Codex Lethbridge
Transcription: 12
Transcription:
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This year again, the Oblate Fathers of this district held their spiritual retreat in McLeod.
It was after these days of recollection that father VanTighem was definitively transferred from McLeod to Lethbridge [underlined in blue] September 1888 [written in blue pencil].
Father Lacombe came himself to MacLeod to reside there and to be nearer the Indians for whom he always has felt a special predilection.
Rev & Father Leduc, from St Albert, took his place in Calgary and became now the superior of the district.
All this was during September 1888.
To describe the satisfaction of the Catholics of Lethbridge would be impossible. Their great wishes were now accomplished – they had the priest permanently in their midst.
Now that the father had exclusively charge over his flock he remarked with sorrow the great difficulty of instructing the Catholic children in their religion. Only one hour, on Sunday afternoon, was consecrated to this so important matter. There was a school in the village – our children attended it – but this being a protestant public school, not a word of religion was ever uttered.
If only we had a Catholic School !! [underlined in blue]
But where could the children be gathered together?
Who shall pay for a teacher who necessarily must have a Diploma from the Government?
There is scarcely any property in town belonging to Catholics, hence, no Taxes to support the school.
To build a schoolhouse would cost about $800°°
Besides, we have no site where to build and townlots are now very highly valued…. and we have not
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one dollar in our possession … worse than all, there is some $1200°° debt on the church.
[X written in empty line]
Our good bishop [Grandin scribbled above] came to our help.
His Lordship knowing the great necessity of Catholic schools in Catholic centers, bought Himself five Townlots near the church and furnished the sum of $500°° to aid us to build a schoolhouse.
[written in the margin; “Bishop bought slots for school”]
The Catholics were called together for the first meeting according to the School Laws in our Territory. This meeting took place on Monday 31st Dec. 1888.
A petition was forwarded to His Honor I. Royal Lieutenant Governor of N.W.T.
On the 18th of January 1889 an answer was received that our petition was favorably granted, and the Proclamation of erection of a Catholic School districk [sic] in Lethbridge was announced in the official organ of the N.W.Terr. [sic]
The contract for erecting a schoolhouse 30+18 f. was let to Mr Gay – for the sum of $640°°
A Teacher Mr McRae, holding a first class diploma was engaged and the school was to be opened as soon the schoolhouse would be ready.
When it became generally known of our efforts of establishing a Catholic School in Lethbridge, the Lethbridge News, a small local weekly, very maliciously attacked us. Amongst other things it said:
Hitherto there has been in Lethbridge but the one public school
So far one public school system in the North West has worked well without any clashing between the denominations… In Lethbridge we understand that a vigourous opposition was made by most
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This year again, the Oblate Fathers of this district held their spiritual retreat in McLeod.
It was after these days of recollection that father VanTighem was definitively transferred from McLeod to Lethbridge [underlined in blue] September 1888 [written in blue pencil].
Father Lacombe came himself to MacLeod to reside there and to be nearer the Indians for whom he always has felt a special predilection.
Rev & Father Leduc, from St Albert, took his place in Calgary and became now the superior of the district.
All this was during September 1888.
To describe the satisfaction of the Catholics of Lethbridge would be impossible. Their great wishes were now accomplished – they had the priest permanently in their midst.
Now that the father had exclusively charge over his flock he remarked with sorrow the great difficulty of instructing the Catholic children in their religion. Only one hour, on Sunday afternoon, was consecrated to this so important matter. There was a school in the village – our children attended it – but this being a protestant public school, not a word of religion was ever uttered.
If only we had a Catholic School !! [underlined in blue]
But where could the children be gathered together?
Who shall pay for a teacher who necessarily must have a Diploma from the Government?
There is scarcely any property in town belonging to Catholics, hence, no Taxes to support the school.
To build a schoolhouse would cost about $800°°
Besides, we have no site where to build and townlots are now very highly valued…. and we have not
[End page]
[Right page]
one dollar in our possession … worse than all, there is some $1200°° debt on the church.
[X written in empty line]
Our good bishop [Grandin scribbled above] came to our help.
His Lordship knowing the great necessity of Catholic schools in Catholic centers, bought Himself five Townlots near the church and furnished the sum of $500°° to aid us to build a schoolhouse.
[written in the margin; “Bishop bought slots for school”]
The Catholics were called together for the first meeting according to the School Laws in our Territory. This meeting took place on Monday 31st Dec. 1888.
A petition was forwarded to His Honor I. Royal Lieutenant Governor of N.W.T.
On the 18th of January 1889 an answer was received that our petition was favorably granted, and the Proclamation of erection of a Catholic School districk [sic] in Lethbridge was announced in the official organ of the N.W.Terr. [sic]
The contract for erecting a schoolhouse 30+18 f. was let to Mr Gay – for the sum of $640°°
A Teacher Mr McRae, holding a first class diploma was engaged and the school was to be opened as soon the schoolhouse would be ready.
When it became generally known of our efforts of establishing a Catholic School in Lethbridge, the Lethbridge News, a small local weekly, very maliciously attacked us. Amongst other things it said:
Hitherto there has been in Lethbridge but the one public school
So far one public school system in the North West has worked well without any clashing between the denominations… In Lethbridge we understand that a vigourous opposition was made by most
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