"T : 211 1 5 SUTEMENT OF THE CIISE n — BY — THE eiSHOP OF CmiTIIM. SAINT JOHN, N. B : PRINTED BY GEO. A. KNODELL, PRINCE WILLIAM STREET, 1872. '^. ■ . J.: J. s.<- 4 «*.;;, ■; ..y-,:^ "l I SUKMENT OF THE CASE (( -gy^-^ • • • ' ■ ' * * ^ % • a ' TIE BISHOP OF CHATIUM. SAINT JOHN, N. B. : PRINTED BY GEO, A. KNODELL, PRINCE WILLIAM STREET, 1872. • * ' : r . : • • •* . • * • • • • • ft ) To the Editor of the Moncton Time^, — Sir, My attention has been called to an article in the " Moncton Times " of the 13th June, on the recent trial at the County Kent Court House, in the case "McGuirk vs. Richard," both 11. C. Priests, in which are the following statements: " It appears that while the Rev. plaintiff was stationed at Kouchibouguac, where his labors were chiefly instruiuental in the construction of a tine Church for his flock, an effort was made by the Rev. defendant, and backed by Bishop Rogers, to supersede him." "The attitude of Bishoj) Rogers in this mutter, if correctly reported, is certain- ly desciving of comment; since he is represented as chiimiug the decrees of the CEcumenical Council and the Infallibility of the Pope for his authority in the trans- action, — a pretence which should not for a moment be admitted to interfere with the administration of justice in New Brunswi(rk His subsequent addr the 8th December f«)llowing. While in Rome that winter T learned by letters that the Rev. IMl McGuirk was ailing ; but it was only on returning to my Diocese that I w.u made aware of the full extent of his uiental aberration. In the month ( January, 1870, the late Dr. Benson, Sr., was called to attend. him. He fouii his nerves so at!ected that he begged of the \'ery Reverend the Vicar Geneni Administrator of the Diocese during my absence, to have him brought to tlu Hospital at Chatham, stating that a man in such a state of mind ought not t. be left alone. Accordingly the Very Rev. Mr. p]gan who, accompanied bg the Rev. Mr. Barry of Chatham, was on a visit to Mr. McGuirk in hi^ illnesf, prevailed on him to come to Chatham, where under the kind nursing (. the Religious Ladies of the Hotel Dieu he became comparatively well. Ai'h, two or three weeks he returned to his mission, 'and the Rev. Jos. A. Babincai whom the Administrator had sent to replace Mr. McGuirk in St. Louis, duii ing his stay at the hospital, also returned to his own station at Newcastle ^ Subsequently however, complaints from the people of St. Louis, of whom deputation came to the Administrator, made it evident that Mr. McGuirk! mental recovery was not permanent. His eccentric conduct, incoherent preacl, ^ ing— sometimes most indelicate— impulsive, fitful action, and imaginary vision , of spirits of nil kinds, good and bad, were painful evidences of this fact. Hii , there been a supernumerary Priest available, the Administrator would hav sent him to assist In discharging the duties of the ministry, as well as t , exercise a kind, (raternal surveillance over the deranged Incumbent. Th ^ surveillance had to be performed by his sister, Mrs. Francis 3IcPhelim, an . other members of his household and some of his pa 'shioners, who took turn keeping watch in the house at night, particularly at times when the paroxysm ^ of his folly were greatest. One of the clerical students of the Diocese wa ] called home from the Seminary of Montreal as soon as his course of studic was completed, promoted to Priesthood, and immediately placed as Vicar i the mission, in August, 1870. This pious and intelligent young Priest, the Rev. Marcellus F. Richard who was so much esteemed and loved for his genial, amiable and excellen qualities, by all his Professors and fellow students in the Seminary, and wh enjoys now the esteem of all persons with whom his clerical duties have sine ' brought him into relation— devoted himself to his task with a spirit of patiene ' and self-sacrifice truly admirable. His agreeable, gentle and docile bearin; 5 ir 'towards liis senior confrere exerted a Imppy influence on the latter, whieli doubtless lvei)t off the crisis of ui:idnes<, since it removed all occasions of irri- tation, tor several months ; but anyone of ordinary good judgment and experi- lince can understand how painful must have been Mr. Richard's i)osition, placed thus, in the commencement of his ministry, under a i)artially crazy 'man of Mr. McGuirk'o temperament. ' The crisis however at length came. 1 . Passing through St. John in December, ISTO, on my way home from 'Europe, His Lordship Bishop Sweeney shewed me one of a series of letters 'which he liad recently received from the llev. Mr. McGuirk. The style and 'matter of this letter, so utterly uncalled for by any action of His Lord- ship towards Mr. McGuirk, left no doubt in my mind that its author must be, if not a contirmed lunatic, at least hir gone towards insanity. On arriving at llichibucto, the inl'orination I got there, especially in reference to a aermon recently delivered by iMr. M(j(Tuirk in his church in that town, con firmed my previous conviction. Each daily mail after my arrival home 'brought me an absurd, offensive epistle from the llev. Gentleman, in the first one of which he graciously declines coining to Chatham lest he should mar the pleasure of my return by horsewhipping the Very llev. the Administrator, in my presence. The various matters (claiming my attention for the first two or three days after my arrival home, kept me from taking immediate action in reference to his case. Finally he sends by mail, in an envelope addressed to mo, a copy in his hand-writing of a letter, the original of which he had ad- dressed to another person, a layman, and several other copies of which he sent to various other persons. This letter is of such a nature and style that no decent person, much less a clergyman, could utter it unless wholly devoid of reason. The receipt of such, and so much evidence of his