The Henson Journals

[173]

Monday, October 11th, 1920.

I went to the hair–dresser & had my Samsonic locks shorn and cleansed. Then I walked to Westminster and saw Lee about the homage. He suggested that I should write to Lord Stamfordham, and I did so later in the day. Then I walked round the Abbey, & joined the crowd which had gathered to welcome the Prince of Wales. H.R.H. looked pleased and healthy as a young man should. Then I lunched with Barnes in little cloisters, and had much pleasant talk with him. He says that Bethune–Baker is far the ablest of the Cambridge professors of divinity: that Stanton is thought to be growing more liberal as he grows older: that the "Anglo–Catholic" wave in the college chapels expresses the desire of the college–authorities to attract what religion yet lingers among the undergraduates: that the Christian Students' Union moves towards a synthesis of religious belief, and that, if it could succeed in including Anglicans, would probably draw into its membership most of the serious religion in the University. He said that his Sermon to the British Assn brought him more than 400 letters, of which many were simply abusive, many were sorrowfully distressed, and some were eagerly appreciative. Some came from opponents of Christianity who claimed him as one of themselves. I went to the Athenaeum, & wrote a few letters. Then I walked back to the Deanery. Watkins was in the Club, & told me that the Provost (Bernard) was to officiate at Lady Maureen's wedding on November 4th next.

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