The Henson Journals

[173]

Tuesday, September 11th, 1917.

1135th day

Another glorious morning. Russia would seem to be entering on a period of civil war. It will put the Revolution to a sharp test, and either make or mar it. What part will the Church play now? Korniloff made a rather ostentatious visit to a popular shrine in Moscow at the recent conference. There can hardly be any sincere acceptance of Revolutionary principles by the Russian ecclesiastics who know what they are and imply: but the parish popes are probably too ignorant to grasp them, & look no higher than the chance of land–grabbing which the Revolution has brought to them as to the rest of the peasants. Is Korniloff big enough to play the rôle of Napoleon?

I received a remarkably ill–spelt letter from Edward Riches, who was once my garden–boy in Barking, & is now settled & prospering in Australia. He has reverted to sheer phoneticism!

Hudibras unprinted.

No jesuite ever took in hand,

To plant a church in barren land;

Or ever thought it worth his while

A Swede or Russe to reconcile.

For where there is not store of wealth,

Souls are not worth the charge of health.

Spain and America had designs

To sell the gospel for their wines,

For had the Mexicans been poor,

No Spaniard twice had landed on their shore.

'Twas gold the catholick religion planted,

Which, had they wanted gold, they still had wanted.

There is much cruel injustice to individuals in these lines, and much bitter justice to the Church. The Jesuits conspicuously illustrate both.

[174]

I attended Mattins & Evensong: lunched with Lillingston with whom were Father Thornton and another parson. The afternoon post brought me a long, & rather incoherent letter from Mrs Dibben, enclosing envelopes stamped & addressed to her two sons, Harry & Sydney, who were formerly in the choir of S. Margaret's, Westminster. She wants me to write to them. After dinner I wrote to them both, also to George, and Mary Radford.

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