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11. ;.

^ : v^ ..xv^lN SOCIETY,

ii8 ARCH STREET.

S(«,%.J.'-."^i-'-«"'""'

'tte-.'- :

■^.A-~

/,<^.f, A:^.

MEMOIR

OF THE

BEY. C. H. 0. COTE, M. D.

WITH

<a almnir nf ^,ts. % f . «Btt,

ANr» A HISTORY Of

THE GRANDE LIGNE MISSION,
CANADA EAST.

A-

BY THE REV. N. CYR.

-<<•»>"

IJiHakliiliia :

AMEEICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETT,

118 ARCH STREEI.

^.iUiiiiiiiiiiiirnii'^-^ -

By:
qSC9

ADVERTISEMENT.

The Memoir of Dr. Cote, and the History of the Grande
Ligne Mission, were both prepared by the Rev. N. Cyr of that
Mission, at the request of the American Baptist Publication
Society. Several additions have been made to both, by the
Editorial Secretary, for which Mr. Cyr is not responsible.
They will be found chiefly in the latter part of the two works,
particularly in the concluding reflections of the Memoir, and
the events of the last year in the History of the Mission,
which the Society was anxious to have brought up to tho
present stage of its prosperous progress.

No Evangelical Mission of modern times, it appears to us
has been from the beginning to the present moment, more
distinctly marked by the blessing of God, hos indeed
boen emphatically a " work of faith and labor > ' 3*'^ — carried
V -t with "the patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." The
little grain of mustard seed, growing rapidly to a majestic
tree, with hundreds gathered beneath its refreshing shade,
and grateful melody on all its boughs, is truly its fitting
emblem. When we see a feeble woman, and she a widow—
self-exiled from her native land, — opening a school among an
ignorant and bigoted population in a small garret — with but
one friend and fellow-laborer near for counsel and support —
and then behold the glorious results — we seem to hear a voice
saying as of old, " Not by might, nor by power, but by my
Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." The whole history is full of
instruction — especially, to those who wish to do good to a
Roman Catholic population.

For the Memoir of Mrs. Cote, the Editorial Secretary is
alone responsible.

J. N. B.

L ( 170

«• *

% «

contents'.

Memoir of Dr. Cote.

CHAPTER I.
Dr. Cote's Birth, Education, and Political Life,

CHAPTER 11. .

Religious Sentiments before Conversion,

CHAPTER III.
Dr. Cote's Conversion.

CHAPTER IV.

Consistency. Public Profession of Religion,

[ CHAPTER V.

His Labors at Chazy, and his Missionary Ex-
cursions, . .

. CHAPTER VL

Persecutions at St. Pie. .

* • • • .

• « .- , •^. ,»

CHAPTER VII.

Sickness, and Voyage to the South, . T /

PAOl

4 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER Vlir.

PAOI

Ilis Ordination. Subsequent Labors at St. Pie.
Interesting Cases. Visits to the United

States, 40

CHAPTER IX.

His Labors at St. Mary, near Fort George, • 55

CHAPTER ^.
His Last Illness, and Death, . • • .59

CONCLUSION, ... 64

— •—

Memoir op Mrs. Cote, • • 75
• - »

History of the Grande Ligne Mission, 93

V Section L . . . . ... 94

II 99

III 103

r : . IV 110

V 113

VI 115

VII 119

• • VIIL . . . . . . .122

IX. . « • • • . A—O

X. 130

Conclusion, 133

Appendix, 139

• 5 •

J&mim of Hfn. C. 1. (D. Cote.

MEMOIR.

CHAPTER I.

DR. COTE'S BIRTH, EDUCATION, AND POLITICAL

LIFE.

The subject of this memo'r was born of respect-
able parents, of French origin, at Quebec, the old
capital of Lower Canada, in the year 1809. His
family, three years after his birth, removed to
Montreal, where their son was brought up and
educated. After having passed through the classes
of the Roman Catholic College of that city, he
devoted himself to the study of medicine. He
pursued a thorough course in Canada and at the
Medical School of the University of Vermont,
where he also graduated, and entered, in 1881, on
the practice of his chosen profession at L* Acadia,
about ten miles distant from the place where the
Grande Ligne Mission House now stands. Napier-
ville, a neighboring village, presenting better
advantages, he settled there two years after, where
he resided until the memorable rebellion of 1837.

(7)

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

Dr. Cote's ancestral family was one of those that
had been obliged to leave Acadia (now Nova Scotia,)
in 1755, after having been shamefully treated by
the British rulers, and no doubt he often heard
them relate their numerous trials and severe suffer-
ings, and it is very likely that the narrative had
some influence in leading him to the course he took
in regard to the English government. The remem-
brance of the past, and the sight of present wrongs
done to his fellow-countrymen, inspired him with
dislike, not to say hatred, of the colonial government.
He began to take an active part in politics, and was
elected member of Parliament, in 1834, for the
county of Lacadie. He was at that period only
twenty-four years of age.

Seeing the conduct of the Romish clergy, and
the support they gave to the government, he placed
it on the same footing with the latter, and resolved
in his heart to do his utmost to rescue his fellow
countrymen from their ecclesiastical as well as
political oppressors. He joined the patriot party,
at the head of which was the well-known Papineau,
at the time, the Speaker of the House.

In 1837 the political agitation became more and
more general. Numerous public meetings were
held during the summer, in which the Doctor took
a very active part. He became exceedingly popular,
and was considered by the French Canadians as ono

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

of the future liberators of his country. Serious
troubles were brought about in the autumn by this
agitation, but the field of the principal battles was
at a considerable distance from Dr. Cote's residence,
and he was not immediately concerned in them.
However, such was his ardor in the cause, that ho
by his conduct and the bold expression of his sen-
timents, had very decidedly assumed, in common
with other leaders, the responsibility of these dis-
turbances, and he was consequently obliged to flee
for his life into the United States. A price had
been set on his head by the Governor, and no doubt
he would have been severely punished had he been
arrested.

He settled at Plattsburgh, N. Y., where a great
many of the Canadian refugees had repaired.
There, still possessed of the same great principles,
feelings, and resolutions, he interested the Ameri-
cans in favor of his fellow countrymen, and devised
plans for their political emancipation.

In the beginning of 1838, an attempt was made
by the Canadians residing in the States to enter
Canada disciplined and equipped as an army ; but
it was opposed by the United States government, and
failed. Dr. Cote was the principal leader of this
expedition.

In November of the same year, the insurrection
broke out about Napierville. The village, and an

MEMOIR or DR. COTE.

extensive region in the vicinity, was in the power
of the " patriots'' for a time. Dr. Cote was one of
the commanders, and decidedly the most active.
After two battles, in which he showed himself a
brave and able general officer, the revolutionists
were defeated, but there were sad losses of life on
both sides. Those who happened to be near the
frontier were able to flee and find refuge in the
United States. Dr. Cote was one of the number.

vifS

CHAPTER II.

KELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS BEFORE CONVERSION.

From early youth Dr. Cote had perceived the
true nature as well as the sad effects of the corrupt
religion of Rome, and he had some time before this
become utterly disgusted with it. Among other
circumstances which served to open his eyes, and
weaken his hold upon Catholicism, was the follow-
ing. For some offence he had been ordered by his
priest, to say so many prayers. In order to save
time he undertook to discharge his penance while
riding on horseback. Suddenly the horse started
and jumped one side. The movement caused Dr.
Cote to drop his beads. Naturally of a quick and
irritable temperament, he fell to swearing, and
cursed horse, beads, priest, and all. On returning
to the village, he went to the priest, and confessed
his sin, telling him, among other things, that he had
cursed his beads. The holy man, as if horror-
stricken, refused him absolution. Full of terror,
for he was yet held fast by the chains of supersti-
tion, he returned to his home and consulted his

(11)

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

wife as to what was best to be done. After talking
the matter over, by her advice he concluded to go
to another priest in a neighbouring village, saying
at the same time, if the " old fool,'' as he called his
own confessor, would not absolve him, his neigh-
bor, he thought, would. He hastened away to the
ghostly father, told him all his sin, and even went
so far as to confess that he had called his own
priest an " old fool." Whether the good man was
most affected by the sorrow of the penitent, or the
absolution fee, we are not informed. He absolved
him, however, thus showing that all the priests of
Home are not agreed as to what are and what are
not venial offences.

Still, like thousands of others in this country and
Europe, he retained his outward connection with the
Romish church. But at this time he began to hate it,
for he saw in it a system of apparent piety which was
really one of arrogant hypocrisy, of subtle cunning,
or of bloody violence, according to circumstances.
He deplored the influence of the clergy on his fellow
countrymen, and could not think that a religion,
whose ministers keep their people in ignorance,
superstition, and abject misery, had emanated from
God. He conceived of religion as a noble system,
destined to enlighten and elevate the people ; but he
found just the reverse in Popery. And as a natural
consequence of confounding the religion of the

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

Gospel with that of the Pope, he w<as led to Infi-
delity; hoping to find in Deism the light he was
seeking, to enable him to worship and serve God
aright. Desirous of being enlightened on the sub-
ject of religion, he commenced a correspondence
with distinguished Deists, and read their works ; by
which almost fatal step he was more and more con-
firmed in their pernicious errors. He went but
seldom io the Romish church, and spoke out
frequently and fearlessly against the priests, whom
he greatly despised. The priest of Napierville,
ofiended at his bold course of conduct, and at his
not submitting to the re(][uirements of "moiher
church,'^ preached against him in such a manner
that Dr. Cote, who was not more enduring than
submissive, thought best to prosecute him. A
lengthy and expensive law-suit ensued, which ter-
minated, however, as in the recent case of Dr.
Achilli and Dr. Newman, to the confusion and cost
of the priest.

We must not, however, conclude from the
foregoing facts, that Dr. Cote was a decided enemy
of the Christian religion. Indeed, he knew little
of real Christianity. He was willing, and in
some good degree anxious, to listen to the truth,
in order to be able to examine and judge it under-
standingly. It is worthy of notice here, that when
Mr. Roussy, the first of our missionaries that

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

labored among the French Canadians, came and
preached at Napierville, in 1836, Dr. Cote went to
hear him, and even paid him a visit at the house
where he was stopping. This was certainly show-
ing a spirit of inquiry, and more willingness to
become acquainted with the Gospel, than is gene-
rally met with in this country. But he was still
far from the truth as it is in Jesus, and far from
God.

md
I to
luse

lOW-

3ne-
still
rom

CHAPTER III.

DR. COTE'S CONVERSION.*

It waa at the beginning of the year 1841, that the
Lord, who had preserved his life in the midst of
battle and perils of almost every kind, drew him to
himself with the cords of love and the bands of a
man. A thorn had been planted in his soul. Dr.
Cote was wretched ; he carried every where a heart
void of hope and very unhappy, a prey to great
internal anguish. His chequered Lfe, blasted by
his misfortunes, appeared to him suspended on a
few threads, whose frailty filled him with apprehen-
sions. Death was to him the king of terrors. In
the midst of his sufferings he felt the need of con-
solations, but knew not where to find them. lie
gradually discovered the insufficiency of his system
(Deism) to impart peace, happiness, and the power
of resisting temptation. He asked nothing of a
religion which appeared to him only an arm of the
civil magistrate to restrain the people, or at least

* This chapter is taken from Mr. Roussy's correspondence
with the Evangelical Society of New York in 1841.

(15)

MEMOIR or DR. COTE.

an insupportable yoke, and which was utterly inade-
quate to their wants. He becan-e more and more
unhappy. Not knowing what to do to fill up the
frightful void of his heart, he sometimes attended
the meetings for prayer in the church at Swanton,
where he then resided. The sincerity and spiritual
life which he there witnessed affected him ; it dis-
tilled like the dew-drops upon his thirsty heart.
The tranquillity, the peace, which he discovered in
many, made him sometimes desire to be as one of
them.

His mental sufferings now became intolerable,
and convinced that his system of philosophy had
deceived him, he resolved to read the Bible, of
which, alas ! he was almost totally ignorant. This
he did in order to study our religion at its very
fountain, the teachings of Jesus Christ and his
apostles. Although he read the Bible with great
prejudice, yet he was struck with the divine majesty
which is enthroned on its pages, and with the beauty
of its instruction. Although it spoke to him with
supreme authority, he disputed with it ; he reasoned;
he compared it with the works of Deists ; but this
divine word, mightie/ than any human book, sharper
than any two-edged sword, pierced his heart; his
soul was astonished at its searching power; he
groaned at the sight of himself; violent doubts
arose in his heart; he was overwhelmed with

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

very
his
•eat
[jesty
sauty
with
>ned5
this
|arper
his
he
)ubts
with

anguish and weeping. He experienced one of tho
most subtle attacks of the natural unbelief of tho
heart against the truth ; and the Wicked One who
did not remain inactive, tempted him violently to
abandon every religious thought. He even passed
entire nights in this horrible anguish, without clos-
ing his eyes, prostrate on the fioor, and scarcely
knowing where or what he was. In those moments
he asked the Lord, in the . ullness of his heart, to
guide him in the way of truth. He read the Biblo
more assiduously ; his admiration for it increased,
and other books were regarded with more indif-
ference. His mental state so reacted on his body,
that his friends perceived it, and said that he was
becoming crazy. He would have been ashamed to
avow the cause to them ; and he was happy to
escape the importunity of their questions, by accept-
ing the invitation of a sick friend to accompany
him to a watering-place, where he could give him-
self with more freedom to the search after truth.'
He read with great profit a history of the Church
by Goodrich, which completed his conviction of the
truth of Christianity. His friend, not being a
disciple of Jesus Christ, died at the watering-place
in despair. Dr. Cote would fain have counselled
and consoled him ; but he knew not what to say to
him. This death made a profound impression upon
his heart, filling him with solemn terror.

MEMOIR or DR. COTE.

* i

Sometime afterwards, he heard Mr. "Williamson
of New York, preach on the words, ^^ Believe in
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."
This precious truth deeply affected his heart -"hich
the grace of God had prepared like the ^ when
it receives the imprint of the seal ; it was a ray of
light that gave him a glimpse of the only means of
deliverance and salvation. He bowed at the foot
of the cross, and formed in his heart the resolution
to be a Christian. From that time he experienced
g^eat consolation, and avowed his new convictions
to his friends. He spoke of them especially to the
Canadians, went to their houses to read the Gospel
to them; he assembled them that he might pray for
and with them, and he earnestly exhorted them to
follow the teachings of the Bible and to serve God
more faithfully.

Although his heart was comforted, it was not
happy. Jesus, he feared, had not yet said to him,
*^ Thy sins are forgiven thee, thy faith hath saved
thee ; go in peace."

" He was convinced of what he yet lacked,'' says
Mr. Roussy, " and it was while visiting the dear
family of Brissette, members of our church. The
expression of peace which he there remarked, greatly
impressed him ; he said that he did not possess it,
and he knew not how to obtain it. Our friends

Kii

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

says

dear

The

^eatly

;ss it,

fiends

persuaded him to write to me, assuring liim that I
wouUl do him good. He consented, and immediately
wrote, entreating mo to come and see him. I
received the letter and started immediately. I
found him waiting for me. He related to me the
change in his convictions, but I immediately per-
ceived that he had not felt the efficacy of regene-
rating grace, nor sufficiently comprehended the
defilement and condemnation of sin, nor the ;;'leni-
tude of the love and power of the expiatory sacrifice
of Christ, imputed to him through faith. Yet I
blessed God from the bottom of my soul for this
work of his grace, which had overthrown and
removed so many obstacles, and which was about to
glorify itself in him. On Sunday I preached twice
to fifty Canadians. . . . The rest of the day I passed
with Dr. Cote in visiting some of them. It was a
day of great conflicts for him ; the tempter excited
in him all kinds of doubts, showed him the advan-
tages of the world and its glory, and sought to
persuade him to return because he had already gone
too far ; but he came ofl" conqueror by prayer, and
by faith in the realities of the invisible world. In
the evening of that day, conversing with him con-
cerning the state of sin and condemnation, and of
the only means of salvation given him ; suddenly
my friend burst into tears, exclaiming, with the

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

accent of a profound conviction, *' Oh I what an
abominable sinner I am in the eyes of God I my
past life fills me with insupportable anguish I what
shiiU I do?'' Instantly wo prostrated ourselves
before God, and poured out our hearts alternately
in fervent prayers to obtain pardon and deliverance
from Him. I do not remember ever to have seen
a man weep over his sins with so deep anguish, as
did Dr. Cote that night. The morning, which found
us still on our knees, told us to our surprise that the
night was passed. In rising, Dr. Cote was calm
and peaceful. At noon he was again seized with
the same distress. We again passed many hours
on our knees, in which we were abundantly blessed.
We felt that we were on the steps of the throne of
grace, and with the bcMness which faith inspires I
exclaimed, *I will not let thee go till thou hast
blessed me, until thou hast said to the soul of my
friend, I am thy deliverance.' Then Dr. Cote,
filled with the spirit of adoption, exclaimed, ^ Glory
to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to
men,' and with fervent praises, rendered thanks to
God, that he, a miserable and abominable sinner,
was accepted, saved in his well-beloved Son, and
filled with the peace of Jesus. We wept together,
but ours were tears of gratitude, of happiness, and
of love. All was solemn around us ; the blessing

Ji^l

ME:<I0IR op PR. COTE.

of our God was descending; our cup was filled.
Oh! blessed moment, to all eternity, blessed!
Although several months have passed since this
liappy period, these sentiments are still vivid in
my heart; I cannot write to you the description of
them without weeping.''

i'<

4 1

CHAPTER lY.

CONSISTENCY. PUBLIC PROFESSION OF RELIGION.

Any one reading the foregoing chapter, cannot
entertain a single doubt in regard to the reality of
Dr. Cote's conversion ; it bears the stamp of God
himself. We there see a man naturally proud and
haughty, a professed Infidel, brought under the
influence of the Spirit of God, made sensible of the
everlasting interests of his soul, and bowed down
to the foot of the cross, where he finds peace and
happiness in believing, after having passed through
those great struggles which sometimes characterise
the new birth. Had he died then, we should have
felt confident that his soul would have been received
into Abraham's bosom, though we had seen no
other proof of his change of heart. But the Lord
granted him a few years of life, in order that he
might show forth the praises of Him who had called
him from nature's darkness into His marvellous
light. And we have the pleasure of seeing him,
from this time, engaged in spreading the knowledge
of the blessed Eedeemer among his benighted
(22)

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

[GION.

cannot
lity of
)f God
ad and
er the
I of the
. down
ce and
brongh
.cterise
d have
ceived
jen no
Lord
bat he
called
ellous
g liim,
ledge
lighted

fellow-countrymen, and doing a vast amount of
good in this difficult but interesting missionary
field.

One of the prominent features of Dr. Cote's
character was consistency, and hence sprang prose"
lythm. When he had an idea he wanted to impart
it immediately to others, and bring them to hia
Sentiments and views. It was eminently so in
regard to religion. He had found a treasure too
precious for concealment ; he preached the truth as
soon as he received it, and sought to bring souls to
the Saviour, in whom believing, he had found
peace.

