The Henson Journals

[135]

Wednesday, April 14th, 1920.

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I wrote an article on "Marriage & Divorce" for the next issue of the "Diocesan Messenger", in which I urge the clergy to read the Majority Report of the Divorce Commission as well as the Minority Report, and indicate some sympathy with the new Bill. In view of the Lambeth Conference I feel it necessary to define my attitude. After lunch I walked for 2 hours on the beach with Marion, & then wrote to Linetta and Harold.

Ella forwards a letter from Mrs Moore, the wife of the Harvard Professor. It contains the expression of a sentiment which must be widely distributed in the United States: "I should think you would hardly like to confess that you know an American after the shocking default of our country in the matter of international relations. We are humiliated beyond words. My husband is speaking as often as he can on affairs of the Near East, trying to build up a sentiment for better things. Much of it is ignorance on the part of our people. [We can hardly wait for the next presidential election to have done with Wilson & his ilk."] Certainly the moral reputation of the great Republic never stood so low as at the present time, & the President whose sonorous platitudes were welcomed with such rapture, as if they constituted a new revelation from above is in the most abject situation conceivable, disowned at home & discredited abroad, a convicted Pecksmiff. It is only considerations of business that hold us back from giving open expression to our disgust and contempt for the man & all he stands for!

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