The Henson Journals
Fri 22 May 1914
Volume 19, Pages 193 to 194
[193]
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Friday, May 22nd, 1914. Edinburgh.
I spent the forenoon in the General Assembly of the Established Church, and the afternoon in that of the U.F. Church. In the past I listened to speeches about the Pensions for Aged Ministers: and the endowment of new parishes. In the last, I watched the election of a Professor of Dogmatic Theology to succeed the late Dr Orr. The Assembly Hall was crowded, & the galleries filled with visitors. There were 5 candidates, every one of whom was nominated in a speech of exactly 10 minutes, & seconded in a speech precisely half that length. Then a show of hands was taken, with the result that 2 candidates were withdrawn. There were two votes. The first ran thus:
- Forrest 366
- Lamont 260
- Macaulay 246 _ 872
This eliminated Macaulay, & a 2nd vote elected Forrest.
- Forrest 425
- Lamont 408 _ 833
Thus Forrest had a majority of 17 votes. Evidently everybody came with mind made up, & probably vote promised. The speeches were a mere ceremony. On the whole, though everything was very well managed, I cannot approve such a method of choosing a Professor.
[194] [symbol]
Ella & I breakfasted with the Moderator of the Established Church at the North British Hotel.
In the evening we dined at Holyrood with the High Commissioner. This is the 4th year of the reign of Lord Glenconner. Ella was allotted as a partner to Fisher, formerly of Morningside, now of St Cuthbert's. I had Clarissa Tennant (commonly called 'Clare') for my portion, & was well content.
What ought a Christian man to think of all this parade of State? It must be frankly conceded that it is all purely symbolic. Not even a shadow of substance remains in the High Commissioner's office. He serves to remind the Scottish public that the State recognizes the Church: he enlivens Edinburgh with a parade: & amuses the citizens with a fortnight's entertainment. His Grace according to his mind & his means, contributes to various good works, & seeks thus to ingratiate himself with the Scottish people. Beyond this, there is nothing in it. Yet its abolition would assuredly be unpopular: for the annual show is an assertion of national identity, and an appeal to history which is mainly flattering to Scottish pride. It may possibly tend to correct the merely ecclesiastical dispositions within the ranks of the clergy, & so assist them to a larger conception of their duty.