The Henson Journals

[180]

Wednesday, February 27th, 1924.

The weather was bitterly cold. I walked to the Athenaeum, and spent the morning there, save that I went out & had my hair cut. After lunching in the Club, I walked to Dean's Yard, and attended a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Court Commission. Justice Sankey was on my left, & Dr Darwell Stone on my right. We had some rather illuminating discussion on the question, Whether a final court could be created which should satisfy Anglo–Catholic principles. The question was left undecided, but 'twas clear enough that nothing could satisfy Darwell Stone & his following. I went over to the House of Lords, where Ld Buxton asked a question about the threatened Coal Strike. Ld Gainford made a speech, & then I was fool enough to make a speech myself. I spoke without preparation, & to no good end. I dined in the Athenaeum, having "Fish" Cecil as my table–mate. He told me that not only had he not authorized Bishop Masterman to make a pronouncement on the subject of dividing the Exeter diocese, but Bishop Masterman had himself promised not to do so! The snow was falling fast, & there was a substantial covering of snow on the street, when I returned from the Club to Park Lane.