The Henson Journals

[137]

Saturday, March 21st, 1914.

I presided at the Chapter–meeting, where everything was amicable enough. We accepted Bishop Mitchinson's gift of a bound volume of notes, sketches, and photographs, of the older churches of the Bishopric, & I undertook to write a formal letter of thanks. We also agreed that the cases in the library which contain the Cuthbert Relics, & the episcopal rings should be regarded as 'taboo', so far as opening them by our pass–key is concerned. We agreed to employ Gaymer for the work in the cathedral.

I shewed a party of Freemasons over the Cathedral – stout men of the upper artisan & lower middle class type.

Then I attended Evensong.

We dined with the Cruickshanks, with whom were staying tomorrow's preacher, Rashdall, & his wife. Wilson and the Pembertons were also there. We had a brisk discussion of the situation in Ireland. Rather to my surprise, I found myself (save for the silent sympathy of Wilson) alone against the three New College men. It is wonderful to me how sanguinary & tyrannous Radical parsons become as soon as their projects are seriously opposed. Their political categories are too few & too simple for the facts of life & the minds of men.

I received an excellent letter from Ernest Bennett.

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Issues and controversies: irish home rule