The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-05-20
Incorrect Use of "HOn." and "Rey -

A WRITER in late number of the
wooster bntUerstty Regteo, supposed to
be President Taylor, thus discourse s
| about an inaccuracy which is coming in.
to very general use in some parts of the
West. He says:
One of the most frequent errors that
we meet, and gross perversion of good
usage, without authority and without ex-
cuse, has taken full possession of many
OF the better rural journals, aud is invad
ing the columns of the city press. We
refer to the use of the prefixes " Honor.
able" Reverend" and the like, in di
! rect connection with surnames, as Hon.
orable Colfax"; Reverend Hall" Ere
quently the mistake is made in direct
address, as Good morning, Reverend. y
These prefixes are merely adjectives, and
one might with as much propriety adj
| dress another as Handsome Williams. >
or " Sweet Snyder" The usage of good
society, recognizing the dignity of man.
hood and womanhood, entities every man
to the title of Mr." and every woman
to the title of Mrs" or Miss. y
And it is no less disrespectful in
fact to say "Rev. johnson" than
simply to call the individual "John.
SON." without any title whatever.
The " Rev." or Hon" is an honorary
prefix to be applied to the dignified full
name. lake note, then, that the proper
address, which should in no case be
neglected, includes the title Mr." as
Rev. Mr. johnson. This is the very least
that is admissible. The more respectful
method, that one usually employed in
polite literature, requires also the inser-
ton OF the first name or names, OF the
initials, as Rev. James Johnson, Rev.
l.. Smith, the insertion of these taking
the place of the "Mr" when the "Rev. y
or Hon" is prefxed; not Rev Mr..
William Jones. Nouns, however, used
as adjectives to indicate a position NAV
be attached directly to the surname, as
Bishop White, Prof. Black, PRINCIPAL
Fairbury, Deacon Small, because they
substitute some official rank or office in
place OF the Mr." that is common TO all
men. So we may say that a person is a
Professor or Doctor, but not I" an Honor
able" or ga Reverend" But these hon
orary prefixes may DC applied without
dlsrespect 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 to be carefully observed, for
the maintenance of ones own liter
airy standing. As general rule it is
most courteous, when addressing another
in writing, or when writing of him, to
insert the full name or the full initials
belonging to him. This is a rule easily
remembered, applicable in all cases, and
upon which we may always safely rely
TO save US from trouble. The accurate
spelling of the name is also very i'm
portant, to avoid giving ofense. Bing-
hamton, in New York, was formerly
spelled with "p'-Binghampton After
the "p" was discarded Buffalo paper
persisted in the old spelling, whereupon
a Binghamton journal, in considerable
ire, responded as follows: Put the let
ter in the name of your own town, if you
want to use it so much-Bufalop. There.
how do you like it now" Humanity is
sensitive plant