The Henson Journals

[228]

Wednesday, October 22nd, 1919.

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I spent the whole day at Lambeth. There was much to interest and inform. The Archbishop made a statement about the Enabling Bill. He said it was "an open secret that it had been supposed that a promise had been obtained that the E.B. wd be introduced in the first days of the Session." Now he had received "an intimation that this was not possible, & this may mean that the Bill will not be introduced before Christmas. Thus the prospects are not bright at this moment. The whole thing is very uncertain & confused at present." His Grace added that this set–back had happened in spite of the fact that 284 members had made known their desire that the Bill shd be introduced. Later the Archbishop reported, with emphatic exhortation to the strictest secresy [sic], the result of a conference on Religious Education bet: Anglicans & Nonconformists under Fisher's presidency. The members included on the Anglican side, the Abp, the Bp. of Manchester, Boyd, A. Riley, & Holland: and on the Nonconformist side, Scott Lidgett, Clifford, Selbie, and Guttery. The Abp. postulated 3 principles viz. (1) that Religious education is essential: (2) that such education wd be useless unless given by religious & adequately trained men: (3) that religious teaching must be definite. Scott Lidgett accepted these: Dr Clifford rejected them & wd have the Bible [229] taught 'lexically': Guttery at once repudiated this, and Selbie agreed with him. The Abp. proceeded to say that, if these principles were conceded, he preferred a national to a denominational system. The Bp. of Manchester stuck out for the dual system. The Roman Catholics and the Teachers are the 2 main obstacles to a settlement.

The Bishop of Bristol gave a discouraging account of his dealings with the Revenue officials. I asked about the legal position as to letting Palaces, & was told that a Bishop might not add anything to his statutory income. I inquired what had been done about London House, & the Bp. of London explained how he had circumvented the law, & added £1000 to his income. I counselled him to put that money apart, & not keep it for himself: for if attention were drawn to an essentially fraudulent proceeding the discredit wd be great both to himself & to the church.

We had a considerable discussion about Benediction etc. from which it appeared that none of us was really prepared to prosecute. I explained my policy of anarchy all round as the only practicable course, & I was interested to note that it commanded general assent. It is ludicrous!

Ella and I dined with Sir John & Lady Struthers. Sir George Younger was there, & Captain & Mrs Crapon.

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