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Pastoral Letter 
 
 OF 
 
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 V. HIS GRACE THE 
 
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 MOST REVEREND ALEX. ANT. TACHE, 
 
 DKCI.ARING 
 
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 THE DECt^EES 
 
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 IRSTLOUNCIL 
 
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 ST. BONIFACE. 
 
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 1892. 
 
Alexandre Antonin Tache 
 
 By the mercy of God and grace of the Holy Apostolic See, 
 Archbishop of St. Boniface, Szc. 
 
 To the Most Reverend Bishops of Our Ecclesiastical Province, 
 to the Secular and Regular Clergy, to the Religious 
 Communities and to the faithful under the jurisdiction 
 of the Venerable Prelates and ours, Hail and Benedie- 
 tion in Our Lord. 
 
 * ♦ * 
 
 
 r\ 
 
 The Ecclesiastical Province of St. Boniface celebrates to- 
 day the anniversary ot two events at once gloiious and very 
 consolinjx to all hearts that love God. 
 
 The first of these events is the inauguration of the preach- 
 ing of Christianity in these vast regions ; it was on the 10th 
 of July, 1818, that the first Apostles of this distant country 
 landed on the banks of tlu^ Red River, bringing thereon the 
 glad tidings of salvation and beginning iniinediateiy to in- 
 struct a nation which, until that moment, had not had the 
 advantage of knowing God and His Holy Law. 
 
 The second event, whose anniversary we to-day comme- 
 morate, was, of itself, a proof of the fruitfulness of Divine 
 word and the expansion of that sacred teaching to the nations 
 of the Northwest ; it was again on the Ifith of July, 1>S(S9, 
 that the First Provincial Council of tlie Ecclesiastical Pio- 
 vince to which we are so happy to belong, was open^^d. This 
 Province extends from the J>1° of lonffitude to the Pacific 
 Ocean and from the 40° of latitude to the Arctic Ocean. 
 Dunng the seventy-one years which elapsed between the.se 
 two events, whose anniversary we celebrate, this immense 
 tract of land was travelled over in every direction by Catho- 
 lic Missionaries. The almost boundless regions, the rigors of a 
 severe climate, the difficulties in the mode of travelling, the 
 excessive poverty and the cruelty of the Indians, nothing, no 
 obstacle that courage could surmount, lessened the zeal of 
 these bearers of gladsome tidings who fully realized the 
 sacred text: "In omnem terram exivit .sonus eorum, et in 
 
2 
 
 fines orbis terrae verba eorum ; The sound of their voice was 
 hoard over the whole earth, and their word penetrated 
 throughout the extremities of the world." Soldiers of Christ, 
 they fought the good combat, and it is after these multiplied 
 efforts during seventy-one years, that the chiefs of this sacred 
 militia united to celebrate the First Provincial Council in the 
 Metropolitan Church of St. Boniface, a few steps from the 
 spot wiiere Mr. Joseph Norbert Provencher and his generous 
 companion, Mr. Severe Dumoulin, landed to inaugurate the 
 era of salvation which they brought to the Northwest. 
 
 Grand and beautiful, dear brethren, wa*? the spectacle 
 presented to the admiration of the Prelates of this Province, 
 to a numerous clergy and large assembly of pious faithful, by 
 the overture of the First Council, and to-day, we wish to 
 recall its remembrance to your mind and enliven our gratitude 
 towards the Author ot every perfect gift. 
 
 The Council opened on the IGth of July and lasted until 
 the 24th of the same month. All that time was devoted to 
 the examination and study of all that tends to procure the 
 glory of God and assure the salvation of souls. The result 
 of this examination and study was the drawing up ot the 
 Decrees destined to determine the duties of the clergy and 
 the faithful on the points further indicated. These Decrees 
 were sent to Rome to be revised in that light which throws 
 such a great lustre on all the decisions of the Holy See and 
 then receive the sanction of the supreme tribunal which ren- 
 ders them obligatory. 
 
