The Henson Journals

[89]

Thursday, November 20th, 1924.

I spent most past of the day in the Assembly listening to a debate on the Education question, to which I contributed a short speech in the course of the afternoon. The Bishops of Wakefield and Manchester made the outstanding speeches; the last especially spoke with great ability. Lord Parmoor made a worthless bombastick speech, denouncing the Cowper–Temple clause, & was loudly applauded by the fanaticks. Several women addressed the Assembly, a shameful performance, which might well bring S. Paul from Paradise to rebuke the degenerate Church!

I lunched with Sir Henry Craik and Mr Gow. The Bishop of Salisbury, Lord Charnwood, Bishop Knight, and the Archbishop's chaplains were loud in praise for my speech, which however was none the less a poor performance.

Jean Bruce dined at Lambeth, She looks thinner, and more careworn, but very sweet and attractive still. She said she heard my speech in the House of Lords on the Liquor Bill, & was so excited that she nearly fell over from the Ladies' Gallery into the House. The Dean of Windsor & the Bishop of Wakefield told me many anecdotes about Bishop Lightfoot.

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