Nottingham.

Fasted until 5 P.M.

Attended 10:30 meeting and spoke 30 min. Honor Father & Mother & Honor God. How? Answered & why. At 2:30 meeting I occupied 40 min “Missionary work.[”] At evening service I occupied 40 minutes. One gospel only of God’s authorship. Attendance 127—147—146. [p. 209] Between meetings I visited the old Nottingham Castle.

Nottingham.

Am usually well and happy.

Took 8:55 A.M. Midland train for Liverpool. Arrived on time 12:15 P.M. Took up my labors at my desk. Attended Reliefsociety meeting in the evening.

Liverpool.

Am well.

I worked at the desk all day. Wrote a six paged letter to my wife intended to answer for the family, a four paged letter to my daughter Nerva and a two paged letter to my prayr circle members.

Liverpool.

Not entirely well of my cold.

Wind and rain this day.

I worked at the office all day and was the speaker at night, meeting occupied about 40 min. Subject. The sin of omission and religious indifference. Dangerous and deadly. Read & quoted a number of passages of scripture. Bro Alexander told me after meeting it was the best sermon for him he [p. 210] had heard in this meeting house. If good comes of it, may the Lord be praised.

Liverpool.

Am well.

Usual damp raw weather.

Letters from Mother, Sarah and Nina. I answered them all. Worked at my desk all day. In evening I wrote to my sons LeGrand & Joel.

Liverpool.

All well.

Wind & rain.

I worked at my desk all day. Wrote to First Presidency, Reed Smoot and others.

Liverpool.

Am well.

I took 10:50 A.M. train for Hull arriving there at 2:34 P.M. was met by Pres. Nixson of Hull Conference and escorted to his Lodge at 36 Lemaneus St. Anlaby Road, Hull, which was made my head quarters or residence as the officials would say. Here I met Elder Joseph A. Godfrey. These two being all the Elders from Zion in Hull Conference.

Attended a priesthood meeting at 4:30 P.M. Eleven present. All spoke & I being the last speaker and occupied 60 min with good liberty. [p. 211]

We took supper with a sister [blank] and family and talked to her as she while paying her tithes and attending her meetings persistently urged the Elders to excommunicate her. A most peculiar case and I do not know whether or not my talk will do her much good.

Hull.

Am well

Attended 10:30 S. School session and occupied 25 min of the time. 90 Pres. A nice program was rendered & sacrament administered. Before this meeting a baptismal was held at the [blank] baths and three adults were baptized. I confirmed Tom Wharam of Hull. I spoke briefly at the services. At 2:30 P.M. meeting 102 present. I occupied 60 minutes. Good liberty At evening meeting 101 present I occupied 55 min. Good Liberty. The Lord helped me this day.

Took supper with investigators Mrs [blank]. Last night I had a remarkable dream. I thought my son George, Rega & I were considering a farm which had been plowed. It appeared very dry and the season late and [p. 212] I was about to decide to not plant when I had occasion to go on to the land and discovered that the dry ground was just the surface, that underneath the surface perhaps not more than an inch the ground was both mellow and moist. I remarked that it was in the finest kind of condition, that the dry ground on top served as a dust bath to prevent the moisture to escape & ordered the seed drill brought out with the view to seeding it at once. Can this refer to the sowing of the gospel seed in this mission?

Hull.

Am well.

I administered to Sister Mary E. Thompson and her boy about 9 yrs old. Geo E. Thompson, Pres. Hixson anointed these.

I left Hull on 9:20 A.M. train and arrived in Liverpool at 12:50 P.M. Wrote up journal, considered mail &c.

Liverpool.

All well.

I worked at my desk all day & in the evening read the Salt Lake papers and wrote to Rega & Lucena. [p. 213]

Liverpool.

Am well

Received letter from home and answered same writing to my wife and to my son Ray L. who is six years old this day. Folks well at home.

Ray came to his mother with his hair plastered down wet. When asked why he did so, he answered that his hair would hurry and get black so he would be a big boy, so he could be a deacon and pass the sacrament.

Worked at my desk all day. Attended branch meeting at night. I offered opening prayr, my son the closing prayr and Elder Cottam was the speaker.

Liverpool.

All well.

My son George and I crossed the Mersey River to New Brighton. Our object was to see the large steamer [blank] but she had sailed before we got there. We returned before or without going off the boat. Rough water, high wind.

Made some minor purchases down town. Worked at my desk all day & evening else. [p. 214]

Liverpool.

Am well.

I worked at my desk all day and evening.

Liverpool.

All well.

I took 11:35 L. & Y. Ry train to Bradford arriving there at 1:39 P.M. I was met at the station by Cousin Ebir J. Robinson president of the Leeds Conference. Jos S. Nelson, Nathan Groome Jr and David A. Owen Elders. We went to the home of Doctor George H. Higgins where I made my stay while in Bradford. After dinner we met the lady officers and missionaries and conference branch presidencies at the photographers and sat for group picture. By request of the photographer I sat for individual photo. At night I met with the Elders first & later with the local officers about 80 present. Reports were made by eleven people and I addressed the meeting for about 35 minutes, policies of mission with regard to necessary work and branch work, &c. [p. 215]

Mildred House, Bradford.

Am well.

Attended morning session of conference at 10:30 S. School exercises, very fine. I occupied 20 min. Subject Love. God so loved the world &c. Jesus’ love for us. His suffering, how caused Read Mosiah 3:7. This meeting was held in West Gate New Hull. Attendance 312.

At the 2:30 meeting the attendance was 356, held in Queen’s Hall. I occupied about 50 mins. Read from Moses 6:41–67 and commented on same. Good liberty. The Lord helped me.

At 6:30 P.M. meeting the count 456 I occupied about 40 min. Subj. We ought to try to believe to be true what we would like to be true come with us & see principle by principle. Would you not like to know these principles are true. To the law & the testimony. We affirm. Those who oppose us deny. If what the scriptures teach be true then the time will come when that fact will be known and we will be all right but how about those [p. 216] who have rejected same? &c.

Bradford.

Am well.

Very cold.

I took 10:40 A.M. train for home arrived soon after noon. Found Conference President Parley M. Condie at headquarters. Spent an hour or two with him in conversation. Wrote up my journal and did other desk works. Read letter from Ina & answered it.

Liverpool.

All well.

I worked all day at my desk. Wrote editorial for the Star. “Example.” Received letters from my sister Alice Ann, from Joel and LeGrand. I wrote LeGrand at evening, also wrote a four paged letter to my wife. My son George and I had a discussion upon gospel subjects, he advancing the idea of all except those who receive the Telestial kingdom being as heirs and are not to be judged, an idea he obtained from one of the office force.

Liverpool.

All well. [p. 217]

I wrote up an editorial for the Star “Submission to and exercise of Authority.”

Attended evening preaching meeting. I by request of Pres. Geo Taft was the speaker. I read Lect 6 D&C and talked upon the subject of Sacrifice occupying 55 min good liberty.

Liverpool.

All well.

A busy day at my desk as usual. Retired after 10 o’clock, happy as usual.

Liverpool.

All well.

I worked at my desk all day and evening. Received letter from my wife at home and answered, same with four paged letter large sized sheets. Some saints called in to spend an hour with us in the evening.

Liverpool.

All well.

I took 10:30 A.M. train for Norwich 216 miles S. East. Arrived there at 6:13 P.M. Was met by Pres. Francis M. Skinner and we went direct to the Police Station and was registered and [p. 218] from there to the photographers and was photographed, thence to evening priesthood meeting.

I occupied 40 minutes with good liberty. Instructed the brethren as to the policy I desired carried into effect viz. Branches to be manned by local brethren and sisters who are to care for the saints that the Elders may be at liberty to tract visiting strangers and investigators. The Saints should aid the Elders in tracting & teaching the gospel, duties of officers explained &c.

