The Henson Journals

[36]

Friday, November 9th, 1917.

1194th day

My history for this day is soon told. I attended Mattins & Evensong in the Cathedral: finished the Sermon for next Sunday: went to the Town Hall, and witnessed the function of electing the new Mayor. Mr Alderman Pattison, for the 3rd time, becomes Mayor. After this function I walked in the civic procession to the Freemasons' Hall, where refreshments were served, & speeches made. I replied to the toast of "The Bishop & Clergy of all Denominations", and was foolish enough to make a brief speech. I was followed by the Papist, Canon Brown, & a frantick sectary! I walked with Ella for an hour. After dinner I read through "Walter Greenaway, Spy & Hero", which had been sent to me by the author, Holmes, the ex–Police court missionary. It claims to be a true narrative, but is as wonderful as any fiction.

The ranting of that sectary haunts me. He appears to be a Wesleyan minister, lately arrived in Durham from Hongkong. I think I had carried the whole company on to a high level, & everything was dragged into the mud by his disgusting buffoonery! Probably I was a fool to have made the effort. The incident brought home to me a hard truth, which it is never wise to forget, that the practical hindrance to religious fellowship with Dissenters is but in little measure based on doctrine, but is rather an almost insurmountable repugnance in reverent & cultivated minds to their coarseness, ignorance, and social suspiciousness. These can only be removed by education and the silent corrosives of time. Argument is irrelevant: & spiritual appeals unintelligible.

---