Transcript

Of

Frederick Green [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc. 1884, Vol XVI, pp. 54-56.

by

Rev. W. Harpley

Prepared by Michael Steer

Frederick Green is mentioned in The Dictionary of Composers for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland, as one of the several mentors of Francis Geoffrey Walker, composer of the popular hymn “Christ whose glory fills the skies” and “Let all the World in every corner sing”. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Frederick Greek was born at Saffron Waldon, in Essex, on the 30th November, 1845, was educated at University College, London, and took his M.A. degree at London University in 1867. An accident while riding compelled him to pass some time in the South of Europe. Having sufficiently recovered he entered at the Inner Temple, was called to the Bar in 1869, and for some time practised in Lincoln's Inn as an equity draftsman and conveyancer. In 1877 increasing delicacy of the lungs, consequent on an attack of scarlatina some years previous, obliged him again to seek a warmer climate, and he went to South Africa. He returned to England, however, the following year, with evidence that his health was seriously impaired, and that he must finally sacrifice his prospects at the Bar in London. After this he took up his residence at Exmouth, intending to practise in Exeter and its neighbourhood.

Had the disease been permanently checked, there is no doubt that this experiment would have been successful; for while work was sent by old London clients, Mr. Green made professional acquaintances in the West. But it was not long before he found that practice in the courts, and even regular attendance at chambers in Exeter, were out of his power. For a time indeed the tubercular affection appeared to be stationary, but there was a constant though very gradual loss of strength. To the last Mr. Green kept at work. Within twenty hours of his death he was dictating the draft of a deed, and after the doctor, being called in on the appearance of unusual symptoms, had pronounced that life was all but run out, Mr. Green completed the task upon which he was engaged, and gave his wife full directions as to the arrangement and disposal of his client's papers.

But it was not only in the practice of his profession that Mr. Green's attainments as a lawyer were shown. When in London he was for some time on the staff of the Weekly Reporter, and from that time to the end he was an occasional and valued contributor of reviews and essays on legal subjects to the Solicitor's Journal. He was also greatly interested in the researches of Sir Henry Mayne and other students in antiquarian and comparative law, and contributed more than one thoughtful article on the subject to contemporary periodicals. A valuable summary of the law relating to land, from the point of view of a land-surveyor, which will be found appended to Curtis's Estate Management, is from Mr. Green's pen, as was also a series of articles giving a popular view of the land laws, which appeared not long since in the columns of the Daily Western Times.

Most of the time not consumed by professional work was, however, devoted by him to labours still more directly beneficial to the community. He threw himself heartily into every public movement at Exmouth.

During the early days of his abode there a remark fell from his lips which sufficiently well indicates his character. Realizing the truth, that whether he succumbed to the malady from which he was suffering, or whether he might recover, his residence at Exmouth would be of a temporary character, he said, " I cannot expect to be here long, but I like to act as though I had the prospect of a long life in Exmouth, and I mean to throw myself with all the energy I possess into the attempt to promote the prosperity of the town; any good fruit that may result I shall not be here to gather, but the ingathering of the harvest will gladden the hearts of others." He ever afterwards bravely acted up to the spirit of these words.

He initiated a Society for the relief of the necessitous poor in Withycombe, a parochial organization intended to check the pauperizing tendencies of indiscriminate almsgiving, while at the same time bringing judicious assistance to those to whom it is really beneficial. For some time he acted as Secretary to the Society, and was to a great extent responsible for its success. He was warmly interested in the proposal to erect a new church, in the populous quarter of Exmouth belonging to Withycombe parish. He was also a zealous though open-minded and tolerant politician, and was mainly instrumental in organizing the Exmouth Liberal Association. As a platform speaker, both on political and general topics, he achieved a marked success, his terse arguments and neverfailing humour delighting the audience; while his voice, to the wonder of his friends, even when the disease was in its last stages, filled the hall or assembly rooms without effort on the part of the speaker.

But it was to those who knew him personally, and especially to his intimate friends, that the rich variety of Mr. Green's character was best known. To great intellectual power he united singular warmth of heart and breadth of sympathy. Nothing human was strange to him. No good trait of character, no beauty of scene, no charm of manner ever lacked his appreciation; he had a fervour of admiration for what was high-minded and noble, whether in word or deed. Over all played the bright ray of his genial humour, never unkind, always wholesome, sunny, and refreshing.

He became a member of the Association in 1881, and gave the meeting at Exmouth his hearty support.

He died at Exmouth in December 9th, 1883, in the thirtyninth year of his age, leaving a widow, two sons, and a daughter.