 It was only on the 25th of April, 1890, that the Metropo- 
 litan of the Province could send these Decrees of Our First 
 Council to the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the 
 Propaganda. These Decrees were delivered to the learned 
 Counsellor of the Sacred Congregation that made a special 
 study of them. On the 10th of December, 1891, and 9th of 
 May, 1892, the most reverend Cardinals, members of the 
 Sacred Congregation, reunited to examine the Decrees and 
 suggestions of the Counsellors, they then determined the 
 alterations and modifications to be made. The profound ex- 
 amination of the points decided by Our Council, and even of 
 the very words expressing these decisions, deeply affects us, 
 and it is for us a true cause of consolation to once more verify 
 with what great care, science and wisdom all that regards the 
 salvation ot souls is dealt with in Rome. The Sacred Con- 
 gregation made its report to the Sovereign Pontiff on the 15th 
 of May, 1892. The Head of the Church approved and rati- 
 
8 
 
 fied the report such as it had been amended by the Sacred 
 Congregation, and authorized the latter to send a Decree 
 verifying what has been stated, and imposintr upon us the 
 obligation of acting conformably to the Decrees of Our First 
 Provincial Council. 
 
 The decision of him whose mission it is " to feed the 
 lambs and the sheep " gives, to the Decrees of the First Coun- 
 cil of the Ecclesiastical Province of St. Boniface, an impor- 
 tance and authority which no one can deny ; these Decrees 
 are obligatory, it is then necessary that all should make a 
 close study of them so that they may afterwards put them 
 in practice. The Decrees will be published in extenso. So that 
 they may the better be understood, dear brethien, we shall, 
 at the request of our Venerable Brothers, the Bishops of this 
 Province, give you a short explanation of them. 
 
 1. — OPENING OF THE COUNCIL. 
 
 Our First Decree announces that this important assembly 
 is made in the name of the most Holy Trinity, the Fatlier, 
 the Son and the Holy Ghost. The Council is convoked by 
 him, who by the mercy of God and grace of the Holy See, 
 was named Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of St. 
 Boniface; this convocation was made by him after the advice 
 and consent of the most R,e\ erend Bishops of this Province. 
 The motive of this Council is to promote the glory of 
 Almighty God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who wishes 
 that the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother, the Holy Apostles 
 I y Peterand Paul, and all the Holy Patrons of the Metropolitan 
 ChurclTof the Diocese, should participate in His glory. The 
 end which the Council means to attain, is the edification of 
 the church, an increase of zeal among the clergy and the fur- 
 ther development of piety among both clergy and faithful. 
 The Fathers of the Council know that the means Lo attain 
 this end is prayer, they humbly beg of our Lord and Saviour 
 Jesus Christ that all that is to be done in this assembly, may 
 directly tend to His Glory, the benefit of the Church and the 
 Salvation of souls redeemed by His blood. 
 
 Note well, dear brethren, a Council is not an ordinary as- 
 sembly ; its sittings are grand assizes which the Church con- 
 vokes and are presided over and ratified l)y the magister 
 which God established to govern His Church ; consequently, 
 all is there performed in the name of the Most Adorable Trin- 
 ity, for the Glory of God and of His Son Jesus Christ. 
 
I 
 
 2. — RULES OB' LIFE DURlNCi THE COUNCIL. 
 
 The will of tlio (council, like that of God, boin^' tlic sancti- 
 tication of souls, all who take part in this holy a.sseiiihly 
 should redouble their efforts to draw down the Mercy of the 
 Father of I<(ij;ht from whom is derived every perfect {,'ift. In 
 this second Decree, the Council also exhorts the followers of 
 Christ in St. }3oniface City as also in the entire Ecclesiastical 
 Province, to amend their lives, to confess their sins, to re- 
 ceive the Bles.sed Eucharist, to walk in the fear of the Lord 
 and to pray constantly. This Decree orders the Bishops and 
 Priests to celeijrate or assist at the Holy Sacrifice of Mass 
 and, as connnanded by the Holy Ghost, to address prayers 
 and supplications to God for our Most Holy Father. Pope Leo 
 XIII; for our Soverei<^n Queen Victoria, tor all who govern 
 us, for such as are invested with authority and for all the 
 faithful. The Decree also requires every one to fa.st and mor- 
 tify their senses. The Fathers of the Council are Bishops 
 whose conduct should be blameless. The Second Decree ex- 
 horts and conjures them, in the name of the Lord, to shine by 
 the innocence and integrity of their life, by their faith and 
 religion, their piety and all other virtues as it behooveth the 
 Dispensator of God's mysteries. The same Decree advises all 
 who take part in the Synod, to draw from the Documents of 
 Councils and of Sovereign Pontiffs, the counsels they may 
 stand in need of so they may not deviate from the spirit of 
 Holy Roman Church, Mother of all Churches. The opinions 
 and discussions must be expressed in the most simple and 
 charitable terms. 
 
