The Henson Journals

[428]

10th Sunday after Trinity, August 27th, 1916.

755th day

"A creed, a theory of the origin and order of the world is not necessarily religion; but whatever the case with other men, no religious man ever doubted that he had a direct & immediate relation to God, that he was God's choice & handiwork & care. Religion, in its earliest and most perfect form, rests on this faith, as the first axiom and foundation for all that it speaks and does and endures". (Dean Church. Pascal &c. 312)

I wrote to Marion before going to the cathedral for Mattins: also to Mr Morgan, bidding him come & see me about Arthur. Then I went to Mattins, & listened to a sermon from Knowling delivered to the accompaniment of such a deluge of rain as made the preacher's voice almost inaudible. Then, I celebrated the Holy Communion. Ella & our guests communicated. After service I took Olive round the Church for a last view: and we renewed our covenant very solemnly. Meade– Falkner came to lunch: he was more than commonly paradoxical. Then I went to Evensong. Cruickshank and Turner came in to tea: the latter had never before seen Raemacker's pictures, & was much impressed with them. After dinner Olive sang those of her songs which were congruous with Sunday evening: and then we moved into my study, and I read poetry for an hour. Browning and Matthew Arnold were again chosen. So we came to the end of a visit which has given me very much pleasure. Olive's singing, and sweetness of character, make her presence in the house delightful. I would give much to have such a daughter living in my house: perhaps, she divined my thoughts, and was not displeased. Anyway, I left her in no doubt as to the pleasure she had given.

[426]

Letter from Dr Gee, dated October 4th, 1915.

My dear Dean,

You & Mrs Henson will be interested in a small discovery I have made connected with the Deanery. I had told you about the 16th century Iter Boreale [Northern journey] of Dr Eades with its account of the installation of Toby Matthew. An obscure reference in it to Walsingham led me to look up the State Papers of 1583. I have found that Walsingham stayed five days at the Deanery Sept. 21–26, 1583. During that short period the house was the centre of his many policies, and I have come across five letters actually written by him in your house, & references to correspondence received there from Elizabeth and others. Messengers kept coming and going all the time. I am working out the details for the Newcastle Antiquaries to whom I read a paper on the 27th. I am curious to know what the Codex Deacani Dunelmensis [Codex of the Deacon of Durham] may be. I tried to get it from Miles and found you had anticipated me. A journal of Matthews would be a real discovery. What is the MS.

H. Gee

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