The Henson Journals

[51]

Saturday, November 29th, 1919.

A heavy snow storm started shortly before 7 a.m. Alfred Spelling sends me a copy of "The Southend Standard" for Nov: 27th: 1919, containing a report of a "clerical sensation". Some foolish parson has been declaiming rather more extravagantly than is usual even in "High" Churches against the Reformation, & the Incumbent (the orator was "deputationing" for the Additional Curate Society) found it necessary to protest, & announce his intention of answering the sermon on the following Sunday! He seems to be the recently appointed Vicar of All Saints, Southend, of which Keble College is patron. "Church of England religion won't do. It is a compound of ignorance, of indiscipline, and laissez faire that wd spell failure in any walk of live etc. etc." It is an odd spectacle. The man hails from Durham where he took a 3rd class in Classical honours.

I travelled to Manchester by the 1.12 am. Express. Fog delayed the train between Crewe & Manchester, so that we arrived 45 minutes after time. Canon Scott was waiting on the platform to receive me. There was a pleasant dinner–party, but I cannot recall the names of the guests. Captain Francis Scott, mine host's son, is at home, but under orders to proceed to Mesopotamia with a draft of recruits.

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