“In New France, the clergy were the real leaders of the

Community”

When in 1722 the entire colony was assessed off into decisive ecclesiastical partitions, seventy-two parishes were established, and almost one century "cures" were allotted to them. As time went on, both parishes and "cures" expanded in number, in order that every locality had its religious leader who was furthermore a philosopher and direct in all secular matters. The cleric therefore became a part of the community and not ever lost feel with his people. The habitant of New France for his part not ever neglected his Church on week-days. The cleric and the Church were with him at work and at play, the essence and the life of every community. Though paid a meagre stipend, the "cure" worked hard and habitually verified a labourer far more than worthy of his hire. The clergy of New France not ever became a caste, a privileged order; they did not reside on the fruits of other men's work, but provided to the colony far more than the colony ever provided to them.

As for the Church incomes, these came from some sources. The regal treasury assisted large additions, but, as it was not full to overflowing, the King favoured to give his benefactions in bountiful allocations of land. Yet the regal grants amounted to numerous 1000 lives each year. The diocese of Quebec was endowed with the incomes of three French abbeys. Wealthy laymen in France pursued the regal demonstration and dispatched assistance from time to time, often of large amount. After 1663, a considerable source of ecclesiastical earnings was the tithe; an ecclesiastical levy levied every year upon all make of the land, and repaired in 1663 at one-thirteenth. Four years subsequent it was decreased to one-twenty-sixth, and Bishop Laval's strenuous efforts to ...