Mention must particularly be made here of Mrs.
Cote, to whom he hastened to announce Jesus and
Him crucified. The day Mr. Roussy left him to
return to Grande Ligne, the Dr. sent to her a Bible,
and wrote to her in Canada, where she was staying
at that time, a remarkable letter, which must bo
inserted here almost in full : —

" Swantonj Ibth June, 1841.
My dear, my tender Love, —

This letter will be handed to you by Mr, Eoussy,
whom I wish you to consider as one of my good
friends; as a special consoler that God, in his
divine providence, has sent me to relieve me from
the terrible anguish of my soul in consequence of

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

„ t.

I ,1 I

I ;

i.|S

(HI

the criminal life I have led in the sight of God and
of men. my dear Marguerite, you cannot
imagine what sweet consolations we experience
when we return sincerely to Jesus, the Saviour of
miserable sinners ; when we weep bitterly over the
sins of our life at the foot of his cross ; when we
ask him for pardon with a true and boundless con-
fidence in his infinite mercy ; when we supplicate
our Heavenly Father to forget and blot out our
sins, that are washed away in the precious blood of
his Son, who died on the cross to save us all. Oh !
my dearly beloved friend, how unspeakably sweet
is the close communion with our Father who is in
heaven. You know my love for you, and for the
tender fruits of our union; jou know there are
no mortal beings so dear to me as you three. Oh !
I would, my dear friend, that your soul, which is
so precious to me, could feel all the sweet emotions
to which my soul has attained, since I have been so
happy as to return unto Him whom I have so much
offended by my past life. How I desire, my dear
Marguerite, that you should experience all the
enjoyments of true piety enlightened by faith in
Jesus Christ ! You would then see and feel that
the true religion of Christ does not consist in vain
ceremonies that cannot be acceptable to God, but
that it consists in sincere and simple faith in Jesus
Christ, whose holy Gospel we cannot too much read.

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

1 and

annot

•ience

lur of

BT the

jn we

s con-

Dlicate

it our

Qod of

Oh!

sweet

is in

for the

TO are
Oh!

lich is

lotions

)een so
much
y dear
ill the
dth in
el that
n vain
od, but
Jesus
h read.

You would see, my sweet friend, thpt true religion
does not consist in performing certain ceremonies
and in prayers unintelligibly muttered, but that it
consists, on the contrary, in the peace of the soiil,
which is a natural consequence of implicit faith in
the merit of the Saviour of men. You know that
when I abandoned the Romish church in which I
was born, and ever since then, I have given you
the most ample latitude in regard to liberty of
conscience. Be assured that I will never offer you
any violence or restraint in regard to your religious
convictions. But in the name of God who is so
merciful towards his children — ^for the sake of your
soul, on whose eternal happiness and misery you
should reflect seriously in this short life — for the
sake of the sincere peace of your conscience — in the
name of what is most sacred in this world and in
the world to come, open your eyes and reflect sin-
eerely. Consult the book of Grod, read it attentively,
endeavor to appreciate the doctrines there taught
by the Son of God himself in person, draw the
conclusions in the sincerity of your heart, without
prejudice, after having supplicated the enlightening
influences of the Holy Spirit, and after having
humbled yourself for all your sins at the feet of
the Crucified. See then, and consider whether you
are in the way of life. These are serious reasons,
and such as should touch the heart of a Christian.

iS,

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

\ r^l

Remember that you have only one soul to save or
to lose, that the judgment of God once pronounced,
there will be no more way open, that if we shut our
eyes to the true religion in this world, eternal dam-
nation must necessarily be the consequence. We
that have loved each other so much, how painful it
would be, my Jarling, to be separated on the other
side of the grave ! Should one of us voluntarily
shut our eyes to the light of the Gospel, such, alas,
must be our sad experience. Pray then, my dear ;
bow down at the feet of Christ crucified ; ask Him
for mercy ; entreat the Heavenly Father to enlighten
you by His Holy Spirit, and then, my dear Mar-
guerite, read attentively the Word of God, such as
it is contained in the Holy Scriptures ; compare the
doctrine there taught, with that you have learned
from your infancy ; above all, strip yourself of all
prejudices, sacrifice at the foot of the cross of your
Saviour, and seek the truth with all the sincerity
of a heart truly desirous of knowing it. I send
you by. Mr. Roussy the Bible of De Maistre de Sacy,
which is used in the Eomish church. Oh ! read it
with piety, and with the desire of being instructed
in the Word of God.

Mr. Koussy will give you an account of all the
distress and anguish which I have passed through
since I have known the religion of Christ ; he will
tell you also how entire is my confidenco in the

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

save or
lounced,
shut our
nal dam-
ce. We
>ainf ul it
:he other
luntarily
ich, alas,
ny dear;
ask Him
mlighten
3ar Mar-
, such as
ipare the
learned
blf of all
of your
sincerity
I send
de Sacy,
! read it
istructed

merits of the Son of God, and how much peace and
tranquillity of soul I find when I consider that one
drop of His divine blood was sufficient to redeem
all the sinners who apply to Him; however wicked
they were before."

t all the

through

; he will

in the

IliT

't^:-.

**tl

! 11

nr' *

t ! ;

,1 1

CHAPTER V.

HIS LABORS AT CHAZY, AND HIS MISSIONARY

EXCURSIONS.

Doctor Cote had the happiness, after a few
months, of seeing his dear companion turning to
the Lord, and joining him in his missionary labors
among the French population at Chazy, N. Y., a
village situated about eight miles from the Canada
frontier. There regular worship was established,
which soon began to bear fruit. Among the con-
verts during his residence at Chazy, we must
mention an old man 83 years of age, one of
Washington's soldiers. " After an abode of several
days with me,'' says Dr. Cote, " he returned with
the peace of God in his heart ; trusting solely in
the merits of Christ, whom he regarded as having
accomplished his salvation on the cross."

In the autumn of 1842, the Dr. held a protracted
meeting, aided by Mr. John Sands, then a student
at the Grande Ligne Institute, which was blessed
to the conversion of some Canadians and Americans.
"We then commenced a protracted meeting," he
(28)

•*

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

[ONART

T a few
urning to
ry labors
N. Y., a
3 Canada
;ablished,

the con-
^e must

one of
)f several
ned with
solely in
IS having

rotracted
% student
3 blessed
nericans.
ting/' he

writes, '' which continued fifteen days, during which
time we had the plea .ure of seeing many Canadians
and four Americans converted. Menaces, perse-
cutions, promises, flatteries, and the most absurd
fictions were employed by the priest and his parti-
zans to prevent their coming to hear us. But God
had his eyes fixed upon our dear Canadians, and
will triumph over the arts used by the Wicked One
to arrest the progress of the light amongst this
poor and unfortunate people, whom he has long
deceived.''

Whilst at Chazy, Dr. Cote was often Culled away
to Canada to announce the glad news of salvation.
At first he came somewhat in secret, as he was
afraid the government might have him arrested for
his political offences ; but when the general amnesty
was proclaimed, he visited Canada oftener, and
finally settled there.

One of his most successful missionary excursions
W3S the one he made to Berea in the township of Mil-
ton, at the end of 1 842 . We copy the following account
from the annual statement of the mission furnished
to the Evangelical Society by Mr. Roussy : —

"In our last report we informed you that our
friend. Dr. Cote, was on the eve of starting for
Milton, to preach the Gospel to the dwellers in
those woods, whose lives were very profligate. He
was accompanied by a dear brother who had labored

'. Pi"

! I

1 I

I I

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

among them as a Colporteur for a year past, with
great sreal and fidelity. They were two days in
reaching the school-house, a distance which, in the
winter, can be walked in three hours. The autumn
rains had rendered the path through these woods
so difficult, that nothing but the zeal of our breth-
ren could have surmounted the obstacles in their
way. Though exhausted with fatigue on their
arrival, they made no delay in applying themselves
with vigor to their work. After kindling a fire,
they cut down a tree to serve at once for a table,
and seats for their audience ; put up a temporary
bed in one corner of their school-room ; and com-
menced their religious services. For the first few
days there were no visible effects, though they
held two meetings daily. All the people, men,
women, and even small children, readily assembled;
no one remained at home. The intervals between
the meetings were employed in reconciling quar-
rels } for these families, who had lived in continual
strife and hatred towards each other, perceived the
necessity of first harmonizing their differences, in
order to obtain the blessing of Heaven. Our dear
brother Cote, who performed the office of peace-
maker, had the pleasure of seeing them acknowledge
their faults one to another, and interchanging the
language of forgiveness. On Sunday, each one
came to the meeting with feelings of penitence, and

■m

IL..

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

ist, with
days in
1, in the
autumn
le woods
ir breth-
in their
)n their
jmselves
y a fire,
a table,

mporary

od com-

irst few

h they

e, men,

embled;

between

g quar-

ontinual

ved the

^nces, in

)ur dear

peace-

owledge

ing the

ch one

ice, and

in expectation of the Divine blessing. The exposi-
tion of the Scriptures was listened to with marked
ip fiolemnity ; and when those who wished were invited
to speak, a female, naturally timid and retiring,
rose and spoke of the wants of her soul, of the love
of God, and of the duty of repentance, with such
animation, freedom, and energy, that each one grew
pale and trembled. After addressing them in most
impressive language, she fell on her knees, and,
weeping, poured out her heart in fervent prayer
for herself and all present. The whole assembly
melted into tears, and, believing that she spoke and
prayed under the teachings of God's Spirit, bowed
their knees and successively oflfered their earnest
supplications to God for pardon

"This happy Sabbath was the commencement
of a happy week, devoted to the reading of the
Word of God, to prayer, and to praise. No one
could apply himself to any work, for the Spirit of
the Lord had visited these cabins. Every day some
soul was relieved of the burden of sin by trusting
in Christ. Twenty-five persons, as we hope, obtained
pardon and peace at this time, making with the
first converts, the number of ^i(?e?i^y-?uwe worshippers,
and followers of Christ in this forest.''

On his way home. Dr. Cote stopped ten days at
St. Pie, where he held meetings daily, which were
blessed to many individuals.

in,

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

- Soon after, the houses built for school and wor-
ship at St. Pie and Berea were dedicated, and Dr.
Cote took an active part in the services held on the
occasion. He preached several times and produced,
in common with Rev. L. Normandeau and Rev. L.
Roussy, a very good impression. At evening
service at St. Pie, in which all present were invited
to speak, fifteen individuals rose successively and
professed their desire to serve Christ and walk in
newness of life. And many others, who afterwards
joined the church, referred to that time as a blessed
season for their souls.

During the winter. Dr. Cote made frequent visits
at St. Pie and Berea, and his labors were attended
with the blessing of God. He had a discussion
with two priests in the presence of forty Canadians,
near Bere^, from which he came out victorious,
Laving constrained the priests to acknowledge they
were unable to defend their doctrines from the
Bible, because they had never studied it with
attention and care.

illL

ad wor-"

'•*•

iTid Dr.

on tlio

oduced,

Rev. L.

evening

U ''

invited

tIj and

walk in

erwards

•

L blessed

nt visits

ittended

*
■ )

scussion

aadians,

jtorious,

[ge they

•om the

it with

CHAPTER VI.

PERSECUTIONS AT ST. PIE.

During the summer of 1843, Dr. Cote visited
occasionally St. Pie and Berea. The Roman
Catholics seeing that the truth was gaining ground,
had recourse to violent persecutions, their usual
arguments, in order to retard its progress. But
God overruled it otherwise, and the Christians of
that place, instead of being shaken in their faith,
were brought oftener to the closet and nearer
their Heavenly Father, feeling that He is a
refuge for the oppressed.

These persecutions were more violent than any
witnessed before in Canada. The Roman Catholics
of St. Pie, at the instigation of their priest, com-
menced by insultinp' Dr. Cote and Mr. Roussy,
who were holding a meeting in the village. They
assembled around the house in crowds, and began
what is called a charivari (a horning), making a
horrible noise, and throwing stones at the Protest-
ants. This state of things continued for a week.

(33)

MEMOIR or DR. COTE.

Seeing tliey did not succeed in driving away the
Protestants, they determined on a bolder attempt.
On Monday, the 4th September, (the persecutions
bad commenced the 27th of August,) before nine
o'clock in the evening, rallying cries were heard in
every direction ; the Canadians assembling in great
numbers, took possession of the village, posted
their guards at different points to prevent flight, or
cut off assistance, whilst others in carts drew up
before the houses of the Protestants, assailing them
with stones from eleven o'clock until three o'clock
in the morning, breaking the doors and windows
which were not protected by strong shutters."
They ordered the resident Colporteur to leave the
village, threatening to set his house on fire if he
remained after a certain day. A Protestant magis-
trate was then called to investigate the case. He
was with the Protestants at St. Pie on the day
prescribed ta the Colporteur for leaving the village,
and remained over night. But the disturbances
were not checked by his presence. On that same
night the Romanists commenced their charivari,
insulted the Christians and blasphemed God, and
finally set fire to the house of one of the converts.
'^Our affliction" says an eye-witness, "in seeing
this house in flames, was aggravated by the infernal
joy which the crowd manifested by shouts of

H':— ,

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

iway the

attempt.

locutions

fore nine

heard in

in great

, posted

3ight, or

Jrcw up

:ng them

3 o'clock

windows

luttcrs.^'

cave the

re if he

t magis-

50. He

the day

village,

rbances

it same

arivari,

od, and

)nvcrts.

seeing

nfernal

uts of

laughter and clapping of hands at seeing the bonfire
which was made of a dwelling of the Protestants."

In such trying circumstances the converts, and
especially Messrs. lloussy and Cote, asked them-
selves whether it was not their duty, like Paul in
another case, to appeal to the protection of the laws,
and show the intolerant lloman Catholics that they
were entitled to religious liberty as well as them-
selves. That this was very important, any one can
understand, in order to prevent in the future the
renewal of such outrages. After prayerful con-
sideration, it was decided that since Providence
had placed thcni under a government that secures
to all freedom of worship, they should require an
enforcement of their rights. Hence thirty persons
were arrested, the most of whom would certainly
have been sent to Montreal jail, had not Papal
magistrates interfered and succeeded in liberating
them under bail.

Dr. Cote was very active and very useful in these
circumstances. His knowledge of law, and his firm-
ness, enabled him to plead the cause of religious
freedom, and impress the Eoman Catholics with
a conviction of the rights granted by the law to the
Protestants as well as to themselves.

Very soon peace and tranquillity were restored;
and the offenders manifesting feelings of repentance,
it was thought best to let the suit drop — since the

iiii '

^ i

■,

III

"Ml

I Hi'
i

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

desired object was attained, that is, to cause the
Roman Catholics to feel that persecutors could be
lawfully punished in this country, and that outrages
against the Protestants could not be perpetrated
with impunity.

It had a very good eiffect. The Roman Catholics
saw that the Protestants were not animated with
bitter feelings towards them, and had not been
prompted by a spirit of revenge. They were
constrained to acknowledge that these harmless
Christians had returned good for evil, according to
the precepts of the Gospel, evincing the same mind
that was in Christ Jesus.

It soon providentially happened that Dr. Cote,
who immediately settled there, was called in his
medical capacity to visit the families of some of the
persecutors. He went willingly, forgetting the
past, and doing them all the good he could. Such
conduct was well calculated to make a good impres-
sion upon their minds, and we have reason to think
it was blessed lo many.

I !

Catholics
ited with
Qot been
ley were
harmless
)rding to
me mind

Dr. Cote,
id in his
ne of the
ting the
1. Such
i impres-
to think

CHAPTEE yil.

SICKNESS, AND VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH.

I31MEDIATELY after the disturbances related
above, Dr. Cote was settled at St. Pie with his
family. Before that time the station had only
been occasionally visitod, but this state of things
could not continue any longer. Dr. Cote was the
man prepared to take this station. He entered on
his labors with characteristic ardor and energy.
But another trial awaited the mission : his health
began to fail, and however anxious he was to pro-
claim the good news of salvation in that field, he
was obliged to leave it and seek a milder climate.
It was greatly feared that he was consumptive, and
would be removed by death. He left Canada in
the month of March, 1844, and went to Savannah,
Georgia, after having spent a few days at New York.

The voyage to Savannah was beneficial to his
health. He had hardly arrived there before he
began to experience a happy change, which war-
ranted the hope of a speedy recovery. In a letter
dated April 15th, he says : *' I arrived here last

* (37)

in^'

I.I ■

MEMOIR or DR. COTE

Saturday, after a very happy passage of nine dayo>

The sea has only done me good During

the passage I have coughed but little, and only
two or three times spit up blood. I am less troubled
now with pains in my breast/'

In his sickness, he experienced the consolations
of religion, and though absent from home, and
deprived of the attention and care of his beloved
wife and friends, he enjoyed that peace which
passeth all understanding. In a letter to Mr.
Roussy he says : '^ The Christian has a friend to
console and comfort him in his trials, and in the
midst of agitations and troubles he. can look with
confidence to God, and say with calmness and
resignation, ' Let thy will be done, and not mine.' "
In the same letter he earnestly requests the prayers
of his brethren tha^ he may be truly resigned to
the will of God.

His health continuing to improve, he left Savan-
nah in May, and arrived again at St. Pie in Canada,
in June. He resumed his labors in the midst of
those he loved so much in Christ. He felt very
thankful for his recovery, in regard to which he
said, " If I was enabled to resign myself with plea-
sure to the will of my Father, who seemed to say
to me that the time had come for me to leave this
house of clay, I blessed Ilim too, from the bottom

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

of my heart, when he said to me, ' Be healed/ and
when he gave me entire liberty in bcarino- the
Word of Life to those I so much desired to rescue
from the slavery of the Man of Sin." The next
chapter will show that he did not labor in vain.

i'->3

-' ^1
f 1

?'l

!i!

li li

CHAPTER Vin.

HIS ORDINATION. SUBSEQUENT LABORS AT ST.

PIE. INTERESTING CASES. VISITS TO THE

UNITED STATES.

Dr. Cote being now permanently settled at St.
Pie, it was necessary that he should be ordained.
A meeting of ministers was called, and on the 28th
of August, 184:4, he was solemnly set apart by
prayer and the laying on of hands, to the work of
the gospel ministry. H<j was ordained over tho
church which had chosen him for their pastor.

He was so successful that in the month of March
of the following year, 1845, he could write thus :
" Since the month of June last, thirty have joined
the church, after having given unequivocal signs
of a sincere return to God, and of having received
that faith in their hearts which gives them a title
to being the children of Grod.''

" The Spirit of the Most High," he continues,
" acted with so much power upon many who had
not yet received the seal of adoption, that in Decem-
ber last, I thought best to have, every afternoon at
four o'clock, a prayer meeting, and at seven o'clock
(40)

nu.

