Memoir of the Rev. C. H. O. Cote, M. D., with a memoir of Mrs. M. Y. Cote, and a history of the Grande Ligne Mission, Canada East

Front matter

MM Mi

■ Hn

HHnHH H

Chapter I

DR. COTE'S BIRTH, EDUCATION, AND POLITICAL

LIFE.

The subject of this memoir was born of respectable parents, of French origin, at Quebec, the old capital of Lower Canada, in the year 1809. His family, three years after his birth, removed to Montreal, where their son was brought up and educated. After having passed through the classes of the Roman Catholic College of that city, he devoted himself to the study of medicine. He pursued a thorough course in Canada and at the Medical School of the University of Vermont, where he also graduated, and entered, in 1831, on the practice of his chosen profession at L/Acadie, about ten miles distant from the place where the Grande Ligne Mission House now stands. Napierville, a neighboring village, presenting better advantages, he settled there two years after, where he resided until the memorable rebellion of 1837.

Dr. Cote's ancestral family was one of those that had been obliged to leave Acadia (now Nova Scotia,) in 1755, after having been shamefully treated by the British rulers, and no doubt he often heard them relate their numerous trials and severe sufferings, and it is very likely that the narrative had some influence in leading him to the course he took in regard to the English government. The remembrance of the past, and the sight of present wrongs done to his fellow-countrymen, inspired him with dislike, not to say hatred, of the colonial government. He began to take an active part in politics, and was elected member of Parliament, in 1834, for the county of Lacadie. He was at that period only twenty-four years of age.

Seeing the conduct of the Romish clergy, and the support they gave to the government, he placed it on the same footing with the latter, and resolved in his heart to do his utmost to rescue his fellow countrymen from their ecclesiastical as well as political oppressors. He joined the patriot party, at the head of which was the well-known Papineau, at the time, the Speaker of the House.

In 1837 the political agitation } became more and more general. Numerous public meetings were held during the summer, in which the Doctor took a very active part. He became exceedingly popular, and was considered by the French Canadians as one of the future liberators of his country. Serious troubles were brought about in the autumn by this agitation, but the field of the principal battles was at a considerable distance from Dr. Cote's residence, and he was not immediately concerned in them. However, such was his ardor in the cause, that he by his conduct and the bold expression of his sentiments, had very decidedly assumed, in common with other leaders, the responsibility of these disturbances, and he was consequently obliged to flee for his life into the United States. A price had been set on his head by the Governor, and no doubt he would have been severely punished had he been arrested.

He settled at Plattsburgh, N. Y., where a great many of the Canadian refugees had repaired. There, still possessed of the same great principles, feelings, and resolutions, he interested the Americans in favor of his fellow countrymen, and devised plans for their political emancipation.

In the beginning of 1838, an attempt was made by the Canadians residing in the States to enter Canada disciplined and equipped as an army ; but it was opposed by the United States government, and failed. Dr. Cote was the principal leader of this expedition.

In November of the same year, the insurrection broke out about Napierville. The village, and an extensive region in the vicinity, was in the power of the " patriots" for a time. Dr. Cote was one of the commanders, and decidedly the most active. After two battles, in which he showed himself a brave and able general officer, the revolutionists were defeated, but there were sad losses of life on both sides. Those who happened to be near the frontier were able to flee and find refuge in the United States. Dr. Cote was one of the number.

CHAPTER n.

KELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS BEFORE CONVERSION.

From early youth Dr. Cote had perceived the true nature as well as the sad effects of the corrupt religion of Rome, and he had some time before this become utterly disgusted with it. Among other circumstances which served to open his eyes, and weaken his hold upon Catholicism, was the following. For some offence he had been ordered by his priest, to say so many prayers. In order to save time he undertook to discharge his penance while riding on horseback. Suddenly the horse started and jumped one side. The movement caused Dr. Cote to drop his beads. Naturally of a quick and irritable temperament, he fell to swearing, and cursed horse, beads, priest, and all. On returning to the village, he went to the priest, and coDfessed his sin, telling him, among other things, that he had cursed his beads. The holy man, as if horrorstricken, refused him absolution. Full of terror, for he was yet held fast by the chains of superstition, he returned to his home and consulted his

(ii)

12 MEMOIR OP DR. COTE. .

wife as to what was best to be done. After talking the matter over, by her advice he concluded to go to another priest in a neighbouring village, saying at the same time, if the " old fool," as he called his own confessor, would not absolve him, his neighbor, he thought, would. He hastened away to the ghostly father, told him all his sin, and even went so far as to confess that he had called his own priest an " old fool." Whether the good man was most affected by the sorrow of the penitent, or the absolution fee, we are not informed. He absolved him, however, thus showing that all the priests of Rome are not agreed as to what are and what are not venial offences.

