Whitehern
april 30th, 1915


My Dear Calvinus,

Very many happy returns of the day, it is too bad you are not in the bosom of your family to receive your proper congratulations or condolences. I do not dare reckon of your years as it would remind me too much of my advancing age. Perhaps it's a good thing that you came along otherwise I'm afraid your shameful family would never have written you.

Yesterday we had a [Laurel?] meeting for the election of offices, I was nominated to run as corresponding sec. but declined, as I remarked to Lizzie Chisholm it would be a hopeless position for you had been away since the beginning of the year and I had written no letter. She was horrified! We had quite a good meeting. I acting as one of the scrutineers. Afterwards we had tea to revive us. (I suppose the men would have had beer).

I hope to come down some time right after the meetings about Tuesday 11th but will let you know. What time do the trains leave for Buckingham from Ottawa? Jean MacLaren has found me a bed with her if I should have to stay overnight in Ottawa.

Your birthday present I will bring with me as I'm a little afraid of it being broken in the mail. We have been pretty busy but have accomplished a good deal.

Mother has been stirring things up considerable these days; hope she won't be a wreck after the meetings.¹

With ever so much love and the best of wishes,

Your loving sister

Tousie [Hilda]

¹ Mother Mary at this time was attending meetings about the dissolving of the WFMS and the WHMS into the WMS, a move instituted by the men and of which she did not approve.
Following quote from essay on this site "E2-3 MARY'S WORK WITH THE PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONARY SOCIETIES"
"The dispute continued for many years while the FMC used pressure tactics, placed restrictions on the WFMS and, in 1910, the provincial WFMS and the WHMS agreed to try to work out a basis for union. In the same year Mary became vice-president of the Ontario Provincial Society and spoke out strongly against the union. However, in 1914 they were 'forced to unite' and became the WMS. Although the women provided a 'show of unanimity and brave talk' they could not 'mask the fact that their leaders had been coerced into union'."