B Y Tf/E SA M E A U TH O R

IN GOD
’
S N U R S ER Y
Cro w n 8 v o , 35 6d . . ne t .

THE W A T ER S O F TW I L I G H T
C r o w n 8 v o , 3 s 6d . . n e t.

LO N G M A N S, G R EEN A N D C O .

T H E G O D D ES S O F G H O S T S
w 8 3 6d
Cr o n vo . s. . ne t.

BU R N S A N D O A T ES , LTD .

I N GOD
’
S A RMY

(i) d
C o mman e r s in C hi ef; (iii ) C h rist s ’
d ets
Ca
( ii ) C aptai n s of C h r i st .
( I n P r ep ar ati on ) .

2s . n e t.

R. T W AS H BO U R N E,
. LTD .

O L D T ES TA M EN T S T O R I ES
L ar g e 8v o , 23 . n e t .

N EW T ES TA M EN T S T O R I ES
L ar g e 8v o . 25 . n e t.

SA N D S A N D CO .

T H EO S O P H Y
1 5. n e t.

C A T H O LI C T RU T H S O C I ET Y
 RO B ER T H U G H S
BEN O N

Fr om a photogr ap/
z field, Esq
i n the possersw n of Ber n ar d Aler g .
T H E L I FE O F M O N SI G N O R
R O B ER T H UG H BEN SO N

c . c . M A RTI N DA LE
AU TH O R OF
"TH E G O D DESS O F G H O STS , ETC .

I N TW O V O L U M ES

VO L . I

WI TH I L L US TR A TI ON S

LO N G M GR E E N A N D CO
A N S, .

39 PATERN OSTER ROW LON D O N ,

FO U R T H AV EN U E 30m S T R EET N EW YOR K ,

BO M BA Y C A LC U TTA A N D M A D R A S
. ,

19 16

A ll r ights s v d
re er e
 TO H UG H S M O THER
’

I cou ld n ot ev en con tem plate, dear M r s Ben son , ofler i ng

.

these pag es to any on e b u t you , n ot on lyfor the s ak e o f the activ e

g ood-will w ith w hich yo u sanction ed the s ugg estio n that I sho u ld

w r i te them, an d o f the help you hav e all the w hile so g en er ou s l
y

g iven me, b u t b ecause when once I h ad r ead the letter s th at

passed f an d H ug h, I
b etw een you r s el s imp ly had no cho ice.

I n h is life he had yo u r u ni u e afi ecti on , p f r o ou n d an d p er

q
’
man en t ; all o f that life that by God s law he mig ht, he gav e
to y ou ; it w o u ld b e r ob b i ng , so to say, the altar , if I kept b ack ,

f er ed el
sewher e, this biogr aphy dzfi iden tl i en , b eliev e
or o
( y w r tt

me, an d blaz on ing in e v ery par ag r aph the con scio u sn ess o
f its
i n adeq u acy ) .

A sking my s elf, then , how I ou

g ht to try to w r i te it, I re

mem b er ed that you o n ce said to hi m abou t a mor e famou s

b iogr aphy
’
Ther e is n t a shado w on the w hole por tr ait .
just i mag in e
it I am g oing to hi n t g en tl
y that ev en g laciers hav e shadows,

—
.

an d v ery b lu e an d deliciou s on e s too an d to ask f or the men tion

f few I
’
en dear in au lts b
o a g f ( I do n t b elie v e his wer e, u t shal
l
ask all the same ) .

A nd as o n e l
ong a fr ien d of yo u rs s o em phatically r emi n ded

me, “
1 1 fau t re specter le type on e Dieu cher che a
‘

p r odu ire en

n ou s .

So, w hile I cer tain l

y w ou ld n ev er hav e b een ab le, I m o st
assur ed y l hav e n ev er wished, to w r i te a v ie de sac r is ti e , I h av e
vi R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N

tr ied har d to s ay w hat I s aw , i n clu ding his f au lts —th ou

gh n ot

as faults ( ev e n if so they seemed) , b ut as facts ; nor i n deed ev en

“
to en dear h i m , b u t to co mm u n icate hi m, to fi
a er hi m to
anyon e w ho r eads thi s j he w as, i n his tr eme n dou s fi or t
'
u st as e

to r ealise in h i mself that which he b eliev ed God w an ted hi m

to b e . A n d to s
p eak f or on e y, I hav e
m om en t g r an diloq u entl
had to try to tr eat this “ Life as a psychologi cal s tu dy, or n ot

at all . A s mer e an n als, a list f

o things don e, or as a mer e
’
s tu d
fa litter ate u r it w as i ncon ceiv ab le
’
y o s ou t u t,
p .

A n d it is my p r iv ate cons olation that you hav e r ead, for

you r s el
f, ev ery w or d o f th is b o ok, an d that you hav e app r ov ed .

I t w as his p r actice to r ead his m an u scr ipts to y o u ; I cou l

d
n ot do b etter than to imitate h im at least thus far .

T0 b e low-m an is per haps

'
able to lov e an d v en er ate one s f el

the hig hest h u man pr iv ileg e to liv e w ith the b elov ed an d

hon ou r ed is an added g r ace . To yo u I owe , then , this g r eat

thing , that I hav e s en t at

p least this year , despite its co n stant

distr acti on s , i n close i ntimacy w ith you r son , w hom , as the

‘

man n er o f this life is, I saw so little . My af ection for him

w as estab lshed i b efor e I b egan to w r ite ; now it is in cr eased,
an d the mor e soli dl
y made fi r m. To his mother I do n ot

s hr i n k fr om making that av ow al . You w er e ( of co u r se) cer tain

that i t w ou ld b e so . Yet you w ill n ot despis e my assu r an ce

that you wer e w holy l r ight .

Very s i n cer el
y you r s ,

C . C . M A R TI N D A L E .

7h a v e N S,

fan u ar y 1 916 .
 I N T R O D U C TI O N

W H EN at th e ve ry ki nd r e qu e st o f M r A C B e nson
, . . .
,

I und e r took to writ e h is broth e r s li f e I did so with ’

th e most sin c e r e diffi den c e ; partly b e caus e I do u bt e d

wh e th er a lif e w e r e th e prop e r way o f doi ng homag e
“

to th e m e mory o f a man lik e R ob e r t H u gh B e nson who ,

n e v e r did anyth ing e xt e rn ally massive o r o ffi cially i m

portant n or e v e r h e ld any notabl e public p ositio n a s hi s
, ,

fath e r did and whos e infl u e nc e as f ar as I could j udg e

, , ,

flowe d chi e fly from his vivid but e lusiv e p e rsonality a nd

magn e tism M e moirs I f e lt like o r unlike thos e which
.
, ,

have app e ar e d or rap id p e n portraits by h is intimat e

,

f ri e nds we r e mor e suit e d to conv e y his vari e d and fl ee ting

,

moods than wa s a volum e .

Furth e r my acquaintanc e with Mgr B e nson was r e

, .

lativ e ly slight ; o f lat e y e ars his comm u nicatio ns had b e e n

r e duc e d to th e minim u m n e c e ssary for i nt e lligibility—thus ,

h e would fo r ward to m e l e tt e rs h e had r e c e iv e d with b ri e f ,

l eg e nds i n his angular hand black acro ss th e writing :

, ,

Can you h el p thi s man — h e seem s h on es t ; o r A r e th er e an

y ,

b ook s on th is ? or, I s th i s n on sens e ? Can y ou sen d me a

n ote ? So topic s h e i nqui r e d about we r e

sor ry ! The
mainly th e osophi cal and th e lik e o r de alt with quaint b y ,

paths o f r e li gio n .

A gai n it s e e m e d to m e that any bo o k o n Mgr B e nson

, .

wh ich fail ed to i nsist primarily o n h is utt e rly p e rsonal

a nd i nt e rio r moods motiv e s and attit u d e s would wholly
, ,
vii
 R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
miss th e p oi nt o n e ve ry mor e importa nt occasion calling
f or i nt e rpr e tation and th e r e is a v e ry nat u ral and j u stifi e d
,

r e p u gnanc e in many r e ad e rs ( not to m e ntio n th e writ er )

fo r curious inquisitio n into th e sanctiti e s o f a man s soul
’

b e h e n e v er so public in his car e e r .

Th e n th e only r e b u fi I e nco u nt e r e d wh e n havi ng

, ,

u nd e rtak e n th e writing of this biography I tri e d to coll e ct ,

mat e rial cam e f r om o n e who comm e nt e d o n th is g e n e ral

,
“

co nsp iracy to pr e s e nt [ Mr R H B e nson] as a mi r acl e

. . .

o f g e nius and o f virtu e I t was pr e sum e d that I would

.

continu e this e laborat e hymn o f u n m e asur e d e ulogy

“ .

Th e writ e r b e ing ,
“
an e n e my to wax -busts with pink
ch e eks and ch ina blu e ey e s d e clin e d al l assistanc e I ,
.

was thus r e mind e d that a hymn of h er o -worsh ip was u n

doubt edly b e ing ask e d for by many o f Mgr Be nson s .
’

admir e rs and I was conscious that I could not s u pply

,

e v e n o n e stanza o f what in any cas e h e would so wh ol e

h e art e dly hav e hat e d Y e t on th e oth e r hand I obs e rv e

.
, ,

that a man o fu ndoubt e d e d u catio n is s e r io u sly maintaining

that th e J e s u its hat e d B e nson and h ast e n e d his d e ath
by poison This notion e nt e r taining in its e lf though
.
, ,

e manating o n e wo u ld thi nk from anoth e r a e o r rac e or

, g , , ,

p lan e t non e th e l e s s sugg e st e d that e cc e ntri c motive s

,

might b e imp ut ed fo r any l e ss laudatory paragraph I might

f e e l it my d u ty to writ e .

Y e t fo r th e sak e o f th e warm a ff e ction and admiration

,

I have f e lt fo r H u gh B e nson th e privil eg e of sp e aking o f

'

him ap p e ar e d to o gr e at to b e r e f u s e d nor was it ind e e d ,

e asy to disr e ga r d th e o f f e r o f Mr A C B e nson to which . . .

,

th e sanction o f th e Ca r di nal A r c h b i sh o c f W e stminst e r

p
had b ee n so co r dially add e d .

It has th er e fo r e b e e n my e ffo r t aft e r this so e gotistic ,

introd u ction to e xclud e my p e r sonal j u dgm e nts pr e f er

, ,
 I N T R O DU CT I O N

e n c e s, and surmis e s f rom th e s e pag e s and by making a n ,

“
almost p e dantic u se o f th e gr e at qua ntity o f docum e nts
I h av e b ee n abl e to u se to stat e nothing which is n o t ,

f u lly support e d by th e e vid e nc e I n writing th e h istory .

o f a mind n o t j u st o f actio ns o r e v e nts this has n o t

'

, ,

always b e e n qu it e e asy Y e t st r ivi ng to work i nwards

.
,

from outsid e I hav e n o t h e sitat e d to accumulat e a numb e r

,

o f small d e tails quit e trivial and e xt e rior in th e ms e lve s

, ,

convi nc e d that i n th e sup e rficial p h e nom e non was to b e

d e t e ct e d a n e xp re ssion o f o r k ey to th e r e al man N othi ng
, , .

has b e e n ask e d f or o u t o f m e r e curiosity n o r r e lat e d fro m ,

sh e er lov e o f gossip A n d ind ee d to thos e who at any rat e

. ,

kn e w and love d him e v e n th e s e trivialiti e s may b e cl e ar ;

,

whil e to oth e r s again th e e cho e s o f his voic e—sp e aking

, ,

things not n e c e ssarily important e ve n o r original —may , ,

bring som e po r tion o f th e h e lp and conso lation it brought ,

alr e ady long ago What I hav e said I hav e ch e ck e d

.
,

con stantly by submitti ng it to th e opinio n o f all ( I th ink)

o f Monsignor B e nson s clos e asso ciat e s and wh e n e v e r this
’

, ,

has b e e n possibl e by s e nding it in proof to thos e wh o so

,

ki ndly had suppli e d th e data for it .