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

AT ST.
THE

. at St.
dained.
le 28th
)art by
<rork of
ver the
or.

' March
} thus :
joined
i signs
eceived
a title

itinues,
ho had
Decem-
aoon at
o^clock

the Word of God was preached. The hand of the
Lord was so evidently with us, tliat the church
requested that these meetings should be kept up
for a fortnight ; at the end of which time five souls
professed publicly that they had passed from death
unto life, and that their hearts rejoiced in that joy
which none can take away.''

In 1846, he wrote again to Bev. J. M. Cramp as
follows : — ^

St. Pie, August 1, 1846
Dear Brother,

Imploring the blessing of our Heavenly Father,
I hasten to comply with your request, by writing
a few words respecting the good things which the
Lord, in his infinite mercy, is accomplishing here,
in favor of a people peculiarly dear to me. Unite
with me in earnestly supplicating the Author of
every perfect gift, to sbcd his benedictions on the
plans which we daily foi m and carry into execution,
for the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ in
this part of His vineyard.

If I were required to detail minutely all

that has been done here since I transmitted

my last Report, I must confess that the task

would be too difficult, and altogether beyond my

strength. I shall content myself with giving

you a general view of the blessings which the

4.*

ll!!

ijil^

" I

MEMOIR or DR. COTE.

Lord has bestowed upon us since I last wrote to
you, that we may give all the glory to Him to whom
alone it is due.

CONVERSION or A YOUNG MAN.

In 1841, this young man who was then 16 years
of age, and lived in this parish, went to spend a
few days in the adjoining parish, (St. Cesair,) in
order to assist at a protracted meeting which the
Jesuits were holding. After having devoutly at-
tended the masses which were every day celebrated,
and heard the sermons which were preached during
the exercises, the young man presented himself at
the tribunal of confession, that he might be deliv-
ered from the burden of sin which heavily pressed
upon his soul. He had confessed but a few times
when his confessor gave him absolution, and directed
him to receive the eucharist. He was astonished
at the ease with which sins that appeared to him
so heinous were pardoned. He endeavored to
persuade the priest that he was not yet sufficiently
prepared for the holy ordinance, but he was unsuc-
cessful ; tl.3 priest commanded him to render obedi-
ence at once. He returned to his lodgings very
sorrowful, yet determined not to expose himself
to the peril of committing sacrilege, as he consid-
ered it, in receiving the communion while his con-
science was so oppressed with the burden of his sins.

II!';
liJJ

I'.H

il:

n^mm>sgm0mjmM9

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

wrote to
to whom

16 years
spend a
3air,) in
lich the
)utly at-
ebrated,
I during
nself at
)e deliv-
pressed
w times
directed
onished
to him
Dred to
iciently
unsuc-
r obedi-
5s very
limself
consid-
lis con-
lis sins.

Next day he went again to confession, when the
priest sharply reproved him for his disobedience,
and told him to go to him no more till he had
yielded submission. Among other expressions used
hy the priest on that occasion, and which deeply
impressed his mind, were these words : — " Do you
think that I design to damn you ?^^ Distressed at
finding that his confessor would not allow him to
prostrate himself at his feet any more, but being
still unable to overcome the reluctance and fear
which prevented him from communion while his
conscience was oj^pressed with sin, he wept abun-
dantly, and sorrowfully took the road that led to
his father's house. The words of the priest were
continually sounding in his ears, — " Do you think
that I design to damn you?^^ — till at length he
became satisfied that the execution of the implied
threat was possible, anJ from that moment he re-
solved to learn to read, that he might be able to
examine the book ^whence the priests derive their
knowledge and their instructions, that he might
judge for himself, whether his confessor had been
faithful, or whether he himself had been too scru-
pulous in refusing to do what had been required
of him About the same time he learned that a
person Lad arrived at St. Pie, who gave copies of
the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all who
were willing to accept them. He found means to

1 7

iiiil': ,

iiiilii!!

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

procure a copy, and, by the assistance of a little
girl, soon made such progress in the art of reading
as to be able to understand what he read. How
great was his surprise, when he discovered, by the
Sacred Volume, that no man could take away his
sins, and that the 'blood of Christ only can wash
and cleanse the soul ! The perusal of the New
Testament was a new era in his life. Meanwhile
the ftict of his reading the book was known to no
one but his young instructress, who faithfully kept
the secret. When he was able to read without
assistance, he spent whole days in perusing the
Word of God. Then he determined in his heart to
separate himself from the Church of Rome, which
had so long kept him in ignorance of the true doc-
trine of free salvation by Jesus Christ.

Soon after, he left the paternal roof, to seek em-
ployment elsewhere. He took with him the pre-
cious volume which had revealed the falsehoods of
Romanism. The more he read the Gospels, the
more clearly he saw the absolute necessity of con-
version to God, yet he wished it to be delayed, that
he might not be exposed to the persecutions of the
world. He could not long conceal the state of his
mind, and then, in order to escape the mockmgs
and insults of his young companions, he imitated
the example of Peter, who, at the sight of a ser-
vant maid, swore that he knew not his Master.

nil iiwi

>is>:

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

f a little
* reading
i. How
1, by the
away his

an wash
the New
eanwhile
vn to no

lly kept

without
sing the

heart to
J, which
:rue doc-
geek em-
the pre-
loocls of
)eLs, the

of con-
ed, that
J of the
e of his
lockings
imitated
f a ser-
Master.

From that time he became more worldly than ever,
although his conscience continually reproached him
as a traitor to his God. He continued three long
years in this deploralie condition, struggling against
his conscience and against the word of God, which
conliuually warned him that he was deficient in his
duty, both towards God and towards his own soul.
Sometimes he seemed to show signs of penitence,
but generally he afiected complete unbelief, and he
lived in open sin.

Last autumn a bishop of the Romish Church
visited the place where he lived, for the purpose of
consecrating a new church. He hastened to the
spot, *^^at he might converse with him on the Bible,
and ascertain whether he could maintain his senti-
ments by the authority of the word of God. He
was convinced in a few moments that the bishop
was not better acquainted with the Bible than any
priest, and to all his questions concerning the doc-
trines of the Christian religion, he received only
vague and evasive replies, sometimes contradictory,
and frequently accompr ied by contemptuous and
insulting language. He returned home, more fully
persuaded than ever that Romanism cannot stand
before the light of the Gospel of Jesus, but at the
same time more determined than ever not to be
converted to God. He continued several days in
that state of impenitence and hardness of heart,

J ^1

1 1

i :
il:

, 1

1
' 1 <

; i
j \

]

1 i

1 : r

1(1''

1;^^

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

wlierij being one day engaged in the forest, cutting
wood, with a very heavy axe, his foot suddenly
slipped, and the axe violently struck his leg, just
at the knee-joint. The loss of blood was so great
that he fainted, and was conveyed to his lodging
in an insensible state. As no surgical assistance
could be obtained, those about him made use of
some very powerful remedies, and succeeded in
stopping the flow of blood, but the effect was a vio-
lent inflammation, which threatened to produce
mortifiv ation, not only of the leg, but also of the
thigh. In this sad condition his friends brought
him to my ho'^ise, which is about three leagues
from the place where he received the hurt. I was
not at home at the time, but Mrs. Cote, perceiving
the frightful condition in which the young man
was, would not allow him to be taken back. She
prepared a room for him, applied soothing poultices
to the wound, and the result was, that when I
returned home, on the second day, I found that
God had blessed the application of these simple
remedies. In a few days the patient was out of
danger, though the size and depth of the wound
precluded the h< pe of a speedy cure.

It was necessary that he should reside some time
with us. I felt it my duty to converse with him
on the state of his soul. I pointed out to him the
goodness of the Lord, in chastising as a father,

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

, cutting
suddenly
leg, just
so great
lodging
ssistance
use of
eded in
as a vio-
produce
) of the
brought
leagues
I was
rceiving
Dg man
k. She
loultices
when I
nd that
simple
out of
wound

ae time
th him
lim the
father,

instead of smiting him to death. I urged him to
consider seriously his obstinacy in refusing to submit
to llim who had so often knocked at the door of
his heart, and entreated him to delay no longer,
nor to continue to resist the grace of God. A
fearful struggle followed. At length, having been
led to confess and deplore the wickedness of his past
life, and to shed many tears of repentance, he ex-
perienced reconciliation with God through the Lord
Jesus C irist. Having found peace, he became
joyful and happy, and was enabled to thank God
for having chastened him in fatherly tenderness.
He remained with me till his cure was completed,
and then rc^'irned home. Shortly afterwards he
came back, and earnestly requested me to take him
again into my house, that he might be more per-
fectly instructed in the way of the Lord. lie soon
informed me of his desire to become a Colporteur,
that he might advance the Kingdom of the Saviour
among his fellow-countrymen. Having sought
divine direction in the affair, I complied with his
request. He remained a few months at my house,
and then went to the Mission House at Grand
Ligne, where he is now under preparation for the
work in which he is hereafter to be engaged. He
continues to give proof of sincere piety, and genuine
devotedness to the cause of his Master.^'

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

After relating two other interesting conversions
Dr. Cote goes on to say : —

" While our Heavenly Father has been pleased, in
his great compassion, to increase and multiply our
little flock. He has also seen fit, in his infinite wis-
dom, to take from us a brother whom we all highly
esteemed, and who was the first at St. Pie to
receive the light of the Word of God. Those of
your readers who arc acquainted with the history
of the religious awakening at St. Pie, in 1841, will
doubtless remember that at that time, by means of
a Bible which his father had left him at his death,
Jean Baptiste Auger began to discover the errors
of the Church of Home, and the truth of Chris-
tianity. From the moment of his conversion till
his death, which took place on the 25th of March
last, he m'^'ntained an undeviating consistency.
He was always the stern enemy of error, and the
zealous advocate of the cause of his Divine Master,
The week before that in which he died, I conversed
with him very seriously on the state of his health,
and felt it my duty, as a medical man, to tell him
that I feared he could not long withstand the
attacks of a disorder which was undermining his
strength, and appeared likely to issue in con-
sumption. I was then very far from expecting
that within eight days I should be called to commit
to the earth the mortal remains of that beloved

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

\Trsion3

cased, in
iply our
lite wis-
1 highly

V'lQ to
'hose of

history
41, will
leans of
s death,
le errors
f Chris,
•sion till
■ March
listency.
and the
Master,
nversed

•

health,
iell him
md the
ing his
n con-
pecting
commit
beloved

brother. The day after our conversation I was
confined to my bed by sickness, and brother Auger
was also in the same state. Two days after, a
messenger came to me in the night, to tell me that
he was alarmingly ill, and the next day at noon I
left my bed, though with difficulty, to visit him.
I found that he was very near death. lie asked
my opinion of his state. I could not conceal from
him the truth, and therefore told him that he must
prepare to meet God in a very short time. Ho
began immediately to sing a hymn of praise, and
then requested me to pray. Then he proceeded,
with the utmost calmness,* to arrange his temporal
affairs, continually praisiT\^ and blessing God that,
after having given him full opportunity to make
sure his calling and election in Jesus Christ, he
was now pleased, in great mercy, to call him to
himself. From that time till his death, which oc-
curred about thirty-six hours after my first visit,
his whole time was employed, as far as extreme
suffering would permit, in singing hymns, praying,
and exhorting those who were around his bed. He
besought Christians to persevere in the faith, and
the unconverted to repent and commit themselves
to Jesus. He asked for one of his old friends who
knew the Gospel, but who still continued in sin,
through fear of the world ; and admonished him to
turn to the Lord, to burst the bonds which confined!

■■11

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

him, and to embrace the salvation offered in the
Gospel. He sent for one who had denied the faith,
but he did not arrive in time to receive from the
lips of the dying man the counsels which he had
intended to give, if God had permitted him. Hav-
ing told me, however, what he had purposed to say,
I repeated to the fallen brjther the solemn admoni-
tions which his dying friend had charged me to
give. They produced the desired effect. The back-
slider confessed his fault, abandoned his errors and
his evil ways, and, to all appearances, affords now
good proof of a Christian life.

Perceiving one of his friends in tears, he ad-
dressed him in the following manner : — " If your
friend was about to receive a large inheritance,
would you weep over his fate V^ The other having
answered in the negative, — "Well,'' he replied,
" that is my position ; in a few hours I shall have
heaven for my inheritance ; therefore shed no more
tears on my account." Towards midnight he asked
me how long he might yet live: '"hardly three
hours," I replied, — " by that time all will be over
with you here below." As the end of the three
hours drew nigh he felt that death was at hand.
Sitting up in his bed, and joining his hands to-
gether, he began to repeat the Lord's prayer, with
a loud voice : but when he came to the words,
" Forgive us our offences," his voice failed him,

,u»^«

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

and he was obliged to lay his head on the pillow
and finish the prayer in a lower tone. Then, hav-
ini: hidden farewell to those who surrounded the
bed, by an impressive motion of his hand, he was
heard to exclaim, in a low whisper, " Come Jesus,
come,'' — and immediately expired, without pain.

His funeral was attended by an immense con-
course of people, among whom was a large number
of Romanists, who came to pay that tribute of
respect which his irreproachable conduct had ever
secured. We have reason to hope that we shall
ere long see the fruit of the good seed scattered
abroad by our friend, both during his eminently
Christian life, and during the short period of his
sickness.

Since my last Report, twelve new members have
been added to the Church at St. Pie on a public
profession of their faith, all of whom, with only one
exception, have been snatched from the delusions
of Popery. There are many others who are under
serious concern for the salvation of their souls.

Some time since I received an application from
ten families in this parish, all Romanists, requesting
me to interest myself on their behalf with the Swiss
Mission, that a schoolmaster might be sent to in-
struct their children, promising to furnish a site for
a building, to erect at their own expense a school-
house, (the floors, doors, and windows excepted,)

I'l

r I

1 1

! I

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

and to give legal possession of the property to the
Mission. We are not aware that the Gospel has
been introduced to more than two or three families,
nor has it produced as yet any effect upon them.
We think that in this proposal of theirs the finger
of God is visible, and that He is about to call more
souls to the knowledge of the truth. The site
that is offered us is very valuable in this respect, — it
is situated in the midst of influential and respectable
families. May the Lord bless this new enterprise,
that it may issue in the glory of his holy name !

In closing this Eeport, dear brother, I have to
request that you and your readers will pray for one
who knows and feels his weakness, and his unfit-
ness for the work to which it has pleased the Lord
to call him. May all Christians who read these
lines determine not to forget us in their daily sup-
plications at the throne of Divine grace and mercy.
And now, beloved and much honored brother,
believe me, for life, your affectionate brother in
Jesus Christ,

C. H. 0. COTE.
Rev. J. M. Cramp, A. M.

Dr. Cote continued to labor at St. Pie and
vicinity until the spring of 1848, and though for
the last year or two no revival took place, we have
reason tc think that the blessing of God rested upon

ik*

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

to the
pel has
imilies,

them.

finger
11 more
le site
ct, — it
ectable
jri^rise,
ne !
ave to
for one
} unfit-
e Lord
I these
I J sup.
mercy,
rother,
ber in

IE.

e and

;h for

! have

upon

fr*

his missionary efforts, and that they were blessed
to many a soul.

In August, 1847, he wrote : " I cannot say, with
truth, that the cause of the Saviour advances in
this place as fast as the children of God would

desire The priests of the church of Rome

are violent, and spare no pains to prevent the circu-
lation of the "Word of God among their flocks,
proving by this dread of the truth that they are of
the number of those who ' hate the light, and will
not come to the light, lest their deeds should be
reproved.' Nevertheless, in spite of all their efforts,
we see from time to time individuals withdrawing
themselves from the worship of the Beast in order
to take refuge ■et the feet of Him, concerning whom
John the Baptist said, ^ Behold the Lamb of God
that taketh away the sins of the world / and these
experience the fulfilment of the declaration, that
* to as many as received him, to them he gave
power to become the sons of God, even to them
which believe on his name.' "

Whilst resident at St. Pie, Dr. Cote was called
almost every year into the United States a month
or more, in order to awaken an interest in favor of
the Mission, and collect funds for its support.

In the spring of 1848, the circumstances of the
Mission were such that he was obliged to visit the
United States, and spend considerable time there.

Ml! I-

!■!

Mil

Nil

!i!

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

He resigned Lis charge at St. Pie, and proceeded
on his journey which lasted eight months. A
great part of this period was spent in the city of
Philadelphia, where he prepared for the press, and
edited for the American Baptist Publication Society
several French works on the Romish Controversy.
There were six publications, three books and three
tracts. The volumes were, " Extracts from Eccle-
siastical History on the Origin of some of the
Errors of the llomish Church," prepared by Rev.
L. Normandeau; "Pengilly's Scripture Guide to
Baptism," translated by Rev. L. Normandeau; and
'^Remington's Reasons for becoming a Baptist,''
translated by Dr. Cote. The first of these volumes
contains 180 pages, the second, 200 pages, and the
third, 80 pages, making an aggregate of 460 pages.
The tracts were all prepared by Dr. Cote; No. 1,
The Holy Bible on Baptism ; No. 2, A Chronolo-
gical Table of important events ; No. 3, A "Word in
Passing, to those who have left the Romish Church.
He acquitted himself of his task with diligence and
fidelity, and was very successful in his efibrts to
gain friends and funds for the Mission.

He returned to Crrande Ligne, where his family
had lived during his absence, at the end of Decem-
ber of that year.

CHAPTEK IX.

HIS LABORS AT ST. MARY, NEAR FORT GEORGE.

After his return from the United States, Dr.
Cote spent two months at Grande Ligne, waiting
for the directions of his Heavenly Father in regard
to his future field of labor. His attention was
drawn towards St. Mary, a parish some twenty
miles east of Grande Ligne, where a certain number
of families had been listening to the Truth.

But the difiiculty in the way was the uncertainty
of getting a house. One was for sale, but the
proprietor lefused to sell it for Dr. Cote. However,
God, who designed to make him the instrument of*
much good in that place, opened the way. An
English Protestant, a friend of the Mission, know-
ing these circumstances, found the means of buying
that house, and soon the Doctor took possession of
it, to the great astonishment of the Eoman Catholics.

The priest of the neighboring parish was so angry
at it, that he came with about a hundred of his
parishioners with the avowed purpose of driving
away Dr. Cote. But God watched over his servant,

C65)

h '

:iii,i

;!''

!!'i

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

and the mob dispersed without daring or attempt-
ing to do any harm.

During the spring and summer of 1849, he visited
many families to whom he spoke of Christ crucified.
His profession opened for him the doors of many
houses, and whilst relieving the sufferings of the
body as a physician, be forgot not the precious
soul, but made it a rule to speak about the Gospel,
wherever he was called.

In the autumn, he again visited the United
States, and on his way to New York wrote the
following letter, in which he alludes to the useful-
ness of the books prepared the year before in
French, and published by the American Baptist
Publication Society.

•I ..i

DR COTE TO REV. T. S. MALCOM, PHILADELPHIA.

