The Henson Journals

[103]

Wednesday, October 3rd, 1928.

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I spent the day in Cheltenham attending the Congress. There was some apprehension about the evening session, as it was thought not improbable that the Anglo–Catholicks might make some kind of a protest against Major: but everything passed off quite harmoniously.

In the afternoon Streeter spoke very persuasively on 'Modernism', and was deservedly much applauded. Canon Selwyn, speaking for the Anglo–Catholicks, definitely "threw over" Lord Halifax. Chavasse, the exponent of 'the Evangelical Movement', was aggressive in manner, truculent in tone, and badly controversial in substance. Indeed, the Bishop felt it necessary to interpose the singing of the 'Veni Creator' between his speech and the next. Yet this utterance was loudly applauded by the audience.

Of the evening speakers on 'The Anglican Interpretation of the Christian Faith' Canon Quick was the best, & Canon Goudge the worst: Major was meek as Moses and mild as milk rather to the disappointment of a Congress which had come to the Hall with hope of a fray. Nairne was saintly & irrelevant.

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