unfitness to continue exercising the Holy ]Ministry, left me no alternative but to write to him by return of post that same day the following letter : Chatham, N. B., Dec. 23cl, 1870. The Rev. Hugh McGuirk, St. Louis, Kouchibouguacis, Co. Kent, N. B. Beverend and Dear Sir,— The joy which I felt on returning to my Diocese from the CEcumenical Council was alasl clouded by sorrow ou learning that you are suftering from mental illness; amounting, in fact to total alienation of reason. Your letters which I saw, addressed to dilFerent venerable personages, are so outrsigeous that they afford but too palpable evidence of this. They prove the writer to be either very wicked, or insane. But as I always had the highest respect for your excellent qualities as a zealous, good and devoted priest, I attribute those productions, not to malice, but to temporary mental atieuatiou which I trust will soon pass away. 1 6 Meanwliilo, in your prosont ooiulition, It Is imposi-iiblc for mo to charge you wUIih tho cure of souls. You no»!tl rest, ul)s«'noo from tho rcHponslblllty of your preflent,o t'lmrgt, ami genial, happy rccroatlon among your friends for Home time, In order tot .Soothe and recruit your exeitid nt-rves. For thh purpose I relieve you of the charge of your proHont mission of St. Louin and its dependencies, and charge your Vicar, Father Richard, with its administration until you bo In a fit state to resume it, or'* until further orders. For the same reason I withdraw from you the faculties ofl exercising the holy ministry m our Diocese, until permlsition be given you to do so. whieli will be when there is evidence of your recovery. I give you permission tofj absent yourself from our Diocese, if you like to do so, in order to visit your friends • and seek the restoration of your health. Begging God to l)less you, and restore you to health and usefulness in His service !* ; 1 rem ..In, Rev. Dear Sir, ^ Very faithfully yours in J. C, I tJAMKS Rogers, ,t Bishop of Chatham. ,^ By the same mail T wrote to Rev. Mr. Richard, appointing him tempor-o arily Administrator of the Mission and its dependencies, both as to its spirit- o ual and temporal matters, until Rev. Mr. McGuirk would recover, or until i further orders. I These OflEieial acts, done only when grave necessity rendered them imper- ii ative, transferred from the Rev. Mr. McGuirk to the Rev. Mr. Richard the t: official authority of Missionary Priest in charge of the Church and church \ property of St. Louis and its dependencies, with the right and obligation 1 to perform all the duties spiritual and temporal belonging to that office. i Although Mr. McGuirk's right and authority to remain there had thus . ceased, still it was by no means intended to oblige him to leave, to dispose of his personal goods, &c. On the contrary, it was hoped that being relieved for j II while from the responsibilities and anxieties of missionary labours he ^rould " be able in a few months to resume duty ; and therefore in my letter appoint- , ing Mr. Richard, as mentioned, he was directed " to take charge of and keep i an exact account of the dime (tithes) and revenues accruing to the Priest, ' which would be for the Rev. Mr. McGuirk, less his own (Mr. R's) salary and ' any other necessary and reasonable expense incurred in fulf/iuient of his in- ' creased duties— provided that within three months from date Mr. McGuirk , would be in a condition to resume his office." , It was only when the latter committed a sacrilegious abuse of the Blessed ! Sacrament, locked the church, kept the keys and prevented Mr. Richard from ' entering to fulfil his duties for several days — and finally when, in a paroxyism of madness, he brought an axe from Richibucto, and, having threatened the first person he met on jumping out of the sleigh, to mark him for life, ran to the presbytery (residtuce of priest) with axe in hand, and with it smashed in lihe door, wimlown, kc. and threatonod to strike with it any one who would "lome near him— it was only when this culmination of his folly took place, on *'he I7th January, 1^71, that he was seized and held by the neighbours who Sad for some considerable time before, been on the watch lest Mr. McGuirk rQight, as ho had threatened, set fire to the church or counuit some other riolence. '. In thus seizing and restraining him from further injury no unnecessary "'iolence was employed ; on the contrary, the greatest delicacy possible in such "ircum stances was used. If he were deprived of his i^ersonal liberty it was ,»nly after he had given very abundant striL-ing proofs, in presence of many Vitnesses, that in his then state, he was a dangerous lunatic. The Rev. Mr. lichard went to Richibucto to seek that protection from the personal violence .nd danger of an infuriated mad-man, which the constituted authorities in :very civilized state of society provide. He sought legal advice. He applied -0 the principal magistrate of the place, and performed what he was advised -0 do, deposing on oath the facts and reasons why he feared further violence Ind sought protection. A Warrant was issued, and a constable sent from Uchibucto to St. Louis to take Mr. McGuirk in charge ; but as many hours -lad elapsed since he was seized by the men who guarded him at St. Louis, ; lis paroxysm of rage had passed and he was now quite calm. Therefore I hough taken in charge by the constable, he was permitted to drive in his own leigh to Richibucto, the constable going in another. As he now appeared aim and rational and offered no fuiilier violence, he was allowed his personal ( berty and after two or three days was discharged from his arrest. p This ends the statement of facts on which Mr. McGuirk based his suit • gainst Mr. Richard.