For a Protestant Federation
Newspaper Articles > The Mirror and Family Herald and Weekly Star, January 1st, 1907
Rev. J.M. Whitelaw, Grand Chaplain.
The annual meeting of the Orange Grand Lodge of Eastern Ontario held here this week has been one of the most interesting in the history of the order. The Grand Secretary's report showed the order to be in a flourishing condition. The Grand Treasurer's report showed a balance on hand of $3,640, a large amount of which will be spent in the publishing of literature, especially a pamphlet prepared by Bro. W.D. McPherson, of Toronto, giving the educational clauses of the Act of Confederation and all Ontario educational legislation since that date.
The Grand Master's Address
Lieut. Col. J. Earl Halliwell, in his review of the year said in part, "During the past year the world has not by any means been simply marking time, but, on the contrary, many matters of universal interest have occupied its attention. To my mind, the most important event that has darkened the world's horizon since our last gathering has taken place in our beloved Canada. I mean the turning back the dial of time some two or three hundred years, at the instance of the Church which has for centuries labored to curtail the liberties and enlightenment of the people in order that the heads of that organization may hold them in absolute control for their own advantage. As this question concerns each one of us personally and directly, I think it better that we should devote the greater part of our time to it, to the exclusion of all other matters, which though important, interest us more remotely. The recent legislation relating to our new Western Provinces is one of the most taxing examples of unblushing treachery ever recorded, one of the grossest violations of constitutional liberty ever perpetrated on a free country. It is a startling example of the effect of partisanship carried to excess and controlled by a brilliant demagogue, whose only aim is to satisfy his own selfish ambitions, and whose only principle is the gratification of his own inordinate vanity".
So-called Protestants Arraigned
The Grand Master divided the members of Parliament who supported the infamous and misnamed "Autonomy Bills" into two classes, the "so-called Protestants" and the Roman Catholics. Of the former, he said: "I speak of them as "so-called Protestants' because the miserable, craven wretches who, cringing under the party lash, with the beggarly home of thereby gaining substantial favors, sacrificed every honest principle they ever professed, are unworthy of being included in any category which is supposed to consist of honourable men. It is a disgrace to Protestants to apply this honorable title to such caricatures on manhood, If these creatures had enough grace left in them to slink away into the obscurity from which they should never have emerged, it might be wise to throw the broad mantle of charity over them and forget their existence. But as most, if not all of them took the precaution to secure lucrative positions at the public expense, to which their own merit would never have entitled them, it is our duty to point them out with the finger of scorn as objects of contempt to all men who prize honor and virtue above the external advantages of rank and fortune. There may be a few who will object to being counted in this class. Some may excuse themselves by likening themselves to the British statesmen in the comic opera, 'who always voted at his country's call and never thought of thinking for himself at all'. A few may say they were misled by Sir Wilfrid's specious tergiveration, or by Mr. Satan's clumsy 'gallery-play.' But any man who will avail himself of any of these excuses to extricate himself from a thoroughly disgraceful situation is welcome to all the comfort he can get out of it."
While differing from the Roman Catholics, Col. Halliwell could not but admire their loyal, unswerving devotion to their faith, and call upon Protestants to "take a lead from their book in this respect."
Beginning to Wake Up.
Proceeding, the Grand Master said, "If we would attend more closely to our own business they (the Roman Catholics) would not to-day be, as they are, the absolute masters of this country".
"But we have grown careless under prosperity. We have been so long accustomed to boasting of the liberties which our forefathers secured for us, that we have forgotten to guard them. We got them too easily. They cost us nothing. If we had to fight for those liberties as our forefathers did, we would not have sat idly by while we were being robbed of them. We needed something to awaken us from the 'Fool's Paradise' in which we have been slumbering. But I think we are beginning to wake up; I think Sir Wilfrid Laurier has done the first act of his life that will entitle his name to be remembered after he has gone; I believe if his name is remembered at all, he will go down to prosperity as the man who revived the Orange Association, and drove all liberty loving Canadians under its banners; the man who made it impossible for any other statesman ever again to try to deprive the free people of this county of their liberties as long as time lasts. I sincerely hope it may be so".
