The Henson Journals

[73]

Thursday, December 18th, 1919.

I spent the morning in revising the proofs, & sent the whole lot back to the Clarendon Press. Then I wrote to the Secretary, to Sanday, & to Miss Anson. Jack Boden & Fearne Booker went off after an early lunch, and I betook myself to the Cathedral Library where the Diocesan Finance Board met to distribute the sum of £3000, voted for this diocese by the central Board. There were 138 applications from the clergy, and of these 92 were allowed, the grants ranging in amount from £10. to £50. We are forging our own chains in thus accepting money from the Central board, but the appetite of the necessitous clergy is insatiate and irresistible. The Committee sate until 5.30 p.m., & was concluded in the Palace, whither I carried the members for the benefit of tea. Cruickshank and his wife arrived during the afternoon. Ramsay, one of the ordination candidates, arrived a day before his time! After dinner I instructed William for an hour. He can find his way about the Bible, and this is by no means always the case with our candidates for confirmation. Cruickshank and I had much conversation before going to bed. He confirms my impression that my successor at the Deanery gives the people no very high notion of independence!

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