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“Bashed and worn, 1914 limped to the end of its appointed days at midnight, Thursday, and a bright, beaming youngster arrived in its stead.”

Hamilton Spectator.   January 2, 1915

       The end of 1914 and the beginning of 1915 was observed in Hamilton in traditional ways, even though there was intense and savage warfare taking place:

“Although he sported a black eye labeled European war, young 1915 was a merry youngster, for all that. His entrance was the signal  for a noisy salute and a good deal of merriment.”¹

¹ “Noisy Salute for New Year : Crowds Made Merry as the Old One Passed”

Hamilton Spectator.   January 2, 1915.

There was a din created throughout the city, particularly in downtown Hamilton as the hands of clocks came together to indicate that 12 o’clock arrived:

“At the stroke of midnight, there was a blast of noise from all parts of the city, which was almost enough to crack one’s ear drums.

“Bells rang, horns blew, rattles clacked bugles trilled, firearms roared, tin pans rattled, gongs clanged and claxon horns on automobiles blared. The sounds blended until they formed one steady long note which could be heard far away.”¹

Even before midnight, the core of the city was noisy place:

“A joyous crowd turned out to welcome the infant 1915 all armed with some kind of a diabolical machine for undoing the welken ring. The fish horns appeared to be the most popular.

“At 10 o’clock the streets were almost empty; in fact, a few gentlemen said to be from Dundas, even went so far as to stagger around in circles without bumping a soul.

“At midnight, the celebrations were general.”

More subdued greetings of 1915 took place in many places:

“Many Hamiltonians saw in the new year in a quieter manner, either at their homes or attending solemn watchnight services.

“At Centenary Methodist, St. Giles Presbyterian, Christ’s church cathedral, Church of the Ascension, the First Congregational and various other churches throughout the city, watchnight services were held and were attended.

“The services lasted right up to midnight, and the shouts of revelers in the streets mingled with the hymns and exhortations in the churches.”

The chimes of some churches, including those of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church on James street south were played as part of the new year’s eve observances :

“Soon after 11:30 the chimes of St. Paul’s and other churches started to play. They gave such selections as : Silver Chimes, God Save the King, Nearer My God to Thee, Robin Adair, Jesus, Lead Kindly Light, and Auld Lang Syne.

“Even above the din which prevailed on the stroke of twelve, the chimes could be heard ringing out strong and clear.”¹

One New Year’s Eve tradition was not observed:

“Because of the war, the usual New Year festivities at the armories were omitted this year. It is the first time in years that the officers in this city have not seen the old year out in a right royal style, or held a reception for their friends on New Year’s day.”

Private parties were held to usher in 1915:

“In not a few homes, where parties were in sway, little 1915 was welcomed with music and came in pirouetting high on dancing toes. In a few instances, perhaps, where folk have succumbed to the dancing craze, the long-whiskered gentleman with the scythe tangoed out while the little New Year in his white union suit one-stepped in.”¹

The Spectator article on the New Year’s festivities in Hamilton ended with some recognition for those who had to work:

“Not a few night toilers had little chance to celebrate.

“The patient telephone girls were kept busy by subscribers who wanted to wish one another a happy new year as soon as it arrived; telegraph operators were busy with wired greetings, and post office employees with written one; employees of the transportation companies, the hotels and restaurants, firemen and policemen, all were kept too busy to note the passing of the old year.”¹

 

        

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“The enthusiasm of Hamilton people grows stronger and stronger as time goes on, and the series of reverses sustained by the German forces yesterday were received with shouts of jubilation as they were announced in bulletins from the Spectator office at different intervals.”

Hamilton Spectator.  August  5, 1914.

If anything, the excitement on the James street was even higher on the second day of the war as they were the night that war was declared.

The news from the war zone was more battlefield related rather than the political maneuvering which had characterized the previous evening’s bulletins.

The Spectator stereopticon views displaying the very latest news was immensely welcomed by Hamiltonians gathered on James street:

“Last night the crowds which gathered to again hear the latest news from the battlefields exceeded by far all previous records of the city, and they devoured with eager delight the details of the engagements at Liege and Vise.

