The Henson Journals

[45]

Wednesday, July 14th, 1920.

This was the day of the experts. In succession there came before the Reunion Committee, Gore, Ryle, Armitage Robinson, & Cuthbert Turner. Ryle alone was in any sense friendly to going forward in the attempt to unite with the Presbyterians. The others were extremely uncompromising in their hostility. Robinson excelled himself in bigotry, delivered with an assumption of omniscience which was almost ludicrous. There was some questioning of these pundits during the afternoon, but nothing close or severe enough to match their performance. Several bishops commented on the contrast between the sermon which Robinson preached in the Abbey on 'Unity' before the Lambeth Conference of 1908, & the evidence he gave today. I observed that it wd have been but decent if he had donned a white sheet for the occasion. Individuals are beginning to disclose their quality. The Archbishop of Armagh is the most effective person on my side. The Bishop of Chelmsford, the least. Consistent & rather bitter opposition comes from the Scottish bishops. The Americans are mainly hostile. Rheinlander (Pennsylvania), Brent (Western New York), Gailor (Tennessee), & the Bishop of Southern Ohio are the leaders. The Bishops have not yet emerged from their mutual courtesies, but the tension is plainly increasing. The Bishops of Gloucester, Chichester, St Alban's, & Zanzibar are very restive: & the Talbots, père et fils, play up to their more plain–spoken brethren!

[46]

There seems some likelihood that the "Catholick" bishops will insist on raising Confirmation to the rank of an essential condition of Reunion. Our experts (except Ryle) were very insistent on it, & as they base it on scripture our Evangelicals are reduced to silence! I had a long talk with Temple after dinner. He expresses himself very liberally, &, though he declares his strong affection for Gore, he does not scruple to acknowledge that he dissents from his views. [I was pleased to learn that he disapproved of the proposal to transfer to the new parochial councils the rights of the vestry.]

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