IMAGE EVALUATION 
 Ti-ST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 1.25 
 
 
 ||M 
 
 M 
 
 1.8 
 
 1.4 
 
 1.6 
 
 Photograpiiic 
 ^Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 •^ 
 
 \ 
 
 iV 
 
 ^v^ 
 
 ■!>' 
 
 
 \\ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 1^ 
 
 V^ 
 
 <^5i\^^ 
 
 
CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
Technical and Bibliographic IJotes/Notes techniques at bibliographiques 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographically unique, 
 which may alter any of the images in the 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 the usual method of filming, are checked below. 
 
 D 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 [ I Covers damaged/ 
 
 Couvertui") endommag^e 
 
 □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculde 
 
 □ Cover title missing/ 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 □ Coloured maps/ 
 Cartes g^ographiques en couleur 
 
 □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 □ Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 □ Bound with other material/ 
 Relid avec d'autres documents 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 Tigh. binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La re liure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distoi sion le long de la marge Intdrleure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever possible, these 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, 
 mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas dtd filmies. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires suppldmentaires; 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm* le meilleur exempl&ire 
 qu'il lui a iti possible de se procurer. Les details 
 de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la m«»thode normale de filmage 
 sont indiqu^s ci-dessous. 
 
 □ Coloured pages/ 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 □ Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagdes 
 
 □ Pages restored and/or iaminated/ 
 Pages restauries et/ou pelliculdes 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages ddcolories, tachetdes ou piqu6es 
 
 □ Pages detached/ 
 Pages ddtachdes 
 
 «/ 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 I I Quality of print varies/ 
 
 Qualiti indgale de I'impression 
 
 Includes supplementary material/ 
 Comprend du materiel supplementaire 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 D 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totalement ou partiellement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, 
 etc., ont iti filmdes d nouveau de facon d 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiqu* ci-dessous. 
 lOX 14X 18X Zf^f 
 
 1 
 
 12X 
 
 26X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 30X 
 
 24X 
 
 2ex 
 
 J 
 
 32X 
 
The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 Seminary of Quebec 
 Library 
 
 The Images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol •x^- (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc.. may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to ba 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 L'exemplaire filmi fut reproduit grdce d la 
 g^n^rositi de: 
 
 Siminaire de Quebec 
 Bibliothique 
 
 Les Images sulvantes ont iti reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et 
 de la nettetA de l'exemplaire film*, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 fiimage. 
 
 Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprim6e sont filmAs en commenpant 
 par le premier plat et en t*. cr' soit par la 
 
 derniire page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, seion le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 originaux sont film6s en commenqant par la 
 premidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la dernidre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 Un des syrnbples suivants app«raitra sur la 
 dernlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbole —^ signifie "A SUIVRE". le 
 symbole V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent itre 
 film6s A des taux de reduction diffirents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre 
 reproduit en un seul clichA. il est film6 A partir 
 de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche A droite. 
 et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre 
 d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la mdthode. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
Pastoral charge 
 
 OF THE 
 
 OF MONTREAL, 
 
 ON 
 
 SECRET SOCIETIES. 
 
 PRINTED BY LOUIS PERRAULT, 
 
 ST. VINCENT STREET. 
 
 1846. 
 
 Bfblioth^que, 
 
 le S6minaire de Qu6beeJ 
 3, rue de TUniversite, 
 Quebec 4, QUE. 
 
Pastoral charge 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UU ilSMf M Iti^iSM 
 
 ON 
 
 SEElREf ^©(GIIIEmiES 
 
 ; 
 
 ,^ by the grace of 
 God, and the favor of the Holy See, Bishop of 
 Montreal, &c. &c. &;c. 
 
 To the Clergy secular and regular, and to all the 
 Faithful of Our Diocese, Greeting and Benediction 
 in Our Lord. 
 