 3. — PROFESSION OF FAITH. 
 
 The Church must, above all, be sure that they who act in 
 her name, j)rofess her faith entirely ; it is the reason why the 
 Third Decree of Our (Council placed on the lips of all who form 
 a part ot it, the Symbol or Profession of Faith such as worded 
 by Pius IV. adding the clause relating to the primacy and 
 magisterial infallibility of the Roman Pontiff such as defined 
 by Pope Pius IX. O you. Venerable Brothers in Episcopacy, 
 O you, co-laborers in our holy ministry, and you pious faith- 
 ful who were in the Metropolis of St. Boniface on the 16th of 
 July, 1889, you must still remember the emotion which took 
 possession of every heart while the formula of our Profession 
 of Faith was read ; that Faith, the happiness of our life and 
 pledge of our Hope. That emotion further increased while 
 
the Veneralile Prelates, coinin*^ down from theii throne, knelt 
 before the Book of the Holy Gospels and phieiii!^ their hand 
 on that Sacreil Code, promised, vowed and swore faith ami 
 aJherenee to the teachin<^s of the Holy Catholic, Apostolic and 
 Roman Church. 
 
 4. — OF FAITH. 
 
 The precedin<jj J)ecree enumerated the articles we are hound 
 to believe. This F'ourth Decree of our Council gives the 
 reason and source of the Faith we profess with so much hap- 
 ])iness and which is the foundation and root of our justification. 
 We believe all that the Church prescribes; we believe all tlu; 
 revelations such as contained in Holy Scripture and Holy 'i'la- 
 dition which came from Jesus Christ's mouth, or by the; opera- 
 tion of the Holy Ghost, delivered to the Church who then trans- 
 mitted them to us ; we believe that the Roman Pontiff is the 
 true Vicar of Jesus Christ upon earth, the Visible Head of 
 the ChutJi, the Father and ])octor of all Christians and en- 
 dowed with a supremacy of honor and jurisdiction in tlie 
 Univer.sal Church ; we believe that when the Hoverei^n Pon- 
 tiff speaks ex cathedra, that is as pastor an<l doctor by virtue 
 of his Apostolic and supreme authority and when he defines 
 for the whole Church a doctrine I'elating to faith and morals, 
 he is infallible; we believe that the 8overei;^ni Pontiff, 
 through the Divine assistance promised to St. Peter, posses- 
 ses a doctrinal infallibility and that his teachings are beyond 
 doubt. 
 
 Faith rejects the opinions of .such men as say that all re- 
 ligious worship can lead to Eternal Happiness ; there is but 
 one true religion, the Church of Jesus Christ out of which 
 none can be saved. 
 
 This Decree of our Council condemns, as opposed to faith, 
 all the errors condemned by the Roman Pontiffs, either by 
 their Encyclical Letters or by the (Jeneral Council, it then 
 warns the faithful against the dangers which sjtring forth 
 fiom false doctrines and of the opiiiions condemned even 
 only indirectly by the Holy See. 
 
 5. — INDEPENDENCE OF THE SOVEREIGN PONTIFF. 
 
 The Fifth Degree loudly affirms that the Church is a so- 
 ciety divinely f-stablished by a right superior to civil power 
 
 an d independent of the latter' and ifiat lE is m lier i:!)Upreme 
 Pontiff the Church needs to elijoy this independence. It is 
 the reason why our Council protested against the .sacrilegious 
 
 i: 
 
usurpation of tho Pontifical States as opposed to divine and 
 human rights and injurious to that liberty so necessary to the 
 Church and Sovereii^n Pontitt". 
 
