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Transcriber’s Note:
This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects.
Italics are delimited with the ‘_’ character as _italic_.
Errors, when reasonably attributable to the printer, have been
corrected. Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for
details. Corrections made to the text are summarized there.
French passages did not include diacritical marks (with a single
appearance of ‘ç’ on p. 54), and are presented here as printed.
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[Illustration: C. CHINIQUY]
FIFTY YEARS
IN THE
CHURCH OF ROME.
BY
FATHER CHINIQUY,
THE APOSTLE OF TEMPERANCE OF CANADA.
AUTHOR OF “THE MANUAL OF TEMPERANCE,” “THE PRIEST, THE WOMAN, AND THE
CONFESSIONAL,”
“PAPAL IDOLATRY,” “ROME AND EDUCATION,” ETC.
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY,
NEW YORK. CHICAGO. TORONTO.
_Publishers of Evangelical Literature._
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT,
1886,
BY REV. CHARLES CHINIQUY, ST. ANNE, KANKAKEE CO., ILL.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEDICATION.
TO COLONEL EDWIN A. SHERMAN.
Allow me to mention your name the first among the many to whom I
dedicate this book.
I owe this to you as a token of gratitude for your help in my researches
after the true murderers of our martyred President Abraham Lincoln.
I found you as wise and honorable in your counsels as our country found
you brave on the battlefields of Liberty.
TO THE ORANGEMEN OF THE UNITED STATES, CANADA,
GREAT BRITAIN, AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA
AND NEW ZEALAND,[A]
this book is also dedicated by the humblest of their brethren.
Orangemen! Read this book: you will not only understand Romanism as you
never did, but you will find many new reasons to be, more than ever,
vigilant, fearless and devoted, even to death, in the discharge of the
sacred duties imposed upon you by your love for your country, your
brethren and your God.
-----
Footnote A:
L. O. A. B. A. BOYNE L. O. L. No. 401.
Montreal, 20th Sept., 1878.
This is to Certify that Bro. C. Chiniquy was duly initiated into Boyne
L. O. L. No. 401, and is a member in good standing, and we do
therefore request all Brethren to receive him as such, whereof witness
our hand and seal hereto affixed.
MASTER No. 401.
JOHN HAMILTON, Secretary.
-----
TO THE HONEST AND LIBERTY-LOVING PEOPLE OF THE
UNITED STATES,
I also dedicate this book.
Americans! You are sleeping on a volcano, and you do not suspect it! You
are pressing on your bosom a viper which will bite you to death, and you
do not know it.
Read this book, and you will see that Rome is the sworn, the most
implacable, the absolutely irreconcilable and deadly enemy of your
schools, your institutions, your so dearly bought rights and liberties.
Read this book, and you will not only understand that it is to Rome you
owe the rivers of blood and the unspeakable horrors of the last civil
war: but you will learn that Romanism and Liberty can not live on the
same ground. This has been declared by the Popes, hundreds of times.
Read this book: And you will not only see that Abraham Lincoln was
murdered by Rome, but you will learn that Romanism, under the mask of
religion, is nothing but a permanent political conspiracy against all
the most sacred rights of man and the most holy laws of God.
In those pages you will not learn to hate the Roman Catholics. No! But
you will learn to be more than ever watchful in guarding the precious
treasures of Freedom bestowed upon you by your fathers. You will learn
never to let them fall into the hands of those who, with the sacred name
of Liberty on their lips, and the mask of Liberty on their faces, are
sworn to destroy all Liberty.
TO ALL THE FAITHFUL MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL,
I also, dedicate this book.
Venerable Ministers of the Gospel! Rome is the great danger ahead for
the Church of Christ, and you do not understand it enough.
The atmosphere of light, honesty, truth and holiness in which you are
born, and which you have breathed since your infancy, makes it almost
impossible for you to realize the dark mysteries of idolatry,
immorality, degrading slavery, hatred of the Word of God, concealed
behind the walls of that modern Babylon. You are too honest to suspect
them; and your precious time is too much taken up by the sacred duties
of your ministry, to study the long labyrinth of argumentations which
form the bulk of the greater number of controversial books. Besides
that, the majority of the books of controversy against Rome are of such
a dry character that, though many begin to read them, very few have the
courage to go to the end. The consequence is an ignorance of Romanism
which becomes more and more deplorable and fatal, every day.
