The Henson Journals

[82]

Monday, March 8th, 1920.

I motored to Onibury after an early lunch. William's young brother sate beside him. It seemed natural to invite him to witness his brother's confirmation. There were 26 candidates, of whom 15 were males. The little church is very interesting, and has been carefully restored. It consists of a rather long chancel, and a nave. There is a squat Norman tower, & the chancel arch is Norman. Above the arch, and on the north wall are fading frescoes. There is a gallery, and an old font. The congregation, mostly women, filled the church; children occupied the gallery. William was confirmed last of the male candidates. After service, which just lasted an hour, we had tea in the Vicarage. Mr Swinnerton–Dyer from Westhope came over from Diddlesbury, & had some speech with me respecting the arrangements for my visit on Low Sunday. His foolish sister persists in refusing all dealings with the Vicar, who, so far as I can discover, appears to be blameless. The sun shone brightly as we returned, & the last stage of the journey was illustrated by a glorious sunset. On reaching the Palace, I gave William a Bible together with the notes of the address which I had given at his Confirmation. Then I wrote the letters with Wynne Willson.

Warde Fowler's 'Roman Essays & Interpretations' contains a lecture on 'Theodor Mommsen: his Life & Work', printed exactly as it was delivered in 1909. It is extremely interesting, & makes one realize more fully the scale of the calamity which has perverted and submerged the intellectual life of Germany.

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