Such receptions were held at the close of the usual Sunday evening services. Many of the men were met thus and later welcomed at various homes during the week. It was later found expedient for these hosts to join forces so as to be able to entertain larger numbers than could be accommodated at the houses, and it was thus that the Thursday evening entertainments originated in the schoolroom of St. Matthew’s Church during October, 1914. These gained immediately in popularity until crowded houses with S.R.O. signs continued for five winters without intermittence, except for a few weeks following the great explosion of December, 1917.
The ladies of the congregation were from first to last the chief motive power at all these meetings, and the secret of their success. Some were not publicly in evidence but worked “behind the scenes” in supplying and providing the refreshments that formed a most important part of these functions and did yeoman service. The work was quickly organized into a perfect system, everybody being assigned to a task that suited the particular attitude of the worker, with plenty of eager helpers always on hand as reserves.
This organization was not any premeditated system nor was it arranged on the basis of any other movement, but being almost impromptu formed itself with a naturalness according to the needs as they developed until it appeared to become as perfect as is humanly possible and so it continued with an earnest patriotic zeal on the part of the people anxious to help but unable to go to the field of war because of their sex or their age limit. Some distinguished themselves as caterers, cooks, coffee makers, waiters or waitresses and even as dishwashers. Others at the doors as welcoming committees or indoors as cartoon makers, lantern manipulators, contest managers, leaders of choruses and accompanists or “masters of ceremonies” and chairmen. Others again found work in advertising the meetings at the various ships and barracks until it became the rule that every new Regiment or warship arriving at Halifax was promptly advised of these Thursday evening meetings.
The entertainment itself evolved into a systematic method by natural causes too, rather than by design. Noting the crowds of soldiers and sailors on the streets at an early hour the doors were opened at 6.30 p.m. and immediately the hall began filling. To entertain the early arrivals a magic lantern displayed reproductions of recent war cartoons and cheery messages, while various popular songs and choruses thrown on the screen by the same method with a good accompanist at the piano got every one settled down for a hearty sing-song. Each week the cartoons were supplemented with additions and new songs added, along with items of current interest and latest news, more pictures of local topics and jokes that were fully appreciated. These opening features proved attractive and were followed with some contest varying weekly in their style and nature, for which prizes were awarded—always two at the least and sometimes as many as twelve, most of them being made and given by the ladies of the congregation—that were keenly contested for by the men in uniform. This first portion of the meeting soon became an essential part of the entertainment and was usually controlled by a “master of ceremonies,” who between 7.45 to 8 o’clock would surrender his position to the chairman of the evening, and he in turn would call the meeting to order with the singing of the National Anthem, and after a few words of welcome the concert proper was conducted.
In this respect all the best and cleverest artists, without distinction of class or creed, responded willingly and enthusiastically to the committees having charge of the programmes. These committees rotated in their work and there arose a healthy competition between them in acquiring special performers and singers to assure successful concerts.
At nine o’clock an adjournment for refreshments took place. This half-hour provided an opportunity for conversation as well as for eating; the lantern threw cartoons and pictures, jokes and songs on the screen so that good humor continued to prevail. During this interval some committee members moved among the audience seeking for impromptu items for a programme that was continued along with choruses from 9.30 to 10 o’clock and even later for the benefit of such as had special “late leave.”
The interest in these entertainments did not wane. It never flagged at any period of the five winters. The workers never tired of their tasks, nor was there ever any difficulty noticed in obtaining a bountiful supply of musical talent or refreshments to ensure success.
The secret of any extra degree of popularity for these Thursday evenings cannot be attributed to any one cause but rather to a combination of circumstances. To a great degree the down-town position of St. Matthew’s made a strong appeal. The early start of these concerts caused them to be better known perhaps, and the fact of their regularity and continuity helped matters greatly, and yet, perhaps more than all, the ladies of St. Matthew’s were a greater factor than all these. This can be stated without in any degree disparaging the great work done by other churches and institutions or of ladies who were equally active in other places, and yet these ladies as a body were able to greet all the men in uniform with a heartiness that was promptly felt and without at any time the semblance of that familiarity that breeds contempt or of a patronizing air to which soldiers and sailors especially are most sensitive, and at no time was there anything but the most respectful and kindly feeling shown on either side.
No smoking was indulged in at these gatherings, and none appeared to wish the privilege. The men refrained out of their natural respect to the ladies in the audience. Later on some “No Smoking Allowed” signs were placed in the ante-rooms, where some were wont to indulge in a few puffs during the intervals, but this was done on account of the fire risks in the older part of the structure and did not occasion much if any comment.
To the credit of the men themselves it can be recorded now that though between 125 and 150 of these meetings were held and the average attendance was well over 400 men in uniform at each, only two men were noticed to be the worse for liquor, and one of these occasioned the only instance of a disagreement over any contest that took place on those evenings, and in his case the offender came back to the following meeting and apologized for his own unseemly behavior. This is a record for our soldiers and sailors of which the people of St. Matthew’s feel particularly proud. In itself it repays them fully for any efforts that were undertaken and leaves them ready to entertain such men whenever an opportunity occurs.