Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Visited William Hall whose baby is ill. Henry Tarver whose wife says he is at work Swede cleaning, but will not be able to earn more than 7/6 a week at it. They have a lodger, a young man belonging to Tysoe and who is working for Mr Nicholls on Mr Payne’s farm. He pays her 1/6 per week which is some help to them.

I hear that when Mr. Dodgson, Curate of Brailes, recently married, was here with his wife on Monday, my little Frank age 5 years 3 months looked through the railings by the stairs very earnestly and asked “Have you been very happy lately Mr Dodgson?” On his replying that he had, Frank remarked “I am so glad”.

Visited Thomas Wilkes and Widow of William Keene who spoke to me about her religious feelings. She comes to Church morning and afternoon and having nothing else to do, and desiring to save firing and light, goes to the Methodist Chapel or Quakers’ Meeting in the evening. She could not reconcile the various teaching she heard. The doctrine of “assurance of Salvation” which the Methodists taught her, she could not realise.

Visited Humphrey Sabin and spoke to him about not letting his wife send the children to Sunday School. I gave him a long lecture about persons who professed to be church people and yet attended very rarely – going sometimes to Quakers’ meeting and sometimes to Methodists Chapel. He was at Church on Xmas Day and on Sunday last – I don’t think he had been for 6 months – and had the little taste to make some remark about there not being many men there. His wife thanked me very heartily for what I said to him and said she hoped I would call and speak to him again.

Rain. Mr Perkins, the schoolmaster of the Friends’ School Sibford Ferris called to ask for information respecting the “Physics” in the Oxford Local Examination for seniors. He is out of a situation having been dismissed or requested to resign his position at the Friends’ School. It appears that they have found the place very expensive to carry on. Accordingly Mr Routh (senior) whose health has given way after 40 years service first as Schoolmaster and subsequently as Superintendent, has retired and gone to live in his farmhouse with his son John. Miss Clarke the Matron has left, and so has Mr Perkins the School master. A new Master and Mistress, man and wife, have been appointed to do the work hitherto done by the three. They will thus effect considerable saving on their yearly expenditure; probably not less than £250 to £300 a year. Mr Perkins has not yet succeeded in getting an appointment, and being middle aged, a Quaker, and uncertificated, will probably find a difficulty in getting one. I have offered to speak in his favour to anyone whom he may refer to me.