The Henson Journals

[36]

Tuesday, November 18th, 1919.

Inequality of property, in the degree in which it exists in most countries of Europe, abstractedly considered is an evil: but it is an evil which flows from those rules concerning the acquisition & disposal of property, by which men are incited to industry, & by which the object of their industry is rendered secure & valuable. If there be any great inequality unconnected with this origin, it ought to be corrected.

Paley. Moral Philosophy. Bk. III. e. ii.

I worked away again at the Article, wading thro' a vast lot of poisonous rubbish – the publications of the Church Socialist League. Some quotations from these will lead to the Archbishops Committee's Report, which differ only in degree. Bannister came to ask me to head a deputation to the magistrates on the subject of retaining the limitation of the hours of sale in the public–houses of Hereford. I promised to do so if the deputation were genuinely representative. Rushton sends me a note about young Scott, which is rather disconcerting. I hardly know what will be best to do with him. He ought to have a normal curacy.

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