The Henson Journals

[65]

Thursday, February 26th, 1920.

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I left Cardiff by the 9.28 a.m. train and reached Hereford at 11.19 a.m. On the way I read the jubilant account in the "Times" of Asquith's return for Paisley. It is certainly a heavy personal blow for the Prime Minister.

At 3 p.m. I instituted Mr Stamer to the parish of Berington. At 4 p.m. the wretched B. from Hatfield came to see me. He repeated the grotesque nonsense which he wrote to the Abp., but I wd not allow it, & confronted him relentlessly with the alternative, either immediate resignation, or prosecution. He elected to resign. James had the document ready, with the requisite witnesses: and it was forthwith signed. I reserved to myself the fixing of the date when the resignation shd take effect. This is all very distressing.

I decided that the resignation should take effect on March 31st, and that B. shd not be allowed to officiate again: & I wrote to him stating my decision. Also, I wrote to the Abp. of Canterbury and to the Lord Chancellor, reporting what had happened. It seemed to me advisable, in view of the scandal which had been caused, to send the announcement of B.'s resignation to the local newspapers.

I had a letter from Ernest which troubled me. His heart is evidently fixed on the stage. His little triumphs at Oxford have again shaken him off his balance. In view of such continuing proofs of instability, can I be right in encouraging him to think of taking Holy Orders? I begin to suspect that my duty lies in the opposite direction.

[66] [symbol]

February 26th 1920

Dear Sir,

You ask me two questions which admit of short answer.

1. What is the Church going to do about the Amritsar massacres?

The Church, by which presumably you mean the clergy, will, I hope, reserve judgment on the lamentable occurrences at Amritsar until the facts have been duly certified. It wd be extremely wrong for men, who are in a special degree committed to the defence of morality, to set an example of injustice by condemning accused officials on partial information.

2. Where were the so–called servants of Christ whilst the massacred men, women, & children of Amritsar were lying hour after hour in agonising pain etc.?

I have no direct knowledge of the situation, but I conjecture that the Missionaries & their converts, whom presumably you refer to, were not likely to be taking part in an illegal assembly: &, until I know what was the extent of their knowledge & opportunity, I am obviously not in a position to pass judgment on their behaviour. Their known record prohibits the suggestion that they wd be lacking in humanity, or (so far as the English missionaries are concerned) in courage.

Believe me, Yours v. faithfully,

H. H. Hereford

Roy Horniman Esq

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