Busy at work. Finished shortly after 5 o’clock. News to hand of the fighting. The Allies have retired to the French frontier. The British losses are estimated at 2000. Mr Asquith stated this in the House in reply to a question. Lord Kitchener held midnight Conference. Newspapers try to keep up appearances, but German success cannot be denied. Went to practice. Got on very well. Walked round with Dora’s Charlie, Willie Whittaker and Blaikie and got home late. Japan declares War on Austria1.
Tag Archives: Blaikie
26 July 1914; Sunday
At chapel and School as usual. Mr Chadwick preaching. Managed very well in both places. Went to Willie and Lily’s to tea. Mr and Mrs Peake there. Willie playing the organ. Blaikie on his holidays. Miss Hunter away too. A few hail showers and we didn’t walk far. Mr Chadwick announced that we would commence with the new hymns old hymn books next month and that Mr Flood will be preaching one day in August.
Conference of Germany, France, Italy and Great Britain proposed by Sir Edward Grey1 but Germany declines. 27th2.
See also Wikipedia: Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon ↩
“27th” perhaps means that this last sentence is overflow from the next page (28 July), which is full. ↩
14 July 1914; Tuesday
Busy all day. Annual general meeting at Newcastle and Mr Lawson at the office. We got through the work very well. Went down to choir practice. But Mr Blaikie didn’t turn up. I played the tea† time through once and then Willie went on.
12 July 1914; Sunday
Got up about 9 o’clock. Didn’t go to chapel but had early dinner. Hurried over to Osborne Street to the funeral. Charlie and I were in the cab. Very quiet and orderly funeral. A girl fainted at the grave side. Rev Mr Burt, junior minister in Dock Street circuit conducted the services. We stayed to tea and then came over in the car1 with Lily. Met some of the Gurneys including Ernie Gurney who had been at the paper works. My turn for children’s service at night. Our Charlie helped me. We had pretty good meeting. Mr Hunter preaching and was fair but I didn’t like his manner. Had short walk and talked to Mr Blaikie until late. Uncle Ned buried.
“Car” means “tram-car”, as usual. ↩
21 June 1914; Sunday
Continuation of Anniversary. Pretty good services and the evening service well attended. Mr Chadwick thanked Blaikie and didn’t mention Willie, and Willie’s playing had * *. It thundered in church at night. We had short walk and went to Whittakers’ to supper. Talked until nearly 11 o’clock. Willie and Lily in to supper too.
14 June 1914; Sunday
Sunday School Anniversary. Fine day. Mr Blaikie leading. Willie Marshall playing. Charlie sang a solo at night and a boy from St John’s Wesleyan choir sang two solos. He was very good. The service was successful. Good dinners at night. Decided to continue the service next week. Had walk at night with Ernie, Willie Whittaker, and Charlie. Sang the anthem “Send out thy light.”
12 June 1914; Friday
7 June 1914; Sunday
Stayed off chapel in the morning through bad foot. At Sunday School and chapel at night. Stayed to sacrament. Had short walk afterwards with Willie, Charlie and Dora’s Charlie. Talked with Blaikie too. No lesson in the School. The weather a bit showery. Got wet in the afternoon. Read a bit. Played a bit.
23 April 1914; Thursday
Got up about 7.45. Busy all day at work. Finished about 5.30. Spent night at chapel Choosing Anniversary hymns. Ralph Hunter, Blaikie, Willie, Charlie and Mr Lawson there. America at War with Mexico1.
“America at War . .”: during the Mexican Revolution, on 9 April 1914 nine US marines had been arrested in Tampico (the “Tampico Affair”), and in worsening relations, on 21 April the US Navy seized Veracruz, initially without violence, but semi-guerrilla fighting developed. Better relations were eventually restored (with the ‘Constitutional’ government of Carranza), but Veracruz remained in US occupation until 23 November 1914. ↩