The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-06-28
Canada and the Canadians.
From Father yetromile,a rra,olsl

the best fortified city in America. - It wa,
settled by the French in 1908, but it's name
ls of Indian origin, Kebeke lit become.
narrow). The river st. Lawrence, which
is twelve miles wide above the city, mar.
rows, as its waters contract, to a mile ia
breadth by Cape Diamond, on which is
built the strongest citadel in America II
is very peculiar city, compactly built OF
stone, it's principal portions surrounded by
walls and gates; and its populous streets
narrow and winding. 1t exhibits in its
environs the beauty of an European capital
but although in the same latitude with the
finest parts of Europe it endures in winter
the cold of Siberia, the thermometer falling
20 forty degrees (Fahrenheit) below zero,
"hlie It's summers are very warm, rising to
one hundred degrees. In the midst Of a
great continent, it's beautiful, safe and
spacious harbor, about four hundred miles
from the ocean, shows fleets of foreign
vessels The soil is fertile and we'll culti-
waited, and it enjoys an extensive COM
merce, principally with England Its
exports are three times greater than it's
imports, showing that Canada, of which
Quebec is the seaport, produces more than
she needs, and the exchange is nearly
was that the lamented Hon. Darcy MCGEE.
the learned and true Irish patriot, tried to
draw the emigration of his countrymen to
Canada.
Nine-tenths of the Canadians, not on}v
OF the city of Quebec, but of all Lower
canada, are Catholics, descendants, for the
most part, of the French, and retain the
religion, the politeness, uprirhtness. and
easy manners of their forefathers; they are
good Catholics, refined, and intellig gent, and
their devotional practices, whether in the
church or in their private families. are a
matter of astonishmeut to Americans tray-
cling in Lower Canada,
IT,, L.
as general thing, accused of lukewarm
ness, of abandonment of their religion. and
OF want of liberalty in providing for the
support of their religion and their clergy.
But these accusations are unjust and un-
true. That there are individuals of this
description is undeniable; but they are
the exception, and cannot be taken as
samples of the Canadian people; excep-
tlons of this kind are found, more or less.
among the emigrants of every nation.
These charges come from New England and
the north western border of New York
State, where the Catholics are mostly
Irish, with language and customs different
from those of the Canadians. Many prac-
tces of the Irish are national, unknown to
the Canadians, who also have their national
customs unknown to the Irish. They are
accustomed to live in parishes, where pro-
vision is made for the support of the church
and the clergy; they pay a 1.-THE of what
jhey raise; are accustomed to a strict obser-
7ance of the ceremonies of the Church, to the
solemn administration of the sacram ents, to
! frequent ringing of bells, to devout process |
ions, to solemn funerals, consisting, not in |
! long line of carriages and single teams, as |
unfortunately the case in many parts of |
he United States, Notwithstanding tho
horts of many Jealous missionaries to pre-
ent it, but solemnized in the church. with
solemn Mass of Requiem, funeral SER
ION and service, low Masses, etc, accord
lg to the custom of Catholic countries.
Ike Canada; they are accustomed to
aaonlcal law, and to the fixed rales by
hitch the Catholic Church is governed:
ley ahominate profaue music in the church |
nd are scandalized tn see the church
lrned, SO to speak, into theatre or public
all.
Upon emigrating to the United States.
ut understanding the English language,
ley see different customs, regulations not
accordance with the canon law, but ac-
to circumstances they ma.
lrally wonder at it; they see unaccus-
med collections, apart from the pew rents.
es etc, taken up in the churches, and
IN neither understand nor habtuate them
lives to the practise on this account thew
e accused of !ukewarmness and lack of
ligiOn. For nearly fifteen wears | have
id many Canadians in my missions
'metimes they have formed the PRINCIPAL ,
>1tlon OF my congregation-and when I
I'VE explained to them the difference
etween tLeir own country and this, they
lderstood, and cheerfuliy submitted to
e regulations and practices obtaining
re, and l have found them as pious. F
a!ous, aud liberal rs any other Catholics.
hey possess many good qualities they J
sober; do not open grog shops in their
Elements and are not led by dema s
CUES, as are the people of some other j
unfortunately nor DO they ioin
cret societies, of which they have 4 hor-
r. They take good care Of their families.
struct their children, assemble their :
nily together, and say with them their !
ening prayers, and every evening recite
-ir beads parents and children perform
; month of May devotions together, and
lat pains are taken to prepare their chill
IN for first communion, etc. Where D
ire are Catholic schools, they ALWAYS =
ID their child en- to be educated in them
preference to the goddess schools eff
lerica and to these thingsis mainly due
control which the parents retain, even gu
er their children's marriage, over them ne
y watch the company kept by their Nd
ldren ; parents are, in reality, masters PE
the house, and do not keep simply a T
riding house, in and out of which the
ldren can come and go at their pleasure,