I t will b e u nd e r stood that I hav e b e li e v e d that n o tru e

homag e is paid to a lif e like H u gh B e nso n s by t r e ati ng it ’

as if it had b e e n o n e o f ach i e ve d p e r f e ction f rom th e

outs e t ; that h e n e ve r cha ng e d n e v e r in cr e as e d was a , ,

Saint in h is cradl e o r gr e w e v e n towards sanctity without

, , , ,

many a growing p ain m uch in e quality o f d e v e lopm e nt

, ,

m u ch mom e ntary loss o f i nt e rior e q u ilibrium A man s .

’

v e ry faults ar e n o t so disc r e ditabl e as th e good u se h e may

mak e o f th e m is honourabl e and s e lf-d e v e lop m e nt always
impli e s s el f-conq u e st .

Finally wh il e I hav e most e arn e stly h op e d not to

,

wound th e f e e li ngs o f a nyon e Catholic o r non -Catholic , ,

 R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
of what avail is it to forg e t that h e was o n th e o n e sid e , ,

a Catholic p r i e st p assionat e ly e ag e r to spr e ad R oman

,

Catholicism and fi e rc e ly antago nistic to ali e n c r e eds e v e n ,

wh e n t e nd e rly d e vot e d to many who m ight hold th e m ;

o n th e oth e r that h e was unlik e and kn e w hims e l f to
, ,
,

b e u nlik e and want e d to b e unlik e a typ e o f Catholic

, ,

pri e st which is by many h e ld to b e so g e n e ral so de li b e ,

f at e ly produc e d as alon e to b e satis f actory ?

,
I n all cas e s
I hav e hop e d to b e pu r e ly obj e ctiv e : it has b e e n my
busin e ss not to pr e ach nor to e di f y b u t to r e lat e ; and
, ,

e v e n wh e n th e subj e ct o f th e na r ration is a mood an ,

e motion a sp iritual phas e n o t ad e q u at e ly e xp r e ssibl e

, ,

i n any writt e n doc u m e nt I hav e ho n e stly hop e d that I ,

might not fi rst put into h im what I aft e r ward s d is

cov e r i n him b u t that I might quit e simply t e ll as m u ch
,

o f th e truth as I saw May so much o f ap olog ia b e par

.

do me d m e .

I would first thank most since r e ly th e uns elfish kind

n e ss of M rs B e nson without whos e uniqu e h e lp anything
.
,

writt e n o n h e r so n must b e r e lativ e ly unavailing ; M r .

A C B e nson fo r th e vivid illuminatio n wh ich not alon e

. .
,

his m e moi r o f H ugh b u t h is many l e tt e r s and hi s c o n

,

v e r satio n s hav e continuously sh e d upon da r k plac e s ;

Mr E F B e nson and M iss Tait
. . . Particularly to o I am
,
.
, ,

grat e ful for th e g e nial and comm u nicative hosp itality o f th e

M ir fi e ld Fath er s e sp e cially o f FF G W H art and Fr e r e
, . . .
,

to wh om also I am ind e bt e d fo r th e original o f th e photo

g r aph o f M ir fie ld facing p 2 34 , . .

To th e s e I wo u ld add th e nam e s of A d e lin e D u ch e ss

of B e dford ; Mr s War r e Co r nish ; H is G r ac e th e A r ch
.

bishop of Cant er bury Fr H M M Evans o f St jos e ph s . . . .

,
.
’

B r ighton ; P r io r M ac N ab b O P ; Mgr A S B arn e s of , . . . . .

Llandaff H ous e ; Viscount H alifax i n whos e aff e ction ,

 I N T R O DU CT I O N xi
H ugh B e nson found so constant a support ; and v e ry
many oth e rs whos e corr e spond e nc e o r h ospitality has
be e n o f so much h e lp to m e e sp e cially as r e gards th e ,

e arli e r part o f his lif e .

Th e A bbot o f C alde y th e R e v A Morgan th e R e v J , . .

, . .

M ac Mah o n o f N e w York ; th e R e v R Watt M rs F K e r

, . .
, . .

shaw M iss E K Ma r tin M is s M A rmst r ong M iss Kyl e

, . .
,
.
, ,

M iss Lyall Mr R ichard H owd e n Mr G

,
. Pi p p e t Mr ,
. .
,
1
.

B Me r e fie ld Mr E W H orn ung and th e many f ri e nds

.
, . . .
,

whos e m e mori e s ar e fast e n e d about H ar e Str e e t and h is

lat e r y e ars hav e al so b ee n of th e most pati e nt and g e n e rous
,

kindn e ss Esp e cially I wish to thank th e many who have

.

t r u st e d m e with h is l e tt e rs o r writt e n to m e o f th e spirit u al ,

di r e ctio n h e gav e th e m O ft e n th e ir nam e s will ap p ear .

h e r e but ra r e ly o r not at all ; p e rhaps b e caus e th ey hav e

,

e xplicitly wish e d to r e main anonymo u s o r b e ca u s e th e ir ,

contributions which th ey may r e cognis e app e ar in a

, ,

co nti nuous co nt e xt n o t actually quot e d o r simply b e caus e

,

I f e lt i n many cas e s that n am e s we r e b e st omitt e d

, , .

P e rhaps th e most valuabl e h e lp o f any has com e f r om

th e s e .

C e rtainly to n o o n e of th e m can th e s e pag e s app e ar

anything b u t j e j u n e a nd e v e n f als e at tim e s Th e y will , .

r e m e mb e r h ow h a r d a task it is to compr e ss into a ny book

ev ery th i ng th e y ca n know o f so many -sid e d and many

m o o de d a man as was H ugh B e nso n : that much should

not b e said i n any book ; a nd that som e th ing th e r e is o f
i ncomm u nicabl e which th e y e ach o f th e m have r e c e ive d ,

and n e ith e r wish to n o r can hand ov e r to th e e y e s and

c r iti cism of a noth e r Sh o u ld any o f th e s e th e n fe e l that
.
, ,

1
d awi gs f H a St t Ch ap l a by M P pp t ; als th
Th e tw o r n o re re e e re r. i e o e

vig tt f th V acl
ne e o V lt Sa t
e p th titl -pag I t b st path s
e rn e, or o o n o, u on e e e. s ro u o

a d alm st h a sh simplicity a
n o th ghly i t with th m ti al p f c s
r re oro u n on e e e o on re e r e n e

of H gh B s u e n on .
xii R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
this pr e s e ntm e nt o f H ugh wh ich has striv e n to b e fi r st
,
‘

o bj e ctive and th e n i nt e rpr e tativ e h as su ff e r e d th e p erhap s

,

uncapturabl e sp irit to e lud e it so t hat it b e com e s a parody

,

rath e r than a p o r trait I trust th e y will f o r giv e m e I n

,
.

any cas e th ey will acc e pt my r e p e at e d thanks for th e ir

,

ge n e rosity and confid e nc e .

C C M
. . .
 I L L U ST R A T I O N S

R O BE R T H UG H B E N S ON
Fr om a p h otogr ap h i n the possessi on f Be r n ar d h i e r efield Esq
o , .

TR EM A N S To face p age 1 24

H OUS E OF TH E R E S U R R E CT I O N ,

M I R FI E L D
 PA R T I

N O V E M BE R 1 8 , 1 8 71 —S E P T E M BE R I I , 1 90 3

N o n du m am ab am , et am ar e am ab am, q u ae r e b am q u id amar e m ,
am an s am ar e .

ST A U GU S
. TI N E,
 R O B ER T HUG H B EN SO N

C H A P TER I

C H I LD H OO D ,
1 871 —1 88 2
Th e iv rf m mill t mill
e r, o n ro o ,

F l ws past
o hildh d s ga d still
o ur C oo
’
r en

B l w th y w —i t still is th
e o e e e re

O ph a t m v ic s h a t th e ai
ur n o o e un r

A w w
s still at pl ay
e e re ,

A d I a h a th m call a d ay
n c n e r e n s

H ow far i s i t to B aby lon I

A h, far gh my d a
e n ou , e r,

Far , far enou gh f m h ro e re

Y e t you h av fa th g
e r er one .

R . L . ST EV EN SO N .

R O B ER T H U G H B EN SON was th e son o f a fath e r for

whom (his e ld e st son has writt e n ) th e day was n e ve r long
“

e no u gh whil e e v e n at night h e liv e d in fi e ry and fantastic

,

d r e ams his moth e r b e long e d to that brilliant Sidgwick

clan in which Sir Francis G alton f o u nd th e most r e “

ma r kabl e cas e o f kind r e d aptit u d e that had e ve r com e

u nd e r h is notic e M or e ov e r th e A r ch bishop a nd his wif e
.
,

had i n Ch r istoph e r B e n son a commo n anc e sto r a nd w e r e ,

in fact s e cond co u si ns Th u s through this marriag e .

, ,

qualiti e s r e markabl e e no u gh in th e ms e lv e s w e r e r e i nfo r c e d

o r dup licat e d and iss u e d in th e ch ild r e n o f such par e nts
, , ,

into that confrat e rnity of tal e nt wh ich is known 1

.

1
th Ort f lly k raw p h ap t th wh h av
e r, n o u t h a d nof th n er s o o se o e no e r o e

ext a di a y a d p c ci s i t llig c a d spi it ality f M a ti th A ch

r or n r n re o ou n e en e n r u o r n, e r

bish p s ld st
o
’
wh e di d whil still at Wi ch st ;
e so n , wh
o h av t
e ad e n e er or o e no re

th s btl a d fasci ati g st di s f M iss M a g a t B

e u e n n s his s c d d a ght
n u e o r re e n on , e on u er .

I ay th at h h a s v fa th i t th s l f a at th a did “
Da re s s e s een e en r er n o e ou o c n

th a th
e f The N
u ma
or o ? ecr o nc er s
4 ROB ERT H UG H BEN S O N
Th e B e nsons d e sc e nd from a sound stock
Yo r kshi r e of

y e omanry into which a st r ai n o f inv e ntiv e n e ss and shr e wd

b u sin e ss q u aliti e s had o f r e c e nt g e n e rations b e e n inf u s e d .

Th e Sidgwicks w e r e rich mill -own e r s o f Skipton ; and

Sto n egap p e in th e moo r s and Skipton Castl e wh e r e th e y
, , ,

live d i n th e wint e r gav e Edwa r d Wh it e B e nson who was , ,

born i n 1 829 visions o f a social lif e wid e r than that wh ich

,

h is own hom e afford e d Y e t st r ang e ly that t e mp e ram e nt .

, ,

O f a r tist and aristoc r at which was to r e v e al its e l f as h is , ,

s e e ms wholly uninh e rit e d F r o m th e o u ts e t th e boy was .

a r d e nt assimilative a nd cr e ativ e H e was giv e n l e sso n

, , .

books but th e multit u d e o f othe r books dist r act e d h im h e

r e ad th e m all and talk e d inc e ssantly b e i ng i n r e stl e ss n e e d ,

to e xpand and communicat e hims e lf “

just le t m e r e ad .

y o u this h e wo u ld e xclaim ;
,
“
it is only a littl e bit o f

So u th e y I shall ge t it O ff my mind and r e ally b e abl e to

.

wo r k then Th e n f ollow e d his vi e ws o n lit e rat u r e i n

.

g e n e ral A t th is tim e h e was abo u t te n y e ars O ld H e le d

. .
,

to o a mystical lif e o f 11 18 o w n and had an O r atory with

, ,

c r oss and p r i e-di e u and d e corativ e brass -r u bbings H e r e .

h e r e cit e d th e Canonical H o u r s alon e or with boy fri e nds , ,

and d e vis e d t r ap s fo r audacio u s sist e rs who might invad e

his p r ivacy A t e l e v e n h e w e nt to King Edward s G ramma r
.
’

School at B i r mingham and prosp e r e d int e ll e ctually and , ,

f e lt th e fi r st stirrings O f ambition and mad e romantic ,

fr i e ndship s dive r sifi e d by e xplosiv e q u arr e ls though c e rtai n ,

notabl e a ff e ctions s u r viv e d for lif e—f or W e stcott and

Lightfoot fo r e xampl e ; and h e r e to o h e m e t Edward I
,
.

