The Henson Journals

[113]

Monday, October 14th, 1912. New Haven, Conn.

It certainly appears strange that the men most conversant with the order of the visible universe should soonest suspect it empty of directing mind; and on the other hand, that humanistic, moral & historical studies – which first open the terrible problems of suffering & grief, & contain all the repeated provocatives of denial & despair – should confirm, & enlarge rather than disturb, the prepossessions of natural piety.

Martineau. Essays. i. 122

A dull cool day but without rain. I wrote to Bryce, Westlake, Travers & Murray Butler: & then worked at that dreadful Albany address, which hangs over me like a cloud.

I addressed the Divinity students at noon. Mine host presided, & most of the professors were present. I repeated in substance the little address which I gave to the students at Hartford. Bacon walked home with me afterwards. He is the best of men.

After lunch I wrote to Ernest Bennett, Noel Masters, Kellner & Grant Robertson. Then mine host & I walked for an hour: after which we returned for tea & the abominable labours of packing. Prof. & Mrs Porter called to bid us farewell.

[114]

We dined with Newman Smyth. President & Mrs Hadley dined also. We had much conversation about the present situation in Europe. It soon became apparent that the President held strongly philo–German opinions, which perhaps is only what might be expected in view of his close personal connection with Germany & especially with the Court. He maintained that the Emperor was strongly pacific: that at the present juncture he was supporting France: that, if a general European war grew out of the trouble in the Balkans, America would probably be the gainer: that in the event of Great Britain being defeated by Germany, it was highly probable that America, led by the Irish & German elements, would be disinclined to intervene in its behalf: though much would turn on the particular form the war would take. It distressed me to hear these sentiments, which on the whole received the assent of mine host & of Dr Newman Smyth. Is it possible that we in England are living in a complete fool's Paradise when we speak of solidarity of the English–speaking race as a latent force, making for peace, which would emerge as a 'Deus ex machina' for our national rescue, if the pinch of extreme crisis arose?

We returned home, & resumed the dreary and disheartening functions of packing.

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