Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-06
THE INCORRECT USE OF ~HON.u
Avn aRFVs

4 writer in the last number of the
Wooster University RecieJg, supposed TO
be President Taylor, thus discOuTses about
a wretcced inaccuracy which is coming
into very general use:
One Of the most frequent errors that we
meet aud a gross perversion Of good usage,
without authority and without excuse, has
taken full possession Of many Of the better
rural journals, and is invading the columns
Of the city press. We refer 10 the use of
the prefXes Honorable, RerereRd, and the
like, in direct connection with surnames,
as Honorable COlfdI; ReCerend Hall.
Frequently the mistake is made in direct
address, Jas "GOOd morning, Reverend
These prefXes are simply GdjectiUeS, and
one might with as much proprIety address
anOther as "Hands0me Williams" or
"Sweet Snyder" The usage of good sOcie-
ty, recognizing the dignity Of manhood and
~wOmanhOOd, entities every man 70 the title
Of "Mr.," and every woman to the title Of
"MrS.," or miss" And it is DO less dis
respectful in fact 70 say, "Rev. Johnson
than simply to call he individual "JOhn-
son. without any title whatever.
The "Rev." or "HOn.5 is an
honorary prefix to be applied to
the digHifed full name. Take note, then,
that the proper address, which should in no
case be neglected, includes tue title "1fr.,"
az Rec. Mr.. Johnson. This is the very
least that is admissible The more respect
ful method, that one usually employed in
polite literature, requires also the insertion
Of the first name or names, or the initials,
as Rev. James johnson, Rev. J. L. Smith,
the insertion Of these taking the place Of the
"Ar." when the "ReU.' or "HOn.7 is prefix
ed, not Rev. Mr.. VIM. Jones. Nouns, how
ever, used as a ijectives to indicate position,
may be attached directly to the surname,
as Bishop White, Professor Black, Princi-
pal Fairbairn, Deacon Small, because they
substitute some official rank or office in
place Of "Mr." that is common to all men.
So we may say that a person is a Professor,
or Doctor, but not ian Honorable or "a
Reverend But these honorary prefxes
may be applied without disrespect directly
to the titles Of office, as Rev. Prof. Green,
Rev. DR.. Smith, Hon. and Rev. DR.. Baptist
Noel. This matter Of proper personal
respect is a very delicate point in
public estimation, and needs 10 be care
fully observed, for the maintenance of
ones own literary standing. is a general
rule u Is most courteous, lrheH addressing
another ~ UritiBg, or Uhen trritiHg Of
him, 10 insert the full name. or the full
initials belonging 10 him. This is a rule
easily remembered, applicable in all cases,
and upon which we may always slfely rely
to save Us from trouble. The accurate
spelling Of the name is also very i'm
pOItaut, to avoid giving Cfanse.
Binghamton, in New York, was formerly
spelled with a "p,' BInghamptOn. After
the "p' was discarded, a Buffalo paper per-
sisted in the old spelling. WhereupOn a
BinghamtOn journal, in considerable ire.
responded as follows: "P1t the letter ia
the name Of your Own town, if You wgnt
10 use it so much; BUfGi0p. There; how
do you like it now" Humanity is a SEN
sit!ye plant.