^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. %^ 1.0 1.1 11.25 |50 ""■■' ^ 1^ |2.2 H2.0 ui lift 140 1^ U Hi! 1.6 7 /. V » /^ car oa j5v i:i ADDRESSED TfcTHE jDLEilGY AND LAITY OF THE ^- ; ■-" DIOCESS OF ARICHAT. BY BY THE RIOHT REV. DR. ]!l'KI]¥SVO]¥. BISHOP OF ARICHAT. " Obey your Prelates, and be subject to them. For they watch, as being to render an account of your Souls : that*, they may do this with joy, and not with grief." — Hebrews^' XIII. 17. ^ HALIFAX: ENGLISH & BLACKADAR, BARRINGTON STREET. 1899. / ll t-i. ,'1 li ' s V COLIN FRANCIS M'KIMGN, Ihj the Grace of God, and the favour of the Apostolic See, Bishop of Arichat, To the ClerjnK and liaity of the Diocese brArichat. s DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN :— , . You are well aware that for several mdhtlis' pdirt the See' of Arichat has been vacant, in consequence of the lamented' demise of our late Chief Pastor, the Right Rev. Dr. William Fraser, whom after a long and laborious career amongst us in the arduous duties of the Episcopacy, our Lord has been pleased to remove from the trials and vicis- situdes of this world, to enjoy, as we humbly hope, iii another life, those glorious rewards which the great High Priest of our Souls has promised all his faithful Servants. When the news of this melancholy event had reached the Eterjial City, the Successor of Peter, on whom rests the solicitude of all the Churches, resolved to provide with- out delay for the desolate condition of our widowcid Diocese. His choice has fallen upon us, and, O forniidable burthert ! he has imposed upon our shoulders the momentous obliga- tion of supplying the place of him who had been for so many years our Spiritual and venerable Father. In obe- dience to the Holy See, and by virtue of a Brief given, under the Fisherman's ring on the XXI November lasr, we have received the plentitude of the Priesthood, and the awful and sublime dignity which has elevated our uu wor- thiness to the succession of the Apostles. And when we reflect, dearly beloved brethren, on the' position in which we now stand, on the high eminence to which we have been raised, on the solemn obligations which we have contracted before God and his Holy Church, and on the untiring vigilance with which we are oow bound to « watch as having to render an account of your Souls " aTd'alarr n''''*l acknowledge, filled with apprehension and alarm. Our onlj consoUtion is, that this cuiinent and dangerous post is not of our own seeking, and that if God has called us to this high office, we have' reason to hope iie will in his infinite mercy vouchsafe to sustain us, and HmL "'f^''*''^'.'''?"'^^''' ^.""^ perseverance, to fulfil the great duties of our ministry. We are likewise comforted when we remember that it hasoften please^ Our Heavenly Father to choose the weak things of this world to confound the strong, and the things that are not, to confound the things that are, that no jflesh should glory in his sight. I>early Beloved Brethren, we all have a common end • we are created to love and serve Our Lord and Creator in tms hfe, and aftemards to be happy with him in the next. When .man had fallen from this end, and had, fatally, pre- varicated from his original justice, it pleased the Creator to have pity on the work of his own hands. He therefore promised a Redeemer. In the plenitude of time, this pro- mised Deliverer came. Jesus Christ, the only begouen Son of -the lather, true God and true Man, born of the iJlessed Virgin Mary, according to the prophecies of old, appeared on earth, and became the great Teacher, Legisla- tor, and Saviour of mankind. Among all his disciplts he . chose twelve whom he called Apostles, and among those twelve he particularly designated one whom he called Lephas, that is, Peter, or Rock. He moreover declared that upon that Rock, viz , Cephas, he would build his Church, and that the gates of Hell should not prevail agamst it(l). He founded this Church, his Spiritual King- dom, on earth, and defined its constitution. After having, for years, amidst paiBs, difficulties, and persecutions, preach ed his heavenly doctrine, and announced the glad tidings of tne Gospel, and, after having proved bv miracles the divinity of his great mission, he delivered himself into the hands o£ his enemies, and was crucified to save and redeem mankind After his glorious resurrection, he appeared to his Apostles* and gave them the grand commission to go and announce