THE ROMAN CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGES.
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PUBLIC MEETING.
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Immense Audience and
Great Excitement.
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Leading Orangemen
Advocate Peace and Order.
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Pursuant to proclamation of the
Mayor , a public meeting was held last night in St. Lawrence Hall “to take into
consideration the best steps to be taken to prevent a repetition of the public
procession and the acts of violence resulting therefrom on the Sabbath Day, and
generally to calm the public mind and to preserve the sanctity of the Lord’s
Day, and the peace and tranquility of the city.”
The hall was packed and hundreds
could no obtain admission. About a dozen
policemen were scattered throughout the audience to preserve order. Amongst those on the platform were the
Mayor, who presided; Col. O.R. Gowan,
P.G.M., B.N.A; Major Bennett, D.M., D.G.M.W.O.;
Rev. A. Sanson, G.C.W.O.; Ald. Adamson, Co. M.; J. Hewitt, D.M., No.
212; J. Campton, D.M. O.Y.B.
It is safe to say there were not
half a dozen Roman Catholics present.
The Mayor said the meeting was a
public one, and everybody, no matter what his creed, had a right to be heard,
and he (the Mayor) would do all in his power to give him a hearing. (Hear,
hear).
Mr. J Case, on being nominated, was
appointed secretary.
The MAYOR read the proclamation
calling for the meeting. He then said
that if he were to judge by the number of persons present, he should certainly
say it was necessary to call a public meeting. Now, when the public mind was so
much agitated was hardly the time to judge things fairly. Those present were part and parcel of the
people, and they wanted to calm the public mind as much as possible with regard
to matters going on in our city. Of
course it was not for him, as Chairman of the meeting, to express his opinions
so strongly as he might do if he stood alone on the platform. After again
asking the audience to give a fair hearing to all the speakers, he called upon
the speakers to proceed.
Col O.R. GOWAN was the first speaker. He stated that a committee had been appointed
to draft resolutions, copies of which he held in his hands. In order that the audience might have an
opportunity of judging their tenor, he thought it best that they should be read
altogether, first, as follows:
1.
Reolved,
-That this meeting is profoundly moved by the disgrace brought upon the usually
peaceful city of Toronto by the recent conflicts which have taken place in the
streets of the city between certain processionists called Pilgrims, and other
classes of the population opposed to them in religious opinion; and that every
good citizen must deplore the riotous and disorderly conduct which took place;
and that all should use all legitimate and proper means to prevent a repetition
of it.
2.
Resolved,-
that in the present excited state of public feeling, this meeting can scarcely
hope that either of the opposing elements will give way to the other; and with
the view of discountenancing the appearance of a triumph by either party, this
meeting entrusts both parties to give way by abandoning all appearance of
public processions and gatherings, and by attending as individuals their
respective churches on the Lord’s day in the usual quiet and unobtrusive
manner.
3.
Resolved,-
That copies of these resolutions be sent by his Worship the Mayor, to the Roman
Catholic Archbishop, and to the Orange and Young Briton District Managers,
respectfully calling upon them to prevent, so far as their power lies, all
ostentatious display on the Sabbath day, and thus prove their good sense and
Christian feeling by eschewing all things calculated to give offence, and by
cultivating all things conciliatory and peaceful.
4.
Resolved,-
That should all attempts to preserve the public peace unfortunately prove
ineffectual, his Worship the Mayor be respectfully requested to the Riot Act
and to command all disorderly persons to disperse, and, if necessary, call out
the civil and military powers to preserve the public peace of the city of
Toronto.
He said that is would be seen
that the matter was approached in a Christian and friendly spirit. In conversation he had with Roman Catholics,
he had been told that as some of the pilgrimages had already taken place, it
was necessary for the good of the participants’ souls that the whole series be
gone through. (Derisive jeers.) If the
pilgrimages must be performed, surely every man would desire that they should
take place at such an hour as to make them as unobtrusive as possible, or even
postponed, in order that human life might not be lost The Sabbath Day was set
apart by God and the law as a holy day, and if Roman Catholics thought that if
walking from one church to another was keeping it holy, they should be
respected. His Grace the Archbishop should recognize and appreciate the kindly
feelings of the Protestants of the city. Attention was drawn to the advance of
the ultramontane views in Europe and Lower Canada. If it was determined to have
the pilgrimage, and blood spilled, and lives lost, then let the guilt rest on
those who were responsible. He trusted that every conciliatory measure would be
eployed by both parties, and that if there were and disturbance his Worship the
Mayor would see that the civil authority was exerted against any party who
disobeyed the law. He then moved the first resolution, and hoped that a Roman
Catholic would second it.
Mr. A. FLEMING, it is understood,
seconded the resolution, and it was carried amid loud applause. Only one person
dissented from it, and he was heartily hissed.
The MAYOR said, if better order
were not kept, another chairman would have to be appointed.