P u r b r ic k a f utu r e Provi ncial o f th e je suits A t fo u r t e e n

1
, .

visit d F P b i k i 1 8 72 at St yh t Each had p ay ed d aily f

1
He e r. ur r c n on u rs . r or

th th th y disc v d B s h a l ft a sympath tic b t i acc at acc t

e o er , e o e re . e n on s e e u n ur e o un

ofF P b i k M ass a d dw lls t d ly p

r. ur r c his f i d s w d f lly
’
s , n e en er u on r en
’ “
on er u

d licat s l f-g v d l k a d his q i t dig ity f s l f-p ss s i

e e, e o e rn e F
oo n
“
u e n o e o e s on .
”
r.

P b i k wa i d d f th w ld s f w m m ay b e c all d impe ial ;

’
ur r c s wh
n ee one o e or e en o e r
6 R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
coh e r e nt dr e ams which w e r e always to ill u minat e his
nights During this tim e h is moth e r and a favo u rit e
.

sist e r di e d and m u ch r e sponsibility d e sc e nd e d on his

,

should e rs H e w e nt in 1 8 52 as assista nt mast e r to

.
, ,

R u gby wh e r e th e Sidgwi cks w e r e i nstall e d among th e m

, ,

b e ing th e ch ild o n whom his t e nacious a ffe ctions had

alr e ady f ast e n e d H is r e lations with his pupils th o u gh
.
,

h e r e fus e d a H ous e w e r e intimat e : with bathing his

, ,

e x e rcis e now is to rid e and h e will transmit i n part his

, , ,

k e e n love of hors e s and wholly his p assion fo r th e wat e r

, ,

to h is young e st son H e trav e ls and is pr e s e nt e d to Pi o

.
,

N ono Th e myst e ry o f St P e t e r s for a mom e nt holds

. .
’

, ,

him sp e llbound Th e Pop e pass e d by towa r ds th e

.
,

Tomb : round th e dom e abov e it th u nd e r e d th e aw fu l

“ n
l e g e nd TU ES P ETR U S o e f e lt for a mom e nt as
if th e y r e ally must b e th e historical chai n that bo u nd
th e e a r th to th e shor e of th e Se a o f G alil e e as i f this ,

w e r e th e mountain o f th e Lord s H o u s e e xalt e d o n th e ’

to p o f th e hills Th e impr e ssion pass e d

! El e ct e d F e llow .

o f Tr inity and ordain e d pri e st h e r e c e ive d f r om th e ,

Princ e Consort i n 1 858 th e O ffe r O f th e h e admast e rship

, ,

at th e n e wly-cr e at e d W e llington Coll eg e H e acc e pt e d .

it and e nt e r e d upo n his arduous task i n 1 859 having

, ,

marri e d M iss Mary Sidgwick th e y e ar b e fo r e Sh e ac .

compani e d h im to W e llingto n a s edat e matron of “

,

e ight e e n ,
and all his lif e r e main e d a stre ngth and r e
fr e shm e nt to h er h u sband .

A t W e llington h e first r e v e al e d that astounding pow e r

o f o r ganisation which s u rviv e s in th e mind of many
, ,

who kn e w him b e st in h is wo r k as h i s p r e dominant ,

charact e ristic Physically h e was cast in an impr e ssive

.

mo u ld : la r g e n e ss and pow e r mar ke d all his action Th e .

r e pr e s e ntativ e s o f th e I r on D u k e s family f e lt disg u st wh e n’

 CH I LD H OO D , 1 87 1 —1 8 82 7

th e mon e ys s u bscrib e d i n m emor i am which th e y had hop e d

, ,

“
to se e sp e nt upon fi n e monum e nts set up in e ver y
“
“

consid e rabl e to w n o f England w e r e lump e d tog e th e r

“
,

for th e bu ilding o f a charity school fo r sc r ubby littl e

“

o r phans D r B e nson mad e it singl e -hand e d i nto o n e

.
, ,

of th e fi r st P u blic Schools o f England H is mast e rfuln e ss .

first e xpr e ss ed its e lf in th e tr e m e ndo u s disciplin e h e ex

act e d : aw e n o t love was what h e at first provoke d H e
, , .

had n o id e a as ye t o f his e xt r e m e p e rsonal asc e ndancy

“
,

o r o f how his displ e as u r e or gloom could d e pr e ss h is

e ntir e e nvi r onm e nt H i s ang e r still wa s t e r r ibl e ; his

.

e xactions at all tim e s s e v e r e ; h e was an e xha u sting trav e l

ling companion so wo u ld h e t e ar th e h e art o u t o f all

,

h e saw — and h e saw e v e rything — and e xp e ct an att e ntion

and appr e ciation no l e ss vigoro u s f rom h is tir e d f amily .

O n e r e s u lt O f th is high t e nsion at which h e l iv e d and

k e pt oth e rs was a r e c u r r e nt m e lancholy b e tt e r d e scri be d
,
.

as “ black fi e rc e mis e ry a mood bo u nd to alt e rnat e with

,

hi s e nthusiasm “
.W e laugh e d writ e s th e lat e D r A W
, . . .

V e r rall in a m e moir of charact e r istic s u btl e ty and insight

, ,

“
at his rosy id e als and his astounding pow e r o f be li e ving
,

a nd ass e rting that th e y w er e o n th e p oi nt o f r e alisation ,

nay act u ally w e r e and had b e e n r e alis e d

, H e co u ld .

not I be li e ve give an u n colour ed pictur e o f any soci e ty

, ,

i n w h ich h e was vitally int er e st e d —that is to say o f any ,

soci e ty what e ve r ! This passionat e i nt e r e st in lif e this ,

e nt h u siasm with its alt e r nating mood this constructiv e ,

and r e constructiv e ima gination with its n e c e ssary dive r

,

e n c e s from th e accu r at e h e was to transmit almost

g ,

u ndil u t e d to h is son H u gh SO too his u niqu e appr e ciation

.

and manag e m e nt o f th e sp e ctacular and h is ing e nious ,

lov e o f an art so r e co ndit e i n d e tail a s to bord e r up on

m ysti fic atio n . Eve ry mi nut e st p oint in th e d e co r atio n o f
8 R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
W e llington Coll eg e Chap e l in s culpt u r e and glass was , ,

plann e d by him a nd charg e d with “ co nc e its and subtl e

ti e s wh ich all b u t d e fy d e c ip h e r ing .

H e plann e d th e M ast e r s Lodg e how e v e r and its

’

, ,

ga r d e n i n 1 865 at a mom e nt wh e n mid -Vi ctoria n

,

scholasti c archit e ct u r e was utt e ring its lo u d e st if not its ,

last word i n h id eousn e ss W e r e ad o f pitch -pin e fittings

,
.

and o f light lilac wash e s ; and w e see walls O f patt e rn e d

brick and ston e -f ac e d G othic windows and lak e s o f
, ,

g r ave l and chill e ve rgr e e ns

,
.

H e r e H ugh was born o n i 8th N ove mbe r 1 8 71 in th e ,

big room facing o n th e o n e sid e th e so u th f r ont o f th e

,
,

Coll e g e o n th e oth er looking ove r r olling h e ath e r to

, , ,

A m b ar r o w with its a c i e nt crowning

n fi r s
2
.

Th e christ e n ing took p lac e at Sandh u r st Parish

!

Ch u r ch Th e baby was call e d R ob er t a family nam e

.
, ,

and H u gh having be e n bo r n o n th e morrow o f th e f e ast

,

o f St H u gh o f Li ncoln
. D u r ing th e c e r e mony h e p r o .

t e st e d lo u dly and shock e d h is broth e rs Bu t th e r e is .

no histo r y to b e mad e p u blic about babi e s R obin .

,

aS h e w as at fi r st call e d s u c c e e d e d at l e ast i n showing

’

that h e was th e n and always p er fe ctly cl e ar what

“
, ,

his wish e s w e r e and e qually cl e ar that th e y w e r e wo r th

,

att e nding to and car r ying o u t .

Dr Be nson was a p r e b e ndary o f Lincoln and h is

.
,

O ld fri e nd B ishop Wo r dswo r th mad e h im Canon and

Chanc e llor th e r e in 1 872 To Lincoln th e n th e family .

migr at e d i n that y e ar If in th e railway carr iag e as h e .

, ,

trav e ll e d down th e small boy insist e d o n sp e nding th e long

,

jo u r ney at th e window making r e marks o n e v e rything , ,

1
ct wh
I n fa , en in vi it d W lli gt th y all b t d fi d his w n
1 89 2 be re s e e n on , e u e e o .

D B s
2
r. en o n wa d v t d t
s this vi w
e o e Wh am I h ft
o xcl aim d e . o , e o en e e ,

th at I sh ld b ou eabl t l k at that v y m i g ?
e o oo e er o rn n
”
 CH I LD H OO D , 1 87 1 —1 882 9

one may not to o fantastically s u rmis e that th e exqu isit e

Lincoln Cha nc er y sank d ee p i nto th e acc e ssibl e sub
consciousn e ss o f th is ch ild This was th e hous e wh ich .

r e main e d his p erma n e nt id e al Tudor r e d-brick with .

,

ori e l windows ; o ak doors studd e d with th e bull ets o f th e

Commonw e alth ; pan e lling ; winding stairs i n drawi ng
rooms “ with p e ntacl e s o n th e st e p s to ward O ff d e vils
, a
ghost un exorcis e d ; a schoolroom o nc e th e chap e l Soo n .

th e windows glow e d with coat -armo ur e d glass : in a tiny

o r atory Morning Pr ay e r a nd a simplifi e d Comp lin e will b e
r e cit e d and o n W e dn e sday a nd F r iday a Lita ny trans
, , ,

lat e d from th e G r ee k A n anci e nt gard e n Spr e ad b etw e e n

.

walls l u scious with p e ach and apricot and ablaz e with

w allflow e r Tow e rs ros e at its corn e rs part o f th e O ld
.
,

town fortifications I n th e gr e y city a vision o f Castl e

.

and Cath e d al float e d an e t e rnal witn e ss abov e th e

r ,
“

str e aming smok e o f myriad chimn e ys .

With in this romantic paradis e wh e r e so e asily j u st ,

cl e rical d e corum might have r e ign e d th e Chanc e llor ,

f ound hims e lf busi e r e v e n than at W e llington A t on c e .

h e organis e s and ind ee d cr e at e s A Th e ologi cal Coll e g e

.

i s O p e n e d ; night schools for m e n and boys ar e start e d .

Th e m e n pou r ro u ghly in ; i n a mom e nt th e Chanc e llor

“ ,

has th e m i n hand sort e d and obe di e nt H e e xplain s th e

, .

B ibl e to th e m and thinks with a wo r kman s mind

,
“
H is
’
.

i nflu e nc e is paramount i n Lincoln ; yet h is thoughts

rang e wid e to th e coloni e s an d th e English Ch u rch as
,

a whol e d e stin e d to b e his mast e r vision M e anwhil e

, .

h e studi e s ; h e w r it e s at Cyp r i an ; und e rtak e s th e e pistl e s

to th e Philippian s and th e Th e ssalonians fo r th e Sp e ak er s ’

Comm e ntary ; l e ctu r e s on A lfr e d th e G r e at st u dyi ng up ,

th e subj e ct ab ov o h e pr e ach e s his “ r e sid e nc e s er mo ns

’

, ,

and i s a chi e f mission e r in a Le nt e n M ission and to

“
,
10 R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
th e Chanc e llo r s School h e l e ct u r e s th r ic e a w ee k “ Can
’
.

