The Archer Letters – Letter Twenty-Two
This letter tells the reader much about the place of science in the life of Fr Julian. He loves all things scientific but he is always a priest first, attending to his many ecclesiastical duties before spending time pursuing scientific interests – writing papers, visiting museums or taking notes while rambling. At this time Fr […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Twenty-One
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 […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Twenty
View Letter 20 written from Lambton on 29 January 1878:
The Archer Letters – Letter Nineteen
This letter is 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 […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Eighteen
In this letter, Fr Julian expresses his appreciation for the enjoyable time he had spent with the Archer family the month before. He is now in Sydney en route to Bathurst. Fr Julian describes the ship, the Wotonga, in which he journeyed from Melbourne to Sydney as “one of the very best boats you can […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Seventeen
This letter is to Mrs Archer, apologising for once again being delayed in his visit and asking for assistance for one of the women from a community he was trying to establish. This letter shows the esteem and trust in which Fr Julian held the Archer family. It is little wonder he enjoyed spending time […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Sixteen
In his letter of 6.1.76, Fr Julian says he is enclosing a cryptogamic puzzle. Obviously he forgot to do this because the purpose of his letter of 22.1.76 is now to send the Fungus! The two letters allude to his involvement with the Tasmanian Royal Society whose monthly meetings both stimulated his scientific work and […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Fifteen
Fr Julian is in the Huon district, south of Hobart, where he is giving a most successful mission. He mentions receiving 18 people into the Church and the footnotes give evidence of the esteem in which he was obviously held as an orator. The timber on which he recorded the number of communions and confirmations […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Fourteen
In his letter to William Archer on 12 October 1875, Fr Julian writes from Hobart where he seems to be busy about many things. It seems Fr Julian had delayed answering William Archer’s last letter and had received, with both surprise and pleasure, a second one “tumbling in on the heels of the first”. As […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Thirteen
In a letter written from South Brisbane on 4.12.1873, we see for the first time Fr Julian Tenison Woods using the †JMJ sign at the beginning of his letters. We also learn a little more of the Archer family (both the high and low moments of their life) and of Fr Julian’s time in Northern […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Twelve
View Letter 12 written from Penola on 24 November 1866:
The Archer Letters – Letter Eleven
View Letter 11 written from Fitzroy Terrace in Melbourne on 1 September 1866: