William Ivens
Encyclopedia
William Ivens was a religious and political figure in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a leading figure in the Winnipeg General Strike, and subsequently served as a Labour
member of the Manitoba legislature from 1920 to 1936.
Ivens was born in Barford
, in Warwickshire
, England
, and came to Canada in 1896. He was educated at Wesley College, Winnipeg
and the University of Manitoba
, gaining a Master of Arts
degree and becoming an ordained minister in the Methodist Church.
Ivens began his ministerial career at a time when the social gospel
was on the rise in Canada. He was stationed at the McDougall Methodist Church in Winnipeg
in 1916, and called for the church to lead the labour movement in its struggle against the prevailing tendencies of North American capitalism. He also supported the efforts of the Moral and Social Council of Canada to bring about large-scale social reform, and developed a reputation as a radical minister.
In 1917 and 1918, Ivens was opposed by several members of his congregation by defending conscientious objectors to World War I
and criticizing the management of the war. He expressed these opinions as a private citizen in newspaper articles, rather than from his pulpit; nevertheless, many church members opposed him as insufficiently patriotic in wartime.
Although there were several petitions presented Ivens's his favour (he had improved the financial status of McDougall during his time as its minister), the overseeing body removed him from the church in June 1918 in an effort to restore local unity. Ivens agreed to stand down on condition that he be granted a year's leave to establish a "workers' church". Before the end of the month, he had founded the first Labour Church in the City of Winnipeg.
At the first meeting of the Labour Church on June 30, 1918, about two hundred attendees signed cards with the following declaration: "I am willing to support an independent and creedless Church based on the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. Its aim shall be the establishment of justice and righteousness among men of all nations."
Ivens was directly involved in labour activism during this period. He supported the newly organized Dominion Labour Party
, and attempted to build local networks of support in a speaking tour of western Canada. Upon his return to Winnipeg, he assumed the editorship of the Western Labour News, a newspaper published by the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council. In 1919, he published a number of articles which supported the One Big Union
movement.
Ivens continued as editor of the Western Labour News during the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919, and published a daily Special Strike Edition during this period. He wrote numerous articles in support of the strikers. Although he warned against public disorder, he also referred to the strike as the harbinger of a new age for the working-class in Canada. His Labour Church soon became the scene of extremely large meetings, with crowds of between 5,000 and 10,000 people emerging to support the strike effort.
When the Canadian government suppressed the strike in June 1919, Ivens was arrested on charges of seditious libel
and conspiracy (J.S. Woodsworth took his place as editor). Although it is unlikely that his editorials actually constituted sedition by the standards of the age, he was found guilty in March 1920 and served time in jail. On Easter
Sunday 1920, he led a prayer service for a crowd that had gathered around his prison cell.
While still in prison, Ivens ran as a candidate of the Dominion Labour Party in the provincial election of 1920
, and was elected in the city of Winnipeg. Winnipeg, at the time, elected ten members by preferential balloting; Ivens finished fifth on the first count and was declared elected on the second after receiving transfers from DLP leader Fred Dixon
. He entered the legislature following his release from prison in 1922.
In late 1920, the DLP split into two factions via a fallout over the Winnipeg General Strike. Dixon, Ivens, Woodsworth and most others on the left of the DLP founded the new Independent Labour Party
.
In parliament, Ivens was known as an articulate and vociferous defender of labour interests though he was sometimes criticized for long-windedness in his speeches (Douglas L. Campbell once claimed that he heard Ivens speak for more than seven hours at a stretch). He was re-elected in the provincial election of 1922
, but was reduced to fourth place among the successful social democratic candidates and was not assured of re-election until the final count.
In addition to his political career, Ivens also received a chiropractor
's certificate in 1925 and practiced in the field.
Ivens was re-elected in the elections of 1927
and 1932
, though again trailing other successful social democratic candidates. He lost his seat in the provincial election of 1936
, when Communist candidate James Litterick
and Independent Socialist Lewis St. George Stubbs
both polled ahead of the ILP ticket. He attempted a comeback in the election of 1941
as a candidate of the Manitoba Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, but was unsuccessful.
Ivens remained active in the CCF after leaving the legislature. In 1949, he argued that the party needed to redouble its efforts to reach out to rural, agrarian voters.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was a leading figure in the Winnipeg General Strike, and subsequently served as a Labour
Independent Labour Party (in Manitoba) (II)
Prior to 1920, there were a number of groups in Winnipeg which called themselves the "Independent Labour Party". For information on these groups, see Independent Labour Party ....
member of the Manitoba legislature from 1920 to 1936.
Ivens was born in Barford
Barford, Warwickshire
Barford is a village and civil parish in the Warwick district of Warwickshire, England, about three miles south of Warwick. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,171...
, in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and came to Canada in 1896. He was educated at Wesley College, Winnipeg
Wesley College, Winnipeg
Wesley College was a college that existed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from 1888 to 1967. It was one of the University of Winnipeg's founding colleges.-History:...
and the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
, gaining a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree and becoming an ordained minister in the Methodist Church.
Ivens began his ministerial career at a time when the social gospel
Social Gospel
The Social Gospel movement is a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the early 20th century United States and Canada...
was on the rise in Canada. He was stationed at the McDougall Methodist Church in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
in 1916, and called for the church to lead the labour movement in its struggle against the prevailing tendencies of North American capitalism. He also supported the efforts of the Moral and Social Council of Canada to bring about large-scale social reform, and developed a reputation as a radical minister.
