Tag Archives: 1960s

David’s Diary – October 21, 1968

3 Replies
Monday, October 21, 1968

Up around 9:30—got a cup of coffee, got right to my reading of Whiteley’s The Theology of St. Paul. Read in this until the mail came after 11—after reading article in the New Republic, back to Whiteley’s book until about noon. Stopped to have lunch and watch the news. Shaved, back to Whiteley’s book at 1:00. Sleepy; napped from 1-2. 2-3 read more in Whiteley’s book. 3-4 went over to the hospital (stopped at Clark’s office on the way to get absentee ballot application for Gazella Dodd). Saw Mrs. Dodd briefly and visited with Mrs. Ellie Martin; she had broken ankle. Home shortly after 4. Decided to work on German—review for possible test Thursday evening. Worked on German until almost 6:30—with one short break at the piano to practice the anthem for Sunday. Supper at 6:30—watched CBS news—their poll: Nixon, 28 states, HHH, 3 states + DC, Wallace 6 states. More German after supper—then back to Whiteley; Virginia Bate[1] called—she’s back in town. Bonnie went to rehearsal, community chorus. Debby + I alone. Worked on Whiteley, wrote paper—finished typing about 12. Bathed; packed briefcase; off to bed after 1 AM.

Tuesday, October 22, 1968

A tiring day—not enough sleep last night; up at 8:30, breakfast, 9:20 train to Boston—studied Greek on train; Greek class 11:15 – 12:00. Had lunch with Nancy + Bob Peek + Larry Carter. Carter thinks HHH will win—Bob agrees with me that this is not likely. 1-3 o’clock—studied some on Jeremiah, but very weary—not too much accomplished. 3-4 directed study on Paul. 4:20—off to North Station—4:55 train to Rockport; 5:20 train stopped because Beverly Bridge wouldn’t go down. At about 6, decision was made to take us back to Salem—then we were bussed to our destinations. I got home at 7:30—terrific headache. Phone call from Jean Crowell—general approval of my singing in the choir from regular attendees she talked to. Supper—relaxed; 9:00 – 10:15—we were over to Patriquins—mainly to practice the anthem for Sunday; home, bathed by 11:30. Did some German exercises, but I am too tired to benefit much from them—I would have accomplished more on German this evening if the train hadn’t wrecked my schedule; off to bed around midnight.

Wednesday, October 23, 1968

Slept late—up around 10. Got glass of orange juice, went right to studying. Worked on German. Didn’t get as much done today as I had hoped—although I didn’t waste time. Lunch, shaved, while listening to news. Worked on Jeremiah D.S.; reading Sheldon Blank’s book Jeremiah: Man + Prophet up to around p. 65. Then began working in Bright’s Jeremiah for Bible study tonight. Had quiet afternoon. Bonnie + Debby went shopping after one or one-thirty—not back until around 5. After reading in Bright’s book, I began analyzing words in Jeremiah 7:1-15, to see if they occurred general in Old Testament, or were peculiar to Jeremiah + Deuteronomy. Had supper at 6:30—watched CBS news. Worked some more before Bible class arrived. Had 9 in attendance. Did 11:18 – 16:21. Right to work on word analysis as soon as the class was over at 9:30. Had to organize thoughts on Hyatt + Skinners treatment of 7:1-15. Bathed, packed briefcase. Off to read in bed at 12:10.

Thursday, October 24, 1968

Up about 8:40; Breakfast; took 9:20 train to Boston; Greek class 11:15 – 12:00; noon, had lunch with Bob Peek, Larry Carter + Don Richard; made Xerox copies of pages from Vincent Taylor’s book on Mark; last minute preparations for D.S. on Jeremiah—saw Charlie briefly before and after this class. It was rewarding today—not that it isn’t usually rewarding, but it seemed more so today—our concern largely was in comparing the temple sermon on 7:1-25 with parallel version on 26:4-6; caught 4:10 train home—worked on German, in which I am far behind. Home before 5:30; letter from Dr. Beck. Had supper, relaxed, then off to class at Gordon. We had a test. I am sure my grade would have been poor if I were taking the course for credit. Home shortly after 9. Bonnie + I decided to see about moving to England next June for studying; wrote to Beck for his advice; wrote to Kenneth Klaristenfeld; bathed, off to read in bed at midnight. ISN, lights out at 1 AM.

Friday, October 25, 1968

Up around 9—no breakfast. Began working on my sermon. Bonnie slept, I took Debby downstairs with me. Worked on the sermon on the dining table. Took time to look at the mail when it came—did not push myself working this AM. Lunch about 12:30, watched noon news. After lunch, shaved, went to Post Office with the letter to Harrell Beck, picked up vote application for Ellie Martin, changed wayside pulpit. Came back home, finished sermon shortly after 3:00. Went to make calls at hospital: Ellie Martin + Gazella Dodd. Found Mrs. Jodrey there too. Went directly from hospital to Rip Hannibals. Was home again shortly after five. Two phone calls to Homer Orne + Forrest Clark. Helped Bonnie with supper. Peeks arrived before 6; we had supper, watched CBS news. Bonnie fed Debby, I did the bulletins, then we spent the evening looking at Peek’s slides of Europe. Had pie + drinks at 11 – 11:30; more slides—finished shortly after 12; prepare for bed—off to bed at 1 AM.

Saturday, October 26, 1968

Up a little after 8; shaved, small breakfast; shortly after 9 we were off with the Peeks to New Hampshire. Our main destination was Franconia Notch and the “Flume.” This was Debby’s first extended trip, and she was wonderful. We put her in the back carrier—on my back—while hiking—and she seemed to enjoy it. We walked a couple or three miles through the Flume, had lunch in the car near “old man in the mountain”—drove around through the mountains. We wanted to go up Mt. Washington, but the weather was too bad: 19°, 90 MPH winds, 8 ft. drifts. We stopped at the ski headquarters where Peeks often go. We started home shortly after 4. Made it home in record time probably; Bob drives very fast (we were home shortly after 7:30); at one point he was going 105 MPH! Had supper with Peeks here at home—they left about 8:45. We relaxed. I prepared the service for tomorrow, having already done the sermon + bulletins; watched 11 o’clock news—bathed—off to bed at 12—we have set clocks back—1 extra hour of sleep!

Sunday, October 27, 1968

Slept late; ISN, up around 9:30. Shaved, ate light breakfast. Reformation Sunday, preached on “Luther’s Discovery.” Sang in choir, Alice Marr didn’t stay for practice; perhaps she’s dropping out. Bonnie sang in the choir—Vicky Gamage  + Carol Gahn [?] took Debby out in the buggy. Home by 12:30. Had lunch, napped most of the afternoon! Still somewhat fatigued from yesterday. Called Alan Frederick after church to invite him up for tea; he had other plans, will come up tomorrow after 4:00; got up from the nap after 4:30, went to work trying to restore order to my desk. Had supper around 6:30; went over to Loyd Starrett’s to deliver materials on films + programs for youth program. Went to Wesley Church in Gloucester for Methodist Men program; told Jim Bussey of our possible move to Europe. Home again around 10; desk work; watched news at 11; 11:30 – 12 saw Nixon interviewed; bathed; off to read in the bed at 1 AM.

