The Henson Journals

[37]

Saturday, May 25th, 1918.

1391st day

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I completed the Abbey Sermon, and had an interview with Mr Wright & the Vicar of Humber respecting the union of Stoke Prior and Humber. The scheme is held up by the opposition of Nelson, the Vicar of Leominster. I undertook to speak to him on the subject when I go to Leominster for a confirmation. In the afternoon Ella and I drove out to return calls. Lady Croft was not at home: Mr Lea & his sister received us pleasantly, & as much may be said for Lady Hopton. After tea I went again to the Palace, & revised a sermon for use tomorrow. Also I wrote to George, to Kathleen, to Carissima, & to Sykes. From the last I received two books as a parting gift.

Archdeacon Pelham sends me a paper "Towards Reunion" drawn up by a company of Anglicans & Nonconformists, which included, until his recent death, Archdeacon Westcott. The proposals are rather vague, but otherwise unobjectionable. One appears to design something specific:– "By seeking to do away with any legal barriers that may exist to the permissive interchange of pulpits". The Archdeacon accompanies the paper in which he asks me "to refer him to any modern book, or individual, who wd help me to understand the legal difficulties in the way of a permissive interchange of pulpits". He adds, "I cannot say with what pleasure I heard of your appointment to the See of Hereford: & with what indignation I read of the opposition of the foolish". It remains to be seen how far the good man is representative of the Evangelicals. Will they support, or ignore, the appeal to the Bishops?

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