“The little Belgian nation, who have hitherto been regarded as an almost insignificant factor in the terrible affair, were the heroes of the hour, for they had struck the first real serious blow at Germany’s ambition. Their capture of two regiments of soldiers and their destruction of another, was at first regarded as in the light of impossibility, but when the news was corroborated and the first details of the fight given, the crowd shouted itself hoarse with delight.”¹

¹ “Crowds Eager for News From the North Sea : Immense Throng at Spec. Office Awaited Flash : War Scene Pictures Aroused Great Enthusiasm : 91^st Band Will Play Patriotic Airs Tonight”

Hamilton Spectator.   August 5, 1914.

While the success of the Belgians in the earliest days, interest was strongest as regards what news was available about the actions of England:

“What the crowds are really waiting for is for Britain to get to work. Their confidence in the British navy is supreme, and the feeling is that the instructions from the admiralty office to the fleet to wipe out or capture the entire German navy will be carried out as soon as the two fleets come within reach of each other.

“Either the censorship is too strict, however, or else the two navies have not yet come into conflict, for there was no news of the kind the crowd desired, so in a measure, the people were disappointed.

“They cheered and cheered again at the news of the capture by the French of two German on the Mediterranean, and the sinking of another. They welcomed the intelligence that the British fleet at Gibraltar had played a part in this by heading off the German retreat westward and thus enabling the French to intercept them.

“But this was only a crumb of comfort, and nothing will satisfy them until the Spectator is able to announce that the German navy is a thing of the past and that Britain has once more demonstrated its might upon the sea.”¹

The efforts of the Spectator to use the latest technology were much appreciated by large numbers of Hamiltonians:

“The Spectator stereopticon has become quite an institution of the city, and long before it was dark enough to commence flashing bulletins on the huge screen opposite, a great mass of people had taken up their positions.

“By the time everything was ready to start, there was scarcely room to move between King and Main streets, and the great mob was cheering heartily and waving miniature Union Jacks all the while. They sang patriotic airs, and howled and hissed at everything that was German or Austrian, while the operator in the Spectator office was kept busy changing the bulletins for their consumption

“As soon as the messages came through from the special agencies of the Great Family Journal, they were quickly transformed into lantern slides and thrown on to the screen, and the people time and again showed their appreciation of the excellent service of news which the Spectator was providing.”¹

In conclusion, it was considered another very memorable occasion:

“It was another great night, and it did the heart good to see how these Hamilton folk join together so heartily in the cause of Empire.

“One thing is certain – the city is warmed up now, and the blood of the citizens flows as thickly as that of the people of the motherland itself.”¹

 

 

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“No more welcome tidings have ever been received by Hamilton people than those which flashed onto the Spectator bulletin sheet last night, telling the vast crowd that Germany had declared war on England.”

Hamilton Spectator.  August  05, 1914.

While it might have seemed more appropriate that word of England’s declaration of war on an enemy might have seemed more likely to be well-received, the crowd which had been following the developments of the past few days knew that the matter was more complicated.

The announcement that Germany had decided to start the war was a signal for an immense celebration:

“Long, loud, reverberated cheers burst from thousands of throats, and were re-echoed again and again.

“For two days, these people had kept under restraint their exuberant enthusiasm, but now they let themselves go in a manner which brought hundreds of others rushing to the scene from all parts of the city.”¹

¹ “News of the War Was Received  With Cheers : Immense Crowd at Spec. Office Roared Approval : Patriotic Scenes at Dundurn and Temple Theatre : G. F. J.’s Leased Wire Brought First Word Here.”

Hamilton Spectator.  August 5, 1914.

The celebrations were not as much that warfare was now underway, but that the enemy had been manipulated into taking blame for its beginning:

“They recognized that the home government had scored another diplomatic success.

“Premier Ascquith and his ministers had indisputably placed the onus of an open declaration of was upon the kaiser , and many of the crwd who had previously been inwardly rebelling against what they termed the hesitation of Britain to declare war now recognized the strategy by which the kaiser’s hand had been forced.

“It was now a case of Germany challenging the world, and Germany must be destroyed forever as a great naval and military power. And it only wanted England to actively support the forces of Russia and France to bring this inevitable end about.”¹

The crowd reaction when it was confirmed that Britain, and Canada, were at war with Germany was overwhelming:

“The scene which followed the welcome news was almost indescribable. Men and women cheered and shouted their loudest, and hats were flung high into the air.

“The verses of the national anthem were shone on to the screen and Hamilton witnessed the unique sight of several thousands of its citizens bursting involuntarily into the tune of the great national air as with one voice.

