The Henson Journals

[135]

Thursday, February 2nd, 1922.

Four years ago on this day I was consecrated a Bishop in Westminster Abbey, and the occasion hangs heavily in my mind. I went straight to the barber, and had my hair cut. Then I wrote to Clayton, & sent him a communication for the Diocesan Gazette. I found Strong in the Club, & talked about my Durham project, with which he professed sympathy. After lunch I walked to Lambeth, and attended a meeting of Bishops. Burge brought forward the memorial to the Archbishop asking him to appoint a Commission on Doctrine with a view ultimately of producing something of the nature of a revised 39 Articles. The Archbishop made a cautious & sensible speech, & then I spoke. I began by a reference to my consecration.

"Four years ago I was consecrated a Bishop in Westminster Abbey. I have ever regarded that day as the unhappiest of a life in which unhappy days have not been few. When I recall the behaviour of a large number of the bishops, & consider how grievous was the injury they inflicted on me, how grave the obstacle to success which they thrust in my path at the start, in what gratuitous & undeserved embarrassment they immersed me, & remember that they are good men who conceived themselves required by their duty to act thus, I could not doubt the depth of the internal divisions of the Church of England."

I argued against the motion, & I think made an impression. Several bishops thanked me afterwards. The debate went on all the afternoon; the general sense was, I think, adverse to the proposal. During the discussion the Bishop of Winchester passed me a note – "Your old friend & my very beloved colleague, Macarthur died this morning of heart failure at Luccombe Hill. I had a letter from him in my morning's post." This is sad news. I liked Macarthur, & he liked me. I went to the club & wrote to his sister, who will be desolate. I dined with Lady S., Haldane, Sir Russell Rodd & Lady Rodd, Mr & Mrs Mildmay were the party, & it was pleasant enough. Haldane's oleaginous optimism becomes rather wearisome after a while!

---