The Henson Journals
Sun 10 January 1904 to Fri 22 January 1904
Volume 15, Pages 274 to 282
[274]
1stSunday after Epiphany, January 10th, 1904.
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The special celebration of Holy Communion at 9 a.m. was attended by 14 chancellors, viz.
| Edwin Saxton | |
| Albert " | Six of them came from an |
| George Bates | inconvenient distance, and |
| Henry Freeman | had breakfast after service |
| Victor Broughton | at the Rectory. |
| [symbol] Harold Knowling | |
| Willie White | |
| Fred. Tisdall | |
| Albert Parkhouse | |
| Robert Stephens | |
| Willie Deazley | |
| Fred. Brice | |
| Ernest Fontaine | |
| Jack Savigar |
Oxford & his daughter came to lunch. He is a strange creature full of odd jerky moralities which come into sight like the red rocks of Swedish cities where you least expect them: but I think him sincere, & like him. He described an amazing old antiquary of his acquaintance, name Drane (?Drain), resident in Cardiff. This man possesses seven ‘pomanders', [275] [symbol] and a 14th century chalice, (which he had been vainly appealed to to restore,). He entertains his gossips with rare old Tokay, & Malmsey, imports his own tea from Shanghai, where it costs him 7/6 per lb, spends his leisure in watching the habits of birds on the western Irish coasts, and (to crown all) has domesticated hares into astonishing friendliness & intelligence. Oxford describes him as wealthy & cynical: an agnostic in creed. He plies the profession of a chemist with considerable distinction, & is now 69 years old.
Rain fell during the afternoon, and the evening was deterrently damp. The congregation in S. Margaret's was not large, & the Offertory only: £3.0.6.
I wrote to Raleigh.
[276]
Confirmation Candidates
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born July 23rd 1888 baptized in Cathedral at Perth |
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born Aug. 28th 1887 baptized |
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born Aug. 27th 1886 baptized S. Matthew's, Brixton born April 2nd 1885 baptized S. Matthew's, Brixton |
} Kilda }Wavertree Rd }Streatham Hall }S.W. |
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born April 19. 1888 baptized |
1 Old Queen St. |
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born June 30th 1883 baptized |
25 Westminster Mansions Grt Smith St. |
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born June 8th 1887 baptized Runcorn Parish Church |
20 S. Stephen's Mansion |
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born Nov 25th 1887 baptized Valparaiso, Chile. |
23 Courtfield Rd S. Kensington |
[277]
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To the Rev. G. Margoliouth
[symbol] Jan. 12th. 1904
Dear Mr. Margoliouth
I ought to have acknowledged before your letter of 9th inst. with the spirit and purpose of which, it hardly needs saying that I am altogether in sympathy. The twin rocks on which such projects as yours seem almost always to go to pieces are, as I see the facts, these. Either they become an affair of academic specialists, who have neither the will nor the power to bring their conclusions to bear on the current faith and teaching of the Church: or they become an interest of partisans, who carry the prestige of science to the aid of bigotry. A notable example of the latter is provided in the Church History Society, originally started, I think, by Bishop Creighton, with the most admirable professions of intellectual rectitude and scientific purpose, but which, almost from the first, has come to be nothing more than another instrument for the propagation of the Anglican legend, which the bishops agree to accept as history. The country has been flooded with papers and pamphlets, varying greatly in value, but all directed with extraordinary skill to the single object of glorifying Anglicanism.
[278]
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This is a warning not lightly to be set aside: and, if I press it on you, it is because, being what and where I am, I cannot pretend to any right to claim an authoritative share in any properly academic scheme of theological work, while it is not less true that, as a religious teacher, I hold myself bound to exert myself to learn whatsoever truth is coming to hand, and, to the best of my power, to take account of it in my teaching. I gather that you have it in mind to keep the obligations of the teaching clergy steadily in view; and, on that assumption, I should be very willing to do anything in my power to forward such a scheme as you indicate. It would seem to me quite fundamental that no denominational restrictions as to membership should be admitted: the association for Christian Study by Christian teachers must necessarily proceed on the basis of Christian discipleship, and that, perhaps, can never be better expressed formally than by the apostolic formula "Jesus is Lord". I shall be glad to hear further from you, when you have consulted other likeminded clergymen, and have agreed on a rough draught of procedure.
Believe me,
Sincerely yours,
H. Hensley Henson
[279]
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To the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge (Dr Chase)
Janry 14th 1904
My dear Mr Vice-Chancellor,
Thank you much for your kind letter, all the kinder in my view for its frankness. You will understand that in inflicting another letter on you, I am influenced by the deep sense I have of the importance of minimizing misconception between those who stand for theological liberty. You must remember the purpose of my preaching on Dec: 20, & the circumstances. Rightly or wrongly I held it to be of quite cardinal importance that Gore's procedure shd be met with a prompt & emphatic disclaimer, which should arrest public attention. I did not mean by the phrases you deprecate, to stigmatize the Bishop's belief, or even his opinion of Mr. Beeby's belief but his actual course in coercing into a resignation, not by process of law, not by power of argument, not even by persuasion, but by a distinct appeal to the unreflecting orthodoxy of the public. That is a procedure which at all hazards must be resisted. If, first, the liberal clergy are to be evicted by insult & clamour from their offices, & then, - when they are out of the way - the doctrinal discussion is to be undertaken, there is no need to be in doubt as to its outcome. And this is really the present danger. I regret intensely that Freemantle & Beeby should have raised the question of the Virgin Birth: [280] the ultimate issues at stake could much better have been fought on another matter, not so delicate in itself, or so entrenched in Christian sentiment, or so extraordinarily difficult to discuss. But if we stand by & suffer a masterful bishop (with a large dose of the fanatic in him) to force a conclusion by the obvious & brutal method of boycotting & insulting the advocates of liberty, we shall richly deserve the fate which in good time will come upon ourselves. The sermon has not been published, having served its purpose of directing general attention to Gore's action. I am all for cautious, temperate, searching, & honest discussion, but such is wholly precluded, if one side must discuss with a halter round its neck.
Forgive all this, & believe me,
Sincerely yours.
H. Hensley Henson
[281]
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Cornelius James Alexander Kelder Buysman 14 Oct: 17 1903 Baptized S. Matthew's, Brixton. |
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| [symbol] 9. |
Mary MacSwiney Sinclair [symbol] 16 Aug. 3. 1904 baptized S. Margaret's, Westminster |
| [symbol] 10. |
Edith Mary Sharpe [symbol] 18 Jany 17. 1905 baptized in Hendon (S. John's) |
| 11. |
ersName> |
Magdalen Janet Anstruther
15 April 19 1889
baptized in S. Columba's, Pont St.
[282]
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On Friday, the 22nd Jany 1904 Mr Beeby called on me, and spent an hour in my study. He gave me a full account of what had passed between him and the bishop, described the isolation in which he had lived for more than 20 years, and the boycott which had been inflicted on him under the present régime. He said that he was now waiting Gore's answer to a letter in which he (Beeby) had demanded whether the bishop had anything against his personal character.
On the whole, Beeby favourably impressed me: and I incline to think that he has been hatefully oppressed.
Issues and controversies: recognition of/reunion with non-episcopal churches; Freemantle; Beeby case; virgin birth