* [* Note. — To continue the narrative of the subBeqnent facts of this case it may be here lentioned, tnatwhen Mr. McGuirk committed the sacrilegious abuse of the Blessed Sacra- lent and locked the Church against Mr. Richard, so as to prevent or impede the latter •om the discharge of any of his ministerial functions, and before Mr. McGuirk'e violence 'ith the axe. he (Mr. R ) ^vrote imploring me to come to St. Louis, for such was the de- reased and afflicted state of his mind, on account "of what had happened in the Church, le want of sleep for several nights, &c., that he felt quit« exhausted and needed the loral support and encouragement of my presence. As there was much business awaiting ly personal attention at home after so long au absence, it was inconvenient for me to lav*. But I authorized the Vicar General to go to St Louis, accompanied by Rev. Mr. iarry, Secretary and Chancellor of the Diocese. They arrived two or three days after the jone of violence with the axe above described. The Vicar General caused the Church to e opened for use, addressed the people assembled in it, and as far as could be re-established •der. During his stay there, Mr. McGuirk came, accompanied by the Sheriff of the County 'ith a Writ of Replevin to get possession of his personal effects. This action was alto- ether superfluous, for Mr. McGuirk had not been impeded or prevented from taking away 8 his goodu and chattelH. On this occaeion his folly was again manifested by his wanting i li take oir articles which he had sold and for which he liad received payment from Rev. M.q Richard. It was only on inspecting the receipt in Mr. McGuirk's own hardwriting tliig the Sheriff declined taking those articles into custody, although Mr. McGuirk claimed ther as his property. The Vicar General then caused to be given up to Mr. McGuirk ever other thing which he claimed as his on the premises, including the dime or tithes of abon two thousand bushels of potatoes, which should belong to the Priest officiating there a!' that year, and prone unced his definitive privation of all right or claim on that mission, cG all permission to resume duty there, or remain in or upon the church premises, pr to oft\ ciate in the Diocese. : On return of the Vicar General, I sent another Priest, the Rev. Mr. Varrily, to remai: with Mr. liichard for several weeks to assist the latter in the work of the ministry and et able him to enjoy the repose which he so much needed.] From the foregoing facts— to prove which there is any ainount of irro^ fragible evidence both ocular and documentary — it may bo seen how unfound I ed and unjust was the verdict of the seven jurors, who condemned the Rev ' Mr. Richard to pay to Mr. McGuirk $1200. Such a verdict was in contra^ diction to the evidence produced at the trial — in contradiction to the law. * The action brought against the Defendant was for maliciously swearing tt^ a false deposition that the Plaintiff was at the time a dangerous lunatic. ^ The PlaintiflF's violent conduct with the axe, injuring property and threat ^ ening persons therewith, together with all its antecedent and concomitant cir cumstances and the anxiety and dread in which the Defendant was of furtho; ' personal injury — all this was abundantly proved and not rebutted, nor attempt ' ed to be rebutted, by counter evidence. In such circumstances, when a mai who had already acted outrageously in the church, comes with an axe am ' furiously destroys windows, doors, &c., of the Defendant's residence, ani thicatens those who approach him, what should the occupant of the house the person placed in charge of the property, do ? Has he not a right to use '■ legitimate means to protect himself and property from such violence ? Wha ' other legitimate means could the Defendant have employed at the time, bu | such as he did employ? 1st The furious man was restrained without undut and unnecessary violence. 2d. The Defendant goes to the chief authorities o the law to seek the protection which every civilized state provides in suet cases. He is asked whether he wishes the PlaintiflF to be arrested as a lunatii or as a malefactor. He replies he "wishes only the just protection froii violence to which as a citizen and subject he is entitled." But as no citizei and subject can be deprived of his liberty by the arbitrary will of the magis trates, the Defendant is required to depose on oath the facts, and give hi: opinion as to whether these violent acts were done from malice prepense, oi from aberration of reason. He believes they were done from aberration o: reason, and deposes on oath accordingly. No one had better opportunitie: i 9 than the Defendant to form a correct opinion on the suhjcct, for he had been (living in the house with the Plaintiff for the previous five months a constant lobserver of his eccentric and often irrational eonduct. He knew that the general oi)inionof all whohad opportunitiesof judjrincrof the mental condition 'of the Plaintiff, for some months previous to his coming to live with him, was to the same effect. It was on this account that he, the Defendant, was sta- ,;tioned with the Plaintiff bj' his Ecclesiastical Superior — because of the repeat- egal papers, occurred, it was not the Defendant's fault. He did only what he had a right to do, acting throughout in good faith— with simplicity and rectitude. There , was no ground to find that the Defends nt had acted wrongly in the matter — no ground in the evidence to justify the jury in condemning him to any i amount how^'oever small for damages done the Plaintiff. But perhaps the law authorized the jury's finding ; i)erhaps the Plaintiff had the legal right to act as he did, destroying only property which was legally invested in him, &c. The Plaintiff evidently intended so to plead. He knew that the Mission- ary Priest in charge of the Ilichibucto mission some forty years ago, but who has not been exercising the holy ministry for many years past, got deeded to him the land on which the Church of St. Louis at Kouchibouguacis is built. A