A recent purchase by a ,member of Offaly History of the Letters of William Stubbs (1825-1901), edited by W.H. Hutton included an original letter from the Hon. Secretary of the London-based Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies sending a gentle reminder to the learned and revered historian that his subscription was outstanding for four years. i.e. from when that society was formed in 1879. This sometimes happens in Offaly History too, when perhaps a distinguished member will forget to renew and one would not have the temerity to send a reminder. Not so the Hellenic Society.
George A. Macmillan, as hon. sec. had the difficult task or reminding Canon Stubbs of the shortfall. Macmillan remained at this job for almost forty years and was later president of the Hellenic Society.
The canon had been living at Kettell Hall, a wonderful house dating to 1620 and beside what is now the Blackwell bookshop on Broad Street, Oxford. Canon Stubbs was appointed bishop of Oxford seven years later and held that high position from 1889 to his death in 1901. We know he preferred research to having to give lectures to Oxford students who, it seems, were not much keen on medieval history as it is reported that his lectures were thinly attended.
Now coming back to ourselves in Offaly History we too are offering a gentle reminder to renew your annual subscription to Offaly History (or to join for the first time). The subscription is only €30 and we hope that you will be a regular at our monthly meetings. See www.offalyhistory.com for more information.
The standing order is the way to go and better still do a life membership to avoid, reminders however gentle!
Our own library runs to something like 25,000 volumes but we see that the Hellenic Society is still going strong with no less than 150,000 volumes.
Mr Macmillan wrote in a nice clear hand:
THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF HELLENIC STUDIES
29, Bedford Street, Covent Garden,
London, W.C. April 21. 1882
Dear Canon Stubbs
It becomes my painful duty to remind you once more, as our annual balancing of accounts draws near, of your indebtedness to this society. I regret to say that this has accumulated till it has reached the sum of four guineas, representing the subscription for the years 1879, 1880, 1881 & 1882. I should feel greatly obliged if you would now send me a cheque for that amount. I should then have the pleasure of sending you the published volumes of the Journal of Hellenic Studies, & the numbers for this year as they come out. If you would further fill out the enclosed order & send it to your bankers I should never need to trouble you again.
If I do not receive a favourable response from you before May 31 I shall be very reluctantly compelled to assume that you do not wish to maintain your connection with the Society, but I assure you that we cannot afford to lose members if we are to carry out all the projects we have in view and I therefore sincerely hope you will not allow me to remove your name from our list of members.
Believe me
Yours very truly
Rev. Canon Stubbs D. D George A. Macmillan
Kettel Hall Hon. Sec
Oxford
Offaly History has lately issued over 100 reminders to renew. Besides we have upwards of 500 on our mailing list who might like to enroll as members. Here is your chance. We have just 200 members this years and would like to increase this to say 300 for 2024. The sub. is just €30 per year and €500 for life. A standing order to your bank (online by you) will save Stubbsian gloom.
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