The Henson Journals

[37]

Thursday, October 9th, 1924.

The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich writes to ask me whether he is right in the theological opinions he has been propounding to an Anglo–Catholic incumbent in his diocese. I wrote in reply pointing out that the Church of England was, perhaps, more tolerant of superstitious views of the Eucharist than he assumed, & referring him to Apb. Temple's Primary Charge.

I motored to Durham, and lunched in the Castle Hall, where Sir Frank Brown was entertaining Ld Islington & the members of the "National Savings Association". I proposed the toast of the Assn in an impromptu foolish speech. Then I went to the Cosin Library, & joined the Board of Training. Next I interviewed a poor specimen of an Ordination candidate, & afterwards had tea with J. G. Wilson. Then I returned to Auckland.

Last night the Government was defeated in the House of Commons on a motion for a Committee to inquire into the circumstances in which the prosecution of the Communist editor, Campbell, had been begun and abandoned. It seems unavoidable that a General Election should take place within a few weeks. It is a wholly unnecessary, and merely mischievous, election. No great issue is before the country, only some illustrations of "Labour" incapacity which could not be surprising, which had done all the harm they could do when they had been provided, & cd not provide an adequate excuse for an appeal to the country.

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