1918-10-22Churches Closed

On Sunday October 21, 1918, the edict of the Hamilton Board of Health went into effect, banning gatherings of 25 people or more, including at church services.

One of the most vocal critics of the decision to prohibit church services in Hamilton was Rev. C. B. Kenrick, of St. Philip’s church. In an interview with the Spectator, Kenrick argued forcefully against the edict against church services, even when efforts were proposed to limit more than 25 congregants to enter a church building at any one time, while other certain meetings of 25 or more attendees were allowed:

“The churches were doing a hard and necessary work in the community, and the authorities had given them many knocks. Recruiting meetings and entertainments held under various pretexts had unsettled people’s habits in churchgoing on Sunday evenings. Now the board of health had shut up the churches altogether. What he especially objected to was the interdicting of the brief relay services at which no more than 25 people were to have been present, on which the Church of England clergy had unanimously resolved. Even early communion service was forbidden.¹

¹  “Another Protest : Rev. C. B. Kenrick Takes Exception to Closing Churches”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 22, 1918

Reverend Kenrick was withering in his criticism of the Hamilton Board of Health, wondering why places of business and manufactories were allowed to continue but not the city’s churches :

“Why, he asked, if the danger were so great, were not the factories and the stores closed? He did not think the doctors were of one mind in the matter, and declared the closing of churches was just a piece of camouflage to fool the public and satisfy a clamor in certain quarters. It was as futile a preventive measure as it was wicked. The Lord had commanded him as a priest to ‘do this in remembrance of Me.’ Was he to harken to the board of health when they said to him, ‘Don’t do this?’ St. Paul had an unmeasured contempt for human laws when they conflicted with the laws of God. If the apostle had been in Hamilton at the present day, he would have directed the clergy to ignore the proclamation, and continue their work as usual. And they should be willing to go to prison for their convictions, as St. Paul did – if the medical board dared to send them there.”¹

Pushing back against the notion that only places important to the war effort were allowed to stay open, Reverend Kenrick ended his outburst as follows :

“Gatherings essential to the winning of the war were exempted from the provisions of the proclamation. Thereby the doctors showed their lack of religion and faith. Prayer was essential to the winning of the war, and united prayer was more efficacious than that offered by individuals. The offering of the church’s oblation at the altar was much more important than knitting socks or making Red Cross bandages. Yet assisting at the altar and receiving communion was forbidden, while attendance at Red Cross meetings was encouraged. He stigmatized the interdict as inspired by the enemy of mankind. While the doctors had different theories and treatments, and churches were open in Toronto, while they were closed here, there was one piece of advice which he could give them about which there was no doubt, and that was ‘My brethren be strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His might.’ ¹