Page 172 - Transcriptions d'actes notariés - Tome 20 - 1682-1686

There waa an understanding, however, between donor end bishop thet
the land would be availabte for eny future episcopal undertaking.
Fiilliiwing conferences between the bishop, Mr. Eitnsley, Fathera
Soulerin aiid Molony and an unidentified lewyer, an understanding was
reacbed on April 9, 1855. The original four lots were donated to the
"Episcopal Corporation for the use of the Bmilianfi for as long a tirne
as their order wiil exist in the city of Toronto and rernain in conmiunion
witb the Holy Se~3."('~) The donation had to be made to the Corporation
in order to conlorrn with the law whieh did not recognize property dona-
tions made to priests. The communi~y was to have the use of the property
and could not alienate it for any reaaon. On the other hand, the Fathers
could not be dispussessed of the proprrty. legally, 50 long as they
rcrnained in Toronto and were free from al1 taints of heresy. Should
either of lhese eventualiiies occur ihe property wes to pass to enother
Community aftcr compensation wns made the Ba~ilians for any ronatruc-
tions and additions made by thein. Mr. EImsIey also d~sipnated that
the property be put to a religioua purpose. Though not speeifying any
definite time, the construction of a church waa jnserted as a 'sine qua
non' of the donatioii. This was the beginning 01 the Basilian founda-
tion in Canada.
The area, ihough over an acre in eize. did niit seem large enough
to Father Soulcrin for the conaiructirin of both a church and a college
or Little Seminnry with adequate spacc ior recreation. Privacy, go
lacking on Qucen Strect and iii the Palace. itiust be guaraiitecd also.
WÎth Lhese ends in inind, Father Soulerin apptied to Mr. Elmsley for
four adjacent lots. Through the office of Father Polly, the bursar at
Annonay, Father Soulei.iii obtained some 3C),OOC) francs. more than
wiou~h to purchase the four additional lots. This land waa ail ont-
right purchase by the Coimriuiii~y corripletely belongiiig 10 the Fathers
who rould put the area to any use. There was now, more than a germ
of trnth in the remark of Fathcr Soulerin oii April 9, 1853 "WC are now
ihe owucrs uf a einall part of Canada."(44) Betweeii the tirne of this
staterncqt aiid the opening of the new St. Basils' Church aiid St. Mithael's
Culle~e in Se~ternber 1856. the abiliiv of Father Soulerin bccame varv
evid6it. 1 t ;as presnined 'that the b;ildings were to be erectcd on thé
purehased property. It wae the superior who altered this presnmption
ari he renlized that no compensation for construction on tlre purchased
lots would be forthcoming tri the Cornmunity should the Toronto iounda-
tioii be abaiidoncd at any subsequent period. It was Father Soulerin
who organized a suhscriptioii eainpaign, iiovel in the Toronto diocew,
for buildiiio iniids. It was he. too. who rcalized thal ~he initial savine
oii a biii ldixa haIf brick and ha'lf wiod was false eeonorny for the futurL
As aii c~onorriic rrieasure he proposed that the arehitccture bc gothic
which had thc added feature of dignity.
Against the aiiiis of both the bishop and the Basilian general, Father
Soulerin wanted St. Michael's to be a haven for both secular and ecele-

(43) Rev. J. Soulpriii, LFHP~ 10 Rev. P. Tourvieiile, April 9, 1853, p. 3.
(44) Rev. S. Souleri~i, Lpircr io Rrr. P. Tuuruieille, April 9, 1850, p. 3.