The Henson Journals

[109]

Friday, July 11th, 1924.

[symbol]

I wrote to the Times a letter headed "Parliament and the National Assembly", in which I quoted the remarkable figures of the Deanery of Hartlepool. The Church Papers are silent about the debate in the H. of L. last Tuesday, save for a brief hostile reference in the 'Record'. Anything that might be thought to advance the credit of the Bishop of Durham needs no other title to complete neglect! On the other hand, both Bernard & George Adam Smith came to me in the Club & expressed their warm approval of my speech. I attended the meeting of both the Convocations in Dean's Yard. We agreed upon a form for Ordaining deaconesses, & decided to insist upon a 3 years course of theological training in the case of non–graduate candidates for Ordination.

Ella, who was staying in Dean's Yard, dined with me at 81 Albert Gate Mansions. Beside our host Lord Darling and his two daughters, there were Lord & Lady Raglan, and Lord Dewar. The latter is an Irish landlord, whose house was burned down. Ld Raglan has for some years been employed in the Sudan. He did not speak very favourably of the missionaries in that region. His wife interested me. She and Miss Darling sang after dinner very pleasantly. We came away shortly before 11 p.m., and parted at 21 Park Lane.

[110]

Lord Dewar spoke rather despondently of Ireland. He thought Cosgrave was honestly trying to "play the game", but was probably unable to restrain the Republicans. He might "keep things going after a fashion" until the next election, but then the Republicans would "sweep the board", and a situation of acute difficulty wd be created. England might, and probably would, desire to leave well alone, but she cd not ignore the fact that her Atlantic frontier was the Irish coast, nor cd she stand aside & let the six counties of Ulster be overrun by the Republican troops. He expressed great admiration for Bernard, whom he described as "really a great man".

Lady Raglan sate beside me at dinner, & our conversation drifted to religion. She expressed dislike of 'Anglo–Catholicism", and a very mean opinion of the clergy. She said that she could no longer endure the services in church, & had abandoned church–going. I expressed a genuine regret, & a less genuine confidence that matters wd improve. She said, and I fear that she spake truly, that young men & women had generally abandoned the profession of Christianity. I could but maunder some platitudes about the disturbing effects of the War. My mind went back to the Convocational discussions of this afternoon, and I realized the unbridged and perhaps unbridgeable chasm which parts Society from the Church. In which camp does one feel most at home?

---