The Henson Journals

[347]

8th Sunday after Trinity, August 9th, 1908.

I celebrated at 8 a.m. in S. Margaret's. There were but 10 comts including the Bp. of North Dakota, Addis, & Knox who returned from his holiday last week. The collect fitted well my mood of perplexity & vacillation.

• O God, Whose never–failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven & earth, We humbly beseech Thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which be profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Dean celebrated in the Abbey at 10 a.m., and the Bishop of Duluth (Morrison) preached. He was extemporaneous, verbose, and declamatory. There were 120 comts.

At 3 p.m. there was a very large congregation, including the Archbishop of Canterbury. I preached on 'Single–mindedness', repeating the discourse preached in S. Margaret's on July 21st 1907.

At 7 p.m. the Abbey was again crowded. The Bishop of North Dakota preached well.

[348] [symbol]

Pros:–

1. A change of work, probably beneficial both to mind and body.
2. A public imprimatur to the views I have maintained as to the Church of England.
3. An opportunity of 'sweetening Jordan at its source' by getting into touch with the clergy–in–the–making.
4. Connection with a famous, numerous, & powerful society.
5. A chance of writing a serious work.
6. Relief from this ceaseless round of preaching.
7. The advice of the Warden, Raleigh, & Beeching.

On Wednesday, Aug. 5th 1908, I received a letter from the Prime Minister offering me the vacant Professorship at Oxford. I replied at once asking for a fortnight's grace before giving my final decision: then I wrote to Strong, and to the Archbishop. On Saturday I lunched at Lambeth, and talked the matter over with his Grace. He undertook to reflect, and then write before going abroad on Monday. I saw Raleigh, who on the whole favoured my going.

The matter was strangely complicated by the fact that Watson had told me that the Bp. of Salisbury was pressing him on the Govt for the post, & I had eagerly

[349] [symbol]

Con:–

1. The loss of nearly £300 per annum.
2. The deadly resentment of the disappointed pundits.
3. The labour of embarking on a new method of life, and the risk of failure therein.
4. The separation from S. Margaret's & the Abbey.
5. Leaving the constitutional conflict in medias res.
6. The forfeiture of the special independence which the position at Westminster possesses.
7. The clear advice of Gow, and Watson.
8. Lending myself to a handling of the Chair which my deliberate judgment disapproves.

approved, not suspecting that I should myself come into debate. Rashdall also had come to see me, and indicated that he was an aspirant. I had written to Hadden pressing him to use his influence, and had set forth the candidates in what appeared to me the order of their merit – 1. Watson 2. Rashdall. 3. Charles 4. Cruttwell. Hadden had called to see me, and I renewed my insistence on Watson's claims.

On Monday, 10th August, a long letter came from the Archbishop, the gist of which was (as I read it) that I ought to go. I wrote to the Warden, & he strongly counselled acceptance; also to Gow and [350] [symbol] Beeching, who gave conflicting counsel, the first being against, the last for acceptance.

I went carefully into the financial aspect of the matter, and concluded that I should not be able to maintain the position adequately on the official income. To this effect I wrote to my wife, indicating that unless she had some very strong reasons to urge against that course, I should decline the P.M.'s offer. Later in the day – Thursday, the 13th Aug: – on which I wrote thus decisively the Warden came in, and persuaded me to adventure the risks of poverty and failure, which indeed he declined to consider serious. He said that the Canons of Ch. Ch. did not entertain to any great extent. So thus I was sent back into the perplexities from which I had seemed to escape. Hearing that the Archdeacon was in residence, I wrote to him privately asking for information on certain points viz.

1. What is the statutory residence of the Canons?
2. Who does the dilapidations?
3. When does the income accrue, whether from the death of the old, or the installation of the new Canon?
4. Who pays the rates & taxes on the house?

On Saturday, the 15th August, Merton carried me to Oxford in his motor, Harold being with us. On Sunday [351] [symbol] I went before breakfast into the Chapel at All Souls, and spread the P.M.'s letter before the Lord. The collect for the day (9th after Trinity) matched well my situation: I prayed it several times over:– 'Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think & do always such things as be rightful: that we, who cannot do anything that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord'. After breakfast, I went to service in Christ Church. The Dean, Ottley, & Sanday were present. Ottley preached the sermon. When service was ended, I went in to the Deanery, and talked over the whole matter of the Professorship with Strong. He was most kind, but I went away in a state of great indecision. My wife had written definitely advising me to go to Oxford, and thus all the factors requisite for making the final choice were in my hands. When I awoke on Monday, the 17th Aug., my mind was made up, and before leaving Oxford to motor back to Westminster I sent notes to Strong and Watson stating my resolve to decline the Professorship. We reached home about lunch–time, and as soon as that meal was over, I wrote the fatal letter to Asquith. Thus after 12 days of mental debate I reached the conclusion to which my first impressions had pointed. I hope I have done right: assuredly I have not acted rashly or irreligiously.

[352] [symbol]

On Tuesday, the 18th August 1908, I travelled to Scotland via Euston, and joined my wife at Auchenlea. My reception indicated no slight measure of disappointment: the dear lady had brought herself into a desire for change, and was quite grieved to know that Oxford was definitely 'off'.

On Wednesday I received a telegram from Harold announcing that he had passed his examn. May this be the beginning of a steady and settled progress!

On Thursday, a friendly letter from the P.M. acknowledged my letter declining Ch. Ch. I seized the opportunity, and wrote to him, stating my view of the Professorship, and strongly urging him to appoint Watson.

On Friday, we enjoyed the delicious excitement of a tea party at Aunt Sabina's!

On Saturday, the motor having returned from the repairer, we planned a long ride in Argyllshire: but we had to turn back when we were but half way on our journey. However we saw Loch Long & Loch Lomond to great advantage. Harold sent me his photograph. Gordon Craik's death is announced in the Scotsman. I wrote to condole with his parents.

[353]

Books read during my holiday:–

1. Black. 'Kilmeny'
2. John Oliver Hobbes. 'The School for Saints'.
3. Jowett's Translation of the Four Socratic Dialogues of Plato.
4. Abbott's Philochristus
5. Maclaren. Graham of Claverhouse.
6. Justin McCarthy. Dear Lady Disdain.
7. Oswald Dykes. 'The Christian Minister & his Duties'.
8. Williamson. 'My friend the Chauffeur'.
9. Williamson. 'The Lightening Conductor'.
10. O'Donnell. Paraguay on Shannon.

---