From the archive

John Drinkwater on ‘Poetry and the Man in the Street’ From the WhitefriarsJournal, vol. VI, no. 1, January 1921, pp. 29-32. November 5th, 1920. The Prior, Friar W. H. Helm, introduced the Guest as one not only distinguished, but, in his art, distinctive, not merely an echo of a school; a poet, and the author of a great play concerning one – Abraham Lincoln –  who was one of the greatest and most distinctive statesmen who had ever walked this earth. Mr John Drinkwater said the Man in the Street might ask the Poet: ‘What is there in poetry thatContinue reading →

Henry Fielding Dickens KC on his father, Charles Dickens From the Whitefriars Journal, vol. IV, no.2, February 1914, pp. 60-66, 74-45. December 5th, 1913.—Mr Henry Fielding Dickens, K.C., who was accorded an enthusiastic welcome as the principal guest of the evening, delighted us with a long, eloquent, and intimate ‘Chat About My Father’. Friar Sir William Robertson Nicoll was Prior. The gathering numbered a hundred, including a large proportion of distinguished guests. Friar Sir Robert Hudson brought three sons of the Club guest. The Prior said the honour of presiding was never greater and the duty never more welcome thanContinue reading →

Marie Corelli on Sovran Woman Marie Corelli’s reply to the toast of ‘Sovran Woman’ by the Rev. Dr Watson (the novelist Ian Maclaren) at the Whitefriars Club’s Annual Ladies’ Banquet at the Hotel Cecil on 4 May 1901. Friar Winston Churchill MP was in the Chair. I feel myself placed tonight in a rather strange and unique position. It is the first time I have ever spoken at a public dinner. It is equally the first time I have to thank a London club of literary men for any kindness or consideration. (Applause.) It is altogether a new experience forContinue reading →

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s toast to ‘The Ladies’ From the Whitefriars Journal, vol. III, no. 7, January 1908, pp. 104-7. At the Whitefriars Christmas Dinner at the Trocadero on 13 December 1907, the Club Guests included Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Miss Evelyn Sharp replied to the toast. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle received a cordial greeting on rising to propose the health of ‘The Ladies’. He said: I can only regret my own particular lady is not here to be included in the toast. (‘Hear, hear.’) But as the Prior had said, an unfortunate family tragedy has prevented her being present,Continue reading →

Mr Winston Churchill’s speech From Whitefriars Journal, no. 5, May 1901, pp. 11-12. This is the text of Winston Churchill’s speech when he was Chairman at the Annual Ladies’ Banquet on 3 May 1901. The toast of ‘Sovran Woman’ was proposed by Dr John Watson (who wrote under the name Ian Mclaren),1 and Dame Marie Corelli2 in her first ever public speech, had responded. Mrs C. N. Williamson3 toast of ‘Mere Man’, to which the Chairman, Friar Winston Churchill MP, responded. The Chairman, in responding, said: I have on several occasions been asked to do things which have seemed extremely difficult,Continue reading →

‘Mr G. K. Chesterton’s speech ‘The Old Journalist and the New’ Whitefriars Club Dinner, 6 November 1903 From Whitefriars Journal, vol. II, no. 4, January 1904, p. 81. Mr G. K. Chesterton was our Club Guest on Friday November 6th, when Friar J.A. Stuart acted as Prior. The topic of conversation was ‘The Old Journalist and the New’, but most of the talk was centred upon a consideration of the modern popular newspaper, and one heard very little of the journalist himself. Mr Chesterton referred to the French Press and to the large part taken by eminent authors in FranceContinue reading →

Mr Hall Caine and Viscount Goschen at the Annual Dinner From the Whitefriars Journal, vol. II, no.1, February 1903, pp. 1-22. The Annual Club Dinner was held on Friday, January 30th 1903, in the Empire Hall, Trocadero Restaurant. The Friars and Guests were received in the Alexandra Room by Friar Robert Leighton, who acted as Prior. The following served as Sub-Priors : Friars F. Carruthers Gould, B.. L. Farjeon, Kenric B. Murray, Sir Ernest Clarke, and Louis H. Falck. [See end for the Roll Call of Welcome.] The Prior said:– ‘It is our privilege tonight to welcome as the GuestContinue reading →

Mr John Buchan on ‘The Press and the War’ From the Whitefriars Journal, vo. V, no. 2, July 1917, pp. 41-46. The Prior, Friar W. H. Helm, paid a cordial tribute to Mr Buchan’s high literary qualities and to his remarkable versatility. Up to that evening Mr Buchan had been an elusive personality as far as the Club was concerned, but we were delighted at last to have him amongst us. Mr John Buchan considered that the connection between ‘The Press and the War’ was very real and important. The Press formed the only medium by which the public wereContinue reading →

Lady Bonham Carter and Mr T. P. O’Connor MP From the Whitefriars Journal, vol. VI, no. 1, January 1921, pp. 16-21. Ladies’ Night Dinner held on May 7th, 1920; Prior:– Friar Robert Donald. Club Guests: – Lady Bonham Carter, Dr Agnes Savill and Mr T. P. O’Connor, MP. The Prior proposed the toast of ‘The King’, and then gave the welcome to Friars and Guests. In submitting the toast of ‘Our Visitors’, the Prior said that they were looking forward to the time when women would knock at the door, as they were knocking at other doors. If women hadContinue reading →