The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-08
MIDWINTER CHAUTAUQUA ENDS
 WITH INTERESTING LECTURES
Series of Talks and Entertainments Given Under Auspices of Pastors Association Comes to Close --Hstorica| Ad 3:
 dresses by Dr. R. Stuart Macarthur

midwinter ChautauQua assemblies, the series of Chautauqua lectures and concerts given in Colonial hall under the auspices of the Pastors associa- tion came to close last evening.
 The Rev. George NJ. Brown of the First Methodist Episcopal church. who conceived the idea of the midwinter ChautaQua assemblies for Bridgeport, addressed the gathering last night and outlined some of the aims of the ChautauQua movement and the plans for the future in Bridgeport. At the end of his address he called for the Chautauqua salute which was given with hearty good will
 Yesterday afternoon the Rev. Dr. R.. Stuart MacArthur of New York, one of the most widely known lecturers in the United States, delivered a most interesting address concerning. 'The Fall of Quebec and the Founding Of America
 In introducing his topic Dr. Mac Arthur took occasion to say that he had lectured in this city a year ago at the midwinter Chautauqua assem- bly,, and also before one of the wo- mems clubs of the city, and said he would never forget the hospitality with which he has been treated in this city. Of his lecture he said it is en- tirely new and has been prepared within the past few weeks and had never before been delivered, Bridge port being first favored.
 pr. Macarthur spoke as follows:
 Few Americans realize how large a part Frenchmen has performed in the history of the American Repub- lie. Dr. Hosmer, in his book entitled, The History of the Louisiana Pur- chase" quotes Thiers. in his History of the Consulate and Empire as say ing: "The United States are indebted for their birth and for their great ness to the long struggle between France and England We all know that Americans general hesitate to believe this statement. They prefer to think that American independence was secured simply by American however, that there were 1000 French troops at Yorktown. and that Count de Grasse, at the mouth of the Chesapeake, prevented the arrival of endorsements which Cornwallis was expecting. It is not too much to say that the efforts of the French were & decisive factor in giving victory to the American cause. It is difficult to realize that Napoleon Bonaparte had more to do with the extension of the territory of the United States than any American President or other
 
 tal quarrel between France ana Eng land,s at various crises in American history gave America her oppor- tunity and ascendency.
 Tt is an interesting fact that be- tween 1504 and 1903 France sent no fewer and Is expeditions across the ocean to found great empire for France in the New World. AS early as 1534, Jacques Cartier penetrated to the site of Montreal. He was a Fernch explorer who early acquired the reputation of being a bold navi- gator. By Admiral Chabot he was chosen to lead an expedition to North America, for the purpose of discover ing a passage to Cathay or China. He sighted New Foundland, Cape Breton, Prince Edwards Island. and finally arrived at the Indian village of Sta Quebec. Then he pushed on to the fortified village of Hochelaga. This village lay at the foot of an imposing hill. This hill Cartier climbed, and struck by the lovely view, he called it Mont Real. Royal Mount, name The account of the final founding of Montreal is one of the most thrilling and beautiful stories to be found in any history, ancient or modern.
 Founder of Quebec.
 'In 1903, Samuel de Champlain ar
 
 plorer and colonizer finally became the founder of Quebec. He is one of the most prominent and attractive figures in the early history of New France. He was the son of ship captain, and was born at Brouage, in saintonge. Having received care full training in navigation and carto- graphy, he entered the army. In 1899, in command of the Saint-Gul- ian, he visited the West Indies. and various Spanish settlements in America, including Mexico City, and France, making careful reports to Henry ". This report remains in manuscript at Dieppe; an English translation was published in 1859; but the original French was not pub- published until 1870. It is re- markable fact that in this report, Champlain suggests the building of canal across the Isthmus of Panama. His foresight, in making that sugges- tion was well-nigh marvellous. The pamphlet which he wrote and the map which he drew gave information to this hour. Ae we have already seen, in 1903 he returned to New France, exploring the St. Lawrence to the La Chine Rapids. He was one of the noblest of all the French colonizers, possessing many of their ST0dIeSL HleIlIS dIlu udVlLS lew or their marked defects. He was in- spired by religious motives. declaring that he would rather win a soul to God than an empire for France. It is a remarkable fact that. in July 1905. he sailed into what is now Bos- ton harbor, then into Plymouth bay, and later into what is now New Bed- ford. He might have taken posses sion of all the territory that is now New England. There were no Pill grim Fathers there to oppose his con- quest. Why did he not take posses sion? As a sailor and soldier from his youth, he was charmed by the great gulf and river of St. Lawrence. navies of France and the world might float. He, therefore. turned away from New England, to make Quebec the capital of a French em- pire in the New World. We find a higher reason for his final choice; God intended the New World to be the home of civil and religious lib- erty. Had Champlain made New New France. it would have been the home of neither civil nor religious liberty. The student of the hand of God and hear the voice of God in this history, must be pitt fully blind and hopelessly deaf
 Born to Command.
 "In 1908, Champlain came again to America, this time as lieutenant-gov- ernor: and, on July 3d, he began to lay the foundations of Quebec. In July 1908, had the pleasure of shar- ing somewhat in the great festivities, commemorative of the tercentenary of it's founding by Champlain. He