 6. — RULE OF LIFE FOR THE f!LERGY. 
 
 The Church is particularly solicitous about the honor of 
 her ministers, she surrounds them with a jmrtieular charity, 
 she knows that Jesus forbade any one to attack them in any 
 manner whatsoever for He said: " Dare not attack my an- 
 nointed. " This Sixth Decree entirely relate^ to the clergy. 
 The Council determines their costume whici liould be tho 
 cassock destined to inspire respect. The amuseuients allowed 
 to the laity are permitted to the clergy but with restriction 
 and should be partaken of with great moderation. As the 
 lips of the priest are the keepers of Science, he must be a 
 man of study ; Sacred writ, Theology and other sciences re- 
 quire his attention. 
 
 In the ordinary requirements of life, the clergy should 
 show more than common prudence, avoid contracting debts 
 and an exaggerated research of the goods of this earth, reject 
 every means of oV>taining money by such measures as would 
 not be strictly conformable to the rules of the strictest justice, 
 honor and charity. 
 
 A similar moderation is required in the pursuit of public 
 interests, so the Council forbids priests to initiate themselves 
 in such matters without the sanction of their Ecclesiastical 
 Superiors. 
 
 The Council also exacts that they who have charge of 
 souls, watch over their flock with the greatest care and that 
 for one and all they should labor to fulfill their ministry ; 
 they should know every member of their flock, off*er the Holy 
 Sacrifice and pray for them, feed them with the Divine Word 
 and the administration of the Sacrament ; for this purpose, 
 priests should reside in their own parish and never absent 
 themselves especially on Sundays and Holy Days, except for 
 the fulfillment of some obligation. On week days, a visit to 
 their neighboring brother-priests is useful and allowable. 
 
 7. — DIVINE WORSHIP. 
 
 The Seventh Decreee commands the entire Ecclesiastical 
 Province to be solemnly consecrated to the Sacred Heart of 
 Jesus. The same Decree also commands that the devotion to 
 the Blessed Sacrament which is the source of divine piety 
 

 and charity, should be encouraged in a special manner and 
 that in each locality, as ' much as possible, the Forty Hours' 
 Devotion and Perpetual Adoration be introduced after the 
 manner followed in Ihe Metropolitan Church, and that the 
 Passion of Our Lord and the Sacred Heart of Jesus be special- 
 ly honored. 
 
 This Decree advises the pious works of the Apostleship of 
 Prayer and advises that the Ecclesiastical Province of St. 
 Boniface, already under the special protc.'ctiou of the Blessed 
 Virgin Mary, should practis<.' the devotion of the Holy Rosa- 
 ry and never neglect the May Devotions, The Clergy should 
 carefully study and follow the rubrics ot the Missal, the Brevi- 
 ary and the Ritual. In every Church the ceremonies must 
 be performed with uniformity; to attain this end, the Coun- 
 cil suggests that Martinucci be the only author of the cere- 
 monies followed in the Province. 
 
 The Seventh Decree also adds, that in order not to expose 
 the faithful to an abinidance and diversity of particular de- 
 votions, hurtful to tru niety, no new devotion bo introduced 
 without consulting th. 'rdinary and obtaining his pcrmi.s.sion. 
 
 8.— THE SALVATION OF SOULS. 
 
 The Eighth Decree recalls to our mind that man lives not 
 only by bread, but from all word coming from the mouth of 
 God ;" it is the reason why Our Lord Jesus Christ said to 
 His Apostles : " Go and teach all nations. " Thence it fol- 
 lows that the obligation of preaching the divine word is one 
 of the priests' first duties so they may not deserve the re- 
 proach : " The little ones asked for bread and there was no 
 one to give it to them. " Our Council, guided by that of 
 Trent, wishes that those who have the care of souls, give in- 
 struction to the faithful on Sundays and Festivals as also too 
 or three times duiing the Advent and Lenten weeks. That 
 the preaching may bear fruit, it must explain the Gospel of 
 Jesus Christ, the ti'uths necessary for Salvation, the vices to 
 be avoided, the virtues to be practised and the use to be made 
 of the Sacrament. The holy teaching must be adapted to the 
 need of the greater number, it must shine by the firmness of 
 doctrine, noble simplicity and great clearness, for these qual- 
 ities are of greater value than the glow of elocution to which 
 they are strangers. 
 
