Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's

Introduction

	- Formation of the FPU
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	- FPU After 1918

FPU Platform

Archdiocesan Archives

	- Correspondence & Newspaper Clippings
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MHA

- FPU Circular Letters

FPU Locals

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FUTC Stores

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Coaker Foundation

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FPU History

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Camilla Coaker Albums

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Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's

Correspondence & Newspaper Clippings

Documents held at the Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's dealing primarily with Archbishop M.F. Howley's concern over, and objection to, the FPU due to the possibility that it would be a "secret society."

Letter to Mr. Wallace from Archbishop M.F. Howley, September 2, 1908 — Howley reiterates his concern that he cannot support the ICS if, as its constitution indicates, it is a “secret society.”

Letter to Archbishop M.F. Howley from John J. St. John, P.P., Argentia, February 9, 1909 — St. John reports on local efforts to organize a local branch of the FPU - does not know much about it but will find out more and report further.

Report of the Grand Lodge, Society of United Fishermen, March, 1909 — issues a “note of warning” that Fishermen's Protective Union will not provide material benefits to fishermen.

Newspaper clipping from The Daily News, March 15, 1909 — gives a verbatim account of an address by Prime Minister E.P. Morris to a meeting of prominent merchants, calling on them to form a Board of Trade as a means to help rectify some of the problems in the fishery and to create better conditions in all industries.

Circular letter to parish priests from Archbishop M.F. Howley, March 16, 1909 — urging them to make every effort to “stamp out” the Fishermen's Protective Union if it “has appeared in your area.”

Letter to Archbishop M.F. Howley from Peter Trimlett and others, Salmonier, March 23, 1909 — pointing out that Roman Catholic members of the FPU are in an awkward position as a result of the Archbishop's condemnation of the Union, and asking him to reconsider because the organization is not a secret society.

Letter to Archbishop M.F. Howley from W.F. Coaker, Herring Neck, March 23, 1909 — urging the Archbishop to reconsider his opposition to the Union for fear that it will fail if “composed alone of Protestants.”

Letter to Archbishop M.F. Howley from John J. St. John, P.P., Argentia, March 26, 1909 — noting that the chairman of the local FPU Council had inquired as to why the Archbishop opposed the Union since it is not a secret society but St. John thinks that the constitution indicates that it is.

Telegram to Archbishop M.F. Howley from W.F. Coaker, Beaverton, March 30, 1909 — informing the Archbishop that he has withdrawn the “secret clause obligation” and asking that he rescind the ban on Catholic membership in the Union.

Letter to Archbishop M.F. Howley from J.M. Kent, St. John's, March 31, 1909 — offering legal interpretation of lawful and unlawful oaths.

Circular letter to Roman Catholics from Archbishop M.F. Howley, March 31, 1909 — explaining why the Church is opposed to the FPU and urging everyone to obey their priests and shun the organization.

Letter to Archbishop M.F. Howley from John J. St. John, P.P., Argentia, April 9, 1909 — noting that “a free and independent fisherman in his congregation expressed the view that becoming a member of the Union was not the business of the Church.”

Telegram to Archbishop M.F. Howley from Alex Howley, St. Joseph's, May 3, 1909 — reporting that Catholics in that area had renounced the Union on hearing that the Archbishop had not wavered in his condemnation.

Circular letter to Chairman of FPU Local Council from W.F Coaker, President, Herring Neck, September 14, 1909 — advising of new “declaration” for FPU members which is approved by Bishop McNeil of St. Georges.

Letter to Chairman, FPU Local Council, Argentia from W.F. Coaker, President, Herring Neck, September 14, 1909 — handwritten, abridged version of circular letter of same date.

Letter to Archbishop M.F. Howley from John J. St. John, P.P., Argentia, October 4, 1909 — noting that the FPU's new “declaration for members” changes little and asking why Bishop McNeil has contradicted the Archbishop on the matter of support for the Union.

Newspaper clipping from the Trinity Enterprise, October 22, 1909 — warning all fishermen of Trinity Bay to have nothing to do with the Union.

Letter to Archbishop M.F. Howley from W.F. Coaker, President, Coakerville, November 27, 1909 — lamenting that he was unable to meet the Archbishop while at St. John's, informing him of Bishop McNeil's approval of the revised constitution, and requesting his support.

Letter to J.M. Kent from Archbishop M.F. Howley, September 29, 1913 — advising Kent in response to his concern about the FPU's involvement in political affairs, that while he had initially condemned the Union as a “secret society,” he immediately withdrew the condemnation once Mr. Coaker revised its constitution.

Extract of letter to the Catholic people of St. John's from Archbishop M.F. Howley, September 18, 1913 — advising that he has posted a notice in all churches in the Placentia district forbidding parishioners “from joining or having anything whatever to do with Coaker's Union.”

Newspaper clipping of an article entitled, Coaker on St. John's Workingmen, The Daily News, October 27, 1919 — offering a series of quotes attributed to Coaker 1911-1919, making disparaging remarks about St. John's and its workforce and the resulting negative impact on outport fishermen.

Newspaper clipping of an editorial entitled, Fooling to Fishermen, Evening Advocate, January 4, 1923 — condemning the political operatives allegedly behind the fledgling United Fishermen's Movement as merely attempting to undermine Coaker and the FPU.

Newspaper clipping of an editorial entitled Constitution and Bye-Laws - Fishermen's Protective Union of Newfoundland, Twillingate Sun, n.d. — noting that, with membership in the Union, fishermen must surrender their liberty in commercial and political matters.