The Henson Journals

Mon 9 September 1912

Volume 18, Pages 43 to 44

[43]

Monday, September 9th, 1912. Montreal.

Copies of 'Puritanism in England' have been given to:

  1. Mr Fleet
  2. Mary Scott
  3. Dr Symonds
  4. Mr Dickie
  5. Ernest Henson
  6. Edith Ripley
  7. Miss Knox
  8. Mr Macdonald
  9. Aubrey Henson
  10. Max Dennistoun
  11. Dr Jones
  12. Prof. Argue
  13. Mr Clarke
  14. Mr Toland
  15. President Garfield
  16. Bishop Doane
  17. Prof. Walker
  18. Appleton Lawrence
  19. Prof. E. Moore
  20. Dr Coffin
  21. Bryce

My ridiculous 'cousin' came to consult me as to what he is pleased to call his 'reading'. I bade him consult Dr Symonds, & abstain from preaching. I wrote letters to President Vincent at Minneapolis, & Mrs Meigs at Pottstown about arrangements. Then I drew out £30. on my Letter of Credit. After this I went to the Mount Royal Club, & wrote letters to Carissima, & Raleigh. At 1.30 I was entertained at lunch in the Club by Mr Fleet, who had collected a party to meet me. The Bp. of Kingston, the Rev. Newman Smyth, Mr Dickie, a Methodist, a Judge, Dr Symonds, & another were guests. We had much discussion on politics, ecclesiastical & civil. At 3 p.m. Mr Frank Redpath called for me in his car: we motored to Lachine, picked up Ella & Janie, & returned by the river bank. The execrable state of the roads impressed me. Perry called to see me on my return: he is now establishing himself in Canada as an instrument of 'finance'. We wound up by dining with the Learmonts.

[44]

Mr Learmont is a very wealthy man, representing (so mine host told me) the largest 'hard–ware' business in the country. He has a taste for collecting, rather catholic than cultured I should infer from the results which with an amateur collector's pride, he showed to his guests. His wife has taken to philanthropy, & is said to be an influence for good in all social questions. I took the lady to dinner, & made as much conversation as I could with these materials. On my other side I had the Irish parson whom I had already met at lunch, Patterson Smyth. He does not impress me as other than one of the too–familiar type of Irish wind–bags. He has a distinct facial resemblance to Knox Little. I was distressed to find that several of the company were more or less friendly to female suffrage. Mrs Pankhurst has been out here, & clearly made an impression.

The reporter from the 'Witness' was very anxious to warn me against taking a too favourable view of Canada. He said that the morals of the country were deplorable, & that the extreme solitude of the life on the prarie [sic] was such that a great number of the women lost their reason. This fact was confirmed by others to whom I mentioned it. It gives reason for thinking twice before sending out women to Canadian farms.

Issues and controversies: female suffrage

8 Sep 1912
10 Sep 1912