cunning but crazy thought occurred to the Plaintiff to go to this gentleman, and get a Deed from him of the said land, which he accomplished. I say crazy, for if he had been rational he would have examined the County Records before going to Montreal in mid-winter on such an expedition. These Records shew that the two Deeds of the land in question were made to the Rev. Gen- tleman and his successors in office^ in tritst for the use and behoof of the Roman Catholic Missionary Priest stationed in that mission for the time being. So that when that Rev. Gencleman left the Hiission, his title ceased and became invested in the other Priest who succeeded him in Ofice. But by the Act of the Legislature of New Brunswick, passed in 1862, incorporating the ' Roman Catholic Bishop of Chatham " all lands within the Diocese of Chatham then invested in trustees for the use of the R. C. Church, became by the terras of that Act, invested in the said corporation. Hence according to law the legal 10 ! proprietor of the Church property in question is the R. C. Bishop of Chathau But it was proved in evidence that the Plaintiff had been di.«missed froU office by competent authority and for sufficient cause ; and that the legal po. i sessor of the said property placed the Rev. Mr. Richard in charge of i Therefore the Plaintiff had not legal or other right to wantonly destroy .iC injure it ; and it was the official duty as well as the legal right of the Defen.B ant, as Priest in charge, to guard and protect it from all such aggression aii)« injury. Hence the jury had no legal ground on which to found their uniua verdjct. '' ' !I These are the reasons why, in my remarks in our church in Richibuctc'*^ on the Sunday after the trial, I expressed my astonishment at such a verdict" stating that it was against both the law and evidence. 'S For this conclusion it was quite unnecessary for me to claim " the authc^^ rity of the (Ecumenical Council and the Infallibility of the Pope." It wa^' the Plaintiff's Lawyer, Mr. Sayers. who first spoke of this latter subject i;^ court. With ludicrous sophistry, in liis final appeal to a jury, composed ex°^ clusivcly of Presbyterians, he claimed, on such authority, a verdict for hi client, — and got it ! b From the time that the Rev. Mr. McGuirk was deprived of permission to exercise the Holy Ministry in our Diocese, he has persisted in addressing t me incoherent, abusive and silly letters, calling on me to do a certain publiJ penance prescribed by him, in the Church of St. Louis, to deliver up to him my cross and ring, the insignia of office, stating that he has " been command! ed by the winged messenger of Heaven " to communicate to me this order i and styling himself " Priest McGuirk, special messenger of the Ever BlesseiJ and Immaculate Mother of God, the Duke DeBery, &c. ' ' This penance is tc, atone for " sins committed against the faith in opposing the Pope's infalli , bihty at the (Ecumenical Council in Rome." He has written a multitude o , similar letters to His Grace the Archbishop of Halifax, and His Lordshir ! Bishop Sweeney of St. John, as well as myself. Of these letters he write.) copies and sends them off in all directions to various other persons. He ha^ a number of them copied in a book out of which he reads, commenting and expatiating thereon to all persons who have patience or curiosity to listen tc { him, wherever he is sojourning, whether in hotels or other public places. ] While these injurious libels were confined to the erratic vagaries ic ' manuscript, and the voluble loquacity in conversation, of the demented Mr i McGuirk, I did not mind them. But when a Protestant gentleman of the legal profession, in hij address in court to the judge and jury, and before a numerous and respectable auditory, deemed it not out of place to repeat hi^ ^ 11 IE oUent's absurd assumptions concerning my course at the (Ecumenical Co'-ncil, 10 felt it my duty to repel the injustice. i This was due to the intelligent and respectable Protestants of Kent who iiot having had the occasion to read or hear the various instructions of myself i(,nd other R C. clergymen, on the decrees of the recent Council, as their n^atholic neighbors have had, and having heard so much of Mr. McGuirk's ualk on this subject during the past few months, might naturally have formed srroneous or confused views on the matter of the Council itself, and on the . 50urse pursued thereat by myself and other Bishops. Therefore on the morn- ,.ng after Mr. Sayers' address alluded to, I intimated that on the following day ^Sunday)— having to be at St. Louis for the intended procession in honor of the Blessed Sacrament in the forenoon— I should return to Bichibucto in the "^ifternoon, when in the course of my instruction on the solemnity of the day, ![ would also speak on the subject of the (Ecumenical Council, the Infallibility 'of the Pope, &c. This arrangement was accordingly carried out. ^ In my discourse on Sunday afternoon, delivered in the church of Richi- 'bucto, as promised, the great mystery which Catholics on that day were cele- brating everywhere throughout the christian world, the Real Presence op "Christ in the Eucharist, naturally called for an exposition. The grounds and motives of credibility, not only ior that, but for all the mysteries of the 'Christian Religion, the Unity and Trinity of God, the Incarnation, Crucifixion ^and Resurrection of Our Divine Redeemer were explained. It was observed 'that each one of these fundamental mysteries of Christianity is hard to be- lieve, because impossible to understand by mere natural reason, and on na- tural principles. But even the natural order has its mysteries, things diffi- cult, nay impossible, to account for, unless by the almighty power and infinite wisdom of the great Creator and Conservator of the universe. Well, this Al- mighty Lord and Master did not confine