The Galt period was an important stage in Harry’s life both academically and in a religious sense. Galt Collegiate presented something of a challenge to Harry. It was a fine school that enjoyed a national reputation, having been presided over by the famous educationalist Dr. William Tassie. Tassie had left in 1881, but his tradition of excellence continued.11 In this stimulating atmosphere Harry blossomed. In preparation for university matriculation he embarked on a heavy schedule of classical studies, but he did well in numerous other subjects on the curriculum.12 His first report was uniformly laudatory: Greek – “Has made excellent start”; Latin – “Going to do capitally”; arithmetic – “Very good”; algebra – “Excellent”; history – “Excellent head for history.” His second report was similar. That Harry was not too disgustingly perfect was revealed by the remarks on “Conduct.” His first report made the cryptic comment “a very good bad boy,” while the second, signed by “Kitty J. S.” in February 1882, described his conduct as “only middling.” By October 1882 Harry was held in higher esteem – either that or Kitty J. S. had been overruled by the principal, who wrote, “Conduct Excellent.”13
The teachers at Galt took a friendly and enthusiastic interest in Harry. J.E. Bryant, the principal, was a sensitive and considerate man. He established a friendship with Harry that carried over into Harry’s time at the University of Toronto. Bryant retired from Galt Collegiate in 1884 and entered the publishing business in Toronto. D.S. Smith, the classics master, was equally interested in Harry, as was his successor, Logan, and the mathematics teacher, Thomas Carscadden. Bryant and Carscadden were both strong Christians, the latter conducting a Bible class in the Methodist Sunday school.
Harry’s turn toward Anglicanism probably began in Embro owing to the influence of his mother, although he attended the Congregational Church. There is good evidence that he had been baptized in Woodstock, probably by its famous rector William Bettridge, who served at St. Paul’s Woodstock from 1834 to 1874.14 According to Harry’s second wife, Barbara, Harry’s mother had had him baptized at her parents’ home in Woodstock by one of the local clergy.15 There seems to be no surviving church record of the baptism. Harry’s relations with the Congregational minister, Silcox, and with his son, C.E. Silcox, were always friendly.
Harry’s drift toward the Anglican Church was brought to completion during his stay in Galt. He attended Trinity Church with the Torrances and joined the Church of England Temperance Society when a branch was formed at Trinity Church in 1884. His pledge card was signed on June 5, 1884. J.P. Hincks, the rector, took a great interest in Harry. Harry later recalled that Hincks “was a man about six feet three inches in height, thin and scholarly, eloquent and absent-minded. Boy as I was he made a very profound impression on my mind.”16
Hincks probably presented Cody for confirmation. While a search of the Trinity Church records failed to reveal an entry for Harry’s confirmation, there is no reason to doubt Cody’s assertion to his wife Barbara that he was confirmed in Galt, probably by Bishop Maurice Baldwin.
Hincks subsequently encouraged Harry to enter the ministry. Writing to congratulate him on his fine showing in the matriculation examinations in 1885, he added, “I would fain hope that, God willing, you may yet become an ‘able minister of the New Testament’ in connection with the dear old English Church in Canada, but in any event your truest friends (among whom may I be remembered?) will rejoice most in the persuasion that your talents and learning are consecrated to our Divine Master’s use.” Hincks gave him a letter of introduction to his brother George, who was rector of St. Philip’s Church in Toronto: “I am also happy to add that Mr. Cody is a consistent Evangelical Churchman, and he will be only too happy to render any service that may be assigned to him by his clergyman. I dare say he may find his way to St. Philips Church, but I know you will rejoice in making his acquaintance and will show him any attention in your power.”17
Harry had truly become a convinced Anglican, and despite efforts by Presbyterian friends in Toronto to maintain a connection with him, he soon cultivated close relations with J.P. Sheraton, the principal of Wycliffe College, T.C. Des Barres, the rector of St. Paul’s Church, and other Anglicans.
It should be noted that while Cody came to accept the Anglicanism of his mother and his grandparents, he also shared with them a tolerant attitude toward other Christians, particularly of evangelical denominations. Neither Mrs. Cody nor the Torrances were narrowly denominational. Although Mrs. Cody had taken pains to have him baptized in the Anglican Church, she had also encouraged him to join the Methodist Bible class in Galt, and after he had gone to Toronto his grandmother was anxious for him to hear a sermon of the Presbyterian professor Gregory of Knox College.
In March 1883 Harry suffered a profound blow. His mother died quite suddenly. She was only 41 (1842–83). According to the Embro Courier, she had been suffering from a stomach disorder for several weeks but became dangerously ill early in the week of March 11. Friends sat with her, particularly Mrs. Silcox, the wife of the Congregational minister, but Mrs. Cody was not thought to be in great danger until the afternoon of Wednesday, March 14, when the pain became acute. She died just after 6 p.m. Harry later told Barbara that the doctor had given his mother the wrong medicine, but this was probably just a family suspicion.18 Harry arrived from Galt just a few minutes too late. Mrs. Silcox told him of her death and later told him of his mother’s wish that he enter the Christian ministry.19 J.B. Silcox took the funeral service.
Harry and his father received numerous letters of condolence, many of them couched in the devout language of the period. Principal Bryant of Galt, who had been at the funeral, wrote Harry a sympathetic letter. He took it for granted that Harry would not return to school until September and urged him not to spend too much of the intervening time in study but to begin to read more widely.
Take up some other reading than mere school work. Have you ever read Shakespeare? I think you could read some of his plays now with great benefit. I have been reading Macbeth today. That is why I think of him [Shakespeare] – and I wish some one had compelled me when I was your age. I should then have gained much in time and ease of acquirement. Commence with one of his historical plays ... I am going to try this summer to read all his plays. Don’t worry about your studies. Keep your health good by exercise, and as much as possible by riding drawing or playing. Write to me when you can.20
While Bryant advised wide reading and plenty of exercise, D.S. Smith, the classics master, took a different line in his letter of condolence. He advised more study in classics and spelled out a formidable list of readings in Latin. He also sent a Greek grammar “as a mark of personal esteem.”21
There is no record of how Harry applied these rather conflicting recommendations. No doubt he put the time in Embro to good advantage. This period may well have helped lay the groundwork for his subsequent brilliant career in English and the classics at university. He had already begun to acquire the background that later showed in his superb use of English and classical quotations in his sermons and speeches.
Mrs. Cody’s death probably drew Cody closer to his father at least for a time. There was never a serious breach between them personally, although Harry told Barbara that he had not seen eye to eye with his father. Nevertheless, his relations with Elijah continued to be mutually affectionate.22
Harry returned to Galt and to his grandparents’ home to resume his studies at the collegiate. He proposed to stay in Galt for two more years and wrote to his father on September 6, 1883, with this explanation:
I am in the form I wanted to be in last year namely the University Pass Matriculation form and have the same English and Mathematics as those who are trying to get a second class certificate, and have my Latin and Greek in the Senior Latin and Greek class. So I could go to the University next year [1884] in a pass course but I am too young and I want to go in an honours course. I am perfectly satisfied with my promotion.
There had been some changes in the staff. Smith, the classics master, had resigned, moving on to a post at the Ottawa Collegiate Institute. His farewell letter to Harry gave evidence of his high opinion of the young man: “I was looking forward to a very happy year of work in Galt