the Gospel to all Nations. " All power," says the Lord, " IS given to me m heaven and on earth ; goiug therefore, (1) St.Matxvi.18. > 1 5 teach >€ all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son. and of the Holy Ghost : teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you : and behold, I am with you all days, even to the con- summation of the world" (2). In virtue of this commis- sion, the Apostles, and their successors in the ministry, became the heavenly constituted Teachers of mankind. All nations were caUed to enter into the Church of the living God, who^ " will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the Truth" (3). On the great day of 1 entecost, m accordance with this infallible promise of their divine master, the Apostles received the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Ghosts. They were at once enabled to begin the great work to which they were called, viz., to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to establish his Spi- ritual Kingdom, the Church, among the nations of the earth. Ihe great flock of J«sus Christ thus l»ecame necessarily divtded into tvyo bodies,— the teaching body of the Pastors, and the great body of the faithful to be taught. As the sacred order of the Priesthood established by Jesus Christ, and conlerred by him upon the Apostles, naturally, forming a ine of characteristic demarcation between the Sacramen- tally ordained Minister of the Gospel, and his flock, is to continue to the end of time in the Church of the Living God, so the original relations, between Pastor and flock, shall also cMMitinue. According as the confines of the infant Church of God became extended, it was necessary to appoint chief and secondary Pastors to preach the Gospel of Christ, and administer the sacred rites of his Church. Thus, as the iiations became converted, new dioceses were formed, new bishops and Priests were ordained for the Spiritual guidance of the increasing faithful, as St. Paul says, " For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, until we all meet into the. unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of tiod, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ, that henceforth we be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doc- trine, by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness by wiuch they he in wait to deceive" (4). Thus, the great (2) St. Mat. xxviii. 19, 20. (3) 1 Tim. ii. 4. (4) Eph. iv. 12, 13, 14. 6 commission, originally, given hy Christ to his Apostles Iml been,.,, this manner, fulfilled froni the beginXg From age to age the great inoral chain ct Xeachers,-the AposZ fo m,ng ,t8 first liHks,-is extended «„,o its. Th^rnsti- 8 nev"err. :'nhf "".''^4!!." '^"'''"' ''"'"«'«' '^ «••« ChnJch . m"i. J "hanged. The centre of authority beinp once unUv ofli:. ""' ^'""'' "' P«.er, harmony ot'^actiorand un ty of/aith are at once secured through the widelv- of^Rfl!'^"'^'^??.' Higl., Beloved Brethi^n, to the office withfh„^'J.^- '^" P ''"''='•• '"1 '" ''"'"" °f °"' communion lionlnf 7. *^«'r' ?""*'''"« "'■'he divine commis- siou delwered by our Lord to his Apostles, whereby we ^rZ'Z7r« '^'^ f'^'r'Z '° "'''^' '"'^ g°^«"> 'he portion ti,h ^ «!i ""'' ""•'.'"* '""'" ""fsted to our care, wo C IL ;i^?7 if ^P^K ' "' ^"."' '^^^""■^ '^'"•hren of the Clergy,, our fellow labouieis in th« vineyard of the Lord tfZT"'" '"'*' "' '" ""^ ^"'' ""'" which ist; fir Jn^r'""!^ '*"'''"' y"" ""erefore, Beloved Brethren, in the Jirst place, that our own sanctification ought to be the thought S "'J^'u'""''" ' '"'• '^''" '^""'d ''^-'■i' "^ to gain fhe whole world were we, in the end, to lose our ow.T souls ? T*e order of true chanty requires that, of our own souls, we ought to have the first and principal care. It is mos ow^rdlVr '"' '■"'fi'r" "•■ -' -credobligaS toward the flocks committed to our charge, we ensure our ^wn salvation. The Apostle, instructing his beloved discT- ple Timothy, says, « Take heed to thysllf, and to doctrine, .hvseiral'".^''"" ; '^V" t'"S this'thoi Shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." (5) 'L^h^\ Beloved Brethren, great is the dignity to which we have been raised, when it pleased the Almighty to call us ■mo the Sanctuary, and place us Pastors ovir his people. Ihe responsibilities attending our sacred office are nume- Tor .h 'T"* m''"- T" 'P^^^ 'g'''" ^"h 'he great Apos- tle of the Gentiles, " In vs God has placedfthe word of reconciliation, for Christ, therefore, we are ambassadors, Uod as It were exhorting by us." (6) Fou therefore, as (5) 1 Tim. w. 16. (6) Tib. ii. 7. 