dog-ma; also the first poetry ever published in pasadena

In a history of Pasadena, CA from its Native American days to "The Incorporated City," we find that the amount of churchgoing dogs in town was not only newsworthy, but verseworthy.  Kinda long, but not the kind of thing you see every day, so here you go.

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"FIRST PASADENA POETRY.

The first poetry ever written in Pasadena also appeared in this first number of the first paper, and ran as follows:"

A CHURCH DOG~MA, IN DOGGEREL METER. 

BY PROF. SHORTFELLOW. 

Our Mr. Porter had a dog; its given name was Fido;

When Mr. Porter went to town it always said "can't I go?" 

At Dr. Newton's lived a dog ; its hair was long and yellow; 

And when the Doctor went away, Bob was quite sure to follow. 

And Mrs. Barcus had her dog ; it wouldn't stay at home;
When Mrs. Barons came up town, Carlo would likewise come. 

Then Mrs. Mundell had one, too ; 'twas socially inclined; 

If told to stay at home alone, sometimes it would not mind.

Now all these folks were church-going folk, and went to church each Sunday; 

So all the dogs they followed on, the same as though ’twas Monday. 

Now this was wrong, for dogs should learn the difference in days;

Their special fort it is to watch; they cannot pray or praise.

And so they should not go to church; and if they try to follow, 

Their master should turn right about, and whip them till they holler; 

For folks will laugh and look distressed to see a dog at service; 

And when it goes up towards the desk, it makes the preacher nervous. 

And when four dogs together come, they make such a commotion, 

'Tis very likely to disturb the spirit of devotion.

But not long since the Methodist another church began ;

And now there is but one dog left at the Presbyterian.

“ Bob" Newton now comes all alone; all others on the list 

Now go just where their masters go, and have turned Methodist. 

And now we hope, before ’tis time that church to dedicate, 

A pledge to leave all dogs at home, some one will circulate.

The precedent is very bad, when dogs do so increase,

And by and by, if all should go, we could not meet in peace. 

This market is getting stocked with pups, of every kind and size, 

And if the old dogs go to church, the pups will go, likewise. 

The Moody boys a puppy have, and Charley Watts, another;

And Seymour Locke is keeping one, besides “Ivy," their mother; 

And Mrs. Barcus, not content with her nice Black and Tan, 

Has gone and got a puppy, too; and now she has a span.

Then Johnny Nelson got one too, before it was too late;

And Mr. Wallace spoke in time to make sure of its mate.

The Martin boys have also two, and Banbury a third,

And Doctor Edwards several more; from some we have not heard.

Now, if each pup when it's grown up, should go to church each week, 

We could not sing, or hear a thing our Minister might speak; 

So let each man who has a dog help cur-tail this abuse;

But if our dogs must go to church, let’s build one for their use.

"The Mr. Day who wrote the above poem and prepared the entire paper, was a newspaper man connected with The Advance of Chicago, the organ of the Congregational denomination in the Mississippi Valley States. He was here for his health; his name was Arthur Henry; he kept some hens..."

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from Hiram Alvin Reid, History of Pasadena (Pasadena, CA: Pasadena History Company, Publishers, 1895) p. 140