Yet he is the universal friend.  His relation to his people is not merely official; it is affectionate, personal.  The confessional makes him familiar with the intimate details of nearly every one’s life.  On all the joyous and sad crises, at births, marriages, and deaths, he is at hand with sympathy, comfort and support.  When he goes on a journey he looks up not merely his own but his parishioners’ friends and is welcome everywhere.  He is the general counsellor, the reconciler of family quarrels, the arbitrator in differences, the guardian of morals.  The seigneur at Malbaie found the priest enquiring as to the manner in which the male and female servants of the Manor were lodged.

Colonel Nairne thought that the Church was too willing to see the people remain ignorant; with her the primary virtue is obedience.  But it is not less true that on moral questions, such as sobriety and purity, the Church has always shown great vigilance and zeal.  In the old days there was a mighty struggle between the Bishop of Quebec and the governor Frontenac as to the sale of intoxicating liquors, and the Church is still keen for temperance.  It is due to her that public drinking places are unknown in most Canadian villages.  At Murray Bay it happened recently that, by some lapse in vigilance, the party favourable to the granting of licenses got the upper hand.  The results were immediate and deplorable.  Summer visitors frequently found their drivers under the influence of liquor and the habitant, usually courteous and respectful, was now often rude and quarrelsome.  The sudden fall made one realize how slight might be the strength of virtue due merely to the absence of temptation.  The Church saw the danger.  In the following winter she began a systematic temperance campaign.  For some ten days daily services were held at which eloquent denunciations of intemperance roused the people.  Every effort was made to ensure attendance at these services and the parish church, a great structure, was well filled daily.  Hundreds signed the pledge and by the next summer all was changed.  No one was licensed to sell liquor and the community was sober.  If the relapse had been rapid it must be admitted that the recovery was not less so.

The cure and his assistants do their work with the precision and regularity of a business man in his office.  They watch education, and have their own educational ideals.  In the public schools of the English-speaking world in America, manners and religion receive, alas, but slight attention.  But in Quebec one need only pass along a country road to see that the children are taught respect and courtesy.  The chief subject of instruction is religion and to prepare the children for the first communion seems to be the main aim of education.  In the parish the priest is never far away.  Nearly always one or other of the clergy is at the presbytery to answer calls of urgency, and their duties begin at an early hour.  “I am very busy until nine o’clock