Wednesday, February 28, 1923

Overcast, mild & damp. Arose 7:45 A.M. Breakfast. Took shoes to be repaired. Classes 8:30 to 10:30 A.M. Bishop Hughes spoke on Evangelism. (Nicodemus) Dinner. Worked 12-2 P.M. Class 2:15. Took nap. Supper. Studied. Took walk with H.H & Purdue. Shower. Have a cold. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful.

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Nicodemus is associated with Evangelism in Bishop Hughes' speech, apparently. And who was Nicodemus? Here is a website that gives the most quoted passage from the Bible: John 3:1-21. And this Wikipedia article offers some comments on the significance of this figure: Nicodemus.

Tuesday, February 27, 1923

Overcast, damp, slippery. Arose 7:15 A.M. Breakfast etc. Classes 8:30-11:30 A.M. Dinner. Worked. Class & chapel. Talked with H.H. Played volley ball. Supper. Studied. Gospel Team meeting. To bed 12 P.M. Thankful for Christian training.

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I'm starting to wonder if the Gospel Team is not a singing group but rather a group dedicated to researching the Gospels?

Monday, February 26, 1923

Overcast & damp. Little snow. Arose 7 A.M. Washed. Studied. Class 10-11:30 A.M. Hebrews. Dinner. Worked 12 M-2 P.M. Class 2:15. Chapel. Talked with H.H. Studied. Supper. Studied. To bed 11:45 P.M. Thankful for health.

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A routine day for Stanford with lots of studying!

Sunday, February 25, 1923

Beautiful, bright, cool & breezy. Arose 7:15 A.M. Breakfast with H.H. Studied. Washed, shaved etc. To Old South with Steinkraus, Gamer and Allengen of Union Theological. Dinner alone at Walton's. To 72. Nap. Studied & collected thoughts for evening. To Brighton with Gospel Team. Turrell led league. Learey, I, Conley & Cameron took charge of evening meeting. It did not go as well as usual. To Parsonage. Pancakes etc. Talked. Marked some more of Hexateuch. To bed 1:45 A.M. Thankful for friends.

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For those who, like me, are not familiar with it,

The Hexateuch ("six scrolls") is the first six books of the Hebrew Bible: the Torah (Pentateuch) and the book of Joshua.[1] (taken from Wikipedia)

The Wikipedia article goes on to describe in detail the scholarly uses of this collection of texts.

I wonder why the meeting didn't go as well "as usual"?

I'm guessing that Brighton, where the Gospel Team went to perform, is the Brighton Community Methodist Church (but I'm not sure since he doesn't name the church). It was founded in 1903, so it could be the one.

Brighton Community Methodist Church
From Google

Saturday, February 24, 1923

Glorious bright day. Arose 7:15 A.M. Breakfast etc. Studied. To Gen. Theo. Library to get books. Dinner. Worked. Played volley ball. Shower. Studied. Supper & to market. Watched part of Basket Ball game. Union Theological 26 - B.U.S.T. 19. Game rough on account of small gym. Studied. To bed 12 P.M. Thankful for love of God.

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Hmm . . . there is a theological college basketball league?

Friday, February 23, 1923

Fair, bright and cool. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast. Classes 8:30-10:30 A.M. Read. Dinner. Worked. Wrote letter home etc. Studied. Supper. Studied. Played rook, talked etc. To bed 1:30 A.M. Thank God for daily associations of a helpful type.

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No afternoon classes on Friday, I guess.

Thursday, February 22, 1923

Bright, cool and damp. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. Cleaned typewriter. Conley, Leary and I to dinner and then to Franklin Park. Pleasant time. Talked. Supper. To Tremont Temple to see "A Town that forgot God." Very good. Talked. To bed 12:15 P.M. Thankful for health.

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I guess Stanford didn't work on this day.

The Town That Forgot God is a film that was released in 1923. Here is a synopsis from TCM:

A village schoolteacher, unaware that Eben, the village carpenter, is in love with her, marries a surveyor and has a son, David. Eben, distraught at losing her, goes away, and he returns years later to find that David, now an orphan, is running away from his cruel foster father, the squire. Eben befriends David, and when the town is destroyed by a storm the two escape harm. An epilog shows David 25 years later as a successful businessman, happily married, helping to rebuild the town.

