The Henson Journals

[79]

Tuesday, June 19th, 1917.

1051st day

I revised the letter on "The clergy & Military Service" & prepared it for post, then "tossed" on the point whether it should go, & then decision being adverse, I tore open the envelope, & withheld the letter. To such straits & vacillation have I now fallen! George came in to tell me about his new prospects, very pleased with himself. After his departure, I re–read the rejected letter, & examined the motives of its rejection. These seemed to me probably to be selfishly prudential i.e. the publication of such a letter would probably be held injudicious by any intelligent counsellor, & likely to prejudice my chances of a bishoprick!! Accordingly I placed it again in an envelope, & sent it off!!! What can be done with this variety of weather–cock, which turns with the wind not of advantage but of risk? I attended Mattins, had an interview with Wilson & Lillingston about the latter's "mortgage" taken over from Bishop Tucker, walked with Norman Henderson as far as the Framwellgate Bridge, & then bade him farewell. Finally, I discussed George's affair with Dennett. Pemberton came to lunch. I attended Evensong. He reports that the King's visit to Sunderland was very successful. He has a theory that the notorious jealousy of Newcastle against Sunderland derives from the ancient discords of the 17th century, when Newcastle went for the King, & Sunderland stood for the Parliament. Such discords die hard.

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