Be Up and Doing
"It rests with us to be up and doing; all we have to do is to stand together, and the moment the politicians see the Orangemen of Canada stand together in one solid united mass they will soon find a way to give us our rights, and if they don't we will find a way for ourselves. We must begin right here in Ontario. And when you come to think of it, Ontario has not much to boast of in the way we have guarded our own rights. We have allowed one encroachment after another until our once boasted Public School system is almost a thing of the past. In some sections of Ontario the Public Schools are abolished entirely, and sectarian schools have taken their places, and are being supported out of public funds. It is almost a farce to say we have a public school system at all. It is not very far from the truth to say that we have a dual school system, composed of nominal public schools and actual sectarian schools, both largely supported out of the public funds. There is one striking difference, however, between them. The Church of Rome has been allowed from time to time to interfere in the regulations of the public schools, but no other church or party can interfere to the extent of a hair's breadth with the sectarian schools. With our internal affairs governed by an imported Italian priest, our constitutional liberties trampled upon and destroyed at the dictation of Rome, and our ocean commerce audaciously ordered to look for protection to the United States and the Monroe Doctrine, what have we to boast of?"
Not a Demagogue
"It seems to me to have about reached the parting of ways, and that we should do one of two things, either disband our lodges, burn our constitutions and warrants, and reverently bury our colors alongside the sacred ashes of the men who secured the liberties for us that we are unworthy to enjoy, and acknowledge ourselves serfs and incapable of exercising the rights of free men, or else rise in our might and forever blot out this foolish juggling, this mischievous and insulting travesty on free Parliamentary Government. But let me not be misunderstood. I am no demagogue, and I would be the last to counsel extreme or violent measures until such become absolutely and undoubtedly necessary. Violent measures need never be necessary and never will be necessary if we remain faithful to our duties. We can regain all our lost ground if we do not allow ourselves to be drawn aside by catch words and cries."
Addresses of Welcome
Addresses of welcome were presented to the Grand Lodge by the civic authorities of Lindsay by Dr. Vrooman, the Mayor, while Rev. Bro. Whitelaw, Master of Victoria County, presented an address of welcome on behalf of the County. This address was signed by Rev. Bro. Whitelaw, Master; Col. Sam Hughes, William Cottingham, W.J. Wallace, Jas Kelly, Past County Masters of Victoria.
M.W. Sovereign Sproule, M.P., the head of the order for British America delivered a most telling address, in which he emphasized the fact that both political parties bid for the Roman Catholic support, and that the party press on both sides is virtually muzzled from dealing with questions of encroachments of Roman hierarchy upon the rights of others.
In a very racy address, Col. Sam Hughes, M.P. empasized what Dr. Sproule had said.
The Grand Lodge made provisions to be represented at the Triennial Council, to be held in Toronto on July 17, 18 and 19. W. Bro. Gray, Grand Organizer for Ontario East, has done excellent work, and never before has the Order been in such a flourishing condition. This kind of work will be pushed with greater zeal in 1906 and 1907.
The Rev. Bro. N. Coburn of Toronto, gave a most inspiring address touching more particularly on the appointment of a principal for the Ottawa Normal School, to succeed Principal McCabe. Mr. H.C. Hocken of the Sentinel, also spoke. Rev. Whitelaw, of Omemee, in a telling address, moved that the thanks of the Grand Lodge be tendered to these two brethren for their inspiring and instructive addresses. This was seconded by R.W. Bro. Birnie, of Kingston, and carried by a standing vote.
The Railways Criticized
The railways came in for a good deal of adverse criticism. It was pointed out that the delegates to the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick got much better rates than Ontario did. Over the I.C.R. delegates returned free, over the C.P.R. if over 50 delegates the return was free. Here, if over 50 and under 300 one-third is charged for return, if over 300 free.
Form a Protestant Federation
Perhaps the most important incident at the meeting was the suggestion made by Dr. Sproule, the Supreme Grand Master of the order in Canada, in th ecourse of an address Thursday afternoon. He proposed that the Orange Association should invite all the Protestant Churches and every distinctively Protestant body in Canada to co-operate in the formation of a great Protestant Federation upon the same lines as that which already exists in Great Britain. He pointed out that the extent to which public sentiment had been aroused in Great Britain, by the dissemination of books, pamphlets and newspapers, exposing the activities of the Roman Church, and said it was due almost entirely to the work of this Federation that public sentiment had become very sensitive to anything like Roman Catholic aggression and encroachment in the United Kingdom.
He referred to the influence which this Federation had exercised in the recent British elections, and said, much as he regretted any disaster to his friend, Mr. Balfour, that that gentleman had only himself to thank for his overwhelming defeat. His surrender to the Roman Catholic Church in the matter of education had excited the Protestants of Britain, with the result that we have recently seen.
