French Evangelization Society Report 1877-1880

                                      IV.--STELLARTON, NOVA SCOTIA.

          The work at this place has been carried on chiefly among the miners from Alsace and Lorraine, who are employed in the collieries which are situated in the county of Pictou.  The Rev. Mr. Pelletier has laboured diligently during the year, with some measure of encouragement.  However, many of the families have left, so that now the sphere of his operation has become somewhat limited.  The missionary reports regarding the present state of the mission as follows: "I am sorry to say that a very large number of the people have gone away since the depression in the coal trade.  I enclose a list of those here at present, and who will likely remain.  Among those who had left were those who had joined us from the beginning, and from whom I hoped the most.  Indeed, our number would be very small now had it not been that while some went away, others came from other localities and filled their places.  It was, and is yet to a large extent, like working in a new field, and I have no doubt that however discouraging that change may have been to me, yet it has this advantage that those who go will carry with them what they received.  We have yet a few good men who are in earnest, and it is to be hoped that with their help, perseverance, and faithful prayer, and with continued zeal and energy, we shall continue to experience success."

          The missionary reports the baptism of eight children, whose parents professed their faith in Christ.

          Under the guidance of the Presbytery of Pictou, Mr. Pelletier has been engaged in exploring the French districts in the counties of Antigonish and Guysboro'.  In these localities he says, "there is not one Presbyterian Church, and for the most part it is nothing more than a vast religious waste.  The different localities that I visited seemed to be very fertile, and the people are materially prosperous.  I could see no indication of poverty anywhere.  Morally, however, and intellectually the people are very far behind.  They are here as much opposed to schools as they are in New Brunswick.  The priests have the entire control of the people, who are kept in ignorance and superstition."

          Judging form the report of the missionary, the Board is of the opinion that if the state of the funds would permit, this district of country should be thoroughly explored, and, if possible, occupied by a permanent missionary.

          In concluding this brief statement regarding the work of French Evangelization in the Maritime Provinces, the Board desires to express the opinion that the time has come when separate Executive Boards for the East and West are not required.  The Board would therefore recommend the General Assembly to place the control of the work of French Evangelization under one Board of management, which shall carry on its operations, as far as possible, through the Presbyteries within whose bounds the special fields of labor may be found.

          Herewith I forward the financial statement, furnished by the Agent of the Church, in Halifax, (Rev. Dr. McGregor,) of receipts and expenditures, to the first of May of the current year.  All of which is respectfully submitted.

                                                                        D. WATERS, Vice-Chairman,
                                       Board of French Evangelization, Maritime Provinces.
ST. JOHN, N.B., May 29th, 1877.

                                    V. STELLARTON, NOVA SCOTIA.

          This field, which is within the bounds of the Presbytery of Pictou, was ministered to by the Rev. E. D. Pelletier, for several years.  On the removal of Mr. Pelletier to Ste. Anne, last fall, the Rev. T. Brouillette was appointed to succeed him.  On leaving the field, Mr. Pelletier furnished the Board with a brief resume of his work.  The following is an extract: "When the French people came to this district they were all Roman Catholics; now the large majority are Protestants.  When they came, not one had a Bible; now a Bible can be found in almost every house.  Some of the families who were with us are now in the County of Ottawa, at Namur (where the Board has a prosperous Mission).  They are not only good Protestants, but I am confident true Christians.  The same may be said of others gone to the Western States and others returned to France.  These people will carry the good seed wherever they go.  Is there not reason for joy and thankfulness to think that those who were so recently without light can now enjoy it freely?"

          The French settlers in this field are all Miners, and heretofore have been dependent for support on the Coal Mines in the District.  Owing to the depression of business, most of the mines have been closed, and many of the settlers have had to look elsewhere for work.  The population in this way has been considerably diminished.  Many are, however, expected to return when business revives.  Partly through the efforts of our present Missionary and on petition of fifteen French families, the Local Government has granted, free of charge, two thousand acres of good land, within easy reach of the mines.  Mr. Brouillette reports, "Our little flock at present consists of 149 converts, viz.: 68 Parents, 75 Children, and six unmarried men.  there are 18 Roman Catholic families, one-half of whom are favorably disposed towards myself and the Gospel."

          Two Services are held each Sabbath--the Morning one in the Albion Company's School House, the Evening one in the Rev. Mr. Bruce's Church at Vale Colliery.  There is a Sabbath School at Stellarton--"a living school"--taught and superintended by earnest converts, also a Bible Class, conducted by a talented convert, who has had a Collegiate Education, and who desires to consecrate himself to the work of French Evangelization.  In Mr. Brouillette's report for the month of November, the following is related:  "Two whole families I verily believe have been born to God.  They seem to live upon the Scriptures, and of them, it may truly be said, 'Their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law do they meditate day and night.'  I called on one of those families last week, early in the evening, and found the father, not black with coal dust as I expected to find him at that hour, but clean, Bible in hand, sitting by the fire dictating verses to his four children, who were writing them down on books for that purpose and committing them to memory.  This is their daily practice."

                                         STELLARTON, N. S.

          The Rev. T. Brouillette continues to labour here, holding services at Stellarton and Vale Colliery, as also in the new French Settlement, some twenty miles distant, where there are six French Protestant and three Scotch families.  During the year there have been twenty-two converts to Protestantism, and at present eleven of the Roman Catholic families are favourably disposed towards the Gospel, all of them attending more or less regularly Mr. Brouillette's services.  The Lord's Supper was dispensed twice during the year, and twenty persons admitted to the fellowship of the Church.  On one of these occasions, when thirteen communed for the first time, the Rev. T. Cumming of Stellarton assisted.  One hundred French-speaking persons were present, of whom fifteen were Roman Catholics.  On the revival of business it is expected that the population will considerably increase, and that many of the French Protestants will return who had to seek for employment elsewhere when some of the mines were closed owing to the depression of trade.  It will be remembered that this is the field where, three years ago, a declaration of Protestantism, signed by 125 French people who had all been Romanists, was laid on the table of the Presbytery of Pictou, praying for regular ministerial supply.  For the encouragement of the friends of French Evangelization, the following extract is reproduced from the report of a former missionary of the Board in this field:

          "When the French people came to this district they were all Roman Catholics; now the large majority are Protestants.  When they came, not one had a Bible; now a Bible can be found in almost every house.  Some of the families who were with us are now in the County of Ottawa, at Namur (where the Board has a prosperous mission).  They are not only good Protestants, but I am confident true Christians.  The same may be said of others gone to the Western States and others returned to France.  These people will carry the good seed wherever they go.  Is there not reason for joy and thankfulness to think that whose who were so recently without light can now enjoy freely?"