Author: rumblingclint

Another dull dry cold day + the wind like turning to W. in afternoon. Hutton¹ left by the 9.13. I walked round with him to ask for Ross² + found him seeing off his two brothers who were motoring home.³ Cycled to Goslaw Green, Hospital, Cannon Street + Forest Road. During afternoon had to go along to Emond, Chapel Street.⁴ Dr Graham (Senr)⁵ called with Norah⁶ to say goodbye. Mrs Mack⁷ called with her usual gifts of food of various kinds. Helen⁸ cycled to Melrose to the the Kennedys.⁹

¹ The Reverend John Riddell Hutton (1878-1938), of the United Free Church Manse, Stow and Moderator of the Presbytery of Galashiels, son of William Hutton, U.P. Minister, and Mary Hutton née Thomas who had married 27 March 1861 at Mauchline.

² The Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland clergyman, who moved to Selkirk in 1903 and was there until his retiral with the exception of a period in early 1918 when he was in France with the Scottish Churches Huts.

³ The Ross brothers are as yet unidentified.

⁴ Assume Miss Joan Emond of 21 Chapel Street, Selkirk; who is perhaps Joan Emond (1877-1964).

⁵ The Reverend Dr John Anderson Graham (1861-1942), founder of Dr Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong, West Bengal who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1931; he had been staying with his son Dr David Graham in Selkirk.

⁶ Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971), wife of Dr David Charteris Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner.

⁷ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁸ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

⁹ The Kennedys are unidentified because though Arthur Leslie Kennedy, traveller, of Ellerslie, Melrose is recorded in the 1925 Valuation Roll the family is not a good ‘fit’ and the 1921 Census (not yet published in Scotland) would probably be helpful here.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Bonar Law Premier¹

Wind continues steadily in N.E. + very cold. There has been snow in several places. I made only 4 visits. Called at Ettrickbrae Manse to ask Ross² for information on several things.³ Saw his two brothers, both doctors, one in Stockton + the other in Hartlepool.⁴ They motored here yesterday. Got my speech up. Very successful Social for Ross’ Semi-Jubilee⁵ about 600 present⁶: [illegible] tables + 2 on platform. Some good speeches + songs. I made presentation of £50 + book case to Ross + Mrs Mack⁷ of a gold bracelet watch to Mrs Ross.⁸ Jack + Nancy⁹ were present. Hutton of Stow¹⁰, nephew of Dr Thomas¹¹ stayed here. A very nice fellow with a little more culture than his worthy uncle.

¹ Andrew Bonar Law (1858-1923) served as a Conservative Prime Minister 23 October 1922 to 20 May 1923.

² The Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland clergyman, who moved to Selkirk in 1903 and was there until his retiral with the exception of a period in early 1918 when he was in France with the Scottish Churches Huts.

³ Dr Muir was researching information for Mr Ross’s semi-jubilee social meeting at the Victoria Hall on Monday 23 October 1922.

⁴ The two brothers are as yet unidentified.

⁵ The event was in honour of Mr Ross’s semi-jubilee as a minister rather than his time at Selkirk.

⁶ There is a very detailed report on event in the Southern Reporter, Thursday 26 October 1922.

⁷ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

⁸ Elizabeth Elder Ross née Sinclair (1875-1939).

⁹ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Dr Muir’s son-in-law, and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), his second daughter.

¹⁰ The Reverend John Riddell Hutton (1878-1938), of the United Free Church Manse, Stow and Moderator of the Presbytery of Galashiels, son of William Hutton, U.P. Minister, and Mary Hutton née Thomas who had married 27 March 1861 at Mauchline.

¹¹ Hutton’s uncle is as yet unidentified.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Anniversary Services.¹ Munro preached but I could hear very little of what he said. Saw him in Vestry. He is getting bald + stout.² Made only four calls + there were no messages. I am a professional nonentity!³ Did not go to evening service. Jack, Nancy⁴ + Mrs Mack⁵ came to supper. I worked away at my speech + recitation⁶ (Kirkbride⁷) but they all thought I should do something more cheerful.

