The Henson Journals

[160]

Monday, September 9th, 1918.

1498th day

"It is inherent in the office of Bishops that it is their duty to guide rather that to follow those over whom they are placed". ––– Archbishop Tait.

For the present Archbishop's view of the duty of "a leader in the church" who "is called to steer in democratic and 'reforming' days", see the Life of A. C. Tait' vol. II. p.412.

I left Hereford by the 9.55 a.m. train, & travelled to Paddington viâ Gloucester, arriving about 3.30 p.m. Having found my room at Garlant's, I went to the Athenaeum, & had tea. There I found the President of Magdalen, & had some talk with him. He is actually at work upon his contribution to the Anson life. I walked to Westminster, and attended a meeting of dissentients from the Report of the Majority. Bp of Manchester, Dean of Canterbury, Archdeacon of Ely, Captain Torr & myself. We are so much divided among ourselves that it is hard to see how we can find a common formula. I dined at the Athenaeum with Newbolt, and afterwards sat in the smoking room with him & Sir Walter Raleigh, & talked until 10.30 p.m. It was very pleasant, for both are interesting men, & both have rather special knowledge of affairs. Newbolt told me that he had received from Sir Pertab Singh himself the story of the episode which inspired his poem in the "Times": that he had been given his (Sir P. S.'s) permission to publish it: + that the gallant Indian was very pleased with it. He said that he took him a day to compose the poem.

[161]

Newbolt told me the following: – "A Tommie fresh from the front overhears some one in the Tube speaking of two flamboyantly pious speeches of the Kaiser recently reported. "We owe a lot to that there Kayser" he observed. "How so?" he was asked. "Because he's kept on praying so loud that at last he's waking Gawd up!"Newbolt says that the news from Germany indicated great depression. There are 20,000 deserters in Berlin, & the Government is powerless to arrest them.

---