IN THE COUNTY OF WATERLOO
55
into which he would only admit the submissive ones. This latter
step would likely lead to a schism and possibly make matters worse.
Hence his doubts as to the plan he had in view. Apparently
he did not act upon it. Whether the rectory then under
construction was finished under Father Schneider or not, is uncertain.
but the church he had contemplated was not erected then. It also
appears that he did not succeed to bring harmony into the distracted
Mission, though he continued to give them the most necessary services
and labored constantly to bring them together.
In one of his letters Father Schneider states
that Father Wiriath had been a good and faithful priest, that
nevertheless be was calumniated and opposed by many. In the
Toronto archives there is a petition from the Goderich people asking
the Bishop for a priest; that Father Wiriath would suit; that they
would provide for his support in proof of which about 30 heads of
families affixed their names to the petition, each one promising a
certain amount.
It may not be generally known that Bishop
McDonell, through his loyalty at home and in Canada, especially during
the troublous times of 1836, had gained considerable recognition from
the Governments. He received $2,000.00 as Bishop of Upper Canada
and $200.00 for each of his priests per annum. When he came to
Upper Canada as Vicar-Apostolic, he had only two priests. As the
number of these increased, the allowance did not increase, so that the
grant became less from year to year to individual priests.
The writer found numbers of these receipts from
different missionaries. The oldest ones acknowledge the receipt
of £2O, i.e., $100 for the half year. Father Wiriath at various
times received £16, others less at a later date. During the
stormy times of the Rebellion in 1836, some of the Irish protested
vigorously against this payment of priests by the Government, just as
the Irish in the Old Country were doing. They claimed, and not
unreasonably so, that the clergy salaried by the Government would
become the slaves of the Government, just as it happened in France, etc.
(Note.-In the history of St. Agatha the reader
will find much more about Father Schneider and his successor here.)