| Citation |
CG-NL.775.003
13 Jan 1775:13 (12/583)
Boston, January 2, 1775. The following extract of a letter
from Quebec, dated Nov. 15th, giving an account of the
christening the great Bell there, will serve to convey some
idea of the ceremonial nature of that religion which is now
established there by an act of the British Parliament.
A New Bell arrived with Governor Carlton, for the
cathedral, which was hung up in the Broad Alley, opposite
the altar, but near the great door at the entrance.--- Pere
Montgolsia came down from Montreal to stand Godfather, and
Mademoiselle Delary stood Godmother, the Coadjutor, or
Deputy-Bishop, performed the ceremony of Christening, and
very awkwardly indeed: however, after saying Mass and
playing several tricks with the candles, the young lads
holding up the tail of the gown, putting on and pulling off
the Cap, holding it, &c. he was introduced to the Bell,
which was at a small distance from him, preceeded by two
priests who brought the Eau Benite (Holy Water) and two
small brooms made of twigs, who fell to washing the Bell
like mad, outside and in, then to wiping it with two very
fine white napkins, which were made black enough before they
had done cleaning of it from the impurity of heretical
hands; after this it was well smoak'd with incense, then
followed the ceremony of the Oil, Salt, &c. as to infants,
only they mark'd or cross'd it in three different places;
and went three times round it at each Ceremony of the Oil,
Salts, &c. They then wrapt round it a piece of fine new
linen, which they called a shirt, then over it a piece of
crimson damask, by way of a waistcoat, and after this a
piece of light blue damask, to serve as a coat.--- After its
being thus dressed and a few more capers, it was then
undress'd, and by a great number of people convey'd under
the belfrey and hung up, in doing which one man was killed
by a fall from the top, who was pronounced to have gone
immediately to heaven, without stopping at Purgatory, as he
was serving the Lord.
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