Painting by Rutledge Bate (1891-1964) of Rockport, Massachusetts (Image from the MutualArt website)

[1] One of the truly remarkable spirits in Rockport. Widow of an accomplished artist, intellectual, anti-war activist.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/30/davids-diary-october-21-1968/

Gladys – October 18, 1968

4 Replies

Letter transcription:

Oct. 18, 1968

Dear David and Bonnie (and Debby)

This is not going to be long since my electric is in shop for repairs and believe me, it is no fun to use this old Remington.

Your birth certificate copy is enclosed, also some copies of pictures you requested some time ago. I just didn’t get around to having them made.

We are still having beautiful, warm fall weather, but I have a feeling we are going to have some cooler weather. There is a football game tomorrow and according to the forecast is will just be pleasant since no rain is forecast. Since Purdue lost last Saturday to Ohio State, I rather think they will not be going to the Rose Bowl in January. Dad had thought they would be top team this year, but last Saturday they failed, but completely. Dad listened to the game on the radio until it got so bad he lost interest and went about doing work on one of his projects. He is beginning a project in my office to elevate the safe and make a shelf or two. I want the safe at eye level height (now I have to stand on my head, almost with shelves above and below).

I was quite surprised when I read your letter that you plan a trip to Europe. We won’t be going until August. Bonnie’s Mother and Dad have invited us to visit them in Penang in August, and that is the best time to get a vacation at Purdue. We do plan to be in Europe and visit the Yegerlehners, but that will be after you are there. However, we can write you a letter of introduction and with your German, you should have no trouble conversing with any of them. I just presumed you would be in school next summer.

I thought for a little while this morning I might be attending a UN seminar next week, but after a few telephone calls, found the funds were not available and besides, I have quite a heavy schedule here. The minister in charge of arranging the seminar called me about it. Since our Conference sent a bus load of people to participate in the Poor Peoples Campaign, the seminar money was used and it is no longer available for the seminar. Well, maybe something else will turn up. I would enjoy seeing you and Bonnie and especially Debby.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/29/gladys-october-18-1968/

David’s Diary – October 14, 1968

3 Replies
Monday, October 14, 1968

Up about 9:30. Small breakfast; read in Skinner—a slow, unrushed morning. I babysat with Debby while Bonnie did the shopping. Debby was fretful, crying. I put her in the crib. After Bonnie got home, we ate, around 1 pm. I studied some more, at 2:45 we left for Beverly; we went to the VW place to see about getting a VW in Europe. We think we’ll get the [Squadback?]. At 4:40 Bonnie left me off at the Ornes. I had a long chat (til 6) with them, about what effect the Concerned Citizens meeting had on the congregation, whether I would be asked to leave this spring. They thought not. I told them about our planned trip. They didn’t think there would be opposition to us taking 6 weeks. Home by 6:15—watched CBS news; Nixon seems to be losing some ground, but still appears the winner. Relaxed + looked at VW material; 7:45 Bonnie left for choir practice. Studied Greek during the evening. Debby was very good; drifted off to sleep while watching mobile. Bonnie home by 10:20; off to read in bed at 11:50.

Tuesday, October 15, 1968

Up at 8 o’clock. Big breakfast, studied Greek briefly, shaved; we left for Boston around 9:50. Arrived about 10:55 at B.U. I went to Greek class, Bonnie inquired about group-flight deals at the Union. I met her at noon at the School of Theology. We had lunch with Bob Peek and told him of our plans. We are to visit them next week to see their slides. About 1 o’clock we headed down to Cokesbury to get travel books, to Mass Bible Society for Jeremiah in Hebrew; Bonnie showed Debby to the folks in the Lab. We headed home, stopped at […?…] Baby, to look at playpens. Home in Rockport by 4:30. Relaxed, napped shortly. Homer Orne came over to check the water in the radiators. Wrote Home about the trip plans. Supper. Desk work; read further in Skinner’s book on Jeremiah. I don’t have my heart in studying. Bonnie frequently read me quotes from the travel books. 11 o’clock, off to take bath. 11:35, off to read in bed. I’m trying to get Bonnie to study German.

Wednesday, October 16, 1968

Up about 9; I began reading Skinner immediately, Bonnie fixed breakfast. Read until mail man came. Looked through Newsweek, letter from home, our ballots for Nov. 5 election. Resumed reading Skinner until lunch, about 1 o’clock. Then I began working in Bright’s Jeremiah for the Bible Study. Twice in the afternoon I took brief naps; around four I returned to Skinner—read in that til supper time, a little after six. Wrote one letter in the afternoon—asked I.F. Stone to send some recent issues of the Weekly to Helen Correll. After supper + CBS news, straightened up living room for Bible Study. Changed clothes, read in Skinner, finished it by the time they all arrived. Did chpts 8,9,10,11. 8 people in attendance. Back to studying, worked on translating Chp. 7:1-1 in Jeremiah—shortly after 11 took my bath; studied Greek (John 21 + 9) until about 12. Off to bed.

Thursday, October 17, 1968

Up about 8:15; breakfast; took 9:20 train to Boston. Greek class 11:15 – 12:10—had lunch with Bob Peek + Hobart Farrell. Bob related more about their experiences in Europe. We arranged to spend Fri. evening + Sat. together next weekend. 1- 2 spent preparing for Directed Study in Jeremiah. Dr. Richardson was late. We didn’t get started until 2:30. Saw Charlie Whitford briefly at 2 and 3:10 – 3:15. Caught 4:10 train home. Very tired. Relaxed with newspaper after I got home –Bonnie fixing supper. Supper + CBS news. During the evening I didn’t get too much accomplished. Tried to get a good sermon idea. Wrote letters to Dr. Beck in England. Wrote also to Paul + Marty asking their advice on Indiana political races. Spoke for a while with Jim + Becky Bussey on the phone. Skipped going to German class tonight I was not prepare – and needed to rest. Bathed around 11 o’clock. Off to read in bed at 11:40 – while Bonnie fed Debby.

Friday, October 18, 1968

Up around 9:30. Had a big breakfast. Up to do desk work. Wrote letter to David Watson. Shaved. Went to the Post Office with letters to Watson + Beck. Changed wayside pulpit. Home by noon. Watched news. Had lunch. Worked outdoors. Temperature in the 70’s—a beautiful day. Put up the three birdhouses—cleaned one out. Painted them again. Painted red trim on parts of the garage. Roy Lee called from Beverly—he had taken the VW in for repairs—about $80 worth of repairs needed. We told him to go ahead. About 3:30 returned to my desk. Straightened up. Relaxed when evening paper arrived. Worked on sermon. After 5:30 Roy Lee arrived with VW—bill came to 71.10. Shortly after 6 the Burtons arrived;[1] we had supper together. Watched the hour long Nixon telecast 7:30 – 8:30. Played cards; about 9:30 Bonnie had to feed Debby. Larry + I talked. Played cards. Walked down to Bearskin Neck. Back home, off to bed at 12:45.