Wednesday, February 21, 1923

Beautiful, bright, & cool. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast. Classes 8:30-10:30 A.M. Worked. Swept out room. Dinner. Worked. Class & chapel. Shaved & studied. Supper. Typewrote. Played rook. To bed 12:15 P.M. thankful for God's comforting power. H.H. to Alex. Stewarts.

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Tuesday, February 20, 1923

Beautiful, bright and cool.Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast. Class 8:30 A.M. Dr. Knudson back after 2 weeks absence. Bishop Hughes spoke at 9:30. Dinner. Worked. Class at 2:15. Chapel. Typewrote. Supper. Prayer Meeting. Studied. To bed 12 P.M. Thankful for opportunities.

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I wondered why he wasn't having class at 8:30!

Dr. Knudson (later Dean Knudson) was Albert Cornelius Knudson. His obituary is posted at Find-a-Grave, along with his picture. Here is an excerpt:

Albert Cornelius Knudson (January 23, 1873 – August 28, 1953) was a Christian theologian in the Methodist tradition, associated with Boston University and the school of liberal theology known as Boston personalism. Albert Cornelius Knudson was born in Grand Meadow, Minnesota. He was the son of Rev. Asle Knudson (1844-1939) and Synnove (Fosse) Knudsen (1842-1916), both of whom were immigrants from Norway. The family subsequently moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota. Rev Asle Knudson regularly traveled by train to Grand Meadow to minister at the Danish-Norwegian Methodist Church until shortly before his death in 1939. Albert Knudson studied at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (A.B. 1893) and Boston University (S.T.B. 1896, Ph.D. 1900). He attended Jena University and Berlin University (honorary Th.D. 1923). After teaching briefly at the University of Denver and Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas and at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, he began his long career in Boston University where he later became dean of the Boston University School of Theology. Albert Knudson was married to Mathilde Johnson (1872–1948) in 1899. He died on August 28, 1953 at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Monday, February 19, 1923

Fair and cold. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast etc. Letter home. Class 10-11:30. Dinner. Worked 12 M - 2 P.M. Took nap. Read. Supper. Studied. Talked. To bed 12 P.M. Thankful for health.

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Sunday, February 18, 1923

Beautiful, bright & cold. Arose 7:45 A.M. Breakfast. Read etc. To Park Street Church with Ernest. Dinner at Childs with Ernest Steinkraus, D.B. Brown, Maxwell Stewart & Paul Eberly. Read, thought etc. To Brighton with Gospel Team. I led League. Subject - "character." Evening service good: speakers Cameron Conley, Leary. Carwell prayed & read scripture. All to manse for lunch. Pleasant time. To bed 12 P.M. Thankful for association with students at B.U.S.T.

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I'm assuming by "manse" he facetiously means his room. Lunch, you may remember, refers to any small meal, what we might call a snack now.

Saturday, February 17, 1923

Beautiful, bright. Coldest day of winter. Arose 8:15 A.M. Washed. Breakfast. Made bed etc. Letter to Nellie. Dinner. Worked 12 M - 2 P.M. Played volley ball. Shower. Supper. To market. To see "The Fool" with M.L.Y. Very good. To bed 12;15 P.M. Thankful for friends.

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He sure has a lot of energy! After working in the kitchen of a restaurant for two hours, he played volley ball, too!

The Fool was a 10-year-old film; below is a little bit of information on it.

And here is a photo of one of the stars of the film, Godfrey Tearle.

Friday, February 16, 1923

Bright. Growing cold. Arose 7:45 A.M. Breakfast etc. Letter home. Class 9:30 A.M. Packed laundry. Carried bags for Miss Whipple to Park Street. Dinner. 12 M to 2 P.M. Mended clothes. Played rook. Pressed clothes. Supper. With Ernest to see "Little Church around the Corner." Very good. Studied. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for God's protection to loved ones.

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The Little Church Around the Corner is a silent film that was released in January 1923. Below is a synopsis of the film and a poster from it, plus a photo of the star, Claire Windsor.

Thursday, February 15, 1923

Fair, bright and cold. Arose 7:30 A.M. Shaved, washed etc. Breakfast. Worked on psychology paper. Christian F. Reisner spoke at 10:30 A.M. in chapel on Church advertising. Very good. Dinner. Worked 12 M to 2 P.M. Class 2:15. Studied. Supper. Studied. To bed 12 P.M. Thankful.

