BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [6 NOV. 1916]
BRACERS 19073. AL. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
57 Gordon Square1, 2
W.C.
In the train.
Monday.

My Darling, my Loved one, my Joy,

I was glad of your letter yesterday.  I love you more absolutely with every day that passes, and need you more.  I long for you my Beloved, and I hate having to be always so much away — It makes all my life different having you and your love to fill it — my heart is a constant song of joy and wonder — you are in my thoughts every moment — I do love you. I love your spirit — your gay courage —  your generosity of mind — and I love all your ways, in big things and small —  I love you in every way — in great ways and in happy ways and in ways full of fun.  There is no end or limit to my love. I am counting the hours till tomorrow night.

I am wondering about your play,3 whether it has turned out too military.

The Convention4 was good in spirit. It voted for Barry Brown’s policy5 which I am nominally opposed to — but there is a great deal to be said for it, and the Conventions show that it is the best people who like it.  So I don’t feel much opposition. Barry himself is a dear — but I suffer from the bareness of the Quaker atmosphere — the exclusion of delight from life — tho’ in a way I admire it.

We had alarms and excursions over the arrest of Ayles and Fenner at Glasgow6 — just after we had settled down to it, Fenner turned up, having been let out unexpectedly.  We had a capital big meeting last night.7 Now I on my way to Manchester.8 I feel encouraged about the spirit of the N.C.F., and not disillusioned as I was beginning to be.

Now goodbye till tomorrow my most precious dear — All my deepest tenderest love is with you always — Oh I long for your kisses my dear one.

• 1

  [document] Document 200040.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 43 Bernard Street | Russell Square | London W.C. Pmk: MANCHESTER | 530 PM | 6 NOV | 1916 | M

• 3

  your play The title of the play is not known. She had not acted since before meeting BR, and did not act in this play either.

• 4

  The Convention The Midlands Division Convention of the No-Conscription Fellowship.

• 5

  Barry Brown’s policy A resolution on political action taken in July 1916 was put before eight Division Conventions, and the results were mixed. Alfred Barratt Brown (1882–1947) belonged to the more militant Quaker wing of the NCF but held a more moderate opinion than others in that wing. BR was more centrist, realizing that many members wanted the option of alternative service and political lobbying to ease conditions of conscientious objectors in prison. Brown wanted reconciliation and a return to essential principles as outlined by BR, on which they all were agreed.

• 6

  arrest of Ayles and Fenner at Glasgow Walter Ayles and Fenner Brockway were arrested as absentees from military service. For further information on Brockway, see BRACERS 19053, n.6. Walter Henry Ayles (1879–1953) was a Labour Party politician who served as an M.P. between 1923 and 1953.

• 7

  capital big meeting last night At the Priory Rooms in Birmingham, reported as “Fear Makes War“, Birmingham Gazette, 6 Nov. 1916, p. 5 (App. x in Papers 13).

• 8

  on my way to Manchester To continue his lecture series on “The World as It Can Be Made”.