The Henson Journals

[6]

Wednesday, April 4th, 1923.

Ella and I travelled to Belfast by the Stranraer to Larne route, and were so fortunate as to have a calm passage. We arrived at Belfast at 9.30 a.m. and were met by a car, & driven to Mountstewart. Rain fell persistently, so we sate indoors. Lord Londonderry, Mr Filson Young, and I talked politics hard until lunch–time. We discussed the Education Bill which, as Minister of Education, Lord L. has introduced into the Northern Parlt It leaves religious teaching to the Churches. The problem is less complicated in Ulster than in England, but I doubt this solution. There is a guard on this house, but its necessity is questioned.

Lord Plunket & his wife – pleasant young people, & apparently fond of one another – are here, & Mr Tweed, the sculptor. There are others, whom I am slowly making out.

After tea, I wrote to Marion, and – at some length – to the editor of the Guardian, on the subject of the failure in the supply of Ordination candidates.

The conversation turns repeatedly on Prohibition, etc., of course. I must needs profess my detestation of it. But this places me, or seems to place me, in accord with the "Drink Interest", which is, on many grounds, not a creditable thing. Lord L. is himself somewhat inclined to "Pussy–foot" views, & it is odd that he shd find himself therein opposed to his bishop!

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