The Henson Journals

[28]

Friday, April 27th, 1917.

998th day

The reports of the submarine campaign are alarming. Last week was the worst yet recorded. Official statements have ceased to be optimistic, & now tend to become alarmist. It wd seem that the advent of fine weather facilitates the work of torpedo–boats. I attended Mattins, & then wrote a short sermon for use at Sacriston next Sunday afternoon. After lunch I worked on the potato patch for two hours. The afternoon post brought me a notice of the union of the publishing firm Smith Elder & Co with that of John Murray: also a letter from Olive, who is learning to drive a motor, & hopes to visit us in July. In the "Challenge" the Bishop of Winchester has a letter expressing disapprobation of Arthur Benson and Miss Maud Royden "preaching" in the City Temple. He never mentions my name, but he succeeds in attacking me obviously enough. After dinner I read aloud to Ella, Creighton's account of John XXIII's [sic] duel with the Council of Constance – an edifying episode.

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