 Beloved Bjiethren, 
 
 The greater the evils which 
 threaten the fold of J. C, the greater should be the 
 solicitude of the Pastor. Placed, as it were, a Sen- 
 tinel at the most elevated as well as the raost dan- 
 gerous post of this Diocese, we are bound to watch 
 as from afar the movements made by the enemies of 
 Religion, in order that we may sound the alarm so 
 soon as we discover any thing dangerous to your 
 spiritual welfare. 
 
 The love of J. C, which urges us to the fulfilment 
 of this imperious duty, induces us this day, to lift up 
 our Avarning voice, to put you on your guard against 
 certain Societies by whose wiles you might be in- 
 snared, and that so much the more easily, as they are 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 hidden under the sacred semblance of charity. Ndl* 
 need we wonder at this, since St. Paul assures us that 
 Satan the more effectually to betray man transformeth 
 himself into an angel of light. 2 Cor. 1 1 Chap. 
 
 It behooves you, therefore, B. B., to understand 
 the nature of these Societies, of which you cannot 
 become members without sin ; also for what reasons 
 they are forbidden and finally what ecclesiastical 
 penalties are incurred by joining them. Three im- 
 portant questions which demand your most serious 
 , attention. 
 
 For your assistance in the investigation of this 
 subject, I shall cite divers constitutions of the Sov- 
 ereign Pontiflfs who have condemned these Societies, 
 the voice of the Vicars of J. C, on earth, which you 
 will listen to with a lively faith, cannot fail to make 
 a deep impression on your hearts. For we know 
 that you are penetrated with a holy reverence 
 for the sublime authority which they exercise, 
 and that you are aware that they who should des- 
 pise them by refusing to hearken to their voice^ 
 would despise J. C. himself, and his heavenly 
 Father who sent him. 
 
 First Question. — How are \Ve to recognize 
 these prohibited societies 1 
 
 We will point out B. B., their principal characters. 
 
 Under whatever name they may be disguised you 
 
 wiir know them by the imperious oaths they exact 
 
 arid the plausible appearances of virtue they assume, 
 
 the better to disguise themselves. . ..^i ,^^|r, ' 
 
 Let us hear the B. Peter who speaks to you oy 
 
 the mouth of his successors : 
 
 Constrt. 4 Cai. « We have learned, says Clement XII., of a cer- 
 
 May,(28 Apri.) „ ^^^^^^^ j,^ ^j^^ ^^^^^^ ^^.^^^ ^j^^^ Societies com- 
 
 " monly called Freemasons (or otherwise named, in 
 
(5) 
 
 C-. 
 (( 
 (( 
 « 
 it 
 (t 
 (t 
 ({ 
 ti 
 t( 
 it 
 it 
 (i 
 t( 
 
 tt 
 
 <c 
 (( 
 (( 
 (( 
 ti 
 (t 
 (( 
 t( 
 t( 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 (( 
 (( 
 <( 
 (( 
 « 
 (( 
 (( 
 
 1821. 
 
 different languages) are on all sides daily gaining 
 strength and making progress ; that with these So- 
 cieties, men of all religions and all sects associate 
 and bind themselves together in the most severe 
 and mysterious manner, by laws and statutes of 
 lh»ir own making, and who in order to act more 
 securely, obligate themselves to inviolable secrecy, 
 by taking an oath on the Holy Bible and subject- 
 ing themselves voluntarily to the severest penalties. 
 But since these Societies, for the better conceal- 
 ing their culpable designs, have assumed the out- 
 ward appearance of virtue, Pius VII., exposes in 
 the following energetic language their hollow os- 
 tentation of benificence. 
 
 " These men, says the illustrious Pontiff, affect Constit. idea 
 indeed a singular veneration and an admirable zeal^^P^^^^^^P') 
 for the Catholic Religion, and also for the Person 
 and Doctrine of our Lord J. C, whom they some- 
 times dare profanely to call the Head and Grand 
 Master of their Society. These words, smoother 
 than oil in appearance, are in reality but poisoned 
 shafts intended to wound the more effectually, 
 those who are oft' their guard, and are used by de- 
 signing men who hide under sheeps' clothing, but 
 who inwardly are ravening wolves seeking to de- 
 vour the flock. 
 
