Page 168 - Transcriptions d'actes notariés - Tome 20 - 1682-1686

to obtain e fair Separate school settlement. It cad consternation
among the Fathers as it immediately suoeeeded the loss of St. Mary's
parish, rmd aubsequent alternative propoeals of the biahop.
The later propoeat of BÎbhop Charbonne1 are contained in a letter
oi Father Soulerin to hie Superior General in December, 1852. Aher
being informed by Father Soulerin of the advantages, both to Community
and diricese, oi the establishment of a separate Basilian house, as iound
in herican djoce~a, Bishop Charbonnel, after deciding against Basil-
ian occupancy of St. Mary's, proposed possible sitee for the venture.
For Father Soulerin a solid establishment was irnmediately neceasary fur
the livina of a religious life; such a foundation would provide an atmos-
phere of con6denee for future Eafiilians. The bishop, realizing the
Comrnunity's desire for security, declared: "1 am not immortal, rny
successor may have different plans for the Pala~e."(~'i The proposa1 of
a large area in the vicinity of St. Paul's Church was rejectd on the
grounds of its unhealthy location near a cemetery. Offerhg many more
advantages was that section of the Elmsley properiy, previously oifered
to Father TelIier. Situated north of the Cathedral, it was within iwenty
minuiee walking diritance of Toronto. The property oocupjed an area of
somewhat more than an acre, and with the addition of a neighbouring
section, would provide aniple 8paCe for both college and church. Soon
assuminq the narne of the district, Clover Hill, the Elmeley property
possessed thc elcvation nccessary for healthiness and the privacy and
spaciousncsn necessary lor a boarding college. But the comrnunity was
to find ikself in the awkward position of owning a property oii rvhich
no building could be erected.
Onk of the di fi cul tir^ prevcnLing the Community from taking posi-
tive steps iu cstablishing a collcge at Clover Hill wari the problein of
scparation of studenis : i.e. of separating the students who sought secular
pursuits from those who sought ecdrtsiastical oncs. While their expe-
rience in Toronto convinced the Basiliane that cducational iacilities
should be offered to non-acùiranh to thc ~riesthood. the bjaho~ remained
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adamant in his view that separation was essentisl: "we must withdraw
the aspirants from worldly life and from those who are secking worIdly
It
professi~ns."'~~~ is qnite obvious that the bishop's view waa the ideal,
and that plan is accepted as the "sine qua non" of al1 major wrninarjes.
It was thc view of Faihcr Soulerin too, hnt he maintaind that "the
establishment of a Grand Serninary waa out 01 ibe quedon in such
circumstances a9 wcre friund in the Toroiito diocc~e."(~"' Though he iclt
that ihe rornmunity scarccly pnssessed a staff for a Little Seminary and
rather than facc ihe prospect of the lues oi the non-aspirants, Father
Sonleria at firai toyed wiih ~hc idea of using St. Mjchael's Collcgc for
nou-aspirants, and the proposcd Llover Hill foundation ior seminar-

f2Ti Ibid., Drcember, 1852, p. 3. The sctud nards of the Bishop are quoied by
Faiher Soulerin iu [hi# lener.
Bishop Charbonntl, Letter to Curdind Fransoni, Janueri. 7, 1854, Letter Book,
120) k?J. Soulerin, Letter io Rai. P. ioulitillr. April IR. 18.54, p. 3.
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