The Henson Journals

[356]

Wednesday, May 25th, 1921.

Still the glorious weather, but the grass is getting a brown look as if in drought, & farmers pray for rain. Wynne–Willson and I left by the early train, and travelled as far as York together. The train was very crowded, & did not arrive until 2.45 p.m. I drove to Park Lane, where I learned that Lady. S. had been detained in Yorkshire by her daughter's indisposition. I arrived at Lambeth about 3.30 p.m. There was a lively discussion on the subject whether it was advisable for the Archbishops to issue yet another appeal for prayer. I opposed: there was much hesitency among the bishops: finally we carried an ambiguous resolution. As I walked to the Athenaeum I fell in with Mr Justice Sankey, & had some talk with him about the Strike. He says that he doesn't like nationalisation, but that the feeling of the miners is such that no other policy can provide a permanent settlement. Also he says that Smillie is an honester man than Hodges. Then I went on, and met Geoffrey Dawson. I dined in the Club, and, after dinner, wrote to Lady S. and to Ella. I took up Hunter Blair's biography of the late Marquess of Bute, & found it interesting. His "conversion" to Papistry seems to have been the effect of temperament reacting against environment in circumstances which suggested irresistibly that particular method of expressing its revolt. The Jesuits, of course, assisted, but were not the prime agents.

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