The Henson Journals

[193]

Friday, May 21st, 1920.

I caught the 9.45 a.m. from Paddington, & reached Hereford at 2.17 p.m. Among the letters awaiting me was an interesting one form George, with an account of the Chinese Wall. I wrote a number of letters including one to Mr Lawson Forster. The Congregationalist Minister, who has made up his mind to be Ordained next Advent. I hope it will turn out well. The "Guardian" has a friendly review of the Anson "Memoir". I received a letter from Sir Henry Graham thanking me for his copy of the "Memoir", which (as he is now quite blind) had been read to him. He seems to be pleased with it.

The "Modern Churchmen" has an article on Arthur Hugh Clough, which contains this fine little poem:–

It fortifies my soul to know

That, though I perish, Truth is so:

That, howso'er I stray or range,

What'er I do, Thou dost not change.

I steadier step when I recall

That, if I slip, Thou dost not fall

"It is the approach of a 'new order' that wakes religion & unites sects. Cataracts are normal & necessary to the stream of progress. We feel things cannot possibly go on as now" – Tyrrell

But the 'religion' that is waked is a new religion, & the sects of the old, if united at all, are only united against it. The History of Christianity is proof of this.

[194]

May 21st, 1920

My dear Lord Archbishop,

I enclose Abp. Söderblom's letter, & a copy of my reply. The occasion appears to be interesting & may possibly come to have an exceptional importance.

I am sorry to hear that an effort is likely to be made to get a doctrinal pronouncement out of the Lambeth Conference. The policy of such pronouncements is utterly mistaken: & their substance can hardly be worth anything. For they can only escape being offensive by being ambiguous: & then their very ambiguity becomes a fresh offence. Nor do I feel personally free to acquiesce in any course which wd impinge, or might fairly be thought to impinge, on my personal honour. I don't know what provision is made in the constitution of the Lambeth Conference for recording the protest of a minority: but I think it highly probable that I should desire to make full use of it.

Believe me,

Always your Grace's

Sincere & dutiful

H. H. Hereford

The Archbishop of Canterbury.

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