166 THE FRENCH BLOOD IN AMERICA 



Originator of 

 Life-Saving 



Sable Island 



Dissolving 

 Church 



End in 1748 



dangerous coast of Nova Scotia. In 1738 he petitioned 

 the governor and council of Nova Scotia for a grant of 

 the Sable Island, off that coast, that he might erect build- 

 ings theieon and stock the island with such domestic 

 animals as might be useful in preserving the lives of 

 escaped mariners. The grant was made, and the colonial 

 governments of Nova Scotia and Massachusetts issued 

 proclamations warning all persons against destroying or 

 removing the improvements made by the proprietor of 

 the island. It is said that many lives were saved by this 

 humane enterprise, which in a sense was the origin of the 

 life-saving coast service of to-day. Sable Island has con- 

 tinued to be the scene of fi^equent shipwrecks, and at 

 present the noble work begun by the Huguenot pastor of 

 Boston is carried on by government at an expense of four 

 thousand dollars yearly, maintaining a force of men 

 furnished with provisions and appliances for the relief 

 of shipwrecked sailors. • Let it not be forgotten that the 

 sailors owe a debt of gratitude to Andre Le Mercier, the 

 refugee minister of Boston. 



That the membership of the French Church decreased 

 under his ministry is not to be attributed chiefly to any 

 lack in him either as preacher or pastor, but rather to 

 the aptitude of the French for assimilation. The chil- 

 dren became proficient in the English language, and 

 through their associations were led naturally to favour 

 the American churches. The tendency was irresistible, 

 and when the young people were "driven to other 

 churches" (a charge laid against Le Mercier with prob- 

 ably scant justice) it was only a question of time when 

 the French Church should cease to exist. This time came 

 in 1748, when the membership had become reduced to a 

 mere handful. Through intermarriage the leadi ng French 

 families had formed close interests in such churches as 

 Trinity and King's Chapel, the Faneuils becoming prom- 

 inent supporters of the latter. On the dissolution of the 

 French Church the meeting house passed into possession 



