The Henson Journals
Sat 2 December 1916
Volume 20, Page 192
[192]
Saturday, December 2nd, 1916.
852nd day
I presided at a meeting of Chapter. Our principal business was the appointment of incumbents to Bearpark and Edlingham. We appointed McCracken to the latter, an Irishman very highly recommended, but said to be a Christian socialist of an ardent type. To Bearpark we appointed Hawke, also highly spoken of, and a 'Socialist'. Both these men were said to be of the humblest origin, and both had been nearly 20 years as curates in the diocese. I would not allow my dislike of Socialism to affect my vote, & so I told the Chapter. The consequence is that two more parishes go into the hands of that poisonous faction!
I wrote another letter to the "Guardian" replying to Whitney's rudely–expressed letter. But of such correspondence there is no tolerable end: & probably one were wiser never to embark on it.
I attended Mattins and Evensong. Also I walked with Bp. Quirk. Jim & Clara arrived in their motor from Darlington.
Hutton arrived, not at 6.23 p.m. as he had arranged, but about 9.30 p.m. bringing a copious story of missed connexions and lingering trains. The Bishop of Jarrow & Mrs Quirk came to dinner, also Mrs Hodgson Fowler. Culley & his wife came in afterwards. There was cheerful talk enough, but it left no impression on my mind, so that I judge that its quality could not have been high. A book arrived from the publishers 'with the author's compliments'. It was Foakes Jackson's "Lowell Lectures" recently delivered at Harvard. The subject, "Social Life in England 1750–1850", gave opportunity for much gossip about disreputable Royalties, which is so dear to the American public. But whether we should give it them is another 'proposition'!