Saturday, October 19, 1968

Very tired last night—said goodbye to the Burtons then. Bonnie was up to feed Debby, so she saw them off this AM. I found myself still in bed at 10:30. Got up. Made a cup of coffee, chatted with Barbara Lord as she hung up her laundry. She was impressed with Nixon last night on TV. Mail came: I.F.Stone—which I read. Shaved. Had lunch. Desk work, typed up the bulletin for tomorrow. Took Xmas card catalogue back to Grace Harris + placed our order; she gave me a Xmas stocking for Debby—a very cute piece of hand knitting. Went on up to see Rip Hannibal; not home. Came back home, worked on sermon some more. Tried at one point to nap—really kind of washed out today—didn’t accomplish any studying really. ISN during nap. Bonnie asleep. I got up and worked more on the sermon. Watched news on TV from 6:00 – 7:00. Bonnie up; I got supper—leisurely supper, watched TV until 8:30. Finished sermon; worked on the service. Caught the 11:00 news. Bathed; off to read in bed at 12:20.

Sunday, October 20, 1968

Up at 9:50—breakfast, shaved; off to church—a dismal rainy day, but still there were 37 in attendance. Preached on the 1st 3 beatitudes (Matt.) Unfortunate incident: Mrs. Marr told me point-blank that I added nothing to the choir; others came to my defense; I said nothing in reply. Home by 12:30. Lunch. Had to be at Wesley Church at 2:00 to have my picture taken for the program-bulletin for the C.A.M.P. Fall Dinner. We visited with Busseys + told them of our European trip. I went to see Mrs. Gazella Dodd in the hospital 3:00 – 3:30. By four we were back in Rockport. Had tea with Gamages from 4:00 – 5:30—plan to practice singing Tuesday evening. Syd might join the choir. 6:00 – 7:00 took a nap—tired from being on the go since getting up. 7:00 – 9:00, read in Whitley’s book on Paul for D.S.; 9 –10, had supper! We ate so late, because we had very filling pastry at Gamages. Til 11 studied German with Bonnie; 11 – 11:30, watched news; 11:30 – 12:00 HHH on TV; 12 – 1, wrote “Church for Tomorrow”; bathed; off to bed at 1:45.

[1] Whom I had met at IU—a knockout good looker, but very arrogant guy.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found:

David’s Diary – October 7, 1968

1 Reply
Monday, October 7, 1968

Up about 10—a cold, windy, rainy, dismal day—the cat stayed out only about 10 minutes. Began reading again in Munch. Took a break to read I. F. Stone’s Weekly when the mail arrived, but finally finished Munch’s book at 1:15. Had lunch; desk work; then tried to get started writing report on Munch, but really wasn’t too inspired. By supper- time had written two pages. Helped with supper, started at 5:30. Watched CBS news. Their survey gives 1 state to HHH, 31 Nixon, 7 Wallace, rest too close to call. Election 4 weeks from tomorrow. So Nixon win seems very likely, unless some dramatic development changes things. 7 o’clock, back to my study to work on Munch. Bonnie was out for the evening for choir practice—Rockport Community Choir, practicing for Xmas program: Messiah. I babysat, Debby relatively good. Finished writing about 9:30, finished typing around 11:30. Took bath. Had call from George Gabin early in evening, about 9—Concerned Citizen meeting Sunday evening. Off to study Greek in bed, 12:30.

Tuesday, October 8, 1968

Lights out last night around one. Trouble getting to sleep. Up at 8—caught 9:20 train to Boston. Greek class from 11:15 – 12:00. Lunch with Todd Hitchings + Hobart Farrell. Hobart and I had quite a conversation on St. Paul’s eschatology. Led into a discussion of God and God’s action in history. We, of course, are polls apart—even in what we think about God. Spent a good deal of time trying to find Bob [1]—no luck. 2:15 – 3:00 dozed in Oxnan lounge—very exhausted. 3:15 – 4:00 – Paul directed Study. Took Whiteley’s book on Paul out of 2 in library. Caught 4:55 train to Rockport. Home by 6 o’clock. Had supper, watched CBS evening news. Tried to just relax. 8 o’clock, Official Board meeting here at parsonage. 13 members present. This was over by 9:30. Very tired afterwards, no energy for study. Read a little in Life magazine article on the church, took bath, fixed french-fries, listened to news—George Wallace got a big crowd in Boston; off to bed at 11:30.

Wednesday, October 9, 1968

Up about 8 – Home Orne + Lawrence Swan came about 9 to begin work on putting in radiator. I didn’t feel like driving myself today. Desk work this morning, read in Newsweek. Lunch about noon. After noon, shaved, did plastering behind where the washing machine usually is. We got some more snapshots of Debby. About 1:45 I took them the film to the post office. Stopped to look at the painting at the church (it has been covered ever since I’ve been here); Official Board asked me to hang it where I wish; its not really great, but is could be much worse. Came home, finally got to work translating 1st chapter of Jeremiah. Toward end of the afternoon, helped Homer + Lawrence put machine back in laundry room. Back to translating Jeremiah—also preparing for Bible Study (Bright). Took only half hour for supper – 6:30—7:00 watched CBS evening news too.—studied (translated) 7:00—7:45. Bible study 8—9:30. 7 attended. Afterwards had cup of coffee. Made phone call to Stoners in Schenectady, N.Y.; they’re coming Friday evening. 10-11 studied (trans.) Hebrew: Jer 1. Took bath; 11:30—1:15 translated John 17, most of 21; off to bed 1:20.

Thursday, October 10, 1968

Up at 8:30; big breakfast; caught 9:20 train to Boston. Greek class 11:15-12.  Had lunch with Dr. Richardson + Bob. Made arrangements with Bob for their visit on Saturday. 1-2, studied Hebrew—Jeremiah ch. 1. 2-3 directed study with Richardson. Read the Hebrew during the hour. Got Dr. Beck’s address from Dr. Brown. Immediately went to catch trolley, was in North Station early enough to buy 12 trip ticket. Bussey was in the station, we rode home together. Home by 5:15. We had supper immediately; from about 6 to 6:30 studied German (had studied this too on the train). 6:35 off for Gordon. We didn’t accomplish too much in German class. Mr. Kohl got off the subject with his views on youth + child raising—has a very strict German point of view. Left a little before 9. When I got home, went over to Patrick Quins where Bonnie was with Debby. Home around 10—read New Republic. Bathed, watched news; 11:30 – 12 special CBS program on tomorrow’s space shot. Off to bed at 12:10 –

Friday, October 11, 1968

— Debby 8 weeks old today
—1st manned Apollo mission

Up about 10. Coffee for breakfast, tried to get a sermon idea, watched CBS in the hour before launch of Apollo – lift off shortly after 11. We ate at about 12.  After 11:30 I started working on getting the windows fixed—small gap above the storm windows in the bedroom upstairs + my study. After this job was over, I began painting the side of the garage—other two sides done last May (or June)! Actually started painting at 1:45—finished by 3:15. Then  painted three birdhouses red; did more work here + there on windows. Took bath; shaved. We had supper around 6:30, watched CBS news. Mr. + Mrs. Stoner[2] arrived just a few minutes before 7. Visited short while, but I had to be at meeting at 7:30 at Busseys—planning for C.A.M.P. Fall loyalty Dinner. Got home from that about 9:45. Sat chatting with Stoners. Had ice cream; took bath. Stoners too are upset by probable Nixon victory. To bed by 11:30 — ISN[3]; baby slept til 5 AM –10 hrs!

