The Henson Journals

[135]

Friday, April 11th, 1919.

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I did not sleep well, but relieved the tedium of the night by reading "Catherine & Craufurd Tait" which was in the bookcase beside my bed. The impression the book leaves on my mind is that of a small intensive society, very good in a conventional way and very conscious of their goodness, much given to praising one another in private letters, &, I should suspect, not indisposed to candid criticism of one another in private conversation.When Craufurd Tait wanted a living his father refrained from appointing him to a valuable benefice in his gift, and arranged that the Bishop of London should appoint Craufurd to a London benefice, from which he removed the vicar to the said benefice. This nepotistic device is evidently regarded as rather notably virtuous. The smallness of the reigning coterie which allotted the higher preferments of the National Church as if they were parts of a family property is very significant. Lambeth and Latitudinarianism of a very mild type have been replaced by Winchester & Neo–Tractarianism, but the domestic point of view remains, though the monopoly is being seriously invaded. Bristol, Hereford, and now Worcester can hardly be fitted into the family scheme, though the method of "adoption" has been found capable of extensive application!!

[136] [symbol]

I left Aldenham Hall and motored to Evancoid viâ Ludlow, Leintwardine, and Presteign. I arrived about 1 p.m. and lunched with MrLewis, a retired parson, who owns a beautiful property in the parish. His only child, Jack, was to be confirmed. There were altogether 21 candidates, of whom 10 were boys & men. The little church was completely filled with an attentive congregation. Roland Pryce, my old curate, who is beneficed in the adjoining diocese, came to lunch, and stayed to the service. After tea, I returned to Hereford viâ Kington, arriving about 6.15 p.m. Wynne–Willson did the letters with me. Dr Blair, the late Bishop of the Falkland Islands, dined here – a large man, chastened by failure and demurely conventional.

The evening paper announces that the Government have lost the bye–election at Hull by over 900 votes. This is another significant warning against misunderstanding the meaning of Lloyd–George's sweeping victory at the polls. The rapidity with which the flood–tide of political feeling is ebbing can hardly be paralleled.The "Life & Liberty" people are gambling on the accident which has brought into the House of Commons a great majority of Tories.

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