The Henson Journals

[2]

Saturday, April 20th, 1918.

1356th day

A fair morning, though cold, and a wet afternoon. I wrote a few letters, & then was interviewed by the Mayor, and the Dean. After these prosy magnates had taken their departure, I walked out & fell in with Sir John Cotterill, who introduced himself & walked with me to the Club, of which I have just been elected a member. Then I went to the Palace, where I found the 3 soldiers engaged in mowing the lawn, which they oughtn't to do. I went to Ross, & was there met by the Archdeacon's brougham, & driven to Bridstow. There were a good many matters of diocesan business to talk over with mine host. He opened out beyond my expectations in conversation, and gave expression to more liberal opinions than I had expected to hear from his lips. He even repudiated the description of "High Churchman", which I applied to him. Another daughter of the Archdeacon arrived after dinner with her fiancée, an officer named Westmacott, who had been slightly wounded in the recent offensive. Both these young women are "strong feminists", and both might be described by an impartial observer as "hard featured". I prefer the older type of girl which belonged to neither category. I mentioned to mine host, the question of appointing to the vacant Prebend, and I found him well disposed towards my notion of offering it to Treherne, the Vicar of All Saints, who took a prominent share in organizing opposition to my appointment as Bishop. Lilley was not so ready to approve my chivalry.

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