“The next slide – a colored patriotic device containing Nelson’s words, ‘England expects that every man will do his duty,’ never had a more enthusiastic  reception, while a huge picture of the British lion, calm, fearless and majestic, brought forth a roar full of triumph and pride.”¹

The frenzy that greeted the initial news of war being declared eventually diminished, but most the crowd near the Spectator building remained:

“So long as the bulletins from London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels and other cities of Europe continued to arrive, so long did the Spectator flash them onto the white sheet for the people to read, and so long as there was anything to wait for, the people waited.

“Finally, when the announcement was made that nothing further of importance was expected to reach Canada until the morning they dispersed, but not before the national anthem and Rule, Britannia had again been sung by a wonderful chorus of thousands of men and women, who wanted nothing better last night than to cheer for King and empire.”¹

Hamiltonians who were not into the downtown core when the news of the declaration of war by Germany was confirmed, heard the news not long afterwards.

Hamilton Mayor Allan was at his home when he was informed of the news by telephone. He decided to go to Dundurn park where he knew that many citizens were listening to a musical concert:

“The Thirteenth band was giving a band concert, and an immense crowd was listening to the music.

“There was an impressive silence as the mayor stepped forward to speak, and then when the crowd realized that Britain was really in the fight now it cut loose with enthusiasm.

“The band struck up the national anthem and Rule, Britannia, and thousands of people sang with patriotic fervor.”¹

In a scene repeated at all of Hamilton’s large vaudeville theatres, the audience at the Temple theater heard the news from the stage:

“Manager Appleton secured the news from the Spectator and then had it announced from the stage after the first act.

“The orchestra immediately played the national anthem and other patriotic airs, and there was a scene of wild enthusiasm, the audience arising almost as one to cheer and sing.”¹

 

 

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WAR NEWS

If you want to hear the latest news of the war, come around this evening to the Spectator office. Arrangements have been made for a bulletin service that will be flashed by stereopticon from the Spectator office to the Merchant’s bank across the way. By this way thousands will be able to see the bulletins who could not get close enough to the office windows. Arrangements are also being made for stereopticon slides of the celebrities in the great war drama that is now thrilling the civilized world.

Come around and be the guests of the Great Family Journal tonight.”

Hamilton Spectator.  August  03, 1914.

It was most sensational news indeed. England had yet to respond to the invasion of Belgium by declaring war of the invader Germany. If England was to be at war, so would Canada.

All day, and most of the night, the street in front of the Spectator building on James street south had been crowded with people eager to learn the latest on the war situation from the bulletins received posted on the building’s front windows. Most people, of course, could not get close enough to read the bulletins themselves so the information would be passed through the throng by word of mouth. At some points, a Spectator staff member would read, or rather shout out the news, through a megaphone so all could hear.

The news from across the ocean was so eagerly desired that the managers of the self-described Great Family Journal, the Hamilton Spectator, decided on an innovative way to share the information being received about the war.

Using the technology of the stereopticon, the Spectator arranged to have the bulletins about the war, placed on glass slides which would then be largely projected on a wall across the street.

In the Monday afternoon edition of the Spectator of August 3, 1914, it was announced that the James street vicinity of the Spectator office would be the place to be to receive the latest war news, after darkness descended.

As described in the next day’s paper, the Spectator’s innovation was well-received :

“The Spectator’ s stereopticon bulletin sheet together an enormous crowd outside the offices on James street last night – a wild, enthusiastic mob, ready to cheer anything that was British, French or Russian, and to howl and hiss at anything German or Austrian.

“And they had plenty of opportunity to do both, for in addition to a continual service of messages from London – whence all eyes are centered at this moment of supreme crisis – they were shown a number of views and portraits dealing with the principal scenes and portraits most prominently associated with the present disruption of the European nations.

“It was a wonderful crowd and they were not long in demonstrating where their sympathies lay. Germany would have short shrift at the hands of an arm composed of the men of the temperament of those who cheered and yelled and yelled outside the Spectator office last night.”¹

¹ “Hamilton Got Its News at Spec. Office : Patriotic Fervor at Height as Bulletins Flashed : Thunderous Cheering For the British Leaders : Mob Howled in Derision at Kaiser’s Picture.”

Hamilton Spectator.  August 4, 1914.

The Spectator went on to describe the scene outside their offices as in control, if wildly enthusiastic:

“Despite their noise and demonstrations, they were quite orderly – that is, as orderly as their patriotism and loyalty would allow them to be.

