The Henson Journals

[18]

Friday, May 16th, 1930.

Another brilliant morning, but the day became sultry as the afternoon drew to evening.

I wrote to Gerald Linnell offering him the nomination to Hamsterley. After the shock of the baby's death, he and his wife might be glad of a change.

Wykes has accepted Evenwood. He will carry on the tradition, except the Evening Communion. On the whole I am not troubled at this, for these evening celebrations are often irreverent and almost always superfluous. Their introduction tends to become a reprisal–policy of the Protestants, and represents no genuinely religious motive.

I motored to Sunderland, and addressed a meeting of clergy & nonconformists in the drawing room of Bishopwearmouth Rectory on "the relations of Church & State". The discussion did not contribute anything of value but the affectionate sentiments emitted by some of the Dissenters were most edifying, & if their sincerity equalled their affectionateness would be most welcome. But I have learned to discount the loving talk of separatists.

[19]

Lady Bell's sudden death in London is reported in the evening papers. Sir Hugh was with her. This is very sad. I last saw her in York Minster when I preached at the Military Service. I have met few women, more able and more charming.

I received a request from the Secretary of "The Individualist Luncheon" asking for the subject of my address on June 18th!! For my guidance a list of the subjects which have been handled this year was sent, and it rather alarms than assists me. At last, after many abortive essays, I settled on the following:–

'The British Lazzaroni: a post–war phenomenon.' That will give me the opportunity of saying some true & salutary things, which, since the Luncheon prides itself on its publicity, will get about, and possibly (though very improbably) do some good. I shall invite the expression of their opinions from some of my saner clergy, who have been most conspicuously connected with the unemployed. Even so, however, I am not very hopeful about it. I don't possess Inge's art of saying familiar things in such wise that they sound original.

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