 The preacher should flatter no one, likewise should he 
 avoid all unnecessary and painful allusion. 
 
. .8 
 
 Besides the regular sei'inons, the faithful require lectures 
 to enable tlunn toncijuire the kno\vld«lt((! and practice of those 
 virtues which thei- souls statid in netid of A powerful 
 means to provide for the salvation of souls is at least an an- 
 nual visit which the priest should make to those confided to 
 his care. 
 
 A particular attention should be ^iven to new colonists; 
 th(^ l^istorsand the; faithful ouixht to ne<rlect nothinj; that can 
 naturally be expected from a ti-U(! Christian ])opulation ; the 
 charity and j^ood examples of the latter should make a salu- 
 tary impression on those who come to join our ranks- to make 
 the one jxiople. 
 
 9. — THE SACRAMENTS. 
 
 The Sacrament of Baptism l)eing absolutely necessary, 
 our CJouncil obliges parents to have their childien baptized as 
 soon as possible. This Sacrament must be administered in 
 the ('Imrch uidess insurmountable difficulties or immiiu-nt 
 danger stand in the way. The necessity of Baptism authoi- 
 izes through charity, the faithful to confer this Sacram«'nt in 
 case of necessity and the poor infidels should be persuaded of 
 their obligation to be regenerated in water. 
 
 It is sad to behold Christians neglecting to procure for 
 themselves the exceptional graces conferred by the Sacrament 
 of Confirmation. Our Ninth Decree condemns this negli- 
 gence. 
 
 The infinite love of Jesus Christ for our souls did "not per- 
 mit Him to leave us as orphans on earth ; He made Himself 
 food to sustain onr weakness. The Blessed Eucharist should 
 be our soul's great attraction since the Saviour Himself said : 
 " Urdess you eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink of 
 His blood, you cannot have life in you. " Let us frecpiently 
 have recourse with confidence to that Fountain of Lovr-, but 
 without forgetting the words of the Apostle St. Paul : "Let 
 man prove himself and let him then eat of this bread and 
 drink of this chalice. " 
 
 Parents, Pastors and others having care of children should 
 neglect no means in their power to prepare those young 
 h(iarts for the Feast of Angels to whi.;h they are invited at 
 their First Communion, That this preparation may be com- 
 plete, the Council does not allow, as a lule, that girls under 
 ten and boys under eleven years of a*, ^ should be admitted to 
 Holy Connnunion. The love borne for the Holy Eucharist 
 inspires th<! soul with a love for all that relates to the Sacred 
 
9 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 Mystery ; therefore the house of God, the altar, the taber- 
 nacl(!, the sacred vessels and vestments sliouM be dear to all 
 the faithful who should generously testify their respect and 
 love. 
 
 The Ninth Decree of our Council obliges pastors to recall 
 to the mind of the faithful the holiness and indissolubility of 
 marriage. Marriages, as far as possible, must be performed 
 during Mass and conformably to the rules of the diocese. 
 
 The Church forbids mixed marriages and the faithful 
 must bo convinced of the dangers that attend these. Some 
 Catholics so far forget tljoir cluty, as to contract marriage in 
 such conditions as render them scandalous. This fault is so 
 grievous that our Council commands it to be referred to the 
 Bishop and a just punishment to Ik; inflicted on the guilty 
 party. The same Decree commands that the administration 
 of Extreme Unction suffer no delay especially with regard to 
 the sick who live far from priests. 
 
 10.— THE EbJOATION OF CHILDREN. 
 
 This Decree first recalls to parents their obligation of 
 teaching the prayers and Christian doctrine to their eliildren 
 in eariy childhood. Catholic parents sbonld niake every 
 effort to establish and support Catholic schools since they are 
 the only ones which their children can attend. The Council fur- 
 ther recommends the efforts which parents should also make 
 to have a great number of young men attend Catholic Col- 
 leges where they will be taught all branches of studies as also 
 practical philosophy. 
 
