THE COMING GRAND CELEBRATION— THE FOUNDER OF THE ORIGINAL SOCIETY

To the Editor,

Sir, — You hâve, I hâve no doubt, followed with an ever increasing interest the présent extraordinary movement on the part of the Society of St-Jean- Baptiste, in its laudable intention of uniting under the same banner nearly ail the French-Canadians in America, which movement, if successful, will surely prove the most numerous, and at the same time, most imposing, most national, most catholic gathering, that has ever been held on this vast and extensive continent. This great undertaking, so pure and patriotic in its aim, the mère thought of which makes the heart of every true Canadian thrill with joy, should inspire alike the rich and the poor, the great and the small, to push forward and contribute their mite towards enabling their compatriots to bring this plan, so timely projected, to a successful issue.

Sacred remembrance of the departed heroes ! What happiness would it not be to Jacques-Cartier and Champlain, the fou nd ers of the Fiench-Canadian people, could they only be hère to participate in this great feast, to see with their own cyes the growth and extension of that little mustard seed planted by them ; and to see,

furthermore, that the old adage, " out of sight, out of mind ", far from being applicable in the case of their own memory, rather emphasizes the fact that lapse of time, instead of eradicating thcir nâmes and actions from the hearts of their descendants has rather served to implant them therein more deeply, to imprint them therein more vividly.

Their work has been one of prédestination. They hâve been instruments in the hand of God for the raising up of a nation of faith that stands to-day on the continent of America, as a guiding star to the many sects who hâve wandered away, far from the seat of life. Oh ! happy and prosperous children, who, by fîdelity to their instructions, by imitation of their examples, hâve rendered yourselves worthy of such intrepid, brave and Christian Fathers ! But I fear I am diverging from my subject ; so much, then, for this movement, as a national proceeding.

Let us not lose sight of the fact that this grand Society which, to-day, sends forth its summons, inviting both members and friends to unité in the old city of Champlain, and under whose standard so many French-Canadians are enrolled, has, like ail thiii^s mortal, had a beginning. And if, in justice, we attribute the présent growth of the nation to the impulse given at ail times by the virtues of its founders, why not do the same with regard to the founder of this great Society of St-Jean-Baptiste ?

Similar causes produce similar efïects. Honor then to whom honor is due. Honor to its worthy first Président, to whose zeal, activity and energy, in any thing and everything appertainiug to his cherished

fatherland, Canada, is due the very foundation of that Society. Honor to him whose wisdom and prudence conceived, gave birth to, — if Imay so express myself, — and nurtured with more than a mother's tenderness, that little plant in its infancy, sheltering it with unremittiug care from ail that might hâve, in any way, marred its beauty or prevented its development into that majestic tree which we behold to-day ; — very much similar to the proud old maple, whose leaf the society lias judiciously chosen for its emblem, and whose vigorous trunk becomes more deeply rooted, year after year, in the good fruitful canadian soil, just as the Society is itself more deeply rooted, year after year in the good fruitful Canadian hearts.

It is that fertile soil of the Canadian hearts that enabled the tree of that Society to sprout forth its strong and widespread branches, under the shade of which so many true Canadians, both young and old, love to assemble, in order to project plans for the development of ail that may contribute to the gênerai welfare and prosperity of their dear Canada's social and political interests. I mean the hearts of ail those who cooperated in the foundation and development of the Society of St- Jean-Baptiste ; but I mean, above ail, the heart of the true Founder and fosterer of the Society, the heart of the venerated Dr Pierre Martial Bardy.

Haviiig had the inestimable honor of being an acquaintance of the Doctor's, I can but admire his many social virtues, rendered more admirable and attractive by his heart-felt and deep- rooted love of his country, I hâve nevcr hesitated, either publicly or \ rivately, to express my admiration in behalf of those men, so ra e at ail times, who, like Dr. Bardy, hâve served their

country with such humble devotedness and sincerity, never seeking for any other recompense of their labor, than the happiness and prosperity of their fellowcountrymen.

Undertakings animated by such rare and selfsacrifîcing principles, cannot fail to bring down on themselves the blessings of Heaven. I rejoice that the undertaking of the Society of St-Jean-Baptiste has been one of bénédiction ; and also that the présent anticipated display has been so prophetically made known by my esteemed friend, Dr Pierre Martial Bardy, in his inauguration speech, in the year 1842, when he said, with an inspired and true enthusiasm, that the aim of the Society should be to préserve intact in the hearts of ail worthy sons of dear Canada their Holy Faith, their institutions, their language and their laïus. That this lofty height has been reached, the universal responses received by Mr Chouinard from ail parts of the continent of America, more than amply testify.

Yes, my dear departed friend, were you once more among your fellow-countrymen, you would see with your own eyes, and rejoice in your truîy generous heart, seeing that neither the famé of the learned, nor the virtues of the holy, die with them, but are fondly ehemhed by the Canadian parents and handed down, as prccious heirlooms, to their chiidren.

This naturally and logieally brings me to conclude that Dr Pierre Martial Bardy, the first and most active of the founders of the St-Jean-Baptiste Society, has well merited first! y to be esteemed and honored as such by his fellow-countrymen, and secondly to hâve his name handed down to the posterity as a bcnefactor of his country.

Knowing that we are always pléased to recall to our minds pleasant réminiscences, and believing that a detailed account of the first reunion and banquet of the St-Jean-Baptiste Association, would be both pleasing and interesting to your readers, therefore, I beg leave to intrude on your kindness, Mr Eclitor, to publish it as taken from the Canadien issues of the 19th June and 4th July 1842.

( Suit ici le rapport détaillé de la fête en question avec le discours du président, puis la correspondance continue : )

I now trust the following item will prove interesting to some of your readers, as being a réminiscence of the movements of this great Society, though of more récent date.

At Montréal, in 1874, a brilliant national convention reunited a large number of French-Canadians who were spread throughout Canada and the United- States, (it is precisely what it is intented to be done in Québec this year on a still larger scale if possible ; ) and it was felt, then, to be a fitting tribute as well as an univoidable duty to wrap with new and radiant luster the shinino^ tableau offered by the St Jean-Baptiste Society, by giving Mr Ludger Duvernay's bust the place of honor among many other portraits, albeit thèse many other portraits were représentative of men who had raised themselves far above the common îevel, whether considered from a political or scientific point of view.

Now, is it not a foregone conclusion that if in Montréal, such honor is rendered to Mr Ludger Duvernay, a similar tribute seems to be due Dr Pierre Mar-

SAUVÉE DÉ L'OUBLI PAR SA tflLLE CÉLINA 20?

tial Bardy in Québec ; both being founders and fosterers of their respective Sfc Jean-Baptiste Society ; both being entitled to a large share of the respect, honor and gratefulness of their fellow-countrymen ; both having been the représentatives of the stnall but heroic group of true patriots who, notwithstanding the serious obstacles which they had to contend with after the troublesome events of 1837-38, hâve succeeded in placing " their faith, their institutions, their language and their laws " within those solid ramparts which time, far from destroying them, has only served to render more impregnabie ?

In extending to you, Mr Editor, my most sincère thanks, I remain