Bro. The Rev. F. St. John Corbett, M.H., F.R.S.L.

Bro . the Rev . F . St . John Corbett , M . H ., F . R . S . L .

AS intimated in a recent issue , we have pleasure in giving a brief sketch of the career of Bro . Frederick St J ohn Corbett , the genial and talented Rector of Long Marton , in the diocese of Carlisle , Westmorland . Bro . Corbett is the second son of John Corbett , M . A . and LL . D ., of Trinity

College , Dublin , a former Principal of the Government Training College , Dublin , in which city the subject of our sketch was born on the 28 th January 1862 . He graduated Bachelor of Arts at Dublin University , in 1884 , and was ordained by the Right Rev . the Lord Bishop of Ripon , in

1885 , to the curacy of Hunslet , Leeds . Bro . Corbett took his Master ' s degree in 1887 , and in that year his first work was published by W . Denton , of Leeds . This was entitled " An address to Communicants , " and met with a most favourable reception , both from the press and the public . In 1891

our Reverend Brother was appointed as the curate of St . Michael ' s , Chester Square , London , and here he cultivated his literary gifts in a most prolific manner , issuing some half dozen volumes from 1891 to 1896 . These were " Echoes of the Sanctuary , " a volume of poems ( London , Skeffmgton ,

1892 ) , and which with true brotherly love he dedicated to his only sister , Marion Phoebe Corbett . In 1893 appeared a charming poem which ran into several editions , entitled " Led by a Little Child , " and the same year he issued ** Life from a Parson ' s point of view , " which he dedicated to Dr .

W . E . M . Corbett , his only brother , a prominent physician and surgeon at Plymouth . This volume is . one of the brightest and best works we ever had the pleasure to peruse . Each page abounds with crispness and humour , and it is

saying " a lot in a little " when we assert that there is not a dull line in the book . In 1895 appeared his " Preacher ' s Year , " dedicated to Lord Lyvedon and the same year he issued his " Sermon Outlines , " dedicated to his father Dr .

Corbett , and also , with the work last mentioned , published by Skeffington . In 1896 two further works were issued for-him by this firm of publishers . " The Problem of Life , "

dedicated to the congregation worshipping at St . Michaels , Chester Square ; and " Christ the Way , " a sermon preached before the same body on 13 th September 1896 . From this it will be seen that Bro . Corbett has been a tireless worker

in the field of literature , and when we say that he has in addition been a constant contributor to many journals , including the " Literary Churchman , " the " Religious Review of Reviews , " the " Sunday at Home , " and the " Girls Own Paper" it will be felt that our Brother has not had much

ground left untilled in this direction , and it would have been strange indeed had he not reaped the full harvest of his labours . His works attracted considerable attention , and in 18 96 Bro . Corbett was offered the Rectory of Long Marton , by Lord Hothfield , Lord Lieutenant of Westmorland . The

church is dedicated to St Margaret and St . James , and is one of the most valuable livings in the diocese of Carlisle . His work as Rector of Long Marton has been crowned with success . During his brief rectorate he has caused a memorial window to be placed in his church to the memory

of the Rev . Hay McDowall Earskine , M . A ., the late Rector . In 1898 , for the first time in the history of the church there was an organ erected by means of a bazaar , which Brother Corbett raised and which realised £ 120 . This was opened by Lady Hothfield . He has also beautified the church

to some extent , and preserved it from further decay by stripping off a portion of the ivy , which while taking away nothing of its picturesqueness , has prevented the fall and destruction of the right wall of the building . He has enlarged the National Schools at a cost of more than ^ 300 , and so

averted a Board School , in fact the number of his good offices in connection with his parish work are legion , and need no enlarging upon in these columns ; but it would be unjust not to mention that the Rector of Long Marton is the local Secretary of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge ,

and for the Society for Promoting Kindness to Animals . Last year , too , he was appointed Chaplain to the High Sheriff of Westmorland , no light honour . In 1894 he was created a Knight of the Primrose League , and from 1886 to

