The Henson Journals

[310]

Saturday, October 14th, 1916.

803rd day

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The problem of filling up Exeter is solved by the appointment of Lord William Gascoyne Cecil, Rector of Hatfield. On the whole it is a good appointment, and I felt myself able to write a letter of cordial congratulations & goodwill to the Bishop–designate.

I presided at a Special Chapter at which we appointed Canon Roberson to the living of Norham–on–Tweed. I gave notice that at the great Chapter in November, I would bring forward a proposal for reforming our method of administering the patronage. After the meeting I wrote to Canon Roberson, to Mr Percy Corder (respecting a picture which it is thought he may present to the D. & C.), to Mr Taylor (thanking him for his gifts to the Library), and to the Bishop of Newcastle.

I read through R. J. Campbell's Apologia – "A Spiritual Pilgrimage". It is very readable & extraordinarily inconsequent. The acceptance of Gore's version of Anglicanism is almost comically complete. Surely there never was a disciple more dog–like in his worship of the master of his choice. Again & again a controversial intention is repudiated, but, of course, the book is acutely controversial: and the most offensive part of it (so far as Nonconformists are concerned) is the concluding Irenicon. The real problem that calls for solution is not Campbell's Anglicanism, but his Nonconformity. It is obvious from the first that the man is temperamentally repugnant to Nonconformity. His "spiritual home" is beyond all reasonable doubt the Church of Rome: he has joined or rejoined the Church of England because he has invested it with the Roman character, & is hypnotized by the personal influence of Bishop Gore. The Nonconformists, assuredly have much to forgive.

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