The Henson Journals

[141]

Wednesday, August 1st, 1923.

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A young man named Heselton came to see me, being sent by Macdonald on the chance that I might persuade him to be ordained. He is 28 years old, & has taken his degree in the University of Edinburgh. He is at present disposed to become a schoolmaster, but says that from early boyhood he has had the desire to become a clergyman. I pointed out that what we call Divine Vocation can hardly be more surely disclosed than by the combination of desire & opportunity: that in his own case that combination appeared to exist: that the clergyman's career was fuller of spiritual opportunity than the schoolmaster's; finally, that there was a more urgent need for good clergy than fo good teachers. He went away professing his resolve to come to a decision, & to let me know what it was. How far can I rightly urge men to be ordained when no one can say with any certainty whether the Church of England will be recognizable in a few years?

I "fooled away" the time in clearing up my study, & trying to get my papers into some kind of order. William was so busily engaged in over–hauling the car that I could not get him to play bowls.

Maish came to see me about a curiously puzzling case of clerical discipline which occurred in the interval between Bishop Moule's death & my coming into residence: but he could throw no fresh light on the subject; & I was left as puzzled as ever respecting my duty.

[142] [symbol]

The object of Reunion is not a theological thing, but rather a practical & devotional one. People in devotion are united together. Things which separate them are the theoretical ones. When we begin to speculate and define the different doctrines, then the disagreement comes. And my fear is that, when the different divines come to agree on all their differences, & bring about Reunion, there will be nobody to unite. It has been said that the people themselves will compel the different theologians to leave all these subtle speculations & unite the Churches on a more practical & simple basis. But to my disappointment, what I see is quite the opposite. People get tired of all these religious controversies and, instead of being interested, they begin to leave the Church altogether, & besides there is a strong tendency, especially among progressive people, against organized religion: & the idea that a united Church will do more harm to the world than good is gaining ground, because it is true in many cases, that a strong organized Church very seldom can avoid mingling in politics.

v. Church Quarterly Review: July, 1923. p. 286.

The Article, from which the above is taken, is entitled, "Christian Reunion from the point of view of the Eastern Orthodox Church". The author is described as 'a graduate of the University of Athens'. His article 'was awarded a B.Litt. degree at Oxford in 1922, & is therefore earlier in date than the recent declaration of the Oecumenical Patriarchate on the subject of Anglican Orders.'

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