I r eall y do any mo r e ? h e asks ; a nd th o u gh t e mpt e d , ,

r e fu s e s th e H u ls e an p r of e sso r shi p at Camb r idg e He .

h as b ee n p e rf e ctly happy in placing th e Sw e e t Moth e r

“

i n h e r nich e . Beata M ar i a Li ncoln iens is is my

pat r on e ss
.

H e r e fus e d too th e O ff e r of th e bishopric O f Calc u tta

, , ,

fo r e s e e i ng that h e co u ld not provid e in I ndia fo r th e

r e ligio u s e ducation o f his six ch ildr e n which h e f e lt to
,

b e th e fo r e most cha r g e e nt r u st e d to h im
’ ’
r e v a é ew
“
x
x .

w or d is a Paulin e not e o f a B ishop h e w r ot e ; and o f

,

h im Canon Crow f oot said : “ N othing str u ck m e so m u ch

as th e i nt e ns e r e v e r e nc e which as a fath e r h e f e lt fo r
, ,

hi s childr e n H e spoke Som e tim e s with aw e and tr e m b

.

ling l e st his own st r ong will and that st u bbo r n t e mp er

, ,

with wh ich his own lif e was o n e p e rp e tual struggl e ,

sho u ld do som e wrong to th e m A n d th e o u tlook

.

appall e d h im “
. Re ligious e d u cation h e wrot e i n 1 876
,

to Light f oot is ind e ed a di ffi culty s u ch as had no e xist

,
“

e nc e wh e n w e w e r e lads I t i s plain e no u gh to se e th e
.

diffe r e nc e b e tw e e n worldlin e ss and ambition b u t u m ,

b e li e f now w e a r s a ch as u bl e —I m e an a ve stm e nt on
which th e w or d r e ligion i s joyo u sly wo r n A n d u nb e
‘
’
.

liev e r s p r e t e nd that no o n e is r e ligio u s e xc e pt n o n

Ch r i stians .

A t fo u r o r fi v e C hildhood s imp r e ssions can b e e x

’

c e p tio n ally k e e n i f only b e ca u s e th e y omit so m u ch

,

i n an a r tistic t e mp e ram e nt th e y will b e n u m e ro u s and

ri ch a nd lay u p a m u lti -colou r e d tr e asur e o f m e m o r ie s
,
’

I h ave no sort O f do u bt b u t that Lin col n with its anci e nt ,

gard e ns and Tudo r halls a nd th e Cath e d r al tow e r s dim

abov e th e smok e was r e spo nsibl e for many o f H ugh s
,
’

imagi nativ e t e nd e nci e s A ll h is lif e h e was to liv e in

.
 CH I LD H OO D , 8
1 7 1 —1 8 82 1 1

a romantic e nvi r onm e nt save quit e at its b e gin ning ,

.

R omanc e clings imp e r ishably I know to e v er y brick , ,

and ston e o f a big boys school b u t it m u st hav e faint e d ’

q u ickly upon th e lilac walls and p itch pin e o f th e Mast e r s ’

Lodg e and anyhow H ugh n e v e r got hi s r e ally fi r st i m

, , ,

pr e ssion s th e r e .

Fe w tal e s surviv e from Li ncoln I s it childish i n a . ,

biograph e r to find th e s e fe w significant or at l e ast i n

, , ,

a s e ns e symbolical ? ,

A n o ld coll e agu e o f Dr B e nso n s f rom W e llingto n

’
.

cam e to th e Chanc e ry a nd pr e s e nt e d H u gh with a B ibl e .

A ft e r l u nch H ugh path e tic i n black v e lv e t and h alo e d

, ,

w ith flax e n hai r br u sh e d until it shon e ap p e ar e d at th e ,

d r awing room door B ibl e in his arms

- “
Th a-a-ank yo u
, .
,

G odpapa fo r th is b e a u tiful B ibl e

, Will you r e ad m e som e
o f it ? h e ask e d qualifying o n e might hav e tho u ght fo r
, , ,

”
m e mb e rship in th e Fai r ch ild Family
“ 1 “
A n d what .
,

Mr P e nny aske d shall I r e ad about

.
“
as Mrs B e nson
,
.
,

hi s companion i n th e drawing -room r e tir e d aw e struck , .

”
Th e D e -e -vil ! said H ugh without th e slight e st h e sita
tion Mr s B e nson r e t u rn e d
. . .

He “
ch er ish e d a t e nd e r d e votio n as th e y say , ,

“
towards his glorious patro n St H u gh of Lincol n and ,
.
,
”
,

with a child s ap p r O p r iativ e n e ss r e cognis e d him in th e

’

m ost cas u al o r nam e nts which might r e p r e s e nt o ld m e n .

That th e e mbl e matic swan wa s abs e nt t r o u bl e d h im not at

all H e m e r e ly inq u ir e d what h is G oos e was doing
.
“ 2

Fi nally this e xtr e m e ly imaginativ e and n ervous boy

,

1
sa y Doe w m mb this b k which m ad th t
n o ne n o re a d di fi ati
e er oo , e e e rr o r n e c on

of V ict i a g ati
or s n e n er on

Th C h a c ll
2
e wh l at s this b gi s H gh disti g ish d hims l fa
n e or , o re e , e n , u n u e e s

u sual Evid tly at th s l ch p a ti s with ld f i ds t which

en e e un e on r e o r en , o

all th child w t H gh c ld b t st d f s m q ai t ss f m a k
e re n en , u ou e ru e or o e u n ne o re r .

W g t th at c mpilati f th s a li m m ab i li a w a m ad
e re re no o on o e e e r er e or s e.
12 R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
could n e ve r b e ind u c e d to e nt er a da r k room alo n e .

“
What h e was ask e d
,
do you e xp e ct to happ e n to ,

you ? “
To fall h e r e pli e d b e tw e e n a stamm e r and a
,

sh u dd e r “
ov er a mangl e d co r p s e sq u ish ! into a pool
, ,

o f blood

D e vils saints and hor r o r s P e rhaps i n his lif e th e s e

, ,
.
, ,

moti f s with oth e rs will to th e e n d not un e qually b e

, ,

mingl e d .

A photog r aph o f H ugh at thi s p e rio d surviv e s Th e .

attitud e—th e slightly forwa r d slightly slant e d i nt e ns e set , ,

o f th e h e ad — th e e y e s and th e mouth s e e m to m e r i di c u ,

lo u s ly lik e th o s e o f th e old e r H u gh Th e no s e o f cours e .

, ,

is u nform e d and th e h e ad round e r and th e hair fin e r

, .

B e sid e him is his O ld n u r s e B e th und u ly aust e r e I , ,

imagin e in h er h e avy Victorian dr e ss and cap and with

, ,

th e shadows of th e mouth ov e r -acc e nt u at e d by th e

photograph B ut h er e y e s ar e wond e rful a nd th e ir
. .
,

s e r e n e loving b e auty t e mp e r s th e sh e e r str e ngth o f th e

nos e and chin .

Th e nam e o f this b e lov e d nu r s e will oft e n r e cur i n

th e s e pag e s Sh e b e long e d to th e inmo st of th e f amily
.

which sh e s er v ed fro m gi r lhood to e xtr e m e o ld age Sh e .

had b e e n n u rs e maid to M rs B e n son s moth e r and nu r s e d .

’

h e r broth e r Mr William Sidgwick th r o u gh an attack o f

, .
,

smallpox wh ich sh e cau ght h e rs e lf Sh e w e nt with Mr s

, . .

B e nson to W e lli ngton and H ugh was always h e r favou r it e ,

child H e wa s no t to p r ov e ungrat e ful

. .

I n 1 876 th e ar r ang e m e nts for ca r vi ng a n ew dioc e s e

o u t o f th e unwi e ldy t e rrito r y o f Ex e t e r w e r e compl e t e d ,

and i n th e wi nt e r a B ishop was r e qu i r e d for Tr u r o Th e .

charg e was O ff e r e d to th e Chanc e llor o f Lincoln He .

1

In his bi g aphy is q t d i f ll th ch a act e istic a

o r uo e n u e r r n d af
fe cti t l tt
on a e e er he
w t
r o e to F P b i k
r. this ccasi
ur r c on o on .
 1 4. ROB ERT H UG H BEN S O N
constr u ction it i s e mphasiz e d u nint e rrupt e d by so cial claims
, ,

o r politics Th e o n e l e sson h e d e clar e d at th e first

“
.
,

Tr u ro Dioc e san Conf e r e nc e “

which s e ntim e nt t e ach e s ,

us i s to b e practical and th e voic e o f th e p ast is O r ganis e ,

th e pr e s e nt H e h ad e sp e cially to f ac
. e th e o sing
“r u

of his p e opl e into tra nquillity

“ Th e Church was i n .

di ffe r e nt th e local r e ligion pass e d from a dr u gg ed apathy

into a fr e nzy o f r e vivals f ollow e d by pathological re actions .

Th e B ishop studi e d symp athis e d conqu e r e d h e arts , , ,

d ev e lop e d a h u ma n influ e nc e nothi ng sho r t o f e xtra

ordinary “
Co r nwall h e u s e d to say “ was th e only
.
, ,

plac e wh e r e a conve r satio n with any man woman o r ch ild , ,

whom yo u might m e e t i n th e lon e li e st corn e r s o f th e ,

promonto r y was always stimulating n e v e r disap poi nting

, , .

H e still paid for h is ho u r s o f fi r e and e xaltation by moods

o f black d e p r e ssion ; and th e d e ath o f his e ld e st and most

brilliant so n Martin at Winch e st e r i n 1 878 utt e rly

, , , ,

p r ost r at e d him .

M e anwhil e hi s ch ild r e n s e ducation p ro c e e d e d a nd ’

I shall b e f o r giv e n if I q u ot e mor e pag e s than o n e f r om

Mr A C B e nso n s H ug h I can add littl e to th e m and
. . .
’
.
,

th e ir affe ctionat e h u mo u r would b e lost i n cond e nsation .

A t Tr u ro h e
b e com e s a much mo r e d e finit e fig u r e
i n my r e coll e ctions H e was a d e licat e ly mad e light .
,
hai r e d bl u e-e y e d child looking rath e r ang e lic in a
, ,

ve lv e t suit and with small n eat f ee t of wh ich h e was

, , ,

s u ppos e d to b e u nd u ly aware H e had at that tim e all .

so r ts o f o dd t r i cks winkings and twitchings ; and o n e ,

v e r y aggr av atin habit i n walki ng o f putting his f e e t , ,

tog e th e r s u dd e n y stO p p i n a nd looking down at th e m

whil e h e m u tt e r e d to hims e lf th e mystic fo r m u la
, ,

,
K n u c k N u nks B u t o n e thing abo u t h im was v e r y
’
‘ 1
.
,

disti nct i nd e e d that h e was e nti r e ly imp e r vio u s to th e

,

Wh at Et h had a h abit
1
en on e of walki g with a c tai sh ffl
n er n u e, fo r which h e

ac t ly dislik d b i g c ticis ed
u e e e n ri .
 CH I LD H OO D ,
1 87 1 —1 8 82 1
5
p u bl i c O pinion o f th e nurs e ry and co u ld n e ith e r b e ,

ridic u l e d nor cajol e d o u t o f continuing to do anyth ing

h e chos e to do H e did n o t car e th e l e ast wh at was
.

said n o r had h e any mo r bid fe ars as I c e rtainly had as

, ,

a child o f b e ing dislik e d o r mocke d at H e w e nt h is

,
.

o w n way kn e w what h e want e d to do and did it

, ,
.

