Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Cloudy but only a very slight shower. Lively at work mowing nettles etc in orchard and sowing black oats among vetches. Mr Cluff called to borrow my lawn mower for half an hour. He is taking the Librarianship on Monday evenings, but says some (Miss Thame and Mrs Harris) complained last Monday that people had the library books in houses where there was scarlet fever and brought them to be exchanged. I reminded Mr Cluff that I put a notice outside school door several weeks ago to the effect that library books which had been taken to houses in which there was fever should be kept back for the present to be funigated or disinfected.

Dr Hole wrote to me yesterday inviting me to preach at Christ Church Worthing on Wednesday evening, June 6th, one of a series of sermons to be preached during the week. His church is to be reopened after alterations etc by Bishop of Chichester on Saturday the 2nd. He asks me to preach on the “necessity for singing in the service of Praise being devout.” I promised to do so, taking for my text Psalms Cviii.1 PB version, to go to him on the Tuesday and return on the Saturday. He invites me to be there on the Sunday, but I cannot get away, and the Monday will be club day here.

Cold, windy and dull. Filled up sheet of “Statistics of Parochial Work” for 1893 sent by Dr Wood, R.D. Received “Declaration” in re Charity Commissioners’ Notice of “Orders” from Mr Trumper. As he declared that he posted it at Swalcliffe church door on April 29, kept it there 15 days and returned it to me on the 7th of May! I had to return it to him.

Dr. Franey, Medical Officer of Health, called this afternoon and gave me written authority to reopen school next Monday, May 14, but not to admit children who have had the fever or are living in infected houses. The school rooms are to be disinfected, the walls brushed, the floor and furniture to be cleaned with carbolic in the water etc etc. I called on Inns and gave him orders to colour and paint the school room, limewash closets, etc. I also called on Mr Langley. Inns found there would not be time to colour and paint but only to well clean etc.

Received letter addressed to Rosa from Fraulein Sottick who wishes to come here on May 24th. Sent it on to Rosa who is still at Katie’s.

Received letter from Louie Marshall (a niece of Miss Dix’s) Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square, asking me to reply if any one wrote to me about her family. She is applying for a post as governess to some little boys in the north of Scotland.

Sent advertisement of A.C.S. to be put, as before, in the May Educational no. of the Publishers’ Circular.