1893 he was Chaplain to the Leeds Rifles . In . addition to this he is a Vice-President of the Church Society for training the speaking . voice , and a Lecturer on Church Flistory in the Diocese of Carlisle . In 1900 Bro . Corbett married Elsie , eldest daughter of the Rev . E . A ,. Askew , M . A-, Rector of Greystoke , a ,

Bro. The Rev. F. St. John Corbett, M.H., F.R.S.L.

neighbouring parish to Long Marton , and Proctor in Convocation for the Archdeaconry of Carlisle . That gentleman is cousin to the Duke of Northumberland , and it is interesting to note that Mrs . Corbett is . the great , great granddaughter of Archbishop Manners-Sutton , F . R . S . L ., who crowned Her late Majesty .

The distinction of F . R . S . L . conferred upon Brother Corbett only last month is still fresh in the minds of our readers , and is some reward for his many and valued volumes of poetical and theological works . Our author is not content

to rest on his laurels , for at the present moment he has in the press " A Thousand Things to say in Sermons . " This work will contain some 400 pages , and the Lord Bishop of Carlisle has accepted the dedication . ,

It now only remains for us to say that Bro . Corbett holds Office in the Vale of Eden Lodge , No . 2493 , held in Appleby , that he is a Brother who has the interests of the Craft thoroughly' at heart , and who will , we believe , make a similar headway in Freemasonry as he has done both in literature

and as a clergyman . We hope from time to time to insert poems from our Brother ' s prolific pen , but in the meantime we conclude this article with a sonnet addressed to Brother Corbett on his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature .

To my friend BRO . THE REV . F . ST . JOHN CORBETT , M . A . RECTOR OF LONG MARTON , on his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature , 37 th March 1901 .

Our works and ways , dear Friend , are much the same , And I would visit gentle Ogle ' s spring , And deeply drinking unto thee would sing A song that e ' en Thalia could not blame .

In all our deeds we share one common aim , One common hope that on Time ' s fickle sands Our names be writ by no frail , timorous hands ; What were ambition were it not for fame ?

To-day carves deeply unto this great end Thy name in Delphi's temple of renown To which vast myriads ever onward press j

And I would ask the Parcae to befriend . To never on thy future harshly frown , But grant thee now and aye deserved success . CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D . Bradford .

An Unusual View.

AN UNUSUAL VIEW .

WE reproduce the following article on " Secret Societies " in full because it seems to us unique . The position of indifferent tolerance is certainly a peculiar one for a writer to

assume who does not believe in Masonry or any other Secret Societies . While we commend the toleration with which this writer regards the object of his criticism , we must confess that , in view of the immense growth , not only of Masonry , but of other secret organisations , his position seems to us

very untenable . Masonry—and it seems to us that even the profane cannot but hold to this view—is one of those most important things which to love is to cling to with profoundest affection , and , by the same tOKen , to dislike is to hate with deep-rooted antipathy . At least , an average antagonist of

Freemasonry takes the latter view . To believe that Masonry will die out of itself , after ail these ages of increasing prosperity , is a strange belief , indeed . Other writers who cry down its influence realise that to bring Freemasonry to its

deathbed will require their most strenuous efforts , and their position is the correct one , according to their lights . To those who know better , it is a firm belief- that nothing short of extermination of the human race will destroy Freemasonry and its immortal principles -.

" Once upon a time a clever American humorist wrote a funny piece about the ' jiner . ' Many of our readers remember it as being beloved by professional readers who used to recite it amid much delight at the entertainments which were given under the auspices of the brood of secret societies which

then flourished . We have sometimes thought that the humorist produced his skit with an eye to the needs of the readers who found much profit in ministering to the demands of the organisations aforesaid . It was in a time when the secret

society was undergoing a renaissance . All the old orders were in a condition of dignified prosperity , while new ones abounded on every side . the ' jiner' was busy . Almost every night he could join a new Lodge , and on the other nights he could take a new degree in an old one , It was a