 It is an understood thing that Pastors are in duty bound 
 to watch over and provide for the Christian education of 
 those placed under their guidance. 
 
 When this Decree was passed by our First Council, we 
 little thought of the terrible storm which since broke forth 
 upon us and whose perverse aim is to deprive youth of re- 
 ceiving a Christian education at school. Fortunately, the 
 Church of God is ever ready to meet with every emergency ; 
 without any instigation on our part, the Sovereign Pontiff 
 transmitted us instructions to be placed as appendix to the 
 Decrees of the First Council of St. Boniface. 
 
 Among these, may be found one which relates to public 
 schools. Speaking of these schools, the Sovereign Pontiff 
 says : " Such schools where religious teaching is banished 
 cannot conscientiously be frequented ; Bishops must then use 
 
10 
 
 I i 
 
 t' 
 
 every means to remove the fold confided to their care, from 
 tHe dangers inherent to public schools. 
 
 Your past conduct in this important case, dear brethren, 
 is a sure pledge that you will with perfect submission receive 
 the word of the Vicar of Christ, and if need be, you will gen- 
 erously impose upon yourselves every sacrifice necessary to 
 secure for children, an education which their heart as well as 
 their intelligence requires. 
 
 11. — THE INDIAN MISSIONS. 
 
 To this Province principally, ought the Indian missions be 
 most precious; for this reason our First Council urges all our 
 dear brethren to participate in the zeal our Holy Mother 
 Church always displayed for the conversion of infidels. We 
 inhabit the lands of the Aborigines of this country, do not drive 
 them away with cruelty and contempt, do not scandalize 
 them by vice and corruption, on the contrar}? draw them to 
 Jesus Christ by the good odor of virtue and the mo.st obliging 
 charity. By your words be Apostles whenever you have the 
 opportunity ; by your examples be such always, as also by 
 your zeal in supporting the good works whose direct aim tends 
 towards the conversion of Indians ; those works you know 
 them to be the Propagation of the Faith, Holy childhood and 
 and the schools of the North-West. , 
 
 12. — THE SANCTIFICATION OF SUNDAY. 
 
 O dearly beloved brethren, observe the Lord's day not 
 only by abstaining from servile works but also by keeping 
 away from everything that can be a cause of disedification to 
 others. Assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Church 
 by a precept, obliges you to do .so under pain of mortal sin ; 
 let not the mere fulfillment of this duty prove suflScient, per- 
 form on those holy days, other works of devotion and pietj^ 
 
 There are certainly some enjoyments allowed on this Day 
 of rest, but alas ! what an abuse is made of the fact that re- 
 creations can be taken on Sundays. Do not draw down upon 
 our dear country the misfortunes which God casts upon the 
 nations that violate His Holy Law ; let not the abuses intro- 
 duced in other countries be the rule of your conduct. The 
 civil laws of our country prohibit what is opposed to the 
 repose of Sunday. Let your conscience, enlightened by the 
 laws of the Church, make you practise all that is necessary 
 for the sanctification of the Lord's Day. 
 
11 
 
 13. — EPISCOPAL JURISDICTION. 
 
 " The Holy Ghost placed Bishops to rule over the Church 
 of God." 
 
 The 13th Decree of Our Council declares that no priest 
 can celebrate the Holy Mysteries, nor exercise the ministry 
 of Divine Word, without being authorized by tho Bishop; 
 and foreign priests can obtain this authorization only by 
 show^ing letters bearing the testimony of their own Ordinary. 
 Priests having care of souls should render an account of them 
 to their respective Bishops ; and besides the ordinary regis- 
 ters prescribed by the Ritual, they should have the "Liber 
 Animarum." 
 
 The Bishop is the principal authority in his diocese, and 
 no innovation should take place, likewise no ministry exer- 
 cised without his permission. No new picture nor relic can 
 be exposed to the veneration of the faithful without his 
 sanction. For the establishing of any society, a written 
 re(iuest and permission will be required. No Ecclesiastical 
 edifice should be constructed without the plans being ap- 
 proved of ; the means of obtaining the funds should likewise 
 be indicated. No debt can be contracted by a priest in his 
 ofh ] (piality without a written request to and permission 
 from the Bishop. Moreover, priests should not mix their 
 personal possessions with those belonging to the Church. 
 