In 1917 and 1918, Ivens was opposed by several members of his congregation by defending conscientious objectors to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and criticizing the management of the war. He expressed these opinions as a private citizen in newspaper articles, rather than from his pulpit; nevertheless, many church members opposed him as insufficiently patriotic in wartime.
Although there were several petitions presented Ivens's his favour (he had improved the financial status of McDougall during his time as its minister), the overseeing body removed him from the church in June 1918 in an effort to restore local unity. Ivens agreed to stand down on condition that he be granted a year's leave to establish a "workers' church". Before the end of the month, he had founded the first Labour Church in the City of Winnipeg.
At the first meeting of the Labour Church on June 30, 1918, about two hundred attendees signed cards with the following declaration: "I am willing to support an independent and creedless Church based on the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. Its aim shall be the establishment of justice and righteousness among men of all nations."
Ivens was directly involved in labour activism during this period. He supported the newly organized Dominion Labour Party
Dominion Labour Party (in Manitoba)
The Dominion Labour Party was a reformist labour party, formed in Canada in 1918. The party enjoyed itsgreatest success in the province of Manitoba....
, and attempted to build local networks of support in a speaking tour of western Canada. Upon his return to Winnipeg, he assumed the editorship of the Western Labour News, a newspaper published by the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council. In 1919, he published a number of articles which supported the One Big Union
One Big Union (Canada)
The One Big Union was a Canadian syndicalist trade union active primarily in the Western part of the country. It was formally founded in Calgary on June 4, 1919 but lost most members by 1922. It finally merged into the Canadian Labour Congress in 1956.-Background:Towards the end of World War I, a...
movement.
Ivens continued as editor of the Western Labour News during the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919, and published a daily Special Strike Edition during this period. He wrote numerous articles in support of the strikers. Although he warned against public disorder, he also referred to the strike as the harbinger of a new age for the working-class in Canada. His Labour Church soon became the scene of extremely large meetings, with crowds of between 5,000 and 10,000 people emerging to support the strike effort.
When the Canadian government suppressed the strike in June 1919, Ivens was arrested on charges of seditious libel
Seditious libel
Seditious libel was a criminal offence under English common law. Sedition is the offence of speaking seditious words with seditious intent: if the statement is in writing or some other permanent form it is seditious libel...
and conspiracy (J.S. Woodsworth took his place as editor). Although it is unlikely that his editorials actually constituted sedition by the standards of the age, he was found guilty in March 1920 and served time in jail. On Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
Sunday 1920, he led a prayer service for a crowd that had gathered around his prison cell.
While still in prison, Ivens ran as a candidate of the Dominion Labour Party in the provincial election of 1920
Manitoba general election, 1920
Manitoba's general election of 29 June 1920 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.-Background:...
, and was elected in the city of Winnipeg. Winnipeg, at the time, elected ten members by preferential balloting; Ivens finished fifth on the first count and was declared elected on the second after receiving transfers from DLP leader Fred Dixon
Fred Dixon
Fred Dixon was a Manitoba politician, and was for several years the dominant figure in the province's mainstream labour movement.Born in Englefield, England, Dixon was not a socialist...
. He entered the legislature following his release from prison in 1922.
In late 1920, the DLP split into two factions via a fallout over the Winnipeg General Strike. Dixon, Ivens, Woodsworth and most others on the left of the DLP founded the new Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party (in Manitoba) (II)
Prior to 1920, there were a number of groups in Winnipeg which called themselves the "Independent Labour Party". For information on these groups, see Independent Labour Party ....
.
In parliament, Ivens was known as an articulate and vociferous defender of labour interests though he was sometimes criticized for long-windedness in his speeches (Douglas L. Campbell once claimed that he heard Ivens speak for more than seven hours at a stretch). He was re-elected in the provincial election of 1922
Manitoba general election, 1922
Manitoba's general election of July 18, 1922 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.As in the previous election of 1920, the city of Winnipeg elected ten members by the single transferable ballot...
, but was reduced to fourth place among the successful social democratic candidates and was not assured of re-election until the final count.
In addition to his political career, Ivens also received a chiropractor
Chiropractor
A Chiropractor, according to the Association of Chiropractic Colleges , "focuses on the relationship between the body's main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient's health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to...
's certificate in 1925 and practiced in the field.
Ivens was re-elected in the elections of 1927
Manitoba general election, 1927
Manitoba's general election of 28 June 1927 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the first election in Manitoba history to elect members through a single transferable ballot in all constituencies...
and 1932
Manitoba general election, 1932
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1932 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the second election in Manitoba where the single transferable ballot was used in all electoral divisions...
, though again trailing other successful social democratic candidates. He lost his seat in the provincial election of 1936
Manitoba general election, 1936
Manitoba's general election of July 27, 1936 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The was the second election in Manitoba after the formation of a Liberal-Progressive alliance in 1932...
, when Communist candidate James Litterick
James Litterick
James Litterick was a politician in Manitoba, Canada, and was the first member of the Communist Party of Canada to be elected to that province's legislature....
and Independent Socialist Lewis St. George Stubbs
Lewis St. George Stubbs
Lewis St. George Stubbs was a prominent judge and politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1936 to 1949 as an Independent, and was known for promoting left-wing and socially progressive causes.Stubbs was born on the island of Cockburn Harbour in the...
both polled ahead of the ILP ticket. He attempted a comeback in the election of 1941
Manitoba general election, 1941
Manitoba's general election of April 22, 1941 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held shortly after the formation of a coalition government in December 1940...
as a candidate of the Manitoba Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, but was unsuccessful.
Ivens remained active in the CCF after leaving the legislature. In 1949, he argued that the party needed to redouble its efforts to reach out to rural, agrarian voters.