"The History of the
Catholic Church in the County of Waterloo" is not only the work of a
historical student who has industriously burrowed and, tunneled
into the annals of early times but it is also the compilation of a
scholar to the manner born who has in the very texture of his mind the
flavour of rural life. When gathering the material for this very
informational volume, the author studied the topography of his county;
consulted the aged sons and daughters of pioneer settlers; rummaged
through Mes of old newspapers; inspected valuable documents in Registry
offices; wrote sheafs of letters in quest of knowledge or to verify his
dates; consulted authorities in parliamentary and provincial libraries,
and examined the marriage, death and baptismal registers of central
Ontario. His researches have imparted to his History an
exceptional life and vitality and a particularity of facts, persons and
incidents which constitutes it a depository of valuable information.
The average historian too often contents
himself with information gathered from books, and is satisfied to do
his work in his own study, but the specialist must seek material for
his history from every available source, and with extraordinary
industry, care and solicitude. The accumulation of facts for his
work is a concern of much trouble and difficulty, and these facts may
only be obtained by one who is dowered with special talents and lives
close to the people.
Father Spetz fortunately is gifted with
an historical intuition and a mastership of detail which impart to his
History most valuable qualities.
His book is a work of deep research, fuil
and informational on the struggles, trials and heroism of the pioneer
priests and settlers of Waterloo County. It will be read with
intense satisfaction by the descendants of the stalwart immigrants who,
a hundred years ago, crossed the Atlantic, and with strong bodies and
brave hearts entered the wilderness and subdued it. But it is to
be hoped the volume will also be read and appreciated by many outside
the boundaries of Waterloo County, especially by those who are
interested in the development and progress of the Catholic Church in
our Province in early times.
For in this History we obtain an
authentic account of the trials, hardships and heroic lives of priests
and people in those early days; we see them hewing log chapels an log
buildings from the primeval forest; we behold them, as in a vitascope,
going about intent, lovingly intent, on training their children in the
morality, decency and religion they brought with them into the wilder-