The Henson Journals

[101]

Wednesday, July 11th, 1917.

1073rd day

We left Carlton–on–Trent by the early train (8.57 a.m.), and travelled to King's Cross very comfortably without change, arriving at 12.30 noon. We reached the S. Paul's Deanery in good time for lunch. Ruth & Miss Ward were there. Also Archdeacon Spooner. After lunch I walked to Westminster, and, after having my hair cut, went to the Athenaeum, & there found the Bishop of Exeter, with whom I had much talk. He said that the county was opposed to the division of the see: that the extreme sacerdotalism of some of the clergy caused Nonconformity to gain ground: that many Nonconformist ministers applied for Ordination, but not, he suspected, from the highest motives. He liked visiting the country parishes. The Cathedral was unduly weak. He wanted an effective & efficient Dean, & would like to have Edward Lyttelton. This would certainly be regarded as another family job. I observed with regret that he referred to the Bishop of Winchester with a deference which showed but too plainly that he has fallen within the governing ring! I had some talk with the Bishop of St Alban's, who looks very ill. Then I walked back to the Deanery.

There came to dinner a varied & pleasant company. Lord Haldane & his sister, Lady Tollemache, Bailey & his wife (sister of Mrs Alington), Violet Carruthers & her husband, Micklejohn – these with the house–party were sufficient entertainment. I had a good deal of conversation with Lord Haldane, who was very interesting: also with Violet Carruthers, who now frequents the Temple, & finds comfort in the ministrations of the current Master – Barnes. She protests that she is abundantly happy in her married life, & has never had a cross–word with her husband. This is well enough. Ruth is vivacious & pleasing as always. Kitty is triumphantly successful as a hostess. The Archdeacon, her father, regards his daughters with a demure satisfaction, which discloses their merits through the medium of his taciturnity!

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