His creative and legislative power to the mere natural or material order. There is the supernatural order which does not contradict but transcends the natural. He commissioned His Prophets in the Old Law, His Divine Son sent His Apostles in the New, to make known unto man His Will, His Divine Revelation. This message from God to man contains two kinds of precepts, things to be done, and th: gs to be believed. He commands us to worship Him with our twofold nature, our whole being both soul and body. " Thou shale love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, thy whole soul." In commanding us to do things repug- nant to our bodily inclinations, He exacts the willing obedience of our bodies ; in commanding us to believe mysteries, things above the capacity of our intellect. He exacts the worship of our higher faculties, the homage of our understanding. When there is question of obeying God's law in any 12 1 point of morals, we are not to ask : Is it easy or agreeable to our inclination but is it commanded ? When there is question of believing any mystery - Religion, we are not to ask- Is it easy to understand? but: Is it a part Divine Revelation ? Our motive for obeying or believing is the authority ^' him who commands. We know that God's authority over us is suprein," He has the right to claim our obedience. He is the infallible truth. I-^ cannot be mistaken Himself, nor deceive others. What IIE says theref :^' MUST BE TRUE, no matter how difficult for us to understand. When at tl Last Supper, He takes up a piece of bread, blesses it and says- " Tnis is m BODY," we believe it, not because it is easy to understand, but becain' UOD s WORD says so. On natural principles we cannot understand the chan" the transubstantiation. But this is a mystery of religion, not a natural trutl^ It belongs therefore to the supernatural order, like the Incarnation, tl Redemption, and other truths of Divine Revelation, which are not to \^ judged by the natural laws of matter. And yet, to the Catholic, it is as ea'J to understand how the Omnipotent God can, in the supernatural order,chan> the bread into His Body as easily as He, by miracle, changed water into wiii" atCana; or as easily as He, in the natural order, changes one grain of set,! into an mcrease of ten or twentyfold of its own kind. But are we not to exercise our understanding, our reasoning faculties u the mvestigation of the truths of Religion, as well as in matters of natun science? Certainly: we are even hound to do so at the peril of our etern^^ s-ilvation. The wilful neglect to learn natural science will not necessarif' cause the loss of our souls; but the culpable neglect of learning and believir" the fundamental religious truths of the Gospel, which Christ sent H:] Apostles forth to preach, will merit eternal reprobation. " Preach the Gospe to every creature." " He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, b that believeth not shall be condemned." "He that heareth yon hearetU Me ; he that despiseth you despiseth Me," &c., &c. These and other similo utterances of Eternal Truth leave no doubt that all are bound to do their heq to learn the saving truths of Religion, to hear, believe and obey this teachin,, which Christ sent forth His Apostles to communicate to all nations. 3, But in matters of Religious doctrine we see, in practice, a great diversity, of belief and opinion, even among the most learned and pious men. Hoi. reconcile this paradox, this contradiction? Did Christ authorise that HL Divine Truth should be thus misunderstood? or expounded in an inconsisten!, and contradictory manner by those whom He appointed to preach it ? than one portion of His flock should be taught to believe articles of faith, whicl. other bodies of His earnest and devoted followers reject and disbelieve „, Catholics believe that such would have been unworthy of the infinite wisdo% t( 13 n f Christ ; that, in fact He did not authorise, but forbade divisions and ^)Utradictious in doctrine among His followers, that He instituted a Tribunal Dearth to decide all such disputes and divisions. This tribunal is " The "'hurcii op the living God the pillar and ground of truth ! " ( I Tim. ,i. 15.)and therefore infallible. Christ commanded His disciples that when "ny disputes should arise among them, to "Tell the Church"; and when ^ais last Court of Appeal, this infallible authority decides, He orders ^'rompt submission to such decision : " He that will not hear the 'Ihurch, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican." (Matt, -viu. 17). ^' This infallibility is ensured to the Church, not by the personal qualities or 'lerits of weak, frail men, however good— although such compose her body — but y the promise of Christ to be whh her Pastors in the fulfilment of the work ^ f the ministry to which he appointed them ; and by the guiding, directing '■nd controlUng power of the Holy Ghost, the Si)irit of Truth, whom he ''>romised to send '"To teach them all truth and abide with them '^'OREVER." ( John xiv xvi.). This ofi&cial infallibility, this inerrancy in her plemn decisions, which Christ promised to the Church, does not by any ■aeans imply the individual impeccability or personal exemption from sin of ""^ny one of her members, no matter how exalted in rank. On the contrary all |^:-now that like David or Solomon, or St. Peter or Judas, the holiest and best "nay in a moment of weakness, if he neglect to " watch and pray lest he enter "nto temptation," (Matt. xxvi. 41) fall into sin ; and if he repent not, he may, Hke Judas, be eternally lost. ^^ In giving His great commission to the Apostles, the first Pastors of His '^^hurch, to teach all nations. He promised to "be with them all days ^iven to the consummation of the World." (Matt, xxviii. 