The Henson Journals

[176]

Thursday, July 7th, 1927.

After the excitements of yesterday, the Assembly was a scene of somnolence and boredom. A large proportion of the members had gone home: & the important business of Finance was gone through with expedition and with little criticism. Somebody passed me the following lines:–

The tumult and the fighting dies

The Inskips and the Jicks depart:

The Stone by Barnes inertly lies.

The Sparrow soothes the Pearcéd heart.

The flashing sword of gay DUNELM

Is sheathed: & Gloucester gnaws his knuckles:

The careworn Hugh deserts the helm,

And Manchester his belt unbuckles.

I went across to the House of Lords, & listened to the concluding stage of the debate on the Bishop of Manchester's Bill. It was thrown out on the 2nd Reading by 144 to 36.

[177]

Earl Russell spoke for the Bill, which, however, he praised very tepidly: and Lord Birkenhead made a brilliant, discursive, impudent and destructive attack on it. Both speakers referred to my speech, and both very considerately. As we passed into the lobby, Lord Balfour spoke to me in high terms of compliment of my speeches, which he had not heard. "Everybody is talking to me about them", he said. This was flatterous, & pleasant to hear. We spoke of the division in the Church Assembly, and he seemed to think that the Parliamentary prospects were favourable. But there are elements of danger in both Houses. Carson and Danesfort look coldly on me: but they are the "Die–Hards" of traditional Protestantism, who can hardly be very numerous. There are the extreme Anglo–Catholicks, like Ld Halifax and the Duke of Argyll: and there are the lawyers, like Hanworth, Sumner & others. There are also the Liberal & Labour Oppositions. Could all these combined bring into the lobby 100 peers against the Book? There are at least a score of episcopal votes against them.

There was a dinner party. Sir E Brooksbank & his wife, Judge Tobin, Canon & Mrs Donaldson, & Mrs How dined here.

---