The Henson Journals

[360]

Saturday, September 23rd, 1916.

782nd day

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I prepared an address for the Freemasons tomorrow, including in it the following story about the Rev. James Desaguliers, who ranks as one of the leading organizers of Freemasonary in 1717, when it received its modern form:–

'Being invited to an illustrious company, one of whom, an officer, addicted to swearing in his discourse, at the period of every oath asked Dr D's pardon: the Doctor bore this levity for some time with great patience, but at length silenced the swearer with the following rebuke: "Sir, you have taken some pains to render me ridiculous, if possible, by your pointed apologies: now, Sir, I am to tell you, that if God Almighty does not hear you, I assure you I will never tell Him".'

This story is narrated in Nichol's Literary Anecdotes. Vol. ix. p. 641. It may be set beside Isaac Barrow's 'score' off the Earl of Rochester.

'He was attending at court as the King's chaplain, when he met the famous Earl of R., who thus accosted him: "Doctor, I am yours to the shoe–tie". Barrow: "My lord, I am yours to the ground". Rochester: "Doctor, I am yours to the centre". Barrow: "My lord, I am yours to the antipodes". Rochester (scorning to be foiled by a musty old piece of divinity, as he termed him): "Doctor, I am yours to the lowest bit of hell". Barrow (turning on his heel): "There, my lord, I leave you".'

This is thus told in the article "Barrow" in the Dict: of Nat: Biog:. Both stories throw a side–light on the society in which they could be current. The parson now is less of a butt, and more of a nonentity than in the XVIIth or the XVIIIth century.

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