The Henson Journals

[199]

Maundy Thursday, April 5th, 1928.

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I wasted the morning in writing a sermon, and the evening in going to Lynesack, and delivering it. The afternoon was wasted in going to Durham, and presiding at a meeting of the Training & Maintenance Committee.

Canon Bothamly collapsed yesterday by reason of a sudden heart–failure, & is now in Durham Hospital.

Merrifield of Etherley seems to be nearing his end. I saw him for a few minutes, as I went to Lynesack.

Heselton came to lunch by appointment. I offered him the living of Rainton, from which the present Vicar, Rawlins, retires; his resignation takes effect on May 9th, & he has been allotted a pension of £100. Out of the income of the benefice, which is thus reduced to little more than poundisgn300. Per annum.

The Evangelical press rages against me, denouncing me as 'a mutable Bishop', referring to me in terms of calculated insult, & belittling everything I say or write. I have had much experience of religious hostility in the course of my life: & I don't think there is much to choose between the venom of Evangelicalism, and that of Anglo–Catholicism. Perhaps, the first is the more nauseous, & the last, more malicious!