Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

1889, November 22, Friday 

Went with Bell to Mr. Oddie’s Magic Lantern lecture on Paris and the late Exhibition. Frank took the money at the doors for him. It amounted to 27/- which, Mr O. said, would clear his expenses within 2/6. The room was by no means full.

1889, December 26, Thursday

The Sibford Brass Band played round the Village. They went to the Elleys’. All, except two Epwell men, being “old boys”. Mr. Elley said it brought tears into his eyes. Mrs. Elley told them they were “big fellows now, but she dared say she had smacked all their heads”.

“You have mine, lots o’ times”, said one tall fellow, “but it didn’t hurt me.”

1890, January 15, Wednesday

I was at the Loggin (Sibford Gower, Sibford Ferris & Burdrop) separate accounts for the past 3 years, all day.

Called on Dr. Routh this evening. He was not at home.

I sent to the Charity Commissioners the Accounts of the Loggin Charity Trustees for 3 years ended December 31 last.

1890, January 30, Thursday 

Meeting of Town Estates and Loggin Trustees in School room at 2 p.m. Mr W. H. P. Jenkins in the chair; present: Dr Wilkinson, Mr James Rymill, Mr George Hall, Mr Josiah Woolgrove, Mr Richard Payne, Mr John Ward Shelswell and myself.

Mr Hall wasted our time and somewhat ruffled our tempers by again proposing a Quaker, Mr Richard Lamb, as a trustee, and by insinuating very openly that there were some persons (non-beneficiaries) who grumbled about the administration of the charity.

Everyone else was dead against Mr Hall who posed as the “Working man’s friend”.

Mr. Jenkins told him that:

  1. We had no need of another Trustee, everything being managed as well as could be.
  2. The Charity Commissioners refused to go to the expense and trouble of appointing Trustees who were not wanted.
  3. That it was required that Trustees (of the Loggin Charity, at least) should be members of the Church of England. He read a clause from an old Charity Commissioners’ Report which I had copied into the Loggin Minute Book from the published report which I found at the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

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Read about the Rev Edward Stevens here.