 
 to which my soul has attained, since I have been so 
 happy as to return unto Him whom I have so much 
 offended by my past life. How I desire, my dear 
 Marguerite, that you should experience all the 
 enjoyments of true piety enlightened by faith in 
 Jesus Christ ! You would then see and feel that 
 the true religion of Christ does not consist in vain 
 ceremonies that cannot be acceptable to God, but 
 that it consists in sincere and simple faith in Jesus 
 Christ, whose holy Gospel we cannot too much read. 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 25 
 
 You would see, my sweet friend, that true religion 
 does not consist in performing certain ceremonies 
 and in prayers unintelligibly muttered, but that it 
 consists, on the contrary, in the peace of the soul, 
 which is a natural consequence of implicit faith in 
 the merit of the Saviour of men. You know that 
 when I abandoned the Romish church in which I 
 was born, and ever since then, I have given you 
 the most ample latitude in regard to liberty of 
 conscience. Be assured that I will never offer you 
 any violence or restraint in regard to your religious 
 convictions. But in the name of God who is so 
 merciful towards his children — for the sake of your 
 soul, on whose eternal happiness and misery you 
 should reflect seriously in this short life — for the 
 sake of the sincere peace of your conscience — in the 
 name of what is most sacred in this world and in 
 the world to come, open your eyes and reflect sin- 
 cerely. Consult the book of God, read it attentively, 
 endeavor to appreciate the doctrines there taught 
 by the Son of God himself in person, draw the 
 conclusions in the sincerity of your heart, without 
 prejudice, after having supplicated the enlightening 
 influences of the Holy Spirit, and after having 
 humbled yourself for all your sins at the feet of 
 the Crucified. See then, and consider whether you 
 are in the way of life. These are serious reasons, 
 and such as should touch the heart of a Christian. 
 3 
 
26 MEMOIR OF DR. COTS. 
 
 Remember that you have only one soul to save or 
 to lose, that the judgment of God once pronounced, 
 there will be no more way open, that if we shut our 
 eyes to the true religion in this world, eternal dam- 
 nation must necessarily be the consequence. We 
 that have loved each other so much, how painful it 
 would be, my darling, to be separated on the other 
 side of the grave ! Should one of us voluntarily 
 shut our eyes to the light of the Gospel, such, alas, 
 must be our sad experience. Pray then, my dear ; 
 bow down at the feet of Christ crucified ; ask Him 
 for mercy ; entreat the Heavenly Father to enlighten 
 you by His Holy Spirit, and then, my dear Mar- 
 guerite, read attentively the Word of God, such as 
 it is contained in the Holy Scriptures ; compare the 
 doctrine there taught, with that you have learned 
 from your infancy ; above all, strip yourself of all 
 prejudices, sacrifice at the foot of the cross of your 
 Saviour, and seek the truth with all the sincerity 
 of a heart truly desirous of knowing it. I send 
 you by Mr. Eoussy the Bible of De Maistre de Sacy, 
 which is used in the Eomish church. Oh ! read it 
 with piety, and with the desire of being instructed 
 in the Word of God. 
 
 Mr. Roussy will give you an account of all the 
 distress and anguish which I have passed through 
 since I have known the religion of Christ ; he will 
 tell you also how entire is my confidence in the 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 27 
 
 merits of the Son of God, and how much peace and 
 tranquillity of soul I find when I consider that one 
 drop of His divine blood was sufficient to redeem 
 all the sinners who apply to Him ; however wicked 
 they were before." 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 HIS LABORS AT CHAZY, AND HIS MISSIONARY 
 EXCURSIONS. 
 
 Doctor Cote had the happiness, after a few 
 months, of seeing his dear companion turning to 
 the Lord, and joining him in his missionary labors 
 among the French population at Chazy, N. Y., a 
 village situated about eight miles from the Canada 
 frontier. There regular worship was established, 
 which soon began to bear fruit. Among the con- 
 verts during his residence at Chazy, we must 
 mention an old man 83 years of age, one of 
 Washington's soldiers. " After an abode of several 
 days with me," says Dr. Cote, " he returned with 
 the peace of Grod in his heart ; trusting solely in 
 the merits of Christ, whom he regarded as having 
 accomplished his salvation on the cross." 
 
 In the autumn of 1842, the Dr. held a protracted 
 meeting, aided by Mr. John Sands, then a student 
 at the Grande Ligne Institute, which was blessed 
 to the conversion of some Canadians and Americans. 
 " We then commenced a protracted meeting," he 
 (28) 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 29 
 
 writes, u wliicli continued fifteen clays, during which 
 time we had the pleasure of seeing many Canadians 
 and four Americans converted. Menaces, perse- 
 cutions, promises, flatteries, and the most absurd 
 fictions were employed by the priest and his parti- 
 zans to prevent their coming to hear us. But God 
 had his eyes fixed upon our dear Canadians, and 
 will triumph over the arts used by the Wicked One 
 to arrest the progress of the light amongst this 
 poor and unfortunate people, whom he has long 
 deceived." 
 
 Whilst at Chazy, Dr. Cote was often called away 
 to Canada to announce the glad news of salvation. 
 At first he came somewhat in secret, as he was 
 afraid the government might have him arrested for 
 his political offences ; but when the general amnesty 
 was proclaimed, he visited Canada oftener, and 
 finally settled there. 
 
 One of his most successful missionary excursions 
 was the one he made to Berea in the township of Mil- 
 ton, at the end of 1 842 . We copy the following account 
 from the annual statement of the mission furnished 
 to the Evangelical Society by Mr. Boussy : — 
 
 "In our last report we informed you that our 
 friend, Dr. Cote, was on the eve of starting for 
 Milton, to preach the Gospel to the dwellers in 
 those woods, whose lives were very profligate. He 
 was accompanied by a dear brother who had labored 
 3* 
 
30 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 among them as a Colporteur for a year past, with 
 great zeal and fidelity. They were two days in 
 reaching the school-house, a distance which, in the 
 winter, can be walked in three hours. The autumn 
 rains had rendered the path through these woods 
 so difficult, that nothing but the zeal of our breth- 
 ren could have surmounted the obstacles in their 
 way. Though exhausted with fatigue on their 
 arrival, they made no delay in applying themselves 
 with vigor to their work. After kindling a fire, 
 they cut down a tree to serve at once for a table, 
 and seats for their audience ; put up a temporary 
 bed in one corner of their school-room ; and com- 
 menced their religious services. For the first few 
 days there were no visible effects, though they 
 held two meetings daily. All the people, men, 
 women, and even small children, readily assembled; 
 no one remained at home. The intervals between 
 the meetings were employed in reconciling quar- 
 rels ; for these families, who had lived in continual 
 strife and hatred towards each other, perceived the 
 necessity of first harmonizing their differences, in 
 order to obtain the blessing of Heaven. Our dear 
 brother Cote, who performed the office of peace- 
 maker, had the pleasure of seeing them acknowledge 
 their faults one to another, and interchanging the 
 language of forgiveness. On Sunday, each one 
 came to the meeting with feelings of penitence, and 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 31 
 
 in expectation of the Divine blessing. The exposi- 
 tion of the Scriptures was listened to with marked 
 solemnity ; and when those who wished were invited 
 to speak, a female, naturally timid and retiring, 
 rose and spoke of the wants of her soul, of the love 
 of God, and of the duty of repentance, with such 
 animation, freedom, and energy, that each one grew 
 pale and trembled. After addressing them in most 
 impressive language, she fell on her knees, and, 
 weeping, poured out her heart in fervent prayer 
 for herself and all present. The whole assembly 
 melted into tears, and, believing that she spoke and 
 prayed under the teachings of God's Spirit, bowed 
 their knees and successively offered their earnest 
 supplications to God for pardon 
 
 "This happy Sabbath was the commencement 
 of a happy week, devoted to the reading of the 
 Word of God, to prayer, and to praise. No one 
 could apply himself to any work, for the Spirit of 
 the Lord had visited these cabins. Every day some 
 soul was relieved of the burden of sin by trusting 
 in Christ. Twenty-jive persons, as we hope, obtained 
 pardon and peace at this time, making with the 
 first converts, the number of twenty-nine worshippers, 
 and followers of Christ in this forest." 
 
 On his way home, Dr. Cote stopped ten days at 
 St. Pie, where he held meetings daily, which were 
 blessed to many individuals. 
 
32 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 Soon after, the houses built for school and wor- 
 ship at St. Pie and Berea were dedicated, and Dr. 
 Cote took an active part in the services held on the 
 occasion. He preached several times and produced, 
 in common with Rev. L. Normandeau and Rev. L. 
 Roussy, a very good impression. At evening 
 service at St. Pie, in which all present were invited 
 to speak, fifteen individuals rose successively and 
 professed their desire to serve Christ and walk in 
 newness of life. And many others, who afterwards 
 joined the church, referred to that time as a blessed 
 season for their souls. 
 
 During the winter, Dr. Cote made frequent visits 
 at St. Pie and Berea, and his labors were attended 
 with the blessing of Grod. He had a discussion 
 with two priests in the presence of forty Canadians, 
 near Berea, from which he came out victorious, 
 having constrained the priests to acknowledge they 
 were unable to defend their doctrines from the 
 Bible, because they had never studied it with 
 attention and care. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 PERSECUTIONS AT ST. PIE. 
 
 During the summer of 1843, Dr. Cote visited 
 occasionally St. Pie and Berea. The Roman 
 Catholics seeing that the truth was gaining ground, 
 had recourse to violent persecutions, their usual 
 arguments, in order to retard its progress. But 
 God overruled it otherwise, and the Christians of 
 that place, instead of being shaken in their faith, 
 were brought oftener to the closet and nearer 
 their Heavenly Father, feeling that He is a 
 refuge for the oppressed. 
 
 These persecutions were more violent than any 
 witnessed before in Canada. The Roman Catholics 
 of St. Pie, at the instigation of their priest, com- 
 menced by insulting Dr. Cote and Mr. Roussy, 
 who were holding a meeting in the village. They 
 assembled around the house in crowds, and began 
 what is called a charivari (a horning), making a 
 horrible noise, and throwing stones at the Protest- 
 ants. This state of things continued for a week. 
 
 (33) 
 
34 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 Seeing they did not succeed in driving away the 
 Protestants, they determined on a bolder attempt. 
 On Monday, the 4th September, (the persecutions 
 had commenced the 27th of August,) before nine 
 o'clock in the evening, rallying cries were heard in 
 every direction ; the Canadians assembling in great 
 numbers, took possession of the village, posted 
 their guards at different points to prevent flight, or 
 cut off assistance, whilst others in carts drew up 
 before the houses of the Protestants, assailing them 
 with stones from eleven o'clock until three o'clock 
 in the morning, breaking the doors and windows 
 which were not protected by strong shutters." 
 They ordered the resident Colporteur to leave the 
 village, threatening to set his house on fire if he 
 remained after a certain day. A Protestant magis- 
 trate was then called to investigate the case. He 
 was with the Protestants at St. Pie on the day 
 prescribed to the Colporteur for leaving the village, 
 and remained over night. But the disturbances 
 were not checked by his presence. On that same 
 night the Romanists commenced their charivari, 
 insulted the Christians and blasphemed God, and 
 finally set fire to the house of one of the converts. 
 a Our affliction" says an eye-witness, " in seeing 
 this house in flames, was aggravated by the infernal 
 joy which the crowd manifested by shouts of 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 35 
 
 laughter and clapping of hands at seeing the bonfire 
 which was made of a dwelling of the Protestants." 
 
 In such trying circumstances the converts, and 
 especially Messrs. Roussy and Cote, asked them- 
 selves whether it was not their duty, like Paul in 
 another case, to appeal to the protection of the laws, 
 and show the intolerant Eoman Catholics that they 
 were entitled to religious liberty as well as them- 
 selves. That this was very important, any one can 
 understand, in order to prevent in the future the 
 renewal of such outrages. After prayerful con- 
 sideration, it was decided that since Providence 
 had placed them under a government that secures 
 to all freedom of worship, they should require an 
 enforcement of their rights. Hence thirty persons 
 were arrested, the most of whom would certainly 
 have been sent to Montreal jail, had not Papal 
 magistrates interfered and succeeded in liberating 
 them under bail. 
 
 Dr. Cote was very active and very useful in these 
 circumstances. His knowledge of law, and his firm- 
 ness, enabled him to plead the cause of religious 
 freedom, and impress the Eoman Catholics with 
 a conviction of the rights granted by the law to the 
 Protestants as well as to themselves. 
 
 Very soon peace and tranquillity were restored ; 
 and the offenders manifesting feelings of repentance, 
 it was thought best to let the suit drop — since the 
 
36 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 desired object was attained, that is, to cause the 
 Roman Catholics to feel that persecutors could be 
 lawfully punished in this country, and that outrages 
 against the Protestants could not be perpetrated 
 with impunity. 
 
 It had a very good effect. The Roman Catholics 
 saw that the Protestants were not animated with 
 bitter feelings towards them, and had not been 
 prompted by a spirit of revenge. They were 
 constrained to acknowledge that these harmless 
 Christians had returned good for evil, according to 
 the precepts of the Gospel, evincing the same mind 
 that was in Christ Jesus. 
 
 It soon providentially happened that Dr. Cote, 
 who immediately settled there, was called in his 
 medical capacity to visit the families of some of the 
 persecutors. He went willingly, forgetting the 
 past, and doing them all the good he could. Such 
 conduct was well calculated to make a good impres- 
 sion upon their minds, and we have reason to think 
 it was blessed to many. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 SICKNESS, AXD VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH. 
 
 Immediately after the disturbances related 
 above, Dr. Cote was settled at St. Pie with his 
 family. Before that time the station had only 
 been occasionally visited, but this state of things 
 could not continue any longer. Dr. Cote was the 
 man prepared to take this station. He entered on 
 his labors with characteristic ardor and energy. 
 But another trial awaited the mission : his health 
 began to fail, and however anxious he was to pro- 
 claim the good news of salvation in that field, he 
 was obliged to leave it and seek a milder climate. 
 It was greatly feared that he was consumptive, and 
 would be removed by death. Pie left Canada in 
 the month of 3Iarch, 1844, and went to Savannah, 
 Georgia, after having spent a few days at New York. 
 
 The voyage to Savannah was beneficial to his 
 health. He had hardly arrived there before he 
 began to experience a happy change, which war- 
 ranted the hope of a speedy recovery. In a letter 
 dated April 15th, he says: "I arrived here last 
 4 (37) 
 
38 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE 
 
 Saturday, after a yery happy passage of nine dayu> 
 
 The sea has only done me good During 
 
 the passage I have coughed but little, and only 
 two or three times spit up blood. I am less troubled 
 now with pains in my breast." 
 
 In his sickness, he experienced the consolations 
 of religion, and though absent from home, and 
 deprived of the attention and care of his beloved 
 wife and friends, he enjoyed that peace which 
 passeth all understanding. In a letter to Mr. 
 Eoussy he says : " The Christian has a friend to 
 console and comfort him in his trials, and in the 
 midst of agitations and troubles he can look with 
 confidence to God, and say with calmness and 
 resignation, 6 Let thy will be done, and not mine/ M 
 In the same letter he earnestly requests the prayers 
 of his brethren that he may be truly resigned to 
 the will of Grod. 
 
 His health continuing to improve, he left Savan- 
 nah in May, and arrived again at St. Pie in Canada, 
 in June. He resumed his labors in the midst of 
 those he loved so much in Christ. He felt very 
 thankful for his recovery, in regard to which he 
 said, " If I was enabled to resign myself with plea- 
 sure to the will of my Father, who seemed to say 
 to me that the time had come for me to leave this 
 house of clay, I blessed Him too, from the bottom 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 39 
 
 of my heart, when he said to me, l Be healed/ and 
 when he gave me entire liberty in bearing the 
 Word of Life to those I so much desired to rescue 
 from the slavery of the Man of Sin." The next 
 chapter will show that he did not labor in vain. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 HIS ORDINATION. SUBSEQUENT LABORS AT ST. 
 
 PIE. INTERESTING- CASES. VISITS TO THE 
 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 Dr. Cote being now permanently settled at St. 
 Pie, it was necessary that he should be ordained. 
 A meeting of ministers was called, and on the 28th 
 of August, 1844, he was solemnly set apart by 
 prayer and the laying on of hands, to the work of 
 the gospel ministry. He was ordained over the 
 church which had chosen him for their pastor. 
 
 He was so successful that in the month of March 
 of the following year, 1845, he could write thus : 
 u Since the month of June last, thirty have joined 
 the church, after having given unequivocal signs 
 of a sincere return to God, and of having received 
 that faith in their hearts which gives them a title 
 to being the children of God." 
 
 " The Spirit of the Most High," he continues, 
 " acted with so much power upon many who had 
 not yet received the seal of adoption, that in Decem- 
 ber last, I thought best to have, every afternoon at 
 four o'clock, a prayer meeting, and at seven o'clock 
 (40) 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 41 
 
 the Word of God was preached. The hand of the 
 Lord was so evidently with us, that the church 
 requested that these meetings should be kept up 
 for a fortnight ; at the end of which time five souls 
 professed publicly that they had passed from death 
 unto life, and that their hearts rejoiced in that joy 
 which none can take away." 
 
