After the second consecutive ‘churchless’ Sunday,
December 8, 1918, the resistance to the Hamilton Board of Health’s ban on
public gatherings was becoming ever more strident.
As well as irate clergy and congregations being unable
worship in public, the merchants of Hamilton, both large and small, were
chafing at the restrictions which had been placed on the hours stores were
allowed to be open.
In conversation with reporters, stories of compliance,
and non-compliance with the board of health regulations were provided:
“Board of health officials
asserted that though there were complaints of the drastic regulations, the
public was complying generally with the restrictions. Inspectors, who were on
the streets Saturday afternoon and evening, discovered many minor, and one or
two serious, infractions. Summonses will be issued for the appearance in court
of those who deliberately ignored the ban.
“The Athens Candy company,
which, it was said, retained several employees after 4 o’clock on Saturday will
be called upon to explain to the magistrate.
“ ‘There are some merchants
who are apparently willing to pay a fine of $20, figuring that they can make
more than that by staying open,’ said Dr. Roberts. ‘Twenty dollars is the
minimum fine, the maximum being $500.’
“Officials further stated
that many of the infractions were unintentional, the ban breakers having been
advised by those without authority, who did not know what they were talking
about. It was stated that Mayor Booker had, several days ago, informed the
proprietor of a confectionary store that it was permissible for his wife and
daughter to assist him after 4 p.m. This was erroneous information, which won
for the proprietor a warning.”1
1 “Influenza Abating, Ban to
Be Modified : Joint Conference Tomorrow of Health Board and Medical Association
: Only 193 Cases Were Reported Over Saturday and Sunday”
Hamilton Spectator. December 09, 1918.
As for the potential for disobedience
regarding the ban on church services, there need not have been any concerns:
“So far as could be learned there
were no religious gatherings yesterday, all pastors complying with the
proclamation.”
However, there was an
extraordinary series of events reported, a situation involving a pastor, some
Sunday school teachers, an irate landlady :
“On Friday evening,
Inspector Gompff dispersed a ‘history class’ which was being conducted by a
clergyman in a Bold street boarding house. A woman who lived in the
neighborhood complained to Dr. Roberts about the meeting, saying she was
opposed to any infractions of the ban. Five Sunday school teachers and students
were in the class, which was told to disperse.
“Dr. Roberts, referring to
this case today, said that, while gatherings were prohibited, visiting could
not be stopped.”1
However, there was a more nuanced
and detailed story to be told concerning what happened with Board of Health Inspector
Gompff, the inferring lady and the unidentified clergymen and Sunday school
teachers :
“To the Editor : That an
Englishman’s house is no longer his castle, at any rate in Hamilton, seems
abundantly evident from the following incident which took place on Friday
evening.
“The assistant at a city
church who lives in an apartment house had invited three of his Sunday school
teachers for a chat on church history in his study. It so happened that the
caretaker of the establishment had got out of bed the wrong way that morning
and with the approach of night her temper had not improved. She accordingly
informed the curate that he was breaking the law as interpreted and
administered by the Hamilton board of health. The interrupted dominie not
unnaturally suggested that she might be better occupied in minding her own
business, whereupon the irate lady from the security of her own premises
proceeded to ring up the health department and lodge a complaint. An inspector
proceeded hot haste to the scene and instructed the quartet that they must immediately
disperse. Hearing a piano playing gaily in an adjoining apartment, he asked
what it meant and was told in answer to go and see for himself. Investigation
discovered to him seven people – the number was subsequently increased to nine
– having an evening with music and cards. On being informed that it was just a
social gathering, this representative of Bumbledom gave it his official
benediction and pronounced it all o.k. He insisted, however, the Sunday school
teachers must depart, and after leaving the house, returned in half an hour in
company with a policeman whose assistance he had bespoke to see that his
instructions had been carried out.
“The ordinary citizen will
naturally ask, Are we living in Hamilton, Canada, or in Prussia, under the Kaiser?
How much further is this sort of thing to go, and how much longer is it going
to last? Are domiciliary visits to be the order of the day and are interfering
landladies to find sympathetic coadjutors in the paid officials of a democratic
community?
“Furthermore, it may be
asked, Why should a distinction be made between seven or nine persons engaged
in social intercourse and three or four who have met together for study and the
pursuit of knowledge? Has this any bearing on the action of the board of health
in closing the schools and churches and leaving barrooms open? These are
questions which the board should be requested to answer.
A LOVER OF
JUSTICE”1
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