Transcript || PDF from 89-4286-HH2-45-46
I didn’t have much to do for John.
Using the calculator, I completed the list of my expenditures for April and July.
I mailed to Dorothy [Edith’s sister] the telephone bill for the long distance call from Chicago put through by Liz with regard to her, suggesting she ought to pay it.
In the late afternoon I called Mabs [Edith’s sister]. She gave me news of Miranda, who is going to take a course having to do with organic gardening, of Matthew, who has sold a short story and is becoming very advanced in his piano studies. She said she was going to Montreal on the 22nd; she had to see her grandson once a year. She said the weather was hot and humid and the air pollution was bad. She was very depressed about the state of the world, saying everything was “going to hell in a hand-basket.” She sang the praises of Edna [Edith’s sister] who had visited her. Speaking of Hal, we got on the subject of suicide.
I then brought up the subject of Dorothy’s escapade in Chicago. I wanted to find out why she thought Dorothy had acted the way she did. Instantly she started to give me a terrible tongue-lashing for intimating that I had been afraid Dorothy might use violence. She went on to other unloving deeds “I had done with relation to Dorothy as far back as the time of Paul’s birth” and finally hung up on me.
When I got home I took a nap.
I gave Magnolia a ride to the service. We arrived before the service began.
Security had received erroneous reports concerning Danny Kutulas after he left the Temple. Ted Holliday and others were up for sloppy methods and dress. Jim insisted that they spruce up, give an appearance of dignity.
Danny Kutulas came back. He had been through a rigorous session with Council. He spoke to the congregation, saying it was hell outside.
Bob Houston was called up. He had moved back to the commune but was uncooperative. He wouldn’t take directions from the women, wasn’t helpful with the children. He had admitted a white man to the commune so that he could call a taxi, claimed he did it out of kindness, but the person may have been an agent, as the commune is concerned with a court case now, a settlement involving Vern Gosney’s wife. Bob had also been lazy about housework. It was decided somebody should box him. Walter Jones fought him with gloves. Bob was continually warned to lose his intellectualism. He didn’t fight well but remained on his feet.
Hugh Doswell was on the floor for saying that if he had five dollars, he would leave. He seems to have been disgruntled about Temple decisions concerning where his family should live; they have a reputation for bad housekeeping. Jim pointed out to him that the Temple supported his family when they first came. Hugh had to box with Ed Crenshaw; I happened to be sitting beside Ed’s mother.
Jimbo Jones, Agnes’s boy, was up for calling names and tormenting younger children. He had to fight Patty Houston. She whipped him.
Vivian Gainous was brought on the floor by her commune (the Shaw-Houston commune) over financial matters. They had received little money from her. She claimed that in transferring from one government job to another, she had been off the payroll for a time, but this, with other of her economic arrangements, seemed to be a devious way of holding out money from the Temple, which is meanwhile paying her debts. She is renting a Cadillac and buying gas for it and spending money at the concession stands. She borrowed for gas and snacks, she said.
All those brought up had to raise money pamphleting and change their behavior.
Security reports concerning Danny Kutulas when he was out of the Temple were a subject of concern. A garbled report had been turned in. Jim held Ted Holliday responsible and insisted he make the organization shape up, give accurate written reports, and improve Security appearance. He wants them in uniform at all times they have not been wearing uniforms on Wednesday.
The meeting was out at midnight.
I read To the Finland Station by Edmund Wilson and ate a snack.
I went to bed at 2.00.