The Henson Journals

[39]

2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, January 16th, 1910.

A warm, wet, windy morning. The congregation in the Abbey at 10 a.m. was very small. Probably the excitement of the first polls affected church–going. I preached an old sermon, in which some lines of Churchill were quoted, which much delighted Mr Erskine. After service I called on Gow in order to learn the result of the polling. The Conservatives have gained 18 and lost 3 seats.

Holmes, of the Collegiate Hospital of S. Catherine in Regent's Park, preached in the Abbey at 3 p.m. He took for his text a sentence from 2. Peter, 'making your election sure': & played on the word 'election' grotesquely. I understand that this empty & voluble preacher, who waked the echoes of the Abbey, is considered very highly by the diocesan authorities.

Wilfrid Hill came to see me.

At Evensong there was a large congregation in S. Margaret's. I preached another old sermon.

[40]

On Monday Jany 17th, 1910, Hine Haycock came with me to Zion College, where I read a paper to the "Christian Conference" on 'Must the expression of Christian Brotherhood in Interchange of Pulpits & Intercommunion be hindered by the possession of an historic episcopate?' T. A. Lacey made a rambling speech in opposition.

Afterwards we went to Trafalgar Square to observe the crowds awaiting the results of the polling.

On Saturday, the 22nd Jan., I travelled to Edinburgh from King's Cross, & arrived nearly 40 minutes after time. I drove at once to 39 Palmerston Place, where I was to be the guest of Dr Mitford Mitchell.

Lady Frances Balfour was there: & to dinner came Dr Kelman, Dr Pagan, Dr Norman McLeod, Dr Patterson all very pleasant, & conversible.

The next morning, Sunday 23rd Jan. 1910, I preached in Free St George's. Before service an unknown lunatick insisted on sharing the pulpit with me, & had to be evicted by force. This was rather disturbing to the congregation, but I had no knowledge of the incident until afterwards. I preached from the Sermon on the Mount: my sermon took 35 minutes to deliver. [41] When we came out of St. George's, the snow was falling fast.

Lady Frances went back to Whittinghame at 6 p.m. dropping me on the way to the station at S. Cuthbert's. There the congregation was fairly large considering that Dr Wallace Williamson was being inducted at St Giles' today, & was preaching his first sermon tonight. The Church, which seats 2000, was nearly three parts full. I had been asked to preach to 'Young men', and I had prepared my sermon on the supposition that young men would form the bulk of my congregation. In point of fact, it was an ordinary congregation. Young men were present, & so were young women: nor were ancients of both sexes absent.

On Monday, the 24th Jany, the weather was odious, uniting every type of badness. I wrote Ella, Mother, & Linetta. Then I lunched with Mrs Glassford Bell, and met the Bishop of Edinburgh, an amiable & all but toothless old man. He told me with much gusto the story of the King's insistence on Lang's attending the parish church at Balmoral. A Colonel Stuart was there: both he and Mrs Bell had been in S. Cuthbert's last night. Afterwards mine host took me to the University Club, where I read the papers. Then I went to 7, Charlotte Sq: at 6.45, in order to have some conversation with Lord Guthrie on the question of the Divorce Commission. He is plainly suspicious of Lang: & wants me to be a witness. [42] I pressed on him the importance of investigating the whole subject of marriage–conditions, & reporting in a very large & thorough way, so that the means of effective discussion & finally of legislation might be given to the public.

I was much impressed by the partisan violence displayed in conversation by Carnegie Simpson and Martin. They seemed incapable of allowing any justification for the Unionist position, which none the less I defended, much to their astonishment.

On Tuesday, the 25th January, I wrote letters, & then walked into the city, as far as St Giles', where I was recognized by the old Beadle. After lunch, mine host & I went to the Club, & afterwards visited the old Parliament House, & looked into a Court, where a foolish case against a schoolmaster for thrashing a cheeky boy was in progress. After tea we visited old Dr MacGregor, & found a crowded room–full of women.

Wednesday, the 26th Jany, was another bright and very cold day. After writing letters &c. till lunch time, mine host took me to see Heriot's Hospital, a very interesting 17th century foundation. One of the boys had slipped & broken his leg just as we arrived. We walked back through the Grassmarket, where I observed with surprise that the scene of the martyrdoms was unmarked [43] by any memorial. Maimie Parker–Smith called.

