The Henson Journals

[75]

Monday, July 1st, 1918.

1428th day

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The singular project of concurrent re–ordination in the interest of ecclesiastical reunion, which the fertile mind of Hamilton Baynes has suggested, does not appear to have made progress. It seems to be essentially identical with the plan which Briggs of the Union Seminary, New York, expounded to me. But it could not possibly succeed because it must needs arouse against itself precisely those in every church who take the most spiritual view of the ministry. Their scruples can hardly be removed by a proposition which implies that Ordination is no more than a ceremonial or legal preliminary to ministry. No: we must approach the practical problem from the opposite point of view. Ministry is so essentially a Divinely ordered, Divinely enabled thing, that where it is found, it must be owned and honoured. And the evidence of Ministry must be its fruits in the holiness of the minister, and the results of his work. "By their fruits ye shall know them". But who shall guarantee holiness in anyone? And who shall measure the spiritual quality of any man's ministry? Inevitably we are brought back to the prosaic question of formal credentials: and this raises the more difficult question of the right to grant them: and this the whole tiresome interminable wrangle about "Apostolic Succession". At least we know that Apostolic succession, where it is most confidently claimed, secures to the ordained minister neither personal holiness, nor ministerial success. It cannot enable any man to pass Christ's test of a true prophet.

[76]

I spent some time in the garden after breakfast talking with a young man, staying in the house, named Vincent, a relation (grandson, I think) of old Sir William Vincent. After depositing my bags at the station, I lunched with Bishop Hamilton Baynes, and heard from him a full account of his reunion–project. He had been to Farnham to talk it over with the Bishop of Winchester, & had not received much encouragement. He thought the Archbishop was timorous, & disinclined for anything that might provoke discussion. I travelled to Hereford by a train which left Birmingham at 3.50 p.m., and arrived at 6.3 p.m. Ella arrived from London about dinner–time.

The "Westminster Gazette" prints the following lines of Crashaw, under the heading

"Thought for the day":

Days, that in spite

Of darkness, by the light

Of a clear mind, are day all night.

Life that dares send

A challenge to his end,

And, when it comes, say, Welcome, friend.

I found a package awaiting me. It contained a little silver cup with an inscription: "H. H. H. d.d. J. G. W. Sis memor nostri". A kind letter from Wilson explained that it was an acknowledgment of much kind hospitality. It is pleasant to be thus remembered. I wonder whether they will all take to Welldon as heartily as they seem to have taken to me.

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