The Rev. Mr. SANSON moved the
second resolution. After some noise down
at the lower end of the hall had been stopped by police, the rev.
gentleman said that while he would not be able to induce his roman Catholic
fellow citizens to abstain from making a public display on Sunday, yet he was
sure that Protestants would not act illegally, and he would have no hesitation
in going bail for the meeting. That habit of walking the streets to gaze
upon processions on the Sabbath day was owing simply to idle curiosity; and
those who were wise and anxious for the credit of their religion would go to
their own churches quietly, no matter who walked the streets; while he was
certain that id the “pilgrims” were actuate by the same spirit, they would
either abstain from making an offensive demonstration, or else change the
route. If they persisted in walking, however, the protestants would gain a
grand moral triumph if they allowed others the same liberty they claimed for
themselves. (Loud cheers.) He thought it
very wrong that the Young Britons as a body should be charged with the offence
of breaking the law last Sunday. (Enthusiastic cheers.) He called upon all good men to their
respective churches and to leave the procession to take its own course and it
would die out. (Cries of “Nonsense.”) Let the fault rest with those who made
themselves offensive, and not with the Orangemen. He hoped that his hearers, rather than have a
collision, would give way. (Loud cries of “No, no.”) he did not mean to give
way to matters of principal; but there was no principal involved. (Cries- “What
about the procession?”) Mr. Sanson continued: We call upon the Roman Catholics
in this resolution to abandon it; and at all events, if not inconsistent, to
make it as little offensive as possible.
He then went on to say that it must be left to Roman Catholics to do
their duty, but Protestants should see to it that they did not break the law.”
Dr. SMITH seconded the motion. He said we were brought face to face with a
great fact. He described the disturbance as the most brutal and disgraceful he
had ever beheld. He did not offer an
opinion as to whether the pilgrimage was an obtrusion of religious views of an
idolatrous character. Roman Catholics had a perfect right in their opinions. But they had not
a right to obtrude them in public streets. He would bow his knee to no mortal
but her Majesty; but he would entreat his Grace and every Catholic priest to
forego the procession. If there were a
disturbance on Sunday this meeting would not be responsible. In the name of God, he asked his audience,
both Protestant and Roman Catholic, to adopt and carry
out the resolution. (Cheers.)
Major BENNET denied that there was any premeditated attack
upon the procession as stated in some papers.
When it was recollected that the mandate of her Majesty was disobeyed, and
what was occurring in Europe, it was not to be wondered that something should
take place when the innovations were introduced here. He affirmed the Orangemen were not a
bloodthirsty lot, but, on the contrary, they were sworn t obey the laws of the
country, and also slow to take offence, and offering none. (Cheers.)He wanted
the Orangemen and Young Britons to show that, although their brethren were not
allowed to walk in Montreal, yet they would allow the pilgrimage to walk their
way. (Loud cries of “No, no.”) He knew
very well that Orangemen would not go out to break the peace of the city in
acting against the laws of the country. If the laws were wrong, then let
Orangemen by their votes see that they were made right.
On the votes being taken on the
resolution only three or four were in favour of it, most of the audience crying
“No, no.”
Col. O.R.
GOWAN was surprised to hear the dissentient voices. Did his hearers, he asked, have any
confidence in the resolution, or in those who prepared them? (Cries- “Not a
bit.”) He had never betrayed them; but if such sentiments governed them, he
denounced them totally. (Uproar.) He
reminded the Orangemen of their solemn oaths to obey the law, and he said any
man who opposed the resolution was acting in open violation of his Orange oath. He could not conceive that those who cried
“NO, no,” were Orangemen; they must be men in disguise; if they were Orangemen,
they were void of Orange principles.
Mr. R.
TAYLOR, amid some confusion, got on the platform, and asked Mr. GOWAN whether
he would guarantee that the Roman Catholics would not hold a procession next
Sunday? This is what the audience wanted to know, as Protestants and
Orangemen. (Loud cheers.)
Col. GOWAN said he was not Archbishop LYNCH. (Laughter.) He
did not hold the conscience of his Roman Catholic fellow subjects in his pocket
to se them when he pleased. The resolution asked the Catholics to forego their
procession, but the meeting would not force them. If they could make them forego it, they
would. (Cries- “Now you’re talking.”)
Mr.
TAYLOR said that if the Roman Catholics stayed in their chapels, there would be
no disturbance. The Roman Catholics had “the right” of Montreal, and
Protestants had “the right” of this city, and would keep it. (Cheers.) He had
gone against Roman Catholics before, and would be willing to do the same
tomorrow, if necessary.
Mr. A.
