In French Quebec by Jean Vuillefumier

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 12, 1915

In French Quebec

By Jean Vuillefumier

MONTREAL has just witnessed a reproduction on a small scale of the festivities of the 1910 Eucharistic Congress. Twenty-five bishops and archbishops and two thousand priests are said to have attended the congress. The lectures were for the priests only, and were given in both French and English in separate halls. But there were special evening services in many churches in the city, at which some distinguished guests officiated.

On the second day, in the forenoon, an open-air mass was celebrated on the grassy embankments of Mount Royal. It was, of course, a gorgeous affair. Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Begin, of Quebec, surrounded by the bishops and archbishops in their purple robes, while he was attired in a fiery-red gown and tall miter. A solemn moment was reached when, at the offering of the host, the signal being given by firearms, thousands of worshippers, estimated at 20,000, fell on their knees, and remained there for several minutes, not a sound being heard.

But pageantry cannot take the place of truth, and many souls here are longing for light. An interesting case of this kind has recently come to our notice. Nearly two years ago a young man chancing to see our French magazine, wrote me for some publications, but did not acknowledge my reply. A few months ago he wrote again, saying that another copy of the magazine had been sold to him, and this time he sent money for some publications.

He explained that his confessor had forbidden him to read our publications, hence his long silence. He added that even now, for conscience’ sake, he could not attend our meetings, but should be glad to talk with me personally on Bible themes. He wrote as follows:—

“The question of the end of time, which until now has been almost rejected, is most interesting to me. The terrific events which are transpiring in Europe seem to wake up the masses from their torpor, and many are asking if this is not the end. ‘On all sides, in spite of the general indifference and iniquity, we hear people say that this great war is the war of the end. They are mistaken in this view, this is only a preparation for it. But we see that people are waking up a little.

“At the present time, French papers are filled with all kinds of more or less authentic prophecies on the war. Many leading thinkers feel that the end is not far. The last day cannot always be postponed. Says Mohammed, ‘The hour of the end will come, there is no doubt of it,and yet most men do not believe it.’” — The Koran 40:61.

“Anyhow, in order to demonstrate the truth of this, we need but to refer to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures, the Fathers of the church, the doctors, important documents of the Middle Ages, the lives of the saints, the Roman liturgy, the apparitions of the most holy Virgin, the scientific data.”

I had several most interesting interviews with this young man, after which, one day, I received from him the following letter:—

“MONTREAL, May 6, 1915. “Sir: Contrary to my desire to continue our Bible studies, I am now obliged to stop all correspondence, talks, and appointments with you on these questions. Considering the fact that you do not belong to our church and do not believe as we do, the ecclesiastical authorities have absolutely forbidden me (to my great amazement) to keep up my talks with you. They have duly warned me that if I did, I should be excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. They have done so in order to save me from error and apostasy. Obeying without a moment’s hesitancy the higher authority, I hereby notify you that henceforth all relations between us will be a thing of the past.

Very obedient servant of His Holiness Benedict XV.

A “higher authority” still, however, has this interesting and honest young man in hand. I have since had two interviews with him. He is as friendly as ever, and has from his own will asked me some very testing questions about the Catholic Church and the history of Protestantism. JEAN VUILLEFUMIER.