MONSEIGNEUR
Je viens de recevoir la visite de Monsieur l'abbé N, D. St Cyr, de la Pointe-auxque Votre Grandeur a envoyé vers moi.
Monsieur St Cyr a été ordonné dans le diocèse de Trois-Rivières en 1872, ct, après la création du diocèse de Nicolet, en 1885, il en est parti, en 1890, pour aller exercer le saint ministère aux Etats-Unis. En 1892, du consentement commun de Monseigneur O'Connor et de Monseigneur E, Gravel, il alla se fixer dans le diocèse de London et accepta la direca Pointe-aux-Roches, qu'il a administrée depuis ce temps. Nous olet, à considérer Monsieur St Cyr comme étant tacitement incar-
Roches
tion de la paroisse de étions habitués, à N diné au diocèse de London.
Loin de moi la pensée de soulever ici des questions de droit ou de vouloir intervenir dans les affaires d'un collègue dans l'épiscopat, mais à raison des bons service sque l'abbé Nap. D. St Cyr a rendus à vos deux regrettés prédécesseurs, je me permets de vous demander, ne serait-ce que pour m'être agréable, de reconsidérer votre décision, de lui conférer au bien de laquelle il a dépensé une si grande partie de sa vie et de
de nouveau la paroi le laisser ainsi mourir au milieu de ceux qui ont été les siens. Pour ces seules considérations, je crois qu'il m'est permi que vous voudrez bien exaucer mon humble demande. De Votre Grandeur, Le frère très dévoué en N. S
d'espérer, Monseigneur,
(Signé) J. S. HERMANN, Evêque de Nicolet,
Vraie copie
ALLEGATUM 7, London, Ont, July 20, 1911
The Right Reverend JS HE, Brunault Bishop of Nicolet, Nicolet P, Q
Your Lonpsur,
Pam in receipt of vour letter of the 16th inst, M Cvr
order to make my position clear, L <hall enter into th question with some parti cularity où detail,
dative to the ense of the Rev, N, D.
For almost four years, à well organized and active conspiraey has been on foot to establish the hostility of the Bishop of London to the french language ant, as consequence, to the French canadian people, This conspiraey turned mainly, if not exelusively, on the ste tement that I have forbidden the teaching of the french language, a statement which Leategorieally denied in the chureh at Stony Point in the presence of the Re, N, D. st ( Ki
on October 18, 1910. Nothwitstanding my absolute denial, a «mall section of my french Canadian priests aided and abetted by a number of french newspapers, both religious
and seeular, conti ued to spread the ealumny, The evil affects of this action were visible
in the tone and attitude of many members of the french eanadian hierarehy and clergy thuoughout Canada. : 4 part ieulary in the suspicion aroused amongst my own french catholie vecple, in vain did 1 di ny and repudiate the slander which has been cireulated, and which was having its effect even in the Eternal City.
On my visit to Rome last year, L found a declaration which had be eight french eanadian priests, and in which it was stated that Dh
n signed by ad forbidden * l'ensei-
gnement de la langue française aux enfants des Canadiens-Français et la prédication en
français aux catholiques de cette nationalité, ” Among the signatories of this declaration, false and calumnious in the most shameful degree, was the Rev. N. D. St Cyr.
On February 18, 1914, E privately requested the Rev, N. D. St Cyr to give me his proofs of the accusations contained in the declaration he had signed. He stated that he thought they were true and that he had heard them in Windsor.
On March 19, in reply to a formal demand : ich E had me prove or retract his decl:
le upon him to either tion, he wrote me an ava ve letter, complying with neither one nor the other part of my request.
On May 18, 1914, he appeared before the diocesan tribunal and persisted in his refusal to either preve or retract his statement. On this same day, he stated to me per-
sonaly that he could prove the charges made, his words E les prouver, ”
5 Oui, je peu
us
On July 10, 1914, in the presence of two withnesses, the Rev. N. D. St Cyr declared : He refused however to give any proofs. Whereupon I notified
‘ Ca peut se prouver.
him that his services were dispensed with.
The Rev. N. D. St Cyr has never been, in any sence, incardinated into the diocese of London. In his annual reports, he invariably stated that he belonged to the diocese of Nicolet. There is no doubt that he was always free to withdraw from this diocese. There is no doubt that his Bishop was always free to recall him. There is just the same absence of doubt that the Bishop of London always had the right,with or without reason, to dispense with the services of the Rev. N. D. St Cyr.
I wish Your Lordship to believe that it will do me a very great pleasure to be able to meet your wishes in this matter ; but, under the cireumstances, it is quite impossible. More than six montts ago, 1 warn the Rev. N. D. St Cyr that unless he cither proved or retracted the accusations he had made against me, I would be obliged to ask him to return to his diocese. He obstinately refused to comply with my reasonable directions. He can surely find no ground for complain in being requested to accept the consequences of his own action.
With sentiments of sincere esteem,
Ï remain yours faithfully in Christ,
(Signé) M. F. FALLow,
Bishop of London.
Vraie copie.
ALLEGATUM 8.
(Rapport DE L'ABBE N. D. Sr CYR POUR L'ANNEE 1913) N. D. St Cyr, Pastor, Eglise de l'Annonciation, Stony Point, age 65, native of
Nicolet, ordained priest at Trois-Rivières on the 29th September 1872 by Rt. Rev. Bishop Lafièche.
QUESTIONS (PERSONNAL) 1. — Were you ordained for this diocese and by what title ? No.
2. — If received in this diocese from another, when and by whom ? By Rr Rev. DENIS O'CoNNoR, DEC. 9TH 1892.
3. — Name of the institution in which you were educated or state the name of the religious community in which you were a member ?
SEMINAIRE DE NICOLET.
(ANSWERS ONCE GIVEN TO PERSONNAL QUESTIONS NEED NOT TO BE IN FUTURE REPORTS REFEATED),
(Signe) N. D. St Cyr, ptre, Pastor of the Parish of Stony Point.
Dated Stoney Point,
this 20th day of January 1914.
Vraie copie.
ALLEGATUM 9.
À Sa Grandeur Monseigneur M. F. Fallon.
Evêque de London, Ontario.
