The Henson Journals

[4]

Monday, March 13th, 1922.

I spent the morning in writing letters, and in preparing a short memorandum about my scheme for reconstituting the college in Durham. This will be circulated to the Dean & Canons before Saturday, when I have a conference with them.

Atkinson, the Vicar of Silksworth, lunched here. He is not an impressive man, but he seemed to show cause why I should ignore the complaints of his churchwarden, Binding. He gave a grievous account of the mischiefs which arise from the worthless character of some of the scout–masters. This is the weakest point of the Boy Scout movement.

Today the Park was closed to the Public in order to vindicate the Bishop's proprietary rights.

Clayton and I motored to Hartlepool, & there, in Trinity Church. I confirmed about 150 candidates of whom rather more than half were males. This is satisfactory but unusual.

Another ruinous strike has broken out. The engineers have refused the terms offered them. Only 50,000 out of 400,000 members of the Union voted for rejection: but they suffice to inflict this disaster on the country. It is difficult to see how any compromise can be arranged, for the point of issue is really vital – the power of the employers to manage their own works.

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