 " The precepts of morality taught by the Carbo- 
 nari (one of those societies censured by the Pon- 
 tiff) are not the less impious, notwithstanding their 
 vain boast of inculcating the duties of charily wiih 
 the practice of all the other virtues, and the avoid- 
 ing all vice ; while at the same time they encour- 
 age the baser passions, and inculcate the lawful- 
 ness of putting to death the unfortunate discloser 
 of their secrets." 
 
(C) 
 
 Such are, B. B., the distinct and well marked 
 features by which it will be easy for you to recog- 
 nise those societies which, as you will further see, 
 you cannot encourage withojt deeply wounding 
 your consciences. 
 
 Second Question. — What ar'e the reasons S^hich 
 prove that secret societies are criminal ? 
 
 Let us listen to the immortal Benedict XIV., 
 after having cited Clement XII., of whom we have 
 just spoken, he thus sums up the motives which in- 
 duce him to condemn these societies, 
 Constitiscai. "Among the very serious reasons of prohibition 
 ^prUi^^Apri) u gjjj condemnation cited in the constitution of our 
 " Predecessor, which we have incorporated in the 
 " present, the first is, that those associations and 
 " conventicles are composed of men of all religions 
 " and all sects, whence we may evidently conclude 
 " how far the purity of the Catholic Faith is in dan- 
 ** ger of being sullied. The second is the invi- 
 " olable secrecy with which they are bound to con- 
 " ceal whatever occurs in their assemblies, to the 
 " which therefore we may justly apply, though un- 
 " der other circumstances, the words of Cecilius 
 " Natalis, quoted by Minucius Felix, " Virtue 
 " loveth the light, vice darkness.'''' 
 
 " The third is the oath by which they are bound 
 " to keep inviolable the above named secret as if 
 " it could be permitted under the pretext of any pro- 
 " mise or oath whatsoever to exempt one's self from 
 " the obligation of revealing all that is required, 
 " when interrogated by lawful authority, in order 
 " to discover if there is any thing in these assemblies, 
 " subversive of the constitulions and laws of Religion, 
 " or of the state. The fourth is, that these societies 
 '* are no less contrary to the*civil than the ecclesi- 
 '* astical law. Pandects 47th book. The fifth is, 
 
 ( 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 
 I 
 
 (( 
 
 
 " that in many covintries these societies and assem- 
 "blifeS have been proscribed by laws emanatihg 
 " from the supreme temporal power. The last rea- 
 " son is, that these societies and assemblies are in 
 " evil repute with all prudent and upright men, whb 
 
 regard all those who are connected with them, as 
 
 having justly merited the stigma of perversion and 
 
 corruption-" 
 
 These solid reasons, B. B., set forth so forcibly 
 by the learned Pontiff, must doubtless convince you 
 of the enormous crime which those would be guilty 
 of, who, knowing their duty and the evils to which 
 they expose themselves, nevertheless dare join these 
 dangerous associations. 
 
 But we would strengthen yet further this convic- 
 tion by laying before you the severe penalties to be 
 inflicted by the church, on those who in contempt 
 of her sacred law% should presume to favour them 
 in any manner whatsoever. This is the third ques- 
 tion you have to investigate, and for this purpose we 
 will cite the words of Leo XII. 
 
 This Pontiff, of holy and happy mfemory, begins 
 by protesting that it is with a full understanding of ^ 
 the cause and having in possession positive evidence 
 of what passes in these Societies, he hiid resolved to 
 renew the sentences pronounced against them by 
 his predecessors, and to put their constitutions in 
 force. 
 
