The Henson Journals
Tue 5 July 1927
Volume 42, Pages 172 to 173
[172]
Tuesday, July 5th, 1927.
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The heat last night was very great: and the day continued the tradition of the night. The Assembly began at 10.30 a.m., & after disposing of a point of order, the Archbishop of Canterbury moved that the Prayer Book Revision be approved. His Grace spoke with great force & dignity for half an hour, and was loudly applauded at the close of his speech. Then Darwell Stone spoke for 23 minutes, & Sir Joynson Hicks for half an hour. The Archbishop passed down to me the following note:–
Joynson Hicks wants to speak immediately. Are you prepared to follow him? It is, I think, important that you should if possible: but, of course, it must not be done at my request. R. J. C.
So, of course, I followed on, and spoke 'large' for half an hour. The speech was applauded, & many thanked me for it, but it had all the faults of extemporaneous speech, and I was ashamed of it.
I went to the House of Lords, where the 2nd reading debate on the Trades Unions Bill was continued. Lord De la Ware spoke for 45 minutes with much parade of vehemence, but neither knowledge nor conviction. Lord Askwith followed for 15 minutes: & then I spoke for 20 minutes. My speech was very well received, & many peers congratulated me afterwards. Lord [173] [symbol] Sumner made one of his fatal speeches, & then Lord Salisbury wound up the debate. I was the only Bishop who voted in the division. The 2nd reading of the Bill was carried by 152 to 27. Then, without changing, I drove to the Skinners' Hall, and dined at the Apposition Dinner of S Paul's School. The Mercers are exiled from their own Hall by the death watch beetle! I proposed the toast of the School. Thus I made no less than 3 speeches in one day.
Lord Selbourne sate beside me at dinner. He professes considerable anxiety as to the fortunes of the Revised Payer Book in the House of Lords, and attaches much importance to the effect of my speaking on it. I am not so sure of this myself. Hitherto I have spoken on subjects respecting which my views were in harmony with those of the majority, or such as the majority did not feel strongly about. The real test would be if I spoke in the teeth of the general feeling. In any case the goodwill of the House is an asset worth possessing.