he goes out with the possibility of being on detached
duty at any moment. Successful insistence on these points of policy was
one of Commissioner Perry's early achievements. It was in the best
interests of the country and the Force that such things should be
recognized by the authorities.

How necessary it was that the Police should be wise and at the same time
firm is evidenced that very year when Superintendent Charles Constantine
was in command at Fort Saskatchewan. Amongst the Rutherian or Galician
people there arose a religious controversy, and a religious controversy
is a hard thing for civil authority to tackle. But Constantine was a
very discreet officer. He saw how easily a serious conflict on the
subject might be precipitated amongst an excitable people. "Religion,"
writes Constantine, "is a very real thing to the Galician and on this
matter he feels very strongly." Constantine made special study of the
situation. There were three different branches of the church amongst
these people, the Roman and Greek Catholic and the Orthodox Russian or
Uniate Church, which was in creed and ritual a sort of half-way between
the other two. The Russian church people had put up a church building
near Star, but having no pastor of their own, they divided on which of
the two others, the Roman Catholic or the Greek Catholic priest, should
conduct services. The discussion became quite warm and threats of
violence were common. Constantine would not interfere as between the
controversialists, but he kept his eye on the situation and gave special
direction to certain of his men. Matters came to a climax on Easter
Sunday, when the two rival priests, each accompanied by some 200
followers, came to hold service in the church. Constantine knew of the
situation beforehand, and he had sent a sergeant and two constables,
prudent men, to see that there was no breach of the peace. Both parties
claimed the right to hold services in the church and neither would yield
nor would they hold a joint service. So the Police held the balance
level by locking the door and then asking the parties to go one to each
side of the church outside and hold their own services. This was done
and there was no ill-will. After the services they dispersed to their
homes and the danger passed. Constantine thought well of people who
could be earnest about religion and law-abiding. And he makes this
general remark about them: "On the whole my observation leads me to
be