Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Called on Mrs Shelswell (not at home).

Widow Ann Lines (lately living in cottage west of Bishop Blaise) and her boy Herbert left for Canada on Tuesday last. She sold her furniture to Thomas Keen, the blind butcher, who was selling it off piece by piece as I passed this evening.

Frank returned from Wheatley. I drove to Banbury for him, Amy Ferguson accompanying me.

Mr Milburn, Arthur Shelswell, Mr Matthews, a graduate of Peterhouse and a Master at Westward Ho College (a man with a most remarkable and disagreeable high pitched voice) and his brother a Lieutenant R. N. escorted Rosa down from Mrs Shelswell’s this evening where she had been to tea, and came in for half an hour. Our drawing room was pretty full with 9 of us.

Called on Mr Oddie this evening and signified my consent to take Local Chairmanship of Art School.

On Monday last I put £1 into P.O.S.B. for choir fund and gave 10/- to Miss M. Dix for music books which she said were wanted.

Visited Mr George Dix. Miss M. Dix was there. She said she considered those old choirmen who never came to practice but occasionally occupied choir seats in church as still members of the choir. I told her I did not and should not include them in any arrangements I might make.

I spoke to Joseph Alcock about his niece Matilda Barnes and his nephew Daniel Alcock.

Visited Thomas Wilkes, Hannah Simmons, Richard Austin, Eli Webb, J. Tennant (out).

Drove Bell, Amy Ferguson and Harry to Hook Norton and called on Miss Godson.

Drove Bell and Amy F. to Hook Norton. Called at the Rectory. No one at home.

Amy remained to lawn tennis match at Sibford Ferris on our return as Harry was playing in it.

Called on Mary Lively and Dr Routh.

Proposed to men of choir to put small sum weekly into bank to provide their own personal expenses next summer on an excursion to London which I hoped to be able to give them, paying their railway expenses out of choir fund for which the £1 I have put into P.O.S.B. should serve as a nucleus. Richard Haynes said somewhat rudely he should not agree to it. I said this was a free country and he need not nor need anyone else, against his will. William Rimell undertook at my request to receive subscriptions.

I spoke to R. Haines privately afterward and told him I knew that with his large family he could not have much to spare and that I had thought of that before speaking of my plan for a choir excursion and that I would see that what was needed should be provided for him.

I afterwards learnt from William Rimell that Haines set all the other men against the proposal to save a trifling sum weekly, so that my plan fell through.