The Henson Journals

[112]

The Epiphany, January 6th, 1918.

1252nd day

I went to the Cathedral at 8 a.m. & celebrated the Holy Communion. The church was cold, & there were but few communicants.

On returning to my room I wrote my reply to the Bishops of London and Winchester. The post brought letters from the Archbishop and the Bishop of Truro. These also I answered. It is plain enough that the Farnham section of High Church Bishops will support Gore with ample professions of personal distress in the process! Talbot, Gore, Burrows, Ingram, Gibson, and probably Lang will go together, and they will draw to their side Watts–Ditchfield certainly, and probably some more Evangelicals.

The Service of Prayer & Thanksgiving was attended by a great concourse. Major Rowlandson brought 25 men of the D.L.I. to attend the service. They headed the procession: & after the service I spoke briefly to them in the Chapter House. Four dissenting ministers attended, & two of them – Hooper, a Congregationalist, and Fletcher, a Wesleyan – read the Lessons. The Bishop preached well, but far too long. He is too elaborately rhetorical for these people. His voice is wonderful for a man of his years. After service Ladies Londonderry and Helmsley, Col. & Miss Blackitt, the High Sherriff, Mr & Mrs Morant, and some others came in to tea.

[113] [symbol]

To the Bishop of Winchester

My dear Bishop,

I have received your letter, and thank you sincerely for the kind expressions which it contains. It needs no saying that I appreciate and reciprocate your goodwill.

You will not doubt that I have considered with anxious care the suggestion which you are good enough to make to me, and you will believe that in declining it I am actuated by no petty or merely personal considerations.

It does not appear to me fitting in itself, or serviceable to any good purpose, that I should before my consecration make any statement of the nature which you propose. Nor can I admit that any such statement can fairly be asked of me.

I am, my dear Bishop, most sincerely yours,

H. Hensley Henson

I wrote in practically identical terms to the Bishop of London.

[114]

To the Archdeacon of Hereford

My dear Archdeacon,

It is good of you to send me the Report of your Christmas Sermon, which I have read with much interest, and a clear sense of the just intention which inspires it.

Someday, if God will, in quieter times we will talk over these grave matters as colleagues and friends. Meanwhile it will suffice if I endorse heartily your assurance of my unity with you and your people in the worship of the Incarnate.

It had been on my mind to send you my thanks for your good offices in my election. I cannot believe that the kind of agitation carried on by the English Church Union within and without the diocese can commend itself to any fair–minded Christian man, however conservative his beliefs.

I am, my dear Archdeacon,

Yours most sincerely,

H. Hensley Henson

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