The Henson Journals

[207]

Wednesday, March 9th, 1921.

William drove me to the station for the 7.58 a.m. train. I travelled to King's Cross very comfortably, and managed to get a taxi at once. Dropping my bags at 21 Park Lane, I went on to the Ecclesiastical Commission House at Westminster, & attended a meeting of the Committee on Church Property. Lord Cave presided, and we got through our business in an hour. Then I went to the House of Lords, & attended the debate on the Bishop of London's Bill for raising the age of consent to 17. The proceedings were not uninteresting, and I stayed to the division. There were never more than 70 peers present. I dined with Lord & Lady S. [Scarbrough] quietly. The evening papers report the assassination of the Spanish premier, Senor Dato, and the sudden death of Lord Moulton. Shall I speak in the debate on Ld Gorell's Bill tomorrow, or not? If I do, it will be to confess myself in favour of the Majority Report, and, therefore, against the policy of the Archbishops & bishops, as expressed in the recent debates on Ld Buckmaster's Bill. To do this, is to earn the hostility of the whole "Catholick" party, and to become more isolated than ever. But there comes a time when one must take one's stand: & I am not sure whether the subject of Divorce doesn't raise the real issue, on which a stand ought to be taken, as well as anything else. I shall prepare a speech, & see whether there is occasion to deliver it.

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