 In 1846, he wrote again to Rev. J. M. Cramp as 
 follows : — 
 
 St. Pie, August 1, 1846. 
 Dear Brother, 
 
 Imploring the blessing of our Heavenly Father, 
 I hasten to comply with your request, by writing 
 a few words respecting the good things which the 
 Lord, in his infinite mercy, is accomplishing here, 
 in favor of a people peculiarly dear to me. Unite 
 with me in earnestly supplicating the Author of 
 every perfect gift, to shed his benedictions on the 
 plans which we daily form and carry into execution, 
 for the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ in 
 this part of His vineyard. 
 
 If I were required to detail minutely all 
 that has been done here since I transmitted 
 my last Report, I must confess that the task 
 would be too difficult, and altogether beyond my 
 strength. I shall content myself with giving 
 you a general view of the blessings which the 
 
42 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 Lord lias bestowed upon us since I last wrote to 
 you, that we may give all the glory to Him to whom 
 alone it is due. 
 
 CONVERSION OF A YOUNG MAN. 
 
 In 1841, this young man who was then 16 years 
 of age, and lived in this parish, went to spend a 
 few days in the adjoining parish, (St. Cesair,) in 
 order to assist at a protracted meeting which the 
 Jesuits were holding. After having devoutly at- 
 tended the masses which were every day celebrated, 
 and heard the sermons which were preached during 
 the exercises, the young man presented himself at 
 the tribunal of confession, that he might be deliv- 
 ered from the burden of sin which heavily pressed 
 upon his soul. He had confessed but a few times 
 when his confessor gave him absolution, and directed 
 him to receive the eucharist. Pie was astonished 
 at the ease with which sins that appeared to him 
 so heinous were pardoned. He endeavored to 
 persuade the priest that he was not yet sufficiently 
 prepared for the holy ordinance, but he was unsuc- 
 cessful ) the priest commanded him to render obedi- 
 ence at once. He returned to his lodgings very 
 sorrowful, yet determined not to expose himself 
 to the peril of committing sacrilege, as he consid- 
 ered it, in receiving the communion while his con- 
 science was so oppressed with the burden of his sins. 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 43 
 
 Next clay lie went again to confession, when the 
 priest sharply reproved him for his disobedience, 
 and told him to go to him no more till he had 
 yielded submission. Among other expressions used 
 by the priest on that occasion, and which deeply 
 impressed his mind, were these words : — " Do you 
 think that I design to damn you?" Distressed at 
 finding that his confessor would not allow him to 
 prostrate himself at his feet any more, but being 
 still unable to overcome the reluctance and fear 
 which prevented him from communion while his 
 conscience was oppressed with sin, he wept abun- 
 dantly, and sorrowfully took the road that led to 
 his father's house. The words of the priest were 
 continually sounding in his ears, — " Do you think 
 that I design to damn you?" — till at length he 
 became satisfied that the execution of the implied 
 threat was possible, and from that moment he re- 
 solved to learn to read, that he might be able to 
 examine the book whence the priests derive their 
 knowledge and their instructions, that he might 
 judge for himself, whether his confessor had been 
 faithful, or whether he himself had been too scru- 
 pulous in refusing to do what had been required 
 of him. About the same time he learned that a 
 person had arrived at St. Pie, who gave copies of 
 the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all who 
 were willing to accept them. He found means to 
 
44 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 procure a copy, and, by the assistance of a little 
 girl, soon made such progress in the art of reading 
 as to be able to understand what he read. How 
 great was his surprise, when he discovered, by the 
 Sacred Volume, that no man could take away his 
 sins, and that the blood of Christ only can wash 
 and cleanse the soul ! The perusal of the New 
 Testament was a new era in his life. Meanwhile 
 the fact of his reading the book was known to no 
 one but his young instructress, who faithfully kept 
 the secret. When he was able to read without 
 assistance, he spent whole days in perusing the 
 Word of God. Then he determined in his heart to 
 separate himself from the Church of Rome, which 
 had so long kept him in ignorance of the true doc- 
 trine of free salvation by Jesus Christ. 
 
 Soon after, he left the paternal roof, to seek em- 
 ployment elsewhere. He took with him the pre- 
 cious volume which had revealed the falsehoods of 
 Romanism. The more he read the Gospels, the 
 more clearly he saw the absolute necessity of con- 
 version to God, yet he wished it to be delayed, that 
 he might not be exposed to the persecutions of the 
 world. He could not long conceal the state of his 
 mind, and then, in order to escape the mockings 
 and insults of his young companions, he imitated 
 the example of Peter, who, at the sight of a ser- 
 vant maid, swore that he knew not his Master. 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 45 
 
 From that time he became more worldly than ever, 
 although his conscience continually reproached him 
 as a traitor to his God. He continued three long 
 years in this deplorable condition, struggling against 
 his conscience and against the word of God, which 
 continually warned him that he was deficient in his 
 duty, both towards God and towards his own soul. 
 Sometimes he seemed to show signs of penitence, 
 but generally he affected complete unbelief, and he 
 lived in open sin. 
 
 Last autumn a bishop of the Romish Church 
 visited the place where he lived, for the purpose of 
 consecrating a new church. He hastened to the 
 spot, that he might converse with him on the Bible, 
 and ascertain whether he could maintain his senti- 
 ments by the authority of the word of God. He 
 was convinced in a few moments that the bishop 
 was not better acquainted with the Bible than any 
 priest, and to all his questions concerning the doc- 
 trines of the Christian religion, he received only 
 vague and evasive replies, sometimes contradictory, 
 and frequently accompanied by contemptuous and 
 insulting language. He returned home, more fully 
 persuaded than ever that Romanism cannot stand 
 before the light of the Gospel of Jesus, but at the 
 same time more determined than ever not to be 
 converted to God. He continued several days in 
 that state of impenitence and hardness of heart, 
 
46 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 when, being one day engaged in the forest, cutting 
 wood, with a very heavy axe, his foot suddenly 
 slipped, and the axe violently struck his leg, just 
 at the knee-joint. The loss of blood was so great 
 that he fainted, and was conveyed to his lodging 
 in an insensible state. As no surgical assistance 
 could be obtained, those about him made use of 
 some very powerful remedies, and succeeded in 
 stopping the flow of blood, but the effect was a vio- 
 lent inflammation, which threatened to produce 
 mortification, not only of the leg, but also of the 
 thigh. In this sad condition his friends brought 
 him to my house, which is about three leagues 
 from the place where he received the hurt. I was 
 not at home at the time, but Mrs. Cote, perceiving 
 the frightful condition in which the young man 
 was, would not allow him to be taken back. She 
 prepared a room for him, applied soothing poultices 
 to the wound, and the result was, that when I 
 returned home, on the second day, I found that 
 God had blessed the application of these simple 
 remedies. In a few days the patient was out of 
 danger, though the size and depth of the wound 
 precluded the hope of a speedy cure. 
 
 It was necessary that he should reside some time 
 with us. I felt it my duty to converse with him 
 on the state of his soul. I pointed out to him the 
 goodness of the Lord, in chastising as a father, 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 47 
 
 instead of smiting him to death. I urged him to 
 consider seriously his obstinacy in refusing to submit 
 to Him who had so often knocked at the door of 
 his heart, and entreated him to delay no longer, 
 nor to continue to resist the grace of God. A 
 fearful struggle followed. At length, having been 
 led to confess and deplore the wickedness of his past 
 life, and to shed many tears of repentance, he ex- 
 perienced reconciliation with God through the Lord 
 Jesus Christ. Having found peace, he became 
 joyful and happy, and was enabled to thank God 
 for having chastened him in fatherly tenderness. 
 He remained with me till his cure was completed, 
 and then returned home. Shortly afterwards he 
 came back, and earnestly requested me to take him 
 again into my house, that he might be more per- 
 fectly instructed in the way of the Lord. He soon 
 informed me of his desire to become a Colporteur, 
 that he might advance the Kingdom of the Saviour 
 among his fellow-countrymen. Having sought 
 divine direction in the affair, I complied with his 
 request. He remained a few months at my house, 
 and then went to the Mission House at Grand 
 Ligne, where he is now under preparation for the 
 work in which he is hereafter to be engaged. He 
 continues to give proof of sincere piety, and genuine 
 devotedness to the cause of his Master.' 1 
 
48 MEMOIR OF DR. COTS. 
 
 After relating two other interesting conversions 
 Dr. Cote goes on to say : — 
 
 " While our Heavenly Father has been pleased, in 
 his great compassion, to increase and multiply our 
 little flock, He has also seen fit, in his infinite wis- 
 dom, to take from us a brother whom we all highly 
 esteemed, and who was the first at St. Pie to 
 receive the light of the Word of God. Those of 
 your readers who are acquainted with the history 
 of the religious awakening at St. Pie, in 1841, will 
 doubtless remember that at that time, by means of 
 a Bible which his father had left him at his death, 
 Jean Baptiste Auger began to discover the errors 
 of, the Church of Rome, and the truth of Chris- 
 tianity. From the moment of his conversion till 
 his death, which to*)k place on the 25th of March 
 last, he maintained an undeviating consistency. 
 He was always the stern enemy of error, and the 
 zealous advocate of the cause of his Divine Master. 
 The week before that in which he died, I conversed 
 with him very seriously on the state of his health, 
 and felt it my duty, as a medical man, to tell him 
 that I feared he could not long withstand the 
 attacks of a disorder which was undermining his 
 strength, and appeared likely to issue in con- 
 sumption. I was then very far from expecting 
 that within eight days I should be called to commit 
 to the earth the mortal remains of that beloved 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 49 
 
 brother. The day after our conversation I was 
 confined to my bed by sickness, and brother Auger 
 was also in the same state. Two days after, a 
 messenger came to me in the night, to tell me that 
 he was alarmingly ill, and the next day at noon I 
 left my bed, though with difficulty, to visit him. 
 I found that he was very near death. He asked 
 my opinion of his state. I could not conceal from 
 him the truth, and therefore told him that he must 
 prepare to meet God in a very short time. He 
 began immediately to sing a hymn of praise, and 
 then requested me to pray. Then he proceeded, 
 with the utmost calmness, to arrange his temporal 
 affairs, continually praising and blessing God that, 
 after having given him full opportunity to make 
 sure his calling and election in Jesus Christ, he 
 was now pleased, in great mercy, to call him to 
 himself. From that time till his death, which oc- 
 curred about thirty-six hours after my first visit, 
 his whole time was employed, as far as extreme 
 suffering would permit, in singing hymns, praying, 
 and exhorting those who were around his bed. He 
 besought Christians to persevere in the faith, and 
 the unconverted to repent and commit themselves 
 to Jesus. He asked for one of his old friends who 
 knew the Gospel, but who still continued in sin, 
 through fear of the world 5 and admonished him to 
 turn to the Lord, to burst the bonds which confined 
 5 
 
50 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 him, and to embrace the salvation offered in the 
 Gospel. He sent for one who had denied the faith, 
 but he did not arrive in time to receive from the 
 lips of the dying man the counsels which he had 
 intended to give, if God had permitted him. Hav- 
 ing told me, however, what he had purposed to say, 
 I repeated to the fallen brother the solemn admoni- 
 tions which his dying friend had charged me to 
 give. They produced the desired effect. The back- 
 slider confessed his fault, abandoned his errors and 
 his evil ways, and, to all appearances, affords now 
 good proof of a Christian life. 
 
 Perceiving one of his friends in tears, he ad- 
 dressed him in the following manner : — " If your 
 friend was about to receive a large inheritance, 
 would you weep over his fate V The other having 
 answered in the negative, — "Well," he replied, 
 " that is my position ; in a few hours I shall have 
 heaven for my inheritance ) therefore shed no more 
 tears on my account/' Towards midnight he asked 
 me how long he might yet live : " hardly three 
 hours," I replied, — " by that time all will be over 
 with you here below." As the end of the three 
 hours drew nigh he felt that death was at hand. 
 Sitting up in his bed, and joining his hands to- 
 gether, he began to repeat the Lord's prayer, with 
 a loud voice : but when he came to the words, 
 "Forgive us our offences/' his voice failed him, 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 51 
 
 and he was obliged to lay his head on the pillow 
 and finish the prayer in a lower tone. Then, hav- 
 ing bidden farewell to those who surrounded the 
 bed, by an impressive motion of his hand, he was 
 heard to exclaim, in a low whisper, " Come Jesus, 
 come," — and immediately expired, without pain. 
 
 His funeral was attended by an immense con- 
 course of people, among whom was a large number 
 of Romanists, who came to pay that tribute of 
 respect which his irreproachable conduct had ever 
 secured. We have reason to hope that we shall 
 ere long see the fruit of the good seed scattered 
 abroad by our friend, both during his eminently 
 Christian life, and during the short period of his 
 sickness. 
 
 Since my last Report, twelve new members have 
 been added to the Church at St. Pie on a public 
 profession of their faith, all of whom, with only one 
 exception, have been snatched from the delusions 
 of Popery. There are many others who are under 
 serious concern for the salvation of their souls. 
 
 Some time since I received an application from 
 ten families in this parish, all Romanists, requesting 
 me to interest myself on their behalf with the Swiss 
 Mission, that a schoolmaster might be sent to in- 
 struct their children, promising to furnish a site for 
 a building, to erect at their own expense a school- 
 house, (the floors, doors, and windows excepted,) 
 
52 MEMOIR OE DR. COTE. 
 
 and to give legal possession of the property to the 
 Mission. We are not aware that the Gospel has 
 been introduced to more than two or three families, 
 nor has it produced as yet any effect upon them. 
 We think that in this proposal of theirs the finger 
 of God is visible, and that He is about to call more 
 souls to the knowledge of the truth. The site 
 that is offered us is very valuable in this respect, — it 
 is situated in the midst of influential and respectable 
 families. May the Lord bless this new enterprise, 
 that it may issue in the glory of his holy name ! 
 
 In closing this Report, dear brother, I have to 
 request that you and your readers will pray for one 
 who knows and feels his weakness, and his unfit- 
 ness for the work to which it has pleased the Lord 
 to call him. May all Christians who read these 
 lines determine not to forget us in their daily sup- 
 plications at the throne of Divine grace and mercy. 
 And now, beloved and much honored brother, 
 believe me, for life, your affectionate brother in 
 Jesus Christ, 
 
 C. H. 0. COTE. 
 Rev. J. M. Cramp, A. M. 
 
 Dr. Cote continued to labor at St. Pie and 
 vicinity until the spring of 1848, and though for 
 the last year or two no revival took place, we have 
 reason to think that the blessing of God rested upon 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 53 
 
 Lis missionary efforts, and that they were blessed 
 to many a soul. 
 
 In August, 1847, he wrote : " I cannot say, with 
 truth, that the cause of the Saviour advances in 
 this place as fast as the children of God would 
 
 desire The priests of the church of Rome 
 
 are violent, and spare no pains to prevent the circu- 
 lation of the Word of God among their flocks, 
 proving by this dread of the truth that they are of 
 the number of those who ' hate the light, and will 
 not come to the light, lest their deeds should be 
 reproved/ Nevertheless, in spite of all their efforts, 
 we see from time to time individuals withdrawing 
 themselves from the worship of the Beast in order 
 to take refuge «Bt the feet of Him, concerning whom 
 John the Baptist said, l Behold the Lamb of God 
 that taketh away the sins of the world f and these 
 experience the fulfilment of the declaration, that 
 1 to as many as received him, to them he gave 
 power to become the sons of God, even to them 
 which believe on his name/ " 
 
 Whilst resident at St. Pie, Dr. Cote was called 
 almost every year into the United States a month 
 or more, in order to awaken an interest in favor of 
 the Mission, and collect funds for its support. 
 
 In the spring of 1848, the circumstances of the 
 Mission were such that he was obliged to visit the 
 United States, and spend considerable time there. 
 5* 
 
54 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 He resigned his charge at St. Pie, and proceeded 
 on his journey which lasted eight months. A 
 great part of this period was spent in the city of 
 Philadelphia, where he prepared for the press, and 
 edited for the American Baptist Publication Society 
 several French works on the Romish Controversy. 
 There were six publications, three books and three 
 tracts. The volumes were, " Extracts from Eccle- 
 siastical History on the Origin of some of the 
 Errors of the Romish Church," prepared by Rev. 
 L. Normandeau; "Pengilly's Scripture Guide to 
 Baptism," translated by Rev. L. Normandeau ; and 
 " Remington's Reasons for becoming a Baptist," 
 translated by Dr. Cote. The first of these volumes 
 contains 180 pages, the second, 200 pages, and the 
 third, 80 pages, making an aggregate of 460 pages. 
 The tracts were all prepared by Dr. Cote; No. 1, 
 The Holy Bible on Baptism ; No. 2, A Chronolo- 
 gical Table of important events ; No. 3, A "Word in 
 Passing, to those who have left the Romish Church. 
 He acquitted himself of his task with diligence and 
 fidelity, and was very successful in his efforts to 
 gain friends and funds for the Mission. 
 
 He returned to Grande Ligne, where his family 
 had lived during his absence, at the end of Decem- 
 ber of that year. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 HIS LABORS AT ST. MARY, NEAR FORT GEORGE. 
 