The suggestion was received with applause by the deleagates who were present.
Annoyed Over Patronage
There is a great deal of unrest among members of the Eastern part of Ontario, and particularly in the Ottawa district, over the way appointments have been made by the Provincial Government. There is a suspicion in their minds also that a Normal School is to be established for the training of teachers for Separate Schools. It would virtually mean the conversion of the present Normal School in that city for Separate School purposes.
There is intense opposition to this; it is predicted by the delegates that if the Whitbey Government did do such a thing as that, they would lose the support of every orangeman in Eastern Ontario. The dominance of Mr. Dennis Murphy, of Ottawa, in the disposal of patronage is a sore spot with the Orangemen of the Ottawa district. He not only presumes to control the appointments in the city, but has interfered in adjoining counties in a way that has caused intense dissatisfaction among the members of the Order.
The Grand Lodge voted $120 towards the publication of the pamphlet on "Separate Schools", which is being prepared by Mr. W.D. McPherson. It is expected that the first issue of this pamphlet will be 10,000 copies, and these will be distributed throughout the Province.
The Officers Elected
The election of officers resulted:
The following were elected as delegates to the Triennial Council meeting in Toronto in July, 1906:
The Grand Lodge will meet next year in the town of Brockville. The other towns voted on for next place of meeting were Millbrook, Pembroke, Carleton Place and Napanee.
Among the delegates were:
The Grand Master's Address
Lieut. Col. J. Earl Halliwell, in his review of the year said in part, "During the past year the world has not by any means been simply marking time, but, on the contrary, many matters of universal interest have occupied its attention. To my mind, the most important event that has darkened the world's horizon since our last gathering has taken place in our beloved Canada. I mean the turning back the dial of time some two or three hundred years, at the instance of the Church which has for centuries labored to curtail the liberties and enlightenment of the people in order that the heads of that organization may hold them in absolute control for their own advantage. As this question concerns each one of us personally and directly, I think it better that we should devote the greater part of our time to it, to the exclusion of all other matters, which though important, interest us more remotely. The recent legislation relating to our new Western Provinces is one of the most taxing examples of unblushing treachery ever recorded, one of the grossest violations of constitutional liberty ever perpetrated on a free country. It is a startling example of the effect of partisanship carried to excess and controlled by a brilliant demagogue, whose only aim is to satisfy his own selfish ambitions, and whose only principle is the gratification of his own inordinate vanity".
So-called Protestants Arraigned
The Grand Master divided the members of Parliament who supported the infamous and misnamed "Autonomy Bills" into two classes, the "so-called Protestants" and the Roman Catholics. Of the former, he said: "I speak of them as "so-called Protestants' because the miserable, craven wretches who, cringing under the party lash, with the beggarly home of thereby gaining substantial favors, sacrificed every honest principle they ever professed, are unworthy of being included in any category which is supposed to consist of honourable men. It is a disgrace to Protestants to apply this honorable title to such caricatures on manhood, If these creatures had enough grace left in them to slink away into the obscurity from which they should never have emerged, it might be wise to throw the broad mantle of charity over them and forget their existence. But as most, if not all of them took the precaution to secure lucrative positions at the public expense, to which their own merit would never have entitled them, it is our duty to point them out with the finger of scorn as objects of contempt to all men who prize honor and virtue above the external advantages of rank and fortune. There may be a few who will object to being counted in this class. Some may excuse themselves by likening themselves to the British statesmen in the comic opera, 'who always voted at his country's call and never thought of thinking for himself at all'. A few may say they were misled by Sir Wilfrid's specious tergiveration, or by Mr. Satan's clumsy 'gallery-play.' But any man who will avail himself of any of these excuses to extricate himself from a thoroughly disgraceful situation is welcome to all the comfort he can get out of it."
While differing from the Roman Catholics, Col. Halliwell could not but admire their loyal, unswerving devotion to their faith, and call upon Protestants to "take a lead from their book in this respect."
Beginning to Wake Up.
Proceeding, the Grand Master said, "If we would attend more closely to our own business they (the Roman Catholics) would not to-day be, as they are, the absolute masters of this country".