“There was no ‘mafficking’ – things have not reached the stage where excitement begins to rule. That stage, if indications go for anything, will come quite soon enough, but, as time slowly passes, and Britain holds the whole world in suspense, the tension grows greater and greater.

“In point of numbers, this crowd was wonderful. It was as large as any crowd which has ever gathered in the streets of Hamilton before. It began at King street and stretched along as far as Main street, and the roadway in between was packed from side to side.

“It was the expectation that the British parliament would decide last night whether or not they would declare war against Germany which attracted them for they knew that the Spectator would flash the news on the street immediately it reached Canada.

“They waited for nearly two hours, following each successive bulletin from London as it appeared with intense eagerness, but in the end they had to return home still anxious, for at 9:40 p.m. came the intimation that parliament had adjourned without any vote being taken, and that the momentous declaration for war or against it would not be made at any rate until tomorrow.

“Then the crowd began to slowly filter away, but a few hundred still remained  to read the later dispatches which were posted on the windows outside.”¹

Throughout the evening, the immense crowd had been enthralled with the nature of the event. The information from the latest bulletins placed on the big screen was interspersed with images, images which elicited loud, and varying, responses from the assembled:

“It was when the portraits and the pictures were thrown upon the screen that the huge crowd gave vent to their feelings in such a remarkable way.

“The appearance of the King and Czar, of President Poincare and the Prince of Wales brought forth loud and patriotic cheers, but perhaps the greatest ovations  were reserved for Premier Asquith, Sir Edward Grey, Winston Churchill, Lord Kitchener, Lord Charles Beresford and Sir John French, for these are the men who have the destiny of the nation in their keeping. The crowd looks to the first three of these to uphold the honor and prestige of the most famous of empires in the policy they adopt at this most portentous time; they look to the others to see that that policy is carried out on the battlefields of Europe and on the sea – carried out expeditiously and well – and to render it impossible that Germany should ever again challenge the supremacy of Britain as the leading nation of the world.

“The men who clapped their hands and cheered so loudly when these portraits were exhibited have a whole-hearted detestation of war. They realize its horrors and the sorrows it carries in its train, but they prefer that some of the best blood of the nation should be split rather than that their empire should go down to history in dishonor, and as one which violated a sacred pledge. That is why they cheered when the bulletins announced that the war party was in ascendancy, and that the peace-at-any-price party consisted merely of a little insignificant group of Radicals and Socialists, whose prototypes are to be found, happily in very small numbers, in every part of the empire.”1

In addition to the crisis in Europe, there had been a severe crisis in Ireland over the matter of Home Rule. That matter suddenly became much secondary to the war situation.  Prominent Irish politician John Redmond ‘s image on the screen drew a different reaction that what might have happened just days earlier:

“John Redmond, too, came in for a hearty round of cheers as his portrait was flashed on the screen, for the crowd had only that afternoon read in the Spectator of his announcement in the British house of commons that the troops might all be withdrawn from Ireland for the armed Catholics of the south and the armed Protestants of the north, who a week or so ago seemed on the verge of an awful conflict, would combine and defend their island against any foreign invader.

“A similar ovation greeted the portraits of Sir Edward Carson, the Ulster leader, while Canadian notables in the persons of Sir Robert Borden and Col. Sam Hughes evoked cheers as loud and as long as any.”¹

While all of the portraits mentioned above were received positively,  their was one portrait which received the strongest  reaction of all, but not a cheering response when his face hit the big screen:

“It would be impossible to imagine a louder howl than that which rent the air when a recent portrait of the Kaiser, with bristling eyebrows and hair, firce-looking moustache and a determined scowl on his face, looking for all the world like a veritable demon of war, made its appearance.

“This mass of people knew where lay the responsibility for the conflict which is now inevitable, and they did not hesitate to express their opinion of the man who had destroyed the peace of the world and set up in its place a carnival of blood and hate; nor did the kaiserin, little though in all probability she had she had to with the culminating effect of her autocratic husband’s wild and ambitious dreams, escape the contemptuous anger of the crowd, while if shouts of derision could sink battleships, those that arouse when pictures of Austria’s and Germany’s war vessels appeared would have sent the combined fleets of these two powers to the bottom of the sea without any trouble.”¹

The Spectator conclude the account of its first effort of informing Hamiltonians of the latest war news via use of a stereopticon with not a little modesty:

“It was, indeed, a wonderful occasion and the Spectator is proud of the part it played in giving the people of Hamilton an opportunity of demonstrating beyond all doubt its love and its affection for the old country, and the loyalty  of the Dominion to the empire of which it forms so bright and conspicuous a part.”¹

Just before the Spectator went to press in the morning following the stereopticon views of bulletins and portraits, members of the Hamilton Police department made an appearance at the paper’s office:

“The Spectator was notified this morning by the police that ‘certain citizens’ had complained of the crowds that assembled in front of its office to read war bulletins.

