The Henson Journals

[121]

Monday, March 31st, 1919.

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Major Thelwell and his wife took their departure after breakfast having first photographed me in the garden. Then I finished the sermon on "Sound learning". Mr Rushton the new Vicar of All Saints and his wife came to lunch: & later in the afternoon Mr & Mrs Baldwin, friends of Ella arrived. Then Wynne–Willson did the letters, and for all useful purposes the day was over.

My letter "Scotticising the English Church" appeared in the "Times".

An official of S.C.V.D. called upon me. I could not imagine what the initials might mean. They stood for the sufficiently sinister label. "Society for controlling Venereal Disease". He wanted me to approve a meeting, & the starting of a branch in Hereford. But I was not sympathetic, for I doubt the prudence and practical value of this new fashion of parading "Pudenda" from the housetops; and I think this little city has been overmuch filled with this kind of doctrine for some months past. The feminist agitation is almost wholly concerned with it. Literature of the purity–pornic type has been poured upon us & the female population is now mainly divided between the Suspected and Imperilled and the Suspicious & Secure! However, I sent the man on to the Mayor.

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