The Henson Journals

[67]

Wednesday, November 21st, 1923.

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I read through Shadwell's book "Drink in 1914–1922, a Lesson in Control" which, at his request, I foolishly promised to review for the "Times Literary Supplement".

The sorely aggrieved curate, Macready, from the Oxbridge Mission came to lunch. I spoke to him soothingly, but, plainly, the situation is not easy. Probably I had better let a deputation come here, & blow off steam.

An impudent letter from the Mayor of Sunderland surprised and annoyed me. I had invited him to attend the institution of Wynne Willson on December 9th, and he takes occasion to lecture me on appointing an outsider! At first I meditated an angry answer, but eventually I replied quite mildly! It is probably that there is a good deal of clerical grumbling under the surface, and a base fellow like this Mayor would greedily garner such squalid advantage as may accrue from expressing it! I have a certain anxiety for Wynne Willson's sake. The late Mayor, Raine, who now represents Sunderland in Parliament was a far superior person: but his wife has just been converted to Anglo–Catholicism, and probably regards the Bishop of Durham with a growing aversion!

I wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury consenting to act as Convenor of the little Committee of Bishops charged with revising the Thirty–nine Articles.

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