The Henson Journals

[109]

Wednesday, February 5th, 1930.

There was a full house & a crowded gallery for the debate on Temple's motion for a Commission on the relations of Church & State. Temple's speech, which occupied 80 minutes in delivery, was admirable in form & substance, & it was admirably delivered. He was loudly applauded when he sate down. The Bishop of Winchester seconded, but he was at some disadvantage in having to follow Temple, & his speech was not very effective. Then came three laymen, more or less in opposition, & all bad speakers. I followed, & spoke for half an hour. I produced much amusement by describing episcopal essays in extra–legal procedure: &, when I sate down, was loudly applauded. Many persons congratulated me on the speech, & so I must conclude that it was successful, but it did not satisfy me. I was followed by Sir Thomas Inskip, who was less successful ^effective^ than I had expected. I lunched at the Deanery. After lunch the debate was resumed, & continued in deepening dullness much all the afternoon. Then the Archbishop wound up with an astute but over–lengthy speech. The voting was decisive:– Bishops 33 to 1: Clergy 198 to 38: Laity 151 to 66 in favour of the motion.

[110]

I dined at Grillions, & was placed in the chair. We only numbered seven, viz:

1. Lord FitzAlan

2. Owen Seaman

3. Sir John Simon

4. The Master of the Rolls

5. Lord Desart

6. Lord Donoughmore

7. The Bishop of Durham.

Simon said that he had read through all the depositions in the famous anarchist case in America described in the novel 'Boston', and that the two men were in his view certainly innocent.

Lord Desart told me that he was over 81: and that the Benchers had made up the income of the Master of the Temple to £1000 per ann.

I received a letter from Froggatt, telling me that poor Harlow had died. It is, perhaps, a merciful release, for he could never have recovered his health. This living also is in the gift of the Crown. Two Crown livings are now vacant in the diocese.

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