1886 Canadian Clergyman & Politician William Pinkman Penned Letter Thanking Trinity Society For Honorary Membership
142431On offer is an 1891 handwritten letter, on Bishop’s House, Calgary letterhead, with blind embossed crest. From “Cyprian Saskatchewan” to the Trinity Historical Society of Dallas, Texas, the author is writing to Ben. W. Austin thanking the Society for making him an honorary member. The letter also states he has enclosed his photo, not included here.
William Cyprian Pinkham was born in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1844. He was ordained Deacon in 1868 and ordained a Priest in 1869 for the Diocese of Rupert's Land. He was the Incumbent of St. James in Winnipeg (W.022) from 1868 to 1882. He also served as the Superintendent of Education for Protestant Public Schools of Manitoba from 1871 to 1883. He was the Acting Rector of All Saints, Winnipeg (W.002) for a year beginning in 1883. That same year, he was appointed Archdeacon of Manitoba and Canon of St. John's Cathedral, Winnipeg, a position he held until 1887. He was the Secretary of Synod from 1882 to 1887 and served as the Chairman of the Board of Education for the Northwest Territories in 1887. On August 7, 1887, William Cyprian Pinkham was consecrated as the Second Bishop of Saskatchewan. In 1888, he was appointed to be also Bishop of the newly formed See of Calgary to become the Bishop of Saskatchewan and Calgary. In 1903, he resigned the See of Saskatchewan to become the First Bishop of Calgary. He resigned the See of Calgary on February 17, 1926. The Right Rev. William Cyprian Pinkham died in 1928.
Benjamin W. Austin who was at one time the secretary of the Northwestern Literary and Historical Society in Sioux City and later, the functioning as secretary of the Trinity Historical Society in Dallas, Texas, 1885-1894 often promoting the honorary or non resident membership in the society and requesting autographs, photographs, and pamphlets.
According to Professor André De Tienne, Ben Austin assembled his collection by deceptive methods, for instance “making them [people] believe that they were being honored with a membership in non-existent scholarly societies, such as the Northwestern Literary and Historical Society, or the Trinity Historical Society in Texas.”
This letter is one page, double sided, 5 x 8 inches paper. An old paper clip mark with a 3/4 inch tear and a 1/2 inch fold tear. In Good condition.
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