Flag of Newfoundland, The

DESCRIPTION: "The pink rose of England shows, The green St. Patrick's emblem bright, While in between the spotless sheen of Andrew's cross displays the white." The singer hopes the pink, green, and white flag will long wave over Newfoundland
AUTHOR: Words: "Archbishop Howley" / Music: "Sister Josephine" (Source: Doyle4)
EARLIEST DATE: 1966 (Doyle-OldTimeSongsAndPoetryOfNewfoundland, 4th edition)
KEYWORDS: patriotic nonballad
FOUND IN: Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Doyle-OldTimeSongsAndPoetryOfNewfoundland, "The Flag of Newfoundland" (1 text, 1 tune): p. 10 in the 4th edition, p. 8 in the 5th
ADDITIONAL: James Murphy, compiler, _Songs & Ballads of Terra Nova_, Evening Telegram publishing, 1903 (available from the Memorial University of Newfoundland web site), p. 5, "The Flag of Newfoundland" (1 text)
Roud #26392
NOTES [258 words]: Archbishop Michael Howley (1843-1914) was an important figure in Newfoundland history, although I'm not sure I'd call him a positive one; he was conservative and parochial and touchy about Catholic rights. (Robert H. Cuff, managing editor), Dictionary of Newfoundland and Labrador Biography, Harry Cuff Publications, 1990, pp. 165-166, says that he was "ordained Roman Catholic priest 1868; prefect Apostolic of St George's 1886-1892; titular Bishop of Amastris and first Vicar Apostolic of St. George's 1892-1894; Bishop of St John's 1894-1904; Archbishop of St John's 1904-1914...."
"Howley was born into a prosperous st. John's merchant family. After a course of studies in Rome he became secretary for Scotland" and held various other Church offices, including secretary to Michael F. Power, Bishop of St. John's. When he became titular Bishop of Amastris he was the first Newfoundlander to hold the office of Bishop (Power was an Irishman, and other Newfoundland bishops were also from elsewhere). Power died in 1893, with Howley appointed to the see in the following year. In the bank crash of 1894, he opposed organized relief, though he did donate his family's summer residence for an orphan home. He became Archbishop when Newfoundland was promoted to an Archepiscopal province. Despite being a Catholic, he was very loyal to both Britain and Newfoundland.
"A prolific writer on historical topics, especially in the Newfoundland Quarterly, Howley also wrote a volume of poems, which included an operetta." I suspect it was deadly. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.0
File: Doyl4010

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