The Henson Journals

[227]

Thursday, May 31st, 1919.

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A short note from Haldane: "I am getting my tackle ready for Tuesday, & am in communication with the Bishop of Manchester", acknowledges my "very full letter", and says that the references have proved valuable. Glazebrook tells me that the Churchmen's Union is sending to every member of Parliament a copy of the memorandum drawn up some while since by Rashdall, Emmet, & himself. This suggests some important & useful amendments. Knight, who is in a good position for appraising opinion in London, writes:–

"The Enabling Bill is meeting with an increasing volume of opposition. Men who were in favour of it now declare their opposition, & if only the case against it were stated effectively in the Lords next week we should hear no more about it…. It is said that several members in the Commons who formerly expressed their sympathy with the Bill are now contemplating opposition. Wolmer's list of supporters must be revised".

Pearce writes, "P. J. Forsyth has given our friends a nasty knock". The 'Times' has today a long letter from Temple replying to Forsyth, but with more embarrassment than conviction. My letter appears, and also a letter from Massie, dealing with some effect with the Bishop of Peterborough. The plot thickens!

[228]

Mr Potter, now a master at the Cathedral school came to see me. He wants to get some kind of spiritual locus standi in the diocese. I promised to grant him a preacher's license. Davis, the Vicar of St Weonard's, came to lunch. After lunch I had a grave talk with him about the situation in his parish. Hardly had he left my room, before Mrs Capper appeared. So I had a grave talk with her about the same. They both made peaceful declarations, but I think it is a case of incompatible temperaments, and a discord of women! Ella and I motored into the country, and paid some calls. We saw "the Revd H. A. Wadman, Vicar of Byford, and his wife. They have a large house, and a petty income. Then we had tea with Judge Ingham and his wife, pleasant people living in a pleasant place.

On returning to the Palace, I did the correspondence with Wynne–Willson. Hardly had I settled to my work before I was interrupted by Fred Tisdall, an 'old boy' of the Westminster period, who is stationed in Hereford for some special work. He is married and has 3 children. At the age of 32 he retains the frank good–humoured expression which distinguished the lad of 13, which was his age when first I made his acquaintance. He said that I was just the same to look at, but greyer!

[229] [symbol]

I gave a Bible to Melbourne, and a Prayer book to Randle, as a reminder of their confirmation yesterday. It is, perhaps, worthwhile, for the memories of this time in their lives cannot be too well secured.

The weather continues bright and warm. There are signs of actual drought, & the farmers begin to look anxious. It is more than commonly difficult to keep one's self to any work within doors, & out of doors the very notion of work is repulsive!

Lord Muir Mackenzie writes to propose a visit next week. He mentions the 2ndreading debate of [^the^] Enabling Bill, and adds "if there are not too many other speakers I shall have a say". Here is yet another Scotchman interesting himself in the fate of the Church of England! Can it be the case that the Church has fallen so completely out of touch with the English people that, in this hour of fate, none is to be found who cares what way befall it? "Democracy", the cant of the hour, accords ill with the hierarchical principle, which must needs govern the arrangements of an episcopal church: and, though there are many Socialists among the inferior clergy, the discord between the root–ideas of Socialism and Christianity is too profound to be easily bridged, if bridged at all. The "Via media" is unpalatable, and indeed almost unintelligible to our zealots of the sacristies.

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