 " Wherefore, he says, we strictly forbid in virtue Constit. 3 ides 
 '* ofhohj obedience all and each of the faithful what- March, (la 
 '* ever be his rank, condition and dignity the pre- 
 " sumption and temerity to enter into these Societies 
 " under any pretext whatsoever and by whatever 
 " names they may be called, neither to propagate, 
 " favotir nor to suffer them to hold their secret as- 
 " semblies, in their halls, houses, or elsewhere ; to 
 
 March) 1825. 
 
 J'^r^^' 
 
It 
 
 ( «) 
 
 " give them counsel, help or encouragement in pub- 
 ** lie or in private, directly or indirectly, by himself 
 " or others, or in any manner whatsoever to engage 
 " or to solicit others to frequent these Societies or 
 ** to become members or to take a grade therein but 
 ** to withdraw entirely from those Sucieties, their 
 meetings or conventicles, under penalty of excom- 
 " munication, incurred ipsojacto by all those who 
 ** shall contravene what has been forbidden above, 
 " from which censure none shall obtain absolution, but 
 " from us, or the Sovereign Pontiff then reigning, un- 
 " less it be at the hour of death." 
 
 *' We, in a special manner, condemn and declare 
 ** void the impious and guilty oath by which they 
 " who join these Societies pledge themselves not to 
 ♦* reveal to any one that which regards the sect, and 
 *♦ to put to d(^ath the members of the Association 
 " who should reveal their secrets to their Superiors, 
 ** Ecclesiastical or Civil. 
 
 " Is it not, indeed, a crime to regard as binding, 
 " an oath, (that is to say an act which should be fully 
 ^'justifiable) by which one is bound to assassinate 
 " and to contemn the authority of those who being 
 " delegates of the ecclesiastical or civil power, ought 
 ** to know all that is for the good of religion and 
 " society and interferes with the peace thereof? Is 
 <* it not impious and a thing unheard of to call on 
 God to witness such outrages ? The fathers of 
 the Council of Latran have wisely said that what 
 is promised in opposition to the Church and a- 
 gainst the laws of tradition, is not to be regarded 
 " as an oath, but rather as perjury. Can the hardi- 
 „ hood, or I may say madness of these men be tol- 
 „ erated who while they assert both publicly and 
 ^' privately that there is no God, and even publish it 
 in their writings, presume to exact in the name of 
 
 (C 
 
 (i 
 
 it 
 
 n 
 
 a 
 
( " ) 
 
 ^' 
 
 " God an oalh JVoni those whom (hey adinil into their 
 " sect?' 
 
 Such, B. B., is the doctrine of these venerable 
 Pontifls with respect to secret societies. Wliile we 
 make known these constitutions for your instruction, 
 we submit with profound respect to the earnest ad- 
 monitions addressed by Leo XII., to all Bisliops, 
 which we will cite in his own words, that you may 
 judge for yourselves that wc arc herein fulfilling an 
 imperative duty : 
 
 " And now, Venerable Brethren, Patriarchs, Pri- 
 " mates, Archbishops and Bishops, we request or 
 '* rather we implore your assistance ; give all your 
 " care to the fold which the Holy Ghost confided to 
 *' you in making you Bishops of his clurch. Ra- 
 " vening wolves are breaking in upon you and will 
 ** not spare your flocks. Be assured that their per- 
 " severance in religion and in well doing depends 
 " chiefly on you ; for though we live in evil days in 
 " which many hold not the sound doctrine, yet many 
 " of the faithful still respect their Pastors and justly 
 *' regard them as the Ministers of J. C. and the dis- 
 *' pensers of his mysteries. Use therefore that au- 
 ♦' thority over their souls, which God by a special 
 " grace has given you to promote their spiritual wel- 
 " fare ; make known to them the wiles of Sectarians, 
 " and the means of shunning them. Inspire them 
 ** with a holy dread of those who profess a false 
 "doctrine, who mock at the mysteries of our holy 
 ^' religion and the pure precepts of J. C., and who 
 ** attack all lawful authority. Finally to use the words 
 *' of our Predecessor Clement XII, to the Patri- 
 ** archs. Primates, Archbishops and all the Bishops 
 " of the Catholic Church, dated 14lh Sept. 1 758. 
 