Saturday, October 12, 1968

Up about 9:30. Big breakfast; shaved—worked in study, started working on the bulletin; mail came, with photos. We prepared a package of these to be mailed to Bonnie’s folks. Around noon I took this to the post office, changed the way-side pulpit. Came home, worked further on the bulletins. Had lunch, Peeks came—Bob + Nancy. We (Debby, Bonnie, Nancy, Bob, Dorothy Stoner, me) went walking down on Bearskin Neck. 2:30—Nancy + Bonnie came on home to feed baby, others went to T-wharf to greet Joe home from fishing. He caught several; after Stoners left, we (Bob + I) hung the painting at the church, came home, chatted. Around 7 had supper, visited. Peeks showed us their camping equipment, told us many tales of camping—sounds very exciting. They left for Boston around 9; we decided to go to Europe next summer—camping. Will we do it?[4] With thoughts of Europe dancing through my head, I was still able to write my sermon. Off to bed at 1:30.

Sunday, October 13, 1968

Up shortly after eight; breakfast, finished preparing the service, shaved. Church from 11 – 12; 34 in attendance, preached on “perils of worshipping.” Home by 12:30. Our minds were very much occupied today with thoughts of our trip to Europe. I was very tired after getting home from church. We looked at an atlas after lunch.  2:40 Winnie + Kay came over—we went together to the Den Mar nursing home for a short afternoon service. I led this, 3 – 3:30 about. Returned home; we then went for tea with Alan Frederich. We told him of our European plans. He helped give us some idea of costs and lent us road maps. Debby had to be fed, so we came on home. Had a late supper after visiting with Barbara + Hazle Lord. After supper we looked over Alan’s maps—at this point we like the idea of following the Rhein through Germany. Evening spent in desk work + study, back working on Skinner’s work on Jeremiah. Not a strenuous evening, however. Bathed, looked further at the map. Off to read in bed at 11:35. ISN.

[1] Last name omitted for privacy. Always wanted to see Bob —a totally gorgeous man, a total turn-on.

[2] Paul McGraw’s in-laws.

[3] My code for having sex. What the letters “ISN” stood for—if anything—I cannot recall. Nor do I remember why I felt the need for a code.

[4] No, we didn’t.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/27/davids-diary-october-7-1968/

David’s Diary – September 30, 1968

1 Reply
Monday, September 30, 1968

A very slow day—fighting a head cold—blowing my nose every few minutes. Up after 9 o’clock. No breakfast. Intended to study, but got involved in sending the book on race back to Cokesbury—should have been done long ago. After that was done, shaved, got lunch, wrote to David Watson. Around 2 o’clock went to the Post office, then changed the Wayside Pulpit at the church. Came home—my map for the Bible study had arrived.  Bonnie left on errands—Debby and I stayed home together. Feeling lousy, tried to study in bed—dozed. Bonnie home about 4. I slept from 4 to 6. Got up, watched CBS news. Wallace gaining, HHH loosing. Fixed supper; ate; still feeling washed out. Made phone calls: Mrs. Cooney re: communion next Sunday; Grace Harris re: taking communion to her on Sat; Mrs. Leary, her trip to Boston on Wed. Bonnie typed official Board post-cards. Read in Skinner book on Jeremiah, studied German, too tired to bathe—off to bed at 12:00.

Tuesday, October 1, 1968

My goal to get to bed and asleep last night was not immediately attained…[omitted]…We finally turned lights out after 2 am. Up around 6 (fed cat to keep her quiet) and then up again around 10. Began working in earnest on Skinner’s book on Jeremiah. Lunch at noon. Shaved—went to post office. Continued reading. My energy was quickly drained—had to nap for a short while in afternoon. Read further in Skinner; supper at 6:30 watched CBS news. Back to reading at 7:30. George Gabin called—wanted me to run off 600 copies of the letter for concerned citizens. He brought paper + stencils over around 8 pm. Read further, talked with Jim + Becky Bussey on the phone—we have supper with them on Friday evening. Jim remarked on two AWOL soldiers seeking sanctuary in Marsh Chapel. Went for a drive around Rockport—very fatigued;…[omitted]…lights out 11:45.

Wednesday, October 2, 1968

Up about 10. orange juice instead of breakfast. Til about 11:15 was occupied running off on the mimeograph the 600 letters for George Gabin. Then worked on typing the stencil for Bible Class. I made a one page chronology of the period of Jeremiah’s ministry. Lunch at 12—watched news. Finished with the chronology stencil—ran off the copies. Continued to read in Skinner’s book on Jeremiah. Called BU to leave messages with Richardson + Kim that I won’t be there tomorrow. Continued with Skinner; left Babysitting with Debby while Bonnie is off shopping. Debby slept. Left Skinner to work in Bright’s Jeremiah in preparation for Bible Class. Supper early, around 5:30. After six tried to deliver letters to George Gabin—not at home. Continued reading in Bright until Bible Class arrived. 9 in attendance. Covered chapters 3+4 (Spent 30 minutes on historical background. 9:30 sprayed cat for fleas, spoke with Lloyd Starrett on phone; studied German, Bonnie helped me drill on vocabulary; off to read in bed at 12:00.

Thursday, October 3, 1968

Up about 10. No breakfast (glass of OJ), and right to work, reading Johannes Munch’s Paul + the Salvation of Mankind. Read Newsweek briefly after mail man arrived. Lunch at noon; Bonnie + Debby + Hazel Lord went shopping. Home alone, I studied further in Munch. 4 o’clock switched to studying German. Bonnie home about 4:20, started supper about 4:45—put chicken in broiler. Continued on German. Supper about 5:45 until 6:30—off to Gordon for class. Home early, by 9:30. Back again to working with Munch—up to page 100 by 12:40. Took one break to help Bonnie take arms off couch—she’s beginning the process of re-upholstering it. Bathed, returned to reading in Munch, in bed. Munch is very technical, hard to plow through. My cold and fatigue of earlier in the week have set me back. This weekend will be a grueling one. Idiots—we’ve stayed up too late; off to bed at 1:50!

Friday, October 4, 1968

Up about 9:30; big breakfast; studied downstairs for a while to keep Debby company while Bonnie got extra sleep. Main preoccupation of the day: reading in Munch’s book. Read in bed last night up to page 106—by 1:30 this afternoon had read to p. 134. Interrupted by mail man around noon (Bonnie off shopping). Pictures of the baby arrived, letter from Jerry Harris, New Republic. Lunch between 1:30 and 2 o’clock. New Republic article notes Wallace strength in Ohio—HHH very weak. Back to Munch a little after 2 o’clock; with breaks  to shave and to pay the paper boy, read through until about 6:15. We (all 3) went over to Jim + Becky Busseys for supper. We had a very congenial meal together. Debby slept most of the time, but was in a friendly mood when she woke up. We were home by 10. Sprayed the cat for fleas—back to reading in Munch; bathed; continued reading in Munch—reached page 200. Read book of Ruth—in preparation for Sunday.  Off to bed at 1 AM.

Saturday, October 5, 1968

Up about 9. Big breakfast. Kept Debby company while Bonnie got some more sleep—she was up at 4 and at 8. Worked on sermon til around noon. Bonnie got up at 11. Caught the noon news, had lunch. A few errands. To post office, to the church, to get grape juice, to drop of(f) transfer of membership certificate to Ed Nutting.[1] Took communion to Rip + Mrs. Hannibal, then to Mrs. Harris + Mrs. Rich. Home by 4 o’clock. Typed up bulletins—2 phone calls to Homer. Bonnie still working on reupholstering the couch.  Supper around 6 o’clock. 7 began reading again in Munch. Took breaks to help Bonnie with the couch. By 11 o’clock was up to page 246 in Munch. Bonnie found the cat on top of the refrigerator!  We took a picture. After 11, hit by overpowering wave of fatigue—almost nauseated. Went and bathed, but was not revived—had to give up on Munch, 20 pp short of today’s goal. Off to bed shortly before 12.

