The Henson Journals

[69]

Tuesday, August 3rd, 1920.

I went into the City, and changed a cheque. The cashier, whose attention I had called to my new signature, said "That's a proud signature, my Lord. I have followed your course, so far as the papers have made it possible for me to do so, for many years." I thanked him for his goodwill: & walked to Lambeth.

Here we resumed the discussion on the "marriage problems" Resolutions. The dreadful question of "contraceptives" was raised. Of course, the official resolution condemned them utterly, and there seemed every likelihood that this would slip through unchallenged. So I rose, and moved an amendment. My speech must have impressed the assembly, for it opened an active discussion, which resulted in considerable modification of the resolution, & the postponement of the general debate. The speech itself as a speech seems to have been a success, for I received many compliments on it. The Bishop of Manchester, with every appearance of sincerity, said "I had thought that the art of oratory was dead until I heard your speech." The Abp. of Wales (a flatterous Celt) said, "It was the finest speech I have ever heard." The Bp. Of Winchester, who spoke later, complimented me on the "brilliance" of my speech; & I bowed my acknowledgments. Many of the bishops came & thanked me for what I said: & there was general applause when I sate down.

[70]

Perhaps more weighty than such compliments from comparative strangers was the fact that my friends, the Bishops of Worcester & Bristol assured me that I had done well.

The Bishop of Uganda (Willis) told me that he had asked the Indian Bishop of Dornakal (Azariah) how he liked the Conference: & he replied that he had enjoyed it all until today, when, for the first time in his life, he had learned of the existence of "contraceptives". Both idea and practice were unknown to the Indians.

I intervened again, and successfully, on a resolution urging the instruction for boys and girls on sex questions. I moved an amendment which changed the resolution into an admonition to parents to give the requisite teaching to their children, and to prepare themselves for the difficult task. My amendment was withdrawn in favour of another moved by the Bishop of Ely, which had substantially the same effect.

[The Bishop of Manchester, at tea–time, introduced me to his sister, whom we met at Toronto, and who is about to return to Canada. The Bishop of London makes no figure in the Conference. His conduct of the business today was feeble, and he gave the impression of inadequacy.] Bishop Brent made an excellent speech: and Archbishop D'Arcy also spoke effectively.

---