St. Johns, 10th November, 1849,

Dear Brother: — Had I considered my own
feelings, I should have written to you a long time
ago. But it has been impossible for me so to do
on account of my numerous engagements. It is
now my intention to visit Philadelphia, and there I
shall have the pleasure of relating to you personally
all the good that the books which the American
Baptist Publication Society printed for us, have
done among our poor benighted Romanist population.

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

attempt-
he visited
crucified,
of many
5s of the
precious
G Gospel,

J United
rrote the
le useful-
before in
Baptist

)ELPHIA.

1849-

my own
ong time
s so to do
s. It is
d there I
ersonally
American
us, have
pulation.

"VTe have distributed nearly all of the " Extraits do
ia Historic Ecclesiastique;'' and as imperfect as
they were, they have done us an immense deal of
good. My object in writing to you to-day, is to
beg from your Society a grant of the remaining
portion of that work in your possession, as also a
good supply, if you can give it, of the " Table
Chronologique," which also has proved very eflfec-
tual among the Canadians.

Dr. Cote was appointed a missionary of the
American Baptist Home Mission Society, in com-
mon with the other ministers of the Grande Ligne
Mission, and public preaching was established at
his house. It began to be attended by a few
individuals. The number of the hearers gradually
increased ; souls were converted to God ; and before
his death he was blessed to see some fifteen families
abandoning the Bomish church. He baptized in
July and August seven converts, and as many
more manifested a change of heart, and were ready
to make a public profession of their faith by being
buried with Christ in baptism.

The field of St. Mary was beginning to be very
interesting, and we thought our brother was settled
there for a long while. A church, we anticipated,
was soon to be organised. When he was at the
Grande Ligne last, just before he set out for the

■1*1

: r t

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

United States, where he was to die in a few days,
he spoke of it, and appeared very desirous that the
converts of St. Mary should be organised into a
Christian church, and enjoy its holy privileges ;
but we are ail permitted to learn that while man
can anticipate, hope and appoint, God, whose
thoughts are higher than our thoughts, can wisely
and mercifully disappoint. ^^He doeth all- things
well."

iilli

CHAPTER X.

niS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH.

Dr. Cote was invited to attend the annual
meeting of the Lamoille Association, which was to
take phice at Hinesburgh, Vermont, on the 18th
September, 1850; and desirous of seeing his breth-
ren who were going to meet there, and of interesting
them in favor of the Grande Ligne Mission, he
accepted the invitation. On his way, he felt some
indisposition, but it was not thought serious. On
the morning of the day that the Association was to
meet, ho was seized with a violent pain in his left
arm, which was at first supposed to be rheumatism.
However, he was able to address the meeting,
though with difficulty. But soon afterwards his
pain increased and extended to every part of his
body. Seven physicians were called in, who pro-
nounced it a case of inflammatory neuralgic fever.
All their efforts for his relief we^-^ useless. His
time had come to leave this world of sin and trial
for his heavenly inheritance, and it was not in the
power of man to accomplish his recovery.

(59)

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

"We have two accounts of his death, one from an
enemy, and the other from a friend. The one is
from the Melanges lleligieux, a Catholic paper, the
substance of which was that Dr. Cote was preaching
in a chapel which belonged to his sect, while at the
same time a Catholic priest was preaching in a
neighboring church. All at once he felt a sense
of suffocation, and fell down in great agony. Some
expressions of remorse, in view of his life, fell from
his lips, but he died without manifesting any signs
of true repentance. Nay, ho went so far as to try
to pervert a young man who stood at his side, but
happily, he was on his guard, and could not be
shaken from the faith. Such is the lying spirit in
the mouth of Popery, to this day. So are its igno-
rant victims deceived, and held in bondage.

The other account is from Mr. Normandeau, of
the Grande Ligne Mission, who was present at the
time of Dr. Cote's death, and writes as an eye-
witness of the glorious though mournful scene.

From an early period in his sickness he had a
settled impression that he should not recover. His
sufferings were intense, but in the midst of them
Christian patience had its perfect work. To those
around him he would say, " Talk to me about God."
On one occasion he remarked, "In me you see a
perfect development of physical suffering, and of
spiritual peace." When a Christian brother said

MEMOIR OF DK. COTE.

ic from an
Ihe one is
paper, the
preaching
hile at the
jhing in a
It a sense
>ny. Some
2j fell from
; any signs
r as to try
s side, but
lid not be
ig spirit in
re its igno-

andean, of
lent at the
IS an eye-
ful scene.
3 he had a
over. His
3t of them
To those
)out God."
you see a
ig, and of
other said

to him, " It does not seem as though you could be
spared from the mission/' he replied, "God's
thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as
our ways." And so it proved.

lie had sent for Rev. Mr. Normandcau of Grande
Ligne, and not long after this gentleman had
arrived at Ilinesburgh the Doctor seemed better,
and some hopes were entertained that he might
recover. IMr. Normandcau returned home, but was
soon telegraphed to return to Ilinesburgh with Dr.
Cote's two elder children. Mr. Normandcau
arrived on the morning of the 3d of October. The
Doctor had fallen into a state of delirium : he
imagined himself engaged in religious exercises,
and prayed and preached as if in the presence of a
large congregation.

" About three in the afternoon, a lucid interval
was enjoyed. His children were taken to him.
The interview was brief, and the words were few,
but expressive. * I am happy ! I am happy !' the
dying husband and father exclaimed, and again
relapsed into unconsciousness, overpowered by the
excitement.

" Shortly afterwards, Mr. Normandcau spoke to
him. To an inquiry respecting the state of his
mind, he replied, ^ Quite well — all is peace.' ' In
whom do you place your confidence V ^ In Jesuj.'
* Do you think that you are dying V ' I am quite

;. ir

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

,fl

'I!

awaro of it.' 'Does it grieve you that you are
about to leave the world V ' Oh no I' * But your
family?' 'I lectve (hem m the hands of God.*
We spoke to him/' says Mr. Normandoau, "aa
often as there were signs of returning consciousness,
and he invariably said that he had no fear. Some
days before, he had remarked to those who were in
attendance, that he had reason to be very thankful
that this sickness had not come upon him while he
was yet in his sins, and in connection with the
church of Rome. From the beginning of his
illness, he had felt persuaded that he should not
recover; he expressed this opinion to Mrs. Cote, at
the same time consoling her by the assurance that
God would take care of her and the children.

*'He became gradually weaker till midnight,
when unequivocal symptoms of approaching disso-
lution appeared. At»one o'clock in the morning
he peacefully departed, dying without a struggle,
October 4th, 1850, in the 42d year of his age."

He had expressed the desire of being buried at
Grande Ligne, and in compliance with this request,
his remains were conveyed there and deposited in
the Mission burial ground, in the presence of a
large and deeply affected assembly. They were
followed by many of the friends at Hinesburgh as
far as Burlington, and by some of t^em to the place
of burial. The funeral sermon was preached in

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

at you are
' But your
r of God:
ndcau, "as
isciousncss,
ear. Some
rho were in
ry thankful
m while ho
n with the
ing of his
should not
rs. Cote, at
urance that
dren.
midnight,
thing disso-
le morning
a struggle,
is age."
buried at

is request,
eposited in
ence of a
?hey were
Dsburgh as
) the place
•eached in

French at the ^Mission Chapel, by Ilev. L. Norman-
dcau, from 1 Peter iv. 7. lie v. L. Koiissy read
the Scriptures, gave a brief, but solemn adilroHS,
and oifered prayer at the grave. T'lus ended the
funeral service of a great and good man. Many of tho
converts of St. Mary were present, and accompanied
in tears to the grave their beloved minister, whom
a few weeks before they had in their midst in
perfect health and entirely engaged in the missionary
work. They mourned, not as those, however, who
have no hope, but as children who bow m humility
and resignation before a good and wise Father^
whose dispensations are all love and mercy.

'I'i

III

liii'

CONCLUSION.

Dr. Cote was a true patriot. He loved his
country, and was always desirous of doing something
for its welfare. At first, not knowing any better
way, he sought the remedy to its evils in political
and social changes alone, and had recourse to
unlawful means. But when he was enlightened
Ly the Word and Spirit of God, he saw that the
only foundation for happiness and prosperity is in
the religion of the Gospel; and he immediately
endeavored to impart it to his fellow-countrymen,
pointing them to the Son of God, by whom if they
were once freed, they would be free indeed.

Dr. Cote was a true missionary. His missionary
career was not long ; it was only eight years, but it
was well filled, and certainly successful, if we con-
sider the numerous obstacles that beset the paths of
the servants of God in Lower Canada.

His medical profession, his thorough education,
his piety of heart, and his natural activity, emi-
nently fitted him for the arduous duty of a pioneer
missionary. He could get access to man families
(04)

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

whom another minister could not reach, and nothing
delighted him more than being actively engaged in
ministering to the bodily and spiritual wants of hia
dear fellow-countrymen.

lie possessed more than common natural powers,
and great energy of character. Whatever he
undertook, he accomplished with all his might.
The same remarks might apply in regard to hia
views, which were generally very decided. How-
ever, his attachment to his convictions did not
J)reveut him from enjoying the "communion of
saints ;" he associated himself with Christians of
all denominations, and was happy among them.

Dr. Cote was a good preacher , though not regu-
larly trained for the ministry. His political career
had accustomed him to speak in public, and as
Boon as he knew the truth he became a preacher
and a missionary. The writer remembers having
been deeply affected when he heard him for the
first time proclaiming the Gospel. He had heard
him before speak in public ) it was during the time
of the rebellion, when the Doctor harangued the
soldiers before one of the fearful battles in which
he was engaged ; but now, himself converted a few
months before, he saw the rebel transformed into a
soldier of the cross of Christ, and proclaiming the
glorious Gospel he loved so ardently, and he could
not sufficiently bless his Heavenly Father for the

:/ .M

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE.

.il!l |i;.

II II ir

great and glorious change that had taken place.
And now, after having toiled but a little while in
missionary service with him, he mourns over him
as over a dear departed fellow-laborer, a faithful
friend, and a sincere brother in Jesus Christ our
Lord.

Dr. Cote was also useful as an autJior and
editor. Perhaps when all earthly things are
summed up, this branch of his labors will be found
laden with precious fruit beyond all the rest.

None who have read his Reply to "Kirwan/'
however much they may deplore its necessity, can
doubt his eminent ability, effectiveness, and Chris-
tian spirit as a controversial writer. Alas ! that on
such a subject — a subject which lies at the very
threshold of the Christian church in all the lovely
simplicity of a Christian duty — the watchmen of
Zion should not see eye to eye, and lift up their
voices together ! It is not our intention to dwell
on this subject, where the vantage ground of
Scripture was so clearly on the side of Dr. Cote,
but as an act of justice to his memory to say, that
he amply acquitted himself of every allegation
which was brought against him in the New York
Observer ; and displayed a beautiful example of the
union of wisdom, faithfulness and love, as honorable
to our common Christianity as to his own indivi-
dual profession of its transforming power.

II 'I

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

Of the works whicli he prepared for the press,
in the French language, many thousands of copies
have been circulated already in the United States,
in Canada, in Hayti, and in France. Two of them
have been eminently successful in opening the
blind eyes, viz., "The Errors of the Eomish
Church,'' and " A Word in Passing." In refer-
ence to the surprising effects of the latter tract, a
missionary in Hayti writes, " Had Dr. Cote written
nothing else, he would not have lived in vain."

In reviewing the Life of Dr. Cote we are struck
with several points worthy of reflection.

1. We see the vanity and misery of Infidelity.
Born and bred in the Roman Catholic church, his
discerning mind perceived her corruptions, and her
pernicious influence on his countrymen, whom he
loved with a patriotic affection. He threw off the
fetters of her despotic sway, and in ignorance of
any better faith, sought refuge in a skeptical
philosophy. But in vain. He found nothing
satisfactory, nothing sufficient to solve the inquiries
of his mind, to alleviate the burdens of conscience,
or purify and fill the yearning affections of his
heart. Professionally attending on a dying friend,
he could neither stay the uplifted arm of death,
nor charm away the venom of its sting by any well
grounded hopes of pardon and immortal happiness
beyond the grave. Over the cold grave hung the

■ ,

MEMOia OP DR. COTE.

^i|

gloomy shadows of dreadful uncertainty. The
tears he shed for his lost friend were the tears of
despair. Nor was he able to find rest for his soul,
until he was effectually led to the knowledge of the
truth as it is in Jesus.

2. We see in his conversion a remarkable instance
of God's distinguishing grace. The question of
the Apostle, "Who maketh thee to differ from
another ?" admits of but one answer ; and that
arswer Dr. Cote was ever ready to give from a full
heart of trembling gratitude. He had seen his
friend die without hope. He, though equally
unworthy, perhaps more guilty In the sight of God,
was spared, softened, humbled at the foot of the
cross, and filled with unspeakable joy and peace in
believing. Why was this ? The fact is certain.
The cause lies deep in the recesses of God's
unsearchable wisdom and love. From the midst
of the thick darkness, we hear a voice of Sovereign
Majesty, declaring, " I will cause all my goodness
to pass before thee, and I will have mercy upon
whom I will have mercy." In Dr. Cote we see a
brard plucked from the fire — a vessel of mercy
prepared afore unto glory — a chosen vessel to bear
the name of Christ to his deluded and perishing
fellow-men. What a song of admiring and adoring
gratitude must be his forever ! And how thank-
fully should we also glorify God in him !

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

3. Weltnr from this Memoir that even Infidels,
who were formerly Roman Catholics, are within
tlie reach of evangelical labor, and hope. We say
even Infidels, for such was Dr. Cote before he was
brought to the careful study of the Bible. Robert
Hall has somewhere said that " Infidelity is merely
a noxious spawn, bred in the stagnant marshes of
a corrupted Christianity/' and the justice of this
observation is seen in the bioprraphy before us.
Had not Dr. Cote seen in the Romish church to
which he belonged by birth and education, such a
mass of glaring corruption, he might never have
felt the shock and recoil which drove him into
unbelief. Or, if he had made that painful discovery
in the light of the Scriptures, he might have cast
off Romej without casting off Christianity, But
as he had ever been trained to regard them as
one, it was not easy to make the necessary separa-
tion, even were he so disposed, until he became
acquainted with the Bible, the Book forbidden by
Rome, lest its light should expose her aggravated
sins. To the study of this Book we have seen that
he was led, by observing its happy influence on the
hearts and lives of sincere Christians. The prayer
meetings of the little church at Swanton first
unfolded to him the holy beauty, the elevating
hopes, and the tender tranquillizing power of the
Bpiritual life imparted by Christ to all true believers.

'11

I I

'I I

y ;

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

4. If then in his case we sec there is hope of
reclaiming the Infidel, much more do we see such
hope of success in evangelical labors for the instruc-
tion and salvation of Roman Catholics. The letter
of Dr. Cote to his wife, so prompt, so earnest, so
aiFectionate, so judicious, was precious seed sown
in tears, soon to be reaped in the joy of her con-
version and faithful co-operation in the work of
Christ. The whole history of his subsequent
labors, and indeed the whole history of the (rrando
Ligne Mission from the beginning to this day,
afford abundant proof that no depth of ignorance
and superstition, no power of hereditary prejudice,
no arts of a wily and desperate priesthood, can rear
a barrier impassable to the humble, prayerful,
persevering efforts of evangelical Christians for the
conversion of Roman Catholics. No doubt can
exist on this point in the mind of any individual,
after reading this Memoir. The brief Narratives
that follow will form the proper sequel, support,
and seal of this gratifying position.

5. No one, it seems to us, can fail in deriving
from the latter part of this Memoir, the cheering
lesson that God reigns in the promotion of His
-own kingdom ; and that, as a consequence, opposi-
tion of all sorts may be overruled for good. It is
s short-sighted philanthropy that hopes to find
every effort and sacrifice for the good of others,

MEMOIR OP DR. COTE.

greeted by universal applause, and individr \\ grati-
tude. However worthy of being welcomed thus,
the life and deatli of our Redeemer teach us upon
this point a more stern and awful truth. We may
go forth with the lamp of life to benighted men,
and yet find that they love darkness rather than
light, because their deeds are evil; or they have
encompassed themselves " with sparks of their own
kindling" — the vain but flattering hopes of self-
righteousness ; or they are blinded and betrayed by
the arts of false teachers, crying 'peace, peace,'
when there is no peace. It is not difficult to incite
men in this condition when opportunity serves, to acts
of popular violence in order to extinguish the light
that annoys them. And God permits the trial,
that the spirits of men may thus bo more fully
tested; and that the transforming power of the
G'^spel may appear more conspicuous and glorious
by the vivid contrast with the evil it has come to
expose and destroy. Hence the precepts : " Render
to no man evil for evil ; but ever follow that which
is good, both among yourselves and towards all
men." '^ Be not overcome of evil, but overcome
evil with good." " Love your enemies ; bless them
that curse you ; do good unto them that despitefully
use you, and persecute you ; that ye may be the
children of your Father which is in Heaven." The
happy effects of obedience to these precepts in the

t 'i

MEMOIR OF DR. COTE

history of the persecuted Christians of St. Pie, as
recorc'ed in this volume, will recur to every mind
in this connexion. The right of appeal in such
cases to the protection of the civil power, is beyond
question, and in some extreme cases, it is equally
clear that its justice mpy be invoked in redress of
wanton injuries ; . t ^ , en justice has pronounced in
our favor, then to ivb • ir its action with mercy,
and repay good for evil, i . not more the peculiar
glory of the Gospel than it is its peculiar power of
winning new victories and nobler triumphs for the
Truth. Such has been the case at the Grande
Ligne Mission.

1:1 ;i,

Pie, as
ry mind
in such
beyond
equally
Iress of
need in
mercy,
)eeuliar
'wer of
for the
Grrande

Htemofr d MtB. M. f, €u

MEMOIR.

No one who has read the tender and beautiful
letter of Dr. Cote to his wife, immediately after his
conversion, can be indifferent to her character and
history. The following sketch is compiled from a
letter of Madame Feller, published in the Grande
Ligne Mission Register of 1851, addressed to the
Ladies' Associations auxiliary to the Mission, and
from a few other materials illustrative of her con-
version, and of her feelings in view of her husband's
death, and in expectation of her own.

Mrs. Cote's parents were English lloman Catholics.
They trained her up strictly in their own faith, to
which she became sincerely attached. She spent
several years of her life in a convent, while recei-
ving her education; and when afterwards married
to Dr. Cote, she was a devout Roman Catholic,
submissive to all the teachings of her church. At
that time, indeed. Dr. Cote himself was still within
the pale of the Romish church ; and when he with-
drew, and became by degrees an Infidel, his wife
applied herself the more diligently to her religious

(75)

''»«

MEMOIR OP MRS. COTE.

Ill

exercises ; performing twice as many as before, in
the fond hope that a part might be imputed to her
beloved husband I Whole nights were sometimes
spent in repeating her prayers for him, with weeping
agony.