FLEMING said he appeared before his brother Orangemen to advise peace and good
will; but if the Buffalo and Cleveland Fenians come to parade over here, as
announced in some of the papers, his hearers would be no men if they permitted
the procession. (Prolonged and enthusiastic cheers.) he disclaimed most
solemnly any desire to play upon their feelings, but if the gauntlet were
thrown down he, for one, would take it up or fall. (Loud applause.) There was a
great deal more of the matter than the simple parade; he was not ashamed nor
afraid to make this statement. While he
advocated all that the resolution implied, he protested against being
intimidated by “these cut-throats.” He
could not as a Briton or member of the Tenth Royals submit to it. (Cheers.)
The Rev.
SANSON thought the resolution must stand on its own merits, and it was entitled
to be carried by the meeting. If it failed to be passed; perhaps the next
resolution would meet with approbation.
The
audience were again asked to vote on the motion, when about one hundred voted
for it, they being saluted with cries of “Fenians.”
This
objectionable resolution being apparently dropped, the next (the third) was
moved by (sic)
Mr. John
HEWITT. He trusted that the meeting would be able to be a moral force to show
that Protestant usages and sentiments must prevail in this city. Nobody present desired that any of their
Roman Catholic fellow citizens should be killed. (“No, no.”) They were present in a spirit of reconciliation;
; not by riot, but by calm, deliberate action to appeal to the minds of those
interested. Roman Catholics should be satisfied with equal rights, but they
should not expect special privileges.
(Loud cheers.) How would it be if the great Methodist body went on
pilgrimages from one church to another? (One of the audience- “It would look
well.” Laughter.) The meeting would have
done its duty. Roman Catholics would have to be satisfied with equal rights,
and the moral sentiments of the Protestants of this country must be respected.
Mr. JAMES BURNS seconded the
resolution, which was carried unanimously.
Mr. J. CRANE moved the fourth
resolution. He gave it as his opinion that the Orangemen present did not seem
inclined to be directed by their superior officers.
Mr. J. CAMPTON seconded the
motion. He said he was glad to see that the meeting was changing from a fiery
to a calm character. The resolution which raised so much opposition must have
been misunderstood. He was satisfied that if Young Britons only thought of what
was taught in their lodges, viz- peace and kindness to all parties- they would
do their duty. Orangemen talked of next year going to walk in Montreal; how
could they expect to be unmolested if they attempted to stop the procession on
Sunday? He trusted there would be no disturbance. If the volunteers were called
out, it would be very hard for them to have to fire upon men who belonged to an
institution of which they themselves were members; and perhaps they would not
feel like protecting the Roman Catholic procession and then a great deal of
blood might be shed. He hoped that all Young Britons at least would be found
going to church next Sunday, instead of parading the streets.
Before the motion was put to the
meeting, the MAYOR asked the audience to consider the position in which it was
probable he would be placed.
The resolution was unanimously
adopted, at which the MAYOR said he was glad.
Ald. ADAMSON too the chair, and
on motion of Major Bennett, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Sanson, a vote of thanks
was tendered to the Mayor for the manner in which he had presidied.
In accepting thanks the MAYOR expressed
his pleasure at the speeches made. He thought the speech of Mr. Campton, the
O.Y.B. District Master, was especially to be commended. If he (the Mayor) had
any knowledge of Orangemen, they did not wish to provoke the law of the
country; on the contrary, it was their duty to protect them. No one believed
that he and the gentlemen around him would truckle to popery; but in the
present there was no principle involved; if there were, he would advise them to
stand by that principle. Roman Catholics
asked the privilege of marching through our streets on the Sabbath Day in a
peaceful and orderly manner. They did
not carry banners or have music. HE did not advocate Sunday processions, but
the prejudices of others should be considered a little least. He asked his
hearers to give Roman Catholics the
privilege of walking; that was all they asked, as he understood it. He had made strict enquiries, and he found there
were no flags or music. (Cries of “There
were;”) it might be. If Protestants denied Roman Catholics these privileges,
how could they themselves sk for privileges? Were they not all of the same
flesh and blood? (Cries of “No, no.”- Great laughter.) They had a right to walk
as the law allowed them to do so, although he held that the laws were wrong.,
and the Legislature should be petitioned to have them altered. His Worship then
made a strong appeal to the audience not to disobey the law, but to assist him
to carry it out. He asked them to consider what his position would be if he
were forced to call out the police, and worse than that, the military. (Cries
of “Stop the procession”) His official position forced him to carry out the
law. If there were any law against the procession- the smallest crack through
which he could creep- he would soon stop it. (Cheers and laughter) But there
was no such thing, and he was bound to deal justly with everybody. He looked upon the Orangemen to keep the
peace, to go quietly to their several churches, or to stay in their houses, and
not to be the originators of a row. In
concluding his remarks, he dwelt upon the probable awful consequences of a
riot.
A Mr. BOYD managed to get upon
the platform, and said he objected to what the Mayor had state about the
inoffensive nature of the procession last Sunday. He (the speaker) declared that there were
both banners and music.
After cheers for the Queen, the
meeting broke up.
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