“The Spectator did not ask the police to name the citizens who had thus complained, for the very excellent reason that the police would not have imparted the information.

“There may be those who would go so far as to say that the police ‘couldn’t’ name the complaining citizens, but the Spectator is too polite and law-abiding to make any such assertion.

“What the Spectator does want to know, however, is this : What are the police and the ‘complaining citizens’ going to do about it? Events of the most tremendous importance are happening; the public is desperately interested, and is insisting on being posted. The newspapers are the only medium through which the public can get this information, and the newspapers must respond to this public appeal.

“Surely the police can find some way of placating these complaining citizens at a time like this.”²

² “The Police and War Bulletins”

Hamilton Spectator. August 4, 1914

 

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The Spectator of Monday, August 3, 1914  carried a vivid description of the outburst of Hamilton’s patriotism which greeted the news of the outbreak of war in Europe:

“If any proof were needed of the warmth and strength of the tie which binds Canada to the mother country, it has be quickly forthcoming during the present crisis in European affairs, and if Hamilton may be taken as an indication of the feeling of the rest of the Dominion, then Great Britain need not fear for the support of the greatest of all colonies.

“Hamilton people are a notoriously calm and level-headed lot, and it takes a good deal to arouse in them a spirit of enthusiasm over anything. Even the Englishmen who settle here become infected with this feeling of reserve and restraint, but there was no mistake about the display of patriotic fervor and enthusiasm in the city.

“Directly it became known that the die had been cast, and that Great Britain had become involved in what promises to be the greatest and most bitter war of all the centuries., Briton and Canadian alike set loose their dormant spirit of Patriotism and were as one in the splendid attitude they assumed.

“ ‘This thing must be seen through to the bitter end,’ they declared, and if the old country wants any help in the gigantic struggle with which she is now faced, Hamilton will readily support her quota, there is no doubt of that.”¹

¹ “Crowds Clamored for News of Great Crisis : Spec’s War Edition Gave Everything As Bulletins Were Flashed”

Hamilton Spectator.  August 3, 1914.

On Sunday August 2, 1914, it seemed like all Hamilton was in state of fervid commotion, and the newspaper offices of the Times, the Herald and the Spectator were besieged by people wishing to learn about the latest news.

A reporter for the Spectator described in detail the scenes around the Spectator building on James street south :

“Excitement  was at a fever pitch all day yesterday, and the city of Hamilton has never before roused itself to such a pitch of enthusiasm.

“The Spectator office was all day long the center of an expectant mob, eagerly devouring each piece of news as it filtered through and was posted on the windows outside.

“Indeed, the Spectator played a great part in yesterday’s demonstrations, for its various wire services were placed at the disposal of the public all day and night, and it is gratifying to know that the efforts made in this respect met with such a hearty and generous appreciation.

“Perhaps, and this is a great and unique occasion, it may be of interest to record exactly what the Spectator’s part was.

“From the very first, from the moment the shadows of war began to loom in the distance, arrangements were made for a complete and continuous supply of the latest news from Europe, but it was not until the news was posted outside the office on Saturday afternoon that Germany had declared war on Russia that the general mass of the public realized the seriousness of the situation. Right up to that moment, there were strong hopes that the efforts of Britain might lead to a peaceful settlement or, at least, might result in confining the war to Austria and Servia.

“But Germany’s precipitated action disposed of all such possibilities, and the Spectator quickly determined upon keeping the public closely in touch with the latest developments.

“The wire services were kept open all night, and until a late hour on Saturday bulletins were posted at intervals outside the office, while inside the staff were hurriedly summoned and preparations made from bringing out a special war edition first thing yesterday morning.”¹

A special edition of the Spectator, containing all the very latest news on the outbreak of war was a huge undertaking, especially during the weekend :

“A difficulty had to be overcome for the laws of the province prohibit the sale of newspapers on a Sunday, but the management determined to give the paper away. By seven o’clock , nearly 30,000 copies of the special edition had been thundered out by the printing presses, giving full details up to that time of the Kaiser’s momentous action in embroiling the whole of Europe in war.

