Evening star., 1897-03-25
Efforts to Obtain the Log of the May
flower.
IT'S RESTORATION 10 rHlS COUNTRY
Considered by the Consistory Court
of the London Diocese.
PETITION FROM MERIC A

LONDON, March 25-In consequence of
the efforts of the government Of Massa-
chusetts. the American Antiquarian and
Massachusetts Historical Societies. the Pill
grim Society of Plymouth and the New
England Society of New York. backed up
by the desires of the Archbishop of Can
terbury and the Bishop Of London. the
consistory court of the diocese of London
assembled today In the old chapel of St
Paurs Cathedral in order to determine the
question of restoration of log of the May
flower to the United States.
The chancellor CT the diocese. DR.. Thos.
H. Tristran, Q. c.. presided in wig and
gown. United States Ambassador Bayard
was represented by Arnold Stratham, bar
rister, who opened the proceedings by
reading petition from Mr.. Bayard in be-
half of President and citizens of the Unit
ed States, which set forth the history of
the book and the presumDtions as to how
il came into the possession of the See of
London.
1t was stated a precedent to this friendly
act TO be found in the action of the
Philadelphia Library in 1861, in restoring
five manuscript volumes which We're only
part of the archives of England. for which
Lord Romllly. the then master Of the rolls.
formally expressed the deep thanks of
England
Mr. Bayards petition was cordially in
dorsed by the bishop of London.
Mr.. Statham then called H. F. Lee. legal
secretary of the bishop of London. who
undertook in behalf of Mr. Bayard to use
every means in his power 20 safeguard the
log and deposit the same in Pilgrim Hall.
Plymouth, Mass, or some other safe place
selected by the President of tie United
States. and also to deposit Photographic
copy of the registry of the diocese of Lon
don.
Continuing. Mr.. Stratham said that this
was an unusual petition. not brought by
single person, but supported by large
and numerous learned societies of the
United States. II short. he added the pc
tition was brought by the whole of great
nation. living in the greatest amity with
Great Britain. and without even Mr.. Bay
ards undertaking. he felt that Ameri-
"a would so treat it. This was of such
worldwide Importance. as it would safely
be transmitted tc successive generations
on national and public grounds.
Tne chancellor then spent ninety min
utes in examining Mr.. Lee, reading long
extracts from the book. which he examined
with a magnifying glass, debating upon the
obscure dates. etc.
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 ques-
tioI?'
The question WAS then answered by a
representative of the Associated Press
who said that Massachusetts was part of
New England
The chancellor asked if Plymouth was
IN Massachusetts. and the Associated Press
representative assured him that 1t was
Later the chancellor read a long tu1g-
ment. during which he set forth that the
log was part of large numbers of manu-
5cr-pts IN Fulham Palace relating to the
EEGlish possessions. ,he American colonies
which, before the declaration of inde-
pendence. formed part of .he diocese Of
London.
In the history of the diocese. the chan
ceiior continued. there was but one Irece-
dent to petition such as this on the
ground II was a matter of public interest
In 1903 he explained. Lord John Russell
petIloned the diocese of London to restore
to France the will and codicils of Napoleon
l.
The present application is different from
that of Lord Russell. because the log of
the MayHo"er being a register of births.
marriages and deaths. and concerned the
property of the descendants of the pil-
erlms Ih>lr interests must be safeguard
ed and the court would therefore follow
Is onset from an old one IN which case
lne registers of births. deaths and mar
TiaseS and transferred 10 the new diocese
He added:
order on the undertaking given by
Mr. Bayard to place the log in a fit nlac,s
where persons concerned can have access
thereto and proper certificate copy h, inp
deposited at Fulham that the original he
10 the President of the United States. and
that the copy of this judgment under seal
he sent with the book whenever Mr. Ray-
ard or some one of the United States en-
bassy can attend. In the meanwhile IT
Will remain In the diocesan strong room"
After these proc ceadings the representa-
tive of the Associated Press had an inter
view with the Archbishop of Canterbury
DR. Temple, who said
IT was always my desire when bishop Ct
London to restore the log which mas been
handed on by successive bishops and which
mas always been guarded in the most strict
manner In fact Americans were so ford
OF 1t that my predecessor; kept it in Sc
cret drawer. TO which the b!shop only had
the key.
1T could not be given up save under the
legal forms. | thought that this, perha ps.
could best be secured by act Of parliament.
My successor was equally anxious to re-
store the book. and took the advice of the
solicitor general
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"
MANY AMERICANS PRESENT.