The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-22

tam parish having been compelled to sur
render their farms to meet the tax laid
upon them for the erection of magnif-
cent church edifce, which seemed like
some huge monster that had dwarfed by
its presence the wretched dwellings of
the Pensioners. Every tourist has re-
marked the tier-spired churches, solidly
built of stone, and generally of large size,
which are conspicuous in every hamlet.
We might take pride in them, but for
the fact that they represent an upright
eous privilege of tithing and taxing "a
relic of the old French regime, which I'M
fortunately survived the British conquest.
Lower Canada has always been Roman
Catholic, but not always, as it is now,
Ultramontane. Time was when the Pres
byterian congregation in Montreal could
meet in the Parish church after Mass had
been said. That time has forever gone
by. 1t is now war to the knife against
Professionalism. My friend DR.. Wither-
spoon, may be interested by the following
deliverance of the Provincial Council of
the Hierarchy of the Province Of Quebec,
held in 1878: 1--WE assert that the
Church is perfect Society Independent
of the civil power, and SUI erior to it..
Between the religious authority of this
Society, the fullness of which authority
dwells in the Roman Pontif, and the
political power of the Christian ruler,
there exists from the very nature of
things, such a relation, that the latter is
to the former, not only negatively, but
also positively subordinate, although in
directly so. And by this from a pas
toral Of the Bishop Of Montreal in 1875,
Che is referring to the approaching cleo
tions for members of Parliament): CAS-
suredly those do not deserve your suf-
frages, who show themselves hostile to
religion and to the divine principles
which it teaches; who advance and main
tain in their speeches and writings, errors
which the Church condemns; who refuse
their cures the right to- give instructions
with regard to the conscientious duties
devolving on candidates as we'll as the
electors, pretending that they ought not
In any way to mix themselves up in cleo
tions; who would have the Church sepa-
rated from the State who support doc
trines which are condemned by the Syl-
labus who oppose all intervention of the
Pope, bishop, or priests in the affairs Of
the government" ETC., etc. The Jesuits
have been five times expelled from Eng
land. The strong hand of the civil law
was brought to bear upon them in the
early history of Canada There may be
limit to our endurance even now.
The people of our French Province
have received few additions by immigra-
ton these $50 years, and the darkness in
which their clergy have, according to the
fixed policy of Rome, kept them, has pre-
vented progress. With the exception of
few in the large cities, they are what
they were when France parted with the
colony, simple-hearted, amiable, reli-
gious, and non-progressive people. They
they are priest-ridden. Educate him,
and the Canadian hGbitamt is the peer of
any man. Give him the gospel, and he
developes the characteristics of the mar
tyr. Good old Father Chiniquy has
fought Rome for twenty years; he has
been frequently stoned; "a times arrest
ed; and he has never shown the white
feather. His life has been endangered
many times, but his cool head and brave
heart have carried him safely through
Instances might be multiplied of the
highest heroism on the part of those who
have been prosecuted for righteousness
sake.
1t is this mass of Romanism to which
our main efforts are directed, while we
are not unmindfnl of the scattered French
communities throughout the other Pro-
vinces. Our methods comprise colportage,
teaching, and missionary work proper.
They are usually followed in the order
named. The colporteur, with his pack,
and with loving heart underneath his
rough clothes, is welcomed where the
teacher would not be tolerated and the
teacher can gather together in school the
children of those whom the colporteurs
books have enlightened, when they would
scarcely venture to attend public reli-
gious service. The thoroughly trained
missionary is wanted soon. He sows and
reaps on a soil prepared to his hand.
Our machinery would be very incomplete
without the French department of the
Theological College at Montreal, which
has constantly from II to 18 French stu
dents in attendance, besides the English
students who may be qualifying them
selves for the French work. Out of the
81 graduates of this institution, % can
conduct services in both English and
Frnnob