Sunday, October 6, 1968

Up at 8; prepared explanation for Responsive Reading, practiced sermon; big breakfast. At the church by 9:20 for opening of church school. Worked on the service; service at 11, 28 present; Worldwide Communion Sunday—Mr. Scobe visiting. Home by 12:30. After 1 tried to nap a while—interrupted by short visit from Hazel + Barbara Lord. Resumed nap. 3 o’clock received visit by Dr. Frederick—til 5. We conversed on religion and his problems with faith—he has rejected traditional idea of God, but cannot find a credible or understandable substitute. I tried to express my similar feelings—lent him my communion service for Xn agnostic. We are to have tea with him next Sunday. By 6 we had had supper. 6 – 7:30 meeting to plan Fall canvas. 7:30 – 9:40 – C.A.M.P. meeting here at parsonage too. Got a cup of coffee and shortly after 10 began in Munch at p. 246. By 12:15, with a break to bathe, had reached 281. Off to bed at 12:15.

[1] Pastor of the Congregational Church.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/26/davids-diary-september-30-1968/

David’s Diary – September 23, 1968

2 Replies

One of many interesting things that history teaches us is things are not always as they seem. Today, my father is a happily married man. My parents divorced in the mid 1970s. My father’s soul-mate is also a man. They have been together since 1978. Over the years, in conversations with my father, he had always known he was gay. It was just not socially acceptable to be gay in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, especially in a small conservative town in Indiana. Warning: Content is Mature in this week’s annotation of the entries.

Monday, September 23, 1968

My 26th birthday; Bonnie brought my gift out of hiding right after we woke up. I unwrapt it while still in bed: a drawer to be attached to my desk. The baby woke up—I took her downstairs, had my breakfast and read while Bonnie got some extra sleep. Had to make significant progress in Schweitzer’s book—by 2 o’clock was to pg. 180. Had lunch at 2. Package for Debby came from Chris + Dave.[1] Took time out from studying in AM to install the drawer, and to read part of IF Stone Weekly + the New Republic—Nixon victory seems very likely. Spent afternoon reading in Schweitzer, finished book before supper; watched CBS evening news—their survey gives Nixon 31 states with c. 330 votes, HHH only 4 states + D.C., and Wallace 4. After supper, back to work on Paul D.S.—read in E. E. Ellis, Paul + His Recent Interpreters; Mrs. Myers[2] phoned to wish happy birthday around 8 pm; continue reading; around 9 pm began to write report; phone call from H. Orne + from mom +dad; 12:20 finished typing report; bathed, off to bed at 1 AM.

Tuesday September 24, 1968

A very tiring day. Up at 7:30 – took 8:15 train to Boston; subway to Harvard, to Widener library. The book I wanted wasn’t there—but I renewed my stack pass + borrowing privilege. Subway back to BU; Greek at 11:15. Lunch with Tod Hitching. Chatted briefly with Hobart Farrell. Larry Carter told me he cannot come to preach on the 13th—he also told me that he and Marva are engaged. I told Larry McGee that he was not hired for youth leader. I got the address from Sam Hedrick of a Florida DS to write concerning Rip Hannibal’s daughter. Had Paul Directed Study from 4:15 – 5:15. Oliver agreed to adjust downward the reading load. Next meeting will be in two weeks. Left BU at 4:20, caught the 4:55 train for Rockport—home at 6:00. Had supper + watched CBS news; relaxed (after not doing too well trying to feed Debby some applesauce)—began desk work about 9—bath after 10. 10:30 to 12:10 read further in Bright’s Jeremiah Introduction. 12:10 off to read in bed if I can keep awake; Bonnie is still awake, working on Debby’s baptismal dress.

Wednesday, September 25, 1968

Still awake last night at 2 AM, so was still in bed as about 10 when phone rang—Hazel Brady saying that she would be late for the Bible Class tonight. Light breakfast, continued reading in Bright’s Jeremiah, Introduction. Finished before having lunch around 12;30; shaved, left Debby with Hazel Lord[3] (Bonnie was off shopping), changed the Wayside Pulpit, picked up Bible maps from St. Marys Church, home by 2:15. Continued preparations in Jeremiah for Bible class; read Hyatt article on Peril From the North, made historical chart. Read Bright’s commentary on chapts 1 + 2 in Jeremiah. Chatted briefly with Barbara Lord shortly before supper. Supper around 6:30—watched CBS evening news—Walter Cronkite. Final preparations for Bible Class; people began arriving around 7:50; 10 altogether. Seemed to be rewarding all the way around; over by 9:30. Returned to studying for D.S. tomorrow; quick trip to the Post Office—mailed order for Bible map, Cokesbury; further study; snack; off to bed 1 AM.

Thursday, September 26, 1968

Up at 7:45; 8:15 train to Boston; went to Bank to withdraw savings account: $2553—then to BU. Greek class 11:15 – 12:15 – John chpt 3; lunch with Larry Burton and Dr. E. K. Brown. Chatted briefly with Larry Carter. Spoke with Dr. Richardson about next week’s assignment: Skinner’s: Prophecy + Religion. Went to Cokesbury to get same. Saw Hobart Farrell briefly—arranged to take a book to Lloyd Carr. On way back from Cokesbury, ran into Kenneth Klaristenfeld—I hardly recognized him—he’d lost 65 lbs. We talked about Dr. Beck[4] + Jeremiah studies—agreed to send him Beck’s European address. Went to Jeremiah DS, 2-3—discussed date of the book and J.P. Hyatt’s theory; after this session I got Beck’s address from E. K. Brown, and ran into Alex.[5] I was rushing to catch the train so we didn’t talk long. 4:15 train to Rockport—studied German. Home by 5:30. Letter from David Watson + Noth’s book[6] from Blackwells; supper; off to Gordon, stopped in Manchester on way—Lloyd Carr’s—home by 10. desk work; relaxed; read in Tillich; bath; desk work; off to bed 12:40.

Friday, September 27, 1968

Up about 9:15 – Home Orne and Lawrence Swan arrived 8:30 to measure for the new radiator. Bonnie took care of them. As soon as I was dressed I took the $2,553.35 check and deposited it in the Rockport National Bank. Took Bible maps back to Rev. Bamforth—told him we Methodists would cooperate in joint Thanksgiving service. 10:15 – left for Dr.’s office—Bonnie’s appointment. Afterwards stopped briefly to get stencils from Jim Bussey; picked up electric typewriter from repair shop in Gloucester. Stopped in and had lunch with Hazel Brady at the Captain Courageous diner. Everyone ooed + awed over Debby. Home again; napped; wrote letter—long one, two pp. single space to Helen Correll[7]; to D.S. in Florida; ordered stencils; to G.B. Harris for Gerry’s address. Chatted briefly with Hazel Lord; Bonnie at work on Debby’s baptismal outfit; late supper—after CBS news in fact;…[omitted]…desk work; ran off the bulletin for Sunday, back page (announcements) remains to be done; off to bed at 12:45.

