The Henson Journals

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25th Sunday after Trinity, November 9th, 1913. Canterbury.

I lay in bed until nearly noon, feeling wretched enough. Then I lunched with the Archbishop, & took him for a walk.

We talked of the incident in East Africa, which has exercised the mind of Bishop Tucker. His Grace is fearfully cautious, & emphasises the risks of High Church secessions. But he said that he personally had no kind of objection to intercommunion. At present he is awaiting a correct & detailed account of the facts. We discussed the grave inadequacy of the clergy, & he said that after 35 years' experience of Ordination candidates, he was persuaded that, while the level of sincerity & devotion was more than maintained, there was a marked absence of really able men. He said of Moule that he was the most absolutely useless person in conference he had ever met. He contributed nothing to the episcopal counsels. He denied that the cost of prosecutions was a factor in determining the bishops not to prosecute; but admitted that the diocese of Durham might be an exception. He agreed that the outlook in the matter of female suffrage was hopelessly dark. Mrs Davidson is herself a suffragist!

[54]

Canon & Mrs Vernon came in to tea: and the Hugenot pastor M. Barnabas.

I preached in the Cathedral to a very large congregation but my voice was raucous & hateful to hear, & the exertion was certainly very great. I had chosen the sermon as congruous with the melancholy festivities of one's birthday: my theme was the mortality of man, & his potency of immortality, &, after my frequent custom, I chose a double text – "What is your life?" and "He that doeth the will of God abideth forever". The Abp. occupied his throne. Wace & 3 canons were also present.

On Monday the 10th we went to London, Ella put up with the Webbes, & I with the Pearces.

The next day, Tuesday 11th, I travelled to Durham, and there occupied myself with writing many letters.

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Issues and controversies: female suffrage