The Henson Journals

[158]

Friday, April 30th, 1920.

Before getting up I read through the book which Ingram commended to me so earnestly ̶ "The Special Bases of the Anglican Claim by George J. Holden M.A. new & revised edition, with notes of F.C.R. Hicks M.A. and S.L. Ollard M.A. with foreword by the Ld Bishop of London A.R. Mowbray & Co.

I left the Palace in company with the Bps. of Peterboro & St E. & I., and was dropped at the Athenaeum. There I was called to Lambeth by telephone. The Abp. wanted to talk about the course he had best take over the Divorce Bill. He had just recd my Dioc: Messenger and read my message to the clergy on Marriage & Divorce. He said he agreed with it. The particular point on which he was in doubt was an amendment wh. Lord Selborne was prepared to move leaving those married under new law without remedy against the parson if he refused these communion. This, though in the interest of the clergy brought in Parlt as the authority for determining who shd & who shd not be admitted to the Holy Comn.; & therefore, wd not only be a bad precedent but wd raise the question of what is called "Erastianism" in an acute form. I agreed with his Grace that the amendment had best not be moved. The Abp. was more flustered & worried than I have yet seen him, except at the time of my Consecration. He certainly is horribly pressed. I lunched at the Athenaeum, & then went back to Hereford. I arrived in a downpour of rain, & was met by William. There was a considerable accumulation of letters on which I set to work after dinner.

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