The Henson Journals

[117]

Tuesday, January 8th, 1918.

1254th day

I attended Mattins in Westminster Abbey, sitting in the stall into which I was inducted in December 1900. After service I called on Lee, whom I found rather depressed. He thought the Consecration wd probably have to be postponed. He had not yet succeeded in securing the services of an ecclesiastical lawyer to represent me at the Confirmation in Bow Church on the 23rd inst. Leaving him I walked to the Athenaeum, & there the Archbishop came in with Kenyon, evidently preparing the case for the British Museum to lay before the War Cabinet. His Grace spoke to me, & I told him of Lee's fears about the Consecration being postponed. "O, I don't think there is any probability of that" he said. I went to the Barber, & then to Adeney, where I ordered episcopal garments. Then I returned to the Club & lunched. Several members whom I didn't know came to me, & expressed their delight at my nomination to a bishoprick. After lunch I walked to Acheson Batchelor (25 Margaret St) who makes rings for bishops, & I inquired whether indeed it wd be requisite to engrave arms on the ring. He said it was the almost invariable practice. My soul revolts against the grotesque snobbery of my having now to adopt arms, when I receive a character which might seem particularly incongruous with all that arms symbolize.

[118]

Frank Pember came into the club while I was there, & we had some talk together. I told him of Lee's difficulty about getting a suitable lawyer, & he told me that Tomlin K.C. might do. Then I walked back to Dean's Yard.

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