The Henson Journals

[262]

Thursday, November 2nd, 1916. Oxford.

822nd day

There was but a small muster of Fellows in college. The sermon was preached by Cholmondeley, who is now quite white. He referred, simply but sufficiently, to Mowbray and Cunliffe. After the service I walked with Fletcher; & took his opinion on the matter of my undertaking the "Life'. He agreed with Frank. After lunching with the Pembers, I walked with Cruttwell to visit Raleigh, who has returned to the Acland Home, & is evidently much better in health since his sojourn at Bournemouth. I had much talk with Cruttwell. He says that his experiences at the Front have changed his modes of thinking in many respects. He told me that the soldiers generally resent the Bishop of London's manner of speaking about them: & that his Lordship is really by no means popular in the Army. He speaks strongly about the [260] [symbol] incompetence of many of the chaplains, the cowardice of some, and the self–indulgence of a few. This is sad hearing. The chaplain with whom he was brought into direct contact was an egregious jackass and so rigid a "Catholick" that he made a point of "not knowing" the Wesleyan padre, & when, in his own absence, the latter officiated at the burial of some "Church of England" soldiers, he made a formal complaint to the authorities! Graham Harrison carried me off to Evensong at Magdalen, & this was refreshing. The anthem "Justorum animae in manu Dei sunt" [The souls of the just are in the hand of God] was beautifully sung. I dined in college, and sate beside Johnson, with whom I was particularly anxious to discuss the "Life". He was emphatic in urging me to undertake it. In common room I got speech on the same subject with Ker. Thus I have gathered the opinions of the following viz: Pember, Oman, Ker, Fletcher, Johnson, Graham Harrison, Cruttwell. And the opinion of Dunbar–Buller, and the request of Miss Anson. It would seem hardly possible for me to decline the task. I had some talk with Baker–Wilbraham, who has a very demure & chastened aspect, which I put down to the "National Mission"! I bought the little book which Gore has just published, and which is already selling by thousands. It is called "The Religion of the Church; a Manual of Membership", and is marked by Gore's virtues & by his defects. It is sharply, but deservedly criticised by Ralph in a signed article, which appears in this week's issue of the "Guardian". I do not doubt that it will have a considerable influence & not a wholesome one.

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