The Rise of Canada, from Barbarism to Wealth and Civilisation. Volume 1Roger, Charles
History
The Rise of Canada, from Barbarism to Wealth and Civilisation. Volume 1
Roger, Charles
Canada -- History
Reverend Coadjutor Plessis out of his influence was entertained. Mr.
Attorney-General ultimately waited upon that ecclesiastic to explain
his own private sentiments to him. The bishop was studiously guarded
and significantly polite. The Attorney-General thought that a good
understanding ought to exist between the government and the ministers
of religion. Mr. Plessis was quite of that opinion. Mr.
Attorney-General thought the free exercise of the Roman Catholic
religion having been permitted the government ought to avow its
officers, but not at the expense of the Established Church. Mr.
Coadjutor Plessis said that position might be correct. Mr.
Attorney-General thought that the government could not allow to Mr.
Plessis that which it denied to the Church of England. Mr. Plessis saw
that the government thought that the bishop should act under the King's
commission, and could see no objection to it. The Attorney-General was
strongly of opinion that the right of appointing to cures, which no
bishop of the Church of England had, must be abandoned. Mr. Plessis
thought that even Buonaparte and the Pope had effected a compromise on
that matter. Mr. Attorney-General had no faith in Buonaparte and was
but an indifferent Catholic, but the Crown only could select from a
Bishop's own Priesthood, and a Bishop, once acknowledged, would be the
head of a department. That said Mr. Plessis would be a departure from
the Romish doctrine of church discipline. To some extent it would, but
your clergy would be officers of the Crown, and you would obtain the
means of living in splendour, said the Attorney-General. Splendour,
said Mr. Plessis, is not suitable to the condition of a bishop;
ecclesiastical rank and a sufficient maintenance is all he needs. The
Attorney-General meant that a bishop should have the income of a
gentleman. Mr. Plessis meant the same thing, but it was a delicate
matter to pension a bishop, for relinquishing his right of nominating
to the cures, as the public would not hesitate to say he had sold his
church. Never mind, said the Attorney-General, if the matter is viewed
aright, you have none to relinquish. I do not know, replied Mr.
Plessis. Whatever is to be done must now be done, intimated the
Attorney-General. You speak truly, was the modest reply, something must
be done, and though we may differ in detail, I hope we shall not in the
outline.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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