The Archer Letters – Letter Sixteen
April 7, 2018
This month we read a letter written from Fr Julian Tenison Woods while he is giving a mission at Forbes in May 1878.
There has been a delay in Fr Julian receiving Sir William Archer’s letters due mainly to confusion over the address at which Fr Julian’s mail is held, while he is absent from Sydney giving missions in remote parish areas. It is interesting to note Fr Julian’s membership of two clubs in Sydney, the Union Club and the Australia Club. He was obviously held in high esteem here, in contrast to the wariness he felt among his fellow priests!
The Archer Letters – Letter Fifteen
March 7, 2018
The letter written by Fr Julian to William Archer from Penola on 5 September 1865 merits more than a cursory glance.
It is, once again, full of questions and demands of his good friend but, as he says, “Who have I to look but you?” He is grateful that William has recommended a microscope that will suit his purposes, and his pocket.
Written in free and easy conversation style, here Fr Julian’s sense of humour is at its best. He refers to his lack of means and suggests maybe the microscope could magnify his income! “The rule is that all priests say they are poor, the exception being in my case that it is true.” He asks for a book and suggests “get it anywhere – steal it – and tell me the cost to soul and body and I will remit in both senses”!
The Archer Letters – Letter Fourteen
February 7, 2018
On 1 June 1865, Fr Julian Tenison Woods wrote to his friend, W H Archer Esq, from Penola.
This letter perhaps proves what good friends these two really were because anyone else might have taken umbrage at receiving a letter in which most of the sentences are questions!
The Archer Letters – Letter Thirteen
December 7, 2017
This month’s letter from Fr Julian Tenison Woods to “My dear Sir”, William Archer, is rather a long one with a considerable number of explanatory endnotes.
However, it is far from a tedious read!
Written from Penola towards the end of 1863, it is a good example of Fr Julian’s command of the English language, his fluent penmanship and his sense of humour. The letter from William Archer, to which he is replying, must have been an interesting one to have caused such a reaction!
The Archer Letters – Letter Twelve
November 7, 2017
In September 1884, Fr Julian Tenison Woods writes to Sir William Archer from Perak.
He has obviously received a very welcome letter from his friend, although it has been a long time coming, and he wants to reply immediately.
Fr Julian has been in the Malay Peninsula for twelve months now and anticipates being able to chat, by and by, with his friend about all he has seen and done. His travels have been extensive, as has his collection of scientific material and knowledge, some of which he acquired while in the company of another priest-botanist, Fr Scortechini. He is full of praise for the Malay people he has encountered but is wary of some of the wildlife, particularly the tigers.
The Archer Letters – Letter Eleven
October 6, 2017
In his letter of 18 October 1883, we find that Fr Julian Tenison Woods is now in Singapore, having left Brisbane three months before.
He relates wonderful new experiences, including witnessing volcanic activity and declares “I shall never forget my journey!” He was, of course, a guest of the Governor, Sir Frederick Weld, a friend from his years in Tasmania. He now looks forward to travelling with him to explore and geologize as long as there is anything to examine. There will be time along the way to say Mass at various Catholic missions.
The Archer Letters – Letter Ten
September 7, 2017
This month’s letter from Fr Julian Tenison Woods to Sir Willliam Archer was written from Bathurst at the beginning of 1878.
It was written in the midst of a busy time for Fr Julian. Obviously the period between Christmas and the middle of January was a popular time for priests and religious to be on retreat and Fr Julian was much in demand as a retreat director. No doubt the retreat experience would have involved his giving several talks each day over six or eight days. The timetable would have been structured around daily Mass, recitation of the Divine Office and other prayer devotions.
The Archer Letters – Letter Nine
August 7, 2017
Fr Julian Tenison Woods wrote to Sir William Archer from Sydney on 13 February 1877.
In this letter he expressed his appreciation for the enjoyable time he had spent with the Archer family the month before. He was now in Sydney en route to Bathurst.