Saturday, September 28, 1968

Up at 9:30; big breakfast; finished the bulletins; burned trash; mowed lawn—in record time—much didn’t have to be mowed because of the lack of rain—finished about 12:15—Grandma + Emil arrived at 12:30. They had already eaten, but Bonnie and I had lunch. Around 2 o’clock I went over to see Alvina and Anna. Ornes had told me they were upset that the church had been used by the Concerned Citizens—I got an hour + a half lecture on communism in Rockport. I didn’t even try to argue—they are too old, bring too many feelings to the situation, have suffered greatly. I think I was successful in convincing them that I am not a communist—we still have a good relationship. At 3:30 went up to see Rip Hannibal; after four went to the hardware store—no luck finding right doorknob—home by 4:30, fixed doorknob—short nap before Bonnie + folks arrived home. Supper after 6. Desk work; studied Greek: Eph 4:1-8; worked on morning service; hair cut; off to study German in bed 11:55. [margin: Ordered Jeremiah for Anne Jewell; had a nice chat with her on the phone.]

Sunday, September 29, 1968

Up around 9; shaved; small breakfast – helped prepare things for lunch; 10:15 left for the church. A good service—Uhlinger gave good sermon. It was a baptismal sermon, yet he managed to include points on racism—even mentioned the Kerner Report. Also one remark about Vietnam. Debby behaved very well—no crying at all. She yawned while Uhlinger was saying the Trinitarian baptismal formula—she reflected my feelings very well! 45 [49?] in church—I sang in the choir again. Had Uhlinger up for lunch. Grandma + Emil too, and Jim Tanner, new youth leader. Open House began at 2:30—rather disappointing turnout—only about 13 adult church members. I wonder how much this reflects resentment with me for allowing concerned citizens to use the church. By 4:30 it was pretty much over. Busseys dropped by + Forrest Clark; tried to nap—had supper; took bath, tried to study in bed, but legs aching and I’m very exhausted—read New Republic article on 4th party—looked at Sears Xmas book; lights out 10:30.

[1] Did I meet Dave at IU or BU? A hunk, very handsome—I really had the hots for him.

[2] Elderly woman in Kentland—I used to take her to movies (she used a walker, was essentially housebound).

[3] She and her daughter Barbara lived in an upstairs apartment next to the parsonage.

[4] My beloved Old Testament professor, one of the finest men I’ve ever known.

[5] Name changed to protect privacy. One of my great pals in seminary; married to a horrible shrew—and shrank from friendship after I came out. Alex once came on to me. Once on a snowy night when he stayed over with Bonnie and me at our apartment in Boston, I walked into my study to find him naked in my bathrobe, with a hard-on, legs spread. I gave him the closest thing I had a the time to porn (no pics) to beat off to. I left the room. I mention this episode in the Prologue of my book, without naming names.

[6] No doubt one of the books of Martin Noth about the Old Testament, in German.

[7] My high school English teacher.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/25/davids-diary-september-23-1968/

David’s Diary – September 16, 1968

2 Replies

In 1968, a month after I was born David began writing in a daily journal, or diary. It is a habit that he continues even today. Gladys’ letters continue, and at this point, David’s responding letters did not survive. I have my father’s permission to share these diary entries. He began transcribing them himself a few years ago, and even annotated them! Over the next phase of the blog, I will jump back and forth between Gladys’ letters and David’s diary entries. At this time, David was a graduate student at Boston University and the minister of the Rockport Methodist Church.

David’s Diary Entries

Monday, September 16, 1968

Deborah one month old. AM desk work; assignment for Paul D.S.[1] PM, worked on Paul assignment, meeting with Dr. Uhlinger[2], Forrest Clark, Jim Bussey[3] on C.A.M.P[4]. Late supper; study Greek—John 1; tired today, last night little sleep. Going to bed—11 o’clock.

Tuesday, September 17, 1968

9:20 train to Boston; Greek class 11:15 – 12:15; Lunch with Larry Carter, Hobart Farrell, others. Talked politics, foresee Nixon victory; Xeroxed Journal articles for Thursday Jeremiah DS; Paul D.S. 3:00 – 4:00 (1st meeting). Includes 3 of us: Dr. Oliver, Dane [Dave?] Mitchell and myself. Looks promising—should be very interesting. 5:15 train home—exhausted, headache; desk work, study in evening: Bright’s History of Israel; 11:30 to bed.

Wednesday, September 18, 1968

Up around 9 o’clock; reading for DS (Jeremiah): Bright, HI, Chronicles of Caldean Kings by D. J. Wiseman—very interesting. 3 articles from journals. Big breakfast (before reading), late lunch, 2:15; supper 6:30; 8 o’clock visit Mr. & Mrs. George Harris, re: baptism of their son; neither had done the reading—home by 8:30; not a very intelligent pair; read short while in Bright, Jeremiah, introduction; study Greek past midnight. In bed 12:20.

Thursday, September 19, 1968

Overslept—up at 7:50; still managed to catch 8:15 train. No breakfast, shaved electrically. In Boston by 9:30—to Mass. Bible Society for copy of Greek NT, to Bank on Beacon St; to BU; Greek 11:15 – 12:00; lunch with Tod Hitchings, Hobart Farrell, Larry McGee; Hobart asked if I call myself an atheist—told him “agnostic” better term[5]; Tillich, I pointed out, in strict sense of the word was atheist. Discussion of the Acts-Pauline problem; xeroxed Paul D.S. article after lunch; DS Jeremiah 2-3—1st meeting—should be rewarding work for the semester; after meeting rushed to xerox two articles; delay at Gov’t Center station—almost missed train (4:10 to Rockport); home 5:20; 6:20 leave for German course at Gordon—this should be helpful too; 10 o’clock home again; desk work. To bed 12:15. Letter from Sen. McCarthy today. Thurs. cont—on the way to bed at 12:15, baby’s feeding time, read while Bonnie fed Debby, looked over some of Fosdick’s sermons—lights out after 1.

Friday, September 20, 1968  Debby 5 weeks old

Slept late—up around 10 o’clock. Big breakfast; spent most of the day, unfortunately, trying to get the special pastoral letter ready. Stencils from Cokesbury no good—too short + all stuck together. We went to Gloucester (to Busseys’) to borrow some stencils, stopped at Mals + market on way home; late lunch around 2 p.m.; worked on pastoral letter. All run off, signed, stamped sealed by 6:30—Bonnie was washing kitchen floor. Debby has gone long periods between feedings = 5 hrs last night, 4 + 5 hours today. CBS news indicates strong support for Wallace in Unions. After supper, tried to deliver letters to Mrs. Cooney—not home. PM—work at desk, on sermon-outline finished; bulletins completed; further reading in Bright’s Jeremiah (Intro.). On way to bed, shortly after 1 a.m. [margin: middle of afternoon short visit over with Ornes—needed to pick up check for postage.]

