The Henson Journals

[102]

Saturday, June 30th, 1923.

I entertain the strongest dislike to the Permissive Bill ('Local Option'). I cannot perhaps, express it in a stronger form than by saying that, if I must take my choice, ––– & such it seems to me is really the alternative offered by the Permissive Bill ––– whether England should be free of sober, I declare, strange as such a declaration may sound coming from one of my profession, that I should say it would be better that England should be free than that England should be compulsorily sober. I would distinctly prefer freedom to sobriety, because with freedom we might in the end attain sobriety: but in the other alternative we should eventually lose both freedom & sobriety. But, though I am strongly opposed to the Permissive Bill, I do wish that the ratepayers oh? [sic] have some voice ––– not an absolute & sole voice, but some voice ––– in the regulation of the liquor traffic.

Magea [sic] ( 'Life'. vol. II. p. 43) in 1872.

[103]

We left the Castle, & motored to Darlington where we caught the early train to York. After having our bags at the Deanery, we proceeded to the school, where I distributed prizes & made a speech. St Peter's School claims to be the oldest school in the country: the claim is not undisputed, but it is strongly supported by a history which can be plausibly carried back to the 7th century. It is now a flourishing institution in which about 300 boys, of whom four–fifths are boarders, are successfully educated. After lunching with Coyne, the Headmaster, we returned to the Deanery. Later in the afternoon, the Dean took me, and Judge Head into the Minster, and there explained to us in a most interesting manners, the method of dealing with the painted windows, which are being taken out, cleaned, restored, and reloaded. The process is most difficult & delicate: but the result is wonderful. There are now four altars in York Minster; and everyone has been appropriated to some specific use. I could not but express a certain uneasiness at this multiplication of altars, which really can only be justified on a view of the Holy Communion which is certainly not that expressed in the standards of the Church of England. These great medieval buildings are a continuing influence hostile to the Reformation, which defaced them, and has very little use for them. They are winning the battle in which they had seemed to perish .

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