“
My r e coll e ctions of h im ar e mainly o f h is e xt r e m e
love o f a r gum e nt and th e adroitn e ss with which h e con
duct e d it H e did not i nt e nd to b e p ut upon as th e
.

yo u ng e st and it was suppos e d that i f h e was e ve r told

,

to do anything h e always r e pli e d : Why shouldn t ’

‘
,

Fr e d ? ’
H e i nve nt e d an ing e nious d e vic e which h e
o n c e and onc e only practis e d with s u cc e ss o f goading
, , ,

my b r oth e r Fre d by p e tty sha f ts o f dom e stic i ns u lt into

p u r s u ing him b e nt o n v e n e anc e H u gh h ad p r e
, .
~

par e d som e small p i e c e s o f o lde d pap e r with a vi ew

to this conting e ncy and as Fr e d gave chas e H u gh , ,

flu n two o f his p ap e rs o n th e ground b e ing su r e that ,

Ft c wo u ld stop to e xamin e th e m Th e r u s e was q u it e .

succ e ssf u l and whil e Fr e d was op e ning th e p ap e r s

, ,

H u gh sough t sanctuary i n th e nurs e ry Som e tim e s my .

sist e rs w e r e d e p ut e d to do a l e sson with him My e ld e r .

sist e r N e lly had a moth e rly instinct and e nj oye d a ,

small r e sponsi bility Sh e wo u ld e xplain a r u l e of

.

arithm e tic to H u gh H e would assum e a n e xp r e ssion

of d e spai r : I don t u nd e rstand a word o f it—yo u go
.

’
‘

so quick Th e n it wo u ld b e e xplain e d agai n

.
’
Now ‘

do yo u und e rstand ? O f co u rs e I u nd e r stand that

’ ‘
.
’

‘
V e r y w e ll do a s u m Th e su m would b e gin : O h ’ ‘

don t p u sh m e—do n t com e so n e ar—I don t lik e having

, .

’ ’ ’

my fac e blown o n Pr e s e ntly my sist e r with ang e lic

.
’

pati e nc e wo u ld show h im a mistake O h do n t int e r .

‘
,
’

f e r e -yo u mak e it all mix e d u p i n my h e ad Th e n h e .

’

wo u ld b e le t alon e f or a littl e Th e n h e wo u ld p u t th e .

slat e down with an e xpr e ssion o f d e spair and r e signa

tion ; i f my sist e r took no notic e h e wo u ld say : I ‘

tho u ght Mamma told yo u to h elp m e i n my s u ms ?

H o w can I u nd e r stand without h aving it e xplain e d to
me ?
’
It was impossibl e to ge t th e last wo r d ; ind e e d h e
u s e d to giv e my sist e r Maggi e wh e n sh e ta u ght him what

h e call e d Te mp e r tick e ts
‘
at th e e n d o f th e l e sson ; ’

and on o n e o ccasion wh e n h e was to r e p e at a S u nday ,

coll e ct to h e r h e was at last r e po r t e d to my moth e r

, ,

as be ing wholly intracta b l e Th is was d e e ply r e s e nt e d ; .

1 6 R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
and aft e r my sist e r had gon e to b e d a small p i e ce o f ,

pap e r was p u sh e d i n b e n e ath h e r door o n whi ch was ,

w r itt e n : Th e most unhap p i e st S u nday I e v er sp e nt in

‘ -

my lif e Whos e fa u lt ?.

A gai n wh e n M aggi e had f ound him e xtr e m e ly cross

,
and ti r e som e o n e mo r ning in th e l e ssons sh e was
taking sh e discov e r e d wh e n H ugh at last e s cap e d a
, , ,

p i e c e of pap e r o n th e schoolroom tabl e on wh ich h e ,

had w r itt e n
P as si at Magey on e
l
To o d e H a ! H a
Th e o ld o e
’
g s .

Th e r e
was anoth e r sto r y of h o w h e was aske d to
w r it e o u t a list o f th e things h e want e d with a V i e w ,

to a birthday that was coming Th e list e nd e d .

A littl e c o m p e n sh io n g oat , an d
A ti n y -wi n y t r ai n an d ,

n i c e littl e pe n
’
A .

diminutive s w e r e e vid e ntly int e nd e d to giv e

Th e
th e r e qui r e m e nts a mod e st air A s fo r c o m p e n sh io n
‘ ’
.
,

h e had ask e d wh at som e nu r s e ry animal was mad e o f ,

a f r actur e having d isplay e d a sort o f to u gh fibro u s

p last e r H e was told that it was mad e o f a composi
.
‘

tion .
’

“
W e us e d to play m a ny rhyming gam e s at that tim e ;
and H u gh at th e age of e ight w r ot e a po e m about a
swarm o f gna ts dancing i n th e su n wh ich e nd e d ,

And wh e n t h e y se e th e i r c o m rad e s l ai d
In th ou san d s o u n d th e gar d e n gl ad e
r ,

T h e y k o w th e y w e e o t r e ally m ad e
n r n

To li v e fo e v e rm o r e
r
’
.

I n o n e of th e s e gam e s e ach play e r w r ot e a q u e stion ,

wh ich was to b e answ e r e d by som e oth e r playe r in a

po e m ; H u gh who h ad b e e n talk e d to abo u t th e
,

n e c e ssity o f ov e r coming som e b e s e tting si n in L e nt ,

wrot e with p e r f e ct goo d faith as hi s q u e stion What ,

‘

is yo u r sin f or Le nt
1
Was this
t li ti ? O a ld sh t f p ap I fi d th a xi s q y
re a a on n n o ee o er n e n ou ue r :

A m I a g s ? th m b ldly I f I am a g s I m v y silly a d th I
o e en ore o , o e
’
er , n en

sh all t b lik a lily

no fi ally i t i mph I m t a g s e
e e which n n r u ,
’
no oo

s ts t i th ai which ha a g at pa wh it is b i g kill ed
e ou n e r n s re ne en e n .
”
 CH I LD H OO D , 1 87 1 —1 8 82 17

B e sid e s th e s e mor e orthodox dive r sions it i s satis ,

f actory to know that th e b r oth e rs and sist e rs tr u e to th e ,

imm e morial insti nct which t e mpt s childr e n and simpl e ,

p ersons ge n er ally towards s e c r e cy and intrig u e h ad

, ,

form e d a myst er io u s soci e ty with “ titl e s and o ffic e s , ,

and c er e m o ni e s I ts Chapt e r s w e r e h e ld in a s u mm e r

hous e and th er e w er e ro be s and in itiations and a book

,
“

o f proc e du r e H u gh was S e rvito r —a kind o f acolyt e

.
,

a nd s u bscriptions had to b e paid o u t of wh ich wholly ,

inad e quat e salar i e s w e r e r e fu nd e d To th e e n d H ugh

d e light e d to talk o f th e soci e ty tho u gh e q u ally to th e
“
, ,

en d ,it r e main e d u nknown for what possibl e obj e ct th e

so ci e ty had e xist e d .
1

B ut h is boyhood was not sp e nt in aloofn e ss from h is

f ath e r It i s tr u e that h is moth e r fo r th e most part ta u ght
.

h im or his e ld e r sist e r ; b u t th e B ishop us e d to tak e him

,

for l e sso ns hal f an ho u r a day ; a be ginning was mad e o f

that path e tic e ffo r t to wi n th e boy s full comrad e ship by ’

“ spudding e xp e ditions o n wh ich H ugh a r m e d w ith a , ,

littl e sp u d mod e ll e d o n h is f ath e r s work e d at th e '

dand e lions o n th e lawn A noth e r o ffi c e linking fath e r .

,

and so n tog e th e r b e cam e p e rman e nt and was d e ar to

, ,

th e h e art o f both o f th e m Wh e n A r chbishop Tait was .

to com e to lay th e fo u ndatio n -ston e o f Truro Cath e dral ,

H u gh as acolyt e i n purpl e casso ck a nd cap and

, ,

s u r plic e was to b e a r h is t r ain T h e A rchbisho p co u ld

,
.

n o t com e s o H u gh att e nd e d h is f ath e r

,
and a f t e rwa r ds , ,

with a sp e cial mall e t and trow e l mad e for h im laid a ”

1
N e ith er
th v his b th adds w a h mba ass d by i
en n or e e r, ro er , s e e rr e nco n

i t shy ss
v en en P s ag s w
ne t m a littl
. gh t him Th m mb
e r on e e re o e n e e no u o . e e er

f
or T Si J am s M a G a l H gg f m al dig ifi d a d whit -b a d d
ru ro , r e c re o , or , n e , n e e r e ,

wa l chi g at Li E p a d sc t d H gh s m th t th di i g- m ’
s un n s sc 0 , n e or e u o er o e n n roo .

S c t d th
e re e b f ha d H gh b st t p th p c ssi with a wild
e re e o re n , u ur ou u on e ro e on

h wl c ati g c st ati
o , re n on e rn on .

I
1 8 ROB ER T H UG H BEN S O N
ston e i n th e rising walls A t his fath e r s e nth r on e m e nt .
’

at Cant er bu ry h e p e rform e d th e sam e duty “

I looke d .

p e rf e ctly charming h e said o f hims e lf lat e r i n a littl e

“
, ,

-p u rpl e cassock and a littl e -p u r pl e c -cap

p p .

O n H ugh s t e nth bi r thday N ove mb e r 1 8th 1 88 1 th e

’

, , ,

privat e chap e l at Lis ESCO p was op e n e d Th e B ishop .

wrot e to hi s da u ght e r Ma r y El e ano r

T RU RO N ov e m be
r 1 8th , 1 88 1 .

L O V E AN D D A U G H TER —
,

MY D EA R EST I won t go to
’

b e d wh e n you hav e s e e m e d to b e with us s o m u ch

all day without t e lli ng yo u what a d e light f u l op e ning
o f th e chap e l w e h av e had o n H u gh s bi r thday
’
.

H e was so anxious to k ee p it i n that mann e r that w e

postpon e d it ; and th e chap e l aft e r all wo u ld not have , ,

b e e n r e ady if w e had n o t .

Mama will s e nd yo u a programm e First w e praye d .

,

y e t ask e d fo r fo r giv e n e ss and h e lp i n what w e w e re

abo u t to do Th e n I sign e d th e lic e nc e and M r Dickinson

.
, .

r e ad it aloud Th e n it b e ing by law allow e d f or th e

.
,

purpos e w e had f u ll choral Ev e ning P r ay e r A ft e r that

, .

w e d e dicat e d th e A lta r and all its appointm e nts H u gh ,

b r i nging th e m o n e by o n e from th e cr e d e nc e and look

in so r e ve r e nt and simpl e i n his purpl e cassock and
e p o d lik e Samu e l A n d th e n I s po ke to th e m all abo u t
.

th e “
D e c e ncy and o r d e r of th e Ch u r ch of England ”
.

Th e n p r ay e rs for H ugh and fo r u s all .

cultivat e d p i e ty might mak e Us n e rvous fo r the

This
fat e of its subj e ct Eve n h is mor e dir e ctly e ducational
“

e xp e ri e nc e s e v e n h is r e c r e ations wo u ld until n e knows

, ( o ,

H ugh s charact e r a nd ind ee d his fath e r s b e tt e r ) not

’ ’

, ,

t e nd to r e ass u r e us Th e e nti r e f amily will go fo r walks

.

botanising p r o c e e ds ; H ugh r e turns ass er ting that wh e n

his stim lat d a t ast Th R W H G J s t wh m h m ad this
1
T u e e. e ev . . . . on e , o o e e

av w al
o f ,d him day i his
ou n d g ad at ms at Camb idg with a
o ne n un er r u e 5 r oo r e

pil fJ apa s ga m ts
e o ne e th fl Hi
r s t ask d him i f h h ad b
en on e oo r . s Vi i or e e een

p f mi g t a a di c
er or n o N h a sw
n ud ; I h av j st b
en e . d ssi g
“
o,
”
e n e re e u e en re n

a m ch m imp t a t ccasi h w t M sig

”
u p . A d n on u o re ? th or n o on e ro e : on nor e

titl is t w th m ch b t th cl th s a g g s P ac cks a t i it
e n
’
or u u e o e re or e ou . e o re n
’
n .
 CH I LD H OO D ,
1 87 1 —1 8 8 2 19

e ve r h e go e s o u t with th e r e st h e is mad e to talk a b out

nothing b u t po e try and civilisatio n .

