News of War

It was the 2nd of August, 1914, when for the first time in our lives we all went for a Holiday together (except Herbert who had joined the regular army). We went by train to Barry to spend a week with Uncle Herbert and Aunt Nell and Aunt Annie. It was Saturday and we travelled by train and arrived in the early evening. We were all so excited. I don't remember what we did on Sunday. There was no Church organization in Barry, but on Monday morning Uncle Herbert took us down to the Barry docks.

He had been able to get permission to show us around and to let us board one of the big ships in the harbor. How surprised we were when we arrived at the docks to find soldiers and security guards everywhere. We weren't allowed to even enter the gates. We were told that England had declared war on Germany. We hurried back to Aunt Annie's. The newsboys were by then running through the streets shouting the news and selling papers like hot cakes. We were advised to hurry home as the trains would be taken over by the government to transport troops and supplies. We hurriedly packed our things and returned home.

A Lesson in Procedure

In [1912] a new family joined the Church. It was a three-generation family consisting of a Mrs. Bryant who was a widow and her three daughters. The oldest daughter was divorced and she had two daughters. 

President George F. Richards

About this time we had another conference and President George F. Richards was to attend and reorganize our little branch. The Branch President, William Caswell, was to be released. His wife, Mary, was a very peculiar person. She waited outside the hall that Sunday morning and as the Bryant family and myself approached she came to meet us. She explained that her husband was to be treated unjustly by being deprived of this office. I've forgotten all she told us but, as we all liked Brother Caswell, we felt sorry for him. She told us to vote against his release. Being ignorant of Church procedure we thought that would be all right. I shall never forget the look on President Richard's face when we raised our hands in opposition to his proposal to release Brother Caswell. I knew I had done something very wrong and there was such an awful spirit there I could have wept. I have never wanted to ever place myself in such a position again. It taught me and the Bryant family a very valuable lesson.