Society of St. Vincent
de Paul:
A General
Meeting of the members was held in St. John's Hall, Bond
Street,
on Sunday, December 14th, 1879.
The President read the following:
ADDRESS:
"Gather
the fragments that remain, lest they be lost."
St. John, 6 - 12
Reverend
Sir,
Gentlemen
and Dear Confreres,
Although I have taken a text, I do not intend to preach a
sermon.
You have often been told that the Society of St. Vincent de
Paul was commenced in Paris in the year 1833 - you are more or
less familiar with the causes to which it owes its origin, but
you may not have heard when it was first brought to Canada,
and under what circumstances it was introduced into this city.
As the Society is likely to become a permanent institution in
Toronto, a few recollections, chiefly personal, tending to
illustrate its early local history, may not be uninteresting.
A young physician, who had made his studies in Paris and while
there had become a member of the Society, was the first to
establish a Conference in the city of Quebec. July 19th,
(Feast of St. Vincent de Paul)*o was in the year 1846, a gala
day in that city. An elaborate programme informs us that a
Grand Mass was chanted at eight o'clock, in the Cathedral,
that the music was both vocal and instrumental, that blessed
bread was distributed, and that a collection for the poor was
taken up by six of the principal citizens of Quebec. In the
evening, at seven o'clock, a general meeting of the members
was held in the chapel of the Congreganistes. Eight other
Conferences were founded immediately afterward in the same
city, and five in the city of Montreal.
During the sojourn here of the General Government, in the year
1850, I was accosted one day by a gentleman of benevolent
aspect, who asked me to call at his lodgings upon particular
business. Anticipating nothing of importance, and not knowing
that my friendly interlocutor had been commissioned by his
Confreres of Quebec to establish in Toronto a branch of the
Society of which, up to that time, I had never heard, I
attended. I listened to his persuasive arguments, unlike
Caesar, I went, I heard, and I was conquered. Here is the
final result of our interview, as recorded in the Minute Book:
"At the meeting, held in the sacristy of St. Joseph's Chapel,
in the Cathedral of St. Michael, at 7 o'clock p.m., the 25th
Sunday after Pentecost, being the 10th day of November, 1850,
for the purpose of forming a Conference of Charity, to be
united to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, were present -
George Manly Muir
Thomas Hayes
Charles Robertson
Denis Kelly Feehan
Samuel Goodenough Lynn
William John Macdonell
Mr. Muir read the opening prayers of the Society of St.
Vincent de Paul. The following motions were then made and
carried.
1st. Mr. Muir moved, seconded by Mr. Macdonell
That
a Conference of Charity be formed in this city under the
protection of the Blessed Virgin and of St. Vincent de Paul,
and that it be called: "The Conference of Charity of Our Lady
of Toronto".
2nd. Mr. Muir moved, seconded by Mr. Robertson
That the following persons do unite themselves into and form
the said Conference, namely: Mr. Thomas Hayes, Mr. Charles
Robertson, Mr. Samuel Goodenough Lynn, Mr. John Elmsley, Mr.
Wm. John Macdonell, Mr. Denis Kelly Feehan and Mr. George
Manly Muir.
3rd Mr. Feehan moved, seconded by Mr. Lynn
That Mr. G.
M. Muir, who is a member of the Council of Canada of the
Society of St. Vincent de Paul be the President of this
Conference.
4th The following persons, being nominated by the President,
signified their
acceptance of the under mentioned offices:
Vice
President - Thomas Hayes
Secretary - William John Macdonell
Treasurer - Charles Robertson
Assistant Secretary - Denis Kelly Feehan
Assistant Treasurer - Samuel Goodenough Lynn
Mr. President, in the absence of Mr. John Elmsley, notified
the latter's acceptance of the office of Keeper of the
Vestiary.
5th Mr. Hayes moved, seconded by Mr. Feehan
that this
Conference adopt for its guidance the rules and regulations of
the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Quebec.
6th Mr. Hayes moved, seconded by Mr. Feehan
That the
Conference is desirous of participating in the indulgences and
other spiritual blessings granted by the Church to the Society
of St. Vincent de Paul.
7th Mr. Hayes moved, seconded by Mr. Feehan
That Mr. President
be authorized to communicate the foregoing Resolutions to the
Council of Canada of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and
to solicit our admission into its ranks under the denomination
of "The Conference of Charity of Our Lady of Toronto".
Thus was founded the Conferences of
"Our Lady of Toronto", and
it was aggregated to the Society on
January 6, 1851. The resolutions just read, though moved by
various persons, were drawn by Mr. Muir. They are models of
their kind, and as such, deserve to be copied by any
Conference seeking connection with the Society. The original
members were, it will be seen, seven in number. This gave
occasion to the Rev. Mr. Tellier, a Jesuit Father then
residing here, jokingly to liken them to the seven deadly
sins. Of these pioneers, two still remain in Toronto. Mr. Muir
is President of the Superior Council of Canada, at Quebec. The
others have long crossed "the bourne whence no traveller
returns".
