Page 163 - Transcriptions d'actes notariés - Tome 20 - 1682-1686

Malbos and Molony divided lessons for the olher siudents. Chaplaincy
duries io the Ladies oi Loretto and the Sisters of St. Joseph were
enirusled to Fathers Malbos and Molony while Father Soulerin was
appointed eoniessor of the Brt>tliers. Week-end ministerial rvork was
at first centred iti the Cathedra1 and then in the mission areas of Weston,
Br ocktoti and further awa y rommiiriities. The preachitig of retteata
was a rcgular practice. Iti the absence cii Bishop Charbonnel, Father
Snulerin was ustially appoitited to replace him in his minor work, such
as the blessing and laying 01 corner-stoties and iti a saeretarjal capa-
eity.'O'
While the prohletn of poverty faeed Bishop Charboiiiiel it was no
less n diff~eul~y Sur the Congregation. Each member received a salary
f rorn Anncinar but unfortunately i he priees of Canadian articles greatly
e~ceeded the Freneh oiies, and only three of the five Basilians received
the episcopal fialars. Tweiily-five louis rvere needed atinually for school
up-keep, light aiid heet, and a similar amount was spent on washing
and medical supplies. Sacrifiees were required, and in a letter to Father
Polly, Father hlalbos wriics "Father Siiulerin giveu us eaeh otily one
piece of paper; it is awfully e~pensive."[~)
Used to the warmth of tbe Midi, the BasiIians were unprcpared for
the ccild cliniate ol the Toronto winter monihs, and the effort to pnr-
chase adequate elokhing taxed to the liniit the resources of the litth
ronirnnnity. Stratige, too, to the Fathers nas the spirit of indepeudenee
evideiit in the studente. Accustomed as the Basiliatis were to the tredi-
lion oi alsolu~e rule whether exercised by a Bourbon or a Bonaparte,
the mejoriiy of 'Torunto eitizena traditionally witriessed important laws
decidecl by a majority vote in Parlianierit. So the Little Seminary
students were "naturally inclin4 to demand a reason for certain
rnIe~.''~*~
Perhaps the greatest initial difficulty facing the infant Community
was the problem of language. Fathers Soulerin and Malbos, though
passabIy competent in Englifih were frequenll y perplexed ; the latter
niade only one etrort to preech in the novel tongne, while the fotnier,
thougli mure advanced, seldom preached without reeding his sermon.
It was not until Father Vincent became superior that his laiiguage
problem was solved. Of course Father Molony and Falher Flannery
ewpcrienced no difficulties, and it was consequently on tbem ihet the
chief burdens of the external mitiislry iell. In an effort io solve the
problem Faiher Soulerin introduced the custom of speaking EngIjsh at
al1 timee and jndured the nienibers to pledge themselves tu this prac~jce.(@'
The early letters of Fathet Soulerin are filled with euggestions to the
General concerning the language difficulties - the most frequent request

(ni ILid., Ociobcr 1, 1852, p. 1. This letier coniains sca~tered relerences IO the
early work ol the Cornmuniiy.
(Ti Reu. J. hlalbos, Lelrer lo Beu. Polly, August 29, 1852, p. 2.
(8) Hev. 1. Malbos, Letter to Beu. ChormuM, January 5. 1853, p. 3.
(QI Rev. P. Finnnery, Letter tu BM. Degle~ne, Drcrrnhr 1, 1952, p. 2.