The Henson Journals

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Wednesday, May 13th, 1914.

The morning post brought me from the Author, Sanday's Reply to Gore. I read it through with eager interest. It is certainly a very impressive document. The old Professor shakes off the ambiguous habit of his later years, & reverts to the vigourous independence of his earlier manhood. He declares himself on the side of the Modernists with candour and decision. If Gore has not wholly lost the sense of proportion, he must feel some disquietude at thus throwing into open opposition a Scholar, so eminent, so respected, and so devout. The facile applause of an ignoramus like Watts–Ditchfield is sorry compensation for the alienation of Sanday. I fear the publication of this 'Reply' makes a crisis unavoidable. It ought to take the form of a Trial for Heresy, but the Fanaticks could hardly place the most venerated Teacher in Great Britain in the dock! Yet, Gore must do something on pain of becoming ridiculous.

Cruickshank & I walked to a small wood which was radiant with blue–bells.

There was the annual slaughter of the rooks this morning. A supply of victims was sent in to the kitchen.

Ella returned from town, bringing with her Janey Fleet, & one of the Bovey girls.

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