The Henson Journals

[256]

Saturday, November 4th, 1916.

824th day

This has been a beautiful day, clear fresh, and sunny. If only it could be followed up by some fine weather, there might yet be some movement on the Western frontier. I received from my Life Assurance Office the announcement of the quinquennial bonus. On the one policy the amount is £198.16.0: on the other, £586.18.0. This sum of £785.14.0 is capable of being reduced to a present value in cash. I shall probably think it advisable to take the money! I presided at a meeting of Chapter. It was agreed that Arthur Morgan's grant be renewed on condition that his father contributed £30 to his education, not otherwise. I attended Mattins & Evensong and revised an old sermon for use tomorrow. Also I wrote a long letter to the 'Church Times' offering some observations on the leading article. Mary Radford sends me a Birthday letter, mainly filled with maternal laudations of her son, my godson. She speaks of returning to England next May. That costly & elaborate book published in connection with the Shakespearian Tercentenary Celebration arrived. It is full of interesting matter, but more expensive than in these ill times I care to remember. The illustrations are numerous and varied. Several are borrowed from Bishop Carleton's 'Thankful Remembrance', which I possess, & have read. It is in my opinion an illuminating exhibition of the sentiment – Biblical, fanatical, & patriotic – which reigned in the ordinary Englishman's mind at the beginning of the 17th century. Shakespeare's historical plays disclose the same spirit in a lay setting. The amazing success of Elizabeth had given a swaggering self–confidence to her subjects which they excused or explained by the theory that they were truly a 'chosen people'.

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