 Although neither the Bishop nor the parish be responsible 
 for the purely personal debts which priests might contract, 
 our Council, however, advises the latter not to contract any 
 considerable ones without the Bishop's knowledge. 
 
 14. — ECCLESIASTICAL POSSESSIONS. 
 
 Every person in charge of the administration of Ecclesias- 
 tical possessions should bear in mind the importance of 
 administering them according to the rules prescribed by the 
 Holy Canons. All parish priests and missionaries nuist have 
 a book in which they will inscribe the Decree of Erection, by 
 which their parish or mission is instituted as civil and corpo- 
 rativ'e ; in this book must also be entered the properties 
 belonging to the parish or mission, as also whatever part of 
 the properties disposed of. 
 
 Each parochial corporation should have its own seal. The 
 sacred edifice must be insured against all dangers of fire. 
 The fees and tithes should be collected as ordered by the 
 Bishop. The Council insists that priests should recall to the 
 
12 
 
 minds of the faithful their obligation of providing for the 
 support of the clergy and church expenses. In niipsionary 
 countries people too easily believe that such should be pro- 
 cured from elsewhere. Not to insist upon tliis obligation, 
 namely, that the faithful should bestow generously upon the 
 Church and her ministers, is indeed an uncharitable process, 
 for things are generally appreciated in proportion to their 
 cost; and experience proves tha^ hey who give rothing to 
 their priests or Church, soon w.^et the advantages they 
 derive from both. 
 
 15. — SECRET SOCIETIES. 
 
 Our Provincial Council fails not to warn you against the 
 dangers of secret associations, that moral canker which gnaws 
 modern societies, and labors to choke, in their very heart. 
 Christian Faith, which civilizes the world, ennobles the wo r ld , 
 and peoples Heaven. 
 
 Paganism had dethroned God and placed idols in His 
 stead; secret societies try to annihilate Christianity and its 
 divine charity, to replace them by Naturalism and a false 
 philanthropy. The Sovereign Pontiffs, those wise sentinels 
 to whose safe-keeping the people of God were connnitted, 
 soon recognized the evil, signalized its dangers, and in docu- 
 ments replete wdth science, strength and pastoral love, 
 apprised men and nations of the dangers secretly plotted in 
 darkness against their happiness and prosperity. The Fif- 
 teenth J)ecree of Our Council repeats the Popes' warnings to 
 you. They who enroll themselves in Freemasonry, Car- 
 bonari.sm, or other societies of the same nature, who favor 
 those societies, or aid them in what manner soever, thereby 
 incur exconnnunication "lata) sententia)." 
 
 There is no doubt that Communists, Socialists, Anarchists, 
 and others who endeavor to overthrow the Church and lawful 
 governments, are subject to excommunication, even though 
 they do not personally bind themselves to keep the secret. 
 Other societies which do not want their adepts to reveal their 
 secret, even to Ecclesiastical Authority, and exact blind 
 obedience to their chiefs, should be prohibited and avoided 
 under severe penalty. The Societies of Labor which, without 
 being condemned, reject the direction of the Pastors of souls, 
 are sufficiently dangerous to use every means to draw Catho- 
 lics a*vay from them. 
 
 Let the faithful seek such societies which they can join 
 withou t exposing their souls to danger, such as the Society of 
 
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 St. Vincent de Paul, the C. M. B. A., and others recognized by 
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 16. — CHRISTIAN MORTIFICATION. 
 
 Our epoch is, above all other failing, distinguished by a 
 propensity to sensualism. It is to counteract these inclina- 
 tions that Our Council exhorts the faithful to keep the fast 
 and abstinence according to the law and spirit of the Church ; 
 no dispensation should be given without sufficient reason. 
 The Church having been so lenient with regard to this pre- 
 cept, has every reason to enforce its accomplishment. A sad 
 daily experience proves that our people are addicted to in- 
 temperance; hence Our First Council commands all priests to 
 exhort the faithful to abstain, even altogether, from wine and 
 spirituous drinks, and to join the Temperance Society. The 
 IGth Decree highly commends the practice of our clergy that 
 banish wine and fermented liquors from their table. The 
 faithful should also avoid amusements and entertainments 
 which wound good morals and favor evil, even though 
 indirectly. 
 
