The Henson Journals

[717]

Saturday, March 25th, 1916.

600th day

A bright morning with a hard frost. There are 8 rooks' nests in the tree in the front garden, and as yet none in that in the back garden. The thrushes and blackbirds make glad musick. I went to the Cathedral at 8 a.m., and received the Sacrament. All the canons were present except Knowling, who has gone to Canterbury to preach. I wrote a sermon for the troops on "Temptation", allowing myself some explicitness of language, which, perhaps, I should not have ventured, had it not been for what Ernest told me of his experiences. After lunch I walked through Houghall Wood with Logic, & joined Cruickshank & Turner on the way. I attended Evensong: and afterwards read the account of Abp. Herring in Rowden's "The Primates of the Four Georges". If he had not been a Broad Churchman, his reputation would have been fair enough. But as he was, he is habitually belittled & abused as a compendium of all the horrors of "Erastianism" and "Latitudinarianism"! M. Demelle called on me: & I paid him my account. He shewed me, with legitimate pride, a photograph of his grandson, a fine young Frenchman, who is now fighting at Verdun. I could not but order some more claret! The old man is greatly agitated by some new anti–drinking restriction which have been announced, & which prohibit the soliciting of orders for alcohol. This will transform the habit of his life–time into a criminal act! One can hardly be surprised that the French should be restive and suspicious under our new zeal against every form of alcohol. They see a menace to one of the few surviving industries of France, & they feel our conduct to be unfriendly. I received letters from Raleigh & Carissima. The wind changed bringing a rise of temperature, rain, & wind.

[716]

Drill Hall,

Durham,

March 25th 1916.

Reverend Sir,

I beg to inform you that the Battalion move from Durham to Gosforth tonight.

On behalf of the officers, N.C.O's, & men of this Unit under my command, I wish to thank you most heartily for the untiring care you have taken towards their spiritual welfare.

Personally I shall miss the Sunday morning Church Parades, but shall look back upon them with thankfulness when I reflect what a great help they have been to all.

In closing may I wish you God's–speed in your good work.

Yours sincerely,

J. Burgoyne–Johnson – Major

Commanding 3/8th D.L.I.

The Very Reverend

The Dean of Durham.

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