The Henson Journals

[1]

Saturday, October 13th, 1917.

1167th day

Nothing had been heard of "Logic" when we took our departure for Liverpool. Colonel Darwin travelled with us as far as York, where we changed & went on to Manchester, changing again & then going on to Liverpool, where we were met by the Bishop & a motor–car driven by his daughter. After tea, the Bishop took us to the new Cathedral, of which sufficient has been erected to give a fair impression of the completed structure. The original scheme has been considerably modified, & the scale of the building considerably reduced, but it will be a lofty (116 feet) and noble pile. Professor Pattison & his wife came to dinner. The Bishop was present at the great meeting in Liverpool this week, and says that Asquith had a most enthusiastic reception, that he spoke with much deliberation so that every word told, and that his speech was most effective. A reference to the Bishop's son, the VC who was killed at the Front, aroused great enthusiasm. There can be no question that his Lordship's family are a great assistance. The public credit of his brave sons and the activity of his attractive daughters strengthen the hold which his own exertions have secured on the city. The Bishop told me that the Archbishop's Committee did not go into the question of Franchise: that the members were quite free to take their own line when the question should be raised; and that, in point of fact, he was himself in favour of the Baptismal Franchise. All this is so much grist to my mill!

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