The Henson Journals
Fri 3 August 1917
Volume 21, Page 127
[127]
Friday, August 3rd, 1917.
1096th day
A dull wet morning. The villainous weather has arrested our offensive, &, of course, given the Germans full time to recover their wind. However the weather improved as the day advanced, & the afternoon was fine.
I finished Pringle–Pattison's Gifford Lectures. They are certainly very admirable both in form & substance. His criticism of Rashdall's view of a limited deity is cogent. On the whole his philosophy is a possible foundation for Christianity, though, perhaps, hardly for orthodoxy. I attended Mattins, & worked at the Warden's Journal. George came to see me, and stayed to lunch. He came with me into the cathedral, to see what could be done with Ella's flags. We decided to have them arranged by Jopling on the chancel screen. We had much talk together about his future, & parted at Jepson's door, where I had to enter for the meeting of the Sherburn Governors. This was the first meeting of the newly constituted Board. Greenwell proposed Pemberton as Chairman. Burdon seconded. I said a few words in support, & he was elected without opposition. We sate for nearly 2 hours, for some of the new Governors are fine specimens of the traditional "new broom", and are evidently bent on living up to the character.
Lady Ann Lambton writes to say that Lord Durham "has been in bed for 3 days suffering from influenza" and therefore cannot attend the meeting tomorrow or the service on Sunday. This is rather disconcerting. I told the Mayor, and he replied "Then you must make a longer speech"! It pleased me to see Colonel Burdon at the Sherburn Meeting, & that he was elected Vice–Chairman. I asked him to come to the service on Sunday, & he noted the hour in his pocket–book. The Archdeacon, rather to my surprise, made no appearance, but sent a letter in which he designated Greenwell for the chairmanship. But Greenwell had himself resolved to decline the office as he possesses no motor.
I took Logic for a short walk, & then read the papers until dinner–time, after which I wrote this journal, & frittered away the time until my bed claimed me. A badly wasted day.