The Henson Journals

[246]

Wednesday, November 8th, 1916.

828th day

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Caröe went off to Newark by the 8.20 a.m. express. We breakfasted together before he left. The Newcastle paper announces the important (!) fact that this is my Birthday, adding the fact that I complete 53 years today. I completed the sermon for Assize Sunday; attended Mattins and Evensong; walked with Logic; sent a birthday cake with an adequate supply of sixpences to the schoolhouse; and received the good wishes of the boys from George Nimmins. From the good ladies at Birchington came very kind letters, & a beautifully worked shield with the Cathedral arms. Cruickshank sent me a volume of verse with a Greek inscription. Linetta sent me an affectionate letter. Kathleen did the same. Miss Graham sent a card with a message of goodwill. Old Greenwell wrote me a characteristic letter. It is rather an odd collection of well–wishers. I received from Lord Cromer a copy of a letter, which the Anti–Suffrage Society proposes to send to the Press, together with a request for permission to append my signature. This I graciously conceded, only regretting that the letter was so mildly expressed. The Medical Association sent me a long screed about the proposed arrangements for facilitating maternity. I gather that the general practitioner is alarmed lest his practice shall be curtailed by the transference of maternity cases to a new brood of State Officials. Mr E. S. Buchanan, who appears to have worked with the late Bishop John Wordsworth, & to be a recognised authority on textual questions, sends me three pamphlets, which contain a formidable attack on the textual methods of Westcott & Hort, and on the Revised Version. He claims that a sound criticism annihilates the contention that our Lord asserted the absolute indissolubility of marriage.

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Issues and controversies: female suffrage