H e could e njoy his walks how e ve r Corni sh sc e n e ry ,

.

is p r ovocativ e i n its varying b e a u ty H i s fath e r w r it e s .

in h is diary o f S e pt e mb e r z u d 1 88 2 how h e with h is , ,

ch ild r e n climb e d R o u gh to r i n viol e nt w e ath e r

Tintag e l ,
mystical through rainy fi lm s —distant vall e ys
pal e ly disc e rnibl e .

And agai n on S e pt e mb e r 1 3 th :

On e most d e lightf u l days o f my lif e—b y

of th e
e a r li e st t r ai n to P e nzanc e b r e akfast e d th e r e drov e to , ,

Logan R ock to to p o f wh ich all climb e d Th e n walk e d

,
.

with th e m by To ] Pe dn P e nwith to La nd s En d Th e '

.

b e a u ty and glo r y o f rock se a sky and air and th e cle ar

e nj oym e nt o f th e s e e arn e st ch ildr e n —as j oyo u s as th e y ar e
, , , ,

good—F r e d s sp l e ndid dash up and down th e rocks aft e r

’

a Clo u d e d Y e llow which h e s e c u r e d and H ugh s e ndl e ss ,

’

simil e s fo r e v er y e ff e ct 1 Th e p e ac e f u l p e n etrating d e light

.

o f Maggi e and N e lli e s capital sk etching Th e climax ’

, .

cam e sitting on Land s En d its e lf catin pounds o f g r e at ’

g r ap e s H om e by th e lat e st t r ain A l most d e lightf u l

. .
,
and ye t
Q u it e apart f r o m th e ticke ting t e nd e ncy this d iary “

displays (e ach m e mb e r o f th e pa r ty w as e xp e ct e d to play

up to h is sp e cial cha r act e r ) wh ich i n H ugh was q u it e ,

as st r o ng as and p er haps mor e p r e cip itat e than i n hi s

,

fath er it app e ars to m e to involv e an e l e m e nt o f v e ry

,

poignant pathos and to r e ve al a dive rg e nc e not alon e

,

in mod e o f e motional e xpr e ssion b u t in t e mp e ram e ntal ,

const r u ction which might w e ll h av e for e shadow e d a

mor e p r ofo u nd cl e avag e o f sympathy tha n was e v e r in ,

f act d e stin e d to com e abo u t b e tw e e n th e B ishop and

, ,

his child r e n H aving said this and i n vi e w o f all I am

.
,

1
H is gi ft
xp ct d simil m ai d alt
o fu n e e e e re ne un e re d . M ay s ’
li gs t w a ds
fe e n o r

V al w t m ds lik l ay s i a N ap lita
en 111 oo , e er n e o n ice is th e s t f thi g b
or o n e
c st a tly s aid a d at a m m t s tic
on n , n o en
’
no e .
 ROB ER T H UG H BEN S O N
’

20

about to sugg e st I wish first to e mphasiz e that what e v er

,

e ls e may o r may n o t b e tru e this at any rat e is most ,

u tt e rly c e r tain th at th is fath e r s lov e fo r his childr e n was

’

not only p r ofo u nd but passionat e and that h e singl e d o u t

, ,

H ugh as th e o n e on whom h e was fain to lavish all that

was most t e nd e r and most intimat e i n that lov e “
I .

always r e ckon e d o n this o n e h e wa s to w r it e lat er , ,

wh e n H ugh d e cid e d i n 1 889 to go i n for th e I ndian

Civil S er vic e “
,to b e my g r e at fri e nd as I g r e w old .

That anything Sho u ld b e w ritt e n o r surmis e d which

might obsc u r e this p r ima r y fac t o f B ishop B e nson s ’

a ff e ction fo r his child r e n and p er haps for H ugh in

,

pa r tic u la r would b e a g r i e f to all who love o r r e ve r e o n

, ,

di ff e r e nt titl e s h i s m e mo r y and to it b e fo r e all fu r th e r

, , ,

consid er ations homag e m u st b e r e nd e r e d Lat e r I hop e

, .
,

to r e c u r to and insist upon th is e v e r mor e t e nd e r and

,

m e llo we d lov e .

B ut it was a n anxious lov e : Mr A C B e n so n sp e aks . . .

o f his f ath e r s almost t r e m u lous s e ns e of par e ntal r e

“’

spo nsibility . H e r e was a man combining th e ra r e

q u aliti e s o f pow e r and o f s e nsitiv e n e ss o f th e autocrat , ,

and th e artist th e do e r and th e dre am e r G r eat politicians .

oft e n ach i e v e th e ir tr iu m p h s b y sh u tting o ff—e ve n at th e

,

'

s e e ming e xp e ns e o f j u stic e and tr u th —e ve ry asp e ct of a

q u e stion e xc e pt o n e and th e n co nc e nt r ating contin uo u sly
,

th e whol e forc e of th e i r p e r sonality u po n th e r e alisation

o f that which th e y so o n e-Sid e dly b e hold A many -sid e d .

vi e w oft e n paralys e s actio n N o w fo r f orc e o f p e rsonality

.

H ugh s fath e r was p e r hap s not e asily o u tp ass e d What

’
.

e v e r h e did — and h is hand found many things to do—h e

did it with his might La r g e ly b u ilt as I have said
.
, ,

“
l e onin e as th e y call it i n mo u ld o f h e ad and fir m o f
, ,

t r e ad h e ca r r i e d hims e lf thro u gho u t lif e fin e ly with

, ,
22 ROB ER T H UG H BEN S O N
adva nc e d t e rribl e as an army with ban n e rs H u gh ,

Skirmish e d ; what th e B ishop m e ant to do h e pr epar e d ,

e labo r at e ly and th e n di d H u gh fir e d by an id e a r u sh e d .
, ,

at th e mat e rialising it quit e witho u t th e pr e vious mast e ry ,

o f th e m e an s to this
1
.

Th e B ishop was i n all that h e did r e l e ntl e ssly

purpos e f u l ; nothing i n Lis Esc o p j ust happ e n e d
“
He .

t e nd e d as I said to e xhaust his family who might b e

, , ,

e xc u s e d fo r wanting a littl e room j ust to play abo u t in

“
,

a pr e rogativ e which M r E F B e nson so g e n e ro u sly . . .

allows to hi s cha r act er s H ugh B e nso n e v e n wh e n at .

,

last h e l e arnt to work did so i n fi e rc e b u rsts of con ,

c e n tr ate d e n e r gy wh ich l e ft h im som e tim e s e xha u st e d ,

b u t: oft e n in a d e lightfully incon s e qu e nt humo u r i n which ,

conve r satio n b u bbl e d o u t p e ll-m e ll and th e id e al o n th e , ,

whol e was that you should for th e mom e nt p u rsu e no

,

id e al save if you will that of compl e t e r e laxation H i s

, ,
.

fath e r n e ve r could r e lax Ev e n such dissipation s wh ich .

w e r e o fficially o r ganis e d w e r e n o t always as I s u gge st e d , ,

o f th e most e xhilarating Th e B ishop e xp e ct e d that .

his childr e n should e njoy th e ms e lv e s int e llig e ntly and ,

was worr i e d by th e flip p an t and volatil e H e like d b e ing .

aske d s e nsibl e qu e stion s to b e suitably answ e r e d O nc e ,

.

1
ch a mi g a cd t l at s h w fasci at d by th id a f c j i g h
A r n ne o e re e o , n e e e o on ur n , e

at c ff d t giv a xhibiti b t h had p actis d

on e o e re o efhis t ick s a d
n e on , u e r e none o r , n

th s lt w a a fi asc Simil a ly h p p a d a m a i tt sh w at A ddi gt

e re u s o. r e re re r one e o n on ,

wh p pp ts d ss d by B th a d his sist s w t act sc s f m hist y

e re u e re e e n er ere o en ene ro or ,

a f s, i sta c f m th li f f Th m as a B ck t Th c t ai
or n n e, ro s H gh s
e e o o e e . e ur n ro e : u
’

v ic w a h a d d cl a i g
o e s Sc
e r a a-a id w ast a d
e xt i a l d
r n :
“
ene, n r e,
”
n ne , n ou ,

agit at d whisp Wh is th A chbish p ? B t th p pp t had b l st ”

e e r, er e e r o u e u e een o ,

a d f m this pl ay
n ro f B ck t th A chbish p h ad t b mitt d A i vit ati
o e e e r o o e o e . n n on

a d a tick t t B s Th at w d by R H B s still s viv s ”

n th e o e on u e re . o ne . . en o n , ur e .

A dmissi is f child h al f p ic Th e pl ay by M E B s is Th Gh t
on r ee. re n - r e. , . . e n on , e os

of Ca tl Ga l gh Th vill ai is D J ac p
s e r ez .cl fth m aid A d m ach
e n on o o, u n e o e en n ro e,

wh i h its Castl G a l igh H b th s a am d B aldwi a d P d ;

o n er e r e . er ro er re n e n n e ro

C amill a is a ld h ag acc mplic

n f J ac p ; th gh st is h
o fath
, Ram o e o o o e o er er on ,

s pp s d d ad b t t i ng i th ick ftim t p v t h m d
u o e e ,
u re u r n n e n o e o re en er ur er .
 CH I LD H OO D , 1 8 7 1 —1 8 8 2 23

on a S u nday walk h e had b e e n e xp laining th e Pa r abl e .

o f th e G oo d Samaritan to H u gh and th e n s e e ing an o ld ,

woman toiling uphill with a bag o f potato e s G o said “

, ,

h e to H ugh “
and b e a G ood Sama r itan to that old lady
,
.

“
B ut papa ,
answ e r e d H ugh p laying u p like any
, ,

Sand f ord I o u ght to hat e h e r a s th e Sama r itans hat e d

“

th e J e ws This gav e th e B ishop his chanc e o f r e d e e ming

.

th e charact e r o f th e pri e sthood ; but hi s e ff ort to h e lp

th e o ld woman was anticipat e d by “
a still mo r e active
L evit e i n th e p e rso n o f th e c u rat e o f K e nwyn who ,

had ca u ght him u p Th e s e S u nday walks ar e m e ntion e d

.

by H ugh B e nson in h i s Confessi on s with no a ffe ctio nat e

e mphasi s Th e y last e d an ho u r and a hal f and w e r e
.
,

rath e r slow and r e coll e ct e d

“
O n e of th e ch ildr e n .
,

or th e B ishop would r e ad alo u d som e tim e s G e org e

, ,

H e rb e rt whos e p e culiar sch olarly and ing e nio u s m e dita

, , ,

tions u s e d H u gh says to prod u c e in him occasionally

,
“
,

a sudd e n thrill o f pl e as u r e but far mor e commonly a ki nd ,

o f d e spairing impati e nc e B ut h e found satis f action i n .

th e quaint d e vic e s s u ch as wings o r altars in wh ich ,

H e rb e rt p int e d h is conc e its

r 1
.