It is ignorance which paves the way to the triumph of Rome, in a near
future, if there is not a complete change in your views, on that
subject.
It is that ignorance which paralyzes the arm of the Church of Christ,
and makes the glorious word “Protestant” senseless, almost a dead and
ridiculous word. For who does really protest against Rome, to-day? where
are those who sound the trumpet of alarm?
When Rome is striking you to the heart by cursing your schools and
wrenching the Bible from the hands of your children; when she is not
only battering your doors, but scaling your walls and storming your
citadels, how few dare go to the breach and repulse the audacious and
sacrilegious foe?
Why so? Because modern Protestants have not only forgotten what Rome
was, what she is, and what she will forever be: the most irreconcilable
and powerful enemy of the Gospel of Christ; but they consider her almost
a branch of the church whose corner-stone is Christ.
Faithful ministers of the Gospel! I present you this book that you may
know that the monster Church of Rome, who shed the blood of your
forefathers, is still at work, to-day, at your very door, to enchain
your people to the feet of her idols. Read it, and for the first time,
you will see the inside life of Popery with the exactness of
Photography. From the supreme art with which the mind of the young and
timid child is fettered, enchained and paralyzed, to the unspeakable
degradation of the priest under the iron heel of the bishop, everything
will be revealed to you as it has never been before.
The superstitions, the ridiculous and humiliating practices, the secret
and mental agonies of the monks, the nuns and the priests, will be shown
to you as they were never shown before. In this book, the sophisms and
errors of Romanism are discussed and refuted with a clearness,
simplicity and evidence which my twenty-five years of priesthood only
could teach me. It is not in boasting that I say this. There can be no
boasting in me for having been so many years an abject slave of the
Pope. The book I offer you is an arsenal filled with the best weapons
you ever had to fight, and, with the help of God, conquer the foe.
The learned and zealous champion of Protestantism in Great Britain Rev.
D. Badenoch, who has revised the manuscript, wrote to a friend: “I do
not think there is a Protestant work more thrilling in interest and more
important at the present time. It is not only full of incidents, but
also of arguments, on the side of truth with all classes of Romanists,
from the bishops to the parish priests. I know of no work which gives so
graphically the springs of Roman Catholic life, and at the same time,
meets the plausible objections to Protestantism in Roman Catholic
circles. I wish with all my heart that this work would be published in
Great Britain.”
The venerable, learned and so well known Rev. Dr. Kemp, Principal of the
Young Ladies’ College of Ottawa, Canada, only a few days before his
premature death, wrote: “Mr. Chinqiuy has submitted every chapter of his
‘Fifty Years in the Church of Rome’ to me: I have read it with care and
with the deepest interest; and I commend it to the public favor in the
highest terms. It is the only book I know that gives anything like a
full and authentic account of the inner workings of Popery on this
continent, and so effectively unmasks its pretence to sanctity. Besides
the most interesting biographical incidents, it contains incisive
refutations of the most plausible assumptions and deadly errors of the
Romish Church. It is well fitted to awaken Protestants to the insidious
designs of the arch-enemy of their faith and liberties, and to arouse
them to a decisive opposition. It is written in a kindly and Christian
spirit, does not indulge in denunciations, and, while speaking in truth,
it does so in love. Its style is lively and its English good, with only
a delicate flavor of the author’s native French.”
TO THE BISHOPS, PRIESTS AND PEOPLE OF ROME,
this book is also dedicated.
In the name of your immortal souls, I ask you, Roman Catholics, to read
this book.
By the mercy of God, you will find, in its pages, how you are cruelly
deceived by your vain and lying traditions.
You will see that it is not through your ceremonies, masses,
confessions, purgatory, indulgences, fastings, etc., you are saved. You
have nothing to do but to believe, repent and love.