The removal of the Government of Quebec, in 1851, led to the
resignation of the Presidency by Mr. Muir, on the 31st of
August. On the 14th of September, in the sacristy attached to
the altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Cathedral, Mr.
Macdonell was elected his successor by 11 votes out of 16. The
retirement of
Mr. Muir was by no means acceptable to the new President, who
apprehended, as its consequence, the utter collapse of the
Society. From causes easily understood at the time, but now
difficult to explain, the Conference was obliged to lead a
wandering life: the meetings were held sometimes in what was
then known as Stanley Street Schoolhouse (now the St. Nicholas
Home), sometimes in one sacristy, sometimes in the other,
sometimes in the gallery of the Cathedral, sometimes in its
crypt, but most generally in its north-western porch, at the
issue of High Mass. Perseverance, blessed by Divine
Providence, gradually overcame this and other drawbacks, and
on the 23rd of January, 1853, it became necessary to found a
church of St. Paul; on the same day, Mr. Feehan was elected
President of the new Conference, which was aggregated on the
following 19th of December. Mr. Feehan did not long retain the
Presidency and he was succeeded in June, 1854, by the late Mr.
Wm Paterson, who retired in January, 1860, in favour of Mr. J.
G. Moylan. On the resignation of the latter, Mr. Peterson was
re-appointed and retained office till the nomination in
September, 1868, of Mr. J. J. Mallon, the present incumbent.
In accordance with the usual practice of the Society, the
formation of a second Conference gave occasion to the
organization of a Particular Council, to unite the existing
Conferences and to provide for further extension. The election
of a President for the Council was conducted in strict
conformity with the rule prescribed for such a proceeding. It
was held in the private chapel of St. Michael's Palace, on the
26th of February, 1854, on which day Mr. Macdonell was chosen
by the united Conferences by a vote of 13 out of 24.
Mr. Macdonell retained the Presidency of the Conference of Our
Lady until the following 13th of June following, when the position was
taken by the late Mr. John Wallis, who held it until his death
in 1859, when he was succeeded by Mr. Robertson. On Mr.
Robertson’s resignation in 1863, Mr. Macdonell resumed the
office, but was soon afterward relieved by Mr. Patrick Hughes,
who is still in charge.
The erection of St. Mary’s Church, on Bathurst Street, gave
rise to a Conference in the western part of the city. It was
organized on October 28th, 1854, and aggregated under the
title of St. Patrick, on 13th of June, 1859. There being
already one Conference in the City, under the patronage of the
Blessed Virgin, it was thought that a second under a similar
title might cause confusion, but when St. Patrick’s Church, Dummer Street, was built, everybody admitted
to the propriety of
designating the Conference of the new parish by the name of
its patron. The authorities at Paris were consulted, and with
their consent, the old Conference of St. Patrick was from
February 1864, and is still, known as the Conference of St.
Mary. Its first President was Mr. James McMahon, who retained
the office for several years. He was succeeded by the late Mr.
James Nolan, on whose death, Mr. Thomas Barry was appointed.
Mr. Barry resigned last spring and was succeeded by Mr.
Patrick Cosgrove. This Conference, like that of Our Lady, has
been subjected to strange vicissitudes. Its meetings have been
held in the church porch and in the church itself, in the
schoolhouse and in that schoolhouse upstairs and downstairs.
Nevertheless, it has survived all difficulties and has done a
fair share of good work.
The next Conference in order is an offshoot of the zeal of the
late Capt. Elmsley, who was one of the seven original members.
The Conference of St. Basil in the northern section of the
city was organized on the 7th of January, 1857, and aggregated on
the 31st of October, 1859. Capt. Elmsley presided until
failing health forced him to relinquish the charge. He was
succeeded in April, 1863, by Mr. Robertson, who resigned in
1875 in favour of Mr. Richard Baigent. A peculiarity of this
Conference is its annual suspension of meetings during the
college vacation. A collection is, however, made every Sunday
by members at the church door. Those of you who were present
at the General Meeting, held in St. Basil’s, in April 1865,
must retain a lively remembrance of the very impressive
address then made to the Society by the Rev. Mr. Soulerin,
Superior of the Basilians, on the eve of his departure for
France, where he died in October last.
The Conference attached to the church of St. Patrick and now
know by that title, was organized on the 20th of April, 1862.
The late Mr. James Nolan was its first President. It was
aggregated on the 29th of February, 1864. The church was
burned in 1865, and the Conference suspended in consequence.
It was revived in 1867, under the Presidency of Mr. Martin
Murphy, and continues in the charge of that gentleman.
In October last, measures were taken for the formation of a
Conference near Seaton Village, Bloor Street.*5 On the 26th of
that month a Conference was organized there under the title of
St. Peter with Mr. Michael Ryan as its President. It is not
yet aggregated, but application for admission will be made
after the usual probation.
