The Henson Journals

[115]

Devotional Day, Friday, July 4th, 1930.

I made my way quite easily by motor–bus to Fulham Parish Church, where the services and addresses were arranged. The Bishop of London celebrated the Holy Communion at 8.30 a.m. There were, I suppose, about 150 bishops present. We had breakfast in a parish room hard by the church. The readings were from Church's 'Pascal', the sermon on Bishop Andrews, but the acoustics of the room were so bad that many of the feeding bishops heard little. Old Bishop Talbot, now in his 87th year, was the conductor, but he was more impressive than coherent, and was heard with difficulty. In the intervals between the addresses we sat about in the Palace Grounds, which are very beautiful. The spectacle of the ancient moat, which has been filled in to save the expense of keeping it clean filled me with a resentful melancholy. The great heat made attention very difficult [116] and in point of fact I more resembled Eutychus than Apollo.

When the last address had been given, I got away, and went to the Athenaeum, where I had tea, and read the morning papers. The Times has a short report of my speech in the Albert Hall: the Daily Telegraph has a longer report and a short leader: the Morning Post gives prominence to a lengthy article by that pragmatic jackass, Douglas, expressed with some rudeness towards me. The best report is in the Birmingham Daily Post, where no doubt the local situation furnished a reason for emphasizing what I said. The Yorkshire Post has a fair report: & the Manchester Guardian a brief one. The Church Papers had necessity to postpone their reports until next week. On the whole, I think it must be admitted that the Press have dealt fairly with the speech & recognized its importance.

[117]

July 4th, 1930.

My dear Sir,

I have to acknowledge your letter of the 2nd July, and to say that, which I fully recognize and appreciate the importance and potential value of such a symposium as the Central Council for Broadcast Adult Education has projected, I do not feel able myself to take any part in it. Apart from the question of personal qualification for that particular work – a point, however, on which I am very doubtful – I am so much pressed with other duties, which cannot be avoided, that I dare not undertake any fresh responsibilities.

Believe me,

Yours faithfully,

Herbert Dunelm.

The Director

Talks Department

The British Broadcasting Corporation

Savoy Hill

London

W.C.2.

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