Christian Reisner

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Christian F. Reisner (1872-1940) was a graduate of BUST in 1896. He went on to become a successful Methodist minister, starting in Kansas City. He wrote many books in his lifetime, and had a particular style of presentation that was very popular. Here is a quote from one author, Jack Anderson, about how clergy influenced the development of modern dance; he speaks of Reisner's way of working a crowd:

Indeed, Reisner was a showman. His services resembled vaudeville bills and combined prayers and Bible readings with performances by magicians, acrobats and birdcall imitators. He was especially famous for what he called his "snow sermon," preached every July atop a mountain of ice that had been placed in the sanctuary. That was surely a sight to behold on a hot Sunday. No wonder, then, that he attracted standing-room-only crowds. (New York Times, 27 Sep 1992)

I wonder if Rev. Reisner included any theatrics in his speech at BU?

Wednesday, February 14, 1923

VALENTINE DAY
Overcast, cool & breezy. Arose 7:50 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. Class 9:30 A.M. Swept out room etc. Dinner. Worked 12 M to 2 P.M. Class 2:15 P.M. Chapel by Dr. Butters. Very comforting. Read. Supper. Valentines from M.M.B & M.L.S. Box ♡ of candy from M.L.Y. Studied in evening. Lunch of crackers and jelly from Norway. A gift from Joseph Purd[u]e. To bed 12:30 P.M. Thankful for privilege of education.

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I think MMB is Marion Benedict, Hanford's girlfriend. MLS is Mildred Swart. MLY is, of course, Mary Leah. I wonder if the heart shape signifies his love of candy or his appreciation of the giver?

Joseph Purdue's mother is from Norway, so that may be the reason he is giving Stanford food gifts from Norway.

Tuesday, February 13, 1923

Fair and cold. Few inches of snow. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast etc. Read. Classes 9:30-11:30 A.M. Dinner at Ginter's. Worked 12 M to 2
P.M. Down street. Studied. Supper. To Prayer Meeting. Earl Gilbraith talked on Passion Play. Timmerman and I to 31 Norway St. Valentine gathering. Pleasant time. To bed 12:15 P.M. Thankful for friends.

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So, looks like Mary Leah and her roommate had a Valentine's Day party! I'm not sure who Gilbraith is--may be a classmate.

Monday, February 12, 1923

Beautiful, bright & cool. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast in room with H.H. Wrote letter home. Class 10-11:30 A.M. Dinner. Worked 12 M to 2 P.M. Class 2:15. Chapel. Studied. Supper. Down street. Bought valentines etc. Studied. To bed 12:30 P.M. Thankful.

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Below is a photo of a Valentine's Day card sent in 1923. I wonder who Stanford gave his cards to?

taken from E-bay listing

Sunday, February 11, 1923

Fair, bright and cold. Arose 8 A.M. Shower, shave etc. To Tremont Temple in A.M. with Steinkraus. Dinner. Read. Took nap. To Brighton with Gospel Team. League & evening service. Lunch. Read. To bed 12 P.M. Thankful for life.

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I'm guessing that the Gospel Team is a fun activity.

Saturday, February 10, 1923

Overcast and cold. Few inches of snow in A.M. Breakfast. Studied. To P.O. Dinner. Worked 12 M-2 P.M. Studied. Supper with Ernest Steinkraus and Jos. Purdue. Studied. Talked etc. To bed 11:45 P.M. Thankful for material manifestation of God's loving kindness.

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Joseph Olaf Purdue was born in England in 1901 to an English father and Norwegian mother (hence the name Olaf, I presume). He graduated cum laude in 1925 from BUST with Stanford, and by 1930 he was married to Emma Richardson, who was from Vermont, and they had two little daughters. Joseph and Emma married in 1925. Since Joseph went to Vermont for his summer internship in 1924 (as does Stanford), I'm guessing he met his wife there. He had a career in the ministry where he lived in Massachusetts and Maine. He died in Florida in 2001 at the age of 100.

Friday, February 9, 1923

Glorious, bright and cool. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. Class 9:30 A.M. Letter home. Dinner. Worked 12 M-2 P.M. Short nap. Studied. Supper. Walked with E.F.S. Studied. Took walk with H.H. To bed 12 P.M. Thankful for health.

