The Henson Journals

[115]

Monday, January 7th, 1918.

1253rd day

I left Durham by the early train. Snow was on the ground, & the weather was bitter. On the platform were the choir–boys going home for their brief holiday. Bayley was in my compartment, & we sate opposite an interesting and intelligent officer (Captain M. K. Wardle, Brigade Major, 5th Infantry Brigade, B.E.F.) who had been in Bourlon Wood, and gave us much interesting information about the Cambrai fighting. As I made my way from Westminster Bridge Station to Dean's Yard, I was hailed by the Gows with whom I had tea, & then went to 3 Little Cloisters, where the ever–hospitable Pearce was entertaining me. On the doorstep were the Archbishop & Mrs Davidson, who had come to leave a message that I should come to Lambeth at 6 p.m. This I did, and had a two–hours interview with the Archbishop.

The Archbishop began by explaining that he would probably have to return an answer to Gore's protest, and that he wished to be sure that he had not misunderstood my position. He had, therefore, sent for me in order that I might, if I thought fit, explain what I meant, & if he had rightly understood my published statements. I began by asking on what footing our conversation was proceeding. If any kind of official investigation into my beliefs were intended, I would decline to make any answer whatever. If the Archbishop were speaking only as one friend to another, I would answer his questions with the utmost candour so far as I could. His [116] Grace assented, and we talked freely. It seemed to me that we were, in the matter of personal belief, substantially agreed. The Archbishop indicated the possibility of his resigning office rather than proceed to consecrate me in the teeth of a really weighty protest from the bishops. I pointed out that his resignation would make it impossible for me to retain office in the English Church. How could I go back to my Deanery, discredited and disowned, to teach without authority, & to be the mark of every insult? Besides, Sanday's intervention had greatly added to the gravity of the situation. It could not possibly be a personal issue: it had widened into a large question, Whether New Testament Criticism with its inevitable bearing on the historical articles of the Creed was legitimate for English clergymen? His Grace did not dissent from this. I showed him some of the letters I had received from the bishops, & my answers to them. I stayed to dinner. It was rather a melancholy meal, for the Bishops of Ely & Dover were there, both very glum. The former had come up to discuss the situation created by Gore's protest. However we got through the meal, and I took my leave. As I walked back to Little Cloisters I reflected on the strange situation into which I had been brought with such dramatic suddenness. My elevation to the episcopate looks like becoming the occasion of my ejection from the Establishment. It will be odd to begin life again in one's 55th year!

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