The Henson Journals

[3]

Wednesday, October 3rd, 1923.

Reservation raises theological questions which go very far. If practised for purpose of devotion it is clearly against the mind of the Church of England.

Bishop Creighton 1898. (ii.312)

The Johnsons went off after breakfast, & I resumed work on the "Introduction". It is increasingly difficult to express myself both sincerely and wisely. Nor are terseness and lucidity easily united. After lunch I walked in the Park for an hour.

Creighton writing to D. Kolde, a German Lutheran, uses the expression, "we Protestants" (v. Life. ii.88). Would he have dared to call himself a Protestant in England? The now prevailing horror of the word "Protestant" is very strange, very irrational, & very unfortunate. It is strange because Anglican usage from the XVIth to the XIXth describes the Church of England as Protestant. It is irrational because only on the principles of Protestantism can the ^[Greek word]^ of the English Reformation be justified. It is unfortunate, since, when the Protestant position has once been repudiated, there is really no logical ^[Greek word]^ until the rock of Popery is reached. This is the explanation of the easy triumph of our Anglo–Caths. over the "moderate High churchmen". These having denied for themselves the Protestant character are drawn on from one point to another of Catholic tradition until they find themselves far beyond their wishes or beliefs!

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