Still, like thousands of others in this country and Europe, he retained his outward connection with the Romish church. But at this time he began to hate it, for he saw in it a system of apparent piety which was really one of arrogant hypocrisy, of subtle cunning, or of bloody violence, according to circumstances. He deplored the influence of the clergy on his fellow countrymen, and could not think that a religion, whose ministers keep their people in ignorance, superstition, and abject misery, had emanated from God. He conceived of religion as a noble system, destined to enlighten and elevate the people ; but he found just the reverse in Popery. And as a natural consequence of confounding the religion of the

Gospel with that of the Pope, he was led to Infidelity; hoping to find in Deism the light he was seeking, to enable him to worship and serve God aright. Desirous of being enlightened on the subject of religion, he commenced a correspondence with distinguished Deists, and read their works ; by which almost fatal step he was more and more confirmed in their pernicious errors. He went but seldom to the Romish church 5 and spoke out frequently and fearlessly against the priests, whom he greatly despised. The priest of Napierville, offended at his bold course of conduct, and at his not submitting to the requirements of " mother church/ ' preached against him in such a manner that Dr. Cote, who was not more enduring than submissive, thought best to prosecute him. A lengthy and expensive law-suit ensued, which terminated, however, as in the recent case of Dr. Achilli and Dr. Newman, to the confusion and cost of the priest.

We must not, however, conclude from the foregoing facts, that Dr. Cote was a decided enemy of the Christian religion. Indeed, he knew little of real Christianity. He was willing, and in some good degree anxious, to listen to the truth, in order to be able to examine and judge it understanding^. It is worthy of notice here, that when Mr. Roussy, the first of our missionaries that 2 labored among the French Canadians, came and preached at Napierville, in 1836, Dr. Cote went to hear him ; and even paid him a visit at the house where he was stopping. This was certainly showing a spirit of inquiry, and more willingness to become acquainted with the Gospel, than is generally met with in this country. But he was still far from the truth as it is in Jesus ; and far from God.

Chapter III

DR. COTE'S CONVERSION.*

It was at the beginning of the year 1841, that the Lord, who had preserved his life in the midst of battle and perils of almost every kind, drew him to himself with the cords of love and the bands of a man. A thorn had been planted in his soul. Dr. Cote was wretched ; he carried every where a heart void of hope and very unhappy, a prey to great internal anguish. His chequered life, blasted by his misfortunes, appeared to him suspended on a few threads, whose frailty filled him with apprehensions. Death was to him the king of terrors. In the midst of his sufferings he felt the need of consolations, but knew not where to find them. He gradually discovered the insufficiency of his system (Deism) to impart peace, happiness, and the power of resisting temptation. He asked nothing of a religion which appeared to him only an arm of the civil magistrate to restrain the people, or at least

* This chapter is taken from Mr. Roussy's correspondence with the Evangelical Society of New York in 18 11.

an insupportable yoke, and which was utterly inadequate to their wants. He became more and more unhappy. Not knowing what to do to fill up the frightful void of his heart, he sometimes attended the meetings for prayer in the church at Swan ton, where he then resided. The sincerity and spiritual life which he there witnessed affected him ; it distilled like the dew-drops upon his thirsty heart. The tranquillity, the peace, which he discovered in many, made him sometimes desire to be as one of them.

His mental sufferings now became intolerable, and convinced that his system of philosophy had deceived him, he resolved to read the Bible, of which, alas ! he was almost totally ignorant. This he did in order to study our religion at its very fountain, the teachings of Jesus Christ and his apostles. Although he read the Bible with great prejudice, yet he was struck with the divine majesty which is enthroned on its pages, and with the beauty of its instruction. Although it. spoke to him with supreme authority, he disputed with it ; he reasoned; he compared it with the works of Deists ; but this divine word, mightier than any human book, sharper than any two-edged sword, pierced his heart; his soul was astonished at its searching power; he groaned at the sight of himself; violent doubts arose in his heart; he was overwhelmed with anguish and weeping. He experienced one of the most subtle attacks of the natural unbelief of the heart against the truth ; and the Wicked One who did not remain inactive, tempted him violently to abandon every religious thought. He even passed entire nights in this horrible anguish, without closing his eyes, prostrate on the floor, and scarcely knowing where or what he was. In those moments he asked the Lord, in the fullness of his heart, to guide him in the way of truth. He read the Bible more assiduously ; his admiration for it increased, and other books were regarded with more indifference. His mental state so reacted on his body, that his friends perceived it, and said that he was becoming crazy. He would have been ashamed to avow the cause to them ; and he was frappy to escape the importunity of their questions, by accepting the invitation of a sick friend to accompany him to a watering-place, where he could give himself with more freedom to the search after truth. He read with great profit a history of the Church by Goodrich, which completed his conviction of the truth of Christianity. His friend, not being a disciple of Jesus Christ, died at the watering-place in despair. Dr. Cote would fain have counselled and consoled him ) but he knew not what to say to him. This death made a profound impression upon his heart, filling him with solemn terror. 2*

