The Henson Journals

[6]

Friday, November 28th, 1928.

[Waking early, I occupied myself in making some notes for this "19th century & After" Article. I desire to raise the question of Disestablishment with some completeness, so that it can hardly be hustled aside by some loudly applauded archiepiscopal platitudes, which are as irrelevant as they are welcome. I want inter alia to show that the old arguments for the Establishment have mostly lost validity, and even meaning. The State has taken over so much from the clergy that they do not any longer play in the life of the people any such considerable rôle as they played up to the end of the XIXth century. Education, the organisation of recreation, the oversight of health, the rendering of many social services were once the sphere of the parson's activity. They are no longer.

[7]

[struck through] He is tied nakedly to his religious function, and there his sphere of activity is sadly curtailed by the growing secularisation of life. The old ideal of "an educated gentleman in every parish" was never even approximately realized. It is now a ludicrous travesty of the facts.[end]]

[struck through] After breakfast I left the Deanery, and went to the Athenæum. Then I had my hair cut &c and called in at the bookseller, where I provided myself with mental provender for my journey in the shape of Lytton Strachey's "Elizabeth & Essex", and Mary Webb's "Gone to Earth". Returning to the Club, I had an interview there with an Ordination candidate – Harry Legg Clothier. Then I went to King's Cross, & took the 1.15 p.m. express to Darlington. Here Lionel met me with the car. I found Dr & Mrs Rawlinson already arrived. He looks rather amiable than strong.[end]

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