The Henson Journals

[166]

Friday, February 15th, 1918.

1292nd day

I walked to Westminster, & called on Lee, whom I asked to continue to act as my secretary, and charged to get a seal made, sufficient for purposes of business, but giving me time to determine what I would finally determine to have. There seems to be a considerable liberty in the matter. Then I called on Gow, and gave him an account of the Enthronement. I next walked to Acheson Batchelor, 25 Margaret Street, and told him that I would have the arms of the see engraved on the episcopal ring. Then I called on Adeney, & finally returned to the Athenaeum, where I lunched with Buchan as my table–companion. Later I picked up Ella & the baggage and went to King's Cross. We travelled to Durham in a very crowded train, arriving shortly after midnight. Mead–Falkner, & Col. Herne were in the carriage. A sharp attack of lumbago seized me as I was entering the Athenaeum about 12.30 p.m., and made all movement painful to me: but as I review the experiences of the last few weeks I can see that I have much to be thankful for both on the score of health, & on that of weather.

[167]

To the Bishop of Manchester

February 17th 1918

My dear Bishop,

I was actually in the course of writing to you when your second letter came in. Bishop Ryle will do well enough as Chairman, & his being on the spot is a distinct advantage.

I think we must from the start make quite clear whether we are really aiming at a continuation of the Establishment, or whether we are drafting a constitution for an independent disestablished Church, only suppressing for the time those parts of the scheme which pre–suppose the actual disestablishment.

If, as is not improbable, the latter is what most of the Committee have in mind, then we must record a protest, and afterwards proceed to insist on making the Church of Ireland rather than that of South Africa, the model of our new constitution. The former is really a far closer parallel to ourselves, & its system, if I understand it correctly, is far more tolerable than that of S. Africa, in which the Tractarian ideal most nearly attained expression. I think a minority Report is inevitable, & I hope we shall make it as powerful as possible.

The enthronement in Hereford on Shrove Tuesday was marked by emphatic demonstrations of general goodwill.

Yours ever sincerely,

H. H. Hereford

[168]

To the Headmaster of Durham School

February 19th 1918

My dear Budworth,

I am decanally disembodied, & can only approach you in formâ pauperis [the character of a pauper supplicant], but it has been pointed out to me that, (though several Deans of Durham held bishopricks, being indeed annexed abusively after the ill fashion of the "good old times", yet) I am the first Dean to be advanced to a bishoprick since William James, who was made bishop of Durham by James I in 1606, more than 3 centuries since, being at the time Dean of Durham. Whether this circumstance may serve to form a peg on which a disembodied Dean might fitly beg you to grant a half–holiday to the School, you will determine: but I should take it kindly if you could do so.

Yours affect,

H. H. Hereford.

[169]

I have been giving parting gifts to my colleagues: viz.

1. The Archdeacon – a 1st edition of Fuller's "Worthies"
2. Knowling – Santa Clare's (Davenport's) Treatise on the 39 Articles
3. Cruickshank – my ivory Crucifix
4. Bishop of Jarrow – Engraving of Durham Cathedral
5. Lillingston – Restoration of the Abbey by Hodgson Fowler.
6. Precentor – Life & Works of S. Bernard. translation 4 vols
7. Sacrist – Hutchinson's Durham 3 vols
8. Dennett – Buchan's History of the War 18 vols.
9. May – Life of Stopford Brooke
10. Bayley – Blackstone's "Magna Carta".
11. Budworth – Billings' Durham.
12. Poole
13. Meade Falkner – Enigmes de la Sainte Vierge
14. Freeman
15. Jobling
16. Reeve
17. Wilson

[170]

To the Dean of Carlisle

February 22nd 1908 [sic]

Dear Rashdall,

I think it is of real importance that you shd come to the meeting on the 27th. It is vital that we shd not allow Selborne & Co. to "rush" the whole business, & at whatever inconvenience you & I must keep our hands on this matter. Even if (which I don't think will be the case) there is little but formal business done at the meeting, we shall discover who are our friends, & be able to lay the foundation of some organized effort. The Ctee is as nearly "packed" as possible, & this adds to the importance of our "playing ourselves" for all that we are worth.

The Bp. of Manchester wrote to me some days ago. It appears probable that the Dean of Westr will be proposed as chairman, & this seems to be unobjectionable. Ryle is weak, but not malignant or unscrupulous. The Bishop thinks, & I agree with him, that our first action must be to make clear whether we are really designing to perpetuate the Establishment, or rather are really assuming Disestablishment & drafting a scheme for a disestablished church, only suppressing those features wh. pre–suppose that Disestablishment is un fait accompli. If, as is probable, the last be found to be the real intention of the majority, we must record a protest: & proceed to press for the adoption mutatis mutandis of the Irish model, rather [171] than the Scottish or the South African. In any case there must be a minority Report, & we must aim at making it as weighty as possible. Be sure & turn up on the 27th.

Yours affect,

H. H. Hereford

---