“A corps of men and boys were engaged to carry out the work of distribution, and before breakfast every resident along the Beach to Burlington had been supplied at his door with a free copy of the paper.

“House to house distributions took place at Dundas, Grimsby, Stoney Creek, Bronte, Oakville, Mount Hamilton and Crown Point, while several huge bundles were sent by early train to Niagara Falls, each station passed en route receiving a supply for the people living in the vicinity.

“All the suburban houses of the city were similarly supplied by the Spec’s corps of distributors, and the early morning boat to Toronto was boarded, and copies of the paper given to all passengers.

“Young men and boys were stationed at principal street corners of the city, and every adult person who passed had his or her special edition, the distributors at the corner of King and James streets having a particularly busy time. Inside the Spectator office, a man handed copies over the counter to all and sundry boys and girls, of course, being supplied, and it is safe to say that yesterday’s special edition was read by close upon 100,000 adult residents in this part of the province.”

“In the editorial department of the Spectator, from early morning to late at night, a staff of men were kept busy attending to inquiries by telephone from people in every direction.

“From Burlington came hundreds of messages to the Spectator, congratulating it upon its unprecedented enterprise, and eagerly devouring the latest news which the staff was able to supply. As each piece of news was received over the wires, it was pasted in the windows outside, and read eagerly by a crowd of people who assembled all day.”¹

As the day progressed, more and more people gathered in the vicinity of the Spectator:

“Towards evening, the crowd stretched right across the road, and became wildly enthusiastic, cheering each successive item of intelligence which told of a disadvantage to Germany, or of an advantage to Britain. When it was announced that the British fleet had held up a German steamship carrying $13,000,000 worth of bullion, hats were flung into the air, and the rejoicings were great, while the news that the French had similarly captured $4,000,000 of German gold on its way to Berlin, was the signal for another outburst.”¹

The outburst of such energetic greeting of the war news was in part because the outbreak of war seemed so sudden to many citizens:

“A few days ago people here had no desire for war. They fervently hoped and prayed for peace, but they are not of the ‘peace-at-any-price’ party, and now that Germany has thrown down the gauntlet and the dogs of war have been irrevocably set free, they are ready to support the mother country, by word and deed, and with an enthusiasm which a few days ago it would have been impossible to conceive.

“So dense did the throng become after church that bulletins on the windows were of little use, and the telegrams were read through a megaphone from a first story window, and it was only when it was announced that in London the time was 3:30 a.m., and that it was hardly likely that any news of importance would be forthcoming for a few hours, that the crowd began to melt away. Even then, right up to midnight, two or three hundred people remained in a fever of expectancy, determined not to miss even the smallest fragment of news, should any chance a stray telegram filter through.”¹

The management of the Spectator was not slow to boast that their newspapers was a critical instrument in disseminating war news, and not just in  Hamilton :

“It was not only in Hamilton and the places already mentioned that the Spectator supplied the latest news from the great European centers. The newspapers of Brantford and St. Catharines sent over special representatives to telephone and telegraph the Spectator bulletins to their respective papers, and the crowds outside those offices, although not so large, were just as pronounced in their cheers for the motherland as was that on James street.”¹

The Spectator did not fail to serve East Hamilton well as regards the making of the latest war news available.:

“The scene outside the Spectator branch office in East Hamilton was quite as enthusiastic.

“Simultaneously with the posting of bulletins in the windows of the main office, the news was telephoned to the Barton street office and posted there, so that the thousands of Englishmen who have made East Hamilton their home, were kept well-acquainted with their country’s doings in this sudden, overwhelming conflict. And among the crowd which assembled were not a few old soldiers – reservists, many of them – and without undue display of cheap heroism, they all intimated their readiness to return to Europe and shoulder a rifle once more for the old country immediately they were called upon to do so.”¹

The Spectator ended its reporting of the events of Sunday August 2, 1914 as follows;

“It was, in every respect, perhaps the most remarkable Sunday that Hamilton has ever experienced, but, in all probability there will be still more remarkable happenings before many days are past.

“Whatever happens, the Spectator may be relied upon to play its part in keeping the public well-supplied with the latest news from the seat of operations.”¹

 

 

 

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“In nearly all the Hamilton churches yesterday, special prayers were offered for peace, and many of the ministers made reference to the great war.”