 After his return from the United States, Dr. 
 Cote spent two months at Grande Ligne, waiting 
 for the directions of his Heavenly Father in regard 
 to his future field of labor. His attention wa3 
 drawn towards St. Mary, a parish some twenty 
 miles east of Grande Ligne, where a certain number 
 of families had been listening to the Truth. 
 
 But the difficulty in the way was the uncertainty 
 of getting a house. One was for sale, but the 
 proprietor refused to sell it for Dr. Cote. However, 
 God, who designed to make him the instrument of 
 much good in that place, opened the way. An 
 English Protestant, a friend of the Mission, know- 
 ing these circumstances, found the means of buying 
 that house, and soon the Doctor took possession of 
 it, to the great astonishment of the Koman Catholics. 
 
 The priest of the neighboring parish was so angry 
 at it, that he came with about a hundred of his 
 parishioners with the avowed purpose of driving 
 away Dr. Cote. But God watched over his servant, 
 
 C55) 
 
56 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 and the mob dispersed without daring or attempt- 
 ing to do any harm. 
 
 During the spring and summer of 1849, he visited 
 many families to whom he spoke of Christ crucified. 
 His profession opened for him the doors of many 
 houses, and whilst relieving the sufferings of the 
 body as a physician, he forgot not the precious 
 soul, but made it a rule to speak about the Gospel, 
 wherever he was called. 
 
 In the autumn, he again visited the United 
 States, and on his way to New York wrote the 
 following letter, in which he alludes to the useful- 
 ness of the books prepared the year before in 
 French, and published by the American Baptist 
 Publication Society. 
 
 St Johns, 10th November, 1849. 
 Dear Brother: — Had I considered my own 
 feelings, I should have written to you a long time 
 ago. But it has been impossible for me so to do 
 on account of my numerous engagements. It is 
 now my intention to visit Philadelphia, and there I 
 shall have the pleasure of relating to you personally 
 all the good that the books which the American 
 Baptist Publication Society printed for us, have 
 done among our poor benighted Romanist population. 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 57 
 
 We have distributed nearly all of the " Extraits de 
 la Historie Ecclesiastique;" and as imperfect as 
 they were, they have done us an immense deal of 
 good. My object in writing to you to-day, is to 
 beg from your Society a graot of the remaining 
 portion of that work in your possession, as also a 
 good supply, if you can give it, of the " Table 
 Chronologique," which also has proved very effec- 
 tual among the Canadians. 
 
 Dr. Cote was appointed a missionary of the 
 American Baptist Home Mission Society, in com- 
 mon with the other ministers of the Grande Ligne 
 Mission, and public preaching was established at 
 his house. It began to be attended by a few 
 individuals. The number of the hearers gradually 
 increased j souls were converted to God ; and before 
 his death he was blessed to see some fifteen families 
 abandoning the Romish church. He baptized in 
 July and August seven converts, and as many 
 more manifested a change of heart, and were ready 
 to make a public profession of their faith by being 
 buried with Christ in baptism. 
 
 The field of St. Mary was beginning to be very 
 interesting, and we thought our brother was settled 
 there for a long while. A church, we anticipated, 
 was soon to be organised. When he was at the 
 Grande Ligne last, just before he set out for the 
 
58 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 United States, where lie was to die in a few days, 
 he spoke of it, and appeared very desirous that the 
 converts of St. Mary should be organised into a 
 Christian church, and enjoy its holy privileges; 
 but we are all permitted to learn that while man 
 can anticipate, hope and appoint, God, whose 
 thoughts are higher than our thoughts, can wisely 
 and mercifully disappoint. "He doeth all things 
 well/' 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 HIS LAST ILLNESS AXD DEATH. 
 
 Dr. Cote was invited to attend the annual 
 meeting of the Lamoille Association, which was to 
 take place at Hinesburgh, Vermont, on the 18th 
 September, 1850; and desirous of seeing his breth- 
 ren who were going to meet there, and of interesting 
 them in favor of the Grande Ligne Mission, he 
 accepted the invitation. On his way, he felt some 
 indisposition, but it was not thought serious. On 
 the morning of the day that the Association was to 
 meet, he was seized with a violent pain in his left 
 arm, which was at first supposed to be rheumatism. 
 However, he was able to address the meeting, 
 though with difficulty. But soon afterwards his 
 pain increased and extended to every part of his 
 body. Seven physicians were called in, who pro- 
 nounced it a case of inflammatory neuralgic fever. 
 All their efforts for his relief were useless. His 
 time had come to leave this world of sin and trial 
 for his heavenly inheritance, and it was not in the 
 power of man to accomplish his recover v. 
 
 (59) 
 
60 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 We have two accounts of his death, one from an 
 enemy, and the other from a friend. The one is 
 from the Melanges Religieux, a Catholic paper, the 
 substance of which was that Dr. Cote was preaching 
 in a chapel which belonged to his sect, while at the 
 same time a Catholic priest was preaching in a 
 neighboring church. All at once he felt a sense 
 of suffocation, and fell down in great agony. Some 
 expressions of remorse, in view of his life, fell from 
 his lips, but he died without manifesting any signs 
 of true repentance. Nay, he went so far as to try 
 to pervert a young man who stood at his side, but 
 happily, he was on his guard, and could not be 
 shaken from the faith. Such is the lying spirit in 
 the mouth of Popery, to this day. So are its igno- 
 rant victims deceived, and held in bondage. 
 
 The other account is from Mr. Normandeau, of 
 the Grande Ligne Mission, who was present at the 
 time of Dr. Cote's death, and writes as an eye- 
 witness of the glorious though mournful scene. 
 
 From an early period in his sickness he had a 
 settled impression that he should not recover. His 
 sufferings were intense, but in the midst of them 
 Christian patience had its perfect work. To those 
 around him he would say, " Talk to me about God." 
 On one occasion he remarked, " In me you see a 
 perfect development of physical suffering, and of 
 spiritual peace." When a Christian brother said 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 61 
 
 to hiin, " It does not seem as though you could be 
 spared from the mission/' he replied, " God's 
 thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as 
 our ways." And so it proved. 
 
 He had sent for Rev. Mr. Normandeau of Grande 
 Ligne, and not long after this gentleman had 
 arrived at Hinesburgh the Doctor seemed better, 
 and some hopes were entertained that he might 
 recover. Mr. Normandeau returned home, but was 
 soon telegraphed to return to Hinesburgh with Dr. 
 Cote's two elder children. Mr. Normandeau 
 arrived on the morning of the 3d of October. The 
 Doctor had fallen into a state of delirium : he 
 imagined himself engaged in religious exercises, 
 and prayed and preached as if in the presence of a 
 large congregation. 
 
 " About three in the afternoon, a lucid interval 
 was enjoyed. His children were taken to him. 
 The interview was brief, and the words were few, 
 but expressive. < I am happy ! I am happy !' the 
 dying husband and father exclaimed, and again 
 relapsed into unconsciousness, overpowered by the 
 excitement. 
 
 " Shortly afterwards, Mr. Normandeau spoke to 
 him. To an inquiry respecting the state of his 
 mind, he replied, ( Quite well — all is peace/ 'In 
 whom do you place your confidence Y ' In Jesus.' 
 ( Do you think that you are dying V ' I am quite 
 6 
 
62 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 aware of it/ 'Does it grieve you that you are 
 about to leave the world V 6 Oh no V ' But your 
 family V 'I leave them in the hands of God. 7 
 We spoke to him/' says Mr. Normandeau, "as 
 often as there were signs of returning consciousness, 
 and he invariably said that he had no fear. Some 
 days before, he had remarked to those who were in 
 attendance, that he had reason to be very thankful 
 that this sickness had not come upon him while he 
 was yet in his sins, and in connection with the 
 church of Rome. From the beginning of his 
 illness, . he had felt persuaded that he should not 
 recover ; he expressed this opinion to Mrs. Cote, at 
 the same time consoling her by the assurance that 
 God would take care of her and the children. 
 
 "He became gradually weaker till midnight, 
 when unequivocal symptoms of approaching disso- 
 lution appeared. At one o'clock in the morning 
 he peacefully departed, dying without a struggle, 
 October 4th, 1850, in the 42d year of his age/' 
 
 He had expressed the desire of being buried at 
 Grande Ligne, and in compliance with this request, 
 his remains were conveyed there and deposited in 
 the Mission burial ground, in the presence of a 
 large and deeply affected assembly. They were 
 followed by many of the friends at Hinesburgh as 
 far as Burlington, and by some of them to the place 
 of burial. The funeral sermon was preached in 
 
MEMOIR OF. DR. COTE. 63 
 
 French at the Mission Chapel, by Rev. L. Norman- 
 deau, from 1 Peter iv. 7. Rev. L. Roussy read 
 the Scriptures, gave a brief, but solemn address, 
 and offered prayer at the grave. Thus ended the 
 funeral service of a great and good man. Many of the 
 converts of St. Mary were present, and accompanied 
 in tears to the grave their beloved minister, whom 
 a few weeks before they had in their midst in 
 perfect health and entirely engaged in the missionary 
 work. They mourned, not as those, however, who 
 have no hope, but as children who bow in humility 
 and resignation before a good and wise Father, 
 whose dispensations are all love and mercy. 
 
CONCLUSION. 
 
 Dr. Cote was a true patriot He loved his 
 country, and was always desirous of doing something 
 for its welfare. At first, not knowing any better 
 way, lie sought the remedy to its evils in political 
 and social changes alone, and had recourse to 
 unlawful" means. But when he was enlightened 
 by the Word and Spirit of God, he saw that the 
 only foundation for happiness and prosperity is in 
 the religion of the Gospel ; and he immediately 
 endeavored to impart it to his fellow-countrymen, 
 pointing them to the Son of God, by whom if they 
 were once freed, they would be free indeed. 
 
 Dr. Cote was a true missionary. His missionary 
 career was not long ; it was only eight years, but it 
 was well filled, and certainly successful, if we con- 
 sider the numerous obstacles that beset the paths of 
 the servants of God in Lower Canada. 
 
 His medical profession, his thorough education, 
 his piety of heart, and his natural activity, emi- 
 nently fitted him for the arduous duty of a pioneer 
 missionary. He could get access to many families 
 (64) 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 65 
 
 whom another minister could not reach, and nothing 
 delighted him more than being actively engaged in 
 ministering to the bodily and spiritual wants of his 
 dear fellow-countrymen. 
 
 He possessed more than common natural powers, 
 and great energy of character. Whatever he 
 undertook, he accomplished with all his might. 
 The same remarks might apply in regard to his 
 views, which were generally very decided. How- 
 ever, his attachment to his convictions did not 
 prevent him from enjoying the " communion of 
 gaints ; w he associated himself with Christians of 
 all denominations, and was happy among them. 
 
 Dr. Cote was a good preacher, though not regu- 
 larly trained for the ministry. His political career 
 had accustomed him to speak in public, and as 
 soon as he knew the truth he became a preacher 
 and a missionary. The writer remembers having 
 been deeply affected when he heard him for the 
 first time proclaiming the Gospel. He had heard 
 him before speak in public ; it was during the time 
 of the rebellion, when the Doctor harangued the 
 soldiers before one of the fearful battles in which 
 he was engaged ; but now, himself converted a few 
 months before, he saw the rebel transformed into a 
 soldier of the cross of Christ, and proclaiming the 
 glorious Gospel he loved so ardently, and he could 
 not sufficiently bless his Heavenly Father fur the 
 6* 
 
66 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 great and glorious change that had taken place. 
 And now, after having toiled but a little while in 
 missionary service with him, he mourns over him 
 as over a dear departed fellow-laborer, a faithful 
 friend, and a sincere brother in Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. 
 
 Dr. Cote was also useful as an author and 
 editor. Perhaps when all earthly things are 
 summed up, this branch of his labors will be found 
 laden with precious fruit beyond all the rest. 
 
 None who have read his Reply to "Kirwan/' 
 however much they may deplore its necessity, can 
 doubt his eminent ability, effectiveness, and Chris- 
 tian spirit as a controversial writer. Alas ! that on 
 such a subject — a subject which lies at the very 
 threshold of the Christian church in all the lovely 
 simplicity of a Christian duty — the watchmen of 
 Zion should not see eye to eye, and lift up their 
 voices together ! It is not our intention to dwell 
 on this subject, where the vantage ground of 
 Scripture was so clearly on the side of Dr. Cote, 
 but as an act of justice to his memory to say, that 
 he amply acquitted himself of every allegation 
 which was brought against him in the New York 
 Observer ; and displayed a beautiful example of the 
 union of wisdom, faithfulness and love, as honorable 
 to our common Christianity as to his own indivi- 
 dual profession of its transforming power. 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 67 
 
 Of the works which he prepared for the press, 
 in the French language, many thousands of copies 
 have been circulated already in the United States, 
 in Canada, in Hayti, and in France. Two of them 
 have been eminently successful in opening the 
 blind eyes, viz., " The Errors of the Romish 
 Church," and " A Word in Passing." In refer- 
 ence to the surprising effects of the latter tract, a 
 missionary in Hay ti writes, " Had Dr. Cote written 
 nothing else, he would not have lived in vain." 
 
 In reviewing the Life of Dr. Cote we are struck 
 with several points worthy of reflection. 
 
 1. We see the vanity and misery of Infidelity. 
 Born and bred in the Roman Catholic church, his 
 discerning mind perceived her corruptions, and her 
 pernicious influence on his countrymen, whom he 
 loved with a patriotic affection. He threw off the 
 fetters of her despotic sway, and in ignorance of 
 any better faith, sought refuge in a skeptical 
 philosophy. But in vain. He found nothing 
 satisfactory, nothing sufficient to solve the inquiries 
 of his mind, to alleviate the burdens of conscience, 
 or purify and fill the yearning affections of his 
 heart. Professionally attending on a dying friend, 
 he could neither stay the uplifted arm of death, 
 nor charm away the venom of its sting by any well 
 grounded hopes of pardon and immortal happiness 
 beyond the grave. Over the cold grave hung the 
 
68 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 gloomy shadows of dreadful uncertainty. The 
 tears he shed for his lost friend were the tears of 
 despair. Nor was he able to find rest for his soul, 
 until he was effectually led to the knowledge of the 
 truth as it is in Jesus. 
 
 2. We see in his conversion a remarkable instance 
 of God's distinguishing grace. The question of 
 the Apostle, "Who maketh thee to differ from 
 another V } admits of but one answer ; and that 
 answer Dr. Cote was ever ready to give from a full 
 heart of trembling gratitude. He had seen his 
 friend die without hope. He, though equally 
 unworthy, perhaps more guilty in the sight of God, 
 was spared, softened, humbled at the foot of the 
 cross, and filled with unspeakable joy and peace in 
 believing. Why was this ? The fact is certain. 
 The cause lies deep in the recesses of God'a 
 unsearchable wisdom and love. From the midst 
 of the thick darkness, we hear a voice of Sovereign 
 Majesty, declaring, " I will cause all my goodness 
 to pass before thee, and I will have mercy upon 
 whom I will have mercy." In Dr. Cote we see a 
 brand plucked from the fire — a vessel of mercy 
 prepared afore unto glory — a chosen vessel to bear 
 the name of Christ to his deluded and perishing 
 fellow-men. What a song of admiring and adoring 
 gratitude must be his forever ! And how thank- 
 fully should we also glorify God in him ! 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 69 
 
 3. We learn from this Memoir that even Infidels, 
 who were formerly Roman Catholics, are within 
 the reach of evangelical labor, and hope. We say 
 even Infidels, for such was Dr. Cote before he was 
 brought to the careful study of the Bible. Robert 
 Hall has somewhere said that u Infidelity is merely 
 a noxious spawn, bred in the stagnant marshes of 
 a corrupted Christianity," and the justice of this 
 observation is seen in the biography before us. 
 Had not Dr. Cote seen in the Romish church to 
 which he belonged by birth and education, such a 
 mass of glaring corruption, he might never have 
 felt the shock and recoil which drove him into 
 unbelief. Or, if he had made that painful discovery 
 in the light of the Scriptures, he might have cast 
 off Rome, without casting off Christianity. But 
 as he had ever been trained to regard them as 
 one, it was not easy to make the necessary separa- 
 tion, even were he so disposed, until he became 
 acquainted with the Bible, the Book forbidden by 
 Rome, lest its light should expose her aggravated 
 sins. To the study of this Book we have seen that 
 he was led, by observing its happy influence on the 
 hearts and lives of sincere Christians. The prayer 
 meetings of the little church at Swanton first 
 unfolded to him the holy beauty, the elevating 
 hopes, and the tender tranquillizing power of the 
 spiritual life imparted by Christ to all true believers. 
 
70 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 
 
 4. If then in his case we see there is hope of 
 reclaiming the Infidel, much more do we see such 
 hope of success in evangelical labors for the instruc- 
 tion and salvation of Roman Catholics. The letter 
 of Dr. Cote to his wife, so prompt, so earnest, so 
 affectionate, so judicious, was precious seed sown 
 in tears, soon to be reaped in the joy of her con- 
 version and faithful co-operation in the work of 
 Christ. The whole history of his subsequent 
 labors, and indeed the whole history of the Grande 
 Ligne Mission from the beginning to this day, 
 afford abundant proof that no depth of ignorance 
 and superstition, no power of hereditary prejudice, 
 no arts of a wily and desperate priesthood, can rear 
 a barrier impassable to the humble, prayerful, 
 persevering efforts of evangelical Christians for the 
 conversion of Roman Catholics. No doubt can 
 exist on this point in the mind of any individual, 
 after reading this Memoir. The brief Narratives 
 that follow will form the proper sequel, support, 
 and seal of this gratifying position. 
 
