The Henson Journals

[96]

Friday, March 6th, 1931.

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Bitter cold with snow showers at intervals. I wrote to Watson seeking information about "residence". Christ Church, Oxford, with its professor–canons is closely parallel to Durham. After lunch I motored to Newcastle, and addressed an audience of less than 70 persons, mostly parsons and women, in the Connaught Hall. Angus Watson, a busy secretary very active in good works, presided as Chairman of the Newcastle & Gateshead Vigilance Association. The occasion was the annual meeting of that Society. I spoke for about half an hour, & then, after tea with the Chairman, returned to Auckland, carrying back with me as far as Durham, the deaconess Parton, who had attended the meeting.

The discussions of Ld Irwin & Gandhi are reported to have reached a successful conclusion. The terms agreed upon are published in the morning's papers, and appear to be reasonable. If we could assume good faith, mutual goodwill, & great patience, we might dare to think that the solution of the Indian problem had been found. At least the effort has been well–made, & cannot be wholly fruitless. Ld Irwin & Gandhi had much in common, not least a genuine admiration of the Founder of Christianity. And both are really religious men.

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