Rev. Samuel H. Sayre Diary 1938 and 1939

Containers:

6, 21

Scope and content:

Beginning in 1938, Rev. Sayre uses a journal instead of a one year diary.

In front of the diary are news clippings, notes, articles, letters and flyers. One flyer is for Altar Wines from James Moroney of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and one clipping announces his resignation from St. Mary's Episcopal Church on October 1 to become rector of St. John's Church, Bellefonte and gives a brief biography of his ministry up to that point.

He begins the new larger diary ""¦giving a fuller and more detailed account of my daily activities"¦of my personal impressions of people, places and things and events, too"¦"

Rev. Sayre then summarizes his other diaries, beginning with 1917. He divides the earlier diaries into "Babyhood", "Boyhood", "Youth" and "Young Manhood" periods.

He gives more detail of events that he recorded in these early diaries, such as a conflict with Dr. George Thomas of St. Paul's Church in Kenwood, Chicago and the effects of the Depression on St. Mary's Church in Pennsylvania. On Page 10, he gives a wonderful description of Marjorie Renison Sayre, his wife.

The 1938 diary begins his "Manhood" period.

His early entries are more in depth and personal, even giving detail of things that happened in the past, or people, such as his Mother, but he quickly reverts to just telling of his daily activities with few personal touches.

Rev. Sayre mentions listening to the new presiding Bishop, Rt. Rev. Henry St. George Tucker of Virginia, on the radio on New Year's Day, 1938.

He writes "Rev. Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin of Williamsburg, Virginia" on January 10, 1938 and spends the day with him on April 27, 1938.

Gives resignation to St. Mary's Church and The Church of Our Saviour and meets with Vestry of both churches on July 21, 1938. On September 29, 1938, Marjorie and Samuel Sayre move to Bellefonte, Pennsylvania where he is the new Priest of St. John's Episcopal Church.

June 8, 1939 Rev. Sayre receives official call to become rector of St. Barnabas Church, Eagle Rock, California where he would succeed his father-in-law, Rev. George E. Renison. On June 13th, he talks to his Mother about it. He hands in his resignation at the St. John's Vestry meeting on July 31, 1939. His last service was on Sunday, October 1 and he began October 15th at St. Barnabas. Grandmother Renison is to live with them in the Parish House per October 23rd entry.

On August 18, 1939, Rev. Sayre and his family, while he is visiting Newport News, learn that his brother, Dan, who has been in the State Institution in Pennhurst near Spring City, Pennsylvania due to a brain injury at birth, is ill. He dies on August 19, 1939.

Talks about his parents on January 20, 1937.

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