When the Hamilton Board of
Health issued its proclamation that all churches, theaters, billiard rooms and
many other places where crowds tended to gather, it was decided to have first
go into effect on Wednesday, October 16, 1918.
Later, for reasons not
publically related, that date was changed. The following Monday, October 21,
1918 was the new choice for the ban to go into effect with the hope that the
influenza epidemic might be eased by having fewer crowded places open in
Hamilton.
There was some speculation
that the date was changed to allow theaters a few extra days to earn some
revenue from ticket purchasers. Ambrose Small, owner of the Grand Opera House,
specifically denied that assertion, noting that revenues were seriously down by
of the impact of the epidemic.
The change of date allowed
churches in Hamilton to be open one more time before the ban on church openings
went into effect. While that was welcome by church leaders and church goers, it
was hardly enough to quell opposition to church closings at all.
The Board of Health, meeting
almost daily during the epidemic, was in receipt of a hand-delivered letter
from the Anglican Bishop of Niagara :
“This morning the board of
health held a meeting at which several important matters were under
consideration. One of them came in the form of a letter from Bishop Clarke, on
behalf of the Anglican clergy of the city, asking for a modification of the
official proclamation so that religious gatherings of 25 or less might be
permitted. The board gave this matter serious attention.”
The Bishop’s letter follows
:
October 22, 1918
“To the Members of the Board
of Health, Hamilton, Ont.
Gentlemen : A week ago I
called together the Anglican clergy in active service in this city to the
number of twenty, to consider how we could best support the board of health in
their strenuous efforts to reduce the ravages of the pestilence which has come
upon our city, and how we could afford the devout members of our church
opportunities to meet for united prayer and intercession to Almighty God to
avert the scourge.
We all felt that it could
not be eradicated by mere physical remedies, the cause and the cure being as
yet beyond the comprehension of our ablest medical men.
We recognize that the Author
of national sufferings has righteous reason for His dispensations, though
mysterious to us. We believe, however, that by uniting together in humiliation
before Him, and fervently imploring him to avert the calamity, that His
merciful interposition may be expected.
I cannot tell you, gentlemen
what disappointment it gave me on hearing of your decision.
I am advised that you
studiously omitted from your ‘proclamation’ the limited permission approved of
by the medical health officer, viz. that churches remain open for private prayer and for services of
intercession, provided that not more than twenty-five persons are allowed to
assemble at one time, and you ordered in pace thereof that every house of God
in the city should be hermetically sealed until further notice.
At the same time, I
understand, you gave permission to all industrial, commercial and business
institutions, in which in many cases large numbers are congregated and the
length of service is from eight to ten hours a day, to continue as heretofore.
You have also promised to
permit meetings to be held to promote Victory Loans etc.
From a medical standpoint
your ‘proclamation’ will avail but little. From a religious standpoint, we feel
that you may more than wounded the feelings of hundreds of our citizens
In this land of religious
freedom, the feelings and wishes, even of a minority of the people, should be
seriously considered.
May I express the hope that
the decision you arrived at is not final, but that you may, on further thought,
reconsider your action with regard to church services, and grant that before
next Sunday some measure of relief may be given to those who feel very keenly
in this matter. Believe me.
Very faithfully yours,
WILLIAM NIAGARA”
The bishop’s letter was
given serious, if brief, attention before a motion was made, seconded and voted
upon unanimously in favor of not altering the original proclamation in any way.
The next day, another letter
from an Anglican Church leader, was printed in the Spectator. The letter
although less studiously worded than the bishop’s was no less direct:
“To the Editor : It has been sagely observed
that ‘the law is an ass,’ if ever we doubted the justice of this dictum we have
only to consider the Gilbertian situation created by two announcements in this
evening’s papers. The board of health abides by its decision to close the
churches next Sunday in accordance with the terms of the proclamation. The
proclamation provides that nothing in its terms shall interfere with meetings
essential to the successful prosecution of the war. Now the minister of finance
requests the clergy to give the Victory loan a sendoff on Sunday. Therefore,
every church in Hamilton may open on Sunday and packed to the doors for a
Victory loan meeting, but no church may open for the worship of Almighty God.
“Perhaps the board
recognizing this ludicrous, not to say sacrilegious, provision of the
proclamation will relent even at the eleventh hour.
Faithfully yours,
WM. P. ROBERTSON,
The Church of St. Thomas,
October 24, 1918. 2
2 “Closing
of Churches”
Hamilton Spectator. October 24, 1918.
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