 5. No one, it seems to us, can fail in deriving 
 from the latter part of this Memoir, the cheering 
 lesson that God reigns in the promotion of His 
 own kingdom ; and that, as a consequence, opposi- 
 tion of all sorts may be overruled for good. It is 
 a short-sighted philanthropy that hopes to find 
 every effort and sacrifice for the good of others, 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. COTE. 71 
 
 greeted by universal applause, and individual grati- 
 tude. However worthy of being welcomed thus, 
 the life and death of our Redeemer teach us upon 
 this point a more stern and awful truth. We may 
 go forth with the lamp of life to benighted men, 
 and yet find that they love darkness rather than 
 light, because their deeds are evil; or they have 
 encompassed themselves " with sparks of their own 
 kindling" — the vain but flattering hopes of self- 
 righteousness ; or they are blinded and betrayed by 
 the arts of false teachers, crying ' peace, peace/ 
 when there is no peace. It is not difficult to incite 
 men in this condition when opportunity serves, to acts 
 of popular violence in order to extinguish the light 
 that annoys them. And God permits the trial, 
 that the spirits of men may thus be more fully 
 tested; and that the transforming power of the 
 Gospel may appear more conspicuous and glorious 
 by the vivid contrast with the evil it has come to 
 expose and destroy. Hence the precepts : " Render 
 to no man evil for evil ; but ever follow that which 
 is good, both among yourselves and towards all 
 men." " Be not overcome of evil, but overcome 
 evil with good." " Love your enemies ; bless them 
 that curse you ; do good unto them that despitefully 
 use you, and persecute you ; that ye may be the 
 children of your Father which is in Heaven." The 
 happy effects of obedience to these precepts in the 
 
72 MEMOIR OF DR. COTE 
 
 history of the persecuted Christians of St. Pie, as 
 recorded in this volume, will recur to every mind 
 in this connexion. The right of appeal in such 
 cases to the protection of the civil power, is beyond 
 question, and in some extreme cases, it is equally 
 clear that its justice may he invoked in redress of 
 wanton injuries ) but when justice has pronounced in 
 our favor, then to temper its action with mercy, 
 and repay good for evil, is not more the peculiar 
 glory of the Gospel than it is its peculiar power of 
 winning new victories and nobler triumphs for the 
 Truth. Such has been the case at the Grande 
 Ligne Mission. i 
 
Memoir of Mrs. M. f. Coif. 
 
MEMOIR. 
 
 No one who has read the tender and beautiful 
 letter of Dr. Cote to his wife, immediately after his 
 conversion, can be indifferent to her character and 
 history. The following sk'etch is compiled from a 
 letter of Madame Feller, published in the Grande 
 Ligne Mission Register of 1851, addressed to the 
 Ladies' Associations auxiliary to the Mission, and 
 from a few other materials illustrative of her con- 
 version, and of her feelings in view of her husband's 
 death, and in expectation of her own. 
 
 Mrs. Cote's parents were English Roman Catholics. 
 They trained her up strictly in their own faith, to 
 which she became sincerely attached. She spent 
 several years of her life in a convent, while recei- 
 ving her education; and when afterwards married 
 to Dr. Cote, she was a devout Roman Catholic, 
 submissive to all the teachings of her church. At 
 that time, indeed, Dr. Cote himself was still within 
 the pale of the Romish church ; and when he with- 
 drew, and became by degrees an Infidel, his wife 
 applied herself the more diligently to her religious 
 
 (75) 
 
76 MEMOIR OP MRS. COTE. 
 
 exercises ; performing twice as many as before, in 
 the fond hope that a part might be imputed ,to her 
 beloved husband ! Whole nights were sometimes 
 spent in repeating her prayers for him, with weeping 
 agony. 
 
 The time of u the two rebellions" in Canada, in 
 which her husband, from his patriotic zeal, took so 
 prominent a part, was marked by many misfortunes, 
 and filled with bitter grief to Mrs. Cote. Separated 
 from her husband, for whose life she constantly 
 trembled, she saw her house plundered and burnt; 
 sick, and with two young children, she found herself 
 destitute of every thing, in a severe season, until a 
 generous friend furnished her the means of seeking 
 a new abode. Even then she cruelly suffered both 
 bodily and mentally, as long as she was unable to 
 join her husband in his place of exile. But that 
 place of exile was a scene of mercy, from which was 
 dated the happiness of their future lives. It was 
 there, through the grace of God, that Dr, Cote was 
 brought to the knowledge of the Truth ; and his 
 wife, perceiving the happy change produced in 
 him, was convinced it was the work of God, and 
 subsequently led to seek the same blessing. 
 
 The result was not immediate. After receiving the 
 French Bible sent by her husband, she was still too 
 much under the influence of the Romish church to 
 dare to read it. But one day when riding out alone 
 
MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 77 
 
 in her brother's carriage, she met an elderly English 
 gentleman of her acquaintance, who in the course 
 of conversation informed her that he was going to 
 attend a prayer meeting at the Grande Ligne Mis- 
 sion. She expressed her astonishment that he 
 should go to the worship of fanatics and deceivers. 
 He told her that she was greatly mistaken — that 
 they were not bad people, but simple Bible Chris- 
 tians, whose chief desire was to follow Jesus Christ 
 — and begged her to go with him to the meeting, 
 and judge for herself. She hesitated some time, 
 but at length from the confidence she felt in his 
 integrity, and the recollection of her husband's 
 happy change, she determined to go. There she 
 heard for the first time in her life, the word of God 
 read, and her heart was touched with its truths, and 
 with the prayers that followed. On returning to 
 her brother's house, where she then resided, she 
 took up with trembling earnestness the neglected 
 Bible, and prayerfully resolved to follow her hus- 
 band's advice, and make it her guide to salvation. 
 But in order to do this she soon found it would be 
 necessary to incur the displeasure of all her Roman 
 Catholic friends, and indeed to be banished from 
 their society. The house of her brother could no 
 longer be her home, nor would her own father 
 receive her. Her mind was torn with conflicting 
 emotions, but the path of duty appeared plain. She 
 
78 MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 
 
 determined to join her husband in exile, with her 
 two little ones. Afterwards she sought the spiritual 
 aid of the Christians of Grande Ligne, that she 
 might find rest to her troubled conscience, in the 
 only true way revealed in the Gospel. 
 
 "Then," says Madame Feller, "with the sim- 
 plicity of a child, she came and asked us to receive 
 her, and instruct her in the way of life. I shall 
 never forget the blessed moment in which her heart 
 understood the way of salvation, and received the 
 grace of God. Mr. Roussy was explaining to her 
 the third chapter of the Gospel of John, when 
 suddenly she exclaimed, l What unction comes upon 
 me ! my soul is filled with it ! my body even is 
 impressed by it !' She had just been enabled to 
 believe that God so loved the world, that he gave 
 his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 
 him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. 
 Three weeks afterwards she went to relate to her 
 husband what God had done for her soul." 
 
 This all-important change occurred in 1841, and 
 was decisive of her future course. On leaving the 
 Romish church, as was foreseen, Mrs. Cote was 
 abandoned by her relatives. This was very painful 
 to her feelings ; but she enjoyed the full consolations 
 of the Gospel ; and longed to impart them to others 
 by every means in her power. Hence when her 
 husband resolved to become a Missionary, she joined 
 
MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 79 
 
 him with all her heart, and remained attached to 
 this blessed work until her death. Many instances 
 might be given to show the fervor of her zeal and 
 love. On this point Madame Normandeau says, in 
 a letter to her daughter : — 
 
 " No one knows better than yourself, how truly 
 your dear mother's spirit was a missionary one — 
 though she never took the name of missionary, and 
 in her humility felt that she was not one. She 
 sacredly improved every opportunity, daily provi- 
 dence and circumstances offered, to bring forward 
 Jesus as the Saviour of sinners. The pedlar offer- 
 ing his wares, and the pauper soliciting aid, will 
 alike remember her earnest appeals to their con- 
 sciences, and the fervid simplicity with which she told 
 them the story of the Cross. She ranked herself 
 among the poorest of Christians, but , 0, she was 
 rich in faith, and ever felt that she was an inheritor 
 of the precious promises." 
 
 The two leading features of her character were 
 simplicity of faith and gratefulness of affection. She 
 received the Holy Scriptures and enjoyed them as 
 a child ; and like David took delight in numbering 
 the many tokens of the goodness of God, and giving 
 Him thanks for them all. 
 
 Under the heavy stroke which so suddenly 
 bereaved her of her husband, Mrs. Cote was stronger 
 and more sustained than her friends had dared to 
 
80 MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 
 
 hope. She was silent and opened not her mouth, 
 because it was God that had done it. The follow- 
 ing letter to Mrs. J. L. Seddinger of Philadelphia, 
 written about six months after her husband's death, 
 lays open the recesses of her bleeding, but submis- 
 sive heart : — 
 
 Fort George, (C. E.,) March 19, 1851. 
 
 Dear Sister in the Lord : — Yours, dated Novem- 
 ber 1st, was handed to me by Madame Feller in 
 due season. I would have answered it long ere 
 this, could I have made up my mind to write 
 concerning the death of my dear departed husband. 
 But it was impossible. I could not muster courage 
 sufficient to do it. To-day I was in hopes I could ; 
 but how little do we know our own strength ! Every 
 pore is opened anew, and I feel as I did the first 
 week of his death. Yet I mourn not as many do ; 
 for I know that he is happy, and that he is with 
 his God and our God. What a blessed and happy 
 thought ! Delivered from all temptations and sins, 
 no sorrow can now reach him, for he is forever 
 enjoying the bliss of the redeemed. 
 
 " Yes, dear sister, my loss is great, and deeply 
 do I feel it. Notwithstanding I feel that the Lord 
 has indeed been the widow's God, and that He has 
 answered the prayers of my dear friends; for I 
 have been wonderfully sustained in all my trials. 
 
MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 81 
 
 Although not one of my own relations has been 
 near me since his death, the Lord has raised other 
 friends ; and how precious and soothing have been 
 their sympathies in the hour of affliction. Please 
 remember me affectionately to all the dear friends 
 in Philadelphia. Often have I heard my dear hus- 
 band speak in raptures of the kindness that was 
 manifested towards him in your family and many 
 others in the same place; and how truly did he 
 realize that the religion of Jesus is a religion of 
 love ! 
 
 " The little flock in this place felt, and still feel 
 his loss very much. Mr. Roussy has taken his 
 place, and I am happy to say the work is still pros- 
 pering, and many souls are coming to the know- 
 ledge of the blessed Gospel. It is the Lord's work 
 and not man's; therefore He will take care of it, 
 and raise efficient laborers to perform it. 
 
 " My dear children are, thank God, pretty well. 
 I cannot say as much for myself. My health has 
 been very poorly all the winter. 
 
 " Please remember me in your prayers, also my 
 dear little ones, that we may all meet at the throne 
 of grace. I shall be most happy to hear from you 
 whenever you can make it convenient. In the 
 mean time believe me, my dear sister, to remain 
 
 1 Yours affectionately in the Lord, 
 
 "Margaret Y. Cote." 
 
82 MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE* 
 
 It will be seen from this letter that Mrs. Cote 
 was then in feeble health ; and under the impression 
 that she would not long remain in this world, she 
 made all her arrangements accordingly. Provi- 
 dentially two years before, her husband had insured 
 his life, and the avails of this foresight now came 
 into her possession. Deeply thankful for the means 
 thus furnished her to bring up her children, she 
 removed in the summer to Grand Ligne, as the 
 most suitable place for the education she intended 
 to give them. But before the house she was build- 
 ing there was ready to receive her, she was gone to 
 that house not made with hands, eternal in the 
 heavens. 
 
 "From the commencement of her sickness," 
 writes Madam Feller, " she had no hope of recovery, 
 and her .maternal heart had a moment of anguish 
 at the thought of leaving her children. But very 
 soon she humbled herself for this want of confi- 
 dence, and with a simple and firm faith, confided 
 her children to the care of her Heavenly Father. 
 With the most perfect confidence she left them to 
 the Missionary family, saying : ( I know my chil- 
 dren are your children/ 
 
 " From that time not a cloud obscured her faith ; 
 ehe consoled her children and her friends. 6 Do 
 not cry/ she would say, * but since you love me, 
 rejoice; my soul is going to appear before God/ 
 
MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 83 
 
 Hearing somebody weep, she said, l Do not weep ; 
 there is cause for rejoicing; a poor sinner saved by 
 grace is going to appear before God.' She spoke 
 to those around her of the happiness she enjoyed 
 in the peace and love of her Saviour, and ceased 
 not until her last breath to render thanks unto Him, 
 for the mercy He had shown." 
 
 The following letters from Madame Normandeau 
 to Rev. Mr. Gillette of Philadelphia, and to Mrs. 
 Cote's eldest daughter, th^n in a Female Seminary 
 in the same city, will furnish many interesting 
 particulars. The first is dated, 
 
 " September 19, 1851. 
 
 " Dear Bro. Gillette : — I leave the bedside of our 
 almost sainted sister just to tell you, in all tender- 
 ness, to prepare the mind of our dear for the 
 
 intelligence I have to communicate, that her dear 
 mother is dying gloriously. I will write again when 
 all shall be over." 
 
 Under the same date, Madame Normandeau 
 writes to the daughter : 
 
 "Here I am, dearest , with a sad and 
 
 trembling, yet happy heart, writing. Your dear 
 mother's disease is gaining ground, and she seems 
 like some happy, bright, celestial bird, just ready 
 for a homeward flight. Your dear mother feels 
 that you are just where God has placed you, and 
 
84 MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 
 
 would not have you here; she could not bear a 
 second parting with you, and commends you to her 
 and your God for consolation. That you should 
 have left so short a time since, I do not regret, your 
 dear mother seems so happy in leaving you where 
 you are. Try and imitate her, dearest, and do not 
 murmur. There is no hope of her recovery. How 
 can I leave you ? But I must. May Jesus take 
 you to his loving arms." 
 
 Again, two days late*, the same kind friend 
 writes as follows : 
 
 "My chamber, Sunday, 21. 
 
 u My own precious : — How can I acquit myself 
 of the painful task now devolving upon me ? God 
 must be my strength, and yours, too, dearest, to en- 
 able you to bear the tidings this sheet will contain. 
 0, that you had the sad pleasure of being with us; 
 but since the good hand of God has denied you 
 this, I will give you many precious details. Ever 
 since I wrote you last, your precious mother has 
 been gradually sinking, and at three o' clock this 
 morning her spirit winged its flight to mansions 
 above, there to enjoy a glorious Sabbath free from 
 sin. 
 
 What a privilege it has been to attend her ! 
 Such faith ! such songs of praise and gratitude ! 
 such entire submission to her Father's will and 
 care! A week ago to-day she thought some of 
 
MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 85 
 
 coming to church; but I discouraged her in my 
 morning visit, fearing the effort might bring on her 
 partially checked diarrhoea. 
 
 Monday she seemed quite feeble, but thought 
 with care she should soon be well ; though she said 
 she scarcely desired it, for she felt her work on earth 
 was done, and she only longed to lay her dust beside 
 her ' good man's/ and to go to rest above. This 
 brought on much conversation about you all, which 
 I shall long remember, and she closed with the as- 
 surance that the Lord would do all things well. 
 
 On Tuesday morning I found her so much bet- 
 ter, that we supposed nothing was wanting but to 
 build her up with nourishing food. Towards noon 
 she told me she was in great distress. Madame 
 Feller found her suffering from what she supposed 
 was indigestion. The spasm passed, and left her 
 weak but otherwise easy. I spoke again of sending 
 for Dr. White. She replied, [ He can do me no 
 good; husband told me I could receive no good 
 from the doctors, that I was nearly done, and must 
 not take medicine; but on going to St. Pie on 
 Thursday, if you have a mind to see him yourself, 
 tell him how I am, I have no objections.' We 
 were then all intending to go to St. Pie, to the ex- 
 amination of the girls' school. I replied, 'We 
 shall not go and leave you so ill. I shall stay and 
 take care of you.' 
 
86 MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 
 
 Wednesday Dr. White came, and said her case 
 was very critical, but he would try what medicine 
 would do. Your mother dreaded the effect upon 
 her weak frame; but summoning her courage, she 
 said, i Do all you like, I will do my duty/ Your 
 dear mother tried all with wonderful energy, not- 
 withstanding her almost deathly weakness, feeling 
 at the same time confident that her end was near. 
 She suffered comparatively but little pain, for the 
 disease was treated most gently. For twenty-four 
 hours after first taken on Tuesday, she suffered 
 keenly, and often prayed for relief with submission. 
 Wonderful relief was given, and she said to me, 
 { What a good Lord my Lord is ! I asked for a lit- 
 tle relief, and he has takan away all my pain ; he 
 has always done more than I asked/ 
 
 Her frame of mind from the first was most 
 heavenly, rendering it truly edifying to be with 
 her; we all esteemed it a high privilege. It was 
 often with difficulty she could speak; but she said 
 much. 0, how much she said, to her dear son Wol- 
 frecl, praying him not to murmur, not to weep, for 
 a soul was going to appear before its God. We 
 shall never forget the emphasis with which she said 
 often to us, u Pas une larme, c 'est une liaison de 
 joie, par ce qu une ame va paraitre devant son 
 Dieu." "Not a tear, it is a house of joy, a soul 
 is going to appear before its God." 
 
MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 87 
 
 When too feeble to do it herself, she hade me 
 draw her wedding ring, and said merely, i Rose/ 
 I have the precious relic for you, and 0, how you 
 will prize it. What prayer she offered for you ! 
 'Tell dear Rose I have nothing more to say to her, 
 she knows my wishes; my desire is that she may be 
 all the Lord's, but tell her I loved her fondly ) I 
 do not desire her back, it would be too painful for 
 her to go back alone and motherless ; let her im- 
 prove her great privileges and prepare for useful- 
 ness/ 
 
 Madame Feller was devoted to her night and day 
 after she fell seriously ill, and was present with 
 many others to close her eyes in death. Though 
 almost speechless for twelve hours before her death, 
 she was conscious, and knew us all until half an 
 hour before her end, when she simply breathed 
 shorter and shorter until life was extinct. Heavenly 
 peace is stamped upon her lovely clay ; the spirit 
 left its impress there as it passed to heaven. 
 
 0, with what affection did she kiss us all, and 
 point upward ! I know I shall not tell you all, for 
 my heart, though happy for her, is sick for us and 
 you, and head and limbs are weary. The dear chil- 
 dren, almost sick with weeping, are already estab- 
 lished a3 ours. The Lord teach us all our duty in 
 reference to them. 
 
 Little Augusta, patting her mother's pale cheek, 
 
88 MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 
 
 said one day to her, — " God will take you up to 
 heaven, and you will have no more pain, and sister 
 Etta will be Madame Feller's little girl, and I will 
 go to Mr. and Mrs. Normandeau. I shall cry for 
 you, but I shall know you are no more sick/ Au- 
 gusta now insists that you are all mine, ' Rose and 
 all/ 
 
 All the fountains of Madame Feller's large heart 
 are opened for you all. I told Augusta she should 
 love two mothers, and she added, c One papa/ put- 
 ting her arms in her own fascinating way around 
 Mr. Normandeau' s neck. Dear little ones, they lit- 
 tle know their loss, it is you, dear, and Wolfred, 
 who will feel it most 'keenly. You have my sym- 
 pathies, my prayers, for I well know your feelings 
 of desolation. Though years have rolled since I 
 was written motherless, the memory is fresh, the 
 heart gushes still. I well know that you can have 
 but one mother. We know you are among the tru- 
 est, tenderest friends, though comparative strangers. 
 They will ever be precious to you as your parents' 
 friends. One short year has taken both those pa- 
 rents from you. cruel discipline ! but given we 
 know in love. May you all, dear children, receive 
 it at a Father's hand, and bow submissive to the 
 rod, drinking the bitter cup, as your sainted mother 
 said, and seeking the blessings that will surely ac» 
 company such chastisement. Mr. N. begs me to 
 
MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 89 
 
 give you his love and sympathy in this trying hour, 
 and that your soul may be abundantly blessed and 
 filled with holy consolation, is the prayer of your 
 sincere friend and mother. C. A. N. 
 
 We shall close this sketch with the words of 
 Madame Feller, in her letter of Nov. 4th, 1851, 
 referred to in the beginning, addressed to the aux- 
 iliary Ladies' Associations. 
 
 u Ladies and dear Sisters: — Since I last wrote 
 you, it has pleased God to cause us to pass through 
 affliction and mourning, by taking to Himself our 
 dear sister, Mrs. Cote. It was on the 21st of Sep- 
 tember that she left this world, after a short sick- 
 ness, during which she edified and consoled us. 
 Firmly established upon her most holy faith, she 
 waited for her Saviour, and has responded with joy 
 to His call to pass from this world to Him. 
 
 " Our beloved sister was forty-four years old. It 
 was ten years since she believed in Christ,* and not 
 yet a year since the companion of her life had pre- 
 ceded her into eternity. 
 
 * We have been informed by her daughter that one of the 
 circumstances which forcibly impressed Mrs. Cote's mind 
 on first joining her husband at Swanton in 1841, was the 
 sacred observance of the Sabbath by Protestant Christians. It 
 was new to her, and tended greatly to remove her early preju- 
 dices, by convincing her that tbey were really influenced by 
 the fear of God. This is a fact worth remembering. 
 
 8* 
 
90 MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE. 
 
 " And now, dear sisters, I ask your sympathies 
 and your prayers for our dear orphans, and for those 
 •who take the place of the parents they have lost. 
 u In the faith and love of Jesus, 
 
 " Your affectionate and grateful, 
 
 "Henriette Feller." 
 
HISTORY OF THE 
 
 (Sranh lignt MibbUu. 
 
 (91) 
 
HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 
 
 Canada, as all are aware, was discovered and 
 colonized by the French as early as 1608. They 
 brought with them the social and religious institu- 
 tions of the mother country, which, as plants set 
 in a new and rich soil, flourished and took deep 
 root. The political institutions, it is true, under- 
 went a change at the time of the conquest by 
 Great Britain ; but this did not in the least affect 
 the moral condition of the people. They were 
 Roman Catholics, and continued so to be ; and the 
 more sincerely and truly, as the poison of Infidelity 
 was neither instilled, nor was the demoralization 
 of the French Revolution felt among them. Popery 
 has held an uninterrupted and undisputed sway in 
 Canada for about two centuries, and has had a fair 
 chance of showing what it can do. Its fruits have 
 been evident : ignorance, stagnation, apathy, super- 
 stition, and poverty have marked its reign. In a 
 religious point of view, such was their servitude to 
 
 (93) 
 
94 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 the priests, that every avenue to their minds and 
 hearts seemed effectually and hopelessly closed, 
 and darkness, gross darkness, covered the land. 
 Like ancient Galilee, before the Advent of Christ, 
 the people sat in the region and shadow of death. 
 
 And, what may seem astonishing, no efforts of 
 any consequence had been made to evangelize them, 
 until the coming of the Swiss Missionaries. This 
 fact, however, can easily be accounted for : the only 
 people that could have attempted this work spoke 
 a different language, and moreover, as conquerors 
 usually are, were looked upon with prejudice, and 
 oftentimes with hatred. The fact of their being 
 English and conquerors, was sufficient to exclude 
 them from all access to the French population. 
 
 However, G-od had designs of mercy towards the 
 French Canadian people, and light was soon to 
 dawn upon them, which we hope will set no more. 
 
 The revival of religion, with which Switzer- 
 land was visited about 1820, awakened, as it always 
 does, a missionary spirit. The efforts of Chris- 
 tians for the conversion of souls, embraced at first 
 their fellow-countrymen, then their neighbors, the 
 Romanists of France, and at a later period their 
 attention was also directed towards Canada. It is 
 worthy of notice here, that it was in the heart of ail 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 95 
 
 humble believer that the zeal for the conversion of 
 the French Canadians was first kindled. Impressed 
 with the importance -of sending the Gospel to this 
 people, he would say to his pastor and his brethren : 
 " Do you pray for Canada ? Oh ! let us pray for 
 Canada I" 
 
 This prayer, so evidently the fruit of the Holy 
 Spirit, was soon answered. The Rev. H. Olivier, 
 pastor of a Christian church at Lausanne, left his 
 native country in 1834, for this country, intending 
 to preach the Gospel among the Indians. But, 
 seeing that the French population was deprived of 
 every opportunity of becoming acquainted with the 
 Truth, as it is in Jesus, he resolved to settle at 
 Montreal, and there he immediately commenced 
 his missionary labors. He began to preach in a 
 school-house, kindly offered to him by the Method- 
 ists for this object. 
 
 The conversion of a young Canadian, and of 
 seven or eight Irish Romanists under Mr. Olivier' s 
 ministry, and their union with the Methodist and 
 Baptist churches, aroused the priests, who put forth 
 their most strenuous efforts in order to kill in its 
 germ this evangelistic work. The irritation among 
 the Irish was so great that they went to attack the 
 Baptist church with the determination of carrying 
 off a young Irish woman who was going to be 
 baptized. 
 
96 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 The French Canadians were more quiet ; never- 
 theless the effect of the excitement was immediately 
 felt. The congregation began to decrease, and the 
 services in the school house had to be abandoned 
 for want of hearers; from that time Mr. Olivier 
 held meetings in his own house, but these were not 
 more successful. However, he had the pleasure 
 of seeing two other individuals converted to God, 
 and this was an encouragement and an earnest of 
 future success. 
 
 Mr. Olivier, notwithstanding all the opposition 
 and difficulties he met with from the enemies of 
 the Gospel, felt confident that a wide door of useful- 
 ness was opened, and he felt greatly desirous that 
 some of his brethren at Lausanne should come and 
 join him. He wrote to his friends in Switzerland, 
 placing the subject before their minds, and urging 
 them to consider its claims upon their Christian 
 charity. 
 
 There was at that time in the church over which 
 Mr. Olivier had been placed, a lady who was distin- 
 guished for piety and holy zeal. After experience 
 of the vanity and nothingness of worldly pleasures, 
 she had been led to Christ, and had taken in ear- 
 nest the profession of that faith which worketh by 
 love. In imitation of the example of her blessed 
 Redeemer, she went about doing good; visiting 
 the sick and the afflicted, and administering to 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 97 
 
 them the sweet consolations of the Gospel. Not 
 avaricious, as many professors of religion appear to 
 be, of the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, 
 the desire of her heart was to impart the good news 
 to others. She reflected with emotion on the sad 
 condition of those who are deprived of the blessings 
 of true religion, and felt a strong desire to do her 
 part towards the evangelization of the unconverted. 
 This desire became a decisive call after the death 
 of her husband and of her only child. 
 
 It is interesting to trace the origin of the prepa- 
 ration of this Christian lady for the work in which 
 she has been so abundantly blessed. u Since the 
 death of the good husband and the dear child which 
 God in his love had given me, and in his love 
 took from me," wrote Madam Feller two or three 
 years after her coming to Canada, " my heart has 
 been filled with the desire of being devoted exclu- 
 sively to the service of the Lord. At first, I sup- 
 pressed this sentiment, which I knew was very 
 contrary to the taste and wishes of my family ; and 
 also because I was afraid of deceiving myself in 
 cherishing it. But after a certain time I was con- 
 vinced that it was the call of God, and resisted it 
 no longer ; and during the seven or eight years 
 which followed, I besought the Lord continually to 
 open before me the way, and to show me what he 
 would give me to do in his service. Quite differ- 
 9 
 
98 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 exit business occupied me during this time ; nothing 
 however could satisfy my soul but the love and 
 service of my Saviour." 
 
 With such feelings and dispositions, Madame 
 Feller was likely to receive Mr. Olivier' s call. 
 The communications of Mr. and Mrs. 0., respect- 
 ing the idolatry, ignorance, and abject condition of 
 the Canadian people took strong hold upon her 
 heart. This people which spoke her native tongue, 
 soon seemed to her the one to which tho Lord 
 designed to send her. " This call," says she, " coin- 
 ciding with the expectation of my faith and the 
 circumstances in which I was placed, and being in 
 answer to a new testimony which I had sought of 
 the Lord, I was convinced that it was his will that 
 I should go to Canada, and I accordingly replied to 
 our friends that I would go, and commenced prepa- 
 rations for my departure." 
 
 Mr. Louis Roussy, a minister of the Gospel, who 
 had also been led to choose Canada as his sphere 
 of labor, concluded to start at the same time. 
 
 It was in the month of August, 1835, that they 
 set out, and came first to Havre in France, from 
 which place they intended to sail by the first packet. 
 But owing to different circumstances, they were 
 obliged to wait there over three weeks. 
 
 This time was not lost; it was spent in spreading 
 the knowledge of the truth. Mr. Roussy did the 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 99 
 
 work of an evangelist and colporteur upon the 
 wharf and in the ships, whilst Madame Feller visited 
 in company with a Christian sister a number of 
 families, to which she endeavoured to do good. 
 
 They were able to sail on the 20th of Septem- 
 ber. They landed at New York after a happy 
 voyage of thirty days, and proceeded immediately 
 to Montreal, where they arrived on the 31st of 
 October, 1835. 
 
 II. 
 
 Ten days after, an opening presented itself. 
 Mr. Roussy was invited to take charge of a school 
 on the Grande Ligne* of Lacadie. He had not 
 come with the intention of pursuing the calling 
 of a school-master, but he thought this situation 
 would afford him a good opportunity of laying the 
 foundation for future usefulness in that neighbor- 
 hood, and therefore responded cheerfully to the 
 call. As for Madame Feller, she spent the winter 
 at Montreal. In conjunction with Madame Olivier, 
 she opened a school for the instruction of French 
 Canadian children. Much of her time was also 
 spent in visiting the Roman Catholics in their 
 houses, for the purpose of reading the Scriptures, 
 
 * A Grande Ligne in Canada is a street generally straight 
 as an arrow, from five to seven miles in length, and more or 
 less remote from the villages. 
 
 LOFC. 
 
100 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 and conversing with them on the truths of the 
 Gospel. By these means, she obtained an accurate 
 knowledge of the Canadian character, and was pre- 
 pared for her subsequent efforts. 
 
 Upon their arrival, Madame Feller and Mr. 
 Roussy had found Mr. and Mrs. Olivier sick — 
 having been exceedingly tried by the climate. 
 Their feeble health continued declining, and their 
 physician advised them to return without delay to 
 Switzerland. JBut, before taking this resolution, a 
 great struggle took place in their souls. They 
 could not consent, they thought, to leave Madame 
 Feller upon this rude and strange soil, and they 
 never would have been able to persuade her to 
 return with them to their dear country. u I was 
 so sure of having followed Jesus in coming to 
 Canada," says Madame Feller, "that no human 
 consideration would have induced me to leave. I 
 was happier in remaining there alone with Him, 
 than I would have been in following my best and 
 dearest friends in returning to our native home." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Olivier had to start alone. God 
 had sent them to Canada to lead the way for others, 
 and now he called them back to Switzerland. 
 Humbly bowing down before this mysterious dis- 
 pensation of their Heavenly Father, they left in 
 the month of May of the following year. God 
 admirably sustained Madame Feller in this trial. 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 101 
 
 She says : " I had foreseen before leaving Switzer- 
 land the possibility of being placed in this situ- 
 ation. It is not with delusions that I had entered 
 on this fine career. I had sat down to count the 
 cost before building the tower. I had measured 
 beforehand all the difficulties of a missionary life, 
 and I had not forgotten isolation, abandonment, 
 poverty, even death at the hospital. I could not then 
 hesitate a moment upon the course to pursue. I have 
 come to this country to labor for the advancement 
 of the kingdom of Christ ; I had hoped I could do 
 so with my friends Olivier ; but since it is not the 
 good pleasure of my Father, I will do in my hum- 
 ble sphere what He may confide to my hands. 
 When I call to mind all I have asked of the Lord, 
 I do not wonder at being led in this path, as for a 
 long time I have hungered and thirsted to live 
 with Him and for Him. . . . Oh ! how favorable 
 will my position be to crucify myself, and lead 
 me to seek the fullness of Christ, which shall real- 
 ize that for which I have so much sighed." 
 
 Mr. Roussy, it has already been stated, had 
 undertaken the charge of a school in the parish of 
 Lacadie. Keeping constantly in view the object 
 of his coming to Canada, and anxious to see souls 
 brought to the Saviour, he did not confine his 
 instructions to the communication of general know- 
 ledge, but embraced in addition the truths and 
 9* 
 
102 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 duties of religion; and his spare time was em- 
 ployed in visiting the people, and making known 
 to them, in a familiar manner, the way of salva- 
 tion. One day as he was by the bed-side of a 
 poor sick man to whom he was endeavoring to 
 point out Christ crucified, a woman present was 
 struck with what he spoke, and judging he might 
 preach, she invited him to go, and hold a meeting 
 in her own house on the following Sabbath. He 
 was overjoyed with this opening, and went on 
 the Sabbath evening, as he had agreed to. The 
 neighbors had gathered, and the house was full. 
 They listened with attention and interest to Mr. 
 Roussy ; s discourse, and invited him to preach again. 
 He appointed the Sabbath and Thursday evenings, 
 and thus was sown the first good seed from which 
 has sprung the ever progressing and increasing 
 work of the Grande Ligne Mission. This Sabbath 
 in which the Gospel was preached in its purity 
 to attentive and anxious hearers, deserves to be 
 remembered in the religious history of Canada, and 
 this Ligne will ever be considered Grande (great,) 
 for it has been marked by the finger of God himself, 
 as the cradle of a great and important work. 
 
 The meetings were sustained and were attended 
 by some forty persons. But the priests, informed 
 of these labors, began to preach violently against 
 him, calling him a fool, an innovator, a heretic, and 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 103 
 
 all their fruitful minds could suggest, And through 
 their efforts and influence Mr. Roussy was soon dis- 
 missed from his office. He was then fully at liberty 
 to give himself to the propagation of the Gospel. 
 
