The Henson Journals

[90]

Friday, November 21st, 1924.

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It is certainly one of the greater privileges of a man's life that in early manhood he should have been brought under the influence & into the familiar knowledge of a really distinguished man. Nothing else so effectively preserves from conceit in youth, and from cynicism in later life. Listening to their talk about Bishop Lightfoot, I found myself enjoying Baillie and Eden, for my strange career never included the knowledge, intimate and continued, of a great man, and I feel that many of its worst mistakes have grown from that fact.

Bishop Lightfoot loved you: Bishop Westcott thought you a very interesting specimen – thus the two great bishops were distinguished by their disciples.

I left Lambeth after breakfast, leaving my bag with Ella to be left at the Athenaeum, and then went to Adeney & tried on my overcoat. I went to Hodder & Stoughton, and had some talk with Mr Arthur Hird who is in charge of the theological department. He was very communicative and spoke freely of Sydney Dark, the new editor of the "Church Times," who does indeed, appear to be a cynically incredulous type of "Catholick". I caught the 1.40 p.m. train, and arrived at Auckland about 8 p.m.

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