Dr Cameron Lees, late minister of St Giles', and his successor Dr Wallace Williamson dined here. They were very interesting. Our conversation turned on the Irvingites, & the alleged gift of tongues. Williamson said that he had heard it at an ordination in the Catholic Apostolic Church in Edinburgh. He found himself compelled to go forth from the assembly, so repulsive to him was the noise, 'like some animal', but he admitted that the performance seemed genuine. Dr Lees asked me my opinion of the Papist Boanerges, Bernard Vaughan. He related one good mot of that unpleasing person. Speaking of Lord Rosebery, he said 'He's a fine man for a fine day". Rather to my surprise Dr L. said that he had ever been, & was still, politically a Liberal. He added that before 1885 most of the Kirk leaders were Liberal.

On Thursday, the 27th Jany, I lunched with Dr Kelman. There were present Prof. Lodge, Dr MacGregor (an U.F. Minister), Dr Simpson, Mr G. A. Smith, & another. Afterwards Lord Guthrie fetched me in his motor–car for a tour in the poorer districts in order to show some objects of interest. We saw the chapel of the Magdalen Hospital, which contained the only prae–Reformation stained glass in Scotland. This consisted of some armorial bearings, including those of Mary of Guise. The chapel had considerable historical interest, for [44] there Knox held the first Assembly of the Kirk. Afterwards the Chapel was bestowed on the Hammermen of Edinburgh, & they placed their notices on the walls from the 16th to the 18th centuries. We went on to the Cannongate [sic], & looked at a very interesting 16th century house of the Earl of Huntley, & a more magnificent 17th century mansion of the Earl of Murray. This was the house from which Argyll looked at the prisoner Montrose. In the grave–yard opposite are buried Adam Smith, & many other notable Scotchmen. Finally we visited Knox's House, where Lord Guthrie showed me with legitimate pride the very interesting & well–assorted collection of Knox–memorials.

On Friday, Jany 28th, I lunched with the students at the New College; & afterwards addressed the members of the Missionary Union. Then I was carried off to the University Settlement, where I gave a short address to the workers. Old Dr Whyte came to both functions, and made very flatterous speeches respecting me! I suspect that Christian Socialism of the conventional type goes far among these good people; but I was careful to avoid hurting their feelings. That queer creature, Munro Fergusson, is at the head of the Settlement. Kelman evidently plays the part of a Scottish Scott–Holland.

[45]

Returning to the house I resumed reading a new book on 'The Wars of Religion in France' by a Chicago Professor of European History; James Westfall Thompson. It is very well–done.

There came to dinner two divines of the established Church, Dr Weir and Mr MacLean. The last is said to write the 'Scotsman' leaders on ecclesiastical subjects. We had much conversation on matters urgent in Church & State.

On Saturday, Jany 29th, Maimie Parker Smith carried me off to lunch with Mr Davidson, the Archbishop of C's brother. Mrs & Miss Davidson were also at lunch. They live at a large house delightfully situated, with a noble view of the Forth with the Fife–shire hills beyond. We had much pleasant conversation mainly political. Mr D. has been a great traveller. He said his grandfather had been born as long ago as 1745: his father not being born until 1811. This is a long period to cover in two generations. Also he told me a story of Lord Young. Addressing Alfred Austin, he inquired whether he still wrote poetry. Yes, replied the Laureate, 'I must do something to keep the wolf from the door". "Do you read your poetry to the wolf?" asked the old Judge. Afterwards I walked to Holyrood, & again looked at the old houses in the Canongate.

[46]

On Sunday, the 30th Jany 1910, I preached in S. Cuthbert's. Dr MacGregor took the first prayer, & his assistant read the lessons, & did the rest. I preached & gave the Benediction. My sermon was on "Associations in Judgment". The church is said to seat 2500 people, &, save for a few seats in the corner of the gallery, seemed to be quite full. Afterwards I lunched with Dr MacGregor. James & Maimie Parker–Smith were also there, & Mr Cunningham (?) [sic].

In the evening I preached in the U.F. Church at Morningside. Forrest conducted the service very reverently. I read the lessons, preached, & gave the Benediction. There was a large & attentive congregation. I preached on "The criticism of scruples". Forrest came back with me to supper with mine host. On the way he told me that Cooper was raising the question of doctrinal subscription in the Re–union Conferences.

I returned to Westminster on Monday, Jan. 31st.

On Friday I attended the memorial service for old Mr Talbot in the Abbey, and read the Lesson.

Afterwards I gave a Lecture on the "Yellowstone" to the Westminster Boys.

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