The time of " the two rebellions" in Canada, in
which her husband, from his patriotic zeal, took so
prominent a part, was marked by many misfortunes,
and filled with bitter grief to Mrs. Cote. Separated
from her husband, for whose life she constantly
trembled, she saw her house plundered and burnt;
sick, and with two young children, she found herself
destitute of every thing, in a severe season, until a
generous friend furnished her the means of seeking
a new abode. Even then she cruelly suffered both
bodily and mentally, as long as she was unable to
join her husband in his place of exile. But that
place of exile was a scene of mercy, from which was
dated the happiness of their future lives. It was
there, through the grace of God, that Dr. Cote was
brought to the knowledge of the Truth ; and his
wife, perceiving the happy change produced in
him, was convinced it was the work of God, and
subsequently led to seek the same blessing.

The result was not immediate. After receiving the
French Bible sent by her husband, she was still too
much under the influence of the Romish church to
dare to read it. But one day when riding out alone

MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE.

in her brotlicr*s carriage, she met an elderly English
gentleman of her acquaintance, who in the course
of conversation informed her that he was going to
attend a prayer meeting at the Grande Ligne Mis-
sion. She expressed her astonishment that he
should go to the worship of fanatics and deceivers.
He told her that she was greatly mistaken — that
they were not bad people, but simple Bible Chris-
tians, whose chief desire was to follow Jesus Christ
— and begged her to go with him to the meeting,
and judge for herself. She hesitated some time,
but at length from the confidence she felt in his
integrity, and the recollection of her husband's
happy change, she determined to go. There she
heard for the first time in her life, the word of God
read, and her heart was touched with its truths, and
with the prayers that followed. On returning to
her brother's house, where she then resided, she
took up with trembling earnestness the neglected
Bible, and prayerfully resolved to follow her hus-
band's advice, and make it her guide to salvation.
But in order to do this she soon found it would be
necessary to in* ur the displeasure of all her Roman
Catholic friends, and indeed to be banished from
their society. The house of her brother could no
longer be her home, nor would her own father
receive her. Her mind was torn with conflicting
emotions, but the path of duty appeared plain. She

'iH

MEMOIR OP MRS. COTE.

Ill;
U

determined to join her husband in exile, with her
two little ones. Afterwards she sought the spiritual
aid of the Christians of Grande Ligne, that she
might find rest to her troubled conscience, in the
only true way revealed in the Gospel.

"Then," says Madame Feller, "with the sim-
plicity of a child, she came and asked us to receive
her, and instruct her in the way of life. I shall
never forget the blessed moment in which her heart
understood the way of salvation, and received the
grace of God. Mr. Roussy was explaining to her
the third chapter of the Gospel of John, when
suddenly she exclaimed, ' What unction comes upon
me ! my soul is filled with it ! my body even is
impressed by it !' She had just been enabled to
believe that God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Three weeks afterwards she went to relate to her
husband what God had done for her soul.''

This all-important change occurred in 1841, and
was decisive of her future course. On leaving the
Romish church, as was foreseen, Mrs. Cote was
abandoned by her relatives* This was very painful
to her feelings ; but she enjoyed the full consolations
of the Gospel ; and longed to impart them to others
by every means in her power. Hence when her
husband resolved to become a Missionary, she joined

MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE.

him with all her heart, and remained attached to
this blessed work until her death. Many instances
might be given to show the fervor of her zeal and
love. On this point Madame Normandeau says, in
a letter to her daughter : —

" No one knows better than yourself, how truly
your dear mother's spirit was a missionary one —
though she never took the name of missionary, and
in her humility felt that she was not one. She
sacredly improved every opportunity, daily provi-
dence and circumstances offered, to bring forward
Jesus as the Saviour of sinners. The pedlar offer-
ing his wares, and the pauper soliciting aid, will
alike remember her earnest appeals to their con-
sciences, and the fervid simplicity with which she told
them the story of the Cross. She ranked herself
among the poorest of Christians, but 0, she was
rich in faith, and ever felt that she was an inheritor
of the precious promises.^'

The two leading features of her character were
simplicity of faith and gratefulness of affection. She
received the Holy Scriptures and enjoyed them as
a child } and like David took delight in numbering
the many tokens of the goodness of God, and giving
Him thanks for them all. ,

Under the heavy stroke which so suddenly
bereaved her of her husband, 3Irs. Cote was stronger
and more sustained than her friends had dared to

' ir

MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE.

hope. She was silent and opened not her mouth,
because it was God that had done it. The follow-
ing letter to Mrs. J. L. Seddinger of Philadelphia,
written about six months after her husband's death,
lays open the recesses of her bleeding, but submis-
sive heart : —

Fort George, (C. E.,) March 19, 1851.

Dear Sister in the Lord : — Yours, dated Novem-
ber 1st, was handed to me by Madame Feller in
due season. I would have answered it long ero
this, could I have made up my mind to write
concerning the death of my dear departed husband.
But it was impossible. I could not muster courage
sufficient to do it. To-day I was in hopes I could ;
but how little do we know our own strength ! Every
pore is opened anew, and I feel as I did the first
week of his death. Yet I mourn not as many do ;
for I know that he is happy, and that he is with
his God and our God. What a blessed and happy
thought ! Delivered from all temptations and sins,
no sorrow can now reach him, for he is forever
enjoying the bliss of the redeemed.

" Yes, dear sister, my loss is great, and deeply
do I feel it. Notwithstanding I feel that the Lord
has indeed been the widow's God, and that He has
answered the prayers of my dear friends; for I
have been wonderfully sustained in all my trials.

MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE.

Although not one of my own relations has been
near me since his death, the Lord has raised other
friends ; and how precious and soothing have been
their sympathies in the hour of affliction. Please
remember me affectionately to all the dear friends
in Philadelphia. Often have I heard my dear hus-
band speak in raptures of the kindness that was
manifested towards him in your family and many
others in the same place; and how truly did he
realize that the religion of Jesus is a religion 'of
level

" The little flock in this place felt, and still feel
his loss very much. Mr. lloussy has taken his
place, and I am happy to say the work is still pros-
pering, and many souls are coming to the know-
ledge of the blessed Gospel. It is the Lord's work
and not man's; therefore He will take care of it,
and raise efficient laborers to perform it.

" My dear children are, thank God, pretty well.
I cannot say as much for myself. My health has
been very poorly all the winter.

*^ Please remember me in your prayers, also my
dear little ones, that we may all meet at the throne
of grace. I shall be most happy to hear from you
Trhenever you can make it convenient. In the
mexin time believe me, my dear sister, to remain

< Yours affectionately in the Lord,

^^ Margaret Y. Cote."

MEMOIR OF MRS, COTE.

i S

'I
I

It Will be seen from this letter that Mrb. Cote
vras then in feeble health ; and under the impression
that she would not long remain in this world, she
made all her arrangements accordingly. Provi-
dentially two years before, her husband had insured
his life, and the avails of this foresight now came
into her possession. Deeply thankful for the means
thus furnished her to bring up her children, she
removed in the summer to Grand Ligne, as the
most suitable place for the education she intended
to give them. But before the house she was build-
ing there was ready to receive her, she was gone to
that house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens.

"From the commencement of her sickness,"
writes Madam Feller, " she had no hope of recovery,
and her maternal heart had a moment of anguish
at the thought of leaving her chnurej^\ But very
soon she humbled herseli for thh want of confi-
dence, and with a simple and firm faith, confided
her children to the care of her Heavenly Father.
With the most perfect confidence she left them to
the Missionary family, saying : ^I know my chil-
dren are your children.'

" From that time not a cloud obscured her faith ;
ehe Cv nyoled her children and her friends. ^Do
not cry,* she would say, ' but since you love me,
rejoice; my soul is going to appear before God.'

MEMOIR OF ^JRS. COTS:.

Hearing v^omcbody weep, she saltl, ' Do not weep ;
there is cause for rejoicing; a poor sinner saved by
grace is gc'ng to appear before God.' She spoko
to those around her of the happiness she enjoyed
in the peace and love of her Saviour, and ceased
not until her last breath to render thanks unto Ilim,
for the mercy He had shown."

The following letters from Madame Normandeaa
to Rev. Mr, Gillette of l*hilade]phia, and to Mrs.
Cote's eldest daughter, then in a Female Seminary
in the same city, will furnish many interesting
particulars. The first is dated,

) I

" September 19, 1851.

" Dear Bro. GUlctte : — I leave the bedside of our
almost sainted sister just to tell you, in all tender-
ness, to prepare the mind of our dear for the

intelligence I have to communiciite, that her dear
mother is dying gloriously. I will write again when
all shall be over."

Under the same date, Madame iS^ormand'iau
writes to the daughter :

" Hero I am, dearest

-, with a s. d and
trembling, yet happy heart, writing. Your dear
mother's disease is gaining ground, and she seems
like some happy, bright, celestial bird, just ready
for a homeward flight. Your dear mother feels
that you arc just whore God has pkced you, and

84>

MEMOIR OP MRS. COTE.

I'l.

Tvould not have yoa here ; she could not bear a
second parting witb you, and commends you to her
and your God for consolation. That you should
have left so short v. time since, I do not regret, your
dear mother scenes so happy in leaving you where
you are. Try and imitate her, dearest, and do not
murmur. Ther3 is no hope of her recovery. How
can I leave you ? But I must. Nay Jesus take
you to his loving arms."

Again, two days later, the same kind friend
wi'^es ai^ follows :

" My chamber, Sunday, 21.

^^ My own precious: — How can I acquit myself
of the painful i^isk now devolving upon me ? God
must be my s! rength, aiul yours, too, dearest, to en-
able you to bear the tidin^^s this sheet will contain.
O, that you had the sud pleasure of being with us;
but since the good land of God has denied you
this, I will give you many precious details. Ever
since I wrote you last, your precious mother has
been gradually sinking, and at three o'clock this
morning her spirit winged its flight to mansions
above, there to •-^ijoj •' glorious Sabbath free from
Bin.

What a privilege it hpa been to attenr> her !
Such faith ! such .^ongs of praise and gratitude !
Buch entire submission to her Father's will and
care! A week ago to-day she thought some of

MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE.

commg to church; but I discouraged her in my
morning visit, fearing the effort might bring on her
partially checked diarrhoea.

Monday she seemed quite feeble, but thought
with care she should soon be well ; though fghc said
she scarcely desired it, for she felt her work on earth
was done, and she only longed to lay her dust beside
hei ^ good man's,' and to go to rest above. This
brought on much conversation about you all, which
I shall long remember, and she closed with the as-
surance that the Lord would do all things well.

On Tuesday morning I found her so much hot-
ter, that we supposed nothing was wanting but to
build her up with nourishing food. Towards noon
she told me she was in great distress. Madame
Feller found her suffering from what she supposed
was indigestion. The spasm passed, and left her
weak but otherwise easy. I spoke again of sending
for Dr. White. She replied, * He can do me no
good ; husband told me I could receive no good
from the doctors, that I was nearly done, and must
not take medicine; but on going to St. Pie on
Thursday, if you have a mind to see him yourself,
tell him how I am, I have no objections.' AVe
were then all intending to go to St. Pie, to the ex-
amination of the girls' school. I replied, ^We
shall not go and leave you so ill. I shall stay and
take care of you.'

MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE.

' I

I ?'

I ■

"Wednesday T)r. "White came, and said her case
was very critical, but he would try what medicine
would do. Your mother dreaded the eifect upon
her weak frame ; but summoning her courage, she
said, ' Do all you like, I will do my duty.' Your
dear mother tried all with wonderful energy, not-
withstanding her almost deathly weakness, feeling
at ^he same time confident that her end was near.
She suffered comparatively but little pain, for the
disease was treated most gently. For twenty-four
hours after first taken on Tuesday, she suffered
keenly, and often praj^ed for relief with submission.
"Wonderful relief was given, and she said to me,
' What a good Lord my Lord is ! I asked for a lit-
tle relief, and he has takan away all my pain ; he
has always done more than I asked.'

Her frame of mind from the first was most
heavenly, iendcring it truly edifying to be with
her; we all esteemed it a high privilege. It was
often with difficulty she could speak; but she said
much. 0, how much she said, to her dear son Wol-
fred, praying him not to murmur, not to weep, for
a soul was going to appear before its God. "We
shall never forget the emphasis with which she said
often to us, ^^ Pas une larme^ c^cst une Mm'son de
joioy ixir ce qii une ame va paraitre dcvant son
Dicu." " Not a tear, it is a house of joy, a soul
is going to appeal' before its God.''

her case
tnodicinc
}ct upon
'age, she
Your
rgy, not-
I, feeling
7as near.
, for the
;nty-four
suffered
)mission.
[ to mo,
for a lit-
)aiu; he

s most
|be with
It was
Isho said
u Wol-
leep, for
ll. Wo
ihe said
mm de
\int son
a soul

MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE.

Wiien too feeble to do it herself, she bade mo
draw her wedding ring, and said merely, * Rose.'
I have the precious relic for you, and 0, how you
will prize it. What prayer she off""ed for you I
' Tell dear Rose I have nothing more to say to her,
she knows my washes ; my desire is that she may bo
all the Lord's, but tell her I loved her fondly ; I
do not desire her back, it would be too painful for
her to go back alone and motherless; lef her im-
prove her great privileges and prenare for useful-
ness.'

Madame Feller was devoted to her night and day
after she fell seriously ill, and was present with
many others to close her eyes in death. Though
almost speechless for twelve hours before her death,
she was conscious, and knew us all until half an
hour before her end, when she simply breathed
fihorter and shorter until life was extinct. Heavenly
peace is stamped upon her lovely clay ; the spirit
left its impress there as it passed to heaven.

0, with what affection did she kiss us all, and
point upward ! I know I shall not tell you all, for
my heart, though happy for her, is sick for us and
you, and head and limbs are weary. The dear chil-
dren, almost sick with weeping, are already estab-
lished as ours. The Lord teach us all our duty in
reference to them.

Little Augusta, patting her mother's pale cheek,

MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE.

said ono day to her, — " God will take you up to
heaven, and you will have no more pain, and sister
Etta will be Madame Feller's little girl, and I will
go to Mr. and Mrs. Normandeau. I shall cry for
you, but I shall know you are no more sick.' Au-
gusta now insists that you arc all mine^ ^ Eose and
all.'

All the fountains of Madame Feller's large heart
are opened for you all. I told Augusta she should
love two mothers, and she added, * One papa,' put-
ting her arms in her own fascinating way around
Mr. Normandeau's neck. Dear little ones, they lit-
tle know their loss, it is you, dear, and Wolfrcd,
who will feel it most keenly. You have my sym-
pathies, my prayers, for I well know your feelings
of desolation. Though years have rolled since I
was written motherless, the memory is fresh, the
heart gushes still. I well know that you can have
but one mother. We know you are among the tru-
est, tenderest friends, though comparative strangers.
They will ever be precious to you as your parents'
friends. One short year has taken both those pa-
rents from you. cruel discipline I but given we
know in love. May you all, dear children, receive
it at a Father's hand, and bow submissive to the
rod, drinking the bitter cup, as your ''ainted mother
said, and seeking the blessings that will surely ac-
company such chastisement. Mr. N. begs me to

MEMOIR OF MRS. COTE.

give you his love and sympatliy in this trying hour,
and that your soul may bo abundantly blessed and
filled with holy consolation, is the prayer of your
eincere friend and mother. C. A. N.

Wo shall close this sketch with the words of
Madame Feller, in her letter of Nov. 4 th, 1851,
referred to in the beginning, addressed to the aux-
iliary Ladies' Associations.

'^Ladies and dear Sisters: — Since I last wrote
you, it has pleased God to cause us to pass through
affliction and mourning, by taking to Himself our
dear sister, Mrs. Cote. It was on the 21^t of Sep-
tember that she left this world, after a short sick-
ness, during which she edified and consoled us.
Firmly established upon her most holy faith, fjhe
waited for her Saviour, and has responded with joy
to His call to pass from this world to Ilini.

*^ Our beloved sister was forty -four years old. It
was ten years since she believed in Christ,* and not
yet a year since the companion of her life had pre-
ceded her into eternity.

♦ We have been informed by her daughter that one of tho
circumstances which forcibly impressed Mrs. Cote's mind
on first joining her husband at Swanton in ISil, was tho
sacred observance of the Sabbath by Protestant Christians. It
was new to her, and tended greatly to remove her early preju-
dices, by convincing her that tboy were really influenced by
the fear of God. This is a fact worth remembering.

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23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14SS0

(716) S72-4S03

Memoir op mrs. cote.

" And now, dear sisters, I ask your sympathies
and your prayers for our dear orphans, and for those
who take the place of the parents they have lost,
" In the faith and love of Jesus,

" Your aflfectionate and grateful,

"Henriette Feller/'

apathies
•r those
lost.

:r.

HISTORY OP THE

iranh ligne MIbbu

. I !!

(91)

HISTOUY

OF THE

GEANDE LIGNE MISSION.

Canada, as all are aware, was discovered and
colonized by the French as early as 1608. They
brought with them the social and religious institu-
tions of the mother country, which, as plants set
in a new and rich soil, flourished and took deep
root. The political institutions, it is true, under-
went a change at the time of the conquest by
Great Britain ; but this did not in the least affect
the moral condition of the people. They were
Roman Catholics, und continued so to be ; and the
more sincerely and truly, as the poison of Infidelity
was neither instilled, nor was the demoralization
of the French Revolution felt among them. Popery
has held an uninterrupted and undisputed sway in
Canada for about two centuries, and has had a fair
chance of showing what it can do. Its fruits have
been evident : ignorance, stagnation, apathy, super-
Btition, and poverty have marked its reign. In a
religious point of view, such was their servitude to

(93)

1 I

HISTORY OF THE

if i

the priests, that every avenue to their minds and
hearts seemed cfFectUi«My and hopelessly closed,
and darkness, gross darkness, covered the land.
Like ancient Galilee, before the Advent of Christ,
the people sat in the region and shadow of death.

And, what may seem astonishing, no efforts of
any consequence had been made to evangelize them,
until the coming of the Swiss Missionaries. This
fact, however, can easily be accounted for : the only
people that could have attempted this work spoke
a different language, and moreover, as conquerors
usually are, were looked upon with prejudice, and
oftentimes with hatred. The fact of their being
English and conquerors, was sufficient to exclude
them from all access to the French population.

However, God had designs of mercy towards the
French Canadian people, and light was soon to
dawn upon them, which we hope will set no more.

.1.