Sometime afterward s, he heard Mr. Williamson of New York, preach on the words, " Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." This precious truth deeply affected his heart, which the grace of God had prepared like the wax, when it receives the imprint of the seal ; it was a ray of light that gave him a glimpse of the only means of deliverance and salvation. He bowed at the foot of the cross, and formed in his heart the resolution to be a Christian. From that time he experienced great consolation, and avowed his new convictions to his friends. He spoke of them especially to the Canadians, went to their houses to read the Gospel to them ; he assembled them that he might pray for and with them, and he earnestly exhorted them to follow the teachings of the Bible and to serve God more faithfully.

Although his heart was comforted, it was not happy. Jesus, he feared, had not yet said to him, " Thy sins are forgiven thee, thy faith hath saved thee ; go in peace."

" He was convinced of what he yet lacked," says Mr. Boussy, " and it was while visiting the dear family of Brissette, members of our church. The expression of peace which he there remarked, greatly impressed him ; he said that he did not possess it, and he knew not how to obtain it. Our friends persuaded him to write to me, assuring him that I would do him good. He consented, and immediately wrote, entreating me to come and see him. I received the letter and started immediately. I found him waiting for me. He related to me the change in his convictions, but I immediately perceived that he had not felt the efficacy of regenerating grace, nor sufficiently comprehended the defilement and condemnation of sin, nor the plenitude of the love and power of the expiatory sacrifice of Christ, imputed to him through faith. Yet I blessed God from the bottom of my soul for this work of his grace, which had overthrown and removed so many obstacles, and which was about to glorify itself in him. On Sunday I preached twice to fifty Canadians. . . . The rest of the day I passed with Dr. Cote in visiting some of them. It was a day of great conflicts for him ; the tempter excited in him all kinds of doubts, showed him the advantages of the world and its glory, and sought to persuade him to return because he had already gone too far ' but he came off conqueror by prayer, and by faith in the realities of the invisible world. In the evening of that day, conversing with him concerning the state of sin and condemnation, and of the only means of salvation given him ; suddenly my friend burst into tears, exclaiming, with the accent of a profound conviction, " On ! what an abominable sinner I am in the eyes of God ! my past life fills me with insupportable anguish ! what shall I do?"

Instantly we prostrated ourselves before God, and poured out our hearts alternately in fervent prayers to obtain pardon and deliverance from Him. I do not remember ever to have seen a man weep over his sins with so deep anguish, as did Dr. Cote that night. The morning, which found us still on our knees, told us to our surprise that the night was passed. In rising, Dr. Cote was calm and peaceful. At noon he was again seized with the same distress. We again passed many hours on our knees, in which we were abundantly blessed. We felt that we were on the steps of the throne of grace, and with the boldness which faith inspires I exclaimed, ( I will not let thee go till thou hast blessed me, until thou hast said to the soul of my friend, I am thy deliverance/ Then Dr. Cote, filled with the spirit of adoption, exclaimed, i Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to men/ and with fervent praises, rendered thanks to God, that he, a miserable and abominable sinner, was accepted, saved in his well-beloved Son, and filled with the peace of Jesus. We wept together, but ours were tears of gratitude, of happiness, and of love. All was solemn around us ; the blessing of our God was descending; our cup was filled. Oh ! blessed moment, to all eternity, blessed ! Although several months have passed since this happy period, these sentiments are still vivid in my heart; I cannot write to you the description of them without weeping."

CHAPTEE IV.

CONSISTENCY. PUBLIC PROFESSION OF RELIGION.

Any one reading the foregoing chapter, cannot entertain a single doubt in regard to the reality of Dr. Cote's conversion ; it bears the stamp of God himself. We there see a man naturally proud and haughty, a professed Infidel, brought under the influence of the Spirit of God, made sensible of the everlasting interests of his soul, and bowed down to the foot of the cross, where he finds peace and happiness in believing, after having passed through those great struggles which sometimes characterise the new birth. Had he died then, we should have felt confident that his soul would have been received into Abraham's bosom, though we had seen no other proof of his change of heart. But the Lord granted him a few years of life, in order that he might show forth the praises of Him who had called him from nature's darkness into His marvellous light. And we have the pleasure of seeing him, from this time, engaged in spreading the knowledge of the blessed Redeemer among his benighted (22)

fellow-countrymen, and doing a vast amount of good in this difficult but interesting missionary field.

