The Henson Journals

[139]

Monday, January 21st, 1918.

1267th day

I breakfasted with the Bryces at 3 Buckingham Gate. Our conversation was mostly about topics, theological & ecclesiastical, as my situation suggested. Then I walked to the Athenaeum, & got my letters. There was one from the Bishop of Rochester to say that he could not join my consecration. So the opposing list is lengthening. It now includes Oxford, London, Ely, Rochester, Salisbury, Chelmsford, and (I think) Worcester – 7 bishops. There will certainly be some additional names. Their lordships seek before all things a quiet life, & they dread the vengeance of the E.C.U. if they lay hands on a heretick. On my side I think I can count on the Archbishop, and the Bishops of Southwark, Bristol, Birmingham, Newcastle, and, perhaps, St David's, Llandaff, Exeter, and Lincoln – a possible 9. I walked into the City, & saw a modest announcement of the Confirmation on the door of Bow Church. It is fixed for 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday. A female hailed me. She said she was Miss Miles, formerly the School–mistress at Barking. Then I lunched with Ralph & Kitty. Archdeacon Spooner was also at the Deanery. Ralph and I walked back to the Athenaeum. Pease, Sir John Struthers, & Steel–Maitland met, and congratulated me on reaching the episcopate! In the Club I found Sir Lewis Dibdin. He was reading my Edinburgh article, and expressed warm agreement with it. [140] He said that he thought that the only danger of a prosecution for heresy would come from Wace & his friends, who had no scruples about the courts; but Wace had no organized party behind him, & probably would do nothing further.

I dined at the House of Commons with Sir Henry Craik. There were also dining Walter Long, Sir George Younger, Colonel Lucas, Stanley Baldwin, and two whose names I forget. It was a pleasant party, & the conversation was very interesting. Craik proposed my health, which was drunk with much cordiality. I replied in a sentence: "Gentlemen, I thank you. I have not so many friends that I can undervalue those who are good enough to place themselves in that category". They protested that I had many more friends than I knew or suspected. It may be so, but, if so, they are like the 7000 who supported Elijah, invisible on his scenes of conflict. Walter Long in particular was most friendly. He gave an interesting account of the political situation when Lord Rosebery made his famous "predominant partner" speech. It appears that a considerable section of the Unionist party were not at the moment disinclined to accept Rosebery as leader, & that the speech was made on an understanding with them. But almost immediately he withdrew his speech in another: & when challenged by Long as to his reason replied that while he had received a multitude of protests from the Home Rule ranks, he had recd no expressions of approval from the Unionists! Such a reason disposes of his character as a leader.

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Issues and controversies: irish home rule