1915-05-01-ii

“To show its appreciation of the Hamilton Home Guard Rifle Association, the Canadian Club will hold a luncheon on Monday.”

Hamilton Spectator.      May 1, 1915.

Promised as “an affair unique in the history of the club,” the leaders organized an affair to honor the men of the Hamilton Guard Rifle Association, men who were too old, involved in critical war-supporting businesses or industries. The Home Guard did many important duties protecting many Hamilton areas from enemy infiltration and were ready to mobilize quickly if needed to quell any problems caused by enemy spies, many of whom were thought to be at work in the city.

The guest list for the planned Canadian Club luncheon contained all the important military officers working in the city, whether those in charge of the local militia units or those involved with the military working at the armories or the training grounds of the 26^th battalion in the east end of the city.

Two special invitees to the luncheon were Lieutenant-Colonel Rev. Dr. W. T. Herridge of Ottawa, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Canada and Dr. Charles W. Gordon (aka Ralph Connor, the distinguished Canadian novelist, who had volunteered for overseas service.

The Spectator reporter invited to the luncheon started writing his column while still stirred by the powerful feelings roused at the event:

“Patriotism – and that means self-sacrifice and death if necessary – rang clear and true as the keynote of the luncheon of the Canadian Club, held last evening in the tea room of G. W. Robinson and company’s store.

“It was Home Guard night, but a real military interest was added by the presence of many notable officers on active service – men who are destined to play an important part in this war of wars.”¹

¹ “Canadian Club’s Military Night”

Hamilton Spectator. May 4, 1915.

Dr. Charles Gordon was unable to attend, and his place was taken by S. N. Dauncey, a Canadian journalist recently returned from the front.

One thing that was on the minds of all in attendance was the fact that a federal  election was due. There was much debate as to the advisability of having an election while the nation was at war. Politics were generally taboo in the Canadian Club but given the situation, it was decided that in this case, the club should make a statement about the possible election.

Moved by F. F. Macpherson and seconded by Dr. Storms, both past-presidents of the Canadian Club, a motion was unanimously carried to the effect that the club members “displayed their common sense by placing themselves on record as being opposed to an election when the empire was engaged in war.”¹

Hamiltonian Lieutenant-Colonel McLaren, the officer in command of the 19^th battalion was given a rousing reception when he was introduced to the gathering by Hamilton Mayor Chester Walters. Accompanying the hearty applause and cheers was a spontaneous singing of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow:

“Lieut.-Col. McLaren spoke but briefly. He referred to the tragedy at Ypres, and said it could not help but stimulate recruiting. He would not tell any man to go to war, for he could not tell the reasons that were preventing that man from enlisting. What he did think, however, was that all those of the required age and physical fitness should be at the front, leaving behind to keep the wheels of commerce turning those who were not of the proper age and physical fitness.

“Lieut.-Col. McLaren referred with pride to his own 19^th battalion, and said he was happy to state that all his officers, with the exception of two, were native-born Canadians. Those other two had been residents of Canada for over ten years. He also stated that while many of the men in the ranks were not native-born Canadians, the largest percentage of them had been residing in this country for over ten years.

“The seeking of money should be forgotten while the war was on, for victory would come quicker when Canadians stopped thinking of their own personal interests.”¹

Lieutenant-Colonel E. C. Ashton was the next speaker. He commanded the 36^th battalion in training, and which was expected to soon be called to the front:

“Lieut.-Col Ashton extended his heartfelt thanks to the citizens of Hamilton for the treatment extended him since he began mobilizing his battalion in Hamilton. The men were a good lot, he said, and were working hard. The majority of them had enlisted for the good of humanity – the call came personally to each one of them, and they couldn’t hold back. He hoped they would leave Hamilton fit enough and good enough to do Hamilton credit.”¹

Sir John Gibson, honorary president of the Hamilton Home Guard, was given the task of introducing Lieut.-Col. Rev. Dr. Herridge :

