The Henson Journals

[205]

Tuesday, March 8th, 1921.

Sure when Religion did itself embark,

And from the East would Westward steer its ark,

It struck, and splitting on this unknown ground,

Each one thence pillag'd the first piece he found:

Hence Amsterdam, Turk–Christian–Pagan–Jew.

Staple of sects, and mint of schisme grew;

That bank of conscience, where not one so strange

Opinion but finds credit, and exchange.

In vain for Catholicks ourselves we bear;

The universal church is only there.

Andrew Marvell "The Character of Holland" 1672

This suggests that Marvell held a mean opinion of sectaries. He was a Puritan conformist, but as the personal friend of Milton, he would have regarded ecclesiastical systems with little respect. On the other hand, he was a man of affairs, & looked with dislike on the anarchic fervours of sectarianism. Moreover he wrote at a time when everything Dutch was odious in English eyes, and sectarianism had found its home in Amsterdam for more than a century. His satire "The character of Holland" is sufficiently savage:

'Holland, that scarce deserves the name of land,

As but th' offscouring of the British sand,

And so much earth as was contributed

By English pilots when they heav'd the lead.

[206]

Clayton and I motored to Durham, where I instituted Mr Gough to the Rectory of Castle Eden, and licensed a curate. Then I called on Dawson Walker, & discussed some questions about the deacon's examinations. Then I lunched pleasantly with J. G. Wilson; Captain Apperley was there. His old raven poisoned itself by feeding on tit–bits from a dung–heap, but he has secured another. After lunch I went to my room at the Castle, and wrote letters. At 4 p.m. Major Slovach, the new organising secretary of C.L.B. [Church Lads Brigade] came to see me, in order to discuss plans for developing that organisation in the diocese. He expressed a desire to be ordained with the understanding that he should devote himself to C.L.B. work. He is 26 years old, was training as a doctor when the war broke out, served in Gallipoli & was invalided home, and now has undertaken C.L.B. He seems intelligent, sincere, and eager. Finally he made a dreadful allegation against one of the clergy, which disconcerted & dismayed me. I do not yet see what my duty requires me to do.

At 5.20 p.m. we left Durham, and motored to South Shields, where I confirmed about 100 candidates in S. Stephen's Church. After a brief visit to the Vicarage, where several of the clergy had gathered to meet me, we returned to Auckland, arriving at the Castle about 10.45 p.m. After supper I wrote to Col Bowes asking him to see me on Saturday to talk over Major Slovach's matter.

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