The Henson Journals

[220]

Saturday, August 16th, 1930.

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Peers left after breakfast. His departure was regretted, for he is an agreeable guest as well as a well–informed & intelligent man. He is certainly an admirable comrade for an archaeological expedition.

I read through the Lambeth Encyclical. It is dignified, sonorous, and impressive: but, of course, it 'rings hollow' to anybody who knows that the actual state of mental & moral confusion in which its authors are immersed. It is not likely to escape hostile criticism, and, indeed, it lies exposed to obvious objections: for its actual concessions, while destructive of logical coherence, are too petty to have much reconciling value. The references, report, & resolutions dealing with "youth" are windy and futile. Their absence would have improved as well as shortlived the Evangelical. Scott Lidgett writes to ask me to write an article for the 'Contemporary' on the Lambeth decisions, but I declined. There is nothing useful that I can say, & much that is foolish that I might be led to say. On the whole, I think it wisest for the present to say nothing.

[221]

The Scarbroughs came to lunch. Also, Dennis, the Baptist Minister, who desires to be ordained and Arthur Watts, who was to have walked with me in the Park. After lunch I had some talk with Dennis, & was favourably impressed by him. I said that provisionally I would accept him for Ordination at Trinity 1931. But he must resign his present pastorate at the end of this year: & devote himself wholly to preparation for the Ordination. I bade him think over what I said, & let me know his decision. George & Beatrice Dennistoun with their children, Patrick & Joanna, came to tea: & hardly had they departed, before Wall & his wife brought to us the Bishop of Uganda and Mrs Willis. I was glad to find that Bishop Willis was pleased with the result of the Lambeth Conference. He agreed with me that the American bishops were curiously undistinguished & ineffective. I showed the Bishop and his wife over the house, which (rather to my surprize) they were eager to see.

Charles went off for his month's holiday, leaving me in a perilous helplessness. The weather all day has been glorious.

[222]

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The Bishop of Ballarat writes a pleasant letter to answer to mine. He seems to have some desire to cultivate an acquaintance, which is amiable, if unwise:

"I know that you will acquit me of any desire to flatter when I tell you that I was hoping that I might have the opportunity of meeting you at Lambeth. I had heard so much of you, of course, and you are better known & appreciated even so far away as Australia than I expect you allow yourself to realize."

This is handsome enough. If the over–seas bishops expected much from the Bishop of Durham, they must have been woefully disappointed, for that Prelate really played a very small part in the Conference, & actually absented himself from the hectic days which concluded it.

Dr Marie Stopes is reported in the evening paper to have claimed the Resolutions of the Conference a considerable victory for her agitation. She may be right in this. If so, the resentment within the Church will be the sharper.

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