One of the prominent features of Dr. Cote's character was consistency, and hence sprang proselytism. When he had an idea he wanted to impart it immediately to others, and bring them to his sentiments and views. It was eminently so in regard to religion. He had found a treasure too precious for concealment ; he preached the truth as soon as he received it, and sought to bring souls to the Saviour, in whom believing, he had found peace.

Mention must particularly be made here of Mrs. Cote, to whom he hastened to announce Jesus and Him crucified. The day Mr. Roussy left him to return to Grande Ligne, the Dr. sent to her a Bible, and wrote to her in Canada, where she was staying at that time, a remarkable letter, which must be inserted here almost in full : —

" Swanton, 15th June, 1841.

My dear, my tender Love, —

This letter will be handed to you by Mr. Roussy, whom I wish you to consider as one of my good friends; as a special consoler that God, in his divine providence, has sent me to relieve me from the terrible anguish of my soul in consequence of the criminal life I have led in the sight of God and of men. rriy dear Marguerite, you cannot imagine what sweet consolations we experience when we return sincerely to Jesus, the Saviour of miserable sinners; when we weep bitterly over the sins of our life at the foot of his cross; when we ask him for pardon with a true and boundless confidence in his infinite mercy; when we supplicate our Heavenly Father to forget and blot out our sins, that are washed away in the precious blood of his Son, who died on the cross to save us all. Oh ! my dearly beloved friend, how unspeakably sweet is the close communion with our Father who is in heaven. You know my love for you,*and for the tender fruits of our union; you know there are no mortal beings so dear to me as you three. Oh ! I would, my dear friend, that your soul, which is so precious to me, could feel all the sweet emotions to which my soul has attained, since I have been so happy as to return unto Him whom I have so much offended by my past life. How I desire, my dear Marguerite, that you should experience all the enjoyments of true piety enlightened by faith in Jesus Christ ! You would then see and feel that the true religion of Christ does not consist in vain ceremonies that cannot be acceptable to God, but that it consists in sincere and simple faith in Jesus Christ, whose holy Gospel we cannot too much read.

You would see, my sweet friend, that true religion does not consist in performing certain ceremonies and in prayers unintelligibly muttered, but that it consists, on the contrary, in the peace of the soul, which is a natural consequence of implicit faith in the merit of the Saviour of men. You know that when I abandoned the Romish church in which I was born, and ever since then, I have given you the most ample latitude in regard to liberty of conscience. Be assured that I will never offer you any violence or restraint in regard to your religious convictions. But in the name of God who is so merciful towards his children — for the sake of your soul, on whose eternal happiness and misery you should reflect seriously in this short life — for the sake of the sincere peace of your conscience — in the name of what is most sacred in this world and in the world to come, open your eyes and reflect sincerely. Consult the book of God, read it attentively, endeavor to appreciate the doctrines there taught by the Son of God himself in person, draw the conclusions in the sincerity of your heart, without prejudice, after having supplicated the enlightening influences of the Holy Spirit, and after having humbled yourself for all your sins at the feet of the Crucified. See then, and consider whether you are in the way of life. These are serious reasons, and such as should touch the heart of a Christian. 3

26 MEMOIR OF DR. COTS.

Remember that you have only one soul to save or to lose, that the judgment of God once pronounced, there will be no more way open, that if we shut our eyes to the true religion in this world, eternal damnation must necessarily be the consequence. We that have loved each other so much, how painful it would be, my darling, to be separated on the other side of the grave ! Should one of us voluntarily shut our eyes to the light of the Gospel, such, alas, must be our sad experience. Pray then, my dear ; bow down at the feet of Christ crucified ; ask Him for mercy ; entreat the Heavenly Father to enlighten you by His Holy Spirit, and then, my dear Marguerite, read attentively the Word of God, such as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures ; compare the doctrine there taught, with that you have learned from your infancy ; above all, strip yourself of all prejudices, sacrifice at the foot of the cross of your Saviour, and seek the truth with all the sincerity of a heart truly desirous of knowing it. I send you by Mr. Eoussy the Bible of De Maistre de Sacy, which is used in the Eomish church. Oh ! read it with piety, and with the desire of being instructed in the Word of God.

Mr. Roussy will give you an account of all the distress and anguish which I have passed through since I have known the religion of Christ ; he will tell you also how entire is my confidence in the merits of the Son of God, and how much peace and tranquillity of soul I find when I consider that one drop of His divine blood was sufficient to redeem all the sinners who apply to Him ; however wicked they were before."

