Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

… Wrote to Longmans about “Annotated Poems” and “Useful Knowledge reading Books” which have been omitted from their Catalogue for 1883.

… Richard Lamb, junior, one of my Quaker parishioners, called to bid me “farewell”. He leaves on Monday for Bessbrook, near Newry in Ireland, to act as junior bailiff on a farm. He is an excellent fellow and will, I doubt not, prosper.

Quinquagesima Sunday.

.. Stopped outside the Methodist Chapel and heard the prayers. I was much struck by the Excellence of some of them, and by the vulgar behaviour of a young man who stood outside near me.

I rang three times at Montagu’s before his housekeeper opened the door. They have so many runaway rings that they rarely answer the first or second summons.

Received Government Grant for School, amounting to £36.16.

Visited School. Observed that the children, on leaving this afternoon did not salute him or me. I told him he should insist on their treating him and Mrs. Elley with proper respect on entering and leaving School.

Rain all day. Walked at night as far as “the Elm”.

Saw W.Brown the Baker quite drunk and falling about in the road.

…Taught in School this morning. Asked the meaning of the names of Jesus. One or two of the children knew. Explained all persons names have a meaning whether we know them or not.

A boy named Bishop was in the Class – whose father’s mother keeps the Wykham Arms inn.

I asked whether any one knew meaning of Bishop. There was no reply for some time. At last one of the Harris’s, Quakers, held up his hand very boldly and excitedly as though he had just worked out the problem and got a satisfactory answer –

“Well, what do you say is the meaning of Bishop?”

“A woman as sells beer, Sir.”

…This evening Vere was very much the worse for drink. I remonstrated with him very severely and told him he must leave my house tomorrow.

Mr. Vere apologised for his bad conduct this morning and seemed really sorry. I spoke very seriously to him about his intemperate habits, and offered to sign the “total abstinence pledge” for 6 months if he would do so, but he thought he could not do that. However, he signed the appended promise.

February 17. 1883

I promise solemnly not to sit in a public house in future, nor on any occasion to take more than a pint of ale for refreshment during an afternoon or evening and as a rule not to take any intoxicating drink except at meals. God being my helper.

Vere Jones Vere