Despite the general antagonistic religious climate in
P.E.I., relationships between Catholics and Protestants in
the five communities were cooperative and harmonious, as
the following report of a tea party at South West in 1864
suggests.

the Bishop’s decisions, which sometimes ran counter to the
wishes of the people regarding the timing and type of
church building, and who would be named pastor in the
parish; this petition may therefore contain an expression
of local autonomy. They were as capable of refusing their
Bishop as they were of refusing their landlord.

 

 

A Tea Party under the auspices of St. Joseph’s
Temperance Society, came off at South West on Mon—
day last, and was attended by about 2000 persons.
Divine Service was held at 9 o’clock, at which the Rev.
A. McDonald, Rector of St. Dunstan’s College taking
for his text the 8th Psalm, preached a most eloquent
sermon, and descanted in most Vigorous language on
the dignity of man in his true state, and the degreda-
tion to which, too frequently, he descended through
imtemperance. It is to be hoped that the Rev.
gentleman’s words, which had a marked effect upon
the congregation, or at least that portion of it which
could find room in the church, will be productive of
much good.

After Mass, the Temperance Society, numbering
manyhundreds of young and old, joined in procession
with green scarfs and banners, and headed by the Ci-
tyAmateur Band, marched from the Church along the
road to the grounds where the tables were being
prepared for tea. Dancing, promenading, music from
the band, and the wild notes of the bagpipes, enter—
tained the multitude until tea-time, that is about 3
o’clock. The “spread” was of the most varied, as well

27

as the most substantial kind, and reflected the highest
credit upon the taste and skill of the ladies of South
West. It is needless to say that every justice was done
to the “good things.”

Next came Temperance speeches: first from the Rev.
Mr. Strong, Wesleyan minister, who was very happy in
his remarks; the evils of in temperance and the bless—
ings of sobriety being poin ted out in striking contrast.
He was followed by the Rev. Rector of St. Dunstan ’s
College, whose remarks were, as usual, of the most
practical kind. Mr. Reilly, of the Vindicator, also of-
fered a few observations on the subject of temperance,
which together with some closing remarks from the
Rev. Mr. De Langie, (sic) completed the speechifying.

Three hearty cheers were then proposed for the Rev.
Mr. De Langie, whose indefatigable exertions and at-
tentions to the wants and comforts of his friends,
powerfully contributed to the success of the entertain—
ment, and the Rev. gentleman must feel fully reward-
ed for all his exertions by the commendable order and
propriety observed throughout the whole day, by the
vast assemblage in attendance — a circumstance in
itself speaking strongly in favor of temperance...”