The Henson Journals

[80]

Monday, October 6th, 1930.

The newspapers are filled with the tragedy enacted yesterday in France, when the great airship, on which so much money & so much thought have been bestowed, came to grief. No less than 46 persons, including Lord Thompson, the Air Minister, & many leading experts have perished miserably. I recall the lines of Vergil which, as Boswell tells us, Dr Johnson was fond of quoting:–

optima quaeque dies miseris mortalibus aevi

prima fugit: subeunt morbi tristisque senectus

et labor, et durae rapit inclementia mortis.

One could hardly find a better illustration of the ruthlessness of unfeeling death.

I set to work on the Vergil speech, & wrote about half of it. The expenditure of time on these "side–shows" is out of all proportion to the achievement and the occasion. The post brings a request from Middlesborough[sic] that I should "give the introductory lecture on January 12th when the 'second series of Lectures for the People' is to begin. But I shall say, No. The game is not worth the candle, and I have more on my hands than I can do.

[81]

A note from young Pater informs me that old Septimus Pater, the late Rector of Sunderland, has died. I wrote a letter of condolence to his widow.

Ella accompanied me to Sedgefield when I went there in order to institute Lord Thurlow to the Rectory. There was a crowded church, the congregation being swollen by an influx from personal friends who had known Thurlow when he was Vicar of Bishop Auckland. I was interested to see how large a number of clergy attended the service. Everything was well arranged & impressive. I told Moore, the assistant curate, that I should shortly ask him to accept a living.

Philip Strong came here to discuss with me the possibility of his succeeding Baily as Vicar of S. Ignatius, Sunderland. After dinner I had some talk with him. He is a fine young fellow, full of ardour, & of more than average ability, but he is deeply bitten with Anglo–Catholicism: & I am not sure whether he would be moderate enough for S. Ignatius. However, he must go and see Baily.

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