The Henson Journals

[37]

Friday, July 9th, 1920.

[The Town–clerk of Darlington wants "a copy of my private arms" to copy into the "Jubilee Record Book" which I must sign when I enter the Diocese formally. I wrote to him in these terms:–

"I come of a race of West Country farmers & small landowners who have never, so far as I know, borne arms, & it is rather a point of honour with me not to begin doing so now. So you will, please, print the Arms of the See alone, & a blank shield where the private arms would ordinarily come."

It's a nuisance to have to enter into these explanations, but there's nothing else to be done.]

We discussed the Church's duty in the matter of Industrial Matters. The speeches were so uniformly Socialistic in tone & effect that I was moved to speak in the contrary sense. My speech had a tonic effect on the discussion. [In the interval before lunch we were all photographed. I attended Mrs Davidson's "At Home", & had some talk with Mrs Lowther, who was very eager in defence of General Dyer.] One of the American bishops expressed to me his wonder at the attentive hearing which I obtained in the Conference. I suppose he expected that I should be howled down! The Bishop of New York introduced himself to me, & said that his wife still spoke of my "unforgettable" sermon on President Garfield's death. [I dined at the Athenaeum.]

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