The Henson Journals
Tue 20 February 1917
Volume 20, Page 30
[30]
Tuesday, February 20th, 1917.
932nd day
[symbol]
I spent the morning in writing some important letters 1) to the Bishop about the National Service Scheme as it bears on this Foundation. 2) to Ernest Myers, Sanday, and the Speaker beseeching their assistance in providing materials for the Warden's Life. I attended Mattins and Evensong, & arranged a cycle of celebrants for the week–days in Lent.
| Monday: | the Dean |
| Tuesday: | Lillingston |
| Wednesday: | Cruickshank |
| Thursday: | A minor Canon |
| Friday: | Knowling |
| Saturday: | Bp. of Jarrow |
In the afternoon, service over, I walked to the headquarters of the Y. & L. Transporters, &, finding no one at home, continued to the Officers Mess, & there had tea with such officers as turned up. I left a letter for Colonel Herne, suggesting that be the number of men what it may, they shd always come to the Cathedral while the cadets from the School are available.
It being Shrove Tuesday the children of Durham followed their immemorial custom of visiting the Cathedral, led by some legendary hope of blessing, but the wetness of the day, & the general dislocation of life made their numbers less than usual, and their mirth more chastened.
By one of those absurd coincidences which fill my life I am pledged to write an article against "Prohibition" just at the precise moment when the Sectaries to whom "Prohibition" is the summary of all Religion, are minded to take me to their hearts! My devotion to the Establishment and my dislike of Total Abstinence are two faults in the Dean of Durham hard to be condoned by any faithful Nonconformist. Gore may hold them to be schismaticks, but he is willing to profess himself a Teetotaller, and to vote for Disestablishment. For too many Dissenters these are really 'the weightier matters of the Law'.