Table 8:5 — Prohibition Plebiscite, Results, 192935

In Favor of Government Sale of Liquor

In Favor of Prohibition

Centreville (Bedeque) 265 34

Freetown 135 3 5

Tryon 274 10

Searletown 71 14 Borden 34 83 Kinkora 27

Newton 22

The consistent record of being anti—prohibition at Kinkora, and to a lesser extent at Newton, raises an in- teresting question. Given the long history of temperance/abstinence organizations in St. Malachy’s Parish, going back to at least the early 18605; the promi— nent roles played in temperance organizations inside and outside the parish by Fathers DeLangie, Doyle and Mac— Donald; and, the publically reported pledging of abstinence by members of the parish, including all children at the time of their taking Confirmation; why did the people con— sistently vote against prohibition? The answer appears to rest on a theological refinement. Abstinence is viewed in Catholic theology as a virtue to be freely adopted as a means to enhance one’s spiritual growth; but prohibition is an imposed law which one must obey; prohibition could be perceived as of lesser theological value. Thus Catholics could oppose prohibition and yet honestly pledge abstinence.36 This is not to suggest that abstinence at Kinkora was always virtuously observed. An incident in 1928 wherein two kegs of rum marked “Orchard Spray” were seized at Kinkora by the prohibition officers, is suffi— cient evidence to perhaps question even the abstinence part.37 What the question does suggest is ambiguity, or con- tradiction, within the cultural belief system.

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“Roaring Twenties” may be too inflated a phrase to use to describe the mood in these communities, but the record of activities around the Kinkora area in this decade leaves no doubt that many people were enjoying the 1920s. There were the summer horse races at Peter Ronaghan’s track; parish basket—socials; almost weekly parties at several homes; card-playing tournaments; lectures in Kinkora Hall; school concerts; old—time fiddling and step dancing con- tests; and drama. A drama club at Kinkora produced at least one play each year with local actors under the direc- tion of Mrs. Henry Trainor. In 1924 their play “The Hand of the Law” had a cast of Ben Corr, Earl Duffy, Len Farmer, F.P. McCarville, Violet McCabe, Jim McGuigan, Tina McIvor, Erna Murphy, Mrs. Isadore Smith and George P. Trainor.38 The club toured other communities such as Emerald, Kelly’s Cross, Kensington and Summerside, and drama clubs from those communities performed at Kinkora. In the course of a year Kinkora Hall featured up— wards of six dramas. With the actors went a troupe of singers and step—dancers: James Kelly, singer; Mrs. Eddy McCarville, pianist; Charles and Winnifred McIver, pianists and singers; Joe Mulligan, fiddler; and Jerome Ronaghan, fiddler. Other plays performed by the Kinkora Drama Club included:

An Irish Eden .................. 1920 Our Wives ..................... 1920 Willowdale .................... 1923 The Path Across the Hills ......... 1925 39

The acknowledged sponsors of the arts at Kinkora were Mr. and Mrs. M.J. McIver, who entertained many of the drama clubs in their home. In May 1929 the Catholic Women’s League publically thanked them for providing supper to the visiting Kensington Dramatic Club; noting that this was “only another time they have helped to make our entertain- ment successful, socially and financially?40 Ironically, the