The Henson Journals

[39]

Wednesday, February 11th, 1920.

A pleasant day, sunny but colder. I spent it in the Upper House of Convocation, where we were decorously harmonious but mortally dull. Gamble met me in the Club, and inquired about N. who had written to him in a very canting vein. It seems that the poor man has found the Bp. of H. 'not spiritual enough'. Heaven knows he may be right there, however wrong elsewhere. But what is it to be "spiritual"? There is no adjective more often on the lips of ecclesiastics, and none more in need of precise definition.

I dined with Lady Scarbrough in Park Lane. The taxis having struck as a protest against the price of petrol, I put my shoes in my pockets, & walked. The company was interesting – Mrs Lowther, Mr & the Hon: Mrs Rochford Maguire, Lord & Lady Lytton, Col: Repington, & another lady, whose name escaped me. I had much talk with Mrs Lowther at dinner, and with Mrs Maguire afterwards, & found both ladies intelligent, informing, & interesting. Mine host and Lord Lytton seemed eager to hear my views about the ecclesiastical question, & held me to the subject though I tried to get away from it. As I walked home, I was saddened by the spectacle of a drunken woman being wheeled home by three policemen, & making much clamour of futile protest on the way.

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