The Henson Journals

[50]

Monday, May 14th, 1923.

William motored me to Darlington, where I took train for London. Lang was my compagnon de voyage, and we had some conversation. I doubt if he is "going straight" in the matter of Prayer Book Revision. His unexpected advocacy of the 1549 Prayer Book has too much the appearance of a 'bid' for the "Anglo–Catholic" vote . I made him read the little tract on the said Book published by the Society of SS Peter & Paul, and written by a very "cock–sure" fanatick named ^Archdale A. King^. He was, I suspect, rather startled by it, but he did not admit as much. On arriving at King's Cross I drove to the Athenaeum. Then I visited the Barber: & went to Adeney's where I tried on the clothes I ordered a fortnight ago. On returning to the Club I found a crowded meeting of the members proceeding. A proposal to build an additional story, with a view to providing bedrooms was under discussion, but I did not abide the result, as I found the asphyxiating atmosphere of the over–crowded room unendurable. The proposal, as I learned afterwards, had been "turned down": and this is well. The 'Athenaeum', like the Jesuit Society, should never be altered: 'Sint ut sunt aut non sint' is a sound rule for such institutions! After leaving my bags in Marsham Street, & taking a constitutional in the Park, and then went again to the Club, where I dined with Strong. He professes willingness to make the handling of the Courts proceed synchronously with the Revision of the Prayer Book, but I doubt if he will stick even to that.

---