Saturday, September 21, 1968

Up at 8:50; large breakfast; took letters to Mrs. Cooney, changed Wayside Pulpit; Bonnie had call from new resident in Rockport who wanted to attend our church. 10:30 Debby’s 1st doctor’s appointment; everything fine. He pronounced her “a perfect baby”—she was in a good mood. Worked on sermon, lunch, worked on sermon further. Around 2 o’clock went up to see Rip Hannibal, talked about his daughter in Florida, politics; home by 3:30 to greet Dr. Frederich (sp?)—the new Rockporter. He is an Englishman, teaching presently at Brandeis University, French. We have a common interest in music—although he doesn’t care too much for opera. He left shortly after 5 o’clock; back to work on the sermon; supper around 6:30; then back to the sermon again. Finished about 7:30. Bonnie and I gave Debby her first “solid” food—a soupy rice cereal. She was rather perplexed, very wide-eyed, probably swallowed very little! Further preparations for morning service; translated LK 19:1-10 for scripture reading. Bonnie baked pumpkin pie this evening, so we had a snack after 11 pm; read further in Bright’s Jeremiah; off to read in bed 12:30.

Sunday, September 22, 1968

Up at 9:30; shaved, practiced sermon, then off to church. No processional—only 3 in choir. Used Greek NT for first time for scripture reading from the pulpit. Sang in the choir. Sermon topic: “How to Stand Up + Take It.” (Fosdick’s title and idea.) Could have been preached better by one who is thoroughly theistic. Fosdick is so grounded to belief in a personal loving God, it is difficult for me to appropriate many of his sermon ideas.[6] Home Orne reported that attendance was 32. I was home by 12:30—rested shortly after lunch; 2 o’clock had to be at the church to baptize George Samuel Harris III; took altar flowers to Lucy Patience; went with Loyd Starrett + Dick Bamforth[7] to Gordon Divinity School to interview another candidate for youth ministry—Jim Tanner. We agreed to hire him. Dropped in on the Busseys at their open house, saw Uhlingers briefly. Home after 5—unsuccessful nap. – very tired. Supper around seven. Began reading for Paul DS. (Schweitzer: Paul and his Interpreters). Took break around 10:45 to bathe and fill out Bible Class postcards—read til about 12:30—finished first 100 pgs of Sweitzer book; off to bed at 12:30; read til 1:10.

[1] Directed Study

[2] District superintendent?

[3] Friend from seminary who served church in Gloucester

[4] Cape Ann Methodist Parish

[5] I am surprised that I was that much of an non-believer in seminary.

[6] See previous footnote.

[7] The Episcopal pastor.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/24/davids-diary-september-16-1968/

Uniting Conference

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

October 13, 1968

Dear David and Bonnie and Debby:

Yours received and application properly filled in and sent on to County Clerk’s office. I paid your taxes last week and am enclosing the receipt. Count that as a delayed birthday gift, or something. The spacer on this machine isn’t working right – and the machine needs a cleaning and other repairs, so must get it to the shop in a day or so.

Today was Layman’s Day in our church and the Lay Leader asked me to participate in the program, which meant I had to be in two services. Dad attended the first service and said he thought I had done very well, but neither of us (the Lay Leader and myself) knew how to turn our pages without making a noise – but other than that he thought we had both done very well. One woman told me afterwards I acted so calm. I had a few butterflies and am glad I won’t have to do that again – at least until next Layman’s day – and I may take a trip that day if asked again. Dad said our minister knows how to turn his pages by the P.A. system without making a sound. We hadn’t learned that little secret.

The weather is so warm today we were able to sit on the patio this afternoon, but we are bound to get some rain and cold weather soon. However, I am going to enjoy this while it lasts.

We enjoyed the pictures and wonder if Debby will hate her parents when she gets a little older and see herself nude. She seems to be growing very well and I believe she looks a little more developed at two months than her daddy did at that age. As I remember you were so slow in growing, you were about two months old before you looked like you were going to be a healthy, hearty baby. However, you soon made up for your slow start.

Next Sunday we have promised to spend the day at Mark’s celebrating Kirk’s sixth birthday. His birthday is really the day before, but Dad has the duty at the Music Hall on Saturday night (and we have free tickets) and Bob Hope is the star attraction. We went last night to hear Dave Brubeck and his group, but didn’t care too much about them. The only thing we could say about it, it wasn’t as loud as some we have heard.

We had to go to Kentland last Thursday, so I stopped to see Mrs. Myers. I took Bonnie’s letter along and read it to her. She seemed to enjoy it. She says she can feel herself getting weaker all the time, but still insists she is going to stay in her apartment as long as she possibly stay.

Indiana is going to have a uniting Conference November 9th and a member of the nominating committee called me yesterday to tell me I have been nominated for the Board that will (or agency) replace Christian Social Concerns. I was really surprised. I am on the present Board, but the new Agency is going to be so streamlined I had no idea I would be nominated. Also the Women’s Society is going to have a Charter Meeting October 30th and that will end my office of Christian Social Relations since the latest idea is that the new officers installed on the 30th will take office immediately. It had been said we would hold over until the middle of May, but evidently not. With my office of President at Trinity, I can do without one of the offices I hold at present. I suppose you know Indiana will after Nov. 9th have just two conferences, North Indiana and South Indiana and the lines will come much further north – as far north as Crawfordville.

I finally got my car, after having it in the body shop about three weeks. The men at the body shop kept telling me they couldn’t get the parts. It looks like a new car and runs very smooth – couldn’t tell we had been slammed into by a truck. After driving the Corvair around town, I was really glad to get back into the Buick.

Love Mother

P.S. Decided to keep your tax receipt – I may need it to get your car license next year.

Why don’t you tell B.U. your Rockport address? On your ballot there will be a yes and no on Pair-Mutuel gambling. The United Methodist church & in fact many chuches are working for a no vote, so your no votes will add two. I have a volume of information as to why the vote should be no and for your information I am enclosing a sourcebook.

[Editor’s note: The Pari-Mutuel Referendum was on the November 1968 ballot in Indiana. To check the results of the election, click here.]

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/23/uniting-conference/

Newest Grandchild

3 Replies

“Cape Ann births,” Gloucester Daily Times (Gloucester, Massachusetts), August 1968, p. 8

YEGERLEHNER

Rev. and Mrs. David A. Yegerlehner of 17 Hale Street, Rockport, announce the arrival of a daughter, Deborah Ruth, on Aug. *, at the Addison Gilbert Hospital. She weighed seven pounds, 11 ounces.

Maternal grandparents are Rev. and Mrs. Eugene McGraw of Penang, Malaysia. Maternal great – grandparents are Mrs. Emil Sandwen of Avon and Mr. and Mrs. Oliver McGraw of Centerville, Ind.

Paternal grandparents are Dr. and Mrs. R. S. Yegerlehner of Lafayette, Ind.

 

[Editor’s note: I wrote about my birth for the Book of Me project four years ago. Read it again here.]

© 2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/22/newest-grandchild/

Mother’s Day Sermon

1 Reply

[Editor’s Note: At the end of May 1968, David received his first degree from Boston University’s School of Theology. To see a brief newspaper clipping click here.]

Typed by Gladys Yegerlehner

SUSSANAH
Rockport, Mass.

Susanna Wesley – Sermon by Rev. David Yegerlehner, Mother’s Day, May 1968

John Wesley shared in the prejudice of his time against women. In one of his arguments against Democracy – for Wesley did not believe in government by the people, he freely accepted the idea of Divine Rights of Kings – he argued that government by the people, if drawn to its logical conclusion, would involve giving the vote to 21 year olds and to women: “But no one did ever maintain this,” said Wesley, “nor probably will they ever.”

