The Henson Journals

[169]

Saturday, June 17th, 1922.

William motored me and Clayton to Darlington where we caught the early express to King's X. He left the train at Peterboro en route for Ely. On arrival in London, I drove to Dean's Yard and left my bags in 4 Dean's Yard. Then I went to the Athenaeum, where I found Tallents and the Dean of Westminster. I called on Storr, and had some talk with him. Barnes & his wife came in to dinner.

Our conversation turned inevitably on ecclesiastical affairs. Barnes is very optimistic about the outlook, but, so far as I can see, with no great reason for his confidence. He is probably right in thinking that the "Anglo–Catholic" movement cannot prevail in a people, so sane & morally robust as the English; but that doesn't preclude the possibility of its capturing the Church of England. And that is, in my view, precisely the real gravity of the movement. Thanks to the policy of the Tractarians who from the first exerted themselves to get hold of the training of the clergy, the "Anglo–Catholics" are strongly entrenched in the Universities & Theological Colleges. Whatever the Bishops may desire and design, they cannot ignore the convictions of the clergy, whom they ordain, institute, & license. What the clergy do and teach in the parish churches determines what the Church of England really is.

---