AustLit

This was one of several scathing satirical poems which Kendall wrote for the Freeman's Journal on the subject of sectarianism and religious hatred - here also see 'To the "Holy" Stiggins' and 'A Conventicle Larrikin'. In this poem Kendall has in his sights a number of militant anti-Catholic Protestant figures who were then active in Sydney. They include the Church of England clergymen Dr. John McGibbin (1818-1882) and Dr. Zachary Barry (1827-1898), both of whom were leading Orange organisers and also editors of the anti-Catholic newspaper the Protestant Standard; the Indian-born Presbyterian minister and prominent Orange figure, Wazir Beg (?1827-1885); the Congregational pastor and faith healer John Alexander Dowie (1847-1907); and the Baptist pastor and notorious Hyde Park orator Daniel Allen.

This poem is remarkably similar to an untitled poem (presumably by Kendall) which appeared in 'The Meddler' column in the Sydney Mail on 18 September, 1880.