Hamilton Spectator.  August 10, 1914.

Few Hamiltonians believed that Canada would be at war at the beginning of August 1914.

The assassination of the Austro-Hungarian Archduke in Sarajevo was known, and there was expectation that there would be repercussions towards Serbia made in answer  to the act.

However, problems in Eastern Europe had happened before and were resolved, more or less. It was inconceivable that such a matter would have such a disastrous domino effect.

The long summer holiday weekend, August  8 to10, 1914 had been anticipated with enthusiasm, plans had been made,  but the joy was dampened by news of the invasion of Belgium by Germany, followed by the declaration of war by England, an action automatically making Canada at war as well.

Hamiltonians attending church services on August  9, 1914 were definitely lead in prayer for peace, and preachers included comments on the perilous situation in their sermons.

The Hamilton Spectator did not have reporters enough on duty to cover services at every Hamilton church but a few of the largest churches were attended and portions of the sermons printed on the following day’s newspaper:

“At the Centenary Methodist church, Rev. R. B. Bows reviewed the great wars of the past and likened the actions of the Kaiser to those of Napoleon 100 years ago. He claimed that Britain had not entered the conflict through any wish to be aggressive, but simply to uphold the freedom for which she had fought so many battles and for which many loyal British soldiers had died in the past. He said that under no conditions must the British flag be dragged in the dust and claimed that while war was cruel at any time, there were cases where it was necessary and this was one of them as far as Britain was concerned.”¹

¹ War Themes in City Pulpits : Congregations Pray for the Peace of the World : Inspiring Scenes Marked Many Church Services : Preachers Endorse Britain’s Part in Great Conflict”

Hamilton Spectator. August 10, 1914.

The other church attended by a Spectator was the First Methodist church :

“Rev. Prof. A. J. Johnston of Victoria College, speaking in First Methodist church yesterday on the war among other things said:

“ ‘ In casting about for something to say to you, it has been impossible for me to keep my mind from the all-absorbing topic of the great war. We Canadians are a peaceful and a peace-loving people, and it has been with the greatest satisfaction we have been celebrating 100 years of peace between ourselves and our neighbors. We deplore war and none deplore it more than the Christians of our numbers.

“ ‘But we are thrust into and a long and bloody one it is likely to be. Our opponents have what is admittedly the strongest and best equipped army and this is backed up by the second best navy. So it is not likely to be a walk-over for any party in the conflict.

“ ‘The options are gloomy indeed. It makes us pause. A few things we can comfort ourselves we as we contrive with others to do our duty.

“ ‘We did not seek this war. Germany’s nasty movements and big offensive actions reveal a pre-determined plan. Germany for years has been dominated by the army and the Kaiser with his weaknesses at its head. The hope that looms on the horizon is that when the war is over, Germany may have full responsible government. When the nations give the government into the hands of the people, they will not go to war. Wars from time immemorial have been the result of the pride and ambition of princes and potentates.

“ ‘We have the moral support of the world. Germany with all her unworthy bribes and haughty threats has not drawn to herself one single people. In the end, that moral support must count mightily.

“We are now at war. Patriotism and duty summons every Canadian citizen to be true. A magnificent spirit has been revealed. There is no discordant note. In pulpit and press, and on street corners from one end of Canada to the other, there is but one will and work.

“’May God bless our soldiers and sailors, and when the war is over may we once again be free to cultivate neighborly relations with our cousins of the blood.’

“At the close of the address, the audience remained bowed for several minutes in silent prayer. A profound impression was created.”¹

St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church on Barton street east was also visited by a Spectator representative. Rev. Father Englert touched briefly on the war news in the course of his sermon:

“He counselled the members of his congregation not too enthuse too much over the war, but rather to pray for the dead and wounded, and sympathize with those wives and families near and dear to the brave soldiers who were being slaughtered in defense of their countries.

“ ‘ It is not those who bring about these wars who suffer most. The kings and emperors remain in their castles; it is the soldiers who bear the hardships. Kings march to victory over men’s graves,’ concluded the speaker.”¹

Over at St. Paul’s Presbyterian church on James street south, Rev. D. R. Drummond impressed upon his hearers the righteousness of the war which Great Britain was waging, and prophesized the crumbling of Germany:

“But he also foresaw that the culmination of the war would mean the disarmament of the entire world, when men would put aside the implements of warfare and enlist in the real army, the one that was worthwhile – the brotherhood of mankind.”¹