1914-10-05yy

 “Favored with ideal weather, the parade for divine service held by the 91^st Canadian Highlanders yesterday morning, brought out thousands of people to watch the boys in kilts pass by.”

Hamilton Spectator. October 5, 1914.

Whenever the 91^st Canadian Highlanders attended a church service, marching from the armories on James street north, their bagpipes, kilts and bearskin headdress were bound to attract attention.

However, the attention was even more focused for the church parade on Sunday, October 4, 1914 as the Highland militia unit marched to the Church of the Ascension on John street south.

Long before the arrival of the soldiers and long before the scheduled starting time of the service, the sanctuary of the beautiful church was filled to overflowing, except, of course, for the pews roped off for the military guests.

Reverend Dr. Renison was in charge of the service, and for his sermon, he chose the text, “Whence comest thou : what is thy country and of what people are they?”

Reverend Renison delivered his sermon in his usual thoughtful, eloquent manner:

“ ‘The time had come for clear thinking,’ he said, and taking the word of the prophet, we find that religion and patriotism are twin sisters. Most of our forefathers come from the little island, and our hearts go out to those who have faced and are facing the great tragedy of the centuries.

“ ‘England owes much of its past success to the simple truths  which lie deep in the hearts and minds of her people. It is not always culture which makes the race formidable, as witness Germany. In that country, philosophy and militarism go hand in hand. The progress of the world has been such that it is impossible to believe in this freedom-loving country of ours that militarism can hope to rule universal dominions.

“ ‘We, as a nation, did not declare war. Nothing that could have been done to avert it was left undone. Our empire stands for a single purpose, the freedom of its people. This is a battle to allow the little countries to live. It is a fight for the possession of the simple life.’ ”¹

¹ “91^st Regiment Attends Church :Thousands of People Watched Them Pass.”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 5, 1914.

Rev. Dr. Rension continued by emphasizing that the war was for the common people’s rights. Militarism, he noted, had killed democratic progress in parts of the world and that the lights of freedom would go out if British ideals were trampled underfoot:

“ ‘We are fighting for our children, just as our forefathers fought in days past for us,’ he said. ‘The response of the different component parts of the British empire to the call is a lesson to the world of the utmost loyalty of British possessions to the mother country.

“The British race is not a military people, but we stood as one when the call came, as I ever hope we shall in the times of danger.’ ”¹