Salvation is a gift! Eternal life is a gift! Forgiveness of sin is a
gift! Christ is a gift!
Read this book, presented by the most devoted of your friends, and, by
the mercy of God, you will see the errors of your ways—you will look to
the GIFT—you will accept it—and in its possession you will feel rich and
happy for time and eternity.
SPECIAL NOTICE
TO NEW EDITION.
------------------
Since the publication of the second edition of “Fifty Years in the
Church of Rome,” the incendiary torch of the foe has twice reduced into
ashes the electrotype plates, with many volumes already printed, and
about to be delivered to subscribers.
Though those two disasters have completely ruined me financially, they
have not discouraged me, for my trust was in God, and in Him alone.
Relying on His divine and paternal protection, I offer this New Edition
to my brethren, with the prayerful hope that the Good Master will bless
it for His glory, and the good of His elect, wherever it may go.
I have no words to sufficiently bless the friends who have extended to
me a helping hand to raise the book from its fiery grave; and I cannot
sufficiently thank the Press, both religious and secular, of Europe and
America, for the kind appreciation given, almost everywhere, to my
humble labor.
May this book, with the help of God, be the means of giving liberty to
those who are held in the bondage of ignorance, superstition and
idolatry, is the sincere desire of their friend,
C. CHINIQUY.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
FRONTISPIECE–FATHER CHINIQUY,
” ” ” IN PRIEST’S
ROBES,
FESTIVITIES IN A PARSONAGE, 54
GRAND DINNER OF THE PRIESTS, 205
CARDINAL NEWMAN, 405
FALL OF THE “HOLY FATHERS,” 436
LEO XIII., PRESENT POPE, 676
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 693
CONTENTS.
Page.
TITLE 1
DEDICATION 3-7
PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION 8
CHAPTER I.
The Bible and the Priest of Rome 9-13
CHAPTER II.
My first school-days at St. Thomas—The Monk and 14-21
Celibacy
CHAPTER III.
The Confession of Children 22-30
CHAPTER IV.
The Shepherd whipped by his Sheep 31-40
CHAPTER V.
The Priest, Purgatory, and the poor Widow’s Cow 41-48
CHAPTER VI.
Festivities in a Parsonage 49-56
CHAPTER VII.
Preparation for the First Communion—Initiation to 57-60
Idolatry
CHAPTER VIII.
The First Communion 61-65
CHAPTER IX.
Intellectual Education in the Roman Catholic 66-74
College
CHAPTER X.
Moral and Religious Instruction in the Roman 75-85
Catholic Colleges
CHAPTER XI.
Protestant Children in the Convents and Nunneries 86-93
of Rome
CHAPTER XII.
Rome and Education—Why does the Church of Rome 94-117
hate the Common Schools of the United States,
and wants to destroy them?—Why does she object
to the reading of the Bible in the Schools?
CHAPTER XIII.
Theology of the Church of Rome: its Anti-Social 118-128
and Anti-Christian Character
CHAPTER XIV.
The Vow of Celibacy 129-140
CHAPTER XV.
The Impurities of the Theology of Rome 141-153
CHAPTER XVI.
The Priest of Rome and the Holy Fathers; or, how I 154-162
swore to give up the Word of God to follow the
word of Men
CHAPTER XVII.
The Roman Catholic Priesthood, or Ancient and 163-172
Modern Idolatry,
CHAPTER XVIII.
Nine Consequences of the Dogma of 173-182
Transubstantiation—The old Paganism under a
Christian name
CHAPTER XIX.
Vicarage, and Life at St. Charles, Rivierre Boyer 183-194
CHAPTER XX.
Papineau and the Patriots in 1833—The burning of 195-203
“Le Canadien” by the Curate of St. Charles
CHAPTER XXI.
Grand Dinner of the Priests—The Maniac sister of 204-215
Rev. Mr. Perras
CHAPTER XXII.
I am appointed Vicar of the Curate of 216-226
Charlesbourgh—The Piety, Lives and Deaths of
Fathers Bedard and Perras
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Cholera Morbus of 1834—Admirable courage and 227-235
self-denial of the Priests of Rome during the
epidemic
CHAPTER XXIV.
