The Henson Journals

[317]

Monday, May 31st, 1926.

A bad night, and, by consequence, a feeling of depression & dilapidation all day. Jimmie Dobbie came to see me, & was quickly followed by Canon Sykes. In the afternoon, Canon Stephenson & the Bishop of Newcastle preceded Ella's arrival. Lord Londonderry writes in much irritation from Ireland, that Duncan at Dawdon has been writing letters about the Strike of an offensively Socialistic character. I have not myself seen the letters, & it is probable enough that the Marquess judges them unfairly: but it is a very serious matter that Duncan should have "got across" the proprietor of the Dawdon pit, & will make his work in the parish vastly more difficult. This unhappy practice of interfering in labour disputes has spread from the bishops to the working clergy, and the consequences in both cases cannot but be unfortunate. Of course the position of the parson in these mining districts is extremely difficult at such a crisis as the present. It is easy to go into one camp or the other: very hard to maintain any measure of independence. And, unfortunately, few of the clergy are big enough to take a line of their own: & many of them are hopelessly bewildered by their ignorance, the vigour of their prejudices, & the strength of their sympathies.

---