 Besides assemblies dangerous to morals, the faithful 
 should carefully avoid non-Catholic religious reunions and 
 assemblies forbidden by the Church. 
 
 17. — SIGNATURES OF THE DECREES OF THE COUNCIL. 
 
 In the I7th Decree, the Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical 
 Province of St. Boniface invites all the Fathers who lawfully 
 assist at this Holy Assembly to approach the altar and place 
 their signatures below the Decrees of the Council, in virtue 
 of the decisive votes they have given. The following have 
 signed : — 
 
 Alex. Ant., Archbishop of St. Boniface, O.M.I. 
 
 Vital Justin, Bishop of St. Albert. 
 
 Henri J., Bishop of Anemour. 
 
 Isidore, Bishop of Arindele. 
 
 Paul, Bishop of Marcopolis, and Coadjutor to the 
 
 Bishop of Melitopolis. 
 Jean Baptiste Celestin Aagier, O.M.I., Procurator to 
 
 the Bishop oi Melitopolis. 
 
 18. — ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEXT PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. 
 
 The Metropolitan of St. Boniface, to conform with the 
 Decrees of the Council of Trent, declaring that Provincial 
 
14 
 
 Councils should take place at least every three j'ears, and 
 with the consent of the most reverend Bishops, his co- 
 provincials, announces to all who should he present that the 
 next Provincial Council of St. Boniface will take place in the 
 year 1892. 
 
 19. — CLOSING OF THE COUNCIL. 
 
 In this decree the Metropolitan, with the consent of the 
 most reverend Fatheis who deemed fit to terminate the 
 Council, declares that he brings to a close the First Provincial 
 Council of St. Boniface. 
 
 * • *■ 
 
 The preceding, dearly beloved brethren, will give you an 
 idea of the nineteen Decrees drawn up by the First Provin- 
 cial Council of the Ecclesiastical Province of St. Boniface, as 
 revised and approved at Rome and rendered obligatory. 
 Meditate carefully on the precious teachings ; prove your 
 love of God and submission to the Holy Church by accepting, 
 with filial piety, the decisions indicated. Your Bishops and 
 priests should make them the rule of their conduct. The 
 faithful are also bound to obey these Decrees in whatever 
 concerns them personally. 
 
 " May peace be upon all who will follow this ru. j." Yes, 
 may the peace of God, which surpasses every feeling, be upon 
 you all, dear brethren. May that peace reign over our dear 
 country ; may our Ecclesiastical Province, its Episcopal Con- 
 scriptions, parishes and missions taste of the d' 'icious fruit of 
 Divine peace ; may the clergy, religious couununities, and 
 faithful of this province long relish the cup of happiness 
 which the peace of God offers to all who know how to obtain 
 it. 
 
 The present Pastoral letter shall be read at Mass in all 
 parishes and missions, at the Chapters of all religious com- 
 munities of the Ecclesiastical Province of St. Boniface, on the 
 first Sunday after its reception; and the day on which the 
 present letter will be read, the office will end by the singing 
 or recitation of the Te Deum, as -a pledge of our gratitude 
 for all the gi-aces bestowed during the Council ; to the Te 
 Deum five our Fathers and Hail Marys will be added for 
 the Sovereign Pontiff who deigned to approve the Decrees. 
 
 Given at St. Boniface under our signature and seal of our 
 
r 
 
 15 
 
 Arch Diocese, and tho counter signature of our Secretary, on 
 the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Cjirmel, on the 16th day of 
 July, 1892. 
 
 [L.S.] ALEX. TACHE, 
 
 Archbishop of St. Boniface, O.M.L 
 
 By order of His Grace. 
 
 ELIE. B. ROCAN, Priest, 
 
 Secretary: