The Henson Journals

[41]

Saturday, December 28th, 1929.

Is there going to be a "crisis" over 'modernism' in the Church of England? Barnes has exasperated his 'Anglo–Catholicks' so deeply that they are in the mood for 'reprisals', i.e. they incline to raise the cry of 'the Faith in danger'. The Papists, vigilant to 'buy up the opportunity' are doing what they can to fan the flame of Anglican dissensions. Besides these sectarianly interested minorities there is the "religious world", which is showing evidences of real spiritual distress. The 'Modern Churchmen' are so persistent in their attacks on the orthodox tradition, so scornful and aggressive that a considerable resentment is growing in the public mind. "Fundamentalism" and "No Popery" are frenzies latent in Protestant English folk which, once quickened into activity, may be both violent and intractable. Barnes has hitherto averted Fundamentalist opposition by making himself the darling of the "No Popery" fanaticks: but when his 'Anglo–Catholick' victims turn on him with an open denunciation of his religious opinions, even his Protestant following begins to fall away. The "Times" publishes an effective letter ^by the Papist litterateur, Alfred Noyes,^ headed 'Christian Tenets. Belief with Mental Reservations' in which he attacks Barnes very fiercely.

[42]

Alfred Noyes is the man who wrote an atrocious attack on Bunyan in the Bookman: &, therefore, he carries little weight: but he has a 'pretty pen', and Barnes provides a tempting morsel to a competent controversialist.

Lady Londonderry sent me her photograph, and a clever satire: "The Young Person's Complete Guide to Crime" by C. G. L. Du Cann.

Caröe and his son Alban arrived about lunch time, & made a hurried inspection of the Chapel. After lunch Leng drove them both to Darlington. I gave him a photograph of the portrait.

I walked in the Park in spite of the weather which was wretched, deluges of rain & driving gusts.

I wrote to Lord Sands thanking him for his book on Sir Walter Scott's mysterious love affair. He has bestowed an infinity of labour on a matter of trivial importance, which he leaves as obscure as he found it. But such literary trifling is a respectable and comparatively harmless mode of "killing" time after retirement from the active work of life: & he is really to be congratulated on having mind & will to fill his leisure thus.

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