I am named a Vicar of St. Roch, Quebec City—The 236-241
Rev. Mr. Tetu—Tertullian—General Cargo—The Seal
Skins
CHAPTER XXV.
Simony—Strange and sacrilegious traffic in the 242-251
so-called Body and Blood of Christ—Enormous sums
of Money made by the sale of Masses—The Society
of three Masses abolished and the Society of one
Mass established
CHAPTER XXVI.
Continuation of the trade in Masses 252-260
CHAPTER XXVII.
Quebec Marine Hospital—The first time I carried 261-267
the “Bon Dieu” (the wafer god) in my vest
pocket—The Grand Oyster Soiree at Mr.
Buteau’s—The Rev. L. Parent and the “Bon Dieu”
at the Oyster Soiree
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Dr. Douglas—My First Lesson on Temperance—Study of 268-282
Anatomy—Working of Alcohol in the Human
Frame—The Murderess of her own Child—I forever
give up the use of Intoxicating Drinks
CHAPTER XXIX.
Conversions of Protestants to the Church of 283-293
Rome—Rev. Anthony Parent, Superior of the
Seminary of Quebec: His peculiar way of finding
access to the Protestants and bringing them to
the Catholic Church—How he spies the Protestants
through the Confessional—I persuade ninety-three
Families to become Catholics
CHAPTER XXX.
The Murders and Thefts in Quebec from 1835 to 294-303
1886—The night Excursion with two Thieves—The
Restitution—The Dawn of Light
CHAPTER XXXI.
Chambers and his Accomplices Condemned to 304-312
death—Asked me to prepare them for their
terrible Fate—A week in their Dungeon—Their
Sentence of Death changed to Deportation to
Botany Bay—Their Departure for exile—I meet one
of them a sincere Convert, very rich, in a high
and honorable position in Australia in 1878
CHAPTER XXXII.
The Miracles of Rome—Attack of Typhoid 318-334
Fever—Apparition of St. Anne and St.
Philomene—My Sudden Cure—The Curate of St. Anne
Du Nord, Mons. Ranvoise, almost a disguised
Protestant
CHAPTER XXXIII.
My Nomination as Curate of Beauport—Degradation 335-342
and Ruin of that place through Drunkenness—My
opposition to my nomination useless—Preparation
to Establish a Temperance Society—I write to
Father Mathew for advice
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Hand of God in the establishment of a 343-350
Temperance Society in Beauport and Vicinity
CHAPTER XXXV.
Foundation of Temperance Societies in the 351-359
neighboring Parishes—Providential arrival of
Monsignor De Forbin Janson, Bishop of Nancy—He
publicly defends me against the Bishop of Quebec
and forever breaks the opposition of the Clergy
CHAPTER XXXVI.
The God of Rome eaten by Rats 360-367
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Visit of a Protestant stranger—He throws an Arrow 368-373
into my Priestly Soul never to be taken out
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Erection of the Column of Temperance—School 374-383
Buildings—A noble and touching act of the people
at Beauport
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Sent to succeed Rev. Mr Varin, Curate of 384-393
Kamouraska—Stern opposition of that Curate and
the surrounding Priests and People—Hours of
Desolation in Kamouraska—The good Master allays
the Tempest, and bids the Waves be still
CHAPTER XL.
Organization of Temperance Societies in Kamouraska 394-403
and surrounding Country—The Girl in the Garb of
a man in the service of the Curates of Quebec
and Eboulements—Frightened by the Scandals seen
everywhere—Give up my Parish of Kamouraska to
join the “Oblates of Mary Immaculate of
Longueuiel.”
CHAPTER XLI.
Perversions of Dr. Newman to the Church of Rome in 404-430
the light of his own explanations, Common Sense
and the Word of God
CHAPTER XLII.
