The Henson Journals

[106]

Tuesday, May 28th, 1929.

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I got away from Edinburgh by the 7.40 a.m. train, and had breakfast on board. Leng met me with the car at Newcastle, & brought me to the Castle at 11.20 a.m. Archbishop Söderblom arrived last night with his daughter Yvonne. He looks older & frailer, but he is my junior by two years. In the afternoon Ella took our guests to Rokeby to have tea with the Campbell Frasers; and I remained in my study, and cleared off my correspondence.

After dinner I had much conversation with the Archbishop. He is full–filled with the magniloquent & meaningless phrases which are current in episcopal circles in England, and which impose wonderfully on foreigners. I am rather embarrassed by the knowledge that almost all the "causes" to which Söderblom devotes his superabundant energies are distasteful to me. For instance, he is an enthusiast for "Copec", and I hold "Copec" in contempt. He exults in cosmopolitan conferences & congresses; I look on them as among the least satisfactory features of our time.

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