The Henson Journals

[32]

Tuesday, November 6th, 1917.

1191st day

I wrote to Frank before breakfast: attended Mattins: sent to the Prolocutor the resolution I desire to move in the Lower House. It is identical with that which the Bp. of Manchester will move in the Upper. I wrote to Archdeacon Allen, asking him to second it. Mr Whitehorn, a secretary attached to the staff of the "Westminster Gazette", who once induced me to address a brotherhood meeting in a Dissenting chapel at Harringay, called here, & I asked him to lunch. Pemberton & Captain Angus also dined. I attended a meeting in the Castle Hall designed to raise funds for the "Bishop Tucker Memorial Fund". Gee presided. The Secretary, Mr Daniell, the Bishop of Durham, and I made speeches to a company of about 25 persons, mostly of the female sex! After walking with the Bishop of Jarrow, I sent a cheque (£5.) to the Fund, for which I had pleaded. This was less the oblation of evangelising zeal than a reluctant concession to conventional consistency! The evening paper reports further retreating of the Italians, whose new line has already been turned by the advance of the Austro–Germans. In reading the reports, one has a horrible suspicion that the treasonable doctrines, which have effected this great disaster, are yet working in the minds of the Italian soldiers, so that more dramatic collapses are possible. Reinforcements of French & British troops are pouring in, but will they arrive in time to stay the panic? Have they artillery to replace the guns which have been lost; and stores to replace the vast accumulations which have been burned?

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