The Henson Journals

[76]

Saturday, June 2nd, 1923.

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As illustrating the temper and tendency of the new "Anglo–Catholic" movement, it is worth mentioning that the insistence of the Vicar of All Saints, Newcastle, on substituting a celebration of the Holy Eucharist for the accustomed service, had the effect of so offending the Lord Mayor & Corporation Newcastle that they refused to attend Divine Service in All Saints on Sunday thus breaking a tradition 'centuries old'. I wrote to Newsom inquiring whether the report in "The Illustrated Chronicle" was true, and he replied that it was "a substantially true account" but "not a matter of great moment". The Vicar in his view was "pedantic" in the matter!

The Archbishop ^of Melbourne^ had some conversation with me before taking his departure. He said that his son, the Sec: of S.P.C.K. assured him that the E.C.U. was gravely divided on the "Anglo–Catholic" question, & that he himself had been invited to join the Committee with a view to determining a new policy. I doubt the value of this. He told me that a woeful Eyton in Australia returned to the vices which had drawn him from England, & died finally from poison which was self–administered. His suicide was "hushed up." He expressed himself rather strongly about Bishop Moule's weakness in dealing with cases of discipline, and his failure to stand by him (the Abp) in a very grave case. He held that in the case of these moral failures, it was not right to give another chance. That vice was both disqualifying & incurable.

[77]

The weather became warm & sunny. It was possible to sit out in the garden without discomfort. These happy changes were particularly welcome in view of the Church Lads Brigade camp. The boys, about 500, arrived in the course of the afternoon. Sir Timothy Eden, & an officer from Beamish named Ingram, stayed in the Castle. The other officers were billeted in the town.

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