History has proved Wesley wrong on his political ideas, but his attitude on women was typical of his time and typical of most of Western history. For there is no one group that has been more discriminated against than women. Only in modern times have women been emancipated to a degree – even now it would be hard for a woman to become President, or to become a freely accepted member of the clergy. How many human resources have been untapped over the centuries because women have been held back and kept in their place! It is a tragedy which staggers the imagination.

Some women, however, who lived in periods when women were repressed, have stood out and made names for themselves. Such a woman was Susannah Wesley, the mother of the founder of our denomination. I thought it fitting, on mother’s day, to talk about one of the better known women in the history of the church.

Susannah Wesley was born Susannah Annesley in 1669 in England. She was the last child of a large family. When she was born, her father was reportedly asked which number she was: he replied that he couldn’t remember whether she was the two dozenth or the quarter-hundredth!

She was born into a religious home; her father was minister in the Puritan tradition; that is, he was a dissenter, a member of a group which officially dissented against the Established Church, The Church of England. Such groups had to be officially registered.

Testimony to Susannah’s seriousness on religious matters is the fact that, of her own free will, she decided that she preferred the Church of England – and at the age of 12, much to the disapproval of her family, entered the Church of England. We will find that this spirit of independence by no means decreased as she grew older.

When Susannah was 20 years of age she married a young pastor named Samuel Wesley. He was a pastor of the Church of England, and he too had gone against a family history of dissent and joined the Established Church. The couple was married in 1698 – just a year after the glorious revolution, in which William and Mary had been invited to the throne of England to replace the exiled James II. Susannah Wesley’s biography from this point on is not the chronicle of an extraordinary ministry, or the building of a great religious movement, for what she did now was raise and run a family – a very large family; over a period of twenty-one years she bore 19 children – ten of whom died in infancy or childhood.

She and her husband lived in Epworth – a small rural community which was in many way unsuited to Samuel Wesley; for Samuel Wesley was a scholar of really amazing proportions. He read Hebrew, Latin, Greek; He wrote a life of Jesus in verse. But most of his congregation was illiterate. Furthermore, he was supposed to farm part of the land surrounding the parsonage to help feed the family; he neglected to do this however – his heart was not in agriculture – which added to the hardship of his family. The family went through periods of great trial and great stress – at times there was a great deal of ill feeling in the community directed toward them. Through all this, including a fire in the parsonage which almost took the life of John Wesley – Susannah held to a firm faith and stands forth as a strong and admirable personality. Her husband Samuel died in 1735 and during the last few

[page 2] years of her life she lived with her children and supported fully the Methodist movement of her most famous sons. She died in 1742 at the age of 73, really quite aged for a woman who had borne 19 children at the end of the 17th century.

I want to hold up for our attention three traits or characteristics of Susannah Wesley which are noteworthy. The first is her capability as a disciplinarian. Many of things which Susannah did in raising her children are understandable as characteristics of the time and today are frowned upon. But I think her methods are interesting nonetheless. In a letter to John she once gave a long description of how she raised her children. It is a very revealing document. She wrote:

“When the children turned a year old (and some before) they were taught to fear the rod and cry softly, by which means they escaped abundance of correction which they might otherwise have had; and that most odious noise of crying of children was rarely heard in the house, but the family usually lived in as much quietness as if there had not been a child among them…Our children were taught, as soon as they could speak, the Lord’s Prayer, which they were made to say at raising and bedtime constantly.”

On the 5th birthday of each child, Susannah sat down with the child and taught him the alphabet; she claims that they all learned it in one day – with the exception of one – who took a day and a half. On the second day each child was started on the book of Genesis, Chapter 1, verse 1, copying it and memorizing it. Thus the Wesley children were taught and thus they were raised – very strictly and in many ways severely. Thus we see reason why John Wesley led a very Methodical existence – and came to found a movement which was dubbed “Methodism.”

The second trait of Susannah’s which I wish to mention was her independence and assertiveness = perhaps somewhat unusual for a woman of her time. Once when Samuel was away from Epworth for a period of weeks, a pastor was invited to fill the pulpit. He was such a bad preacher that Susannah started a church service in the parsonage on Sunday afternoons. Soon there were many more people attending her services than the regular Sunday morning services. The temporary pastor wrote an angry letter to Samuel to protest these developments; Samuel was inclined to agree and wrote his objections to Susannah, because it was most unusual for a woman to be doing such a thing. But Susannah wrote back such an enthusiastic defense of herself, that Samuel dared not command her to cease.

Another example of Susannah’s independence occurred after the death of Queen Mary; Samuel noticed that Susannah was not saying Amen after his prayer for the King, King William, who as a widower was not left alone on the throne. Susannah was refusing to say Amen because she didn’t think it was proper for William, as a foreigner, to occupy the throne – She had been sympathetic to the cause of James II, who had fled England many years before. Susannah stood her ground in refusing to say Amen, and Samuel walked out for several months to London. He returned home only after the death of King William. So Susannah Wesley was no meek and passive woman; she had a bravery and a tenacity which is well reflected in her sons.

The third thing about Mrs. Wesley which I wish to note was her capacity as advisor to her sons long after they had left home; there were no generation gaps involved here. In other words, Mrs. Wesley advised her sons long after the Methodist movement had begun. This was done largely by letter and many of her letters still surive. She did not make small talk in those letters; she was an educated woman and was able to converse about theology and doctrine. It was not uncommon for her to discuss the thought of John Calvin, the Apostles Creed, the Holy Spirit and many other things. And John Wesley valued her thinking greatly. He often wrote to her for advice and guidance. When he was considering going to Georgia, one of the persons he went to see was his mother. He was not at all certain that he should be undertaking such an adventure, but the Wesley household had always had a keen interest in missions when the children were growing up; Susannah would frequently gather the family together and read them letters from missionaries = most commonly missionaries from India. It is not surprising, therefore, that when John told her that he was

[page 3] considering going to Georgia, Susannah (who was recently widowed, and might have asked her sons to stay near here) enthusiastically endorsed the idea. She exclaimed: “Had I twenty sons, I should rejoice if they were all so employed.” Her attitude might have been a significant factor in Wesley’s decision, because he did go to Georgia. So, for many years Susannah was a trusted and respected advisor to her famous son.

In the last century William Wallace wrote: The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” I am not concerned to prove or disprove this, but we can certainly say that the hand the rocked the cradle of John Wesley is the hand that significantly molded Methodism. Methodism can be glad that it is one of the few religious movements in history, whose founders’ home life is so well known – we certainly know more about Susannah Wesley than we do about Mary. We can cherish the abundance of information we have about the Epworth parsonage and the woman who ran it.

Notes:
Samuel remained in Church of England. Did not approve Methodist movement.
Of the nine children who survived – 3 were sons – John, Charles, and Samuel. In a book about S.W. which I read recently I learned the daughters had by and large unhappy lives. Only one seemed to find happiness in adulthood and she died about two years after her marriage. The Wesley girls were well educated which was unusual for that day and age. Since their father was a poor country pastor he could not provide them with dowries and they were too well educated to be satisfied with marriage to persons with no education. – One incident is recorded about one daughter who brought disgrace (according to the standards of that day).

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/21/mothers-day-sermon/