Noviciate in the Monastery of the Oblates of Mary 431-449
Immaculate of Longueuiel—Some of the thousand
Acts of Folly and Idolatry which form the life
of a Monk—The Deplorable Fall of one of the
Fathers—Fall of the Grand Vicar Quiblier—Sick in
the Hotel Dieu of Montreal—Sister Urtubise, what
she says of Maria Monk—The two Missionaries to
the Lumbermen—Fall and Punishment of a Father
Oblate—What one of the best Father Oblates
thinks of the Monks and the Monastery
CHAPTER XLIII.
I accept the hospitality of the Rev. Mr. Brassard 450-456
of Longueuiel—I Give my reasons for leaving the
Oblates to Bishop Bourget—He presents me with a
splendid Crucifix blessed by his Holiness for
me, and accepts my services in the cause of
Temperance in the Diocese of Montreal
CHAPTER XLIV.
Preparation for the last Conflict—Wise Counsel, 457-469
Tears and Distress of Father Mathew—Longueuiel
the first to accept the great reform of
Temperance—The whole District of Montreal, St.
Hyacinthe and Three Rivers Conquered—The City of
Montreal with the Sulpicians take the
Pledge—Gold Medal—Officially named Apostle of
Temperance in Canada—Gift of £500 from
Parliament
CHAPTER XLV.
My Sermon on the Virgin Mary—Compliments of Bishop 470-483
Prince—Stormy Night—First serious doubts about
the Church of Rome—Faithful discussion with the
Bishop—The Holy Fathers opposed to the modern
Worship of the Virgin—The Branches of the Vine
CHAPTER XLVI.
The Holy Fathers—New mental troubles at not 484-496
finding the Doctrines of my Church in their
writings—Purgatory and the Sucking Pig of the
Poor Man of Varennes
CHAPTER XLVII.
Letter from the Rev. Bishop Vandeveld of 497-505
Chicago—Vast project of the Bishop of the United
States to take possession of the Rich Valley of
the Mississippi and the Prairies of the West, to
rule that Great Republic—They want to put me at
the head of the Work—My Lecture on Temperance at
Detroit—Intemperance of the Bishops and Priests
of that City
CHAPTER XLVIII.
My visit to Chicago in 1857—Bishop Vandeveld—His 506-521
Predecessor Poisoned—Magnificent Prairies of the
West—Return to Canada—Bad Feelings of Bishop
Bourget—I decline sending a rich Woman to the
Nunnery to enrich the Bishop—A Plot to Destroy
me
CHAPTER XLIX.
The Plot to Destroy me—The Interdict—The Retreat 522-534
at the Jesuits’ College—The Lost Girl, Employed
by the Bishop, retracts—The Bishop Confounded,
sees his Injustice, makes amends—Testimonial
Letters—The Chalice—The Benediction before I
leave Canada
CHAPTER L.
Address presented me at Longueuil—I arrive at 535-541
Chicago—I select the spot for my Colony—I build
the first Chapel—Jealousy and Opposition of the
Priests of Bourbonnais and Chicago—Great Success
of the Colony
CHAPTER LI.
Intrigues, Impostures, and Criminal life of the 542-553
Priests in Bourbonnais—Indignation of the
Bishop—The People ignominiously turn out the
Criminal Priests from their Parish—Frightful
Scandal—Faith in the Church of Rome seriously
Shaken
CHAPTER LII.
Correspondence with the Bishop 554-569
CHAPTER LIII.
The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary 570-579
CHAPTER LIV.
The Abomination of Auricular Confession 580-602
CHAPTER LV.
The Ecclesiastical Retreat—Conduct of the 603-616
Priests—The Bishop Forbids me to Distribute the
Bible
CHAPTER LVI.
Public Acts of Simony—Thefts and Brigandage of 617-629
Bishop O’Regan—General Cry of Indignation—I
determine to resist him to his face—He employs
Mr. Spink again to send me to Gaol, and he
fails—Drags me as a Prisoner to Urbana in the
Spring of 1856 and fails again—Abraham Lincoln
defends me—My dear Bible becomes more than ever
my Light and my Counselor
CHAPTER LVII.