The revival of religion, with which Switzer-
land was visited about 1820, awakened, as it always
does, a missionary spirit. The efforts of Chris-
tians for the conversion of souls, embraced at first
their fellow-countrymen, then their neighbors, the
Romanists of France, and at a later period their
attention was also directed towards Canada. It is
worthy of notice here, that it was in the heart of an

GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

humble "believer that the zeal for the conversion of
the French Canadians was first kindled. Impressed
with the importance of sending the Gospel to this
people, he would saj to his pastor and his brethren :
*' Do you pray for Canada? Oh! let us pray for
Canada !*'

This prayer, so evidently the fruit of the Holy
Spirit, was soon answered. The Eev. 11. Olivier,
pastor of a Christian church at Lausanne, left his
native country in 1834, for this country, intending
to preach the Gospel among the Indians. But,
seeing that the French population was deprived of
every opportunity of becoming acquainted with the
Truth, as it is in Jesus, he resolved to settle at
Montreal, and there he immediately commenced
his missionary labors. He began to preach in a
school-house, kindly offered to him by the Method-
ists for this object.

The conversion of a young Canadian, and of
seven or eight Irish Romanists under Mr. Olivier's
ministry, and their union with the Methodist and
Baptist churches, aroused the priests, who put forth
their most strenuous efforts in order to kill in its
germ this evangelistic work. The irritation among
the Irish was so great that they went to attack the
Baptist church with the determination of carrying
off a young Irish woman who was going to be
baptized.

HISTORY OP THE

The French Canadians were more quiet; never-
theless the effect of the excitement was immediately
felt. The congregation began to decrease, and the
services in the school house had to be abandoned
for want of hearers ; from that time Mr. Olivier
held meetings in his own house, but these were not
more successful. However, he had the pleasure
of seeing two other individuals converted to God,
and this was an encouragement and an earnest of
future success.

Mr. Olivier, notwithstanding all the opposition
and difficulties he met with from the enemies of
the Gospel, felt confident that a wide door of useful-
ness was opened, and he felt greatly desi^- that
some of his brethren at Lausanne should c .^ and
jo* Im. He wrote to his friends in Switzerland,
placing the subject before their minds, and urging
them to consider its claims upon their Christian
charity.

There was at that time in the church over which
Mr. Olivier had been placed, a lady who was distin-
guished for piety and holy zeal. After experience
of the vanity and nothingness of worldly pleasures,
she had been led to Christ, and had taken in ear-
nest the profession of that faith which worketh by
love. In imitation of the example of her blessed
Redeemer, she went about doing good; visiting
the sick and the afflicted, and administering to

GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

them the sweet consolations of the Oospol. Not
avaricious, as many professors of religion appear to
be, of the knowledge of the truth as it is iu Jesus,
the desire of her heart was to impart the good news
to others. She reflected with emotion on the sad
condition of those who are deprived of the blessings
of true religion, and felt a strong desire to do her
part towards the evangelization of the unconverted.
This desire became a decisive call after the death
of her husband and of her only child.

It is interesting to trace the origin of the prepa-
ration of this Christian lady for the work in which
she has been so abundantly blessed. " Since the
death of the good husband and the dear child which
God in his love had given me, and in his love
took f^om me,'' wrote Madam Feller two or three
years after her coming to Canada, " my heart has
been filled with the desire of being devoted exclu-
sively to the service of the Lord. At first, I sup-
pressed this sentiment, w^iich I knew w^^s very
contrary to the taste and wishes of my family ; and
also because I was afraid of deceiving myself in
cherishing it. But after a certain time I w^as con-
vinced that it was the call of God, and resisted it
no longer; and during the seven or eight years
which followed, I bes ought the Lord continually to
open before me the way, and to show me what he
would give me to do in his service. Quite differ-

^1'

In:
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■' M

HISTORY OF THE

;(

ii; \

lb'::'

ii.

cut business occupioJ me during this time; nothing
however could satisfy my soul but the love and
service of my Saviour."

"With such feelings and dispositions, ^Madame
Feller was likely to receive Mr. Olivier's call.
The communications of Mr. and iMrs. 0., respect-
ing the idolatry, ignorance, and abject condition of
the Canadian people took strong hold upon her
heart. This people which spoke her native tongue,
soon seemed to her the one to which tho Lord
designed to send her. " This call," says she, " coin-
ciding with the expectation of my faith and the
circumstances in which I was placed, and being in
answer to a new testimony which I had sought of
the Lord, I was convinced that it was his will that
I should go to Canada, and I accordingly replied to
our friends that I would go, and commenced prepa-
rations for my departure."

Mr. Louis Roussy, a minister of the Gospel, who
had also been led to choose Canada as his sphere
of labor, concluded to start at the same time.

It was in the month of August, 1835, that they
set out, and came first to Havre in France, from
which place they intended to sail by the first packet.
But owing to different circumstances, they were
obliged to wait there over three weeks.

This time was not lost; it was spent in spreading
the knowledge of the truth. Mr. Roussy did the

ikii

GILVNDE LIGNE MISSION.

worlc of an cvaii'ieHHt ad cMdportour upon the
wharf and in the ships, whilst Madame Feller visited
in company with a Christian sister a number of
families, to whieh she endeavoured to do good.

They were able to sail on the 20th of Septem-
ber. They landed at New York after a happy
voyage of thirty days, and proceeded immediately
to ]Montreal, where they arrived on the 31st of
October, 1835.

II.

Ten days after, an opening presented itself.
Mr. lloussy was invited to take charge of a school
on the Grande Ligne^ of Lacadie. He had not
come with the intention of pursuing the calling
of a school-master, but be thought this situation
would afford him a good opportunity of laying the
foundation for future usefulness in that neighbor-
hood, and therefore responded cheerfully to the
call. As for Madame Feller, she spent the winter
at Montreal. In conjunction with Madame Olivier,
she opened a school for the instruction of French
Canadian children. Much of her time was also
spent in visiting the Roman Catholics in their
houses, fur the purpose of reading the Scriptures,

* A Grande Ligne in Canada is a street generally straight
as an arrow, from five to seven miles in length, and more or
less remote from the villages.

100

HISTORY OF THE

and conversing with tliom on the truths of the
Gospel. ]5y those incjins, she obtained lui accurate
knowkMlgo of the Canadian character, aud was pre-
pared for her subsequent efforts.

Upon their arrival, Madame Fcdler and Mr.
lie issy had found jMr. and Mrs. Olivier sick —
having been exceedingly tried ])y the climate.
Their feeble health continued declining, and their
physician advised them to return without delay to
Switzerland. But, before taking this resolution, a
great struggle took place in their souls. They
could not consent, they thought, to leave Madame
Feller upon this rude and strange soil, and they
never would have been able to persuade her to
return w^ith them to their dear country. " I was
BO sure of having followed Jesus in coming to
Canada,'' says Madame Feller, " that no human
consideration would have induced me to leave. I
was happier in remaining there alone with Ilim,
than I would have been in following my best and
dearest friends in returning to our native home.''

Mr. and Mrs. Olivier had to start alone. God
Lad sent them to Canada to lead the way for others,
and now he called them back to Switzerland.
Humbly bowing down before this mysterious dis-
pensation of their Heavenly Father, they left in
the month of May of the following year. God
admirably sustained Madame Feller in this trial.

GIIANDE LIGNE MISSION.

101

in
jod
lal.

She says : *^ I hud foreseen before leaving Switzer-
land the possibility of being plaecd in this gitu-
ution. It is not with delusions that I had entered
on this fine career. I had sat down to count the
cost before buiMing the tower. I had measured
beforehand all the difficulties of a missionary life,
and I had not forgotten isolation, abandonment,
poverty, even death at the hospital. I could not then
hesitate a moment upon the course to pursue. I have
come to this country to labor for the advancement
of the kingdom of Christ ; I had hoped I could do
so v/ith my friends Olivier; but since it is not the
good pleanure of my Father, I will cio in my hum-
ble sphere what lie may confide to my hands.
"When I call to mind all I have asked of the Lord,
I do not \fonder at being led in this path, as for a
long time I have hungered and thirsted to live
"with Ilim and for llim. ... Oh ! how favorable
will my position be to crucify myself, and lead
me to seek the fullness of Christ, which shall real-
ize that for which I have so much sighed."

Mr. lloussy, it has already been stated, had
undertaken the charge of a school in the parish of
Lacadie. Keeping constantly in view the object
of his coming to Canada, and anxious to sec souls
brought to the Saviour, he did not confine his
instractions to the communication of general know-
ledge, but embraqed in addition the truths and

102

HISTORY OF THE

i '

1"^'

■■ 1 • ■

ll
!
1

^ •

■

ui'

'kMA

duties of religion; and his spare time was em-
ployed in visiting the people, and making known
to them, in a familiar manner, the way of salva-
tion. One day as he was by the bed-side of a
poor sick man to whom he was endeavoring to
point out Christ crucified, a woman present was
struck with what he spoke, and judging he might
preach, she invited him to go, and hold a meeting
in her own house on the following Sabbath. He
was overjoyed with this opening, and went on
the Sabbath evening, as he had agreed to. The
neighbors had gathered, and ilie house was full.
Thev listened with attention and interest to Mr.
Roussy's discourse, and invited him to preach again.
He appointed the Sabbath and Thursday evenings,
and thus was sown the first good seed from which
has sprung the ever progressing and increasing
work of the Grande Ligne Mission. This Sabbath
in which the Gospel was preached in its purity
to attentive and anxious hearers, deserves to be
remembered in the religious history of Canada, and
this Ligne will ever be considered Grande (great,)
for it has been marked by the finger of God himself,
as the cradle of a great and important work.

The meetings were sustained and were attended
by some forty persons. But the priests, informed
of these labors, began to preach violently against
him, calling him a fool, an innov/itor, a heretic, and

! :
t > t

GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

103

ich

all their fruitful minds could suggest. And through
their efforts and influence Mr. lloussy was soon dis-
missed from his office. He wq<s then fully at liberty
to give himself to the propagation of the Gospel.

This preaching, notwithstanding the opposition
of the Romish clergy of the neighborhood, continued
to be attended by several persons, and it was
blessed to the conversion of two or three of them.
Mr. Roussy began to travel extensively, preaching
the Gospel wherever he could get access to the
people, particularly in St. Johns, Sherington, Na-
pierville, and Henry burgh.

III.

During this time Madame Feller was residing at
St. Johns. She had gone there, after Mr. Olivier's
departure, hoping to find an opportunity for useful-
ness ; but her endeavors failed of success through
the opposition of the priest, and her attention was
ultimately directed to Grand Ligne. " Judging,"
she says, " it would be best to associate my labors
with those of brother Roussy for the advancement
of the kingdom of the Lord, I visited the different
places where he was received, in order to fix upon
one where I might station myself. In going to
Grande Ligne twice a week, I soon saw that this
was my place. Several families had already aban-
doned Popery, and the adults as well as the children

i "I I'

'l u

104

HISTORY OF THE

I! t;

needed a school. One difficulty was the want of a
place of residence ; there was not a single house
where I could be lodged. The family, in whose
house preaching had been regnilarly held, oflPered.
me their garret, in which I had a chamber fitted up
of 20 feet in length, 10 in width, and 6 in height.

14'

The Hoiise in which Madamo Feller began her School.

This I divided into two apartments that it might
serve for a bed-room and school-room. The prepa-
ration of this diminutive abode was for me an act
of faith. I was without the means of defraying
the expense, as all that I possessed had been
absorbed by the purchase of what was indispensable
for keeping house upon the most moderate scale,
and aid upon which I had calculated, failed me.

i"l'i'l

t li

GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

105

|. ' !■

But these difficulties did not arrest me in my

fht
)a-
ict

len

)le

I felt assured that mv task

prepared

course.

at Grande Ligne, and that my Heavenly Father
intended to grant me a shelter there. Unknown to
any Missionary Society, sent by God alone, I waited
upon Him, and according to his promise I was not
confounded. I was able to pay for fitting up my
garret, through a friend of the Lord and of my
work, who loaned me the necessary sum.*'

Madame Feller became a resident at Grande
Ligne, in October, 1836. She immediately opened
a school with twelve children, belonging to families
that had left the Romish church. Soon the num-
ber increased to twenty, and it was sustained in
spite of the opposition and clamor of the priests.
It was a season of arduous yet delightful effort.
At nine in the morning, the children assembled for
instruction, which was continued until noon, re-
sumed at two P. M., and closed at five. Not con-
tent with the labor of instructing the children in
the day, she opened an evening school for adults,
with twelve scholars; in addition to the regular
pupils, a considerable number attended the conclu-
ding exercises, which consisted of the reading of
the Scriptures, familiar conversation on the pas-
sages read, and prayer. So interesting were these
exercises, that they were often prolonged till mid-

li t

•I '

'15

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106

HISTORY OF THE

night, and were eminently effectual in enlightening
the minds of the poor Canadians.

These engagements, together with visits to those
in the neighborhood who were willing to listen to
the Gospel, and kind attention to the sick, severely
tasked the energies of the missionaries during the
winter. In the following June, 1837, the heat
being insupportable in the garret, the exercises
were conducted in a barn. About that time the
Rev. J. Gilmour, then Pastor of the Baptist Church
at Montreal, visited the Station, and being deeply
affected by the inconveniences and privations en-
dured by Madame Feller, undertook to provide
some suitable accommodations. As a temporary
measure a small house was erected, chiefly by means
of contributions from Christian friends at Montreal,
Champlain, and Plattsburg, which was ready for
occupation in the month of October. That build-
ing served for a dwelling, a school-house, and a
place of worship, till the mission house was com-
menced in the Fall of 1838.

A small church, organized in June, 1837, and
consisting at first of six members, numbered in
September sixteen communicants; and besides these
converts, many showed favorable dispositions in
regard to the Gospel, so that the missionaries began
to be very much encouraged.

The Lour of trial, however, was drawing nigh.

I I

GRANDE LIONE MISSION.

107

The fire of persecution was soon to be kindled
against them^ and they were to suffer for the
Truth's sake.

In the course of October, the memorable insur-
rection in Canada broke out. The Catholics around
Grande Ligne, long incensed by the preaching, the
school, and the success of these devoted mission-
aries, and supposing that the law could no longer
punish their violence, took advantage of the reign-
ing confusion, and commenced a series of malignant
outrages. Mr. Roussy was deliberately shot at,
but was providentially preserved. A mob assem-
bled around the house of Madame Feller at night,
to the number of several hundreds, who with fright-
ful yells and horrid imprecations, ordered the mis-
sionaries to leave the country, threatening to set
fire to their dwelling, and murder them, if they
should refuse to comply. In the same manner they
went to the houses of all who had renounced Popery,
and commanded them either to abandon their new
religion or their country, under pain of fire and
sword. '

Such disorder prevailed in * the country, that the
government could afford them no protection; and
hence after serious and prayerful consideration, they
unanimously resolved to give up all, and flee to the
United States. '^ On the first of November,^' says
^ladamc Feller, " with shocking roads, we set out^

'if

^^J^

108

HISTORY OP THE

sixty in number, on our way to Champlain, (N. Y.,)
where we hoped to find our city of refuge. Our
poor friends were only able to take with them their
small baggage ; all their crops remained behind, and
were lost to them. They were all without money ;
those who had only a cow were obliged to sell it in
order to pay the entrance duty at the American
custom house. To human view, nothing could be
more sad and miserable than this fugitive band, but
to the Christian eye, it had its bright side, as it was
for the name of Jesus that it was reduced to such a
pitiable condition. ''

The inhabitants of Champlain provided with
great liberality for the urgent wants of those perse-
cuted Christians, and were especially kind to Mad-
ame Feller and Mr. Roussy.

At the expiration of two months, they returned.
All their dwellings had been preserved, but the
deepest poverty awaited them, as their crops and
furniture had been mostly carried off or destro3^ed.
Still as the influence of the priests had been consid-
erably weakened by the political events and dis-
putes of the preceding year, and as the mission was
enabled, in the spirit of Christian kindness, to pro-
tect some of their own worst enemies from the retri-
bution of re-established law, prejudices against
them were diminished, and their influence among
the people greatly increased. Many families hitherto

GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

109

closed against tlicra, became accessible to the preach-
ing of the Gospel.

The labors of the mission proceeded with in-
creasea success, during the year 1838 — 3Ir. lloussy
being actively engaged in preaching at various sta-
tions, and Madame Feller in the school, and in pri-
vate visitation. But in the month of November,
civil war again broke out around them, and their
neighborhood became the scene of revolutionary
operations. A prominent leader of the insurgents,
who had always cherished deep hostility to the mis-
sion, sent a band of armed horsemen to make Mr.
Roussy a prisoner, and bring him to the camp.
Through the appeals of Madame Feller, the angry
troop, wdio came to the house full of rage, were
softened and conciliated; they left Mr. R. in his
own house, and pledcred themselvcif. that neither
they nor their property should be molested during
the war. The pledge given, was literally redeemed.
While all around them were pillaged, and all who
refused to join the insurgents voluntarily, were cru-
elly taken prisoners, by the kind providence of God
the mission family and property were untouched.
When the disturbance ceased, they were enabled to
be of essential service to great numbers of the
Canadians, by their testimony before the magis-
trates, and the consequence was a gratifying in-
crease of influence to the mission. AVonicn, with

It,
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I III

;:5i

:'! 111

110

HISTORY OF THE

■whom, till then, they had had little or no inter-
course, came to 31adaiuc Feller, entreating her
with tears, to use her influence to deliver their sons
and husbands from arrest and danger.

IV.

The need of a Normal School, to train up
young persons for teachers and colporteurs, was
now deeply felt, as well as of a building suitable
for such an institution. The missionaries saw how
important it was to educate Canadian converts, who,
according to their ability, would labor for the ad-
vancement of God's kingdom among their fellow
countrymen ; and after due consideration, purchased
a piece of land, and, with a faith of which there
are but few instances in the world, commenced to
build upon it. Neither individuals, nor societies
had pledged themselves to aid such an undertaking,
but they felt askired it was of God, and nothing
doubting they looked to Him for the necessary
means. The building, fifty-eight feet in length by
thirty-eight in width, was erected through the lib-
erality of Christian friends, of various denomina-
tions, especially in the United States; for which
liberality the mission was mostly indebted to the
Hgv. E. N. Kirk, of Boston. This gentleman,
feeling a lively interest in this enterprise, travelled
with Madame Feller, recommending her warmly to

GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

Ill

the Christian ladies of Boston, Now York, Philadel-
phia and other places, and was enniieutly succcssfal
in securing funds, as they were needed.

The Mission House, commenced in the Summer
of 1838; was set apart for the cause of God, on the
9th of August, 1840. My. Kirk preached the ser-
mon, on the words : — TJie i^f^^p^f^'^f-'hidi sat in darh-
nessj saio fjrcat lijlit ; and to them zchich sat m the
region and shadow of death, Ihjht is sjirung np. —
(Mat. iv., 16.) He dwelt eloquently upon the
evangelical light, which had begun to dawn upon
benighted Canada, and the need of its divine rays
for every soul. Other ministers engaged in the
services of this occasion, which were exceedingly
interesting, and greatly blessed.