 This preaching, notwithstanding the opposition 
 of the Romish clergy of the neighborhood, continued 
 to be attended by several persons, and it was 
 blessed to the conversion of two or three of them. 
 Mr. Roussy began to travel extensively, preaching 
 the Gospel wherever he could get access to the 
 people, particularly in St. Johns, Sherington, Na- 
 pierville, and Henryburgh. 
 
 III. 
 
 During this time Madame Feller was residing at 
 St. Johns. She had gone there, after Mr. Olivier' s 
 departure, hoping to find an opportunity for useful- 
 ness; but her endeavors failed of success through 
 the opposition of the priest, and her attention was 
 ultimately directed to Grand Ligne. " Judging/ ' 
 she says, " it would be best to associate my labors 
 with those of brother Roussy for the advancement 
 of the kingdom of the Lord, I visited the different 
 places where he was received, in order to fix upon 
 one where I might station myself. In going to 
 Grande Ligne twice a week, I soon saw that this 
 was my place. Several families had already aban- 
 doned Popery, and the adults as well as the children 
 
104 HISTOBY OF THE 
 
 needed a school. One difficulty was the want of a 
 place of residence ; there was not a single house 
 where I could be lodged. The family, in whose 
 house preaching had been regularly held, offered 
 me their garret, in which I had a chamber fitted up 
 of 20 feet in length, 10 in width, and 6 in height. 
 
 The House in which Madame Feller began her School. 
 
 This I divided into two apartments that it might 
 serve for a bed-room and school-room, The prepa- 
 ration of this diminutive abode was for me an act 
 of faith. I was without the means of defraying 
 the expense, as all that I possessed had been 
 absorbed by the purchase of what was indispensable 
 for keeping house upon the most moderate scale, 
 and aid upon which I had calculated, failed me. 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 105 
 
 But these difficulties did not arrest rue in my 
 course. I felt assured that my task was prepared 
 at Grande Ligne, and that my Heavenly Father 
 intended to grant me a shelter there. Unknown to 
 any Missionary Society, sent by God alone, I waited 
 upon Him, and according to his promise I was not 
 confounded. I was able to pay for fitting up my 
 garret, through a friend of the Lord and of my 
 work, who loaned me the necessary sum." 
 
 Madame Feller became a resident at Grande 
 Ligne, in October, 1836. She immediately opened 
 a school with twelve children, belonging to families 
 that had left the Romish church. Soon the num- 
 ber increased to twenty, and it was sustained in 
 spite of the opposition and clamor of the priests. 
 It was a season of arduous yet delightful effort. 
 At nine in the morning, the children assembled for 
 instruction, which was continued until noon, re- 
 sumed at two P. M., and closed at five. Not con- 
 tent with the labor of instructing the children in 
 the day, she opened an evening school for adults, 
 with twelve scholars; in addition to the regular 
 pupils, a considerable number attended the conclu- 
 ding exercises, which consisted of the reading of 
 the Scriptures, familiar conversation on the pas- 
 sages read, and prayer. So interesting were these 
 exercises, that they were often prolonged till mid- 
 
106 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 night, and were eminently effectual in enlightening 
 the minds of the poor Canadians. 
 
 These engagements, together with visits to those 
 in the neighborhood who were willing to listen to 
 the Gospel, and kind attention to the sick, severely 
 tasked the energies of the missionaries during the' 
 winter. In the following June, 1837, the heat 
 being insupportable in the garret, the exercises 
 were conducted in a barn. About that time the 
 Rev. J. Grilmour, then Pastor of the Baptist Church 
 at Montreal, visited the Station, and being deeply 
 affected by the inconveniences and privations en- 
 dured by Madame Feller, undertook to provide 
 some suitable accommodations. As a temporary 
 measure a small house was erected, chiefly by means 
 of contributions from Christian friends at Montreal, 
 Champlain, and Plattsburg, which was ready for 
 occupation in the month of October. That build- 
 ing served for a dwelling, a school-house, and a 
 place of worship, till the mission house was com- 
 menced in the Fall of 1838. 
 
 A small church, organized in June, 1837, and 
 consisting at first of six members, numbered in 
 September sixteen communicants ; and besides these 
 converts, many showed favorable dispositions in 
 regard to the Gospel, so that the missionaries began 
 to be very much encouraged. 
 
 The hour of trial, however, was drawing nigh. 
 
GRANDE EIGNE MISSION. 107 
 
 The fire of persecution was soon to be kindled* 
 against them, and they were to suffer for the 
 Truth's sake. 
 
 In the course of October, the memorable insur- 
 rection in Canada broke out. The Catholics around 
 Grande Ligne, long incensed by the preaching, the 
 school, and the success of these devoted mission- 
 aries, and supposing that the law could no longer 
 punish their violence, took advantage of the reign- 
 ing confusion, and commenced a series of malignant 
 outrages. Mr. Roussy was deliberately shot at, 
 but was providentially preserved. A mob assem- 
 bled around the house of Madame Feller at night, 
 to the number of several hundreds, who with fright- 
 ful yells and horrid imprecations, ordered the mis- 
 sionaries to leave the country, threatening to set 
 fire to their dwelling, and murder them, if they 
 should refuse to comply. In the same manner they 
 went to the houses of all who had renounced Popery, 
 and commanded them either to abandon their new 
 religion or their country, under pain of fire and 
 sword. 
 
 Such disorder prevailed in the country, that the 
 government could afford them no protection; and 
 hence after serious and prayerful consideration, they 
 unanimously resolved to give up all, and flee to the 
 United States. " On the first of November/ ' savs 
 Madame Feller, "with shocking roads, we set out. 
 
108 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 sixty in number, on our way to Champlain, (N. Y.,) 
 where we hoped to find our city of refuge. Our 
 poor friends were only able to take with them their 
 small baggage ; all their crops remained behind, and 
 were lost to them. They were all without money ; 
 those who had only a cow were obliged to sell it in 
 order to pay the entrance duty at the American 
 custom house. To human view, nothing could be 
 more sad and miserable than this fugitive band, but 
 to the Christian eye, it had its bright side, as it was 
 for the name of Jesus that it was reduced to such a 
 pitiable condition." 
 
 The inhabitants of Champlain provided with 
 great liberality for the urgent wants of those perse- 
 cuted Christians, and were especially kind to Mad- 
 ame Feller and Mr. Roussy. 
 
 At the expiration of two months, they returned. 
 All their dwellings had been preserved, but the 
 deepest poverty awaited them, as their crops and 
 furniture had been mostly carried off or destroyed. 
 Still as the influence of the priests had been consid- 
 erably weakened by the political events and dis- 
 putes of the preceding year, and as the mission was 
 enabled, in the spirit of Christian kindness, to pro- 
 tect some of their own worst enemies from the retri- 
 bution of re-established law, prejudices against 
 them were diminished, and their influence among 
 the people greatly increased. Many families hitherto 
 
GHANDE LIGNE MISSION. 109 
 
 closed against them, became accessible to the preach- 
 ing of the Gospel. 
 
 The labors of the mission proceeded with in- 
 creased success, during the year 1838 — Mr. Roussy 
 being actively engaged in preaching at various sta- 
 tions, and Madame Feller in the school, and in pri- 
 vate visitation. But in the month of November, 
 civil war again broke out around them, and their 
 neighborhood became the scene of revolutionary 
 operations. A prominent leader of the insurgents, 
 who had always cherished deep hostility to the mis- 
 sion, sent a band of armed horsemen to make Mr. 
 Roussy a prisoner, and bring him to the camp. 
 Through the appeals of Madame Feller, the angry 
 troop, who came to the house full of rage, were 
 softened and conciliated; they left Mr. R. in his 
 own house, and pledged themselves that neither 
 they nor their property should be molested during 
 the war. The pledge given, was literally redeemed. 
 While all around them were pillaged, and all who 
 refused to join the insurgents voluntarily, were cru- 
 elly taken prisoners, by the kind providence of God 
 the mission family and property were untouched. 
 When the disturbance ceased, they were enabled to 
 be of essential service to great numbers of the 
 Canadians, by their testimony before the magis- 
 trates, and the consequence was a gratifying in- 
 crease of influence to the mission. Women, with 
 10 
 
110 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 whom, till then, they had had little or no inter- 
 course, came to Madame Feller, entreating her 
 with tears, to use her influence to deliver their sons 
 and husbands from arrest and danger. 
 
 IV. 
 
 The need of a Normal School, to train up 
 young persons for teachers and colporteurs, was 
 now deeply felt, as well as of a building suitable 
 for such an institution. The missionaries saw how 
 important it was to educate Canadian converts, who, 
 according to their ability, would labor for the ad- 
 vancement of God's kingdom among their fellow 
 countrymen ; and after due consideration, purchased 
 a piece of land, and, with a faith of which there 
 are but few instances in the world, commenced to 
 build upon it. Neither individuals, nor societies 
 had pledged themselves to aid such an undertaking, 
 but they felt assured it was of God, and nothing 
 doubting they looked to Him for the necessary 
 means. The building, fifty-eight feet in length by 
 thirty-eight in width, was erected through the lib- 
 erality of Christian friends, of various denomina- 
 tions, especially in the United States ; for which 
 liberality the mission was mostly indebted to the 
 Rev. E. N. Kirk, of Boston. This gentleman, 
 feeling a lively interest in this enterprise, travelled 
 with Madame Feller, recommending her warmly to 
 
GRANDE EIGNE MISSION. Ill 
 
 the Christian ladies of Boston, New York, Philadel- 
 phia and other places, and was eminently successful 
 in securing funds, as they were needed. 
 
 The Mission House, commenced in the Summer 
 of 1838, was set apart for the cause of God, on the 
 9th of August, 1840. Mr. Kirk preached the ser- 
 mon, on the words : — The people which sat in dark- 
 ness, saw great light ; and to them which sat in the 
 region and shadow of death, light is sprung up. — 
 (Mat. iv., 16.) He dwelt eloquently upon the 
 evangelical light, which had begun to dawn upon 
 benighted Canada, and the need of its divine rays 
 for every soul. Other ministers engaged in the 
 services of this occasion, which were exceedingly 
 interesting, and greatly blessed. 
 
 After the erection of the Mission House, the 
 good Providence of God was strikingly manifested 
 in providing a teacher for the new institution. Mr. 
 Normandeau, a Priest of the Roman Catholic 
 Church, had been engaged as Professor in the 
 Seminary at Quebec for five years. After a long 
 season of doubt and anxiety on the subject of 
 religion, being then in the neighborhood of Grande 
 Ligne, he sought the aid of the Missionaries, and 
 by their instrumentality was led to receive the 
 truth as it is in Jesus. He engaged immediately 
 in the good work, and was received as a fellow 
 laborer with much joy and gratitude. Referring to 
 
112 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 this event Madame Feller observed, in a letter to a 
 friend at New York: — a Our oldest pupils had 
 reached a point beyond which they could proceed 
 no further ; more advanced instruction had become 
 necessary, and it gave me pain to see the impossi- 
 bility of attending myself to their lessons, with the 
 multitude of other duties to fill up my days. I 
 was often obliged either to break off from a recita- 
 tion already begun, or to keep persons waiting who 
 had come from several leagues distant; and this 
 conflict was of every day's occurrence. Mr. Roussy, 
 less occupied with details, could more easily appro- 
 priate a few hours to the scholars, but absence from 
 home, journeys and preaching, made it impossible 
 to observe regularity, and the prospect before us 
 presented only confusion and disorder, while we 
 never felt so much the need of system and order in 
 our school. Often we spread before the Lord our 
 solicitude, entreating him to send prompt relief, 
 and in our little faith we thought He could only 
 answer us by sending out some one from Switzer- 
 land : and behold, our God, so full of goodness, 
 in order to encourage our faith, has given us what 
 we dared not even ask for — a priest, converted under 
 our own roof, as a brother, friend, and fellow 
 laborer." 
 
 Reviewing the history of the first five years of 
 the Mission, in a letter dated November 1, 1841, 
 
GRANDE EIGNE MISSION. 113 
 
 Mr. Roussy observed, " What a difference in our 
 present position, in our prosperity, in our hopes; 
 in fine, in every thing ! Then (1836) we were but 
 two poor, feeble, weary beings; our dwelling was 
 a miserable cabin, where, with our first converts, 
 we worshiped God. We held a school in a barn ; 
 and the enemy, in order to destroy this feeble com- 
 mencement at a blow, drove us all out together. 
 But now, behold us in a good and commodious 
 stone house, founded by faith, and built by the 
 gold and silver of the children of the Lord; in 
 which are a beautiful chapel, two school rooms, an 
 educational institution, where are instructed and 
 supported eleven pupils, all converted, and pre- 
 paring for the work of God, and with the prospect 
 of having a greater number soon ; sixty Canadians, 
 who have given their hearts to Jesus, and a goodly 
 number of others rescued from the papacy. Oh ! 
 what favors ! what abundance of grace I" 
 
 V. 
 
 A new field of activity was opened, the fol- 
 lowing year, in St. Pie and its neighborhood — 
 a parish forty-five miles east of Grande-Ligne. 
 It pleased God to kindle the light of the Gospel in 
 that district, by means of a New Testament given 
 to a man of that place by Mr. Roussy, and of a 
 Bible given to a woman by her son, a young man 
 10* 
 
114 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 employed in Massachusetts. These two possessors 
 of the Word of Life met, and conversed together on 
 the subject of religion. They both arrived at the 
 conviction that they were not in the right way. 
 And, anxious to become acquainted with the Truth, 
 the man went to Grande Ligne for instructions, 
 where he stayed three weeks. During that time he 
 was converted, and when he had returned home, he 
 hastened to tell the inquiring woman what great 
 things the Lord had done for him. One of her 
 eons, who heard of this man's religious experience, 
 spoke of it to a neighbor, and he to another; the 
 result of which was, that all these persons soon 
 became concerned for their souls, and invited Mr. 
 Koussy to come and teach them what they must do 
 to be saved. Mr. Eoussy lost no time in complying 
 with their invitation, and fifteen to twenty persons 
 assembled to hear what he had to say to them from 
 God ; who gave efficacy to his Word for doctrine, 
 for reproof, and for instruction. Eight of them 
 immediately abandoned the Romish church, whose 
 error had just been exhibited to them, and joy- 
 fully submitted to the teachings of the Bible. 
 
 St. Pie was alternately visited by Messrs. Koussy, 
 Normandeau and Callier, and the good work con- 
 tinued to go on and prosper. During the summer, 
 a school was opened in a small room lent by one 
 of the converted families, in which the meeting were 
 
GRxlNDE LIGNE MISSION. 115 
 
 also held. The erection of a building for the use 
 of the Mission became urgent ; and the missionaries 
 looking to the "Bank"' of their Heavenly Father 
 received the necessary funds for this object 
 
 VI. 
 
 The joyful sound of the Gospel had also 
 been heard at Berea, in the township of Milton, 
 some twelve miles from St. Pie. Mr. Beaudin, a 
 Canadian converted in the United States, and then 
 engaged in the field of the Grande Ligne Mission, 
 had labored for a year past among the people of 
 that settlement. But the time for an extra effort 
 seemed to have come, and Dr. Cote (whose Life 
 precedes this sketch) was called to undertake the 
 task. He went to preach the gospel to the dwellers 
 in those woods, whose lives were very profligate. 
 He was accompanied by Mr. Beaudin. They were 
 two days, says Mr. Roussy, in reaching the school- 
 house, a distance which, in the winter, can be 
 walked in three hours. The autumn rains had 
 rendered the paths through these woods so difficult, 
 that nothing but the zeal of our brethren could 
 have surmounted the obstacles in their way. 
 Though exhausted with fatigue on their arrival, 
 they made no delay in applying themselves with 
 vigor to their work. After kindling a fire, they 
 cut down a tree to serve at once for a table, and 
 
116 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 seats for their audience ; put up a temporary bed in 
 one corner of their school-room; and commenced 
 their protracted meeting. For the first few days 
 there were no visible effects, though they held two 
 meetings daily. All the people, men, women, and 
 even small children, readily assembled; no one 
 remained at home. The intervals between the 
 meetings were employed in reconciling quarrels; 
 for these families, who had lived in continual strife 
 and hatred towards each other, perceived the neces- 
 sity of first harmonizing their differences, in order 
 to obtain the blessing of Heaven. Our dear bro- 
 ther Cote, who performed the office of peacemaker, 
 had the pleasure of seeing them acknowledge their 
 faults one to another, and interchange the language 
 of forgiveness. On Sunday each one came to the 
 meeting with feelings of penitence, and in expecta- 
 tion of the Divine blessing. The exposition of the 
 Scriptures was listened to with marked solemnity ; 
 and when those who wished were invited to speak, a 
 female, naturally timid and retiring, rose and spoke 
 of the wants of her soul, of the love of God, and of 
 the duty of repentance, with such animation, free- 
 dom and energy, that each one grew pale and 
 trembled. After addressing them in most im- 
 pressive language, she fell on her knees, and, 
 weeping, poured out her heart in fervent prayer for 
 herself and all present. The whole assembly melted 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 117 
 
 into tears ? and, believing that she spoke and prayed 
 under the teachings of God's Spirit, bowed their 
 knees and successively offered their earnest sup- 
 plications to God for pardon. Our friends, Cote 
 and Beaudin, were filled with sacred awe, and 
 inexpressible emotions of gratitude, at the sight of 
 this little company of Canadians humbled and 
 weeping before the throne of the heavenly grace. 
 This meeting, which continued almost until night, 
 was followed by another in the evening ) which was 
 still more blessed than the first. The text, " Come 
 now and let us reason together, saith the Lord/' 
 (Isa. i. 18,) was attended with power to their 
 hearts ; the love of God subdued them ; tears flowed 
 in abundance; and most of them, in anguish for 
 their sins, cried, with the Publican, " God be mer- 
 ciful to me a sinner ; ,J and with the Jailer, H What 
 must I do to be saved V } How delightful was it to pre- 
 sent to these souls, anxious for salvation, " the Lamb 
 of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." 
 They separated at a late hour; and many, in the 
 deep distress of their hearts, spent the whole night 
 wrestling, like Jacob, with the Lord until he had 
 blessed them. And, God be praised, he was found 
 of many, who came in the morning with lively joy 
 to declare the boundless grace which they had 
 experienced. 
 
