Letters from 1880-1889

SSJE/6/1/2/3/2

Letters from 1880-1889

Jan 1870-27 Dec 1889

Letters sent by Fr. Benson, commencing with Fr. Gardner in England and continuing through to his time in charge of the Mission at Poona, India. Fr. Benson provides updates of Society life in England, passes comment on the news Fr. Gardner and other Fathers have relayed to him on the progress of SSJE in India and provides religious guidance for Fr. Gardner. Includes; f. 3: short note requesting Br. Gardner to fill in an enclosed Sunday School report, sign it for Fr. Benson and return it to him, 7 Apr 1880. ff.4-9: saddened at hearing of Br. Gardner's fathers heath problems; advises him to stay at his side for as long as is needed, Feb-Mar 1881. ff. 10-13: glad of hearing that Br. Gardner had the chance of preaching in Wales; it was an aim of the Society to 'have a Religious House in that Principality', Vigil of the Annunciation 1881. ff. 31-34: notes being able to attend the opening of Pusey House; he would have been sorry to miss it had he gone to Aberdeen as planned, 8 Oct 1884. ff. 35-38: talk of a [unnamed] Father leaving the Society; Fr. Benson is 'relieved' as he was concerned about the influence he may have exerted on the lay Brothers, Oct 1884. ff. 39-40: Fr. Benson writes of his pleasure in hearing of the 'thawing' of C.C.Grafton's demeanour to [SSJE] and notes they must be prepared to allow for their own faults in this matter, 15 Nov 1884. ff. 45-46: thinks it is for the best that Br. Gardner returns to Cowley [from the United States] once he has recovered from illness, 10 Feb 1885. ff. 54-55: supposes that Br. Gardner has now landed in Bombay; Fr. Golding-Bird is conducting a Advent Mission at Guy's Hospital, London, 17 Dec 1886. ff. 58-59: Fr. Benson writes from Lincoln, telling of good attendance at [his Sermon] and writing of the Mission work going on 'all over England', 10 Feb 1887. ff. 70-71: writes of the unlikelihood of being able to join Fr. Black in travelling to India, and tells of the forthcoming election of Superior at All Saints Sister [of the Poor]; the first change of 'our Mother' will make the next year a 'very important crisis in Sisterhood', 26 Aug 1887. ff. 76-77: thanks Br. Gardner for his account of [progress in India] and remarks that they should not be surprised if the 'Great Enemy does his upmost to try and destroy it', 9 Mar 1888. ff. 84-86: wonders on the strangeness of Indian life when viewed 'from another world' and how it will seem as foreign to them as 'oriental life does to the Western reader', 21 Jun 1888. ff. 91-93: Wales is not yet in such a state of ferment as Zululand, but Mr [William] Gladstone 'is ever ready to suggest to them a sense of wrong', 15 Nov 1888. ff. 98-99: news of two fires in the SSJE Church on Bowdin Street. [Boston, USA] along with a newspaper clipping carrying a report of the events, 25 Apr 1889. ff. 104-105: Christmas approaches, Fr. Benson reflects on the differing celebrations the Society will witness, 'midsummer midwinter Hindu and American - all so widely contrasting with the traditions of dear old England', 12 Dec 1889.

107 ff.