The Henson Journals

[192]

Saturday, December 6th, 1930.

I received from [that foxy rascal] Arnold Pinchard a letter informing me that the E.C.U. are determined "to support Patrons & their nominees in the vindication of their proper and legal rights" against the extra–legal catechising to which "in more than one case" the Bishop of a Diocese has subjected clergymen nominated to livings 'as a condition of institution', and asking me to use my influence with Bishops who have adopted this method of procedure so as to induce them to desist from such courses. This, I suppose, preludes some action against Barnes. I answered him.

John Wrightson came to lunch, and afterwards walked round the Park with me. He gives a rather more encouraging account of employment in his father's firm. He is very indignant over a book purporting to give an unvarnished account of Eton. He says that "it leaves a nasty taste in the mouth", and is as unfair to the school as it is disgraceful to the Author, an Etonian who has 'gone to pieces', & writes for money.

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