The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-07-25
POPE PLEASED
WITH CANADA
STRONG WORDS OF PRAISE FROM
HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH.

QUEBEC, July 25.-A state perform
ance of the pageant on the plains of
! Abraham, to be witnessed by the prince
Of Wales, is today's feature of the
tercentary program. Tomorrow his roy
al highness will attend special religious
services in the English cathedral. The
principal religious event of the ter
centennial will be the performance to-
morrow Of the Messe Solennelle on the
Plains of Abraham, a solemn high
mass on open battlefield, which will
be one of the most imposing religious
services in the history Of American
Catholicism.
Pope Plus X, in papal bull, has
addressed the Canadian people on the
occasion of the tercentary, commend
ing the celebration, approving Of the
justice Of British rule in Canada and
paying a magnificent eulogy to the
memory of Champlain
The decree, which is very lengthy,
commences with a recognition of the
propriety and even the duty, dictated
BY gratitude Of celebrating, at proper
epochs, the great deeds performed and
benefits rendered by those who have
gone before us. 1T is this duty of
gratitude" says the pope to the Cana
dian bishops and people, that 1t ap-
pears to us that you are going to ac-
complish upon the occasion Of the ter
centenary Of the founding of Quebec
and of the two hundredth anniversary
Of the death Of Francis de Montmoren-
cy Leval. Both from the greatness Of
these heroes and from the point of
view of the Importance Of your city Of
Quebec, it is evident that the noble Ca
madam nation has good reason to honor
this double. event by special demons
tration. And it is not to be wondered
at that from even outside Of your coun-
try there should be efforts to contrib
ute to the brilliancy and solemnity of
the fetes that are now so full of prom
Use. We are anxious that our own
voice should not be absent from this
joyous concert of grateful people. Our
special affection and the close relations
which unite us, forbid this
The church enjoys among you a great
er liberty than perhaps anywhere else,
and it gives us pleasure to recognize
there the just influence of the British
crown at the same time as the courage
and perseverance of Catholic citizens"
Speaking of the attachment of Ca
madam Catholics for the head Of the
church the pope makes special notice
of the Zouaves, who fled to the defense
of the papacy when it's temporal es-
tates were attacked by its foes
After insisting upon how much the
Canadian people owe to the Catholic
church, the pope says: IN the earliest
days of your history appears the
names of Samuel de Champlain
French by birth, remarkable for his
genius as for his courage, but more
still for his Christian wisdom
Charged by the king of France to
found a new colony on your continent
he had nothing more at heart than the
propagation in these regions of Cath
olicism. and he believed, with reason,
that he could not better serve his king
than by enlarging the glory of Jesus
Christ. By the foundation and dedica-
tion of a temple he early consecrated
the cradle of the city Of Quebec, which
was destined to be the centre from
which was to spread the influence of
Christian civilization throughout the
North American continent"
The letter also contains a beautiful |
eulogy of the various early Christian
in Canada, Jesuit and |
others. some Of whom died the deaths |
of martyrs, and lastly Mgr. de Laval
and his doings are extolled, including |
is founding of the Seminary of Que |
&c, from which originated Laval uni |
versity.