20) This promise 'He fulfills by His Real Presence in the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar, the 'Holy Communion, the mystery of faith and love, which Catholics everywhere "ire celebrating on this day. Before His death Christ promised: " I will 3UILD MY Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against ''[T": (Matt. xvi. 18) The Paraclete, the spirit of truth came to fulfil that promise, ''x) perfect the establishment of the Church and to preserve it against ''the 'gates of bell," that is against the efi'orts which the " Father of lies" would ''oiake to undermine it by falsehood or error. "And I will ask the Father and 'tie shall give you another Paraclete that He may abide with you for ever. '^■. . . The Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name. He will teach ' 70U all things and bring all things to your mind whatsoever I sliaU have said Ho you.'' (John xiv. 16. 26 ) " When He the Spirit of Truth is come, He will teach you all truth" (John xvi. 13 ). This certitude baaed on the infallible 14 1 Word of Christ, that He is with His Church, guiding, enh'vening and rulit s her, and that the Holy Ghost is also with her teaching all truth and guidir t her Pastors in all official duty, but particularly when assembled in Sol en \ Council, makes Catholics prompt to receive and abide by her decisions. F < they regard such decisions, not as the decisions of mere men, however good wise or learned, but the decisions of the Holy Ghost, of Christ Himst ] " He 'hat heareth you, heareth me." " Whatever you shall bind on eart j shall be bound in heaven ; whatever you shall loose on earth, shall be loos( ' in heaven," (Matt. xvi. 19). The Pastors of the Church are simply tl < human instruments, the official Channels which the Holy Ghost employs ] communicate Keligious Truth to men. The great efficient cause, the motii i and directive power, so to speak, of this solemn official action of the Chun ( of Christ, is the Holy Ghost. This truth— for if this be not true, then the ( is no such thing as truth in the Bible, for there is no point more clearly ai more frequently repeated in the Bible, while at the same time it is mo i conformable to right reason— satisfies and convinces the minds of Catholi with as much logical precision as any geometrical demonstration that eve: dogmatic decision of the Church, every article of faith which she proposes our belief must be true, no matter how obscure or unsatisfactory may appe; the intrinsic arguments otherwise brought to prove it independently of tl Church's decision. The whole history of the Church illustrates this. From time to tin there have been disputes and differences on points of doctrine or disciplin* which, when the matters were of sufficient importance, were examined an discussed in Council by the Pastors of the Church, under the presidency c their Chief Pastor, the Pope. During the period of deliberation the Fathei are expected, nay bound in conscience to honestly and sincerely express the: opinions and the reasons thereof. For this reason suitable regulations as t the mode of conducting the deliberations, providing for the necessary libert of discussion, the just and decorous order to be observed in conducting it, &c are made by, or with the sanction of the President, published and circulate among the assembled Fathers, just as is done in all other well regulate deliberative assemblies of intelligent men. As a matter of course, during tl. period of deliberation and discussioefore the public session of the 18th of July tooli place. Although not present when the last solemn vote of the Fathers and the confirmation of the Sove- reign Pontiff were given, we soon alter became informed of the fact. ' Therefore on this feast of the Asumption of the B.V. ^lary as well as the annivcM sary of our episcopal consecration, while luiable to be present with you as we had j hoped, we endeavour to compensate by addressing to you the present letter: „ 1st, To eonununicati.' to you the dogmatic Decrees of the Council, passed in the two public sessions of the 24th of April and the 18th of July, and which are hen- with annexed. 1 2nd, To express our humble submission and our sincere and full adhesion to thi,; said Decrees. 3 3rd, To transmit to you the Apostolic Benediction, given to us for you by H'b Holiness at the audience of leave-taking which he deigned to accord to us some tim- before our departure. * "We earnestly recommend to you D. B. B. to offer up your fervent prayers td Heaven for the interests of the Church, for its Chief Pastor and all the Pastors and l)eople of the Christian fold. May God bless them and preserve them in the holj. unity of charity and of the true Religion ! At this moment in which we write these^ lines, the scourge of war is here exercising Its terrible ravages, to which God aloneC can mark the limits. Alas ! the inevitable chastisement of sin I Let us stay the aruia of God's justice by a true repentance of our sins, by our humble prayers and per| sistant supplications to His Divine Heart for mercy. £ Let us also supplicate our Immaculate Virgin Mother who, at the wedding of Cana, by her intercession with her Divine Son, caused water to be changed into wine, that she may now in like manner cause the tribulation of her clients to h changed into spiritual joy ! ^ In conclusion, D. B. B. we solicit for ourselves your pious prayers and we im* plore the God of mercy to pour down upon you all his most abundant benedici tions ! [] Hotel-Dieu of St-Joseph, Beauge ;, {France), August 15, li:' lO. ' t JAMES ROGERS, ? I BISHOP OF CHATHAM (New Brunswick f Canada). i 17 On my return to my Diocese, in nn^worin;; tlie aJ(lros>» of weleomo presontod to me by the devoted people ofrhitliam. F failed not to express, as hud ever been the tenor of my instruotions, the same duty of reasonable obedienee and due submission to all lawful and just authority, whether spiritual or temporal. From the notice of what I said on that occasion published