8. as Priests of the Most High, and as Ministers of Jesus Christ, we would charge " in all things to show yourselves exam- ples of good works, in doctrin*;, in integrity, in eravitv, the sound word that cannot be blamed, that he who is on the contrarjr part, maj be afraid, having no evil to say of "k' P\ r ^^ ^^^ fi'^ssed Peter admonishes us, " Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking care of it, not by constraint, but willingly, according to God, not for filthy lucre's sake, but voluntarily." (8) Dearly Beloved Brethren, we are well aware that many ditticulties must l)e encountered in the faithful discharge of the various duties of our sacred calling. But mark the great rewards that await the true Pastor. Hear the Prince of ihe Apostles encouraging us in these consoling words, * And when the Prince of Pastors shall appear, you shall receive a nevei-fadin- crown of glory." (9). Besides, we know that « they who instruct many unto righteousness shall shme as stars for ever and ever." (10) Animated by the remembrance of the great rewards that are waiting for us in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father, and calling to mind the words of the Apostle to the Romans," For I reckon that the sufferings of this time arc not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed in us (11), the manifold troubles of our situation, the try- mg disappointments we shall meet with, the persecutions we have to suffer, in the service of our Lord, \^ill appear to us a light burthen. After the example of Godliness, which we are bound to exhibit in our lives for the edification of our people, as our Heavenly master warns'us, " So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your lather who is in heaven." (12), we are strictly obliged, to instruct our respective flocks, by the preaching of the sacred word of Ged. Oral preaching was the great means by which the faith of Jesus Christ has been propagatea throughout the world : and tlie same great means is not less necessary for its preservation, than it has been for its pro- pagation. " Faith Cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ." (13.) Hence we have the emphatic words (7) 11 Pet. V. 2. (8) V. 4. (9) Dan. xii. 13 (10) viii. 13. (11) Mat. V. 16. (12) Rom. x. 17. (13) 11 Tim. iv. 2. 8 of St. Paul 10 Timothy, <* Preach the word ; be instant, in season, out of season ; reprove, entreat, rehuko in all patience, and doctrine." (14.) God Almighty, in ancient times, declared hy the mouth of his Prophet, *' Tlie lips of the Priest shall keep knowledg;e, and they shiill seek the law at his mouth." (16.) St. Paul describing the require- ments of a Chief Pastor, says : ** He ought to bo able to exhort in sound doctrine and convince the gain-sayers." The great duty, therefore, of instructing others, imposes on us all the imperative ol)ligation of attending to the study of the word of God; for without a continued and serious ap- plication to the study of the great Truths and tnaxims of faith, and morality contained in the Saf;red Scriptures, it will be impossible for us, Dearly Beloved Brethren, to *' exhort in sound doctrine, and convince the gain-sayers," by giving reason of our Holy Belief. We would, finally, point out to you. Dearly Beloved Brethren, the obligation of praying, most fervently, to the Lord, to send pious and learned labourers into his vineyard ; for we may well say with our heavenly Master, *' The harvest indeed is great, but ihe^labourcrsare lew." (16) Dearly Beloved Children of the Laity, we would remind you of your obligations to contribute to the necessary and decent support of your Pastors. For the Lord has ordained that they who preach the Gospel should live by the Gos- pel." (17) Besides, we have in the words of St. Paul to Timothy, " Let the Priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of double honour, especially, they who labour in the word and doctrine." We exhort you, therefore. Beloved Children, in the words of the same great Apostle, *' Obey your Prelates, and be subject to them ; for they watch, as being to render an account of your souls." (18) We would likewise, most seriously, admonish you all, of the absolute necessity by which we are bound to ensure our final end, the Salvation of our immortal souls, by fulfilling the holy will of our Creator. To obtain this great end we believe true Faith to be necessary. ITie Lord himself has declared "He that believeth not shall be condemned." (19) And his blessed Apostle has said that " without Faith it is im- (14) Mat. ii. 7. (15) Luke x. 2. (18) M.xvi. 1(5. (19) Heb. xi. G. (1(3) 1 Cor. ix. 14. (17) Heb. xiii. 17. I/. 