The Henson Journals
Mon 18 December 1905
Volume 16, Pages 2 to 3
[2]
Monday, December 18th, 1905.
At 10 a.m. the Canons assembled in my study, & discussed the situation. We agreed to act together, & that the Sub–Dean should speak for us all. So we went into the Chapter at 11 a.m. After other business – including Raleigh's appointment as High Bailiff – had been transacted, we came to the pièce de resistance. The Dean read the statement he had already circulated, & as he read, he answered questions. Having come to the end of his statement, the Sub–Dean took up his parable, & formally asked the Dean to join in an Appeal to the Visitor. The Dean displayed great emotion, hinted that he would rather resign than accept an abatement of his powers, & seemed on the verge of tears. Welldon thereupon broke away, & ranged himself on the side of the Dean, & his defection visibly affected the Arch–deacon. Finally we reached an impotent conclusion. Welldon should draft a "Consuetudinary" against the next Chapter on Jany 16th: & if we cd agree thereon, we could ask the Visitor to validate it. The Dean evidently was much relieved, & expressed his gratitude to Welldon with injudicious freedom, revealing rather to the latter's embarrassment that he had assisted in the composition of his (the Dean's) statement. We came away much incensed against Welldon, & much annoyed with the Dean.
[3]
I was so much perturbed by the proceedings in Chapter that I forgot that I was "in Residence", and bound to attend the Abbey–service. Beeching and I walked the length of the Embankment and back.
In the evening I attended the performance of the Adelphi of Terence, which was well acted by the boys. Strong of Ch. Ch. sate next me, & we had some conversation. Sir Louis Dibdin was behind me, and in the intervals was communicative on the subject of the Ecclesiastical Disorders Commission Report. He said that he had himself drawn the said Report, that the evidence would fill three stout Blue Books, that much of the "expert evidence" was worthless, (e.g. that of Canon Maccoll, who actually supposed that Saragossa was a person!), that the Report would be published about Easter.
Issues and controversies: Westminster tensions concerning Robinson