The Henson Journals

[187]

Wednesday, January 28th, 1925.

There is abundant evidence, sound and unsound, to prove that the alleged curative effects of strong emotion in healing disease are not confined to any one or more forms of religion or social custom, but are universal. Mana, the Medicine Man, and the big drum have in their societies what Mr Hickson and M. Coué discover in our own. The alleged cures, which we admit to be in some considerable measure genuine, may apparently arise under any imposing ceremonial.

Sir Clifford Allbutt. 'Guardian', Jan. 9, 1925.

The papers announce that Harry Davis has been appointed Regius Professor of Modern History in succession to Firth. It is an excellent appointment. I wrote to congratulate him forthwith.

I finished the second Manchester sermon. Sykes and his daughter came to lunch. Afterwards I walked round the Park with the dogs.

Archbishop Söderblom sends me a long, kind, and partly hostile criticism of my charge.

The Dean's encounter with the Railwaymen took place last night, and seems to have passed off better than I had expected!

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