Britain Delves Into Her Fascinating History

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27911, 7 March 1956, Page 3

Britain Delves Into Her Fascinating History

(From the United Kingdom Information Service)

LONDON. When historians examine their own history one is reminded of a puppy chasing its own tail. But at least it has a tail, and now Britain’s Historical Association can at least begin to lay a claim to a history. Nearly 1000 members recently celebrated the association’s jubilee, beginning with a service in Westminster Abbey and ending with a gala night at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, North London, itself an embodiment of theatrical history. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the existing theatre would, of course, be small beer to historians, but the story really goes back nearly 250 years, to the late 17th century, when “Sadler’s Musick House” was opened on the present site. From then on, through many vicissitudes, the torch of drama shone there fitfully until 1927, when there began the now historic association with the “Old Vic” Theatre on the south side of London’s River Thames. The Vic-Wells Ballet Com pany, internationally famous, is wellknown to audiences abroad. History is for ever peeping over our shoulders in the United Kingdom. What happier instance could there be than Sii* Winston Churchill’s acceptance of the honorary appointment of Grand Seigneur of the Company of Adventurers of England Trading into Hudson’s Bay—the oldest chartered trading company in existence? There has been general jubilation in Britain over this splendid gesture “to do honour to the greatest living statesman and to renew the Company’s link with the illustrious name of Churchill.” It has helped us to brush up our history. John Churchill, later first Duke of Marlborough, the Company’s third governor in 1685, was second son of the Sir Winston Churchill from whom the present Sir Winston Churchill is descended. It was news to many of us that the flourishing port of Churchill, terminus of the Hudson Bay railway from Winnipeg, has so close a connexion with its honoured namesake at Westminster.

We have also learnt more about the Hudson’s Bay Company itself, its long tale of enterprise and adventure since its incorporation by Royal Charter in 1670 under the governorship of Prince Rupert. The story belongs to the ancestral memories of both the ancient people of Canada: the Company's first explorers commissioned bv Prince Rupert were French Canadians.

Jewish Tercentenary History has many byways. One of the most fascinating sidetracks of the last three centuries in Britain is given in the current winter exhibition of Anglo-Jewish Art and History, at the Victoria and Albert Museum. South Kensington, London. Under the pat-

ronage of Queen Elizabeth II it commemorates the tercentenary of the resettlement of the Jews in the British Isles. It was in 1656, under the “Commonwealth” dispensation of Oliver Cromwell, that a colony of Jews in Britain, already enjoying a degree of toleration extended to them in few other European countries were allowed to throw off all disguise and live openly again professing their race and religion. An expulsion which had lasted 365 years was ended, and in the exhibition is a photograph of the actual Jewish petition (now in Britain’s Public Record Office) invoking the protection which Cromwell granted them. Thus began the history of the modern Jewish community in Britain told in the exhibition with a profusion of orginal documents and manuscripts, paintings, treasured relics from the early synagogues and other tangible evidences of Jewish integration with a nation which has always opened its doors to fugitives and the oppressed. The organisers graciously introduce the exhibition with expressions of gratitude “for 300 years of sympathy, kindliness and collaboration.” First Written Charter Inevitably the most interesting section of the display comes under the heading—“ From Toleration to Emancipation.” The real beginning was soon after the restoration of King Charles H’s sovereignty, with the Jews’ first written charter of freedom, dated 1664, declaring that “they may promise themselves the effects of the same favour as formerly they have had, so long as they demean themselves peaceably and quietly, with due obedience to His Majesty’s laws.” The charter, as the exhibition richly testifies, has been faithfully adhered to on both sides. By the' late 17th century Jews were acquiring coats of arms and country houses. The first to be knighted was Sir Solomon de Medina; the first Jewish baronet, created in 1841, was Sir I. L. Goldsmith. Baron Lionel de Rothschild, whose son was to be the first Jewish peer, and Sir David Salomons, Lord Mayor of London, were elected to Parliament but. refusing to take the Christian oath, were refused admission. Eventually, in 1858, the House relented, and Jewish emancipation was complete. Sir David Salomons secured his seat and the exhibition includes c photograph of the actual bench he occupied in the House of Commons. There are now many more than 250,000 Jews in Britain. Since the appalling massacres by the Nazis in 1939-45. the community in Britain has been the largest left in Western Europe. The story deserves to be told and this tercentenary exhibition makes splendid use of the opportunity.