The Henson Journals

[287]

Monday, October 19th, 1925.

The Christian pastor, bowed to earth

With thankless toil, and vile esteemed

Still travailing in second birth

Of souls that will not be redeemed.

Yet steadfast set to do his part,

And fearing most his own vain heart:

Keble

This is not a picture that allures the eyes of modern youth!

I left Nottingham by 8.43 a.m. (Great Central) which reached London shortly after 11 am. Leaving my bag in Park Lane, I drove to the Athenaeum. Then I visited the barber, and the bookseller. After lunch, I walked to Westminster, and attended the meeting of the House of Bishops. The proceedings, which were of a preliminary nature, were conducted in private. More was a long discussion over the question whether our debates shd be open to the public. Their Graces produced a series of resolutions the effect of which was to keep the discussions private save when one third of the bishops desired publicity. I opposed this, and ultimately the proportion of bishops needed was reduced to six i.e. 1/6th of the number. The Archbishop of C. was evidently anxious to conciliate me, but, I fear, my course will be very offensive to him!

[288]

I dined at the Ship Restaurant in Whitehall with 10 other Bishops, members of the Missionary Committee, of which (by a foolish deference to an old friendship with Donaldson) I am a member. We were the following viz. Salisbury, Manchester, Winchester, St Albans, Peterborough, Bradford, Coventry, Chelmsford, Durham, & Chester. Dr Garfield Williams, who is some kind of a missionary secretary, was also of the party. After a rather gross & unwholesome meal, we began the serious business. It appears that a serious of reports has been prepared, describing the problems which confront the Church over the whole area of foreign missionary enterprise: that these reports are to be presented by "experts" at a great gathering in London on January 26–8 next year: that 30 or 40 representatives from every diocese are to attend this gathering with the object of acquiring knowledge & enthusiasm which wd qualify them for "enthusing" their several dioceses. It is a grandiose scheme enough, but it will cost much money. I doubt whether my poor broken diocese can take any effective part in it.

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