I staid with the Elders at their lodge.

Norwich.

Am well.

Good day.

Conference convened at 10:30 A.M. S.S. Session, present 84. Sacrament adm. Elders Andersen, England & I spoke. I occupied 40 min. Sacrament and Atonement.

At 2 P.M. meeting, the attendance, 90. The speakers were Local brother Alexander, Elder Lewis and myself. I occupied 25 min. Subj: Lady missionary work &c. After meeting we set apart 17 lady missionaries, the officers of two branches, Norwich and Lowestaft branches. At evening meeting Pres. Skinner and I were the speakers. I occupied [p. 219] 67 minutes with excellent liberty. Followed subject of former speaker. Apostasy, restoration, Joseph Smith’s first vision as text. Referred to the 3 & 8 witnesses to the B. of Mormon.

After meeting Bp. Lewis said he thought that was about the best he ever heard. May the Lord be praised.

At the Lodge I investigated the deportment of the Elders & gave instructions.

Norwich.

Am well.

Fine day.

I took 8:34 train for Liverpool arriving at 6:53 P.M. Changed trains five times enroute.

Liverpool.

All well.

I worked at my desk all day and evening.

Liverpool.

All well.

Letters from home, Mother, Ruby, Ray. All well at home. Nerva.

I worked at my desk all day answering correspondence, writing abt. commenting on reports &c.

In the evening I attended meeting as usual. The speakers were a brother [p. 220] Smith, Edith and Pres. Toft. A good meeting.

Liverpool.

All usually well.

I worked all day at my desk also the evening until about 10:30.

Liverpool.

All well.

Blustry & wed.

I worked at my desk all day. Wrote letters to Mother, Nerva, Ruby and Ray answering theirs.

I signed twenty nine Lady Certificates Missionary Certificates, the first-issued from this office. These went to the Norwich and Nothingham conferences.

I worked at my desk all day until about 4 P.M. when my Son George & I took 5:07 train for Blackburn the headquarters of the Liverpool Conference to attend Conference meetings. Attended a meeting at 8 P.M. where I addressed the people upon the subject of baptism previous to going to the baths where twelve souls were added to the fold by baptism. I assisted in the confirming, Elders Cottam & G. F. R. Jr associated. I confirmed four of the twelve. Continued on page 224 [p. 221]

Born.

Born

[13 lines blank] [p. 223]

My son and I occupied the same bed at the Elder’s Lodge.

Blackburn.

I attended regular conference meetings at 10:30, 2:00 and 6 o’clock in a large dance hall “Empire Assembly Rooms.”

We held a meeting between the after noon and evening meetings of conference when we set apart the new officers of the Blackburn branch who were sustained in the afternoon meeting. We also called a number of sisters on a mission to do tracting work. These were sustained at the evening meeting.

I blessed a child in meeting, Ethel May Cookman.

Lunches were served in the Hull anty rooms.

I spoke in the forenoon and evening meetings with good liberty and the other speakers spoke well. My son George made a splendid talk in the afternoon occupying about 35 minutes. After meeting my son Geo & I returned to Liverpool arriving home about mid night. [p. 224]

At Blackburn Sunday Oct. 29th 1916. I was voice in confirming the following;

1. Wm Mercer

2– Parkin Langley Cookman

2– Ethel Cook

3– Isabella Leak

4 George Waring⁶ [p. [0]]

[end of nineteenth volume]

Geo. F. Richards.

Liverpool. England.

Oct 30, 1916

to

Apr. 9, 1918

No. 20. [p. 0]

Liverpool.

Well

Stormy

I worked at my desk all day. Wrote a four paged letter to my wife. Retired early.

All well.

I worked at my desk all day Read Salt Lake papers & conference news. Received letter from my wife of Oct 11th & 12th (and answered it[)].

Prepared an editorial for the Star.