The Henson Journals

[177]

Monday, March 6th, 1922.

My dear Charles,

My recollection certainly accords with Pearce's. It was the custom for the offer of a gift to be reported to the Chapter, and accepted or declined by the Chapter. I remember the case of the Revised Version of the Bible presented by the 4 Burgesses of Oxford & Cambridge. It was formally accepted by the Chapter, & I think there was an entry in the Minutes thanking them. This would be in the early months of 1901. Armitage Robinson offered a rather embittered opposition, but he was alone. Later, I remember the question being raised as part of the voluminous case against A.R. who had then become Dean: & my recollection is that there was a general understanding that, whatever else was doubtful, the control of the property was clearly in the hands of the Corporation itself i.e. the Dean & Chapter. This was the view on which I myself acted as Dean of Durham. The late Lady Londonderry desired to present a processional cross to the Cathedral. I brought her offer before the Chapter, & only when it had been formally accepted, did she proceed to carry out her intention. Durham, like the Abbey, is a Tudor foundation, in which the Dean has control of the services, & larger powers than in the older foundations.

I do not see how the Chapter cd reasonably be expected to undertake the responsibility of ownership for properties which it had not itself consented to accept.

I am worrying my brains over the point, Whether the Bishops shd make any answer to the E.C.U. petition about the Cambridge Conference, &, if so, What.

Yours affley

Herbert Dunelm:

The Ven: Archdeacon Charles

The ever developing "Ritualism" of Westminster Abbey under an amiable Dean, too susceptible to "social opinion", and too easily led by the minor–canons, is clearly exercising the minds of the Canons, who, with the possible exception of Carnegie, are opposed to "Ritualism".

[178]

One of the diocesan lay readers, Thompson, an engineer by trade, & 37 years of age, came to inquire whether I would accept him as a candidate for Ordination, and I refused. I said he was too old, & that he could not reasonably be expected to satisfy my examining chaplains. He received my decision with due submission, & went away.

Clayton & I walked in the Park, and, as we returned, encountered a stout & well–dressed female with a colley on a leash, & a puppy running loose. I inquired whether she had never read the notice on the Park gate prohibiting the entrance of dogs: & she said that she had taken her dog in for years. Nevertheless, I made her remove the beast, pointing out that yesterday I had evicted a miner with his whippet, & I could not have one rule for miners & another for ladies! So she went away.

Clayton and I motored to Stockton, and arrived at the Parish Church more than half an hour before the time appointed for the Confirmation. I confirmed (as I was assured, but the number seemed to me greater) 171 candidates, fairly divided between the sexes. I felt curiously fatigued by the service which took just an hour and a half. We returned to Auckland directly, and arrived just after 9.30 p.m.

The Revd Herbert Ratford, whom I met some years ago at the Hague where he was chaplain, writes to express his approval of my project for annexing professorships to the Durham canonries. Headlam writes to say that he "absolutely agrees with it, & will help me in every possible way". The difficulties will arise mainly from the Dean and Watkins, and from the clamour to apply the capitular funds to the increase of clerical stipends. I wrote to the Dean suggesting that I should have a conference with the Dean & Chapter on the 18th inst. It may do good if I make them understand the situation in which they really stand. That the College can continue on its present lines appears to me wholly improbable. The endowment approaches £40,000 per annum, and may become yet greater. In the present necessity of the Church it is impossible to justify the application of that large sum to the up–keep of the Dean & five canons in a petty town like Durham. If they were maintaining a Theological Faculty for the Northern Province there might be a sufficient case.

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