The Henson Journals

[323]

Wednesday, May 4th, 1921.

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Pluto has failed, and must be sent back to the infernal regions from which too rashly he was called forth. The combined efforts of Taylor, William, and James failed to induce him to draw the lawn–cutter; & when his refusal took the form of rearing & general violence, the attempt to domesticate him was abandoned. This is a nuisance, and the grass grows ever!

Clayton and I motored after lunch to Washington, whereof the Rector is the Revd Cyril Lomax, who has held office since 1899, when he succeeded his father. He is unmarried, served as chaplain in the War, and seems a good clergyman. The parish is in the gift of the Bishop of Manchester, and is valuable but saddled with an expensive Rectory & garden. Here I visited a Home of Dr Barnardo's, and addressed the children, about 100 in number. Then, after tea at the Rectory, I consecrated an addition to the local Cemetery, & addressed the people in a biting wind. The members of the Burial Board were introduced to me, & I had a brisk & very interesting talk with them on the burning subject of the Strike. They were nearly all impenitent strikers, and defended themselves with energy. But I talked frankly to them, and we parted in good friendship. Then I confirmed more than 150 candidates in the parish church. This is a poor modern structure which replaced a Norman church demolished in 1830! We returned to the Castle after the Confirmation, and arrived about 10 p.m. I noted great numbers of idling miners everywhere.

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