CHAPTER VI

‘Ad MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM’

Church and State had a common aim in early Canada.  Both sought success, not for themselves, but for ’the greater glory of God.’  From beginning to end, therefore, the Catholic Church was a staunch ally of the civil authorities in all things which made for real and permanent colonial progress.  There were many occasions, of course, when these two powers came almost to blows, for each had its own interpretation of what constituted the colony’s best interests.  But historians have given too much prominence to these rather brief intervals of antagonism, and have thereby created a misleading impression.  The civil and religious authorities of New France were not normally at variance.  They clashed fiercely now and then, it is quite true; but during the far greater portion of two centuries they supported each other firmly and worked hand in hand.

Now the root of all trouble, when these two interests came into ill-tempered controversy, was the conduct of the coureurs de bois.  These roving traders taught the savages all the vices of French civilization in its most degenerate days.  They debauched the Indian with brandy, swindled him out of his furs, and entered into illicit relations with the women of the tribes.  They managed in general to convince the aborigines that all Frenchmen were dishonest and licentious.  That the representatives of the Most Christian King should tolerate such conduct could not be regarded by the Church as anything other than plain malfeasance in office.

The Church in New France was militant, and in its vanguard of warriors was the Jesuit missionary.  Members of the Society of Jesus first came to Quebec in 1625; others followed year by year and were sent off to establish their outposts of religion in the wilderness.  They were men of great physical endurance and unconquerable will.  The Jesuit went where no others dared to go; he often went alone, and always without armed protection.

   Behold him on his way; his breviary
   Which from his girdle hangs, his only shield. 
   That well-known habit is his panoply,
   That Cross the only weapon he will wield;
   By day he bears it for his staff afield,
   By night it is the pillow of his bed. 
   No other lodging these wild woods can yield
   Than Earth’s hard lap, and rustling overhead
   A canopy of deep and tangled boughs far spread.

It is not strange that the Jesuit father should have disliked the traders.  A single visit from these rough and lawless men would undo the spiritual labour of years.  How could the missionary enforce his lessons of righteousness when men of his own race so readily gave the lie to all his teachings?  The missionaries accordingly complained to their superiors in poignant terms, and these in turn hurled their thunderbolts of excommunication against all who offended.  But the trade was profitable, and Mammon continued, as in all ages, to retain his corps of ardent disciples.  Religion and trade never became friendly in New France, nor could they ever become friendly so long as the Church stood firmly by its ancient tradition as a friend of law and order.