¹ There were “special anniversary services” on the weekend of 22 October 1922 as well as the event at the Victoria Hall in honour of the semi-jubilee of the Reverend Dr Andrew Ross (1871-1942) [see the Southern Reporter, Thursday 26 October 1922].

² The Reverend James Lorimer Munro (1870-1962), OBE, MA, Church of Scotland minister, born James Reid Munro at Tain, Ross-shire, he was with the Scottish Churches’ Huts Committee 1916-17, and was described as one of the greatest preachers of his time; at the date of Mr Ross’s anniversary Mr Munro was at Mayfield Church, Edinburgh.

³ Dr Muir had been feeling progressively diminished and under-used since he had entered into partnership with David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963) though whether this was justified is impossible to know.

⁴ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Dr Muir’s son-in-law, and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), his second daughter.

⁵ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

⁶ As so very often Dr Muir had been invited to give a speech, in this case at the Victoria Hall for the presentation to Mr Ross on 23 October.

⁷ Kirkbride is not (yet) identified but in any case the long description of the event in the Southern Reporter does not mention the title of Dr Muir’s recital.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Cold dull + dry till evening when there was a little rain. Saw half a dozen town cases + spent more than two hours in the S.R. office¹ going over old files to find out if John Lawson’s² semi-jubilee was celebrated + found that it was by a service in the Vol. Hall in 1875.³ I was half frozen when I left.

¹ Southern Reporter office, Selkirk.

² The Reverend John Lawson (about 1825-1898), Presbyterian minister, son of the Reverend Andrew Lawson (about 1792-1936) and grandson of the Reverend George Lawson (1749-1819).

³ Dr Muir had been in the Library the day before trying to research information for the semi-jubilee social meeting at the Victoria Hall on Monday 23 October 1922 in honour of the Reverend Dr Andrew Ross (1871-1942).

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

A dull wet day. Almost constant but never heavy rain + N.E. wind. Only saw three town cases. Went to Library to consult old files of Southern Reporter but they hadn’t them far enough back.¹ Letter from Will Ogilvie² with capital criticism of Jean Guthrie Smith’s poems³ “All brains + brilliance without any melody or a right word or suggestion that makes the heart beat quicker or the blood run warm.”⁴

¹ Dr Muir was researching information for the semi-jubilee social meeting at the Victoria Hall on Monday 23 October 1922 in honour of the Reverend Dr Andrew Ross (1871-1942).

² William Henry ‘W H’ or ‘Will’ Ogilvie (1869-1963), author, journalist and one of Australia’s great Bush poets, living at Ashkirk.

³ Jean Frances Guthrie Smith (1895-1949), daughter of John Guthrie Smith (1868-1923), W.S. and Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie; a poet, she published Adventure Square, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1922.

⁴ This appears to be private critical commentary because the Editor cannot find any evidence of this text being published.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

I motored to Edinburgh to a meeting of the B.M.A. Branch Council. Left earlier than I should + we took time to the journey. It was bitterly cold but dry + I had time to warm myself at 6 Rutland Square¹ before Stevens² arrived. I felt my deafness a great drawback. Left again at 6 + returned, as we came, via Peebles. A burst tyre detained us near Walkerburn + it was 9 when we got back. On the way in I called at 120 Braid Road but there was nobody in.³

¹ The British Medical Association was at Rutland Square, Edinburgh.

² John Stevens (1859-1930), M.A., M.D., F.J.C.P.Ed., medical practitioner, born Dunbarney, Perthshire, former Physician to the Edinburgh Western Dispensary and “indefatigable worker in the British Medical Association” whose obituary noted that “After joining the British Medical Association in 1892, he devoted a very large share of his time and energy to its various organisations, and the work of the Association may be said to have formed the principal hobby of his life. For many years he served as a member of the Executive Committee of the local Edinburgh Division, becoming its chairman in 1922. He became honorary secretary of the Edinburgh Branch in 1914, an office which he held till 1927, when he became its president. He attended every meeting of the Representative Body of the Association from 1914 till the year before his death, and served as a member of the Central Council from 1926 till his fatal illness rendered attendance at the meetings in London impossible.” [“John Stevens, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P.Ed., Formerly Physician To The Edinburgh Western Dispensary.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 3630, 1930, pp. 196–196 JSTOR accessed 10 Oct. 2022.]

