1915-02-08gs

"Once again Hamilton’s annual Orphan’s Festival has been held, and once again, it has been pronounced a success in every way.”

Hamilton Times.    February 8, 1915.

Ever since 1854, there had been an Orphan’s Festival in Hamilton. Organized by the local Roman Catholic diocese, the festival was aimed at raising funds to assist in the care for orphans cared for at the institution in connection with St. Mary’s Cathedral.

For many years, the festival had been held at the Grand Opera House, but in 1915, for the first time, another location was chosen :“

“The Temple Theatre was the scene of the event yesterday afternoon and last evening, and its“ splendid seating capacity was taxed to the utmost to hold the large number that turned out.”¹

¹ “Festival of the Orphans at the Temple”

Hamilton Times.   February 8, 1915.

The festival attracted most of Hamilton’s major political leaders, including Mayor Walters, Controllers Morris, Robson and Jutten, plus former mayor, but current M.P.P. for West Hamilton, John Allan.

Everyone present was given a treat by the performers at the festival :

“The afternoon and evening programmes could scarcely have been better.

“The duets of Mr. Stenhouse and Miss Brown were especially delightful and their rendering of the Miserere scene from Verdi’s tragic opera, ‘Il Provatore’ drew forth round after round of applause from the delighted audience.

“By way of a change, the humorous work of  Mr. Leroy Kennedy convulsed the audience with laughter, especially in his rendition of ‘An Englishman’s Impression of a Baseball Game’ which, through its clean cut humor and absurdity made the the audience forget dull care and the anxieties of life.

“Scarecely has Van Goen’s ‘Romance’ been so well rendered by Miss Lois Winlow on the cello. Miss Winlow’s interpretation of this favorite may be termed beautiful, and through it she quite captivated the hearts of the audience.”¹

However, the performing ranks for the festival was not limited to adults. The orphans themselves actually filled most the programme with their talents:

“A humorous sketch was given by the orphan boys entitled ‘A Painless Operation’ and dealt with a dentist’s office and a patient with an aching molar. The boys entered into this piece with zest.

“Military drills and choruses were also given, and to watch them one would not think they had a care in the world.

“Master Joseph Coulden showed himself to be an orator when he gave the orphans’ valedictory. Without a break, the manly little chap thanked the patrons of the concert, and likened kindness to a flower whose sweetness of perfume becomes more pronounced the more it is used. The little chap went bravely through a long speech and was applauded to the echo when he finished.”¹

In his speech to the large audience, Monsignor Mahony, Vicar-General of the local Catholic church, said, “I have to thank all races and creeds for assistance in running the orphanage. We have many friends in the city of Hamilton, and it is through their generosity that the orphanage is as successful as it has been. I am going to ask Mayor Walters, whom I am pleased to welcome here, to read the statement of the orphanage.”

Mayor Walters was greeted with prolonged applause as he stood to speak. After thanking the Monsignor, the mayor read out the statement. There were 72 boys at the orphanage in 1915 full-time, and 58 girls. The orphanage had also provided brief shelter for 239 children during the year as well.

The mayor then went on to say:

“We need only to look at the happy faces on the stage to see what kind of treatment the children get. It makes me proud as Mayor of Hamilton to know that such a large number of citizens would turn out to support a home of this kind.

“We may also feel thankful that we are living under British domain and that the seas are open for commerce, owing to our splendid navy. Yet we must not forget  the children of other lands, whose natural protectors are being killed in this dreadful war, and we must not forget that many of these children have no places to go.”

M.P.P. John Allan was also asked to speak and he directed his remarks at the orphans urging them to set a goal in life. Perhaps it had been a long programme or maybe the speaker was less than riveting:

“During the speaking one little mite sitting on the edge of the stage fell asleep and awoke with a start that caused a roar of laughter.”¹

The programme ended with Joseph Couldon reading The Orphans’ Address:

“Dear Ladies and Gentlemen – the picture can give off its richness for a century and still the canvas is not stripped. Fragrance goes out from the flower, and is blown down the winds like wisps and shreds from the cloud, but the flower is not despoiled by yielding its perfume. It continues perfect in form and color, still glowing in its heart of red, though the garden is filled with its scent. And the heart of man can reveal his love, beat out of his yearning, and remain undiminished. It knows no loss. It is replenished by its giving.

“This admirable truth is nobly exemplified in the good citizens of Hamilton, whose charity towards us glows as brightly as it did sixty-one years ago., when the orphans of St. Mary’s held their first festival. Year after year ourgratitude has been voiced by youthful orators. Could we but assemble them here, what a galaxy would appear!

“Before I relinquish my role of orator of this eventful year of 1915, it is my duty to thank you, good ladies and gentlemen, in behalf of the little ones of St. Mary’s for your ever-increasing generosity, which enables the Sisters to provide so many comforts and advantages for us.

“May you, dear friends and benefactors, be amply rewarded by Him, who has said, ‘As long as you did it to one of these, my least brethren, you did it to Me.’

“Would that we could share our abundance and blessings with the children over the seas, who have been made orphans by the deadly war which dominates everything. In all hearts, the prayer is constant and fervent that it soon may end, and the tearful query rises day by day to the throne of the Most High, ‘How long, oh Lord, how long?’

“May the day be not far distant when we shall hail with joy the return of our gallant soldiers and celebrate in their honor another festival truly grand and triumphant.

“Again, dear friends, we thank you for all your kindness to the children of St. Mary’s Orphanage, and pray our Heavenly Father to bestow upon you countless blessings for many years to come.”