mon interest to the Christian heart; by a silence which indicates little love for those things in modern Romanism from which the consciences of Protestant Christians shrink with most tenderness and pain; and by a most fiery courage in the denunciation of corruption, dishonesty, and Pharisaism;—these sermons are as exceptional in the pulpit-literature of the Roman Catholic Church, as they are exceptional literature by their splendid eloquence. in any This volume has been hastened through the press to meet an immediate and urgent demand. But the value of it will not cease with the abatement of the local excitement connected with the visit of Father Hyacinthe to the United States. The subjects of the series of Notre Dame "Conferences" or Lectures, are peculiarly appropriate to our times and circumstances. The subjects of others of the discourses are interesting for all time and everywhere. The failure of the health of an accomplished scholar, particularly versed in the intricate ecclesiastical history of France, who was to have contributed to this volume a Biographical and Critical Introduction, threw this part of the work, at the last moment, on my own overburdened hands. I have done the best with it that I could. I present my acknowledgments, for the use. of materials, to the Rev. Narcisse Cyr; to the Rev. E. A. Washburn, D. D.; and especially to my kind neighbor the Rev. Sylvester Malone, to whose library I am indebted for my first acquaintance with the writings of Father Hyacinthe. For the patient kindness of Father Hyacinthe himself, who nevertheless is in no degree responsible for my work, it would be impossible for me adequately to express my gratitude. LEONARD WOOLSEY BACON. NEW ENGLAND CHURCH, Brooklyn, November, 1869. CONTENTS. Letter of Father Hyacinthe to the Translator. Biographical Sketch of Father Hyacinthe Letter to the General of the Order of Barefooted Car- melites. Speech before the Permanent International Peace League, Paris, July 10th, 1869. Reports of the Notre Dame Conferences of 1867, on Civil Society in its Relations with Christianity: PREFATORY LETTER FROM FATHER HYACINTHE. To the Rev. LEONARD W. BACON, Brooklyn: REVEREND SIR-I am as much gratified as surprised at the honor you are disposed to do to the few discourses I have published in Europe. Some of them are actually the production of my pen; but these are very few, and relate to circumstances of time and place which I fear will have no interest for American readers. The others, more important in their object, since they are part of the course of Conferences instituted at Notre Dame by the Archbishop of Paris, are extant only in detached parts, taken down hastily in short-hand, and the gaps filled by an imperfect summary. I should have been glad, I acknowledge, if I could have brought to America something less unworthy of the sympathy with which I have been welcomed here, and which I shall always reckon among the greatest honors and the purest joys of my life. Such as they are, however, I commit these rude pro |