The Henson Journals

[163]

Wednesday, July 23rd, 1930.

There was considerable rally of the Anglo–Catholics this morning: & the excessive hopes of the Evangelicals were mainly dashed. However, we shall give some sort of a Blessing to the South Indian Scheme.

I am impressed by the unyielding episcopalianism of the Archbishop of Dublin. His dislike of what he calls 'sentimentalism' carries him into a curiously close alliance with the 'hard–shell sacerdotalists'. The American Bishops are evidently dominated by the crazy sectarianism of their country. It is very doubtful whether the modest advance towards a Christian attitude which was made at the Conference of 1920 will be maintained. The truth is that under the description 'the Anglican Communion' there are gathered two mutually contradicting conceptions of Christianity. How long the divergence on first principles can be concealed remains to be seen. Sometimes I think the rupture is very near.

I went to the House of Lords, & then attended a reception given by Lords Sankey & Parmoor. It was rather a poor show, & very poorly attended. I suspect that the Overseas Bishops are becoming "fed–up" with entertainments.

[164]

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[struck through] I dined pleasantly at Grillions. There were present the following:–

1.	Lord Hanworth
2.	" Fitzalan
3.	" Crawford & Balcarres
4.	" Hartington
5.	Sir Maurice de Bunsen
6.	Rudyard Kipling
7.	The Editor of the Times
8.	The Editor of Punch
9.	The Bishop of Durham
10.	Ignotus

I sat between de Bunsen & Lord Fitzalan: and had Geoffrey Dawson opposite to me. Our conversation ranged over a wide area: & though it was vivacious & interesting, it left nothing worth recording. Geoffrey told me that the man, Beckett, who distinguished himself by the Rape of the Mace is a worthless fellow & of seriously bad character. It had been decided that he had best be left to the general contempt rather than made a martyr by any serious penalty. [end]

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