New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-04-16
FRENCH CANADIAN MISSIONARY
SOCIETY

SERMON BY REV. DR.. wILkEs, OF MONTREAL.
Last evening the Rev. DR. WILKES, of Montreal
delivered a Sermon in the Church Of the Purtans
tthe Rev Dr. Cheevers UnioL-square, on the Evan
gelizaton Of the French Canadians, before the New
York Ladies Association in aid of the French Cana
dian Missionary Society There a numerous
congregation present. The tenor Of the discourse
was mainly to display and insist on the Christian
duty of contendipg or warning against the Roman
Catholic 81 stem enforced among the French Cans
disns. Several OF the usual arguments for Protest
antism against Csthocity we're used and the
preach er particularly dwe the enormity of keep
ING from spy class Of men and women tbs, Bible
which God gave 10 the at large an open book,
euide 10 salvation. DR.. W. then gave short his-
tory of the establishment OF the Catholic religion in
Canada More than two centuries ago toe French ~
rnne nj ten out colonies TO Canada and gave large
prsnfs of land several ecclesiastical bodies among
Others 10 the Jesuits These estates have increased
enormously ir value, chiefly owing to the energy OF
the Protestant population. The grants 70 the Jesuts
have been ccnkscsted; but there is n,w motion to
r,store them TO that Order, and II will probably be
successfal The French Canadians number about
ECO 600 souls. Thy are sunk ia the Rrossest super
tti,iop; vet theyye not bad people, and though deep
ly immersed In and much attached to- their errors,
thew are not angry in their feelings, nor hostile in
their Intercourse With those they cal herecs. TIE
French Capsdians particularly superutious: much
more than the PEG e OF France Iney are fu Of re-
les And images and ready to sccep any new dOls,ry
that even already a college has been founded in Qie
bee 10 the honor of the recent dogma Of the lmmscu-
late Conce ptiOn OF the Virgin Mary, which the sub
seryien. Ii gislature hurried through even before
single stuoent rad been procured. The r. L.
Mission AIRY Society commenced their lsbOrs II Mon-
treal by getting two Evan gelicai preachers from
France AID Switzerland. they also employed dis
tbuiors OF tracts ana Bibles snd opened 81 Egangel
ling school in which now n' re than hundred pu-
ps receive the truth il IL in Jesus and severs con-
versions have taken place. There are also country
schools taught by native young men, by wh:h theres
a spreadr Of the good seed There are Mssion1ies
employtd sno ore more in training; there are %
teschers The Society enjoys the confidence Of many
societies n Great Britain and the United States tie
expenditure las. year sl3 1885, the income 1928
lees than sum; the whole present debt "a - ooo
In Montreal there about 20 O0J Protesiants and
more than double the number Of Cs,hOi 81 "a or p
Protestant clergy men and 100 20 $50 Catholic priests,
who are ever most Rnselhshly engaged IN l.ooring
for tier faith-itus tie odds Il great az sinsI tue
ruth, The Know Ncthirg movement hes been used
by the priests 10 induce the Roman Catholic populs
ton of The States 70 emi crate 70 Csnsia II may be
called the headquarters Of su9eFftiion On ihn COn-