The Henson Journals

[91]

Monday, August 23rd, 1920.

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A woefully wet day, and very cold. Baddely went off by the early train, & Gabrielsson left after breakfast. Then I wrote letters, and got away by the 11.27 a.m. to York, where I arrived at 6 p.m. after changing four times [viz. Stockport, Stalybridge, Huddersfield, Leeds.] The motor met me & other bishops, & drove us out to Bishopthorpe. Here were the bishops who will take part in tomorrow's service, and the 3 episcopal candidates ‒ Strong, Williams, and Kempson. I noticed that Lang has banished wine from his table. Nothing but cold water was provided at dinner. It looks likely that against my will, by the sheer necessity of the case, I shall be driven to this course. [That economy will be distasteful & humiliating, but it will be easier to make than to travel third class, which, I fear will also be forced on me. When I watched the squalid over–crowding of the 3rd class carriages today, I felt that to be compelled to travel thus would be a very repulsive thing. Yet the cost of the tickets (£4.8.6. for my return ticket to & from York) is really becoming prohibitive.] The newspapers are full of the impending strike of the miners. If that strike takes place, and is persisted in for a few weeks, the loss to the country will be immense. The existing taxation will be quite insufficient to meet the national expenditure: and fresh taxes will have to be imposed. It is fairly certain that the burden on episcopal incomes will be again increased. In these circumstances is it wise for me even to attempt to live at Auckland Castle? Yet, how can I avoid doing so?

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