| Description | This is the first of 52 remaining diaries that he began writing at the age of 27. The first diaries are dominated by Bason's struggle to lead a good Christian life. Most of the entries describe everyday life, including the place he worked at during the day (he seems to have been a signalman with the railway) and descriptions of his prayers with God.
On some occasion there are mentionings of talks with other people whom he tries to win for his church community. The church community, with two services on Sunday, a Sunday school and numerous church society meetings also played a big role in Bason's life.
The first page contains a long opening text addressed to God, clarifying the intentions of the writer and stating the hope of a greater revelation of God this coming year.
Meets a young man who tells him of his problems to lead a good Christian life (5 Jan 1909). Bason tries to comfort him.
First mention of socialism (8 Jan 1909): Bason talks to a signalman and says that he'd stand by any socialism or any -ism that is going for what is right.
Bason holds the morning service (9 Jan 1909) and when somebody says the sermon was good, Bason is filled with pride, "a devil in itself", as he comments.
Throughout January most of the rather short diary entries focus on the everyday occurrences.
Mentions having read George Bernard Shaw's essays on socialism and states that he wants to know more about it. (26 Jan)
One can see the puritan character of Bason (21 March 1909); since there is a musical and a silver collection being held at the church, he cannot possibly go there.
Following the silver collection (22-25 March 1909), the tension between some church member and Bason seems to increase, and he resigns as the church society's steward and as secretary of the teachers' meeting.
Work, church visits and other missionary activities, grammar school on Sundays and reading the Bible and newspaper in the evening. He mentions preparing new sermons (April-June 1909). |