The Henson Journals

[52]

Saturday, February 3rd, 1917.

915th day

The Bishop of Durham writes to me this morning:–

"With extreme interest I read the "City Temple" correspondence. I think you have done rightly as well as generously in saying, Yes. This is a time when unprecedented conditions must affect the handling by a great Churchman of such a request".

I attended Mattins, and then presided at a meeting of Chapter. We talked over the question of National Service as it would affect the Minor Canons: & I told May that we shd expect him to volunteer. I attended Evensong: and then revised the proofs of the "interview" which the representative of the "Christian Commonwealth" had with me last week. The Bishop of Durham came to tea, & I gave him a type–written copy of my letter to the Bishop of London. Dolphin brought two Belgian officers to tea. I showed them over the Deanery.

The evening papers announce that America has broken off diplomatic relations with Germany. Will this step mature into open conflict?

The Revd A. F. Robson writes to me from West Malvern, enclosing a long & elaborate paper of directions for teaching during Lent, issued to the clergy of the diocese by the Bishop of Worcester. He would have me advise him what he should do. The Bishop's programme is sufficiently ambitious. The conflicting claims of the employer & employed, the relation of one sex to the other, the procuring for all classes a Christian Sunday, purifying public life, improving the morals of places of entertainment – these are to be dealt with in successive weeks of Lent. It is a "large order" for our poor little half–educated country parsons to work through. And the Bishop himself is hardly the wisest or most learned of men.

---