Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-29

Eleven French Canadian Catholics Become
Baptists.

At Maskinong, . pretty little French
Canadian village in the Roman Catholic diocese
of Three Rivers, Canada. on Thursday eleven
French Canadian Catholics solemnly abjured
the Roman Catholic religion and embraced the
Protestant faith. This wholesale conversion Of
people who are devotedly attached to the
Catholic Church is the elimination OF long
standing quarrel between the Roman Catholic
bishop Of Three Rivers, Mgr. Lafeche, and his
parishioners.
Nearly two years ago the Roman Catholics at
Maskinong unanimously decided that they
needed a new church. The location Of the
church was the point upon which they could
not agree and which eventually led 10 the break
in the church there and finally TO the deser.ion
of eleven of its members.
The priest of the place decided with a
number OF his flock that the best place for the
new chapel to be built was on the north side of
the Maskinong river. He bought twelve acres
Of land there. and, according TO custom, planted
a cross in she center OF it.
The residents of the south side of the river
protested against the chapel being pat any,
where except OF the south side. The residents
Oh the north side would hear of no change
A petition was sent to Bishop Lai!eche of
Three Rivers by the people of the south side
asking him to alter his decision and let the
side people were wild with delight when the
bishop replied that he really thought the south
side would be the best spot after all.
To the annoyance of the northern residents
the cross was then transplantcd TO the south
side. protest was then sent to the bishop by
the north siders. The bishop would not alter
his mind a third time and said that the church
must be bull. on the south side
The south siders then set TO work and built
small Catholic chapel on their side. They pro-
yided it with an altar and all that is to be found
in an orthodox Catholic church.
For months hundreds of the N met there every
Sunday, chanted hymns and recited their beads
and prayers. The candles on the altar vert.
lighted and all was kept in readiness for the
priest, who never came.
Early In July Of last year the Rev. Father
Hendricks of he Eeaemptorlst order of Mon
treal went 20 Maskinong to preach a retreat.
When he arrived there he declared that he
would go 10 the dissenters chapel on a Sunday
morning. declaring that he would be able to
bring them all back to the parochial church
The people were on their knees in prayer
when the priest entered. He walked TO the altar
ratings. when he was asked if he had come TO
bless the chapel. Then a scene Of great excite
ment followed as the priest holding his crucifx
in his righ hand, said tina. they were commits
ting great sin, and that their meeting place.
instead of being blessed, was cursed. A scene
of great disorder followed. many Of the women
fainting. 1t was only with great energy that
some were restrained from using violence. The
priest left the chapel and none followed him to
the church.
For months after the people met as usual in
the chapel for prayers, but their number
dwindled each succeeding week. The women
remained away, going quietly in the early
hours to low mass at the parochia1 church
Some Of the former dissenters did not 20
to any place OF worship.
A few months ago the Rev. Burwash, q Bap-
fist minister, visited the place and commenced
to preach to the people in the small chapel.
The result was that Thursday eleven of the
leading residents Of the village were received
into the Baptist communion. The unusual
event has created . great commotion among the
habitants.