The Henson Journals
Fri 3 February 1922
Volume 31, Page 136
[136]
Friday, February 3rd, 1922.
I spent the day at Lambeth. The discussions were not without interest. We began with the case of the elementary schools which now tends to desperation. The Archbishop of York was candid: –
"I don't know any part of England except perhaps Lancashire where the laity, even our own religious laity, are prepared to find the money required to put the buildings in repair, when the present period of educational indifference has passed."
His Grace of Canterbury gaves us an account of his dealings with the Dissenters, & told us frankly that "there was no chance of the Fisher Bill passing the House of Commons." Mr Fisher had undertaken that no privilege should be given to the Roman Catholics which would not be given to the Church of England, but the Archbishop thought we might well accept what the Roman Catholics wd refuse. I inquired what we are to do in the interval before a general settlement had been effected. There was no money to satisfy even the most urgent demands of the local authorities. The Abp. replied that we must do what we cd in the circumstances! This means, of course, surrendering the schools. Then the Bishop of Gloucester raised the question of Ripon College, objecting that Major, whether a heretick or not, was certainly a centre of controversy, and, as such, conflicted with the understanding that Principals of Training Colleges should keep out of controversy. The Bishop of Oxford spoke at length, & with great discretion & persuasiveness.
I wrote to Aglionby suggesting that he might go to St Cuthbert's, Gateshead if he could undertake not to outrage the people by "Anglo–Catholic" extravagances. If he would do so, I would offer him that important parish, not otherwise.
Fisher dined here. There was no other guest. We had much conversation, & I took the opportunity of telling him about my Durham project, & invoking his good offices. He was very frank about the political situation, admitting that the Government was stale, & that a change would probably be good for the country.