The Henson Journals

[72]

Friday, June 28th, 1918.

1425th day

I wrote letters in the Athenaeum, walked into the city and changed a cheque, lunched, walked to Westminster & attended the Bishops' Committee on relations with Nonconformity, returned to the Club, walked with Godfrey to Brookes & had tea there, then walked to 35 Eaton Sq., and found Ella, walked with her, went to the Club, dined, wrote letters, & went to my hotel. Voila tout!

The Bishops of Winchester and Oxford declined to sit on the Committee, the one alleging the excuses of health, the other that of over–work! Thus the Ctee was reduced to four members – the bishops of Ely, Ripon, Chelmsford, & myself. It was sufficiently obvious that nothing effective could be done & nothing was done.

I was surprised, and perhaps a little annoyed, that there was no report of the meeting in Caxton Hall last night. Nor do I think that this was undesigned, for Glazebrook, whom I met in the Club, said something cryptic about regretting the "polemical" note at the conclusion of my speech! And this was only that I designed to exercise my episcopal power of dispensing with the law impartially! The truth is that the Churchmen's Union had its silly head turned by a visit to Lambeth. Charles, whom I met in the Club, & who was himself a member of the deputation, admitted as much. It is clear that the Archbishops intend that nothing shall be done, but everything evaporate in talk!

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