The Henson Journals

[202]

6th Sunday after Trinity, July 24th, 1927.

This "covering letter" occupies my mind. It must be as little polemical as possible, and as much informing. I am not greatly attracted by the literature, which it is designed to "cover", nor am I so much in love with the Revised Prayer Book as to commend with enthusiasm to anybody. It is no more & no less to me than a pis aller. As such I have advocated its adoption, but it is not easy to write convincingly or winningly about a pis aller! It is an odd reflection that Lord Holmes, who is urging me now to come forward so prominently as the mouthpiece of the Episcopate, wrote very insultingly about me in the Morning Post and in the Times, when I was appointed to Hereford. Is the change in him, or in me? or, is it, perhaps a change in both of us? I do not think that anything could possibly justify his treatment of me in 1918, but I am more disposed now than I was then to make allowances for his youth and prejudices, and to admit that I must have appeared an entirely odious & unworthy person to such men as he.

[203]

I celebrated the Holy Communion in the Chapel at 8 a.m. We numbered altogether 9 communicants among whom was our Swiss guest, and the new butler's–boy, John. All was very solemn, still, & consolatory.

After breakfast I wrote the "covering letter", and sent it to Colonel Oldham. Then I wrote to my three boys – George Nimmins, William Badham, & James Wilson – addressing the letters severally to Java, South Africa, and Peru. That is an evidence of the dispersion of the English.

In the afternoon we all motored to Durham, and attended Evensong in the Cathedral. The ladies went to tea with Mrs Denny, & I went to Mrs Meade–Falkner. There was an artist lady, Miss Hodgson, also at tea, & she shewed me her sketchbook, with many admirable pen drawings of "Saxon" sun–dials, Norman doorways, etc. Meade–Falkner walked back to the College with me through the Cathedral. He insisted that Durham is the most impressive church in the world, & repeated my dictum that it is "the Dies Irae in stone" as precisely true & adequate. We spoke of Cruickshank, but rather to my surprise, he disclaimed any special affection for him. Both men were possessed of certain feminine characteristics, which militate against mutual understanding, large views, & generous interpretations. They were too much alike to appreciate one another.

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