at the tinie, in the local newspapers, T make the following' extract. * ♦ * "After the Gospel, he preaehoil an earnest, practical instruction whi(^h occupied about an liour, taliing Ills text from tlie Gospels of the Mussels of tlie feast of Christmas, and (Iwelling emphatically on the lesson of " Glory to God and peace I on earth to men of good will," sung by the angelic host over the Crib of Rethlehem J— the lesson of obedience to all legitimate anil just authority on earth, taught by the example of Mary and Joseph leaving their home at Nazareth, in ol>edience to the edict of the Pagan Emperor in order to enregister their names in Bethlehem— ami the lesson of the infallible inerrancy of the decisions of (Jod's Church and her Chief visible Head on earth when speaking ex Cathedra, as illustrated by the miraculous 'star which guided the three eastern Kings or wiscmen, first to Jerusalem, where ir disappeared and left them to learn from the official ordinary authority which God had established on earth for guarding and expounding Ilis Divine Law and Ilis Prophets, namely, the Jewish High Priest, that it was in Bethlehem of Judea that Jesus was to be born. His Lordship thanked them for their just and warm 3xpression of sympathy for the Sovereign Pontitl' in his prese nt atHiction, and their protest, in common with the Prelates of the Ecclesiastical Province and of Catholics everywhere, against the invasion by the Italian Government of the Patrimony of St. Peter, the property of the universal church." ^ When the Priests of our Diocese, as soon as the season and their laborious fduties permitted their absence from their respective missions, assembled at our residence in Chatham for their spiritual Retreat last year, it was deemed la suitable occasion to convey our filial congratulations to the Holy Father who •had then recently completed his 25th anniversary as Pope. This being the first formal meeting of all our Clergy since my return from the Council, it was also deemed a suitable occasion to express in the same address our entire assent and adhesion to the decrees of the said Council. The following is a translation, in English, of the Address, together with that of the kind paternal Reply of His Holiness to my letter transmitting the same ; in which letter I informed the Holy Father of the illuminations and demonstrations of joy had by the Catholics of Chatham, on the Cathedral grounds and buildings in honor of his said anniversary on the 17th and 21st of June. 18 Addrkss of thk Cleugy of the Diocese of Chatham, To His IIolinesjTi Tope Pii-h IX.* ., ^ost Holy Father, ll We, the Bishop and Clorgy of the Diocese of Cljiitliam, being asHembled durinj the piiHt eiglit days in tlie holy exercises of h pastoral retreat, feel it a grateful dutjo bifore we seperate, to express to Your Holiness the sentiments of fllial love aw religious veneration which we entertain for your saered person, and for your moso exalted office as Vicar of Christ on Earth, Successor of Blessed Teter, and Visibl Ueud of God's Holy Church. We unite with our Brethren in all parts of the World in expressing our full am reverential assent, adhesion and obedience to the Decrees of the Holy Vaticm Council, which proclaim the infallibility of the Apostolic See in all its ex cathedi decisions. We submit with reverential docility, humility and lore, to all the sacre ordinances of tlic* same Holy See. In affectionate sympathy with Your Holiness, we are filled with grief an indignation on account of the cruel wrongs and injustices which robbed you of tli Tatrimouy of Peter, and even of the government of the Eternal City itsell, makin, you virtually a prisoner, and depriving you of the liberty necessary to administer th !»ffairs of the Universal Church. ] Nevertheless, amid these griefs we rejoice at the singular favour which God ha bestowed on you in prolonging Your Illustrious Pontificate to the " years of Peter'" which favour, the first of the kind as yet granted to any Pope since St. Peter, hac called forth the grateful rejoicings of Catholics everywhere 1 a We pray Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore the intercession of His evep "[Original Latin Version] S PIO, PAPAE IX, S Clerus DioECEsis Chatamensis Gratulabundus. „ Beat'ssime Pater, Nobis, EpiBCopo et Clero DioecesiB ChatamensiB, qui Octo hie diebua in sacr exercitiis spintualibus perHolveudis occupati fuimus, pergratura incumbit officium Sanctita Tuae priuB expoueiidi, quaru ad propria discedatnuB, atnoris tilialis ac aacrae veneration Bensua qui uob devinciuni venerabili T\me PerBonae, Tuoque Bublimi oflBcio, quateut ChrJBti 68 VicariuB, Beati Petri Successor, atque Sanctae Dei Ecclesiae visibile Capt Societatem cuuj fratribus per orbem sparsis inimuB ad expritiiendum noBtruni plenu: reverentemque asBensum, adbaeBionem obedientiamque Sacn Vaticani Concilii Decreti quae jnfalhbilitatem Sedis ApoBtolicae in suis omnibuB ex cathedra defiuitionibu proclamknt. Item omnia ejuadeui Sanctae Sedis acta et decreta cum docilitate, humilitat ac amore baud fictis, recipimna eequimurque. Summo nobia doloii est atque indiguationi videre injuBtitias grayisBimaB malajn innumera quae homiueB perveraJBaimi Sauctitati Tuae iufligunt, ut Petri patrimonio, m ipsius Almae Urbis imper'o potiantur. Tecum igitur, sicut decet filios devotes, condolemus eoquod captivus sacrilega mai tenearis, eaque, qua Tibi ad universam Ecclesiam regeudam opus eat, libertate orber Has inter anguatias non ))arvam nobis affert conaolationem favor ille quera Sanctiu Tuae contulit misericors Dtus, illuatrem Tuum Poutilicatum ad annos Petri perducend vitn«'s» the tnunipli of tlic (.'hurcli and of tlif Holy .Si-e! I. I>tiKii Holy Fatlier lo grunt us your Apostolic iMMiotliction. to our Hocks an'anK'>' to b«' added to thin Addre-s. ff Thomas Francis Barry. J. Theophilus Allard. Anthony Itcheri. (J. SS. C. William