9 possible to please God. "(20) But, Dearlj Beloved Brethren, as you well know, ii would be an error to say thai Faith alone can save us. As Chrisiians, wo are bound to be fruitful in every good work ; besides we are taught that *' Faith with- out works is dead, and by works a man is justified, and not by faiih only." (21) On this account the Blessed Peter addressing the first Believers of the Christian Church, says : *' Wherefore, Brethren, labour the more that by good works you may make sure your calling and election." Finally, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as we read (Mat. xxv- 23) in tiie clearest terms, shows the magnificent reward that is promised to the performance of good works. ** Come ye Blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world ; for, I was hungry, and you gave me to eat ; 1 was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; 1 was a stranger, and you look me iii.^ The only Faith, therefore, that can lead us to eternal Sanation is that practical one that worketh by charity. .GA, v. S. This hat been the doctrine of the Catholic Church from her first establishment : it shall continue till the end of time ; for it is based upon the eternal truth ot God's infallible word. Beloved Brethren of the Clergy, Dear CJiiJdren of the Laity, vv'e need not remind you, for y^u are well aware of it, how destitute we are of the means requisite to meet the many wants of our poor, and recently — founded diocese. But, trusting in the aid of Heaven, and your valuable co- operation, we confidently, hope to be able, by degrees, to bring into existence, those Institmions which every well regulated diocese requires, and which invariably attend the progress of our holy Religion throughout the world. A diocesan seminary, even on a small scale, is among the first cares of a Bishop: consequently it will receive our earliest, and most serious attention. According, as our means will allow us, other institutions shall be founded for the educa- tion of the rising generation, tocorrespond with the require- ments, aiid progress of the age in which we live. To bring about the necessary reforms, and renewal of spirit, in ac- cordance with our holy vocation, those great means that have proved so efficacious in restoring piety, and zeal, among Clergy nnd Laity, in other countries, such as holy retreats, <-20) Jam.ii. 24, 26. (21) 11 Pet. i. 10. 10 f shall, with the ht^lp^ of God, be established among us. To accomplish these designs, so beneficial in themselves, and, as we hope, conducive to the Glor^'of God, we shall, ffarly, next summer, take possession of the See to which we have been called : from Which, as from a common centre, the necessary directions shall emanate for the promotion of God's i^lory, and the Salvation of the souls intrusted to our care. Dearly Beloved Brethren, we have already entered into the holy Season of Lent. The forty days preceding Easter or the great festival of the resurrection of the Lord, have been from the eTstablishment of the Church considered, by the Christian world, as a time peculiarly consecrated to the works of Christian penance. The Church of God during this holy season of Lent brings before us in a particular manner, the life and passion of the Son of God. She ex- plains to us how we have been redeemed through the de- lorous passion of Jesus Christ ; how our ransom has been paid, and the hand writing against us has been nailed to the Cross. Through the passion and death of .Jesus Christ we are restored to our lost inheritance ; the gates of heaven have been opened unto us. Through the Sacrament of regeneration, the laver of baptism — we are actually put in possession (as far as it is consistent with our state of proba- tion here below) of the great blessings acquired for man- kind by the passion of llie Redeemer: Original Sin is for- given us, in a word we are made the adopted sons of God. Dearly Beloved Brethren vi^e all— there may be a few i^'xceptions — received those great blessings in our infiancy. Born of Christian parents their first care was to see us re- generated in the holy waters of Baptism ; for, instructed by the living voice of the Church, they knew Wf;il that until " born again of water and the Holy Ghost, their children could not enter into the Kingdom of God." But, Dearly Beloved Brediren, have we all maintained this baptismal innocence ? Has the white robe which the Priest i)f God then laid over us in sign of our innocence, been preserved pure and undefiled from actual sin ? Let us not deceive ourselves in an affair of such vital importance as the salvation of our immortal souls. We have sinned. The path of baptismal innocence can no more lead us into our promised inheritance* The only way that can bring us to 11 Heaven, as we are situated, is the rugged path of a penitantiaf life. The Lord himself has issued die mandate^ "Unless you do penance you shall all likewise perish." — ^Lu. xiii. 5. When the christian soul has fallen from God, by wilful sin, and has thus forfeited its right to, Heaven, Penance is the only means left to regain the lost favour of God. This is the only plank that can save the soul after the shipwreck of its baptismal innocence. To this great and necessary work we are called at this Holy Season by the voice of the church. To humble our pride, and to bring us to a due sense of the meanness of onr origin, She, on the first day of this Peni- tential Season, laid ashes on our heads, saying to each of us, " Remember man thou art but dust, and into dust thou shalt return." Sackcloth and ashes are emblems of contri- tion and humility. The Ninivites, by fasting in sackcloth and ashes, found mercy before the Lord. The Christian Church, Beloved Brethren, in the beginning of this holy season, addresses us in the words of the Prophet Joel, *' Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning : and rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God." Fasting, almsdeeds, and prayers, according to each one's ability, are the great means that we are required, during this Jioly sea- sen, to use in our spiritual warfare against our mortal ene- mies, the flesh, the world, and the devil. By fasting we overcome the lust of the flesh, by almsdeeds we subdue the lust of the eye, and by the powerful weapon of fervent prayer we conquer the pride of life, and put to flight the arch enemy of our souls. Let us not forget that the great, and most necessary fast, is to abstain from sin. This fast is incumbent on all, and all, whether young*or old, in health or in sickness, aided by the grace of God, can observe it. To fast from corporeal food, and not to fast from sin, would be a gross delusion. If then we would fast as we ought to do, " Let the wicked man forsake his ways, and the unjust man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him." — Isai. Iv. 7. To fast according to the discipline of the Church in our days implies, first, to abstain from flesh meat on fast days : secondly, to eat but one full meal in the day : and thirdly. 12 we are not to take this full meal till about noon. Owing to the poverty of the times, and the necessities of our peo- ple, we judge proper before God, to grant the following general dispensation, by virtue of powers received from the Holy See. With the exception of the first and last week ot Lent, we dispense with the law of abstinence from flesh meat on all Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Persons who are able to fast, and would use the dispensation now granted, cannot use flesh meat but once in the day, at dinner only, Alas, how much have we departed from the rigorous discipline of ancient days I Our Lent is but a shadow, compared with the stern reality of the primitive days ot the Church. Still, let us hope, that provided we have the spirit of those happy times, though owing to our circumstances we cannot, but at a great distance, follow the perfection of their works, ihe Lord in bis mercy will pity- us, and take our good will for the deeds we would, if otherwise situated, perform. We finally place ourselves and our Diocese under the patronage of the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, and Refuge of Sinners. This our first Pastoral Letter is to be read in all the Churches and Chapels wherein Divine Service is publicly celebrated, the first Sunday after its reception. " The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit, Brethren. Amen," * COLIN FRANCIS McKINNON, Bishop of Arichat. Given at St. Mary's, Halifax, on the very day of our Consecration. Feast of St, Mathias, 1852.