Very cold. Most of it east wind, rain in the morning. Went to Kelly Mill to arrange about the organ being played when I am away, then on to the cottage to see Bertha Gullick about Elsie Widger as I heard a tale that she wants to leave Sophia Dance. At all costs that must be stopped.

In afternoon went to Marystowe, Mr Newman has had orders to go as chaplain to the Citadel for the month of December. Stayed there for some time, & chatted. Choir practice at 7. The church was very cold, & by the light of one candle & one lamp, we taught 3 men the Nicene Creed after Merbecke.

John Johns waited for me in the churchyard, & in the dark under the stars & in the teeth of a bitter wind, I did my very best to cheer him on to enlist. He is a man of about 35, standing there, big, broad & burly, 6 ft high, saying he was afraid of his mother. But I know how difficult it is for them to do anything on their own, & this is a tremendous thing. He kept on saying “I’ll go to morrow”, & then “I think I had better talk it over with them at home”, & then “if I go the other young men will go.” So at last we parted. What will be the result I wonder?