The Henson Journals

[25]

Saturday, April 21st, 1917.

992nd day

A fine soaking rain, which in ordinary years wd help crops, but now only hinder planting. In the "Times" of yesterday, that humourless divine (a born prig if ever there was one) Horton has a letter on the question of Sunday labour on the fields in which he suggests that the lateness of Spring is a Divine chastisement for our essays in Sabbath–breaking! I presided at a meeting of Chapter, and secured the passing of a resolution directing Cruickshank & Caröe to prepare a scheme for replacing statues in the Neville screen, removing the chancel screen, & completing the choir–stalls. If we could get an intelligible statement of the project, it would facilitate operations. After attending Evensong I had an interview with Mr Nimmins about George. It was as I surmised. The sole obstacle to his going to sea is the initial expenditure – six months at school, and a premium of £40. I offered to contribute half of the cost of the schooling & to fund the premium. On that understanding, Mr N. said that he wd make no delay in completing the arrangements. Shortly afterwards George himself appeared radiant with delight at having escaped the Bank which was the alternative to going to sea. How gracious is the joy & gratitude of boys! I wrote to Bishop Brent thanking him for his sermon at yesterday's function in St Paul's, & asking him to preach here on Whitsunday. Also I sent him a copy of my correspondence with the Bishop of London. I received from the Bookseller W. W. Jackson's memoirs on "Ingram Bywater", which I conjectured might serve me as a model of my memoir of the Warden. I wrote a short letter to the "Times" in criticism of Horton's ridiculous effusion, but when it will appear is hard to say, since I missed the evening post. It is evidently vain of me to seek the support of the Nonconformists, for no sooner do I seem to make any progress in their good opinion than I get driven into opposition by some impossible outbreak of their fanaticism. Total abstinence & Sabbatarianism are two shibboleths which my tongue refuses to utter, & both are clear as the apple of their eye to these sectaries.

---