The Henson Journals

[206]

Wednesday, May 21st, 1919.

Lord Haldane tells me that his motion à propos the Enabling Bill will be seconded by Lord Crewe. This may, perhaps, give a more definitely party colour to it than is pleasant. It might mean that the Asquithian Liberals will add English Disestablishment to their platform. Then I shall be reviled as the villain of the piece! Yet it will but be the fulfilment of my prophecy that the attempt to secure "self–government" can only precipitate disestablishment.As I understand the project, any material alteration in the scheme, which the Bill is to 'enable', effected by Parlt, will taint it with Erastianism, and disqualify it for "Catholick" acceptance! Yet it is surely impossible that any self–respecting imperial legislature can permit itself to be hustled by this "take–it–or–leave–it" attitude.

I walked to the dentist after breakfast. On the way I overtook MrJustice Darling, & had some talk with him. He told me that the general opinion of the lawyers was adverse to the Enabling Bill.After finishing with the dentist, I went to the Athenaeum & wrote letters. Then I walked to 28 Queen Anne's Gate and lunched with Lord Haldane. We discussed the method of opposing the Enabling Bill. He says that Lord Crewe will second his resolution.Then I walked to[207]Lambeth, and spent the afternoon in the Bishops' meeting, where we discussed the situation of the Welsh Church. I said that it wd be intolerable to have the disestablished bishops in the Canterbury Convocation, & that alike in the interest of the Church in Wales and in that of the Church of England, there shd be a separate province of Wales created. This was on the whole the prevailing opinion. Gore wrote on a slip of paper, and passed across the table to me, a question. Whether in my heart of hearts I believed that the Establishment cdlast 50 years. I wrote in reply, "No; I don't think it will last 10", and returned the slip to him. At tea–timethe Archbishop observed to me, "I think you'll win". Indeed I myself think that any serious opposition in Parliament will defeat the Bill.

There was a pleasant dinner–party. George Prothero and his wife, J. G. Butcher, Mrs Ware & Mrs Napier were there. I had some talk with Butcher about the Enabling Bill which he has rashly promised to support. He agreed that, if it got into Committee, it must be amended. Earlier in the day, I met Marriott, who also was one of the pledged, but who said that my letters in the Times had shown him that he had been mistaken.

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