 " I beseech you, let our souls be imbued with the 
 "strength of the spirit of God, and with that wisdom 
 
( 10) 
 
 i( 
 
 (( 
 
 (i 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 •* attd courage which are the fruits thereof that we 
 " be not like those watch-dogs who cannot bark, but 
 " leave their folds to the rapacity of the beasts of 
 " the lieid. Let nothing prevent us from cheerfully 
 suffering all kinds of trials for the glory of God and 
 the salvation of souls. Let us have constantly be- 
 fore our eyes HIM, who, while on earth bore the 
 contradiction of Sinners against himself, for if we 
 allov/ the audacity of Sinners to move us, all is 
 over with the strength of the Episcopacy and the 
 high and holy authority of the church. W^ no lon- 
 " ger deserve the name of Christians if we quail be- 
 " fore the threats and the snares of our enemies." 
 
 Therefore, the name of God being invoked, and 
 with (he advice of our Venerable Brothers the 
 Canons of our Cathedral we have decreed, enacted 
 and oidaincd, and we do decree, enact dnd ordain, 
 as follows : 
 
 1st. We publish by the present charge the above 
 Constitutions of the Sovereign Pontiffs Clement 
 XII, Benedict XIV, Pius VII and Leo XII with 
 respect to secret Societies, in order that they may 
 take their full and entire effect throughout our 
 Diocese. 
 
 2d. The Societies in which an oath of secrecy 
 is exacted from those who join them, shall ipso facto 
 fall under the censure and condemnation declared 
 in these constitutions, whatever be the name they 
 may bear, and however they may be concealed 
 under the semblance of charity. 
 
 3d. Wherefore, all those who shall henceforth 
 dare to enter into these associations, or who shall 
 frequent, propagate and favour them in the man 
 ner above mentioned; shall ipso facto incur the 
 penalty of excommunication reserved to the Pope. 
 
(11) 
 
 4th. Those who shall have been hitherto so un- 
 fortunate as to have entered- into these Associa- 
 tions, and who shall leave them on the publication 
 of the said Apostolical Letters, may within the space 
 of one year, from the date of the present charge, 
 be absolved by any authorised Priest. 
 
 5th. The effect of this excommunication shall 
 be to deprive those who incur it of the prayers of 
 the Ohurch, the use of the Sacraments and of 
 christian burial, should they die in this unhappy 
 state. These penalties are the most severe that 
 the Church can inflict on her rebellious children, 
 and we recommend to the Pastors of souls to ex- 
 plaili them to their flocks in o/der that the /ear cf 
 incurring them may retain them in the line of 
 duty, if the love of God is not tnfiicient to keep 
 them from so great a sin. 
 
 Finally, we conjure you, B. B., with all that so- 
 licitude by which we are urged, to labour for your 
 salvation^ to meditate seriously on the touching words 
 addressed to all the faithful by the pious Pontift* 
 Leo XII», in the above cited constitution. Af- 
 ter having traced out the line of duty to all Bishops 
 and Princes of the earth, he lavishes on them ad- 
 vice and exhortations with the tenderness of a fa- 
 ther. 
 
 " And now to you, beloved sons who profess the 
 Catholic Religion, we address ourselves more parii- 
 cularly : shun with care all those who call light 
 darkness, and darkness light. Indeed what ad- 
 vantage could you derive from being leagued with 
 men who regard neither God nor the powers that 
 be : who wage war against them by their intrigues 
 and secret assemblies, and who while they pub- 
 
 n 
 
 u 
 (t 
 ({ 
 
 u 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 (C 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 4( 
 
