The Henson Journals

[110]

New Year's Day, January 1st, 1924.

[symbol]

1924

Thou art not made like us;

We should be wroth in such a case; but thou

Forgivest – so, forgive these passionate thoughts

Which come unsought and will not pass away!

I know thee, who has kept my path, & made

Light for me in the darkness, tempering sorrow

So that it reached me like a solemn joy;

It were too strange that I should doubt thy love.

Browning, "Paracelsus"

The New Year made its start in spring–like weather, for a rapid thaw had set in during the night, and the sun shone upon a green landscape. My letter appeared prominently on the front page of the "Manchester Guardian". In the "Times" there is a letter from the Bishop of Down objecting to the Malines Conference on the ground that it was incompatible with the position taken up by the Lambeth Conference. I wrote to Sir Charles Darling congratulating him on his elevation to the peerage, which is announced this morning.

Arthur Smith & his wife arrived on a visit to the Castle. Fawkes write to say that my Times letter was "really splendid". That will not be the judgement of the Archbishop and his champions!

---