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Probably they had some very nice walks on such a beautiful day.

Thursday, February 8, 1923

Fair & cool. Arose 7:45 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. Classes 9:30-11:30 A.M. Dinner. Worked 12-2. Class 2:15. Chapel. Volley ball. Shower. Supper. Walk with H.H. Studied. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thankful for health.

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Wednesday, February 7, 1923

Beautiful, bright and cold. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast etc. Studied. Class at 10:30. Swept room. Dinner. Worked 12 M to 2 P.M. Class 2:15. Chapel. Studied. Supper. To 31 Norway Street. For walk. To Loews. Pleasant evening. To bed 12:45 P.M. Especially thankful for a good mother on her Birthday.

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Interesting that today is Stanford's mother's birthday and that in 29 years it will be the day that his first grandchild is born. And I see that Stanford is busy preparing for that day by going for a walk with Mary Leah! They might have also gone to a movie, as "Loews" was the Columbia Theater, owned by the Loews Corporation. Below is a picture of the theater as it appeared in 1892, a year after it opened. It was extensively damaged by a fire in 1916, but was rebuilt and reopened in 1917. The building was formerly a church. It was torn down in 1957.

taken from Wikipedia

Tuesday, February 6, 1923

Beautiful, bright & cold. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast. Read. Classes 9:30-11:00. Dinner. Worked 12 M to 2 P.M. Class 2:15-3:15. Chapel. Talked with M.L.Y. Studied. Supper. Studied. To bed 11:45 P.M. Thankful for home training along Xn lines.

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So, he's talking with Mary Leah in the middle of the week. Interesting . . .

Also interesting: his comment on "home training." Wonder what brought that to mind?

Monday, February 5, 1923

Beautiful, bright & cold. Arose 8:30 A.M. Breakfast. Letter home. Class on "Hebrews" 10-11:30 A.M. Dinner. Worked 12 M - 2 P.M. Class 2:15-3:15. Chapel. Studied. Supper. Took walk with H.H. Studied. To bed 11:30 P.M. Thankful for health.

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Sunday, February 4, 1923

Fair and cold. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Shower etc. To Beverly on 9:30 A.M. train. Morning service. S.S. Dinner with Smallees, Pond Street. Calling with Cameron. E.L. Evening service. Last of series of four. 5 People came forward. Splendid meeting. Talked. To bed 12:30 A.M. Thankful for experience at Beverly.

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I think the Smallees are Cora and William, who did live in Beverly in 1910, but I'm not sure they're the ones he is referring to.

I think Stanford may be getting some practice preaching at Beverly.

Saturday, February 3, 1923

Fair, Mild. Thawed some. Arose 8:30 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. Took pants to be pressed. Dinner. Worked. Played volley ball. Studied. Supper. To Market. Studied and talked. To bed 12:45 P.M. Thankful for friends.

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Stanford never says who he is playing volley ball with. I wonder if he's on a team of some sort?

It's interesting to me that some chores that people now do for themselves they once paid professionals to do. According to Stanford's expenditure account for February 3rd, he had to pay for pants repair (50¢) that must have included the pressing he mentions. What he fails to mention is having gotten a haircut (30¢) that day.

Friday, February 2, 1923

Glorious, bright and mild. Arose 7:15 A.M. Washed. Breakfast in Warren Hall Room 7 with H.H. Classes 8:30 to 10:30 A.M. Letter home. Got laundry ready. Dinner. Worked. Talked. Shaved. Walked to 31 Norway St. with M.L.Y. Short call. Supper. Studied. To bed 11:30 P.M. Thankful for ability to sleep well.

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I wonder if he's getting a lunch meal free with his employment at Ginters'?

So, another date with Mary Leah. Good thing he shaved.

Thursday, February 1, 1923

Beautiful, bright and cool. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast etc. Classes 8:30 to 11:30 A.M. Dinner. Worked 12 M to 2 P.M. Class 2:15-3:15 P.M. Chapel. Letter to M.L.S. Studied. Supper. Studied and read. To bed 11:15 P.M. Thankful for inventions.

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I think M.L.S. is Mildred Swart, first mentioned in 1921.