The Henson Journals

[62]

Friday, July 15th, 1921.

My impressions of the 'National Assembly' are mingled. On the one hand there is undoubted purpose & enthusiasm: there is generally a fair treatment even of unpopular speakers: & an evident consciousness that the credit of the Church requires good behaviour. On the other hand, there are clear indications of organized partisanship: a brazen display of 'Catholic' zeal: not a little rudeness to the episcopate: and an undercurrent of clericalism which is disconcerting. The archbishop did not seem very clear in his rulings, but his patience & courtesy never fail. The feebleness of the evangelicals can hardly be exaggerate. They are not only a minority, but a minority that is petty in number and contemptible in quality. The dominance of "the Family" was more than ever apparent. Lord Hugh Cecil, Lord Salisbury, Lord Wolmer, & Lord Selborne were always in charge. The Lawyers, Dibdin, Parmoor, Phillimore, Clarke, & Inskip are fairly prominent, & never unanimous. Some of the newly elected clergy made a figure. A vulgar person, from Essex, named Atkinson, half–buffoon, half attorney, quickly made himself odious. The Bishops are evidently unpopular both with clergy & with laity. Why this should be so, it is not easy to see, but the fact is indisputable. The conditions under which the business is carried on are not favourable to expedition. About 500 out of the 704 members attended, & the interest was well–maintained. The suggestion of the public meeting was inevitable, & of course, was unfortunate.

[63] [symbol]

Miss Mundella gave a dinner–party which was entirely successful. It goes without saying that "food & fittings" were ample & excellent. The company was well chosen – Lord & Lady Chelmsford, Lord & Lady Charnwood, Lord & Lady Emmott, Commander & Mrs Paget, Sir Aleck Lawrence, Lady Battersea, Lord Haldane & Miss Haldane, & the Dean of St Paul's. I took down Lady Chelmsford, & had some pleasant talk with her. Haldane was in his best conversational form. He said that Parnell once told him that Froude's English in Ireland was the truest version of Irish History. Both he and his sister were very full of Einstein, and "Relativity". Ralph tells me that his unpleasant colleague, Alexander, is begging hard in Downing Street for the bishoprick of Bath & Wells. This is odious hearing indeed, and may not be true: but Alexander is assuredly one of those men who give the impression that they blow their own trumpets, and grind their own axes! Lady Emmott very kindly presses me to stay with them when occasion took me to London. It would seem that Lady Scarbrough's example is infectious! Sir Aleck Lawrence also pressed us to visit him when we go into this West of England next month. He says that he is digging out a Roman Villa on his property: & that he has a charter conveying the village, & bearing date in the 9th century. All this sound very interesting.

Today St Swithun's day, has been rainless. A breeze has somewhat mitigated the tropical heat: but the temperature are still very exhausting.

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