James Lythgoe Missionary Journal / pp067-068

[67] Rifle men was beating up their drums and playing music. A man asked Bro. Kay if he was going to America next spring, and asked me also if I was going. I did not know. Bro. Kay guessed if he went, I should go with him. This from Bro. Kay I thought was first rate (??), just suited me to think that I must go next spring with Bro. John Mowbern Kay.

I left him for Middleton. Got dinner at 4:20 p.m. at a book shop and made my way up Oldham Road, but soon found out I was wrong, in the wrong direction. Inquired, got righted, went up Rachdale (?) Road, was very ill, tired, as my leg hurt me a little. Rested a while in Guckens (?) Part. Rested again in the Harpurah Cemetery. I had much trouble to get to my journey's end, as my leg so much failed me. Arrived about 6:30 p.m. Had a talk with Bro. Wood, as things was not all straightforward in the branch. The cause of the disturbance was on account of Bro. Joseph Eckersley's approval of his son going to [68] America and leaving a young girl in the family way, which is not right that he should have done so. Neither of them is in the church so we cannot cut them off for the wrong.

Supper with Bro. Wood, and went to sleep with Bro. Eckersley, who told me all about matters and things. I tried to do the best I could to gain peace and good feeling with both parties. Slept with Eckersleys.

May 25, Oldham, Sunday

Breakfast with Eckersleys. Him and me had a walk to Bro. Easthopes (?), round town, to the largest chimney in this country, 34 yards round the bottom and 120 yards high, Cliver (?) Monument. We got back to Bro. Easthope's by 12:15 p.m. but had not been asked to stay [for] dinner, so [I] was very desirous to get away. He then wanted me to stay, but I preferred going. He accompanied me to Bro. Woods' next door. Had dinner with Bro. Wood.

If ever I felt the effects of being away from home it was then. Then I began to think