 i( 
 
 « 
 
 U 
 
 t( 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 i( 
 
 li 
 
 t( 
 
 (( 
 
 (t 
 
 ^l 
 (( 
 ic 
 u 
 (( 
 ({ 
 (( 
 t( 
 (( 
 « 
 
 c< 
 (t 
 
 lish aloud that they desire only the good of the 
 church and of society, prove by their actions, that 
 they seek to carry everywhere anarchy and con- 
 fusion. These men ressemble those to whom the 
 Apostle St. John forbids to give hospitality, and 
 whom he will not allow us to salute. (2 ep. John 
 10.) the same whom our Fathers called the 
 first born of satan. Be on your guard against their 
 seductions, and the flattering speeches which they 
 employ to induce you to enter their associations. 
 Be convinced that none can be connected with 
 these societies without becoming guilty of mortal 
 sin. Close your ears against the words of those 
 who to draw you into their assemblies will affirm 
 that there is nothing done there contrary to reason 
 and religion ; noth'ing seen or heard but what is 
 pure, right and becoming. In the first place this 
 guilty oath of which we have spoken, and which 
 is taken even by those in the inferior grades, is 
 sufficient to convince you that it is forbidden to 
 enter these inferior grades, or to remain there ; 
 and although that which is most condemnable 
 therein is not generally communicated to those 
 who have not attained the higher grades, it is ne- 
 vertheless evident that the strength and hardihood 
 of these pernicious societies increase in propor- 
 tion to the number and union of their members. 
 Therefore it is that those who remain in the lower 
 grades should be regarded as accomplices of the 
 same crime, and consequently fall under this sen- 
 tence of the Apostle (Rom. ch. 1.) They who 
 do these things are worthy of death, and not only 
 they, but the abettors of those who are guilty 
 thereof. 
 
 " Finally, we address ourselves affectionately to 
 
ii 
 
 (C 
 
 (( 
 t( 
 i( 
 (( 
 (( 
 (( 
 n 
 <( 
 u 
 (( 
 (( 
 (( 
 tt 
 tc 
 i( 
 (t 
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 those who notwithstanding the light which had 
 been granted them, and though they may have 
 partaken of the heavenly gift, and received the 
 Holy Ghost, have yet had the misfortune to per- 
 mit themselves to be seduced and to enter these 
 institutions, whether in the inferior or the more 
 elevated grades. We who stand in the place of 
 Him who said that he was not come to call the 
 just but sinners, and who compared himself to a 
 shepherd, who, abandoning the remainder of his 
 flock, seeks anxious)^ foi:;..the sheep that was lost, 
 we pray and^ese^h jhelI^^o return to J. C. — 
 Undoubtedly they fea^iSXjOT^itted a grievous sin, 
 but they must netrfaespaiF^rihe mercy and cle- 
 mency of God and his Son J. ,A Let them re- 
 turn into the paths of the Lord, he will not reject 
 them ; but like the father of the prodigal son, he 
 
 will open his arms and receive them with tender- 
 *» 
 
 ness. 
 
 On the other hand, B. B , you must understand 
 that if we forbid you these secret societies, because 
 they are criminal, we are far from wishing to deter 
 you from those associations whose object it is to in- 
 spire and to foster that spirit of charity which joins 
 together all the members of society, for the good of 
 religion and of your country. You know what we 
 have done since we have undertaken the adminis- 
 tration of this Diocese, to promote among the faith- 
 ful committed to our care, that spirit of association 
 which is the true spirit of Christianity when directet^ 
 according to the principles of the Gospel. 
 
 The present charge shall be read in all the Parish 
 Churches, and in all the communities of the regu- 
 lar clergy, the first Sunday or holy-day after its re- 
 ception. 
 
(14) 
 
 Given at Montreal, at our Episcopal Palace, the 
 Seventeenth of June, one thousand eight hundred 
 and forty-six, under our hand and seal and the coun- 
 tersign of our Secretary. 
 
 'L- + S. 1^ IG. Bishop of Montreal. 
 
 By qrder of His Lordship, 
 
 JOS. OCT. PARE, Canon, 
 
 Secretary, 
 
 (True Copy,) 
 
 " ' ' r 
 
 ^•*^ Canon J Secretary, 
 
mr 
 
 I