The Henson Journals

[606]

Thursday, May 25th, 1916.

661st day

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I went to the Cathedral at 8 a.m., & received the Holy Communion in S. Gregory's Chapel. Then, after breakfast, I finished the Edinburgh Sermon, and showed the Steel–Maitlands over the Cathedral. Colonel Darwin and his wife came to lunch. I attended the Convocation, when a degree was given to Dr Bradley. Cruickshank presented him in an address of some length & much merit. The undergraduates, a mere handful, made much uproar, but disclosed no wit. Then I attended Evensong, & afterwards went to Prof: Bridges's Lecture on "Shakespeare & Music", which was full of information & very entertaining. After this, I went to the Lodge, & shewed the Cuthbert relics, &c to the Steel–Maitlands, & Dr Bradley. After dinner I excused myself from to Mrs Cruickshank's reception, & busied myself in my study.

Here is an example of unfortunate episcopal nervousness, which was related to me by Mrs Darwin. When Bishop Lightfoot officiated at the marriage of Archdeacon Watkins & Miss Thompson, he was very nervous, and pronounced the crowning formula in this form, "Those whom God hath put asunder, let not man join together". This must have struck a chill into the bride's heart, one might have supposed, but Mrs Watkins herself related the occurrence to Mrs Darwin!

Six more volumes of the Loeb Classical Society came in from the booksellers – two vols. of Ovid's Metamorphoses, another vol. of Plutarch's Lives, a volume of Marcus Aurelius, one of Plautus, and a volume of Virgil. It is pleasant thus to be assured that some human activities are persisting through the fearful obsessions of the War. That tragedy is as yet quite unrelieved. Indeed an anxiety is being confessed in some quarters whether a satisfactory conclusion is possible.

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