Morrisey. Fidelis A. liernier, C. SRJ. C -' Joseph A. Babineau. Andrew I{oy. John Carter. Lewis (ia^'uon. J, Warccllus F. Richard. Stauislns Doueef. Thomas J. Baniion. Fintan Dowlm^. '' Patrick W. Di.xoii. Andjrose Nolin. \ ^ i»irsix,ri\ Venerable Brother: & IIIULTH ANM> AlH)8TOI.lC BKNKDICTION. Fi'om your most dutiful letter dated the l")lh of last Au;-'iist ti»jrether witii tlie aenclosetl Address to us, suitscribed by the Cler^jty of your Diocese, we have l)een assured Venerable Brother, of the sincert: respect with which you venerate the (prerogatives Divinidy confi-rred on this Aiiostolic .See ; wo luive also seen the glowing Sancitati Tiiae vita din feliciterrpu' adbuc eervetur, donee videae Sedis ApoHtolicae et Sanctae Matris Ecclesiae triuiiiplium. Beiiedictiouem Tiiaiii Apostolitam, Beatissiiue Pater, nobis, gregibua, laboribuH(pie nostrlK imp Ttire digiierif. Datum in Oratorio /Ed. Noutr. EpiKcopal. apnd Chatham prope Ecclesiitin Cathe- dralem S. Micliaclis, Die octava Augnsti, A. D. 1871. t Jacobiib lingers. Epus Cliatamunaia. Jo8epi\U8 Tbeberge. Micliael Egaii, Vic Geiieralia. Gulielmus Varrily. FerdiiianduH Gauvreau. JoHephuB Pelletier Qui Heqnmitnr Exercitiis non iiiterfuerunt ; attamen lug Joannea JoHepims O'Leary, litteris .Sauctitati Tuae directis eubsoribere voluerunt. j Tliomas Fraiiciecus Barry. J TbeophiluH Allard, Antonius Robert, S S. C. GulielmuH Murripey. FideluB A. Bender, S. S. C. JoBeplms Augu8tU8 Babineau, Andreas Roy. Joannes Carter. Ludovicun Gagnon. Marcellus FranciscuB Richard. Stanis'as Doucet. Thomas JoanncB Bannou. Fintaoi's Dowling. Pat,riciu8 Gulielmus Dixon Ambrosiut' Noliu. 1 Vtnerahilis Frater. rius, pp. IX. Salutem et Apostoucam Benedictionem. Ex tuis litteris obaervantiBsimis die 15. elapsi Angusti anno euperiore dntis, ac una cum epistola a Clero Dioecesie tupe subscripta Nobis reditis, agnovimus, Veu : Frater, sincerum obaequium, quo praerogativas huic Apostolicae Sedi diviuitus coUataa veueramini, pere- 2') ZJiil nf yiim'>t'lf ainl f:iillif'iil T'lor;;}' for flic can^ir of fln^ C'lnirch. an well iiy u ino« incrcirul (fod. TIh'.xc ti'stiiiKtiiio'^ of your /cal, Vcnoraldc Hrotlior, an most, licdy eansc »>f !t<'li.i,doii, \V" moreover convey to yon and to a! the ahove nietioned with onr atVret ionatc and paternal feelin;,'s. the exiiross'in nt mt>rited prai Tt)nr Cler^yi throuj;h wliom, with the help of Go-I we trii>l niiu h ;;ood will conii' npiiii that Diocf-e, an'l to all th(»se hidoved cliiMrc of your tlock wliose ^reat love an«! devotion foi- us yon have related. Also annonni' to all of those same Children the \i»osfolieT?enedietion which from onr imnost hear we impart to them. sni)plieaMnj; for them the ahnndanee of heavenly graces, th:i Ihey may ever Itrin^ lortli joyfnl frnits of faith and justice I Not dou!)lino jifreat eouit'st against imi)ii'ly. as a proof of our g>>od will and a> an earnest of ;i lieav»;nly succour, we most lovingly ;r>'ant to you, Vcnorable hrother, and to you tloe.k our A[»ostoUc Bi-nedietion. Dated at St. I'l ter's. Rome, the ITtli day of January in the year 1ST2, being tli twenty-sixth year of om- i)ontili(ate. To our Venei-altle Hrother, dames, Uisliop of Chatham, Chatham. X. Brunswick, Cana-la. Pius IX. Popk jifxiiiiurt tlayraMM V(.'Ktnuii et islonuii Fideliinn erya Ecclesiac caanain sfiiriiiiin et erga No^ iiiipciibjuii (lilectioiHMn.cujuH tiiin in acerl)itatil)ii« NoHtris, tani in celehraiKlin muiieribu Xobi ii Cieinentissinio Deo conceHHiH, biciileiitu a Voltin et a FiilelibiiH intin argmneiita Hunt edits Ilaec lui zeli Ven. Frater el, iMthia Clori ac; Fidt'liuiii pietiitirt ae fidei tcHtimoni LrrutiHHiuia Nohin extiterunf. et dam Divinae nonitati l)ei\el)t()) of'Sf. .I<»hn have been repeated in tlu'.s town and n-iyhbourhood, dtirinir the past y(»;ir by the liev. Mr. Mc(iuiik in a manner which tlu; well known lives and deeds uf these holy and failbfnl l'relat»?s iiavt; little deserved. I humbly beu the par(h)n of tlio.se venerable Oiijnitaries and of tli" devoted I'liots and faitld'ul people of their r(v on the [jrcsent occasion. For T know that their natural ffelin-.'s of delicacy and Charity must be wounded by any allusicm to them in connection with tlie circumstance of my present visit here. Rut a sense of ju.=?tice forces me to speak in reparation of honor, and in atonement for tlie outrage olK-nnl, in their per.>rivate, durintr the past thirty years of theii" Sacred ministry as honored and bciloved (^ler^'yun'ii in New Brun.swick and Nova Scotia. Tt is to me an occasion of humiliation and affliction to be forced by duty to come to any part of my diocese to defend and protect a faithful j'oung i)ri(;st against tlu' injustice of an elder Confivre. But the poignancy of my grief is much augumented by the thought that this Prie.st of my Diocese not only violates all clerical di.scijtline by prosecuting his brother-priest liefore a secular Court, but for more than a year has been shmdering and reviling not only his own Bishop, but also the highest and most honored Prelates of neighbouring Dioceses, and this tlirough pretended zeal for the Pope, thus offering to the Holy Father the greatest of insults ! To bo sure the conviction that the unfortunate man Is i)artially, if not wholly insane, alleviates the case, and were it not for the publicity which it has acquired and the sui>port given to this poor man to encourage him in his who thereby will continue to bear my ;s concerned, hearing refutation of foundation of The foregoing is a substantially correct report of what T said in the Church at Richibucto on the Sunday after the trial. Whether it was uncalled 9-7 ior by the ciicuinstance.^ ; and uliellior it justlfie.«< the coiiiiiients made in the newspaper:?, I leave to the puhlie to judge. t JAMES ROGERS, Birshop of Chatluiiii ('IIATH.\>I. N. |{.. June -J!*, 1ST2, ♦ » • * • . i« • . " < • > .. . . . . . < ' • : ! i