Bishop O’Regan sells the Parsonage of the French 630-642
Canadians of Chicago, pockets the money, and
turns them out when they come to complain—He
determines to turn me out of my Colony and send
me to Kahokia—He forgets it next day and
publishes that he has Interdicted me—My People
send a Deputation to the Bishop—His Answers—The
Sham Excommunication by three drunken Priests
CHAPTER LVIII.
Address from my People, asking me to remain—I am 643-667
again dragged as a prisoner by the Sheriff to
Urbana—Abraham Lincoln’s anxiety about the issue
of the Prosecution—My Distress—The Rescue—Miss
Philomena Moffat sent by God to save
me—LeBelle’s Confession and Distress—My
Innocence acknowledged—Noble Words and Conduct
of Abraham Lincoln—The Oath of Miss Philomena
Moffat
CHAPTER LIX.
A moment of Interruption in the Thread of my 668-687
“Fifty Years in the Church of Rome,” to see how
my sad Previsions about my defender, Abraham
Lincoln, were to be realized—Rome the Implacable
Enemy of the United States
CHAPTER LX.
The Fundamental Principals of the Constitution of 688-710
the United States drawn from the Gospel of
Christ—My first visit to Abraham Lincoln to warn
him of the Plots I knew against his Life—The
Priests circulate the news that Lincoln was born
in the Church of Rome—Letter of the Pope to Jeff
Davis—My last visit to the President—His
admirable reference to Moses—His willingness to
die for his Nation’s Sake
CHAPTER LXI.
Abraham Lincoln a true man of God, and a true 711-735
Disciple of the Gospel—The Assassination by
Booth—The tool of the Priests—John Surratt’s
house—The Rendezvous and Dwelling Place of the
Priests—John Surratt Secreted by the Priests
after the murder of Lincoln—The Assassination of
Lincoln known and published in the town three
hours before its occurrence
CHAPTER LXII.
Deputation of two Priests sent by the People and 736-750
the Bishops of Canada to persuade us to submit
to the will of the Bishop—The Deputies
acknowledge publicly that the Bishop is wrong
and that we are right—For peace sake, I consent
to withdraw from the contest on certain
conditions accepted by the Deputies—One of the
Deputies turns false to his promise, and betrays
us, to be put at the head of my Colony—My last
interview with him and Mr. Brassard
CHAPTER LXIII.
Mr. Desaulnier is named Vicar General of Chicago 751-773
to crush us—Our People more united than ever to
defend their rights—Letters of the Bishops of
Montreal against me, and my answer—Mr. Brassard
forced, against his conscience, to condemn us—My
answer to Mr. Brassard—He writes to beg my
pardon
CHAPTER LXIV.
I write to the Pope Pius IX, and to Napoleon, 774-783
Emperor of France, and send them the Legal and
Public Documents proving the bad conduct of
Bishop O’Regan—Grand Vicar Dunn sent to tell me
of my victory at Rome, and the end of our
trouble—I go to Dubuque to offer my submission
to the Bishop—The peace sealed and publicly
proclaimed by Grand Vicar Dunn the 28th of
March, 1858
CHAPTER LXV.
Excellent testimonial from my Bishop—My 784-800
Retreat—Grand Vicar Saurin and his assistant,
Rev. M. Granger—Grand Vicar Dunn writes me about
the new storm prepared by the
Jesuits—Vision—Christ offers Himself as a Gift—I
am forgiven, rich, happy and saved—Back to my
People
CHAPTER LXVI.
The Solemn Responsibilities of my New Position—We 801-817
give up the Name of Roman Catholic to call
ourselves Christian Catholics—Dismay of the
Roman Catholic Bishops—My Lord Duggan, Coadjutor
of St. Louis, hurried to Chicago—He comes to St.
Anne to persuade the People to submit to his
Authority—He is ignominiously turned out, and
runs away in the midst of the Cries of the
People
CHAPTER LXVII.
Bird’s-eye View of the Principal Events from my 818-832
Conversion to this day—My Narrow Escapes—The end
of the Voyage through the Desert to the Promised
Land
[Illustration]
CHAPTER I.
THE BIBLE AND THE PRIEST OF ROME.
