The Henson Journals

[157]

Septuagesima, February 8th, 1903.

I celebrated at 8 a.m. There were 23 commts. Then I drove to Lock Hospital, & preached the Annual Sermon for the Refuge, connected with it. Lord Kinnaird, the Chairman, took me back to Dean's Yard: and I diagnosed him on the way. In the afternoon, accompanied by Alan Henderson, I went to Bethnal Green, & gave the 2nd lecture of my course. The room was well filled with men. I spoke for a full hour: & afterwards answered diverse questions, & a rambling atheist's speech. Then I returned to Westminster, and preached in S. Margaret's to a large congregation.

Alwyn Parker came to supper.

[158]

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To the Rev. Ensor Walters

13th Feb. 1903

Dear Mr Ensor Walters,

I have been thinking over the invitation which you so kindly brought me to preach in St: James Hall, the annual sermon of the West London Mission, and I have consulted one or two friends in whose judgement I have confidence. The result is that I must very regretfully say No. You will need no assurance from me that if I consulted only my own personal feelings, I should have no hesitation whatever in coming to you, but I feel that the position in which I stand, and the great importance of the cause to which I have addressed myself, make it extremely requisite that I should, as far as possible, avoid anything which might have the effect of hindering moderate Anglicans from listening to my case. In the main, and for a long time to come, my duty is with my fellow Churchmen, whom I have to persuade [159] [symbol] to accept a standpoint to which, for the most part, they are quite unaccustomed, and which can hardly fail to be, at first sight, extremely unpalatable. I am quite clear in my own mind as to the essential rightness of that standpoint, and it is a matter of faith with me that it is sound policy resolutely to follow in all their practical consequences, principles, which are seen to be just. But there is need to remember the Pauline counsel not to let our good be evil spoken of, and, therefore, I accept a limitation of my proper liberty in order not to offend prejudices which however irrational, cannot be justly described as unnatural.

With many thanks for your kindness in asking me to come, with much regret that I must decline to come, and with earnest hope that the day may be not far distant when an interchange of Pulpits between the ordained Ministers of different branches [160] [symbol] of Christ's Church (variously organised as the circumstances of History, which are the guidings of Providence, have determined, but none the less fundamentally united in the faith and worship of the one Lord) may seem the most natural thing in the world.

I am,

Yours very sincerely,

H. Hensley Henson

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Issues and controversies: recognition of/reunion with non-episcopal churches