Chapter V. His Labors At Chazy, And His Missionary Excursions

Doctor Cote had the happiness, after a few months, of seeing his dear companion turning to the Lord, and joining him in his missionary labors among the French population at Chazy, N. Y., a village situated about eight miles from the Canada frontier. There regular worship was established, which soon began to bear fruit. Among the converts during his residence at Chazy, we must mention an old man 83 years of age, one of Washington's soldiers. " After an abode of several days with me," says Dr. Cote, " he returned with the peace of Grod in his heart ; trusting solely in the merits of Christ, whom he regarded as having accomplished his salvation on the cross."

In the autumn of 1842, the Dr. held a protracted meeting, aided by Mr. John Sands, then a student at the Grande Ligne Institute, which was blessed to the conversion of some Canadians and Americans. " We then commenced a protracted meeting," he (28)

writes, u wliicli continued fifteen clays, during which time we had the pleasure of seeing many Canadians and four Americans converted. Menaces, persecutions, promises, flatteries, and the most absurd fictions were employed by the priest and his partizans to prevent their coming to hear us. But God had his eyes fixed upon our dear Canadians, and will triumph over the arts used by the Wicked One to arrest the progress of the light amongst this poor and unfortunate people, whom he has long deceived."

Whilst at Chazy, Dr. Cote was often called away to Canada to announce the glad news of salvation. At first he came somewhat in secret, as he was afraid the government might have him arrested for his political offences ; but when the general amnesty was proclaimed, he visited Canada oftener, and finally settled there.

One of his most successful missionary excursions was the one he made to Berea in the township of Milton, at the end of 1 842 . We copy the following account from the annual statement of the mission furnished to the Evangelical Society by Mr. Boussy : —

"In our last report we informed you that our friend, Dr. Cote, was on the eve of starting for Milton, to preach the Gospel to the dwellers in those woods, whose lives were very profligate. He was accompanied by a dear brother who had labored 3* among them as a Colporteur for a year past, with great zeal and fidelity. They were two days in reaching the school-house, a distance which, in the winter, can be walked in three hours. The autumn rains had rendered the path through these woods so difficult, that nothing but the zeal of our brethren could have surmounted the obstacles in their way. Though exhausted with fatigue on their arrival, they made no delay in applying themselves with vigor to their work. After kindling a fire, they cut down a tree to serve at once for a table, and seats for their audience ; put up a temporary bed in one corner of their school-room ; and commenced their religious services. For the first few days there were no visible effects, though they held two meetings daily. All the people, men, women, and even small children, readily assembled; no one remained at home. The intervals between the meetings were employed in reconciling quarrels ; for these families, who had lived in continual strife and hatred towards each other, perceived the necessity of first harmonizing their differences, in order to obtain the blessing of Heaven. Our dear brother Cote, who performed the office of peacemaker, had the pleasure of seeing them acknowledge their faults one to another, and interchanging the language of forgiveness. On Sunday, each one came to the meeting with feelings of penitence, and in expectation of the Divine blessing. The exposition of the Scriptures was listened to with marked solemnity ; and when those who wished were invited to speak, a female, naturally timid and retiring, rose and spoke of the wants of her soul, of the love of God, and of the duty of repentance, with such animation, freedom, and energy, that each one grew pale and trembled. After addressing them in most impressive language, she fell on her knees, and, weeping, poured out her heart in fervent prayer for herself and all present. The whole assembly melted into tears, and, believing that she spoke and prayed under the teachings of God's Spirit, bowed their knees and successively offered their earnest supplications to God for pardon

"This happy Sabbath was the commencement of a happy week, devoted to the reading of the Word of God, to prayer, and to praise. No one could apply himself to any work, for the Spirit of the Lord had visited these cabins. Every day some soul was relieved of the burden of sin by trusting in Christ. Twenty-jive persons, as we hope, obtained pardon and peace at this time, making with the first converts, the number of twenty-nine worshippers, and followers of Christ in this forest."

On his way home, Dr. Cote stopped ten days at St. Pie, where he held meetings daily, which were blessed to many individuals.

Soon after, the houses built for school and worship at St. Pie and Berea were dedicated, and Dr. Cote took an active part in the services held on the occasion. He preached several times and produced, in common with Rev. L. Normandeau and Rev. L. Roussy, a very good impression. At evening service at St. Pie, in which all present were invited to speak, fifteen individuals rose successively and professed their desire to serve Christ and walk in newness of life. And many others, who afterwards joined the church, referred to that time as a blessed season for their souls.