My father, Charles Chiniquy, born in Quebec, had studied in the
Theological Seminary of that city, to prepare himself for the
priesthood. But a few days before making his vows, having been the
witness of a great iniquity in the high quarters of the church, he
changed his mind, studied law and became a notary.
Married to Reine Perrault, daughter of Mitchel Perrault, in 1808, he
settled at first in Kamoraska, where I was born on the 30th July, 1809.
About four or five years later, my parents emigrated to Murray Bay. That
place was then in its infancy, and no school had yet been established.
My mother was, therefore, my first teacher.
Before leaving the Seminary of Quebec my father had received from one of
the Superiors, as a token of his esteem, a beautiful French and Latin
Bible. That Bible was the first book, after the A B C, in which I was
taught to read. My mother selected the chapters which she considered the
most interesting for me; and I read them every day with the greatest
attention and pleasure. I was even so much pleased with several
chapters, that I read them over and over again till I knew them by
heart.
When eight or nine years of age, I had learned by heart the history of
the creation and the fall of man; the deluge; the sacrifice of Isaac;
the history of Moses; the plagues of Egypt; the sublime hymn of Moses
after crossing the Red Sea; the history of Samson; the most interesting
events of the life of David; several Psalms; all the speeches and
parables of Christ; and the whole history of the sufferings and death of
our Saviour as narrated by John.
I had two brothers, Louis and Achille; the first about four, the second
about eight years younger than myself. When they were sleeping or
playing together, how many delicious hours I have spent by my mother’s
side, in reading to her the sublime pages of the divine book.
Sometimes she interrupted me to see if I understood what I read; and
when my answers had made her sure that I understood it, she used to kiss
me and press me on her bosom as an expression of her joy.
One day, while I was reading the history of the sufferings of the
Saviour, my young heart was so much impressed that I could hardly
enunciate the words, and my voice trembled. My mother, perceiving my
emotion, tried to say something on the love of Jesus for us, but she
could not utter a word—her voice was suffocated by her sobs. She leaned
her head on my forehead, and I felt two streams of tears falling from
her eyes on my cheeks. I could not contain myself any longer. I wept
also; and my tears were mixed with hers. The holy book fell from my
hands, and I threw myself into my dear mother’s arms.
No human words can express what was felt in her soul and in mine in that
most blessed hour! No! I will never forget that solemn hour, when my
mother’s heart was perfectly blended with mine at the feet of our dying
Saviour. There was a real perfume from heaven in those my mother’s tears
which were flowing on me. It seemed then, as it does seem to me to-day,
that there was a celestial harmony in the sound of her voice and in her
sobs. Though more than half a century has passed since that solemn hour
when Jesus, for the first time, revealed to me something of His
suffering and of His love, my heart leaps with joy every time I think of
it.
We were some distance from the church, and the roads, in the rainy days,
were very bad. On the Sabbath days the neighboring farmers, unable to go
to church, were accustomed to gather at our house in the evening. Then
my parents used to put me up on a large table in the midst of the
assembly, and I delivered to those good people the most beautiful parts
of the Old and New Testaments. The breathless attention, the applause of
our guests, and—may I tell it—often the tears of joy which my mother
tried in vain to conceal, supported my strength and gave me the courage
I wanted, to speak when so young before so many people. When my parents
saw that I was growing tired, my mother, who had a fine voice, sang some
of the beautiful French hymns with which her memory was filled.
Several times, when the fine weather allowed me to go to church with my
parents, the farmers would take me into their _caleches_ (buggies) at
the door of the temple, and request me to give them some chapter of the
Gospel. With a most perfect attention they listened to the voice of the
child, whom the Good Master had chosen to give them the bread which
comes from heaven. More than once, I remember, that when the bell called
us to the church, they expressed their regret that they could not hear
more.
On one of the beautiful spring days of 1818, my father was writing in
his office, and my mother was working with her needle, singing one of
her favorite hymns, and I was at the door, playing and talking to a fine
robin which I had so perfectly trained that he followed me wherever I
went. All of a sudden I saw the priest coming near the gate. The sight
of him sent a thrill of uneasiness through my whole frame. It was his
first visit to our home.
