The Henson Journals

[33]

Tuesday, July 6th, 1920.

Today the Conference dealt with the burning question of Reunion. The morning was Idevoted to the Episcopal Churches, and we had an abundance of the meticulous & unreal eloquence which seeks to prove that the miserable relics of ancient churches are really free from the heresies they have perpetuated! In the afternoon we came to the real matter in debate, when we discussed our relations with non–episcopal churches. Burrows of Chichester made a woeful speech, bad in form & substance, intensely narrow & embittered in tone. I followed him. My speech was closely listened to, and applauded at the close. At least I spoke with lucidity & decision. My demand was that we should acknowledge frankly the validity of Prebyterian Orders & Sacraments. I said some things which needed saying, & which went home. A good many bishops came to thank me afterwards.

[We left Miss Mundella, & transferred ourselves to the Deanery at St Paul's. Clutton–Brock & his wife were staying at the Deanery, and Welldon also. C.B. said that he had been at Canterbury, & met Lord Northcliffe there. He said that he was much struck by the deteriorated appearance of the Napoleon of Journalism. A self–dedication to a personal vendetta can hardly have any but a debasing effect on character.]

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