From the archive

Augustine Birrell, KC, on Literature From the Whitefriars Journal, [vol. I] no. 4, March 1901, pp. 1-9. The annual dinner of the Whitefriars Club was held at the Trocadero Restaurant on Saturday, February 16th, 1901, under the presidency of Friar F. Carruthers Gould. The vice-chairman were Friars Riochard Whiteing, Kenric B. Murray, R. Lee Campbell smf J. Bloundell Burton. Mr Herbert W. Paul, in giving the toast of ‘Literature’ said that he rose for the first time to propose such a toast under rather embarrassing circumstances. No epic of importance had been produced during the present month, and the literatureContinue reading →

Mgr Robert Hugh Benson on ‘The Modern Novel’ From the Whitefriars Chronicle,vol. IV, no. 1, June 1913, pp. 18-19. On April 18th, ‘The Modern Novel’ was discussed in a debate led off by the Very Rev. Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson, M.A., author of The Light Invisible, A Mirror of Shalott, The Sentimentalists, and other remarkable books, to whose imaginative genius a generous tribute was paid by the Prior of the evening, Friar Sir William Robertson Nicoll. In a speech of sustained eloquence and marked individuality, our guest held up the works of Robert Louis Stevenson and Henry Kingsley as exemplarsContinue reading →

Max Beerbohm on ‘The Curse of Uniformity in Costume’ From the Whitefriars Journal, Vol. II, no. 5, March 1904, pp. 101-02. On 8 January 1904 the Club guest was the writer, caricaturist, wit and dandy, Max Beerbohm, who gave us a humorous address on ‘The Curse of Uniformity in Costume’. Himself attired in the most orthodox of costumes, Mr Beerbohm vigorously inveighed against the sameness and tameness of modern dress the neat reefer suits and billycocks. the neat frock coats and top hats, of precisely the same cut and pattern. He sounded the bugle note of courage, and called uponContinue reading →

The Rt Hon. Mr. A.J. Balfour MP on ‘Literature and the Arts’ From Whitefriars Journal, vol. III, no. 5, March 1907, pp. 78-81. The Guest of the Whitefriars Club at its Annual Dinner on 22 February 1907, held at the Trocadero, was the Rt Hon. Mr A.J. Balfour, Prime Minister 1902-1905, and at this time Leader of the Opposition. The Prior, Friar Anthony Hope Hawkins (the novelist Anthony Hope), gave the toast of ‘Literature and the Arts’, coupled with the name of Mr Balfour, who, in the course of his reply, said “The Reverend Prior has explained to you thatContinue reading →

Lord and Lady Astor, and Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson From the Whitefriars Journal, vol. VI, no. 2, January 1922, pp. 86-93. The Christmas dinner was held on December 16th, 1921. Prior – Friar Dr Kimmins. Guests of the Evening—Lord and Lady Astor and Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson. Prior Kimmins read the time-honoured formula, having first remarked that he did not propose to enter into competition with those misguided Priors who, in days gone by, had tried to commit the ritual of the Club to memory. Their attempts had been attended with a conspicuous want of success with, he believed, only one exception,Continue reading →