The Henson Journals

[153]

Saturday, November 3rd, 1928.

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I motored to Cuddesdon, & lunched with the Bishop. We were alone, & had some intimate talk, that is, as intimate as Strong's evasive & enigmatic temperament permits. Attractive in many respects as he is, and friendly in manner & speech, I have never yet succeeded in getting through his protective crust of foolery. He resembles Alington in this respect, but whereas in Alington's case, I suspect an essential frivolity, in Strong's I incline to believe that there is a fundamental gravity. Strong affects to think that when all these precious Synods have declared themselves, the Bishops will have sufficient assurance of clerical support to justify their procedure. I reminded him that London, Liverpool, Manchester & Blackburn were considerable exceptions, & that his own Synod had shown a disconcertingly large dissentient minority, & that at least 6 dioceses had no Synods at all. He admitted the seriousness of these facts, but hardly seemed to appreciate their force. After lunch I picked up Mrs. Pember in an adjacent house, and returned to Oxford, where I wrote letters, and then dined in a pleasant party with mine hostess.

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