 " This happy Sabbath was the commencement of 
 
118 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 a happy week, devoted to the reading of the Word 
 of God, to prayer and to praise. No one could 
 apply himself to any work, for the Spirit of the 
 Lord visited these cabins. Every day some soul 
 was relieved of the burden of sin by trusting in 
 Christ. Twenty-five persons, as we hope, obtained 
 pardon and peace at this time, making, with the 
 first converts, the number of twenty-nine worshipers 
 and followers of Christ in this forest. Among the 
 converts were some who had been exceedingly 
 abandoned, and capable of any atrocities ; and who, 
 at the commencement of the meetings, offered gross 
 insults to our brother Beaudin, but whom he had 
 disarmed and conquered by patience and forbearance. 
 One of them hated him so violently, that he had 
 resolved to beat him in such a manner that he 
 should have no wish to return to these woods ; but 
 not daring to do it in cold blood, he followed him, 
 with insults, for the purpose of provoking him to 
 say or do something which might excite his anger, 
 and make it easy to execute his design. But as he 
 only replied to him in mild language, or kept silent, 
 he was, at every attempt, entirely defeated. His 
 wife, who was one of the first to embrace the gospel, 
 urged him to listen to reading and change his 
 course ; but, wearied with the repetition of a sub- 
 ject which he detested, and vexed because his wife 
 had become a Christian, he determined to abandon 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 119 
 
 his family and depart to the States, that he might 
 shun these annoyances. He had not proceeded 
 two leagues when, stricken in conscience, he re- 
 traced his steps, came and acknowledged his sins, 
 and besought them to pray for him. In a few days 
 after, he found joy and peace in believing." 
 
 VII. 
 
 A Mission House was built at St. Pie and a log 
 school-house at Berea in 1842, which were both 
 consecrated to God on the 25th of December of the 
 same year. We extract from a letter sent by Mr. 
 lioussy to the Secretary of the Evangelical Society, 
 of New York the following interesting account of 
 these services. 
 
 " We made our arrangements," says Mr. E., " to go 
 and consecrate the house for a school and for wor- 
 ship, at St. Pie, and also that at Milton, (Berea.) 
 We v went as a family-party, leaving at Grande- 
 Ligne only a sufficient number to take care of the 
 house. Christmas day had been appointed for the 
 meeting, and at an early hour one hundred Cana- 
 dians and twenty English, with their pastor, had 
 assembled to meet us. 
 
 It was with ardent Christian feeling that we 
 entered upon the occupation of this u house of 
 prayer," in the name of our eternal God — Father, 
 Son, and Spirit; entreating Ilini to consecrate it, 
 
120 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 and make it a centre of heat and light for this 
 country. Our hearts were moved ; and with lively 
 emotion we returned thanks to God for all that he 
 has done for us in so short a time. It would have 
 delighted us if you, dear brother, and a goodly 
 number of our American and Swiss friends could have 
 been present with us. They who have labored and 
 prayed so earnestly for our poor Canadians, would 
 have felt grateful, and encouraged to still further 
 efforts, by seeing them gathered at the feet of Jesus 
 to receive his word; an attentive group of those 
 who, but a year and a half since, were buried in the 
 darkness of superstition. We held three meetings 
 on the Sabbath, and two on Monday, and God 
 granted to us delightful evidences of his presence. 
 After the exposition of the Scriptures at the evening 
 service, a free invitation to speak was given to those 
 present; and successively fifteen individuals of 
 every age and condition addressed us in words 
 which thrilled our hearts with lively joy. Here 
 was a man asking u What must I do to be saved Y* 
 There, one beseeching us to pray for him, that 
 God would convert and save him. Another ex- 
 horted his brethren, recently converted, to grati- 
 tude and holiness of life. A fourth, related to us 
 what sweet peace of soul he had enjoyed since he 
 gave his heart to God. At last, a father of a family 
 and his wife who had once listened to the gospel, 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 121 
 
 but for several months had neglected it, came, 
 bathed in tears, entreating us to receive them as 
 prodigals ; asking pardon from God for the evil they 
 had done to his church ; pardon from the children 
 of God for having so deeply grieved them ; pardon 
 from the unconverted, for the occasion of reproach 
 they had given to them. Oh, how delightful was 
 that evening ! What heavenly language flowed 
 from the lips of all ! The Spirit hovered over us, 
 and we blessed the love of God toward these poor 
 sinners. Those who knew the Saviour, wished to 
 fly to his arms, to be purified wholly, and to enjoy 
 his presence eternally. How holy was the place ! 
 It was truly the house of God — the gate of Heaven. 
 On Tuesday morning, ten sleighs, carrying forty 
 persons, all animated with joy and peace, started 
 for Berea, where we were received with acclama- 
 tions of delight and gratitude. Never before have 
 those woods had so many visiters. All was life and 
 animation. Our dear Bereans came to us rejoicing, 
 to describe to us their happiness in the wonderful 
 grace of God towards them. More than eighty were 
 present, and we had two meetings, one at evening and 
 the other on Wednesday morning, at which we were 
 blessed with the same favor that the Lord had be- 
 stowed on this place several weeks previous, when he 
 consecrated it to himself, filling it with his presence. 
 It was a thanksgiving, rather than a dedication. It 
 11 
 
122 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 was edifying to us to hear many of these new dis- 
 ciples, aged men and women, express, in their 
 Canadian dialect, the sentiments of their hearts. 
 Each spoke with emotion of the love of Jesus who 
 had arrested them in their career of folly and ruin, 
 and plucked them as brands from the flames. The 
 intelligence, piety, knowledge of the Scriptures and 
 of the way of salvation, which many manifested, 
 surprised us all. Evidently the Spirit of Christ 
 had instructed them, and what teacher can instruct 
 .like him?" 
 
 VIII. 
 
 It was evident that St. Pie would become an 
 important station, and it was exceedingly desirable 
 that a preacher should occupy it. Dr. Cote 
 was chosen for this post. 
 
 A residence of two years at Chazy, where he 
 had labored as a missionary, had prepared him for 
 more extensive engagements and greater usefulness. 
 He removed to St. Pie in October, 1843, and 
 entered on a course of diligent labor, which was 
 abundantly blessed. 
 
 A violent persecution had arisen a little before 
 against the converts of this place, of which a brief 
 account must here be given. 
 
 For some time the priests of that neighborhood 
 had been actively engaged in exciting the enmity 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 123 
 
 of their people against the protcstant Christians. 
 The priest of St. Pie especially had manifested, at 
 intervals, much ardor in representing them aa 
 hypocrites, seducers, and people sold to wickedness. 
 Finally, excited more and more, the villagers deter- 
 mined to set themselves against the Protestants. 
 They availed themselves for this purpose, of a little 
 meeting held on the evening of Sunday, the 27th 
 of August. Messrs. Houssy and Cote, who were pre- 
 sent, heard that the Komanists intended to come 
 and give them a charivari* Very soon, a number 
 of young persons assembled before the house, and 
 commenced making their horrible noise, to the great 
 satisfaction of the crowd whom they drew around 
 them. "We went out," says Mr. Eoussy, "to 
 speak to them, and they replied to us by a shower 
 of stones. This was the beginning of charivaries 
 and of violent scenes, which lasted fourteen days 
 and which terminated with burning the house of 
 one of our brethren/ ' 
 
 They appealed to the protection of the law, and 
 the guilty were so punished as not to renew their 
 outrages, and at the same time to see that the Pro- 
 testants, animated with the spirit of Christ, were 
 ready to forgive, whilst they claimed the rights to 
 
 * A serenade with horns, pans, and other discordant 
 instruments. 
 
124 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 which they were legally entitled. Dr. Cote's medical 
 advice was asked for by some of the persecutors, 
 and as it was readily and gratuitously granted, they 
 were led to reflect on the happy influence of the 
 Gospel, and to inquire after the truth. So that all 
 contributed to the glory of God in the advancement 
 of his blessed kingdom. 
 
 A church was organized at St. Pie in 1844, and 
 a call tendered to Dr. Cote, who accepted, and was 
 ordained on the 30th of August of the same year. 
 The Rev. Dr. Baird of New York, and the Rev. 
 Messrs Wilkes and Tanner, of Montreal, with other 
 ministers engaged in the exercises of the day. 
 
 During these second five years of the Mission's 
 operations, some thirty persons were brought to the 
 knowledge of the Saviour under Dr. Cote's minis- 
 trations at Chazy. By the blessing of God upon 
 his labors at St. Pie many more were converted, so 
 that upwards of one hundred persons, affording 
 satisfactory proof of repentance towards God, and 
 faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, were received into 
 church-fellowship in that place ; and these numbers 
 added to the converts at Grande-Ligne and its 
 neighborhood, presented a total of about three 
 hundred souls, rescued from ignorance and sin, and 
 introduced into that kingdom which is " righteous- 
 ness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 125 
 
 IX. 
 
 If we now glance at the last five years' success, 
 from 1846 to 1851, we find that the missionaries 
 and the supporters of the Mission have abundant 
 reason to bless God, and feel encouraged. During 
 that period about a hundred individuals have been 
 hopefully converted to God, and added to the 
 churches, in the different stations. New missiona- 
 ries have entered the field, new instrumentalities 
 have been used, so that a broader foundation for 
 future usefulness has been laid, and an important 
 preparatory work accomplished. 
 
 In 1849, a new station was opened at St. Mary, 
 a parish twenty miles east of Grande Ligne, where 
 several individuals had manifested an interest in 
 religion. Dr. Cote, who resigned his pastorate of 
 the St. Pie church, in consequence of a collecting 
 tour in the United States, was sent there after his 
 return to Canada. 
 
 He met at first with great opposition from the 
 priests. It was carried so far, that one day some 
 eighty individuals, at the head of whom was their 
 pastor, actually came to destroy his house and 
 drive him away ; but were prevented from making 
 an attack by the earnest expostulations of the 
 neighbors. Notwithstanding this, his efforts were 
 much blessed. The congregation gradually inc reasc d, 
 11* 
 
126 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 and souls were converted. Fifteen families, mostly 
 in good circumstances, left the Romish church 
 to follow the Truth, as it is in Jesus. They united in 
 building a large chapel, to the erection of which 
 they have generously contributed. 
 
 In June of the same year, Mr. N. Cyr, one of 
 the fruits of the Mission, after graduating at the 
 Theological School of Geneva, returned to Canada 
 to engage in the Missionary work. And in Sep- 
 tember the year following, Mr. T. Lafieur who 
 had also gone to the same institution, joined his 
 brethren and friends of the Grande Ligne Mission. 
 
 The Mission had to record with sorrow about 
 this time (October, 1850,) the death of one of its 
 devoted laborers, Dr. Cote. He was called unex- 
 pectedly to his reward, at a time when his services 
 might have been so exceedingly useful at St. Mary. 
 In bowing submissively to this mysterious dispen- 
 sation of their heavenly Father, they were happy to 
 see that his kind providence ha.d provided in Mr. 
 Lafleiir a new laborer to fill up this vacancy. 
 
 Mr. Lafieur was ordained to the ministry, March 
 19, 1851. Mr. Cyr preached the sermon from Rom. 
 x. 1-3. In expressing his pleasure at seeing his 
 friend consecrate himself publicly to the service of 
 the Lord, he made a touching allusion to the time 
 of their conversion ; he called to mind that it was 
 ten years since together they had left the Romish 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 127 
 
 Church, that it was together they had commenced 
 the study of the Bible, and had offered to God their 
 first prayer. Madame Feller says, "I was over- 
 come with joy in seeing one, whom I had watched 
 over as a pupil and loved as a son, enter this holy 
 career." 
 
 As a new token of the providing care of our 
 Heavenly Father, they have welcomed Mr. Charles 
 Roux, late student in Geneva, who joined the 
 missionary band in July 1851. Mr. Roux was 
 baptized in November. It was with mingled feel- 
 ings of friendship, Christian lov^e, and gratitude, 
 that Mr. Lafleur led into the water one with whom 
 he had held sweet communion, with whom he had 
 studied on another Continent, and in whom he now 
 finds a fellow-laborer. 
 
 Until 1850 the education of Canadian girls had 
 been limited to a few, received at the Grande Ligne 
 institution, which was mostly designed for the 
 other sex. It was seen then that a separate school, 
 and more systematic teaching was exceedingly 
 desirable. It was consequently resolved that an 
 institution of this kind should be established at St. 
 Pie. This School was opened in the Fall under the 
 superintendence of Mademoiselle Jonte, assisted 
 by Miss Boardman, a young American lady, con- 
 verted while studying French at Grande Ligne. 
 This institution has been very successful, and one 
 
128 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 year's trial warrants the belief that it is destined 
 to do a good work. 
 
 Mr. Tretreau, formerly a Roman priest, and now 
 a preacher of the Gospel, besides assisting Mr. La- 
 fleur in the work of evangelization at St. Pie and 
 Salem, has the charge of the primary school of the 
 former place. His superior qualifications will enable 
 him to raise the standard of study in his school, 
 and draw a large number of scholars. 
 
 A new school, under the superintendence of the 
 minister of St. Pie, will be opened at the u Ameri- 
 ican Village/ ' two miles distant from the Mis- 
 sionary Station. English Protestants have united 
 with French Protestants to establish a school sepa- 
 rate from the Catholics, in order to insure a 
 Christian influence in the classes by the reading of 
 the Scriptures. The schoolmaster is a pious- young 
 man, formerly a pupil of the Grande Ligne Institute. 
 Catholic parents have promised to send their chil- 
 dren to our new school ; the Catholic one, they say, 
 is worse than nothing. 
 
 Mr. Eiendeau, whose labors as an evangelist have 
 been blessed in Salem district, having been called 
 to Grande Ligne in 1851 to help Mr. Normandeau 
 in the educational department, Mr. Lafleur and 
 Mr. Tetreau took charge of his place. It being de- 
 cided in 1852, that Mr. Eiendeau should enter the 
 
GRANDE-LIGNE MISSION. 129 
 
 University at Rochester, N. Y., Mr. Bost became 
 his successor at the Grande Ligne. 
 
 This department of oar missionary operations is 
 now in a prosperous state, contributing its part to 
 the advancement of the great work. At the 
 Grande Ligne Institute, 26 pupils have pursued 
 their studies under Rev. L: -Normandeau, the Prin- 
 cipal, and Messrs. C. Roux and T. Riendeau, licen- 
 tiates and teachers, and have made considerable 
 progress. • Some of those boys and young men 
 show a good deal of talent, and promise to be very 
 useful in their respective callings. The number of 
 scholars is now about 30. 
 
 The Girls' School at St. Pie contains at present 
 20 scholars, and is becoming more and more useful 
 and interesting. 
 
 Besides these two institutions, eight primary 
 schools have been in operation during the past 
 year, furnishing an instruction in the elementary 
 branches of education, pervaded by the spirit of 
 Christianity, to more than two hundred children. 
 
 Mention must also be made of the Mission Press, 
 established through the efforts of friends at the be- 
 ginning of 1851, as its operations, though inde- 
 pendent of the Mission, are carried on under its 
 auspices, and are designed to cooperate in the same 
 cause. A periodical was started under the title of 
 Le Semcur Canadien } (The Canadian Sower,) 
 
130 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 which has met already with considerable success, in 
 spite of the opposition of the Romish clergy, who 
 are doing all they can to prevent its circulation. 
 Through this paper, and tracts and pamphlets issued 
 at its office, we can reach a goodly number of 
 French Canadians of the educated class, hitherto 
 inaccessible to the teachings of the Gospel. In 
 presence of the success attending this effort, and in 
 view of the good to be done, the editor, Mr. Cyr, 
 trusting to God, has decided to issue the Semeur 
 weekly, and remove it to Montreal, where it is 
 to be hoped, it will be still more productive of good. 
 It goes already into more than a hundred different 
 places, and is read by at least five hundred French 
 Canadians of the educated class. Our aim is to 
 introduce it into all the parishes of Lower Canada, 
 where French readers are to be found. It is the 
 only Evangelical paper in the French language now 
 printed on the Continent of North America. We 
 have reason to believe that the Press, this great in- 
 strumentality of modern times, will do its part, 
 under the blessing of God, towards the evangeliza- 
 tion of Canada. 
 
 X. 
 
