The Henson Journals

[118]

Wednesday, January 9th, 1918.

1255th day

The "Times" contains a short letter from Wace allying himself with Darwell Stone against my consecration. Sanday's letter was too much for him. So the old junction of the Parties repeats itself as I expected. Wace will no doubt carry into the opposition camp the bulk of the older Evangelicals.

I attended Mattins in the Abbey, wrote letters, went to the Athenaeum and lunched. Sir Walter Raleigh joined me. He was very emphatic in his support. Henry Newbolt also came to my table in order to assure me of his goodwill. But there were divers Bishops who looked away, or cast down their eyes, when they saw me coming! I received a very cordial letter from Bishop D'Arcy of Down. The value of episcopal letters rises as the opposition developes. I returned to Durham by the evening train, & arrived in the Deanery about midnight. A pile of letters awaited me, among which was one from the Bishop of Colchester, very firmly expressed. Alfred Spelling tells me that after the Eucharist in the Hospital Chapel at Ilford last Sunday signatures were invited to a petition against my consecration.

---