in cassocks and surplices, were jeered at humorously as "night shirt boys", Most of the criticisms came from individuals who were sincere in their desire to preserve the ‘Anglican nature’ of the Church of England defined at the time of the Reformation. They felt that the Protestant aspects of their denomination was threatened by a movement they perceived to contain "Popish" gestures incorporated into the worship life at St. Peter’s. One Sunday morning a notice was found posted on the door of the Cathedral Church which expressed this concern with reasonable constraint. It read: "Hodgson’s Junction, all change here for Rome."81 Years later, Canon E.M. Malone of the Cathedral described in a pamphlet the intense religious atmosphere of those times

as follows: Geo Fs, 87 — one of the "night-shirt boys" Religious prejudice, family —St. Peter’s Cathedral Archives

disagreements dislike of what were

called "innovations", prevented the growth of the congregation, though on special occasions the Church was crowded by the curious. In fact many came on Sunday evenings, as they said, "to have a good sing. "82

Unfortunately this anti-Popish bias was not simply the rantings of a few uneducated individuals. These types of feelings seem to have flowed throughout all elements and segments of the local society. Even men as highly respected and regarded as the Reverend Dr. Fitzgerald, Rector of St. Paul’s Parish Church, at times fell victim to these fears. An example of this occurred in 1872. An advertisement appeared in The Patriot newspaper with the following announcement, that "A Sermon will be preached in St. Paul’s Church, next Sunday Morning, on ‘Ritualism not the doctrine 0f the Church

81. Canon E.M. Malone, "The Foundation of St. Peter’s Cathedral." St. Peter’s Cathedral Archives.

82. Canon E.M. Malone, "The Foundation of St. Peter’s Cathedral." St. Peter’s Cathedral Archives.

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