³ The Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother, and his wife Helen Drysdale Wilson lived at 120 Braid Road, Morningside, Edinburgh.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Again there had been a little rain in the morning but it kept fair all day with some sunshine. N.E. still. I made some 7 town calls including Hospital + Gib. + Lum.¹ Worked away at the history of the Lawson family + went up to the Churchyard to see the Tombstone.² Sandy Inglis³ brough [sic] down pamphlets + papers re the [Semi] Jubilee.⁴ Helen⁵ cycled to Hawkshaw to call for Ann Scott.⁶ Madge Ogilvie

¹ Gibson & Lumgair Ltd., woollen textile manufacturer, at St Mary’s Mill, Selkirk.

² Four members of the Lawson family were ministers at Selkirk – the Reverend George Lawson (1749-1820), the Reverend Andrew Lawson (about 1792-1836), the Reverend George Lawson (1786-1849) and the Reverend John Lawson (about 1825-1898).

³ Sandy Inglis is unidentified though there were two men in Selkirk called Alexander Inglis and recorded in the Valuation Rolls, Alexander Charles Scott Inglis, savings bank actuary, who was Proprietor Occupier of a house Maryville, 38 Heath Park, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/142, Selkirk Burgh, page 142 of 644] and Alexander M Inglis postmaster who was Tenant Occupier of a house at 2 Marion Crescent [1923 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/406, Selkirk Burgh, page 406 of 644].

⁴ Dr Muir was researching information for the semi-jubilee social meeting at the Victoria Hall on Monday 23 October 1922 in honour of the Reverend Dr Andrew Ross (1871-1942), and a part of this appears to have been research into Ross’s predecessors the Lawson family.

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁶ Ann Scott of Hawkshaw is as yet unidentified.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Colder. There had been slight rain early. Fine dry sunny day with N.E. wind. Was called along when dressing to Henderson, Goslaw Green + found the child dead.¹ Walked in town Forest Road, Cannon Street, Forest Mill, Curror Street. In the afternoon read up Dr Lawson’s Life² for material for Monday night.³ Madge Ogilvie⁴ called professionally. Dr Kennnedy⁵ called. Helen⁶ cycled to call for Ann Scott at Hawkshaw.⁷ Gave Madge Ogilvie “Adventure Square”⁸ for her husband.⁹

¹ Agnes Henderson died 17 October 1922 at 4 Goslaw Green, Selkirk, aged 1 year 5 months, of “Meningitis 10 days” certified by John S Muir M.B. +c; her parents were Edward Henderson, foreman woollen spinner, and Mary Elizabeth Henderson nee Murray.

² Assume the Reverend John McFarlane (1862), ‘The Life And Times of George Lawson, D.D., Selkirk, Professor Of Theology To The Associate Synod’, Edinburgh, William Oliphant And Co.

³ Dr Muir was researching information for the semi-jubilee social meeting at the Victoria Hall on Monday 23 October 1922 in honour of the Reverend Dr Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland clergyman, who had moved to Selkirk in 1903 and was there until his retiral with the exception of a period in early 1918 when he was in France with the Scottish Churches Huts.

⁴ Katherine Margaret ‘Madge’ Scott Ogilvie née Anderson (1879-1965), daughter of Thomas ‘T’ Scott Anderson of Ettrick Shaws and wife of W H Ogilvie; the family stayed at Kirklea, Ashkirk.

