The Henson Journals

[46]

Thursday, May 22nd, 1924.

I spent most part of the day at Lambeth. We began by discussing that tiresome old chestnut, Education. The subject was brought forward by Donaldson, whose diocese (Salisbury) is full of church schools, on which the local inspector has just reported that they are a school in bad hygiene to all the children who attend them. The laity will not subscribe for their maintenance. A similar declaration was made by two other bishops – Ely and Winchester – who also have many bad rural schools. The Abp. undertook to convene yet another conference to frame a "central policy" for the Church, which might be imposed even on the National Society. His Grace nominated me to be one of the members, but I had to decline as I must be in Ireland when the Conference meets on June 6th. The Bishop of Liverpool raised the painful question of removing names from the Caution List. There was a valuable but most hateful discussion. Then we got on to Hickson's faith–healing missions, which the Bishop of Bradford inclines to sanction in his diocese. I made a strong speech denouncing the fatuous statement issued by the Australian episcopate, and published in the Record for this week. Lang spoke at great length, and very cryptically. The bishops want to be deceived!

[47]

The Bishop of Hereford brought forward the subject of marriage with the deceased wife's sister. He thought the bishop ought to issue a dispensation after the Roman fashion. I said that the statute was itself a general dispensation.

After this, as the rest of the Agenda looked uninteresting, I came away, and went to the Club, where I had tea. Newbolt was there: he spoke flatterously of my 'Rede' Lecture.

Lady Chelmsford carried us off after dinner to witness a performance by the Anchorites, a society of Amateurs. The piece, 'Dorothy' was rendered with remarkable vigour, and was much appreciated by an audience which seemed to be mainly drawn from the Admiralty staff, & its friends. Captain Frazer, who had been an aide–de–camp to Lord Chelmsford in India, and is a brother of Mrs Haggie, accompanied us. He impressed me as an intelligent and agreeable man. In the course of a conversation on the present situation of India, he quoted the observation of M. Clemenceau, when he was shown the mighty structures of the new Delhi. "It will make as good a ruin as the others". There's a vast amount of humiliating truth summed up in that brief sardonic comment.

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