The Henson Journals

[258]

Friday, November 3rd, 1916.

823rd day

I left Oxford by the 10.25 a.m. train, and travelled to Durham, changing at Woodford, Sheffield, & York, and arriving fairly to time about 5 p.m. My journey was sensibly relieved by the conversation of a young Shetlander, 2nd Lieut. Norman Percy Henderson, who returned from the front in order to learn flying, and is now stationed at B.N.C.

Before going to bed I wrote to Miss Anson informing her that after consulting my friends in College, I was 'prepared to undertake the task which she was good enough to propose to me'.

"It is not, of course, possible to decide what form it would be desirable to adopt for a "Life" of the Warden until one knows the extent & nature of the materials that he has left behind; & therefore, I apprehend that my first duty must be to ascertain this point. Until the end of the year it will not be possible for me to do anything, but I should like to work steadily at it with the New Year. You will, I know, yourself give me the necessary information about the earliest years, & help me with advice & criticism throughout."

I add the suggestion that, if she is still at Pusey in February 1917, when I must come up to London for the Lecture at the Royal Institution, I might manage to come up to Oxford to see her.

The 'Church Times' has a hostile leader on my Edinburgh article. Lord Selborne expounded the Report to the House of Laymen, avoiding any specific reference to his critics. The Archbishop of Canterbury was present to hear his exposition, & perhaps also to indicate his own approbation of the Report.

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