The Henson Journals

[132]

Friday, February 16th, 1923.

Rain fell during the night and swept away all traces of the snow. The temperature rose, and the birds, cheated by the softness of the air, began to sing lustily. Precipitate optimists!

I wasted my whole morning on the Edinburgh Article. Then Wallis, the Principal of St John's, came to see me about the man Gibson whom I refused to ordain. It appears that he has satisfied the Bishop of Antigua, and will shortly be ordained by the Bishop of London in that bishop's behalf. There has been no reference to me which is unusual. Wallis stayed to lunch. Mrs Boutflower also lunched.

In the afternoon Hodgson, the Vicar of Escombe, came to see me. He breathed vengeance against the author of the anonymous letter sent to me, and sent on to him by me. He had identified the man, & would do tremendous things! I told him to burn the note, & forget the incident. The dogged persistence with which the common people of Northern England pursue their personal feuds is only equalled by the meanness of their methods of exhibiting hostility. Hodgson is a miner's son, and he feels and acts with his class. His education at Cambridge, whither some kind patron sent him, has neither refined his manners nor disciplined his character. He looks, feels, speaks, and acts after the manner of his class.

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