The Henson Journals

[143]

Thursday, August 2nd, 1923.

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I finished Morley's 'Life of Gladstone'. Certainly my deep–seated dislike of the G.O.M. was seriously shaken. He was on such a grand scale, that by comparison, all my generation look like pygmies. The weather changed suddenly, becoming cold, blustering, and wet. As evening drew on the temperature rose, & it blew a hurricane.

The Bishop of Winchester's resignation is announced at last. It was high time. His recent performances both in the House of Bishops and in the National Assembly have been distressing, so obvious in speech & manner were the ravages of senility ['old age' written above in red]. He was born in Feb. 1844, so that he is far advanced in his 80th year. He came on the scene with many advantages, & he made full use of them. He was a resolute Tractarian to start with, & he developed into a thorough–going "Anglo–Catholic". He used to the full the influence ['strength' written above in red] of his family connexions & official position to advance the fortunes of his party. [He possessed the art of dissembling his partisanship by a great appearance of wide–mindedness: so that though he was one of the narrowest High Churchmen of his time, he passed for one of the most liberal.] His personal influence was powerful, extended, and in some important respects unwholesome. The Archbishop of Canterbury fell under it, & was led far afield from the course natural to a man of his type & tradition. He cultivated youth, & was venerated by the "Life & Liberty" fanaticks ['zealots' written above in red].

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