After the erection of the Mission House, the
good Providence of God was strikingly manifested
in providing a teacher for the new institution. 3Ir.
Normandeau, a Priest of the Roman Catholic
Church, had been eni^ao-ed as Professor in the
Seminary at Quebec for five years. After a long
season of doubt and anxiety on the subject of
religion, being then in the neighborhood of Grande
Ligne, he sought the aid of the Missionaries, and
by their instrumentality was led to receive the
truth as it is in Jesus. He engaged immediately
in the good work, and was received as a fellow
laborer with much joy and gratitude. Eeferring to

I !

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1

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112

HISTORY OP THE

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this event ^ladamc Feller observed, in a letter to a
friend at New York: — '^Our oldest pnpils had
readied a point beyond which they could proceed
no further ', more advanced instruction had becomo
necessary, and it gave me pain to see the impost'
bility of attending myself to their lessons, with the
multitude of other duties to fill up my days. I
was often obliged either to break off from a recita-
tion already begun, or to keep persons waiting who
had come from several leagues distant; and this
conflict was of every day's occurrence. Mr. Iloussy,
less occupied with details, could more easily appro-
priate a few hours to the scholars, but absence from
home, journeys and preaching, made it impossible
to observe regularity, ai^d the prospect befijre us
presented only confusion and disorder, while wo
never felt so much the need of system and order in
our school. Often we spread before the Lord our
solicitude, entreating him to send prompt relief,
and in our little faith we thought He could only
answer us by sending out some one from Switzer-
land : and behold, our God, so full of goodness,
in order to encourage our ^dith, has given us what
we dared not even ask for — a priest, converted under
our own roof, as a brother, friend, and fellow
laborer.^'

Reviewing the history of the first five years of
the Mission, in a letter dated November 1, 1841,

GRANDE LIONE MISSION.

113

m
ir

Mr. Roussy observed, " What a difference in our
present position, in our prosperity, in our hopes;
in fine, in every thing ! Then (1830) we were but
two poor, feeble, weary beings; our dwelling was
a miserable cabin, where, with our first converts,
we worshiped God. We held a school in a l)arn ;
and the enemy, in order to destroy this feeble com-
mencement at a blow, drove us all out together.
But now, behold us in a good and commodious
stone house, founded by faith, and built by tho
gold and silver of the children of the Lord; in
which are a beautiful chapel, two school rooms, an
educational institution, where are instructed and
supported eleven pupils, all converted, and pre-
paring for the work of (jrod,^and with tho prospect
of having a greater number soon ; sixty Canadians,
who have given their hearts to Jesus, and a goodly
number of others rescued from the papacy. Oh !
what favors ! what abundance of grace !"

A new field of activity was opened, the fol-
lowing year, in St. Pie and its neighborhood —
a parish forty-five miles east of Grande-Ligno.
It pleased God to kindle the light of the Gospel in
that district, by means of a New Testament given
to a man of that place by Mr. Roussy, and of a
Bible given to a woman by her son, a young man

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114

IIISTOUY OP THE

employfMl in ^Iiissjicliusetts. These two possoHsors
of the Wordof Life met, and conversed tof^cthcr on
the auhjcct of religion. They both arrived at tho
conviction tliat thijy were not in the right way.
And, anxious to become acquainted with the Truth,
the man went to Grande Ligne for instructions,
where he stayed three weeks. During that time he
was converted, and when he had returned home, he
hastened to tell the inquiring woman what great
things the Lord had done for him. One of her
eons, who lieard of this man*s religious experience,
spoke of it to a neighbor, and he to another ; tho
result of which was, that all those persons soon
became concerned for their souls, and invited Mr.
Iloussy to come imd teach them what they must do
to be saved. Mr. Roussy lost *io time in complying
with their invitation, and fifteen to twenty persons
assembled to hear what he had to say to them from
God ; who gave efficacy to his Word for doctrine,
for reproof, and for instruction. Eight of them
immediately abandoned the Romish church, whose
error had just been exhibited to them, and joy-
fully submitted to the teachings of the Bible.

St. Pie was alternately visited by Messrs. Roussy^
Norman Jeau and Callier, and the good work con-
tinued to go on and prosper. During the summer,
a school was opened in a small room lent by one
of the converted families, in which the meeting were

GRANDE LIONE MISSION.

115

also held. The erection of a buikliiif^ for the uso
of the Mission becunic nrgent; and tliu inissioiuiries
looking to the ^< 15ank'^ of their Jleavouly Father
received the necessary funds for this object

VI.

The joyful sound of the Gospel had also
been heard at Berea, in the township of IMilton,
some twelve miles from St. Pie. Mr. IJenudin, a
Canadian converted in the United States, and thru
engaged in the field of the Grande Ligne iMission,
had labored for a year past among the people of
that settlement. But the time for an extra effort
seemed to have come, and Dr. Cote (whose Life
precedes this sketch) was called to undertake the
task. lie went to preach the gospel to the dwellers
in those woods, whose lives were very profligate.
He was accompanied by Mr. Beaudin. They were
two days, says Mr. Roussy, in reaching the school-
house, a distance which, in the winter, can be
walked in three hours. The autumn rains had
rendered the paths through these woods so ciifficult,
»that nothing but the zeal of our brethren could
have surmounted the obstacles in their way.
Though exhausted with fatigue on their arrival,
they made no delay in applying themselves with
vigor to their work. After kindling a fin?, they
cut down a tree to serve at once for a table, and

116

HISTORY OF THE

Beats for their audience ; put up a temporary bed in
one corner of their school-room; and commenced
their protracted meeting. For the first few days
there were no visible effects, though they held two
meetings daily. All the people, men, women, and
even " small children, readily assembled ; no one
remained at home. The intervals between the
meetings were employed in reconciling quarrels;
for these families, who had lived in continual strife
and hatred towards each other, perceived the neces-
sity of first harmonizing their differences, in order
to obtain the blessing of Heaven. Our dear bro-
ther Cote, who performed the office of peacemaker,
had the pleasure of seeing them acknowledge their
faults one to another, and interchange the language
of forgiveness. On Sunday each one came to the
meeting with feelings of penitence, and in expecta-
tion of the Divine blessing. The exposition of the
Scriptures was listened to with marked solemnity ;
and when those who wished were invited to speak, a
female, naturally timid and retiring, rose and spoke
of the wants of her soul, of the love of God, and of
the duty of repentance, with such animation, free-
dom and energy, that each one grew pale and
trembled. After addressing them in most im-
pressive language, she fell on her knees, and,
weeping, poured out her heart in fervent prayer for
herself and all present. The whole assembly melted

GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

117

into tears, and, believing that she spoke and prayed
under the teachings of God's Spirit, bowed their
knees and successively offered their earnest sup-
plications to God for pardon. Our friends, Cote
and Beaudin, were filled with sacred awe, and
inexpressible emotions of gratitude, at the sight of
this little company of Canadians humbled and
weeping before the throne of the heavenly grace.
This meeting, which continued almost until night,
was followed by another in the evening ; which was
still more blessed than the first. The text, " Come
now 'and let us reason together, saith the Lord,"
(Isa. i. 18,) was attended with power to their
hearts ; the love of God subdued them ; tears flowed
in abundance; and most of them, in anguish for
their sins, cried, with the Publican, " God be mer-
ciful to me a sinner ;" and with the Jailer, " What
must I do to be saved ?" How delightful was it to pre-
sent to these souls, anxious for salvation, " the Lamb
of God, which taketh away the sins of the world."
They separated at a late hour; and many, in the
deep distress of their hearts, spent the whole night
wrestling, like Jacob, with the Lord until he had
blessed them. And, God be praised, he was found
of many, who came in the morning with lively joy
to declare the boundless grace which they had
experienced.

" This happy Sabbath was the commencement of

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118

HISTORY OF THE

a happy week, devoted to the reading of the Word
of God, to prayer and to praise. No one could
apply himself to any work, for the Spirit of the
Lord visited these cabins. Every day some soul
was relieved of the burden of sin by trusting in
Christ. Twenty-five persons, as we hope, obtained
pardon and peace at this time, making, with the
first converts, the number of twenty-nine worshipers
and followers of Christ in this forest. Among the
converts were some who had been exceedingly
abandoned, and capable of any atrocities ; and who,
at the commencement of the meetings, oiFered gross
insults to our brother Beaudin, but whom he had
disarmed and conquered by patience and forbearance.
One of them hated him so violently, that he had
resolved to beat him in such a manner that he
should have no wish to return to these woods; but
not daring to do it in cold blood, he followed him,
with insults, for the purpose of provoking him to
say or do something which might excite his anger,
and make it easy to execute his design. But as he
only replied to him in mild language, or kept silent,
he was, at every attempt, entirely defeated. His
wife, who was one of the first to embrace the gospel,
urged him to listen to reading and change his
course ; but, wearied with the repetition of a sub-
ject which he detested, and vexed because his wife
had become a Christian, he determined to abandon

GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

119

his family and depart to the States, that he might
shun these annoyances. lie had not proceeded
two leagues when, stricken in conscience, he re-
traced his steps, came and acknowledged his sins,
and besought them to pray for him. In a few days
after, he found joy and peace in believing.''

VII.

A Mission House was built at St. Pie and a log
school-house at Berea in 1842, which were both
consecrated to God on the 25th of December of the
same year. We extract from a letter sent by Mr.
lloussy to the Secretary of the Evangelical Society,
of New York the following interesting account of
these services.

" We made our arrangements," says Mr. R., " to go
and consecrate the house for a school and for wor-
ship, at St. Pie, and also that at Milton, (Berea.)
We went as a femily-party, leaving at Grande-
Ligne only a sufficient number to take care of the
house. Christmas day had been appointed for the
meeting, and at an early hour one hundred Cana-
dians and twenty English, with their pastor, had
assembled to meet us.

It was with ardent Christian feeling that we
entered upon the occupation of this ^^ house of
prayer,'' in the name of our eternal God — Father,
Son, and Spirit; entreating Him to consecrate it,

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120

HISTORY OF THE

and make it a ceutre of heat and light for this
country. Our hearts were moved ; and with lively
emotion we returned thanks to God for all that he
has done for us in so short a time. It would have
delighted us if you, dear brother, and a goodly
number of our American and Swiss friends could have
been present with us. T^ey who have labored and
prayed so earnestly for our poor Canadians, would
have felt grateful, and encouraged to still further
efforts, by seeing them gathered at the feet of Jesus
to receive his word; an attentive group of those
who, but a year and a half since, were buried in the
darkness of superstition. We held three meetings
on the Sabbath, and two on Monday, and God
gi'anted to us delightful evidences of his presence.
After the exposition of the Scriptures at the evening
service, a free invitation to speak was given to those
present; and successively fifteen individuals of
every age and condition addressed us in words
which thrilled our hearts with lively joy. Here
was a man asking " What must I do to be saved V*
There, one beseeching us to pray for him, that
God would convert and save him. Another ex-
horted his brethren, recently converted, to grati-
tude and holiness of life. A fourth, related to us
what sweet peace of soul he had enjoyed since he
gave his heart to God. At last, a father of a family
and his wife who had once listened to the gospel,

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GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

121

I r

but for several months had neglected it, came,
bathed in tears, entreating us to receive them as
prodigals ; asking pardon from God for the evil they
had done to his church ; pardon from the children
of God for having so deeply grieved th^em ; pardon
from the unconverted, for the occasion of reproach
they had given to them. Oh, how delightful was
that evening ! What heavenly language flowed
from the lips of all ! The Spirit hovered over us,
and we blessed the love of God toward these poor
sinners. Those who knew the Saviour, wished to
fly to his arms, to be purified wholly, and to enjoy
his presence eternally. How holy was the place I
It was truly the house of God — the gate of Heaven.
On Tuesday morning, ten sleighs, carrying forty
persons, all animated with joy and peace, started
for Berea, where we were received vrith acclama-
tions of delight and gratitude. Never before have
those woods had so many visiters. All was life and
animation. Our dear Bereans came to us rejoicing,
to describe to us their happiness in the wonderful
grace of God towards them. More than eiylity were
present, and we had two meetings, one at evening and
the other on Wednesday morning, at which we were
blessed with the same favor that the Lord had be-
stowed on this place several weeks previous, when he
consecrated it to himself, filling it with his presence.
It was a thanksgiving, rather than a dedication. It

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122

HISTORY OF THE

was edifying to us to hear many of these new dis-
ciples, aged men and women, exjDress, in their
Canadian dialect, the sentiments of their hearts.
Each spoke with emotion of the love of Jesus who
had arrested them in their career of folly and ruin,
and plucked them as brands from the flames. The
intelligence, piety, knowledge of the Scriptures and
of the way of salvation, which many manifested,
surprised us all. Evidently the Spirit of Christ
had instructed them, and what teacher can instruct
like him ?"

VITI.

It was evident that St. Pie would become an
important station, and it was exceedingly desirable
that a preacher should occupy it. Dr. Cote
was chosen for this post.

A residence of two years at Chazy, where he
had labored as a missionary, had prepared him for
more ext^insive engagements and greater usefulness.
He removed to St. Pie in October, 1843, and
entered on a course of diligent labor, whic]i was
abundantly blessed.

A violent persecution had arisen a little before
against the converts of this place, of which a brief
account must here be given.

For some time the priests of that neighborhood
had been actively cngjiged in exciting the enmity

GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

123

■I I

of tlicir people agtiin *■ tlie protestant Cliristian?<.
The priest of St. l*ie especially had inaiiifestecl, at
intervals, much ardor in re})resenting them aa
hypocrites, seducers, and people sold to wickedness.
Finally, excited more and more, the villagers deter-
mined to set themselves against the Protestants.
They availed themselves for this purpose, of a littlo
meeting held on the evening of Sunday, the 27th
of August. Messrs. Iloussy and Cote, who were pre-
sent, heard that the llomanists intended to come
and give them a cliarivan.'^ Very soon, a number
of young persons assembled before the house, and
commenced making their horrible noise, to the great
satisfaction of the crowd whom they drew around
them. "\Ye went out," says Mr. Roussy, "to
speak to them, and they replied to us by a shower
of stones. This was the beginning of charivaries
and of violent scenes, which lasted fourteen days
and which terminated with burning the house of
one of our brethren. '^

They appealed to the protection of the law, and
the guilty were so punished as not to renew their
outrages, and at the same time to see that the Pro-
testants, animated with the spirit of Christ, were
ready to forgive, whilst they claimed the rights to

; 1'

^ A serenade with horns, pans, and other discordant
instruments.

124

HISTORY OF THE

which they were legally entitled. Dr. Cote's medical
advice was asked for by some of the persecutors,
and as it was readily and gratuitously granted, they
were led to reflect on the happy influence of the
Gospel, and to inquire after the truth. So that all
contributed to the glory of God in the advancement
of his blessed kingdom.

A church was organized at St. Pie in 1844, and
a call tendered to Dr. Cote, who accepted, and was
ordained on the 30th of August of the same year.
The llev. Dr. Baird of New York, and the Ilev.
Messrs Wilkes and Tanner, of Montreal, with other
ministers engaged in the exercises of the day.

During these second five years of the jMission's
operations, some thirty persons were brought to the
knowledge of the Saviour under Dr. Cote's minis-
trations at Chazy. By the blessing of God upon
his labors at St. Pie many more were converted, so
that upwards of one hundred persons, affording
satisfactory proof of repentance towards God, and
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, were received into
church-fellowship in that place ; and these numbers
added to the converts at Grande-Ligne and its
neighborhood, presented a total of about three
hundred souls, rescued from ignorance and sin, and
introduced into that kingdom which is " righteous-
ness; peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.^'

GRANDE LIGNE IMISSION.

125

IX.

If we now glance at the last five years' success,
from 1846 to 1851, we find that the missionaries
and the supporters of the Mission have abundant
reason to bless God, and feel encouraged. During
that period about a hundred individuals have been
hopefully converted to God, and added to the
churches, in the diiTerent stations. New missiona-
ries have entered the field, new instrumentalities
have been used, so that a broader foundation for
future usefulness has been laid, and an important
preparatory work accomplished.

In 1849, a new station was opened at St. Mary,
a parish twenty miles east of Grande Ligne, where
several individuals had manifested an interest in
religion. Dr. Cote, who resigned his pastorate of
the St. Pie church, in consequence of a collecting
tour in the United States, was sent there after his
return to Canada.

He met at first with great opposition from the
priests. It was carried so far, that one day some
eighty individuals, at the head of whom was their
pastor, actually came to destroy his house and
drive him away ; but were prevented from making
an attack by the earnest expostulations of the
neighbors. Notwithstanding this, his efi'orts were
much blessed. The congregation gradually increased,

126

HISTORY OF THE

and souls wore converted. Fiftcion fiiniIH"S, mostly
in good circunistiinces, left ^llic Koniisli church
to follow the Truth, us it is in Jesus. They united in
buildin<^ a largo chapel, to the erection of which
they have generously contributed.

In June of the same year, Mr. N. Cyr, one of
the fruits of the Mission, after graduating at tho
Theological School of Geneva, returned to Canada
to engage in the ]Missionary work. And in Sep-
tember the year following, Mr. T. Lafleur who
had also gone to the same institut^v^n, joined his
brethren and friends of the Grande Ligne Mission.

The Mission had to record with sorrow about
this time (October, 1850,) the death of one of its
devoted laborers. Dr. Cote. He was called unex-
pectedly to his reward, at a time when his services
might have been so exceedingly useful at St. Mary.
In bowing submissive!} to this mysterious dispen-
sation of their heavenly Father, they were happy to
see that his kind providence had provided in Mr.
Lafleur a new laborer to fill up this vacancy.

Mr. Lafleur was ordained to the ministry, March
19, 1851. Mr. Cyr preached the sermon from Horn.
X. 1-3. In expressing his pleasure at seeing his
friend consecrate himself publicly to tho service of
the Lord, he made a touching allusion to the time
of their conversion ; he called to mind that it was
ten years since together they had left the Romish

GRANDE LTOXE MISSION.

127

Church, that it was together they had commenced
the study of the ]{il)k', and had otlered to (iod their
first i)raycr. 3Ia(hiinc Feller says, " I was over-
come with joy in seeing one, whom I hud watched
over as a pupil and loved as a son, enter this holy
career.''

As a new token of the providing care of our
Heavenly Father, they have welcomed Mr. Charles
lloux, late student in Geneva, who joined the
missionary band in July 1851. Mr. lloux was
baptized in November. It was with mingled feel-
ings of friendship, Christian love, and gratitude,
that Mr. Lafleur led into the water one with whom
he had held sweet communion, with whom he had
studied on another Continent, and in whom he now
finds a fellow-laborer.

Until 1850 the education of Canadian girls had
been limited to a few, received at the Grande Ligne
institution, which was mostly designed for the
other sex. It was seen then that a separate school,
and more systematic teaching was exceedingly
desirable. It was consequently resolved that an
institution of this kind should be established at St.
Pie. This School was opened in the Fall under the
superintendence of Mademoiselle Jonte, assisted
by Miss Boardman, a young American lady, con-
verted while studying French at Grande Ligne.
This institution has been very successful, and one

/ ,

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128

HISTORY OF THE

year's trial warrants the belief that it is destined
to do a good work.