“Sir John said that he would go a long way to hear Lieut.-Col. Herridge speak and it was a matter of credit to Hamilton that Lieut.-Col. Herridge was somewhat of an old Hamilton boy, having studied for a time in the collegiate institute.”¹

When he rose to speak, Lieut.-Col. Ashton was given an enthusiastic  reception:

“(He) said those present could scarcely help feeling serious. In Ottawa last Thursday it was his solemn duty to conduct a service for the brave Canadians who fell on the field of battle. Canadians at home could not help but mourn for those who fell, but they could not also but feel grateful for the gallant way in which they fell. So far from dissuading others, the tragedy would further stir the deeper conscious of national duty. That tragedy but inspired other Canadian sons to emulate the splendid zeal of their comrades across the seas.

“ ‘Let us not say that those brave men are dead,’ said the speaker. ‘They are not dead. Their deeds will live and their memories will live forever. They have quickened the pulse of the whole of Canada and broadened the spirit of the British empire. They have been lifted to the glorious height of sudden immortality.’

“Lieut.-Col. Herridge said he hoped he would not have to apologize because he was a minister of the gospel who was preaching war. He believed profoundly that Christianity were incompatible. He believed that when a war was fought in Christian lands, the principle of Christianity had been meagerly represented there, but as long as evil passions reigned among men, war became a stern, inevitable necessity. Britain had not sought this strife, but instead did everything in her power to prevent it. Failing to prevent it, it was in consistence with her honor and glorious traditions that she would not keep out of it.

“Canadians should have no quarrel with their German fellow-citizens, provided they kept Canadian laws. Canadians were still able to appreciate the compelling harmonies of Beethoven, were still able to admire what Germans had done scientifically and commercially. While this was true, the speaker held that the whole British empire did have a quarrel as Christians and men with the Germany dominant today – the Germany of blood and iron. Britain did have a quarrel and it would end till by the grace of God, that Germany was overthrown.

“It was a war of agonizing principles, a war was bound to come. It was a war of sane democracy against a mad democracy. It was not a war of a vulgar sort, but a war that was destined to destined to decide, not simply the fate of nations, but to a large degree, the quality and honor of civilization for years to come. Canadians could not help but feel they were justified in going to war in a lofty spirit. There was no reason for personal malice, rancor or bitterness.

“ ‘We’ll have to love them to whip them thoroughly,’  said Lieut.- Col. Herridge. ‘Parents of olden days whipped goodness into their children when it couldn’t be done any other way, and our business now is to find a whip big enough to lay across the backs of these desecrators of humanity. Fire and sword must be met with more than fire and sword in this war. If we can’t win by fair means, we cannot strive to emulate the damnable practices of our enemies. If we are going to be beaten, we will be beaten like men, not thieves.  We will keep the freedom of our souls, but, gentlemen – we are not going to be beaten. It’s a long way to Tipperary, but, by the grace of God, we hope to get there stronger and nobler men.

“Concluding, the speaker said he was glad that some nations were technically neutral. He didn’t see how any nation could be rightfully neutral and, as for the United States, he believed that the best citizens of the nation in the south were just about as neutral as himself. Canadians should feel no toil too great, no sacrifice too arduous, not only for the sake of the dear old motherland, but for the sake of the common cause she advocated.

“He could not feel but that Canada was on trial – that the time had come when it would be found out what stuff Canadians were made of. He believed they would stand the test. It was not a parting of the wave, but a place where the old road broadened before us. If people resolved to put away the childish things out of this trial, this darkness, there would emerge a new, a finer, a bigger Canada that would take an important place in advancing the true progress of the world.”¹

The final speaker was the journalist S.N. Dancey who stated that he believed that the war would be over by September as Germany’s ammunition supplies would not last beyond that time and that the country would call it “quits.” Dancey had spent some time in Germany and had witnessed a supreme confidence as the war started, but that not the people were feeling a “doubtful fear.”

Dancey said that the German people had become impressed with a remark that a Turkish general once made – “England always wins one battle, the last one.”