Liv e s o f Saints f e lt to b e i nt e r minabl e ; vol u m e s o f

,

Ch u rch H istory ; D e an Stanl e y o n th e H oly Land w e r e

,
,

also r e ad St P e rp e t u a s martyrdom i nd e e d captivat e d

. .
’
, ,

him and h e was aw e str u ck and p robably rath e r d e pr e ss e d

,

to find that his fath e r had b ee n translating f r e e ly and

at sight th e c e rtainly not too limpid Latin o f h e r A cta .

Childre n oft e n f e e l r e s e ntfu l at th e display o f th e ir pa r e nts ’

1
Bu t G e org e
b t d s v d b tt th a this H i p t y is amply
H er er e er e e er n . s oe r

c ap abl f app al g t childh d ; a d H gh s t ast f i g i y ght

e o e in o oo n u
’
e or n en u t ou ,
on e

w ld h av th gh t t h av p d f him th gat s t H b t s m i w a d
ou e ou , o e O e ne or e e o er er
’
ore n r

ch a m P ssibly th ci c msta c s f his i t d cti t th p ms sp ilt ( a

r . o e r u n e o n ro u on o e oe o s

h app s i th cas f m a y a th s ad a f i st a c cl ass w k at sch l )

en n e e o so n u or re s, or n n e, or oo

his p w f j yi g th p ms th ms lv s
o er o en o n e oe e e e .
21 ROB ER T H UG H BEN S O N
accomplishm e nts not to m e ntion th e i r virtu e s I t is so
, .

Oft e n impli e d that if th e y try ha r d th e y will b e as good ,

o n e day th e ms e lv e s
,
.

A ft e r th e walk cam e th e G r e e k Te stam e nt l e sson o r

B ibl e -r e ading in th e study H ugh r e calls th e brillia ncy
.

a nd int e ll e ctuality o f th e s e f u nctions but i n r e ality th e

,

childr e n w er e h e r e again n o t o nly rath e r bor ed but

, , ,

dist r act e d by th e d u ty of s e e king fo r th e i r fath e r s di splay ’

of e mphatic pl e as u r e wh e n th e y did w e ll and o f avoiding

,

h is “ O pp r e ssive disapp oi ntm e nt wh e n th ey w e r e stupid .

H ugh had n e e d e d h e f e lt aft e rwards a di ff e r e nt machin e ry

, ,

fo r th e shapi ng of h is spi r itual lif e —a gr e at u se of pictur e s ,

a minut e and constant rit u al o f fing er e d b e ads and c r oss e s

trac e d —still p e r hap s n o t r e alising th e u niqu e halo which
can fo r m its e lf around th e writt e n wo rd o f th e G osp e l
if but th e associat e d m e mo r i e s of its fi r st r e adi n g b e ‘

i ntimat e and t e nd e r Bu t I must w e ll conf e ss t hat th e

.

B ishop whos e knowl e dg e was e xhaustiv e had no notion

, ,

how to l e ave out

“
H e had th e schola r s hor r or o f
.
’

ragg e d e dg e s o r o f co nt e nts u n e xp lain e d Th e qu aint

,
.

wand e r i ngs o f a word -st e m thro u gh d e vious path s o f

m e aning ; th e s u btl e val u e s of t e ns e s and particl e s ;
noti ons alli e d to th e wo r d b u t in no way to th e cont ext
who do e s not know th e f asci nation wh ich th e s e hav e for
c e r tain minds and ind e e d th e c u rio u s d e light and e nrich
,

m e nt o f V i ew whi ch may b e found in yi e lding to th e sp e ll

Bu t this b e tt e r s u its m e n standing shall w e say f or
‘

, ,

scholarships at a U n i v e rsity than th e impati e nt mind of

,

a H u gh s u p erficial in th e s e ns e t hat it might hav e e njoy e d

,

th e vivid pictur e s thrown o f f by a passag e tak e n as a

whol e but by no m e ans i ncli n e d to burrow among roots
,
.

A noth e r tim e h e said h e f e lt lik e a littl e china mug b e ing

fill e d f r om a wat e rfall .
 CH I LD H OO D , 1 87 1 —1 8 82 2
5
Th e r e ar e som e rath er hard p ag e s in th e Confess ion s
in which H ugh s ee ks to d e scrib e th e r e ligio u s i nfl u e nc e
which his fath e r e x e rci s e d o n his mind I t was so gr e at . ,

h e ass e rts that h e d e spairs o f d e scribing it

,
H e would .

have f e lt it a ki nd o f blasph e my h e says to hav e h e ld

“
, ,

oth e r O p inions than hi s fath e r s d u ring h is li fe tim e I

’
.

s inc e r e ly b e li ev e this to b e a slightly inacc u r at e de sc r ip

tio n o f his o w n boy -mi nd C e r tainly r e co r ds show that
.
,

long b e f or e th e A rchbishop s d e ath H ugh s mind was

’
,
’

working q u it e ind e p e nd e ntly to an e xt e nt ind e e d which

, , ,

mad e th e A rchbishop n er vo u s Mo r e ov e r much that was

.
,

s u pr e m e ly m e aningful to th e B ishop —th e P r e s e nc e o f G od

and its charact e r th e p e rsonality o f J e sus Christ —was n o t
,

appr e h e nd e d at all o r q u it e differ e n tly by H u gh I think

, , .

it i s t r u e to say that fo r H ugh to h av e s tated e v e n to ,

hims e l f vi e ws diffe ring f rom h is fath e r s wo u l d ha v e

,
’
,

s e e m e d a kind o f blasp h e my
“
I t i s th e ha r d e st thing
.

in th e world to b e q u it e su r e o f what on e s r e al s e lf do e s ’

be li e ve ; and to a child th e expr e ssion o f a be li e f i s

constantly tak e n fo r th e vital fact its e lf Som e tim e s o n e .

com e s across in a child at a mom e nt o f spiritual unve iling

,

o f wh ich it may its e lf b e quit e unconscio u s th e most ,

startling e xh ibitio ns o f i nt e rio r sc e ptici sm ; oft e n e r still ,

-
of activ e s e l f d e l u sion H u gh r e lat e s a list o f p u zzl e s
“

with which his fath e r s b e li e fs Su ppli e d him —what r e ally

.

h e tho u ght a bo ut th e binding c haract e r o f th e litu r gy ;

“
o f divorc e ; o f th e Catholic Ch u r ch e sp e cially o f th e,

Sacram e nt o f P e nanc e A ll th e s e ar e as conscio u s prob

.
,

l e ms undou b t e dly th e p roducts of a lat e r age and not

, ,

to b e r e fl e ct e d back to th e simpl e r days o f Tr u r o .

I think h e sp e aks truly though wh e n h e says h e f e lt

, ,

towards G od as towards a pr e s e nt p ar e ntal autho r ity and ,

that in it only th e mo r e aust e r e e l e m e nts o f huma n

 26 ROB ER T H UG H BEN S O N
par e nthood w er e to b e p e r c e ived I t take s long to r e alis e
.

that it i s aft e r th e h e av e nly fath e r hood that all pat e rnity

“

on e arth is nam e d in p al e a nd partial imag er y and it ,

may w e ll b e that e v e n as a rul e G o d is by ob edi e nt ,

childr e n so cast in th e ir huma n fath e r s imag e that H e

,
’

is not only non e too w e ll love d n o r e v e n p e rhaps “ like d

, ,

b u t o n th e whol e r e s e nt e d though ob e y e d Th e P e rson .

,

to o of J e sus Christ is tho u gh I fancy l e ss by Catholic s

, , ,

than by thos e who do not poss e ss th e tab e rnacl e d Pr e s e nc e ,

conc e ive d as B e nson says in th e past or th e f u tu r e as

, , ,

th e figur e whom th e G osp e ls show t e nd e r and miracl e ,

wo r king a world away in tim e and p lac e th e G alil e an

, ,

who ye t is to com e again

“
S u nday e v e nings B e nson
.
,

has h int e d i n The Lig h t I n v isible w e r e touch e d for him ,

with that glamour which I imagin e almost th e l e ast wis e

o f Victorian hom e s and h B nsons was f r f rom b e ing
(
’
t e e a

o n e o f th e s e
) kn e w how to cast about th e m H ymns and .
,

th e b e lls o f Ev e n song and a c e rtain patriarchal t e nd e r

,

n e ss and a myst e rious m e lancholy as o f e nding (fo r no

,

o n e e ve r e t I am sur f lt Su nday to b th first day

y , e e , e e

h e w ee k ; it i s a n i nt rspac at b st cl a ly h
o
f t e e e ; ,
e r t e

n ew p e riod starts o n Monday mo r ning ) go to inve st ,

thos e hou r s with a n u nforg e ttabl e s e ntim e nt A lso H ugh .

r e cognis e d that a strang e aroma cl e av e d about h is

“

m e mori e s o f th e ca r e ful liturgi e s p erform e d in the tiny

chap e l o f Li s ESCO p n o l e ss than in th e stat e ly oratori e s
of Lamb e th and o f A ddi ngto n What I think is ve ry
.

charact e ristic i nd ee d o f Victo r ian and A nglican e d u cation ,

i s a sort o f Stoic e q u alisation of moral faults und e r th e

“
sup rior formality o f disob e di e nc e
e “
I t is r ecognis ed .

by p ar e nts no do u bt th at to climb ove r wir e r ailings

, ,

with on e s f e et e ls e wh er e than clos e to th e fix ed Supports

’

may damag e i nd ee d th e wir e s b u t i s n o t morally w r ong

, .
 CH I LD H OO D , 1 871 —1 8 82 27

B ut to aft e r b e ing told n o t to e xalts th e o ff e nc e

do so ,

i nto a sin comparabl e to thos e of s u lks t e mp e r o r m e an , ,

n e ss Possibly th e p ar e nt may not g u e ss that so th e

.

ch ild -consci e nc e f e e ls th e thing ; but th e r e is no sort o f

doubt that moral issu e s ar e th u s quit e O ft e n and quit e
grav e ly and fo r a long p e riod confus e d and a fals e c o n ,

sci e nc e fo r m e d Moral lap s e i n th e ci r cumscrib e d s e ns e

.
, ,

is r e ckon ed i nconc e ivabl e and as “ not so much as to b e

m e ntion e d among yo u it is n e ve r th e r e f or e allud e d , ,

to a nd n e ve r (alas how f atally ! ) pr e par e d fo r C e rtain

, , .

sin s ar e outstandingly a b horr e nt ; lying thi e ving and th e , ,

improbabl e vic e o f cru e lty B u t it was di fficul t to se e .

what e xpr e ssion o f wrath wo u ld b e fo u nd ad e quat e f or

th e s e wh e n to f org e t an ord e r o r to disr e gard it i n a
“
,

mom e nt of blinding e xcit e m e nt ( a charact e ristic condi

tion by th e way ) to th r ow ston e s at gold -fi sh o r to p lay
, ,

with fing er s d u r ing p ray e rs p r ovok e d all th e r e p r obation

du e to g r av e moral d e linqu e nci e s 1 .

It r e mai ns that H ugh had pl e nty o f p e rsonality for

r e sistanc e .

most r e ma r kabl e thing about h im was a r e al

Th e
ind e p e nd e nc e o f charact e r with an e nti r e dis r e ga r d of ,

oth er p e opl e s opin ion What h e like d what h e fe lt

’
.
, ,

what h e d e cid e d was th e important thi ng to h im and , ,

so long as h e co u ld ge t h is way I do not lth i n k that h e ,

troubl e d h is h e ad abo u t what oth e r p e opl e mi ght think

o r wish ; h e did not want to e a r n good opi n i ons n or ,

did h e care for disapproval o r approval ; p e opl e i n fact , ,

w e r e to him at that tim e j ust mor e o r l e s s favourabl e

1
B e n s o n says h e w as c o n sci o u s o f an d c o n s o l e d hims e l f by this fact
, , wh en

on e c at Et on h e w as f als e ly acc u s e d o f s e r i o u s b u llyi n g an d n ear ly fl o gg e d . I

w as v y a ly pa alys d i mi d h says by th app alli g atm sph
er ne r r e nf n ,
”
e , e n o ere o

my fath s i dig ati a d wh lly fail d t d f d mys l f by t a s f sil t

er
’
n n on , n o e o e en e e r o en

d sp ai
e A lm st
r. c f s d a t d bt his w i c c h f lt th at h
”
o so on u e s o ou o n nn o e n e, e e e

h ad at a y at k w the w st f po ssibl a g be f a d f t ivi al fa lts

n r e no n or o e n er ore, n or r u .

