The Henson Journals

Tuesday, June 29th, 1920.

I arranged that the Archdeacons shd have the use of my motor during my absence on 4 days in the week, & that on the remaining two William should assist Jones in cutting the lawn. Then I put together papers & books for the Conference, & bound up the congratulations in bundles. I wrote a short letter to the "Times", thanking my correspondents. Then we left Hereford, & travelled easily to Paddington, where we obtained a taxi with little difficulty, & were driven to 16 Elvaston Place, where Miss Mundella awaited us.

A dinner party. Lord Muir Mackenzie, Lord Justice Younger, the Dean of Westminster & Mrs Ryle, Sir Henry Howard & his daughter, Lady Cromer, & several others. It was pleasant enough, though, perhaps the chaff about "prince–bishops" grows rather tiresome when one allows oneself to remember the actual situation. Mrs Buchanan sate beside me at dinner, & talked about the Anson "Memoir", with which she expressed herself greatly pleased. The references to her husband were happily favourable, & they no doubt determined her attitude towards the book. It is amazing how self–centred we all are, & how we judge everything in its bearing on ourselves!

[29]

The National Assembly: (June 30–July 1st)

I attended the first sessions of the National Assembly, and (with the exception of an hour at Q.A.B.) sate through them. It was sufficiently evident that the Archbishops had arranged everything in collusion with the Palmer–Cecil–Wood combination, which has prevailed throughout. The main business was that of appointing various Committees, & it became at once apparent that what I ever foretold is already happening, viz. that the whole business will fall automatically into the hands of the metropolitan clique.

I spoke briefly on the 2nd day [July 1st] emphasising the necessity of a more deliberate & careful handling of the question of the endowments than the Assembly seemed disposed to contemplate. There was an evident desire to be rigorously "business–like". [Athelstan Riley, who made a dilatory speech, was summarily disposed of]: & there was a certain impatience of time–consuming rhetoric. The Archbishop was bent on getting through the business, & succeeded to admiration. But the Assembly is an unwieldy thing, & hard to fashion into a legislative instrument.

On Wednesday, we dined with the Charnwoods, and on Thursday [July 1st] we dined quietly with Miss Mundella.

On the whole I was received with kindness in the Assembly & received many congratulations. Sir Edward Clarke was particularly ardent in his words. I suppose my rapid advance is rather dramatic.

[30]

On Friday July 2nd 1920, Ella & I travelled to Canterbury, where we stayed with the Spooners. The Abp. of Rupertsland was also their guest. On Saturday there were two functions ̶ a lunch at S. Augustine's, and a service in the Cathedral at which the Archbishop sitting in S. Augustine's Chair formally welcomed the Bishops. I walked with the Bishop of London as the elect of Durham. Marion came over from Birchington, & witnessed the function with Ella & the Spooners. Afterwards there was a numerously attended garden party in the Chapter grounds. Then we all returned to London, & were back in 16 Elvaston Place in time for dinner.

I had some conversation with the Abp. of Rupertsland on the prospect of "Reunion" in the Conference. He said that he was not hopeful: that he found a change for the worse in the feeling of the bishops: that he had been much impressed by Armitage Robinson's sermon at the recent consecration of bishops, which was glaringly in contrast with the sermon which he preached before the Conference of 1912, being, indeed, a plea for the rigidest view of Apostolical succession. He agreed that either we must go forward by frankly recognizing the validity of presbyterian orders, or we must drop the subject altogether. He said that the Abp. of Melbourne was as depressed at the prospect as himself. I had a few words with D'Arcy, now Abp of Armagh, & he also seemed rather disheartened. On all of them I pressed the importance of keeping a stiff back, & insisting on taking some forward step. Clearly, there has been a considerable "Catholick" reaction, & the bishops are, for the most part, timorous creatures.

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