Among the Catholics in Montreal by J. Vuilleumier

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 23, 1913

Among the Catholics in Montreal

By J. Vuilleumier

THE REVIEW of September 25 gave an account of happenings around our tent this summer. Here are a few notes on our doings up to this date.

Our tent was taken down September 1, and on September 7 we opened a small hall, two blocks from the tent lot and two blocks from the large stone French Catholic church.

One day the head priest of the parish came to the tent, accompanied by one of his vicars, and stated to Brother Fortier that he would see that we packed up and left, cost what it might, law or no law. In this challenge, thank God, the message was stronger than Rome. Of course the opening of our hall, looking toward a permanent French Adventist mission in the Boulevard St. Denis, caused a shock at the parsonage, and called for a new opposition campaign with such weapons as Rome has at her disposal.

Our first meeting was unmolested, although several priests on foot or in automobiles, were seen to pass by. But the second meeting was only fairly under way when stamping was heard from the people up-stairs; the windows of a back room, opening on a wood yard, were broken; Brother Boisvert, who went out to see about it, came back with a black eye and his clothes torn; and I was threatened with similar treatment in the presence of the police hurriedly called over the phone by Brother Armeneau. In the morning a policeman informed me that the large front plate glass had been ruined soon after the close of the meeting.

The third meeting went on quietly, but in the morning we learned in amazement that half of our seats—new folding assembly chairs—were piled up near the sidewalk, and "For Sale"! The police now again took hold in earnest, and continued, until a few days ago, guarding our hall by placing a man on picket in front of it from 6 P. M. to 6 A. M. All is quiet now, but our Catholic hearers have been scared away. It will take some time to bring them back.

The heavy iron yoke of Rome is galling on many conscientious souls. Thousands, I am told, would gladly break it from their necks if they dared, but most of them live in fear. An instance of this is the case of a Syrian priest, who stood in open revolt with the church for years. He lived secluded, printing a periodical, pamphlets, and leaflets in his own house, and saying mass for the people in a dark, dirty little room, where I saw him. Six months ago he died, having made up with the church, and leaving in the hands of the church the handsome sum of $26,000 to be distributed among Catholic institutions. The will was first made in favor of a young man who was his assistant editor, but who did not receive a cent. This young man was met recently by Brother Armeneau in his colporteur work. He attended our meeting last week, and is deeply interested in the study of the prophecies.

Our tent-meetings, notwithstanding our troubles, served as a door-opener into several families in which I am able to teach the truth. An elderly man, who is attending our meetings, was telling us that he had to meet "some" opposition at home on the part of his wife. Calling on him one evening, I witnessed a scene which I can represent only by the roaring of a lion behind bars. It was simply terrific, and it was all done to keep her husband, as she believed, from going to hell!

On Sunday, September 28, a letter from Archbishop Bruchesi, forbidding Catholics to read Le Pays, was read in all the churches of this diocese. The October 4 number of this French weekly came out with a firm and fearless reply from the editor, Mr. Langlois, a representative, refusing to yield to the dictates of the "ordinary" by stopping its campaign for better schools and against intolerance, and threatening to sue the archbishop for damages if his paper meets with losses in consequence of the letter.

Our first-fruits from among the French Catholics, two young men already mentioned, expect to be baptized next Sabbath, when the French believers in Montreal will be organized into a separate church. We crave an interest in the prayers of God's people, and thank our friends who have thus remembered us in the past. J. VUILLEUMIER.