Having given this brief notice of the several Conferences of
this circumscription, I may be permitted to state what
experience demonstrates. That is, that the Society flourishes
best where the clergy take an active interest in its welfare.
They are not expected to be present at all our meetings and
perhaps it is not advisable that they should be, but their
occasional visits to the Conferences stimulates the members
and are always productive of good effect.
In 1875, the Society had, it was thought, attained sufficient
importance to warrant its incorporation under the “Act
respecting Benevolent, Provident and other Societies”, (Ont.
Stat., 37 Vic., ch. 34). The project was opposed by the
Superior Council of Quebec, as an innovation, but the
President-General at Paris, to whom the question was referred,
decided that, under the circumstances, our Society would be
justified in availing itself of any privileges to be obtained
by compliance with the requirements of that Act. The necessary
steps were accordingly taken and the incorporation effected.
Being a matter of some moment, all the papers concerning it
are carefully preserved among the records of the Society.
In our early days, when the Society was limited to one
Conference, its General Meetings were held in the Cathedral,
or in some building adjacent thereto. In the course of time,
as Conferences multiplied, it was deemed advisable to hold
those meetings in each church alternately, following a certain
order. This system was continued for many years. It had its
advantages, but the growth of the city and the inconvenience
of assembling the members at distant points, contributed to is
abandonment. It is now thought that the objects contemplated
can be secured equally well by holding the General Meeting at
a fixed central point. For this reason the meetings have
latterly been held in this building. The want of a suitable
house on the Society’s property, Queen Street, where its
meetings could be held and the records properly cared for, has
long been sensibly felt. Initiatory steps have been taken, and
it is hoped that, as times improve and money becomes more
abundant, this great necessity will ultimately, and at no
distant period, be fully supplied.
In conclusion, Gentlemen and Dear Confreres, allow me to crave
your indulgences for such frequent mention of myself.
Considering the part I have borne in the past history of
Toronto Conferences, those references were not altogether
avoidable. The time is approaching when you will be called
upon to elect a new President and you will have no difficulty
in finding an abler man. As regards to the past, better
perhaps that the work should have been badly done, than not
done at all. This is my apology.
The Vice-President of the Council spoke as follows: The brief
but comprehensive history of the institution and progress of
the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as presented to us this day
by the President of the Council, must be highly gratifying to
the members, inasmuch as it shows how much has been
accomplished under adverse circumstances by a body of men
devoted to charity and the interests of the poor. It also
clearly demonstrates the guiding hand of Divine Providence in
the success of their efforts to relieve the wants of their
less fortunate fellow creatures. Considering the trials of the
past, we have good reason to be thankful for the present
position of the Society, and I wish on this occasion to call
to mind the self-denial and other virtues practiced by those
early pioneers who have preceded us in the journey to
eternity. I allude more particularly to the Presidents of four
different Conferences who passed away while yet in the active
performance of their duties as leaders and chief officers of
the Society. Whilst drawing attention to the memory of these
good men who being dead may now be safely spoken of, there is
reason to hope that their works have followed them and that
they now rest from their labours secure in the happiness
promised by the Master to his faithful servants. In connection
with this subject allow me to remind the members of the
Society of a peculiar and significant circumstance worthy of
the consideration, but which may have escaped their notice. It
clearly proves the cosmopolitan nature and homogeneousness of
the brotherhood and it is this: although the great body of the
members are either natives of Ireland or of Irish ancestry,
the four deceased Presidents represented as many different
nationalities, namely Mr. John Wallis, the first who died, was
an Englishman; Hon. Mr. Elmsley, a Canadian; Mr. James Nolan
an Irishman; and Mr. William Paterson, a Scotsman.
Notwithstanding this diversity of country, no murmurs were
ever heard from the majority in opposition to those of other
nationalities as holding high office in the Conference, a fact
sufficient in itself to prove the Catholicity of the Society
and the good feeling which animates the members. Let us then,
strive to follow the noble example of those good men who have
gone before us, so that we, too, in due season may reap the
reward promised to all those who on earth do the will of their
father in Heaven.
The President of the Conference of Our Lady also addressed the
meeting to the same effect. He urged, moreover, the propriety
of constructing the proposed Hall at the earliest possible
moment, and impressed on the members the propriety of
receiving Holy Communion on the stated Festivals of the
Society.
After some remarks from other members, the Reverend Chairman,
in a few words, expressed the pleasure which he felt in
attending the meeting and learning the position of the
Society. He exhorted the members to perseverance in the hope
of ultimate success.
On a motion, it was resolved that the proceedings of the
meeting be printed for the use of members.
The meeting then adjourned after the usual prayers.
Footnote:
*o
The feast day of St.
Vincent de Paul is now celebrated on September 27th
*5
Known as the Annex (Bloor and
Bathurst)
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