The Henson Journals

[206]

Friday, October 7th, 1921.

But going over the theory of virtue in one's thoughts, talking well, and drawing fine pictures, of it: this is so far from necessarily or certainly conducing to form a habit of it, in him who thus employs himself, that it may harden the mind in a contrary course, & gradually render it more insensible, i.e. form a habit of insensibility to all moral considerations.

Bishop Butler. Analogy. Pt.I.ch.v. (p.80)

Before breakfast I worked on the letter. Ella, Lucy, and Lady Thurlow accompanied me in the motor to Durham; I sate with William. I presided over a meeting of the Preventive & Rescue Association, at which we discussed the future of S. Catherine's Home, an excellent but financially unsuccessful institution. Finally, we passed 2 resolutions, of which the one requested the Committee of S. Catherine's to carry on for another year: & the other requested the Governors of St Mary's, a relatively flourishing institution, to consider whether they couldn't assist S. Catherine's. Then we lunched with Lillingston, and afterwards returned to Auckland. Sykes reported to me that John, lately curate at St Oswald's, whom I sent to S. Ignatius for special reasons, was working excellently. This is good hearing. Stephenson of Gateshead did not report so well of Rooker, the Vicar of Middleton–in–Teesdale, but he knew nothing positive, or very recent.

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