"But we have grown careless under prosperity. We have been so long accustomed to boasting of the liberties which our forefathers secured for us, that we have forgotten to guard them. We got them too easily. They cost us nothing. If we had to fight for those liberties as our forefathers did, we would not have sat idly by while we were being robbed of them. We needed something to awaken us from the 'Fool's Paradise' in which we have been slumbering. But I think we are beginning to wake up; I think Sir Wilfrid Laurier has done the first act of his life that will entitle his name to be remembered after he has gone; I believe if his name is remembered at all, he will go down to prosperity as the man who revived the Orange Association, and drove all liberty loving Canadians under its banners; the man who made it impossible for any other statesman ever again to try to deprive the free people of this county of their liberties as long as time lasts. I sincerely hope it may be so".
Be Up and Doing
"It rests with us to be up and doing; all we have to do is to stand together, and the moment the politicians see the Orangemen of Canada stand together in one solid united mass they will soon find a way to give us our rights, and if they don't we will find a way for ourselves. We must begin right here in Ontario. And when you come to think of it, Ontario has not much to boast of in the way we have guarded our own rights. We have allowed one encroachment after another until our once boasted Public School system is almost a thing of the past. In some sections of Ontario the Public Schools are abolished entirely, and sectarian schools have taken their places, and are being supported out of public funds. It is almost a farce to say we have a public school system at all. It is not very far from the truth to say that we have a dual school system, composed of nominal public schools and actual sectarian schools, both largely supported out of the public funds. There is one striking difference, however, between them. The Church of Rome has been allowed from time to time to interfere in the regulations of the public schools, but no other church or party can interfere to the extent of a hair's breadth with the sectarian schools. With our internal affairs governed by an imported Italian priest, our constitutional liberties trampled upon and destroyed at the dictation of Rome, and our ocean commerce audaciously ordered to look for protection to the United States and the Monroe Doctrine, what have we to boast of?"
Not a Demagogue
"It seems to me to have about reached the parting of ways, and that we should do one of two things, either disband our lodges, burn our constitutions and warrants, and reverently bury our colors alongside the sacred ashes of the men who secured the liberties for us that we are unworthy to enjoy, and acknowledge ourselves serfs and incapable of exercising the rights of free men, or else rise in our might and forever blot out this foolish juggling, this mischievous and insulting travesty on free Parliamentary Government. But let me not be misunderstood. I am no demagogue, and I would be the last to counsel extreme or violent measures until such become absolutely and undoubtedly necessary. Violent measures need never be necessary and never will be necessary if we remain faithful to our duties. We can regain all our lost ground if we do not allow ourselves to be drawn aside by catch words and cries."
Addresses of Welcome
Addresses of welcome were presented to the Grand Lodge by the civic authorities of Lindsay by Dr. Vrooman, the Mayor, while Rev. Bro. Whitelaw, Master of Victoria County, presented an address of welcome on behalf of the County. This address was signed by Rev. Bro. Whitelaw, Master; Col. Sam Hughes, William Cottingham, W.J. Wallace, Jas Kelly, Past County Masters of Victoria.
M.W. Sovereign Sproule, M.P., the head of the order for British America delivered a most telling address, in which he emphasized the fact that both political parties bid for the Roman Catholic support, and that the party press on both sides is virtually muzzled from dealing with questions of encroachments of Roman hierarchy upon the rights of others.
In a very racy address, Col. Sam Hughes, M.P. empasized what Dr. Sproule had said.
The Grand Lodge made provisions to be represented at the Triennial Council, to be held in Toronto on July 17, 18 and 19. W. Bro. Gray, Grand Organizer for Ontario East, has done excellent work, and never before has the Order been in such a flourishing condition. This kind of work will be pushed with greater zeal in 1906 and 1907.
The Rev. Bro. N. Coburn of Toronto, gave a most inspiring address touching more particularly on the appointment of a principal for the Ottawa Normal School, to succeed Principal McCabe. Mr. H.C. Hocken of the Sentinel, also spoke. Rev. Whitelaw, of Omemee, in a telling address, moved that the thanks of the Grand Lodge be tendered to these two brethren for their inspiring and instructive addresses. This was seconded by R.W. Bro. Birnie, of Kingston, and carried by a standing vote.
The Railways Criticized
The railways came in for a good deal of adverse criticism. It was pointed out that the delegates to the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick got much better rates than Ontario did. Over the I.C.R. delegates returned free, over the C.P.R. if over 50 delegates the return was free. Here, if over 50 and under 300 one-third is charged for return, if over 300 free.
