The Henson Journals

[35]

Wednesday, May 16th, 1928.

[']In England, where so many monasteries lived on as cathedrals, and the parish churches have been comparatively respected, we have still perhaps a quarter of what was standing in 1530, especially if we count the fragments: for instance a single bay of a cloister often enables us to judge of the rest. In France & Italy, a larger proportion of medieval work has perished, & more, perhaps, by rebuilding than by revolution.[']

Coulton l.e. 480

Miss Maude had an interview with me with respect to my decision that she must limit her public work as Organizing Secretary of the Preventive & Rescue Association to her own sex. I was monstrously bland, but insisted that there must be no more meetings for Men & Boys, & she promised obedience: but she is obsessed in the usual way with "sex problems", & can probably no more keep her tongue off them than I can avoid gibing at Feminism! I believe Christian Morality would gain if all these fantastical societies which champion it in fragments were done away.

[36] [symbol]

George Nimmins came with us to Sunderland, where I confirmed about 100 persons in St Stephen's, Ayre's Quay. The Vicar, (Rev. E. Yates Moore) is evidently 'making good' in a very difficult situation. He tells me that unemployment is again beginning to blight the parish. There was no real recovery of the ship–building industry, only a brief interlude of activity.

Jackson of St John's brought candidates. He looked very tired. He has been fourteen years in his slum parish, & has worked heroically. His strongly accentuated Anglo–Catholicism makes it difficult to transfer him, but I would gladly give him preferment if I could.

When I arrived in the Castle, I found the old Chancellor in an ill state. His exertions combined with the cutting wind had been too much for him. He is 83 and as vigorous as a young man: but there is no cheating Time.

The Evening paper has a rather suggestive picture suggested by Sir Arthur Keith's denial of the survival of the soul after death. It is called 'Humanity's Guide' & represents a blindfolded woman groping along a wall marked by a Note of Interrogation, while a Professor & a Parson severally proclaim that there is 'No hope', and 'No proof'.