The Henson Journals

[308]

17th Sunday after Trinity, October 15th, 1916.

804th day

The violent wind of last night has broken a considerable branch from my principal tree, and hurled it into my neighbour's garden. There is still enough foliage on the trees to render them rather helpless under a gale: and the gales of the last week have robbed us of our autumnal glories. This morning the wind is moderating, though still high, and there is a brilliant sun. Reviewing the four changes in the Episcopate since I became Dean, one notices that there is a steady decline in intellectual distinction. At Bristol Nickson succeeds Browne: and at Exeter, Cecil follows Robertson. In both cases the out–going bishop had some academic and literary pretentions; the incoming bishops are wholly destitute of these. Wild and Woods replace Straton and Carr–Glyn [Carr Glyn]: in no case is there any pretence of intellectual distinction, but some improvement in personal quality. What possible weight on any theological issue could the four new bishops carry?

Ella and I motored to Newcastle, and there I preached in S. George's, where a dedication Festival was being observed. It is a fine new church, richly, even sumptuously, adorned. The Vicar, Canon Boot, is evidently a "moderate High Churchman", and a member of the "great central body" of Anglicans, of which Bishops are wont to speak on platforms! I repeated the sermon on 2.Samuel xxiii. 14–17, which has already been delivered in Durham, and in South Moor: and I added some vigourous expressions proper to Newcastle, and to a congregation of well–to–do folk, respecting "war–profits". I saw no reporter in the congregation, and none came to beg for my MS. afterwards. We lunched with the Vicar & his family, & had tea with Lady Ravensworth on our return journey.

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