The priest was a person below the common stature, and had an unpleasant
appearance—his shoulders were large and he was very corpulent; his hair
was long and uncombed, and his double chin seemed to groan under the
weight of his flabby cheeks.
I hastily ran to the door, and whispered to my parents, “M. le cure
arrive” (“Mr. Curate is coming”). The last sound was hardly out of my
lips, when the Rev. Mr. Courtois was at the door, and my father, shaking
hands with him, gave him a welcome.
That priest was born in France, where he had a narrow escape, having
been condemned to death under the bloody administration of Robespierre.
He had found a refuge, with many other French priests in England, whence
he came to Quebec, and the bishop of that place had given him the charge
of the parish of Murray Bay.
His conversation was animated and interesting for the first quarter of
an hour. It was a real pleasure to hear him. But of a sudden his
countenance changed as if a dark cloud had come over his mind, and he
stopped talking. My parents had kept themselves on a respectful reserve
with the priest. They seemed to have no other mind than to listen to
him. The silence which followed was exceedingly unpleasant for all the
parties. It looked like the heavy hour which precedes a storm. At length
the priest, addressing my father, said, “Mr. Chiniquy, is it true that
you and your child read the Bible?”
“Yes, sir,” was the quick reply, “my little boy and I read the Bible,
and what is still better, he has learned by heart a great number of its
most interesting chapters. If you will allow it, Mr. Curate, he will
give you some of them.”
“I did not come for that purpose,” abruptly replied the priest; “but do
you not know that you are forbidden by the holy Council of Trent to read
the Bible in French?”
“It makes very little difference to me whether I read the Bible in
French, Greek or Latin,” answered my father, “for I understand these
languages equally well.”
“But are you ignorant of the fact that you cannot allow your child to
read the Bible?” replied the priest.
“My wife directs her own child in the reading of the Bible, and I cannot
see that we commit any sin by continuing to do in future what we have
done till now in that matter.”
“Mr. Chiniquy,” rejoined the priest, “you have gone through a whole
course of theology; you know the duties of a curate; you know it is my
painful duty to come here, get the Bible from you and burn it.”
My grandfather was a fearless Spanish sailor (our original name was
Etchiniquia), and there was too much Spanish blood and pride in my
father to hear such a sentence with patience in his own house. Quick as
lightning he was on his feet. I pressed myself, trembling, near my
mother, who trembled also.
At first I feared lest some very unfortunate and violent scene should
occur; for my father’s anger at that moment was really terrible.
But there was another thing which affected me. I feared lest the priest
should lay his hands on my dear Bible, which was just before him on the
table; for it was mine, as it had been given to me the last year as a
Christmas gift.
Fortunately, my father had subdued himself after the first moment of his
anger. He was pacing the room with a double-quick step; his lips were
pale and trembling, and he was muttering between his teeth words which
were unintelligible to any one of us.
The priest was closely watching all my father’s movements; his hands
were convulsively pressing his heavy cane, and his face was giving the
sure evidence of a too well-grounded terror. It was clear that the
ambassador of Rome did not find himself infallibly sure of his position
on the ground he had so foolishly chosen to take; since his last words
he had remained as silent as a tomb.
At last, after having paced the room for a considerable time, my father
suddenly stopped before the priest, and said, “Sir, is that all you have
to say here?”
“Yes, sir,” said the trembling priest.
“Well, sir,” added my father, “you know the door by which you entered my
house; please take the same door and go away quickly.”
The priest went out immediately. I felt an inexpressible joy when I saw
that my Bible was safe. I ran to my father’s neck, kissed and thanked
him for his victory. And to pay him, in my childish way, I jumped upon
the large table and recited, in my best style, the fight between David
and Goliath. Of course, in my mind, my father was David and the priest
of Rome was the giant whom the little stone from the brook had stricken
down.
Thou knowest, O God, that it is to that Bible, read on my mother’s
knees, I owe, by thy infinite mercy, the knowledge of the truth to-day;
that Bible had sent, to my young heart and intelligence, rays of light
which all the sophisms and dark errors of Rome could never completely
extinguish.