The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-05
The Churches Of
Historic Quebec
Life Among the Habitants Is Very
Primitive, Yet Very Happy.
MANY MEMORABLE STRUCTURES
Focts About the Celebrated
Basilica. the Sec Of the Archbishop Of
Quebec-Splendor of the Protestant
Churches-Political Problems.

Quebec, Dec. 2i.-Ecclesiastica Que
bee Is hardly less attractive to the visi-
tor than Military Quebec, for In the
seminaries and converts Is
embodied the religious life Of a city still
breathing the monastic spirit of the
Seventeenth century. A full descrip-
ton of the many places and objects OF
interest that we visited here, and were
pointed out to us,would take me far be-
yond the limit have prescribed to my
self or space allotted me. ! will, there
fore. make brief mention Of only few
Of the most important.
The churches Of Quebec are neither
SO numerous nor as fine structures as
those in Montreal. Perhaps the most
interesting church in Quebec Is the
"Basllica," or Roman Catholic cathe-
dral. This church Is the See of the arch
bishop Of Quebec, elevated to that rank
by Pope Plus TX, in 1874, and IS the
only church Of that dignity In America.
1t occupies the site of the ancient
church of Notre Dame, erected in 1863,
by Champlain. and founded by Bishop
Laval in 1866. The present structure
dates from 1859, and is the most foreign
looking building in Quebec. Its exte-
rior is quaint, irregular and homely.
The interior Is massive, though not un-
pleasing. 1t will seat 1000 persons.
From its tower a chime of bells sound
at O'Clock in the morning and in the
evening
THE high altar" Is richly adorned,
and there are several chapels in the
aisles. 1t contains many rare and beau
tiful paintings, mainly brought from
France, as early as 1893. The sacred
vestments are most gorgeous in adorn-
ment, and said to be the finest in Amer
lea. Many of them were gifts from the
French kings. They are shown to the
visitor on application to the verger,
with the accompanying fee. within
its walls are inferred the remains of
Bishops Laval, Plessis, Champlain, the
heroic explorer; Count Frontenac, the
chivalric governor, and Others Of Que
bees most notable historic figures.
Near ITO the Basilica is the cardinals
palace, the official residence of His EN-
inence, Cardinal Taschereau, arch
bishop Of Quebec, surrounded by quiet
gardens. In the grand reception room
are the throne of the cardinal, busts
and portraits Of all his predecessors,
and his rare gifts from the Pope.
The Seminary of Quebec adjoins the
Basilica on the north, and covers sew
eral acres with its piles OF quaint and
rambling buildings and neat gardens.
The quadrangle, with its old irregular
buildings, the spotless neatness of the
grounds, the massive walls, etc, will
claim the interest of the visitor. No
such building could be seen anywhere
save in Quebec. The seminary was
founded in 1868, by Bishop Laval, who
endowed it with great wealth. 1t Is the
oldest school in Canada, and has been
the central power of the Catholic
church in this province for over two
centuries. Visitors are conducted over
the building in a courteous manner.
Laval University. ....
Crowning the cliffs attempted by the
American General Montgomery in 1775
stands the stately edifices of the Laval
university, the chief seat of French cul.
ture in the Dominion. 1t is located be-
tween the seminary gardens and the
Iamparts. 1t was founded in 1852 and
grew out of the Seminary of Quebec
The main building is $50 feet long and
| five stories high, built Of cut stone and
| cost S225, 900. The roof is a fiat, sanded
platform, protected by heavy railing
where the teachers and students prom.
enade and enjoy the grand view of the
| city, the river and the mountain seen.
cry. There are several hundred stu.
dents and teachers who are recognized
in the streets by their peculiar uniform
Its large hall of convocation has seats
| for 1000 persons, besides the galleries
| 1t has museum, a library Of nearly
| 100000 volumes, and an art gallery
| These contain valuable relics. collec
| lions and art treasures. Here are
are a number of Indian relics, imple
| ments and weapons Of Huron antiQui
ties. Here are prepared specimens OF
Canadian animals, fish and birds, and @
herbarium of 10000 plants.
| The chapel contains many valuabl,
paintings, mostly the works of the OLE
masters. 1t Is claimed to be the fines
gallery on this continent. outside o.
New York. Fourteen colleges and fou
grand semnaries are affiliated to thi.
university. Upon the ramparts anc
walls overlooking the university Is
battery of smooth bore cannon.
| ursulinc Convent.
This convent is located in Gardei
street, and is spacious pile of build
ings covering seven acres. with its gar
dens, offices, ETC., and founded In 1886
the oldest convent in Canada, Their
are forty nuns who are devoted I,
teaching girls, and also to working II
painting, embroidery and fancy ar.i
cle=. The parlors and chapel may h
visited by permission OF the chaplain
Here too are some valuable paintings
the works Of the most noted artists.
In the shrines are relies of st. Gle
ment, martyr, and other saints from tn
Roman catacombs;. the skull of 81
Justus, Q692). a parcel of the holy cross
in 1867, parcel of the crown Of thorns
brought from Paris In 1880. etc; bu
perhaps it's chief attraction. above eve
the ecclesiastical relics enshrined her,
is the skull Of Montcalm, whose remain
are Inferred within the precincts of tn
convent, In a grave made by a she
which brust In this chapel during tn
bombardment Of 1759. over his re
mains Is this inscription In French
Here is buried the High and Might
Lord, Louis Joseph, Marquis Of Mon,
calm" Carefully preserved unde
glass, In the chaplain's parlor, Is Nom
calm's skull, which IL shown to tn
visitor as an object worthy OF grea
veneration.
Another institution highly priced b
Quebecers IL the Hotel Dleu Conver
and Hospital, founded In 1889, 1t is tn
most extensive pile of buildings in GU,
bee, and will accommodate $50 patients
The convent church contains many va
liable pictures and precious relics. an
the bones OF many French martyrs al
preserved here.
Morrin College.
Morrin college-the divinity hall {
the Presbyterian denomination--is
massive stone. building, and the onl
nom Episcopal Protestant college In III