⁵ Assume William Nicol Watson Kennedy (1888-1961), O.B.E., M.D., D.P.E., medical officer of health and school medical officer for Selkirkshire from 1921 until about 1924, he also worked in public health roles at Craiglockhart, Croydon and Selkirkshire, saw service in the R.A.M.C., and wrote a sanitary history of the Northern Russia Expeditionary Force before his career as a G.P. in Cheshire (very close to some of Dr Muir’s relatives) and was the grandson of David Kennedy (1825–1886), Scottish tenor vocalist and concert giver (see David Baptie, Ed. (1894) ‘Musical Scotland Past and Present’, Paisley, J & R Parlane) thus a nephew of Marjory Kennedy Fraser (1857-1930), Scottish singer, composer, music teacher and Gaelic folk song collector [Reference: ”W. N. W. Kennedy, O.B.E., M.D., M.R.C.P.Ed. D.P.H.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 5276, BMJ, 1962, pp. 491–491]

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁷ Ann Scott of Hawkshaw is as yet unidentified.

⁸ ‘Adventure Square’, poems by Jean Frances Guthrie Smith (1895-1949), daughter of John Guthrie Smith (1868-1923), W.S. and Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie; she published Adventure Square, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1922.

⁹ William Henry ‘W H’ or ‘Will’ Ogilvie (1869-1963), poet, author, journalist and one of Australia’s great Bush poets.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Misty morning but fine + sunny after 12. Henderson’s child no better.¹ Walked to Tait’s Hill + Greenfoot.² Drew £65 from Bank for various acc^ts + books including £25-4-6 to Grierson + Taylor for last year + this.³ Cycled to Ashybank, Galashiels (M. Paton⁴), Bridgelands (old Jas. Hardie near the end⁵) + Hospital where another case of Diph was admitted⁶. Looked up my diaries for notes of Ross’s induction⁷ +c.⁸ Mrs Mack⁹, Helen + Nancy¹⁰ went to Picture Ho.

¹ Agnes Henderson died 17 October 1922 at 4 Goslaw Green, Selkirk, aged 1 year 5 months, of “Meningitis 10 days” certified by John S Muir “M.B. +c”; her parents were Edward Henderson, foreman woollen spinner, and Mary Elizabeth Henderson nee Murray.

² Greenfoot is unidentified.

³ Grierson & Taylor are as yet unidentified.

⁴ Marion Paton (about 1841-1940), living with her sister Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929) “on their own means” [1901 Census] but, to judge by the community appeal for funds to assist in their flit to Galashiels in May 1918, struggling with a limited income.

⁵ Assume James Hardie (about 1841-1922), ploughman (retired) and Inhabitant Occupier not rated at Bridgelands Lodge, Galashiels in 1920 whom Dr Muir had been attending for a while.

⁶ There had been an extended outbreak of Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever in Selkirk.

⁷ The Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland clergyman, moved to Selkirk in 1903 and was there until his retiral with the exception of a period in early 1918 when he was in France with the Scottish Churches Huts; he was married to Elizabeth Elder Sinclair.

⁸ Dr Muir was researching information for Mr Ross’s semi-jubilee social meeting at the Victoria Hall on Monday 23 October 1922.

⁹ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

¹⁰ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s second daughter and his third daughter and sometime housekeeper respectively.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

First distinct frost : grass + slopes white with hoar frost. Lovely calm sunny day. Neither the roses (which are still very firm), the Sweet Peas or Chrysanthemums were injured. I didn’t get to forenoon service as David¹ was late of coming up to go with me to see Ed. Henderson’s baby Goslaw Green with Meningitis.² We we [sic] went along a 2^nd time + Dav. did a lumbar puncture. I saw it again at night. Helen³ + I supped at Wellwood.⁴ Mrs Mack⁵ was there.

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

² Agnes Henderson died 17 October 1922 at 4 Goslaw Green, Selkirk, aged 1 year 5 months, of “Meningitis 10 days” certified by John S Muir “M.B. +c”; her parents were Edward Henderson, foreman woollen spinner, and Mary Elizabeth Henderson nee Murray.

³ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁴ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of the Roberts family.

⁵ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]