The Henson Journals

[63]

Saturday, July 31st, 1920.

[The conference exhibited some signs of reaction from the tension of yesterday. No one could get up much enthusiasm for the Eastern churches, whether orthodox or heretical, and the Bishop of Gloucester, who had charge of the resolutions, would have extinguished the fiercest zeal! In the afternoon there was a flicker of excitement over the Swedish church, but it didn't prevent the adoption of the resolutions. The Archbishop is evidently well–pleased at the ease with which the business was got through yesterday. He affects to think that the resolutions we adopted were really valuable & significant. Lang thanked me warmly for the self–restraint which kept me silent. If I had opposed, the resolutions would have failed! It appears that my silence is more welcome than my speech! I raised a laugh be explaining that I didn't intend consulting my metropolitan with respect to carrying out my promise to assist in the consecration of Swedish bishops. Afterwards, the Archbishop came to me in the Club, & I took occasion to ask him whether he designed commissioning another bishop to join me at Upsala on Sept: 19th. He disclaimed the intention. He professes to be greatly impressed by the Bishop of Zanzibar's speeches, & general behaviour, which contrast rather amazingly with his letters at the time of the Kikuyu incident. I told him not to be too confident. Zanzibar was capable of any sudden & surprising turn.

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