Flaget gives his definitive judgment regarding the differences which have taken place in the parish. Flaget expresses his sorrow at the unhappy division which threatens them with schism and even loss of faith and finds no more suitable expression of his feeling than those of St. Paul to the Corinthians I Cor VI, 8, 12, 13, etc.. If St. Paul had been writing to the people of Detroit instead of the Corinthians he would have made the same reproaches. Flaget regrets that in the past two years their scandals and quarrels have only increased and that they have gone not to ecclesiastical superiors but to the civil powers, who are not interested in promoting harmony in the Church, to seek a decision. Then after this chicanery they sought the decision of the bishop. But judging by the spirit of their writings he doubts their sincerity and fears further troubles. He has found in the writings they have sent him the same principles and spirit which plunged France into its sea of troubles. What can he think of the men from the Cote de Nord Est who went before a magistrate and said they were the trustees of the people when they did not have the sanction of the pastor, and in the name of the people called an assembly, as if that was not the duty of the pastor. They dared in asking him to bless the corner stone to say that he was too zealous in his ministry to deprive the people of their rights. This spirit will in time seek to name the chanters, suppress the feasts and overturn all church discipline. They must seek to suppress such abuses. When Flaget was Pastor at Vincennes all united to choose a man living in public concubinage as trustee and in his indignation he declared the election null. If that man had been inbued with the spirit of the men of the Cote du Nord Est he would have insisted on sitting on his bench because he was justly elected, and Flaget would have been forced to give him the incense every sunday. This example should show why ecclesiastical matters should not be subject to laics who lack knowledge of ecclesiastical matters. It is for this reason that the Church has always entrusted to bishops the care of her temporal goods. He as a father can take care of distribution of the goods and the care of the needy. These principles have always been in force among them as says the ritual of Quebec which he quotes on page 629. At Bardstown he has just made an agreement for the erection of a new cathedral 125' x 65' at a cost of $20,000. The contracts and the sale of the benches is left entirely to the bishop. The people built the church, protestants contributing as well as Catholics, yet by this rule while the church belongs to them they are excluded from the administration of the temporalities. The people of Bardstown not less jealous of their prerogative than those of Detroit have submitted with little difficulty to this arrangement. These are the rules of Catholic countries and at all times, since the church government is that of the family with the Father in charge. But just as the father of a numerous family will consult those of his family he regards as capable of aiding him so the Church seeks the aid of the most capable lay people to aid in the administration of her goods. The rules observed from the time immemorial at Detroit say there are 4 marguilliers or curateurs who with the cure administer the temporal goods of the parish. To arrange for their election the cure calls an assembly from the pulpit to which he invites all the heads of families and at the assembly these Marguilliers are chosen by plurality of votes. That is by a majority of those present and voting. When the elections have been confirmed by the cure these four unite with the cure to handle the temporal affairs of the Church. But any action without the participation or approval of the cure is null. This is an extract of the rules of the Church of St. Anne. On these principles he now discusses the five questions submitted to him by his decision., I. As to what persons compose the legal corporation of St. Anne's Church, the persons who compose the corporation are the 4 marguilliers presided over by the cure as the representative of the Bishop. This is the only corporation that can and should be confirmed by the government of Michigan since it is the only one established according to the rules of the Catholic Church of Detroit. This is conformably to the Constitution of the United States which gives each religious society the right to be governed by its own rules and statutes. Thus he confirms as authentic the corporation presided over by Father Richard and condemns as illegitimate that of the Cote du Nord Est as contrary to the rules of St. Anne, of the discipline of the church and of the Constitution of the United States. But the question may be asked if Mr. Joseph Campeau and his two colleagues may not proceed to build a church since they were authorized by a legal assembly presided over by Father Richard. In answer, Flaget says that since the deliberations were not entered in the registers of the parish of the assembly, not as a real assembly, and the committee should be of the same nature. Blackstone, t, 8 p.24. But granted that the committee was properly appointed the power that appointed it can revoke it if the members of the committee do not do what they are appointed to do or if they do not follow the rules set out for them. Consulting the documents before him he sees that the committee did not follow any of the rules and exceed them in many serious matters., 1. They set the foundation without conferring with the pastor who alone could decide on the location of the altar and the cross and who ought to bless the corner stone., 2. They did not have a good title to the land on which they laid the foundations, having acquired the title only last February., 3. The foundations are only 10 feet from the lot belonging to a minor which is contrary to all rules of prudence., 4. The committee demanded, as if it were a right of the people, a ceremony purely of a religious nature., 5. They turned into ridicule the religious services by their farcical actions., 6. By their own authority they dug up and moved the bodies in the midst of foundations already laid which is dangerous and contrary to the canons of the church. These facts being true, Richard and his curateurs justly deprived the committee of its powers. Mr. Campeau has shown enough of good sense to submit. Laying aside his position of bishop and Judge Flaget becomes a suppliant and asks Campeau to use his influence to bring about the peace which the parish has lacked for so many years. Thus, what graces will he and his family receive. But on the contrary if he refuses to do this, he will be held responsible before God for all the scandals which will result from his action, and for the evils which come upon the parish once so noted for piety and good morals. He should think well on this., II. On the question as to what plot the new church is to be built on, Flaget says they shall build on the plot he has assigned in his recent pastoral, because it seems to be most advantageous for the Corporation of St. Anne. The Governor desires it there and the Bishop of Quebec is of the same opinion. The land there is 6 times as great as that where the foundations were begun, while it could not be sold for one/sixth of the value of the lots in the town. Also the plan of the city demands its erection there. No one can accuse Flaget of partiality after considering these reasons or the judgment of the Governor and the Bishop of Quebec. But they ask why lose the $2,000 spent on the old foundations, and the generosity of Joseph Campeau., 1. In answer, Flaget says the foundations were laid contrary to the rules and those who laid them should endure the loss., 2. The greater part of the materials can be sold and the loss be reduced., 3. The governor and the Bishop of Quebec considered these losses in making their decision and their judgment is to be respected. As to the generous offers of Mr. Joseph Campeau, if he has been inspired by the right spirit he will submit willingly to the decision of the bishop and do all he can to bring about the submission of others. Such conduct will bring him further honor., III. As to the question as to what part of the church land shall be sold, Flaget leaves this to the corporation which alone is recognized by the governor and to which he has given full power to dispose of whatever land they wish., IV. As to the question whether all the human bones shall be removed from the ancient cemetery, Flaget says that if the legitimate corporation decides to sell the land of the cemetery and of the church to pay for the new, so as to diminish the costs to the parishioners, all the bones should be removed because of the Catholic sentiments for the dead as well as the general sentiments, since the land will become the property of individuals., V. In answer to the question, by whom they were to be removed, Flaget says that according to the rules of justice, those who have refused to aid their part and have prevented others from removing the bones should pay the whole expense. However, after all are reunited as they are obliged to be, if there is any difficulty all should unite in this honorable and pious work. These are the judgments of Flaget and his council after mature reflection and are those he would give in the presence of the final judge himself, and consequently he expects the decision to be carried. He hopes that their appreciation of his position will assure them of his impartiality. He regrets that he cannot come among them to calm the ruffled spirits. But besides his work as bishop he has also the care of 4 congregations in a territory of 60 miles, the care of two convents of sisters containing 28 sisters and 80 pupils and the care of a seminary. He calls himself a worse slave than the slaves themselves and points out how they have added to his burdens. He wishes that he might give them the kiss of peace and hopes that heaven will crown his efforts with success. He welcomes them with the joy of the father of the prodigal son and hopes that their reunion will be a foretaste of future happiness.` In the same manuscript is the following letter.