The Henson Journals

[175]

Tuesday, March 16th, 1926.

Fawkes writes: "I hope you will read the life of Bishop Ullathorne – a most instructive illuminating book: & Shane Leslie's book "The Cantab" – an amazing work to come from the Editor of the "Dublin Review". I see that he has withdrawn it from circulation – owing to the Bishop of Northampton's letter, but his (Leslie's) words are cryptic – & I wonder what will come of it. The book is clever, blasphemous, & indecent: it should show the authorities that "Modernism" is neither the greatest nor the most prevalent enemy which they have to face."

The "Times" today has, under the heading "Alleged Obscene Book" a reference to "The Cantab" as the subject of an intended prosecution. In view of the author's alleged purpose of withdrawing the book from circulation, the legal proceedings were postponed. The magistrate, Sir Chartres Biron, stated that he had read the book, & that he had found in it "two or three passages of so gross a kind that he shd have had no hesitation – had it been necessary – in issuing process". So for a whole week the book will be purchasable, & no doubt will be purchased in great numbers by a public which is both eager to read all available filth, & willing to prohibit its sale. Meanwhile, the author gets off without punishment, & with "the reward of iniquity" swelling his Bank balance.

[176]

The Westminster Chapel folk sent me 20 more copies of the sermon. I sent away 6 of them to Spencer Wade, Brooke Westcott, Bannister, Harold Cox, Lord Durham, and Canon Storr. Miss Haldane wrote about the subject of my sermon. From her letter I gathered that she & Ld Haldane were somewhat perturbed by it. She said that she had been discussing it with the Duchess of Atholl. So the leaven works.

During the afternoon – the weather being wonderfully warm & sunny – I walked round the Park with Bishop Hornby. He is no doubt a good & friendly man, but he is getting deaf, & could never, I think, have been other than mortally dull. And of course, he grows old. Time blunts & lessens what is good & attractive in us: & what is bad & repugnant it emphasizes & magnifies. Who could really wish to grow old? Yet, how few are willing to die!

I picked up a company of Barrington School boys in the Park, and took them into the Conservatory to show them the camellia which is in full bloom. Most of them I learned on inquiry had never been vaccinated.

---