Speeches

HOW BRET HARTE GOT INTO HOWARTH PARSONAGE Manchester Times, 14/12/00 p.10, taken, with acknowledgements, from The British Weekly.   In an address to the London Whitefriars Club, last week, Sir Wemyss Reid dealt chiefly with the Brontes. In 1881, when it was learned, he said, that the Haworth Church was to be torn down, Sir Wemyss raised his voice and stormed right and left, in instigate [sic] an agitation against the proposed vandalism, He remembers the late Mrs Lynn Linton* expressing herself to him as painfully surprised that he should take such a course. About this time he paid aContinue reading →

Professor Flinders Petrie on ‘The Value of History’ From Whitefriars Journal,vol. III, no. 12, February 1910, pp. 195-96. On Friday, October 22nd 1909, Professor Flinders Petrie was entertained by the Club, Friar Edward Clodd occupying the chair, the subject of talk being “The Value of Historv.” In proposing the health of the Club guest, the Prior said that Professor Flinders Petrie was descended from the Australian explorer Flinders. He, the Professor, had for thirty years been excavating in Egypt. Professor Petrie had gone to the valley of dry bones and made them live. He represented the newer school of archaeology,Continue reading →

Mr Handley Page on ‘The Future of Aviation’ From the Whitefriars Journal, vol. V, no. 6, July 1919, pp. 180-83. March 7th, 1919. Prior—Friar Dr Leslie Burgin. Topic for Discussion:–‘Commercial Aviation in the Future’. Among the Guests were : Mr G. Caradoc Rees, Mr F. J. Piatt, Mr C. Grey, Mr E. L. Burgin, Mr Charles Burgin, Major H. J. Holmes, MC, Mr W. R. Deighton, Lieut. F. H. Wilson, RAF, Sir John Cawston, KCB, Mr W. L. Rind, OBE, Mr Cyril F. J. Hankinson, Mr R. M. Cunningham, Mr Frank Lindley-Jones, Mr Edgar Lindley-Jones, Dr. Kesteven, Mr H. J.Continue reading →

(pseudonym of Samuel Langhorne Clemens) Mark Twain at the Whitefriars Club Western Daily Press, Tuesday 10 September 1872, p. 3. Within the last few days the celebrated humourist Mark Twain has arrived in England and he was present at a dinner given by the members of the Whitefriars Club at the Mitre Tavern [on 6 September]. The meeting was presided over by Mr. J.Crawford Wilson, Mr G. Wharton Sampson occupying the vice-chair. It was as Mr Tom Hood’s guest that the distinguished visitor was present. Mark Twain, with whose writings the English public are so familiar, belongs to the orderContinue reading →

Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree on ‘The Press and the Stage’ From Whitefriars Journal, vol. III, no. 13, June 1910, pp. 238-41. On Friday, April 1st, the Club guest was Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. Friar Peter Keary was the Prior, and the topic of conversation ‘The Press and the Stage’. Friar Peter Keary1, in welcoming the guest of the evening, thanked the Brethren for coming to the dinner half an hour earlier than usual to meet Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. He would touch on only one issue – and only one side of that issue – to give a lead toContinue reading →

F.E. Smith on ‘The Influence of the House of Commons From the Whitefriars Journal, vol. IV, no. 1, June 1913, pp. 17-18 Sir Robert Hudson1 was the Prior, and the topic was ‘The Influence of the House of Commons’. Sir Robert paid a graceful tribute to the guest, touching on his rapid distinction both at the Bar and in the House of Commons, and said wittily Mr. Smith had so impressed his personality upon the public in a few short years that, if anyone of a frugal turn of mind desired to save in a telegraphic message to him, theContinue reading →

‘Should Theatres be Municipalised?’ Bernard Shaw’s speech at the Whitefriars Club Dinner, 16th February 1906 From Whitefriars Journal, vol. III, no. 2, April 1906, pp. 23-24. Mr George Bernard Shaw was the Club guest on February 16th, and there was an unusually large attendance, the company numbering about ninety. Friar Clement Shorter acted as Prior for the evening. The topic of conversation was ‘Should Theatre be Municipalised?’ Mr Shaw said Yes. He declared that he had nothing more to say, and at once proceeded to make a singularly fluent speech, full of paradox and epigram. He spoke of actor-managers andContinue reading →

Sir Ernest Shackleton CVO on ‘The Antarctic’ From Whitefriars Journal, vol. III, no. 12, February 1910, pp. 191-93. The Autumn Session opened auspiciously on Friday, October 1st, when some 250 members and guests assembled at De Keyser’s Royal Hotel to do honour to Lieutenant Sir E. H. Shackleton, CVO. Friar Sir W. P. Treloar, Bart, was the Prior, and the subject of conversation was ‘The Antarctic’. In proposing the health of the Club guest, the Prior made a racy speech, and Lieutenant Shackleton was toasted with musical honours. Lieutenant Shackleton said that since his return to civilisation he had metContinue reading →

Captain Scott RN CVO on ‘Why I want to reach the South Pole’ From Whitefriars Journal, no. 5, May 1901, pp. 11-12. On Friday, February 25th 1910, the Club Guest was Captain Robert Falcon Scott, RN CVO. Friar Sir Robert A. Hudson was the Prior, and the topic of conversation was ‘Why I want to reach the South Pole.’ The Prior, in introducing the guest of the evening, said that he had read with very great interest everything that Captain Scott had written about his wish to reach that uncomfortable and inhospitable spot on the map, the South Pole, andContinue reading →