Form a Protestant Federation
Perhaps the most important incident at the meeting was the suggestion made by Dr. Sproule, the Supreme Grand Master of the order in Canada, in th ecourse of an address Thursday afternoon. He proposed that the Orange Association should invite all the Protestant Churches and every distinctively Protestant body in Canada to co-operate in the formation of a great Protestant Federation upon the same lines as that which already exists in Great Britain. He pointed out that the extent to which public sentiment had been aroused in Great Britain, by the dissemination of books, pamphlets and newspapers, exposing the activities of the Roman Church, and said it was due almost entirely to the work of this Federation that public sentiment had become very sensitive to anything like Roman Catholic aggression and encroachment in the United Kingdom.
He referred to the influence which this Federation had exercised in the recent British elections, and said, much as he regretted any disaster to his friend, Mr. Balfour, that that gentleman had only himself to thank for his overwhelming defeat. His surrender to the Roman Catholic Church in the matter of education had excited the Protestants of Britain, with the result that we have recently seen.
The suggestion was received with applause by the deleagates who were present.
Annoyed Over Patronage
There is a great deal of unrest among members of the Eastern part of Ontario, and particularly in the Ottawa district, over the way appointments have been made by the Provincial Government. There is a suspicion in their minds also that a Normal School is to be established for the training of teachers for Separate Schools. It would virtually mean the conversion of the present Normal School in that city for Separate School purposes.
There is intense opposition to this; it is predicted by the delegates that if the Whitbey Government did do such a thing as that, they would lose the support of every orangeman in Eastern Ontario. The dominance of Mr. Dennis Murphy, of Ottawa, in the disposal of patronage is a sore spot with the Orangemen of the Ottawa district. He not only presumes to control the appointments in the city, but has interfered in adjoining counties in a way that has caused intense dissatisfaction among the members of the Order.
The Grand Lodge voted $120 towards the publication of the pamphlet on "Separate Schools", which is being prepared by Mr. W.D. McPherson. It is expected that the first issue of this pamphlet will be 10,000 copies, and these will be distributed throughout the Province.
The Officers Elected
The election of officers resulted:
- Grand Master - Lt. Col. J. Earle Halliwell (Sterling).
- Past Grand Masters - Sir Mackenzie Bowell (Belleville), William Johnston (Belleville), T.B. Collins (Millbrook), John H. Delemere (Minden), Major T. A. Kidd (Burrit's Rapids), Albert Bradley (Hazledean), R.H. Holland (Port Hope), Duncan Monroe (Cornwall), Major W.J. Wright (Brockville).
- Deputy Grand Master - George Boyce (Merivale).
- Junior Deputy Grand Master - James Berney (Kingston).
- Grand Chaplain - Rev. J.M. Whitelaw (Omemee).
- Grand Treasurer - Robert Gordon (Tweed).
- Grand Secretary - F.M. Clarke (Belleville).
- Grand Lecturer - Jas. White (Madoc).
- Grand Director of Ceremonies - Fred W. Ford (Ottawa).
- Deputy Grand Chaplains - Rev. R.M. Leitch (Belleville), Rev. C.O. Carson (Wales), Rev. R.H. Stacey (Bell's Corners), Rev. S.A. Dupran (Belleville), Rev. H.D. Leitch (Maxville).
- Deputy Grand Secretary - T.C. McConnell (Springbrook).
The following were elected as delegates to the Triennial Council meeting in Toronto in July, 1906:
- Grand Master J. Earl Halliwell (Sterling).
- Past Grand Master Duncan Monroe (Cornwall).
- Past Grand Master J.H. Delamere (Minden), Col. John Hughes (Newtonville).
- Grand Chaplain Rev. J.M. Whitelaw (Omemee).
- Deputy Grand Chaplain Rev. R.H. Stacey (Bell's Corners).
- Past Grand Master T.B. Collins (Millbrook).
- Past Grand Master W.J. Johnston (Belleville).
The Grand Lodge will meet next year in the town of Brockville. The other towns voted on for next place of meeting were Millbrook, Pembroke, Carleton Place and Napanee.
Among the delegates were:
- Rev. J.W. Whitelaw,
- J. Newman,
- J.T. Beatty.
- W.R. Cottingham.
- D.H. Dick.
- J.G. Beatty.
- J.W. Smith.
- J.J. Williams.
- W.D. Stinson.
- W. Belch.
- R.Shaw.
- W. Leitch.
- T.B. Collins.
- Archie Reynolds.