]\Ir. Tretreau, formerly a Tlomaii priest, and now
a preacher of the Gospel, besides assisting Mr. La-
fleur in the work of evangelization at St. V'lQ and
Salem, has the charge of the primary school of tho
former place. Ilis superior qualifications will enable
him to raise the standard of study in his school,
and draw a large number of scholars.

A new school, under the superintendence of tho
minister of St. Pie, will be opened at the ^^ Ameri-
ican Village," two miles distant from the Mis-
sionary Station. English Protestants have united
with French Protestants to establish a school sepa-
rate from* the Catholics, in order to insure a
Christian influence in the classes by the reading of
the Scriptures. The schoolmaster is a pious young
man, formerly a pupil of the Grande Ligne Institute.
Catholic parents have promised to send their chil-
dren to our new school ; the Catholic one, they say
is worse than nothing.

Mr. lliendeau, whose labors as an evangelist have
been blessed in Salem district, having been called
to Grande Ligne in 1851 to help Mr. Normandeau
in the educational department, Mr. Lafleur and
Mr. Tetreau took charge of his place. It being de-
cided in 1852, that Mr. Eiendeau should enter tho

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GRANDE-LIGNE MISSION.

120

University tat llochestor, N. Y., Mr. I3orit bccauio
bis pucecssor at the Grande Ligne.

This (.IqKirtniont of our missionary operations is
now in a jjrosperous state, contributing its jtiirt to
the advancement of the great work. At tho
Grande Ligno Institute, 26 pupils have pursued
their studies under llev. L. : '')rmandeau, the Prin-
cipal, and Messrs. C. Roux and T. Kiendeau, licen-
tiates and teachers, and liave made considerable
progress. Some of those boys and young men
show a good deal of talent, and promise -to be very
useful in their respective callings. The number of
scholars is now about 30.

The Girls* School at St. Pie contains at present
20 scholars, and is becoming more and more useful
and interesting.

Besides these two institutions, eight primary
schools have been in operation during the past
year, furnishing an instruction in the elementary
branches of education, pervaded by the spirit of
Christianity, to more than two hundred children.

Mention must also be made of the Mission Press,
established through the efforts of friends at the be-
ginning of 1851, as its operations, though inde-
pendent of the Mission, are carried, on under its
auspices, and are designed to cooperate in the same
cause. A periodical was started under the title of
Lc Semeur Cauadienj (The Canadian Sower,)

130

HISTORY OF THE

which has met already with considerabl : success, in
spite of the opposition of the Romish clergy,, who
are doing all they can to prevent its circulation.
Through this paper, and tracts and pamphlets iesued
at its office, we can reach a goodly number of
French Canadians of the educated class, hitherto
inaccessible to the teachings of the Gospel. In
presence of the success attending this effort, and in
view of the good to be done, the editor, Mr. Cyr,
trusting to God, has decided to issue the Semeur
weekly, and remove it to Montreal, where it is
to be hoped, it will be still more productive of good.
It goes already into more than a hundred different
places, and is read by at least five hundred French
Canadians of the educated class. Our aim is to
introduce it into all the parishes of Lower Canada,
where French readers are to be found. It is the
only Evangelical paper in the French lang-uage now
printed on the Continent of North America. We
have reason to believe th.^t the Press, this great in-
strumentality of modern times, will do its part,
uoder the blessing of God, towards the evangeliza-
tion of Canada.

Madame Feller and Mr. Roussy came to Canada
under the patronage of a Missionary Society in
Switzerland; from which Society they continued for

GRAND LIGXE MISSION.

131

a time to receive occasional aid. During the years
1837 and 1838 their operations were carried on
under the auspices of the Canada Baptist Mission-
ary Society; some assistance was also received from
the United States and from Scotland. In the au-
tumn of the last mentioned year their connexion
with the Canada Baptist Missionary Society was
dissolved, the missionaries being then of opinion
that they could labor more efficiently if they were
independent of all religious parties. They conti-
nued to do so for nearly seven years, during which
time they received numerous and valuable tokens of
Christian regard from all denominations. The fos-
tering care of the Foreign Evangelical Society ren-
dered essential service to the cause. Pecuniary grants,
varying froln 550 to 1200 dollars, were received an-
nually from that Society. Besides this, the patronage
of the Society stimulated the zeal of Christians,
and encouraged the formation of numerous Ladies'
Associations, which raised considerable sums of
money, and otherwise assisted the mission. Aid
was also received from Switzerland, England, and
Canada. The funds annually realized from all these
sources gradually increased from 1,800 to 5,000
dollars, more than three-fourths of which were fur-
nished by friends in the United States.

In the autumn of 1845, proposals were made to
enter into a more definite and more permanent

132

HISTORY OF THE

arrangement with tlie Foreign Evangelical Society.
That arrangement was not found practicable. After
much deliberation and prayer, the Missionaries came
to the conclusion that their operations could no
longer be conducted on the plan which had been
pursued for several years past, and a re-union with
the Canada Baptist Missionary Society was effected.

The management of the aifairs of the Mission
was intrusted to a Committee, consisting of four
members of the Committee of this Society, and
four members belonging to Grand Ligne.

The Canada Baptist Missionary Society proceeded
to make such grants for the Mission, as its means
allowed, and these grants, with contributions from
American Baptists, secured by the annual visits of
Madame Feller and Dr. Cote, and the continued bene-
ficence of steadfast Pedobaptist friends, have from
that time formed its resources. But unhappily the
Canada Baptist Missionary Society, notwithstanding
the generous contributions of some of its members,
became unable in 1848, from a variety of causes,
to render the usual assistance to the Mission.

It was then thought that the American Baptist
Home Mission Society, whose seat of operations is
in New York, would be the means that God designed
to employ to support the Grande Ligne ^Mission.
But the Constitution of this society did not per-
mit its Committee to embrace the entire work. All

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GRAND LIGNE MISSION.

133

it could do was to grant salaries to the ministers
and licentiates, an aid wliich was received with gra-
titude, and that covers about a third of all the ex-
penses. For the other branches of the work, that
is, for the Institution of Grande Ligne, the Girls'
School at St. Pie, the Primary Schools and the Col-
porteurs, the Mission is dependent upon the libe-
rality of those Christians who take an interest in
the spiritual welfare of this benighted country.

CONCLUSION.

Such is the Grande Ligne Mission enterprise;
such its origin, its progress ; such the blessings that
have rested upon it. In the short period of fifteen
years it has been instrumental in bringing to the
knowledge of the Redeemer some four hundred
French Canadians — a result the more cheering and
encouraging as the mass of this people had been for
two centuries in ignorance, superstition and dark-
ness. Even in their agricultural operations there
was not thought and enterprise enough among them
to induce the adoption of the most obvious and
easy improvements : — ancient and slovenly modes of
husbandry, old and inconvenient implements were
pertinaciously retained. Education was entirely
neglected, so that in large districts of country, but
here and there a solitary individual among the
- '^ hahitans^^ (farmers,) was able even to read.

134

HISTORY OF THE

But this state of things lias begun to pass away.
In regard to agriculture, education, enterprise and
free inquiry, great changes for the best have taken
place, and will be favorable under the blessing of
God to the advancement of his cause. Light has
dawned upon this benighted land, and Christians
can confidently hope that the fiuits already ga-
thered are only the earncf^t of a great harvest.

Now embracing a field of 2750 square miles, the
Grande Ligne Mission enterprise is arduous and
important; involving solemn responsibilities; re-
quiring great faith ; often calling into exercise
qualities seemingly incompatible — simplicity and
prudence — affection and firmness — calm considera-
tion and ardent zeal ; and withal so conducted and
controlled, in the wisdom of God, as that, while
extraordinary success has accompanied the endea-
vors of his servants, for which they cannot be suffi-
ciently grateful, they have been continually re-
minded of their absolute dependence on his provi-
dence and grace, and taught, not without painful
experience, that it is God who " worketh all in all.''

The providence of God has thus opened a wide
and effectual door in Canada, and He calls upon his
children to exert themselves more and more to
spread the truth and cause the light to shine.

The French population in Lower Canada is now
about 700,000, and they are all Catholics except

GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

135

?ept

those that liavo been brought to the kno^vleclge of
the Gospel within fifteen years. Education is be-
ginning to be prized, and reading to become a
habit, among them. Where one newspaper was
taken fifteen years ago, there are now more than
ten. It is an encouraging sign.

Until two or three years ago the whole French
Canadian Press was dev^ ted more or less to the Ro-
man Catholic clergy. Noyr two papers boldly op-
pose the clergy, and tell them some of the hardest
truths. The editors, like Dr. Cote formerly, have
become disgusted with Popery, and yet are in dan-
ger of confoundirg it with Christianity. Happily,
such men can now be reached by means of the
evangelical little weekly sheet, called Le Semeur
CanacUerij or the Canadian Sower.

In casting a glance upon what has been accom-
plished in our missionary field during the past year,
we feel compelled to pour forth our gratitude before
the throne of our great Head, thanking him for the
success granted to his feeble instruments.

Behold, a church under construction at St. Mary ;
the house at St. Pie enlarged sufficiently to accom-
modate twenty pupils ; a Society formed at Grande
Ligne for the purpose of sustaining the Mission ;
nineteen persons baptized and united with the
churches in the difierent stations; a number of
Romish families brought under the influence of the

136

HISTORY OF THE

"I ti

Truth ; a new field open at Granby, and promising to
be fertile ; the establishment of a religious paper in
the French language which disseminates the Truth
among the higher classes of Canadian society ; these
are visible effects of the blessing that God has
poured out upon the Grande Ligne Mission.

Yes, God blesses our field, and he will continue
to bless it. Many doors are opened ; ihe influence
of the priests diminishes rapidly; they are daily
losing ground, and beating a retreat; numerous
appeals come to us from divers places, but our fee-
ble band is already overworked. Even now we
need six more ministers, and a greater number of
colportours. The harvest is great and ripe, but
there are few laborers ; let us then pray the Lord
of the harvest to send us more, and to sustain with
his Spirit from on high those who are already en-
gaged in the blessed work.

Among the signal benefits of our God, the past
vear, we would not fail to acknowledo^e the warm
sympathy that he has excited for us in the hearts
of many of his children; a sympathy which has
not alone consisted in words but in deeds. After
having thanked God, who has inspired such senti-
ments, it is to us an agreeable duty to thank them
cordially for their generous aid. "VVe beg the Ame-
rican Baptist Home Mission Society, we beg the
Ladies' Societies formed in aid of the Grande Ligne

GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

137

he
no

Mission, we beg all those Christians who have con-
tributed to the support of the Mission to accept the
most sincere assurance of our gratitude.

In April, 1852, Madame Feller writes: — "You
will learn with pleasure that we are blessed in our
work, more than we have been. The good and
powerful hand of our God is ever busy in preparing
new ways and opening new doors, where the happy
missionaries may penetrate with the Gospel.'' In
July she gratefully announced that the Mission was
free from debt. At the same time the Mission was
strengthened by the arrival of Mr. J. Laborde, a
colporteur from France, driven thence by the revi-
ving influence of the Jesuits in the government of
that unhappy country. Mr. L. seems to combine
strength of purpose, with simplicity and piety.
Thus by destroying religious liberty Louis Napo-
leon, without knowing or desiring it, contributes to
the evangelization of Canada.

The influence of Truth is more and more felt; it is
communicated from relatives to relatives, from friends
to friends, and is becoming the general subject of
conversation — rparticula ly at St. Mary's, where the
new and beautiful chapel has been advancing to
completion. It was recently opened for public
worship, under interesting circumstances. A new
field of usefulness, also, has just been added at St.
Isidore, 40 mil^s west of Grande Ligne.

12*

138

GRANDE LIGNE MISSION.

Let the Preacher, the Teacher, the Colporteur,
and the Evangelical Press he sustained, and, with
God's favor, Canada East will he enlightened, ele-
vated, and in due time enjoy all the various bless-
ings of true religion. The wilderness and the soli-
tary place shall he glad for them, and the desert
shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.

th
le-

ss-

zrt

APPENDIX.

DEDICATION OF THE PROTESTANT
CHAPEL AT ST. MARY.

On the twenty-second day of September, 1852,
we dedicated to the service of God the first build-
ing in our Mission exclusively devoted to public
religious meetings. It appeared to us as a new era
in the history of our Mission, for although we have
other places of worship that wc call chapels, thoy
are but large rooms in our missionary bouses set
apart for schools, as well as for public religious
meetings. The weather was not very favorable for
the occasion, it being a co-^ and shov/ery day, and
the roads not inviting either; still we had the
greatest gathering of French Canadian Protestants
we have had since the beginning of the mission.
We could not but compare this dedication with
that of the Grande-Ligue Mission House, and bless
and adore our divine Redeemer for the almost in-
credible transformation wrought among us, during

139

140

ArPENDIX.

it'i

the lapse of twelve years. Twelve years ago tlio
Grande-Ligne Chapel was filled chiefly by our
English and Anglo-American friends, who were
hailing with joy the opening of a new field, full
of promise ; to-day a much larger chapel is filled
mainly by French Canadians, who have been
brought to the knowledge of the Gosjwl and of
Jesus by the labors of the missionaries. Then the
gathering of our friends from abroad and of an-
other language, ''ather strengthened the idea held
among the Roman Catholics, that the religion
preached by the missionaries was a foreign reli-
gion, r^ood enough perhaps for English people, but
altogether useless and pernicious to the French;
but now they must be convinced that Protestantism
has become a French Canadian thing ; for it has
taken root in the midst of an entirely French popu-
lation, and has already ramifications in an immense
number of families. Twelve years ago, the minis-
ters who filled the pulpit and addressed the people
on the occasion were all, without exception, of
foreign origin, and only two or three of them
speaking the French lan>;;uage ; to-day, of the six
ministers present, five of them were missionaries
in the field speaking the French langup^e, and
three of the last named were French Canadians by
birth and education. One of them formerly a
priest in the Roman Catholic church of his coun-

Ill

APPENDIX.

141

try. The two others were present, it is true, at
the first dedication at Grande-Ligne, but more
from curiosity than any thing else ; for on their
return home after the services of the day, they
strengthened each other in their religious views,
by saying ^:hat after all the lloman Catholic reli-
gion was tiic first religion, and consequently tho
best. But God in his own good time showed them
by a nevei to be forgotten experience where the
better relig on was found. There was on this day
of dedication, " a joy unspeakable and full of glory"
in many hearts, at the remembrance of God's deal-
ings towards us.

Three services were held on the same day. At
the two first, the house was quite full, making an
audience of about three hundred persons. The
dedication sermon was preached in the morning
by Rev. L. Normandeau from the words of the
inscription on the front of the chapel : " Preach the
Gospel to all nations.'' The discourse was very
appropriate and very impressive, especially when
recalling what the first missionary in this field
had to encounter and to suifer, whi n he began to
preach the Gospel to the French Canadian popula-
tion, which, although nominally Christian, was a
stranger to the Good News of a free redemption
by the sacrifice of Christ. And to call a new
nation to the kingdom of God, our beloved brother

142

Ari'KNDIX.

had chosen Canadfi as the place where to ohoy tho
eoininand of his Master. AVliat sii])ject of encou-
ra<!;eim'nt and gratitude for liini who is to fill this
nt.'W piili)it, among those who call themselves his
children ! In the evening, another discourse was
preached by the llev. T. Laflcmr on the words of
Christ to Peter : "Thou art Peter, and upon this
rock I will build my church." A great number
of lloman Catholics had been invited to attend the
meetings, and although desirous to come and see,
and even having promised to do so, but a small
number was present. The priest had exerted him-
self enough to prevent them, by saying that such
curiosity would not be guiltless.

The building is of brick, 52 feet in length by
8G in width, with a steeple not yet finished. It
is very neat, simple and pretty. Pleasantly situ-
ated on a fine piece of meadow given by a French
Canadian convert for church and grave yard. The
whole is surrounded by beautiful elm trees, and the
back part- of the lot is separated from the neigh-
bors by a small brook bordered by small bushes.
The chapel is the last house of the village towardc
the south, and the view from the front is very
pleasing as it rests on three or four surround-
ing mountains, or rather hills, isolated in a flat
country.

Although very happy to see that the house was

ArPENDIX.

143

fil]c<I mostly })y Frendi Caniulian cnnvortf?, wo
were sorry that n greiitcr number of our American
Christian friends were not present to convince
tlieinselves that their prayers ha<l lieen answered,
and tlieir donations sown in fertile soil. We
hope that they will feel as much encouraged in
this blessed work as we are ourselves ; that they
will continue to help us to build the church of
(Uirist in this benighted land, and before long wc
shall speak to them again of other chapels erected
to preach the Gospel without tradition, of houses
that arc for many the door of heaven. New fields
are white and open before us; they require the
efforts of the missionary, and the liberality of the
Christian. May our Lord himself grant us his
Spirit, that we may gather together new and im-
mortal materials for Lis church and for our eternal
happiness. — Grande-Lifjne Mission Rcgisterj Oct.
1852.

A YOUNa MAN LED TO THE BIBLE.

An intelligent young man called one day on one
of the missionaries, asking for a religious book he
had seen and wished much to read. The mission-
ary had not then the work desired, but he promised
to procure it for him, and offered him in the mean-
time other publications which he thought might be

APPENDIX.

V The voung man took "Baxter's
interesting to him. i he J h ^ ^^^ ^^.

had been -«* P^'^'^^^ar^f Kble. Having met
now be -'^^^^^X^tltis hlesscd volume, he
with many quotations ir ^^^ missionary was

was desirous of possessing ^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^

very happy to see tiiat the jca g .^ ^.^ ^^^^^^
periodical had awakened ^^* ^j,,

and sold him a copy of the bcri^
Father of lig^s ^o; — ,^;::, ,, tim lately,
has been answered ; ^H^^^yli^t. of mind. He
,e found him in tbe^- ^;^J, ^,, , .^e d^re
appears to read the Wora ^^.^^^^ ^^^^^

J\nowing tl^e -y . ^^^^^^^^ his heart. He is
the Holy Spmt i^,™^,;,

,ery near the ^-^21^0 is a Catholic one, his
As his version of i^.^ ^^^ ^^^ ^.^.^ , ,1,0
wife reads it w th mte cs ^^^ ^^ ^._^ ^.ighbors is
beaming upon her sou^ ^^^^ ^^^_

also reading bis ^^^^^ ' ^^^ ^^ ,3 ti,e place in which
This is the more intes^ing^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^

,bey live is -^^^^^fUerto inaccessible to

Catholics, and has been

the Gospel-iWci- ^^^ •

Baxter's
wnum-
Semeur

L said lie
Diis, and
Ying met
,lume, be
inary was
books and
his heart,
aying the
ais prayer
lim lately,
mind. He
true desire
,vident that
art. He is

3lic one, to
ight is also
neiglibors is
very good,
lace in which
1 by Roman
^accessible to