although they showed a conservatism Sheraton would have accepted. Thus, on July 26, 1894, in reference to the great strike in the United States, the Churchman condemned lawlessness and advocated the application of the Christian spirit to the relations of capital and labour. On August 9 the “Editorial Notes” carried an item probably written by Cody on “the error of Socialism.” The writer asserted that socialists proceeded in a false estimate of human nature, assuming that man is naturally unselfish, while Christ “proclaimed that man is radically wrong, naturally selfish, and hence the necessity for individual regeneration as the only basis for social reconstruction.” On November 8, 1894 (the issue in which Cody was first listed as co-editor), the paper argued that while the church should be interested in social problems, its main concern should be to proclaim the gospel of “Christ, His atoning death, His abiding fulness, His truth, with all the eternal principles of right thinking and right living.”
In summer 1893 Cody became engaged to Florence Clarke, the organist at St. Paul’s. Florence had been appointed in 1892 at a salary of $200 per year.15 Her father, H.E. Clarke, a prosperous trunk manufacturer and member of the Ontario Legislature for Toronto West, died of a heart attack while speaking in the Legislature in March 1892. The family attended the old Methodist Church on Richmond Street West, so Florence adjusted easily to the evangelical atmosphere of St. Paul’s.
As assistant minister Cody had extensive dealings with Florence in his official capacity. At first there were misunderstandings between them. In a stilted letter, likely written on June 22, 1893, the organist agreed to meet the assistant minister on the next day, Friday, from four to six. Presumably this was supposed to be a purely professional discussion. What happened at the interview is not entirely clear, but it ended in a row, presumably a disagreement over the music program. (Cody had trouble with later organists, notably Healey Willan and Thomas Crawford.) Cody went off in a huff to visit his cousin Elijah in Chicago, and Florence, who was contemplating resignation, put in a miserable weekend. A year later (June 25, 1894) she recalled, “A year ago today you were in Chicago, and I had had my bad, very bad, quarter of an hour, and was preparing to leave St. Paul’s and you.”16
The situation soon improved. Just before Cody left Chicago to return to Toronto, he realized that he was greatly attracted to Florence. Later she recalled, “And do you remember telling me, love, one afternoon last winter, of the good-bye you said to your cousin in Chicago, and of the thought that flashed through your brain at the time? And I had so little thought that you could care for me.” After that the relationship developed quickly. Florence traced its course in a series of letters to Cody. On Sunday, July 2, Cody visited her at the Clarke house on Jarvis Street “and we talked first on the verandah and then in the library. Happy memories.” Florence talked while Cody listened, striding excitedly up and down the room. Cody returned to the Clarkes two days later and Florence began to realize that he was deeply in love. By July 21 he had taken to quoting the more romantic passages from Tennyson’s Guinevere (possibly “We needs must love the highest when we see it”). For a time Cody and Florence told no one of their mutual affection. Later in July, having attended a function at Wycliffe, they elected to see two lady friends back to their lodgings and Florence commented, “How little they imagine how far matters had progressed with us.”17 Finally, on August 12, 1893, Cody and Florence became engaged.
Judged by modern standards, Cody and Florence’s engagement was fairly long (a year). In June 1894 they were discussing the time of their wedding. They were also confronted with the prospect of a brief separation. Florence and her elder sister, Ellen, had gone to England and were staying at lodgings in London, in Cavendish Square. The people of St. Paul’s helped to solve the problem of their separation by undertaking to finance a European trip for Cody. The gift did involve a further problem: it involved good deal of travel on the continent of Europe, but Florence and Ellen wanted to stay in the British Isles. Still, it did reduce the time of her separation from Cody.
Apparently, before his arrival in Britain, Cody had made some suggestion about the date of their wedding, but Florence was still uncertain and responded on June 2: “I have promised and it is the direct wish of my heart to be your wife – and I am ready to carry out that promise with all joy whenever it shall be best for us to consummate our happiness. Until I see you and talk with you, I cannot tell whether the way is now open for us.”
Cody arrived in England on June 5 and took up lodgings near Florence and Ellen. Florence recalled how she and Cody walked about London on “that never-to-be-forgotten Saturday” (June 9). Probably on that day they agreed on August 15 as the date of their wedding in England. Cody left the next day for the Continent. Florence wrote to the senior warden of St. Paul’s, resigning from her position as organist. She also wrote to Cody about “the arrangements for the great event in August.”18
Cody now began a strenuous continental tour, visiting Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and France. He rushed around Europe with such speed that Florence’s letters arrived late at each place. She laughed at him: “Your main object on this, your first European trip, seems to be to get through with it as soon as possible.” Cody complained that his suitcase was weighed down with Baedekkars, but was proud of the fact that he did not have to depend on guides.19
Meanwhile, Florence and Ellen had gone to Scotland. On June 23 they were touring in the Edinburgh area and planning to go on to the lake country, since Ellen was tired of ruins and wanted to see some scenery. Florence wrote to Cody almost daily. She had been buying books for him (Orelli on the Minor Prophets, William Winter’s Shakespeare’s England, George Adam Smith’s book on the Holy Land). On July 1, writing from Glasgow, Florence with some diffidence told Cody “that I am fully five years older than you.” Cody had said that he would never ask but she felt that he must know. She reiterated her confession on July 12. It made no difference to Cody.20
Florence and Ellen were back in London by July 8, and Florence pressed ahead with plans for the wedding. On July 12 she wrote: “I am trying to do all my shopping before you come, and I think I shall succeed pretty fairly ... Of course, beloved, I had to have a new frock to be married in. Dearest, you will not be disappointed, will you? that it could not be white. It could not be here, you see, where we shall probably walk over to the Church, together, and go through the ceremony that makes us one in the quietest possible manner. Four weeks from next Wednesday darling.”21
They were married at St. George’s Church Bloomsbury, on August 15, 1894. The officiant was the Rev. H.S. Stork. The only other Canadians present were Ellen and Tommy Des Barres.
Marrying in England solved several problems. Would Cody have invited his stepmother and her children, and if so, would they have come? Would Florence have been married in a Methodist Church, thus offending the people at St. Paul’s and possibly the bishop? If they were married at St. Paul’s, would her Clarke relatives, especially her mother and Ellen, have been hurt? Did Florence and Cody want a splurge or a quiet wedding? If the latter, how quiet? How many should be invited?
After an extended stay in England, the Codys arrived back in Toronto in late September. They had already agreed to live with Mrs. Clarke and Ellen. This arrangement worked well. The house at 603 Jarvis Street was just around the corner from St. Paul’s, a convenient location for Cody. Cody got on well with his in-laws, and Ellen welcomed the couple in a cordial and rather jocular letter ending, “Happy thought: – to spend your winters with us and your summers in the beautiful world across the seas. Happier thought: always to ask me to join you ‘personally conducted.’ Happiest thought: – to come home now just as fast as you can.”22 This promised well for the future and, in fact, the Codys continued at the Jarvis Street home for the rest of their married life. Mrs. Clarke died on November 6, 1898 and Ellen in 1913.
They were welcomed by the congregation of St. Paul’s at a gala reception in the schoolhouse on October 1. The rector, Mr. Des Barres, gave a felicitous speech. “He expressed regret that the happy event of