 Madame Feller and Mr. Roussy came to Canada 
 under the patronage of a Missionary Society in 
 Switzerland, from which Society they continued for 
 
GRAND LIGNE MISSIOX. 131 
 
 a time to receive occasional aid. During the years 
 1837 and 1838 their operations were carried on 
 under the auspices of the Canada Baptist Mission- 
 ary Society; some assistance was also received from 
 the United States and from Scotland. In the au- 
 tumn of the last mentioned year their connexion 
 with the Canada Baptist Missionary Society was 
 dissolved, the missionaries being then of opinion 
 that they could labor more efficiently if they were 
 independent of all religious parties. They conti- 
 nued to do so for nearly seven years, during which 
 time they received numerous and valuable tokens of 
 Christian regard from all denominations. The fos- 
 tering care of the Foreign Evangelical Society ren- 
 dered essential service to the cause. Pecuniary grants, 
 varying from 550 to 1200 dollars, were received an- 
 nually from that Society. Besides this, the patronage 
 of the Society stimulated the zeal of Christians, 
 and encouraged the formation of numerous Ladies' 
 Associations, which raised considerable sums of 
 money, and otherwise assisted the mission. Aid 
 was also received from Switzerland, England, and 
 Canada. The funds annually realized from all these 
 sources gradually increased from 1,800 to. 5,000 
 dollars, more than three-fourths of which were fur- 
 nished by friends in the United States. 
 
 In the autumn of 1845, proposals were made to 
 enter into a more definite and more permanent 
 
132 HISTORY OE THE 
 
 arrangement with the Foreign Evangelical Society. 
 That arrangement was not found practicable. After 
 much deliberation and prayer, the Missionaries came 
 to the conclusion that their operations could no 
 longer be conducted on the plan which had been 
 pursued for several years past, and a re-union with 
 the Canada Baptist Missionary Society was effected. 
 
 The management of the affairs of the Mission 
 was intrusted to a Committee, consisting of four 
 members of the Committee of this Society, and 
 four members belonging to Grand Ligne. 
 
 The Canada Baptist Missionary Society proceeded 
 to make such grants for the Mission, as its means 
 allowed, and these grants, with contributions from 
 American Baptists, secured by the annual visits of 
 Madame Feller and Dr. Cote, and the continued bene- 
 ficence of steadfast Pedobaptist friends, have from 
 that time formed its, resources. But unhappily the 
 Canada Baptist Missionary Society, notwithstanding 
 the generous contributions of some of its members, 
 became unable in 1848, from a variety of causes, 
 to render the usual assistance to the Mission. 
 
 It was then thought that the American Baptist 
 Home Mission Society, whose seat of operations is 
 in New York, would be the means that God designed 
 to employ to support the Grande Ligne Mission. 
 But the Constitution of this society did not per- 
 mit its Committee to embrace the entire work. All 
 
GRAND LIGNE MISSION. 133 
 
 it could do was to grant salaries to the ministers 
 and licentiates, an aid which was received with gra- 
 titude, and that covers about a third of all the ex- 
 penses. For the other branches of the work, that 
 is, for the Institution of Grande Ligne, the Girls' 
 School at St. Pie, the Primary Schools and the Col- 
 porteurs, the Mission is dependent upon the libe- 
 rality of those Christians who take an interest in 
 the spiritual welfare of this benighted country. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Such is the Grande Ligne Mission enterprise* 
 such its origin, its progress ; such the blessings that 
 have rested upon it. In the short period of fifteen 
 years it has been instrumental in bringing to the 
 knowledge of the Redeemer some four hundred 
 French Canadians — a result the more cheering and 
 encouraging as the mass of this people had been for 
 two centuries in ignorance, superstition and dark- 
 ness. Even in their agricultural operations there 
 was not thought and enterprise enough among them 
 to induce the adoption of the most obvious and 
 easy improvements : — ancient and slovenly modes of 
 husbandry, old and inconvenient implements were 
 pertinaciously retained. Education was entirely 
 neglected, so that in large districts of country, but 
 here and there a solitary individual among the 
 " hahitans" (farmers,) was able even to read. 
 12 
 
184 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 But this state of things has begun to pass away. 
 In regard to agriculture, education, enterprise and 
 free inquiry, great changes for the best have taken 
 place, and will be favorable under the blessing of 
 God to the advancement of his cause. Light has 
 dawned upon this benighted land, and Christians 
 can confidently hope that the fruits already ga- 
 thered are only the earnest of a great harvest. 
 
 Now embracing a field of 2750 square miles, the 
 Grande Ligne Mission enterprise is arduous and 
 important; involving solemn responsibilities; re- 
 quiring great faith; often calling into exercise 
 qualities seemingly incompatible — simplicity and 
 prudence — affection and firmness — calm considera- 
 tion and ardent zeal ; and withal so conducted and 
 controlled, in the wisdom of God,- as that, while 
 extraordinary success has accompanied the endea- 
 vors of his servants, for which they cannot be suffi- 
 ciently grateful, they have been continually re- 
 minded of their absolute dependence on his provi- 
 dence and grace, and taught, not without painful 
 experience, that it is God who " worketh all in all." 
 
 The providence of God has thus opened a wide 
 and effectual door in Canada, and He calls upon his 
 children to exert themselves more and more to 
 spread the truth and cause the light to shine. 
 
 The French population in Lower Canada is now 
 about 700,000, and they are all Catholics except 
 
GRANDE EIGNE MISSION. 135 
 
 those that have been brought to the knowledge of 
 the Gospel within fifteen years. Education is be- 
 ginning to be prized, and reading to become a 
 habit, among them. Where one newspaper was 
 taken fifteen years ago, there are now more than 
 ten. It is an encouraging sign. 
 
 Until two or three years ago the whole French 
 Canadian Press was devoted more or less to the Ro- 
 man Catholic clergy. Now two papers boldly op- 
 pose the clergy, and tell them some of the hardest 
 truths. The editors, like Dr. Cote formerly, have 
 become disgusted with Popery, and yet are in dan- 
 ger of confounding it with Christianity. Happily, 
 such men can now be reached by means of the 
 evangelical little weekly sheet, called Le Semeur 
 Canadien, or the Canadian Sower. 
 
 In casting a glance upon what has been accom- 
 plished in our missionary field during the past year, 
 we feel compelled to pour forth our gratitude before 
 the throne of our great Head, thanking him for the 
 success granted to his feeble instruments. 
 
 Behold, a church under construction at St. Mary ; 
 the house at St. Pie enlarged sufficiently to accom- 
 modate twenty pupils ; a Society formed at Grande 
 Ligne for the purpose of sustaining the Mission ; 
 nineteen persons baptized and united with the 
 churches in the different stations ; a number of 
 Romish families brought under the influence of the 
 
136 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 Truth ; a new field open at G-ranb y, and promising to 
 be fertile ; the establishment of a religious paper in 
 the French language which disseminates the Truth 
 among the higher classes of Canadian society ; these 
 are visible effects of the blessing that God has 
 poured out upon the Grande Ligne Mission. 
 
 Yes, God blesses our field, and he will continue 
 to bless it. Many doors are opened ; the influence 
 of the priests diminishes rapidly; they are daily 
 losing ground, and beating a retreat; numerous 
 appeals come to us from divers places, but our fee- 
 ble band is already overworked. Even now we 
 need six more ministers, and a greater number of 
 colporteurs. The harvest is great and ripe, but 
 there are few laborers; let us then pray the Lord 
 of the harvest to send us more, and to sustain with 
 his Spirit from on high those who are already en- 
 gaged in the blessed work. 
 
 Among the signal benefits of our God, the past 
 year, we would not fail to acknowledge the warm 
 sympathy that he has excited for us in the hearts 
 of many of his children; a sympathy which has 
 not alone consisted in words but in deeds. After 
 having thanked God, who has inspired such senti- 
 ments, it is to us an agreeable duty to thank them 
 cordially for their generous aid. We beg the Ame- 
 rican Baptist Home Mission Society, we beg the 
 Ladies' Societies formed in aid of the Grande Ligne 
 
GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 137 
 
 Mission, we beg all those Christians who have con- 
 tributed to the support of the Mission to accept the 
 most sincere assurance of our gratitude. 
 
 In April, 1852, Madame Feller writes: — "You 
 will learn with pleasure that we are blessed in our 
 work, more than we have been. The good and 
 powerful hand of our God is ever busy in preparing 
 new ways and opening new doors, where the happy 
 missionaries may penetrate with the Gospel." In 
 July she gratefully announced that the Mission was 
 free from debt. At the same time the Mission was 
 strengthened by the arrival of Mr. J. Laborde, a 
 colporteur from France, driven thence by the revi- 
 ving influence of the Jesuits in the government of 
 that unhappy country. Mr. L. seems to combine 
 strength of purpose, with simplicity and piety. 
 Thus by destroying religious liberty Louis Napo- 
 leon, without knowing or desiring it, contributes to 
 the evangelization of Canada. 
 
 The influence of Truth is more and more felt ; it is 
 communicated from relatives to relatives, from friends 
 to friends, and is becoming the general subject of 
 conversation — particularly at St. Mary's, where the 
 new and beautiful chapel has been advancing to 
 completion. It was recently opened for public 
 worship, under interesting circumstances. A new 
 field of usefulness, also, has just boon added at St. 
 Isidore, 40 miles west of Grande Ligne. 
 
138 GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. 
 
 Let the Preacher, the Teacher, the Colporteur, 
 and the Evangelical Press be sustained, and, with 
 God's favor, Canada East will be enlightened, ele- 
 vated, and in due time enjoy all the various bless- 
 ings of true religion. The wilderness and the soli- 
 tary place shall he glad for them, and the desert 
 shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 DEDICATION OF THE PROTESTANT 
 CHAPEL AT ST. MARY. 
 
 On the twenty-second day of September, 1852, 
 we dedicated to the service of God the first build- 
 ing in our Mission exclusively devoted to public 
 religious meetings. It appeared to us as a new era 
 in the history of our Mission, for although we have 
 other places of worship that we call chapels, they 
 are but large rooms in our missionary houses set 
 apart for schools, as well as for public religious 
 meetings. The weather was not very favorable for 
 the occasion, it being a cold and showery day, and 
 the roads not inviting either; still we had the 
 greatest gathering of French Canadian Protestants 
 we have had since the beginning of the mission. 
 We could not but compare this dedication with 
 that of the Grancle-Ligne Mission House, and bless 
 and adore our divine Redeemer for the almost in- 
 credible transformation wrought among us, during 
 
 139 
 
140 APPENDIX. 
 
 the lapse of twelve years. Twelve years ago the 
 G-rande-Ligne Chapel was filled chiefly by our 
 English and Anglo-American friends, who were 
 hailing with joy the opening of a new field, full 
 of promise ; to-day a much larger chapel is filled 
 mainly "by French Canadians, who have been 
 brought to the knowledge of the Gospel and of 
 Jesus by the labors of the missionaries. Then the 
 gathering of our friends from abroad and of an- 
 other language, rather strengthened the idea held 
 among the Roman Catholics, that the religion 
 preached by the missionaries was a foreign reli- 
 gion, good enough perhaps for English people, but 
 altogether useless and pernicious to the French; 
 but now they must be convinced that Protestantism 
 has become a French Canadian thing ; for it has 
 taken root in the midst of an entirely French popu- 
 lation, and has already ramifications in an immense 
 number of families. Twelve years ago, the minis- 
 ters who filled the pulpit and addressed the people 
 on the occasion were all, without exception, of 
 foreign origin, and only two or three of them 
 speaking the French language ; to-day, of the six 
 ministers present, five tf them were missionaries 
 in the field speaking the French language, and 
 three of the last named were French Canadians by 
 birth and education. One of them formerly a 
 priest in the Roman Catholic church of his coun- 
 
APPENDIX. 141 
 
 try. The two others were present, it is true, at 
 the first dedication at Grande-Ligne, but more 
 from curiosity than any thing else ; for on their 
 return home after the services of the day, they 
 strengthened each other in their religious views, 
 by saying that after all the Roman Catholic reli- 
 gion was the first religion, and consequently the 
 best. But God in his own good time showed them 
 by a never to be forgotten experience where the 
 better religion was found. There was on this day 
 of dedication, " a joy unspeakable and full of glory" 
 in many hearts, at the remembrance of God's deal- 
 ings towards us. 
 
 Three services were held on the same day. At 
 the two first, the house was quite full, making an 
 audience of about three hundred persons. The 
 dedication sermon was preached in the morning 
 by Rev. L. Normandeau from the words of the 
 inscription on the front of the chapel : " Preach the 
 Gospel to all nations." The discourse was very 
 appropriate and very impressive, especially when 
 recalling what the first missionary in this field 
 had to encounter and to suffer, when he began to 
 preach the Gospel to the French Canadian popula- 
 tion, which, although nominally Christian, was a 
 stranger to the Good News of a free redemption 
 by the sacrifice of Christ. And to call a new 
 nation to the kingdom of God, our beloved brother 
 
142 APPENDIX. 
 
 had chosen Canada as the place where to obey the 
 command of his Master. What subject of encou- 
 ragement and gratitude for him who is to fill this 
 new pulpit, among those who call themselves his 
 children ! In the evening, another discourse was 
 preached by the Rev. T. Lafieur on the words of 
 Christ to Peter : " Thou art Peter, and upon this 
 rock I will build my church." A great number 
 of Roman Catholics had been invited to attend the 
 meetings, and although desirous to come and see, 
 and even having promised to do so, but a small 
 number was present. The priest had exerted him- 
 self enough to prevent them, by saying that such 
 curiosity would not be guiltless. 
 
 The building is of brick, 52 feet in length by 
 36 in width, with a steeple not yet finished. It 
 is very neat, simple and pretty. Pleasantly situ- 
 ated on a fine piece of meadow given by a French 
 Canadian convert for church and grave yard. The 
 whole is surrounded by beautiful elm trees, and the 
 back part of the lot is separated from the neigh- 
 bors by a small brook bordered by small bushes. 
 The chapel is the last house of the village towardc 
 the south, and the view from the front is very 
 pleasing as it rests on three or four surround- 
 ing mountains, or rather hills, isolated in a flat 
 country. 
 
 Although very happy to see that the house was 
 
APPENDIX. 143 
 
 filled mostly by French Canadian converts, we 
 were sorry that a greater number of our American 
 Christian friends were not present to convince 
 themselves that their prayers had been answered, 
 and their donations sown in fertile soil. We 
 hope that they will feel as much encouraged in 
 this blessed work as we are ourselves ; that they 
 will continue to help us to build the church of 
 Christ in this benighted land, and before long we 
 shall speak to them again of other chapels erected 
 to preach the Gospel without tradition, of houses 
 that are for many the door of heaven. New fields 
 are white and open before us; they require the 
 efforts of the missionary, and the liberality of the 
 Christian. May our Lord himself grant us his 
 Spirit, that we may gather together new and im- 
 mortal materials for his church and for our eternal 
 happiness. — Grande-Ligne Mission Register, Oct. 
 1852. 
 
 A YOUNG MAN LED TO THE BIBLE. 
 
 An intelligent young man called one day on one 
 of the missionaries, asking for a religious book he 
 had seen and wished much to read. The mission- 
 ary had not then the work desired, but he promised 
 to procure it for him, and off< r< 1 him in the mean- 
 time other publications which he thought might be 
 
144 APPENDIX. 
 
 interesting to him. The young man took " Baxter's 
 Call/' half a dozen of tracts, along with a few num- 
 bers of the French religious periodical, Le Serneur 
 CUnadien. 
 
 A week or two after, he called again, and said he 
 had been much pleased with the publications, and 
 now he wanted to purchase the Bible. Haying met 
 with many quotations from this blessed volume, he 
 was desirous of possessing it. The missionary was 
 very happy to see that the reading of the books and 
 periodical had awakened such a desire in his heart, 
 and sold him a copy of the Scriptures, praying the 
 Father of lights to illuminate his soul. His prayer 
 has been answered ; in a visit paid to him lately, 
 he found him in the most happy state of mind. He 
 appears to read the Word of God with a true desire 
 of knowing the way of life, and it is evident that 
 the Holy Spirit is acting upon his heart. He is 
 very near the kingdom of God. 
 
 As his version of the Bible is a Catholic one, his 
 wife reads it with interest, and the light is also 
 beaming upon her soul. One of his neighbors is 
 also reading his books, and finds them very good. 
 
 This is the more interesting, as the place in which 
 they live is most entirely inhabited by Roman 
 Catholics, and has been hitherto inaccessible to 
 the Gospel. — Ibid. 
 
 END. 
 
 U o £ h 
 
 1 KX 
 
14 
 
 int 
 
 Ca: 
 
 bei 
 
 Ch 
 
 ha< 
 
 no 
 
 wi 
 
 wa 
 
 ve 
 
 pe 
 
 an 
 
 ¥i 
 
 ha 
 
 he 
 
 ap 
 
 of 
 
 tb 
 
 V€ 
 W 
 
 al 
 
 tt 
 C 
 tl 
 

 ^°^ 
 
 ^ Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process 
 
 Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
 Treatment Date: Sept. 2005 
 
 i*ia£N* ^ *° v ^^ PreservationTechnologies 
 
 ■^p cj^ «• rC(\l^ A W0RLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 
 
 \f* £> • ^oaSl^ 1 1 1 Thomson Park Dr,ve 
 
 Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
 (724)779-2111 
 

 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 "library of congress