The Henson Journals

[41]

Friday, February 13th, 1920.

The Archbishop changed the order of business with the result that the Crown Patronage debate did not come on before lunch. In a thin and jaded house I made a speech which deserved more success than it had. As I walked away I fell in with Gore gaiterless & with no strings in his hat. He is getting white but remains as alert & agile as ever. The way in which he threaded his way through the traffick in Oxford Street wd have done credit to a street Arab! I had tea in his rooms in Margaret Street & talked for half an hour. He is just back from his Mission in Cambridge, which has evidently pleased him greatly. He found little trace of modernism among the men. Bethune–Baker had not affected them. He said that Orchard had accepted Ordination from Hereford, & he was not well impressed with him. Gore said that he had been greatly surprised at the sudden downfall of the National Church idea, & was, of course, immensely pleased.

Harold came to fetch me from the Athenaeum, and carried me to 9 Ralston Street, where I dined with him & Elsie very pleasantly. After dinner I went upstairs & saw Peggy and Rex in their cots – a sweet spectacle. Then Harold drove me back to the Athenaeum, and we parted.

In the club I found the Bishop of St. David's and St. Asaph, and exchanged a few remarks with them before going to the club. I suspect that the Upper House of the little Province of Wales is hardly a happy family.

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