The Henson Journals

[35]

Thursday, May 23rd, 1918.

1389th day

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A wet day, and much colder. We went out in the motor at 10 a.m. and got back at 6.15 p.m. In the interval I took two Confirmations, the one at Eardsley, where I confirmed 34 candidates, the other at Kington where I confirmed 33. Both the churches are architecturally interesting. Eardsley possesses a remarkable Font of, I suppose, the 12th century, richly carved. The parsons of these churches – Campbell and Probyn – impress me as good men, above the average in ability.

Wynne–Wilson brought me a copy of a petition to the Bishops on the subject of "the Creed in danger". The signatories are either octogenarians (e.g. Darby, Mitchinson, Halifax, & Ormsby), or extreme Ritualists (e.g. Boyd, Bullock–Webster, Hanbury–Tracy, Victor Seymour, Darwell Stone), or autonomist laymen (e.g. Griffith Boscawen, Hugh Cecil, & Selborne). More respectable are Dr James, the President of St John's, Oxford, Archdeacon Cunningham, & Canon Johns, Master of St Catherine's. Among those who are said to have "approved the Petition" are Welldon, & Sir Offley Wakeman. The latter is an old E.C.U. man, and the former is an inveterate popularity–hunter. Significantly enough, the signed forms of petition are to be returned to the egregious & irrepressible de Winton by June 20th next. We could hardly receive the document before the July meeting of Convocation. It is plain enough that the dissidence, disclosed by the agitation against my appointment to Hereford, is developing rapidly into an open conflict, which might easily precipitate disruption.

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