The Henson Journals
Wed 29 October 1930
Volume 51, Pages 132 to 133
[132]
Wednesday, October 29th, 1930.
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The circumstance that as Bishop of Durham I had precedence over every other bishop, save only the Bishop of London, had the effect of separating me at all episcopal meetings from Ernest Pearce, beside whom I had generally sate, & thus threw him into the hands of the Bishops of Birmingham, Bristol, Norwich, and Bath & Wells, whose influence was far otherwise toned and directed than mine. Had I sate with him during the long discussions over the Revision of the Prayer Book, I incline to think that his course might have been different. But I cannot be very sure, for his Protestant prejudices were extraordinarily strong, and he was almost absurdly unable to rise above them. The Times has an appreciative obituary notice. He certainly did succeed in making a much more considerable figure than his modest powers might have seemed to make possible: but, nowise gifted, he had sterling practical qualities which commended him to greater men than himself. Like Godolphin, he was an ideal official, 'never in the way, and never out of it'.
[133]
I wrote a letter of condolences to the Bishop of Derby, Pearce's brother. He will be much afflicted by Ernest's death, for I never knew a more affectionate family.
Ella went with me to the Town Hall for the meeting which preceded the opening of the enlarged and renovated Barrington School. The Hall was densely crowded, & the atmosphere was deadly. Not a window seemed to be open. Why will the clergy be so indifferent to ventilation? They owe much discomfort, much ill health, & not a little failure to the quite unnecessary circumstance that they minister in poisonous atmospheres. Mr & Mrs Braley came to tea, and also Spencer Wade. That tiresome little boy Basil is now developing, or threatening to develope, tubercular trouble, & must be transferred from Gateshead to moorland air! Sic volo, sic jubeo! And where do the interests of the 12,000 parishioners come into the argument?
Welch sends me from Nigeria a long and illuminating letter. He is evidently chafing against the strait waistcoat of C. M. S.