The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-26
LOG is OURS.
The Log of the MayfiOWer Will
Come to America.
Chancellor of the Diocese of
London Decides
TO GIVE 1T UP TO Us
After Being Satisfied That Ply
mouth is in Massachusetts,
And Massachusetts, is Part of
New England.

NOW GHS1auus
London, March 26.-In consequence of
the efforts of the government of Massa-
chusetts the American ANTIQUARIAN and
Massachusetts Historical societies. the
Pilgrim society of Plymouth and the
New England society of New York.
backed up by the desires of the arch
bishop of Canterbury and the bishop of
London, the consistory court of the do
cese OF London assembled in the old
chapel of St. Paufs Cathedral in order
to determine the question of restora-
ton of he log of the Mayfiower to US.
Ihe chancellor of the diocese, Dr.
Thomas II. Tristran, @ G, presided in
wig and gown. United States Ambas-
Sador Bayard was represented by Arm
old Stratham, barrister, who opened
the proceedings, by reading a petition
from Mr.. Bayard in behalf of the pres
ident and citizens of the United States
which set forth the history of the book
and the presumption to how it came
into possession of the See of London.
1t was stated a precendent to the
friendly act was to be found in the act
ion of the Philadelphia library in 1867
in restoring five manuscript volumes
which were part of the archives of Eng
land, for which Lord Rofnilly the then
master of he roll formally expressed
the thanks of England.
Mr.. Bayard's petition was cordially
Endorsed by the bishop of London
Mr.. Stratham then called H. F. Lee.
legal secretary Oh the DlShOp OF London.
who undertook, in behalf of Mr.. Bay
ard, to use every means in his power TO
safeguard the log and deposit the same
in Pilgrim hall, Plymouth, Mass, or
some other safe place selected by the
president of the United States. and also
to deposit Photographic copy OF the
register of the diocese of London.
Continuing, Mr.. Stratham said that
this was an unusual petition, not
brought by a single person. but sup
ported by a large body of public feeling
and the president and numerous learn
ed societies of the United States In
short he added, the petition was brought
by the whole of a great nation, living
in the greatest amity with Great Brit
ain, and without even Mr. Bayard's un-
dertaking, he felt sure that America
would so treat it. This was of world
wide import as it would be safely trans
mitted to successive generations on ma
tional and public grounds
The chancellor then spent 80 minutes
in examining Mr.. Lee, read long ex-
tracts from the book which he exam
ined with a magnifying glass.
The chancellor asked if New England
was part of Massachusetts, and counsel
and Mr.. Lee were unable to answer the
question.
Thereupon the chancellor said: rs
there nobody present able to answer
the question: %
The question was then answered by a
representative of the Associated Press
who said that Massachusetts was a part
of New England. The chancellor asked
1
the Associated Press representative as
Sured him that 1t was.
Later the chancellor read a long ar
gument during which he set forth that
the log was part of a large number Of
manuscripts in Fulham palace, relating
to the English possessions in the Amer
lean colonies, which, before the -Decla-
ration of Independence, formed part Of
the diocese of London. In the history of
the diocese, the chancellor continued,
there was but one precedent to a petit
ton such as this, on the ground that it
was a matter of public interest.
In 1893 he explained, Lord John Rus
sell petitioned the diocese of London to
restore to France the will and codicils
of Napoleon I. The present application
/ differed from that of Lord Russell, be-
cause the log of the Mayf1ower, being
a register of births, marriages and
deaths, concerned the property of the
| descendants of the Pilgrims. Their in
terests must be safeguarded and the
court would therefore follow the Gus
! tom prevailing when a new diocese is
offset from an old one, in which case the
register of births. deaths and marriages
was transferred to the new diocese.
After these proceedings the represent
tative of the Associated Press had an
interview with the archbishop of Can
terbury, DR.. Temple, who said:
1T was always my desire when bisIl-
op of London to restore the log which
has been handed down by successive
bishops and which has been guarded in
| the most strict manner.
I'm fact Americans were so fond of
| it that my predecessors kept it in a
strong drawer, to which the bishop only
| had q key.
| Il am glad the book is returning to
| America. 1t will be another evidence of
our sincerity. admiration and love for
| America and our desire to draw the two
! nations closer together"
The bishop of London will deliver the
| book to- Mr. Bayard personally.
London, March 26-The Times edi-
| torially says this morning upon the
| decision of the consistoriaI court to
present the original log of the MayfOT-
| er to the state of Massachusetts:
Everyone will rejoice that so consid-
| cradle an authority finds it possible to
| crafty a natural desire of the American
| people Yet it must not be supposed to
| be a light thing to thus part with docu-
/ ments having national significance"
The Daily News editorially describes
| the gift as a graceful act, and adds:
English interests will be abundantly
! satisfied by the copies of the log which
/ are retained, and senatorial amend
ments will look more foolish than ever
when this precious volume goes across
| the water