C f i p 15
on ess on s , . .
28 ROB ER T H UG H BEN S O N
chann e ls fo r him to follow his o w n d e signs mor e o r l e ss ,

stubbo r n obstacl e s to h i s attaining h is wish e s H e was .

not at all a s e nsitiv e o r sh r inking ch ild H e was q u it e

,
.

capabl e of holding his o w n f u ll o f sp i r it and f e arl e ss , ,

tho u gh qu i e t e no u gh and not in th e l e ast i nt e rf er ing

, ,

e xc e p t wh e n his rights w r e m e nac e d

1
e .

To th is part o f th e boy s lif e sp e nt altog e th er

su m up
’

at hom e and apart from all ali e n infl u e nc e s H e app e ars .

to m e al r e ady i n a s e n s e lon e ly n o t that h e was aloof , ,

unint er e st e d e r e mitical but r ath er that h e was too

, ,

int er e st e d too k e e nly al er t to n e w impr e ssions too e xcit e d

, ,

ov e r life to b e abl e to tak e i n d e e p f e e lings—h e was th e

,

most u ns e ntim e ntal o f child r e n—o r at any rat e to b e

conscious o f his d e e p e r f ee lings Mr A C B e nson r e . . . .

ma r ks mor e than onc e and with v e r y gr e at ac u t e n e ss in ,

his fath e r s B iog r aphy th at th e A rchbishop to h is r e ading

’

, ,

O f h im was not oft e n co nscio u s o f th e gr e at happin e ss

,

which in r e ality was his H e was too b u sy too p r e .

,

occupi e d to o r e ady fo r th e n e xt thing Som e thing of

, .

this alr e ady shows i n H u gh H e r e ally was happy at .

Tr u r o though from th e Confess i ons you wo u ld n e v e r g u e ss

,

it Bu t pa r tly h e r e ally had not anything v e ry d ee p as

.
,

y e t with
, in him ( and aft e r all h e was bar e ly e l e v e n l a nd
, ) ,
-

partly h e did not know what h e in fact poss e ss e d (and

again at e l e ve n o n e sho u ld not b e too int e riorly awar e I)
,
.

B ut o n e may r e gr e t that h e did not f e e l mor e co nscio u sly

h is fath e r s lov e fo r him o r f ee ling it co u ld n o t find mo r e
’

, , ,

that app e al e d to him i n its exp r e s sio n Earn e stly I wi sh .

to r e p e at that h e r e i s no radical and total schism o f

t e mp e ram e nts such as i s d e scrib e d in that mo st t erribl e
book Father an d Son Th e trag edy w as subtl e r as H eg e l
, .
,

saw G r e e k tr ag e dy to b e O n e ith er sid e was so much .

1
H ugh , p .
37 .
3 0 ROB ER T H UG H BEN S O N
w er e d e stin e d p erhap s to e n d th er e so that i n h im p r e
, , ,

c i se ly th e p r e rogativ e of g e nius was most ma r k e dly alli e d

,

as so O ft e n with a c e rtai n basic w e akn e ss ; rapidity with

, ,

a c e r tain imp e rman e nc e ; and d e licacy of p e rc e ption with

a n e r vo u s syst e m f r om th e o u ts e t too high -st r u ng
.
 CH A PT ER I I

A T C L EVED O N A ND ETO N , 1 88 2 —1 889

m ad p my mi d t hat it w a t pl as a t t b a I shm a l th at a
I h ad e u n s no e n o e n e , s

fa a p ssibl I w ld t y t b a
r s o di a y b y at my w sch l
e ou r B t o e n or n r o ne oo . u

d t b mis abl (h said ) j st b c a s y

on
’
e er e di ff t I m di ff t ; it s
e
“
u e u e o u re
’
e re n .
’
e ren
’

a j lly g
o d thi g t b d ff t l -R I C H A RD M I DDLET N
oo n o e i e re n
”
O .

I N th e May o f 1 882 H u gh l e ft hom e fo r th e fi r st tim e ,

an d sinc e it was v e r y soon aft e r th is that h is fath e r was

e l e ct e d to b e A r chbishop o f Cant e rb u r y by H u gh s hom e

’

wi ll b e m e ant h e nc e forward Lam b eth Palac e and A dding

, ,

to n Park n e ar C r oydon Th e r e d b r ick o r whit e -ston e .

-

t u r r e ts o f Lamb e th ar e f amiliar f r om th e o u tsid e to thos e

fe w London e r s who ca r e to notic e anything on th e S u r r e y
sid e of th e Th am e s I t was n e v e r f e lt by th e A r chbishop s.
’

family r e ally to b e th e ir hom e and app ea r s b u t s e ldom , ,

e v e n as backg r o u nd in H u gh s nove ls A ddington was ’

, .

di ff e r e nt tho u gh now it has b ee n sold and th e A r ch

, ,

bishop s no mo r e live th e r e I ts pa r k is as b e a u tifu l as th e .

ho u s e its e lf was u n r omanti c h aving that sob e r stat e lin e ss ,

in which o u r n e a r e r anc e sto r s lov e d to e ncas e r ooms o f ;

e xtr e m e and s u bstantial comfort This plac e with th e .

,

r iding which its park mad e co ntin u o u sly possibl e o f t e n ,

fi nds its way into H u gh s books above all th e stat e lin e ss ’

1
,

o f lif e i n th e s e hous e s th e cumbro u s transportations o f ,

th e family f r om o n e to anoth e r th e h e t e r og e n e o u s b u t ,

1
chbish p d sl wly a d th h s s b c am ath
Th e A r o rot f ha d e o , n e or e e e r er ou o n .

B y th b ys t b his c mpa i
e o i this w a f lt t b
, o e p h aps a p a co n on n s e o e, er , en n e,

a d shi k d
n O h s i p a tic l a Q ti th w a ly v y
r e . ne or e , H gh n r u r, ue n n, re ne r e er one , u

i cl d d a d app a s i his w am i a sig ific a t pis d f Th C w a d

n u e , n re e r n o n n e, n n n e o e o e o r .

31
3 2 R O BE R T H U G H BEN S O N
always imp ortant gath e rings which th e y in e vita b ly col
lec te d fill e d his m e mory with inn u m e r abl e d e tails for his
,

imagination to work upon and his causti c wit to play

with .

A bout h is pr e pa r ato r y school at Walton H o u s e Cl e v e ,

do n i n Som e rs e t h e has v e ry littl e to say

, , I n his Con .

fess i on s h e m e ntions o f cours e only his r e coll e ction s o f

, ,

what had touch e d hi s r e ligious s e ns e and th es e ar e ,

con n e ct e d m e r e ly with th e mod e rat e ly high ritual i n vogu e

th e r e with a dark sanctua r y f e nc e d o ff by iron and brass
, ,

scr e e n -work with colou r e d stol e s and d e pr e ssing G r e gorian

,

chants A s a matt e r of f act b e th e Sanct u ary but dark

‘

.
,

e no u gh and th e scr e e n tol e ra b ly glitt e r ing th e av e rag e ,

small boy will r e mai n complac e ntly ignorant o f what

go e s o n insid e th e o n e and b e hind th e oth e r H e is .

cont e nt to si ng th e hy m ns h e like s to scratch his initials ,

o n th e b e nch o r to li ck its va r nish S u ch r e ligious e m o .

tions as r each h im hav e to associat e th e ms e lv e s som e how

with th e notio n o f hom e ; th e y will b e e ntir e ly unawak e n e d
at b oth e arly and mid -morning s e rvic e s for i n that bl e ak ,

o r b r isk or rain -sodd e n atmosph e r e nothing o f psychic

stirs B r e akfast anyhow e xtinguish e s s u ch flick e rs o f

.
, ,

th e so u l as may r e spond to th e th r illing light o f dawn .

B ut i n th e e ve ning th e chap e l i s warm and d u sky ; th e

,

stain e d -glass light is sol e mn and p oints o f gas -flam e ,

make a glamo u r wh e r e b r ass o r polish e d ston e r e fl e ct

th e m ; favo u r it e hymns and th e a u gust and familiar
,

ph r asi ng o f th e B ibl e r e lax int e rior r e sistanc e ; th e

,

s er mon e v e n may dis e ngag e som e s e ntim e nt Vag u e

, ,
.

r e solutions form ; p r omis e s ar e di stantly r e call ed A ft er .

:

wards th e study of G r e e k Te stam e nt s u pp e r and th e

, , ,

dismal prosp e ct of Monday r e p r e ss onc e mo r e th e s e

spi r itual sti r rings .
 A T C LEVED ON A N D ET ON ,
1 8 8 2—1 8 89 33

Mr A Be vil B rown e who was a n e w b o y at Walton

. .
,

H ous e with Be nson r e calls disti nctly H ugh s pal e f ac e

’

and longish hair and unus u ally th o u gh tfu f c e l a 1

.

C ertainly hi s dramatic imagination was alr e ady active .

Th e bo ys us e d to b e e ncourag e d to l e arn Latin grammar

at m e al -tim e s and it i s con soling to h e ar that th is
,

dysp e ptic proc e edin g was all e viat e d by th e stori e s into

which H ugh us e d to fit th e nouns occurring i n th e
rhym e s by m e ans o f wh ich th e boys l e arnt Lati n g e nd e rs .

H e was to o b rilliant ; th e laught e r b e cam e uproarious ,

and th e tabl e was sil e nc e d

“
Marion e tt e p lays be cam e .

p opular though I do not find that it was H ugh w h o

,

inv e nt e d th e m H e and Lo rd B e auchamp d r amatis e d

.

Scott s A b b ot i n wh ich th e e scap e from Lochl e v e n had

’

fir e d H ugh s imagination M r B rown e prot e st e d that

’
. .

th e s e nt e nc e “ O n e tw o thr e e fo u r chairs i ncludi ng

, , , , ,

th e broke n o n e h ad n o t be e n r e nd er e d into ve r s e
, .

H u gh dis play e d th e obsti nacy suit e d to a po e t who is

sur e o f but cannot j u stify his intuitions
, H e j ust said , .

that h e had l e ft it as it was i n th e b o ok and would not ,

budg e So to a prot e st that th e sky which h e w as

.
,
“
,
”

painting for th e night e scap e sc e n e r y

- “
i sn t blu e like ,
’

that at night h e m e r e ly r e pli e d ,

“
O h isn t it ? and , ,
’

proc ee d ed .

M r B evil B rown e r e m e mb e rs h im as not altoge th e r

.

happy i n his e nvironm e nt tho u gh h e had th e pow e r of ,

e scaping from it by th e doors his imaginatio n op e n e d ,

and h e n e v e r show e d impati e nc e o f routin e

“ As a .

matt e r o f f act his i nve ntiv e n e ss was co ncr e t e : h e sta r t e d

,

1
ph t g aph f th th b th s p blish d i H g/ it is s that
I n th e o o r o e r ee ro er u e n u z een

the l g h ai w a
on spe ci ality f th y g t H gh w a s th s m wh at
r s no o e o un es . u e r e o e

st ed xp ssi p pe t ph t graphs a d is d ss d i a Et s it t
un n e re on ro r o o o , n re e n n on u , no

the bl ack s it with k ick b ck s gath d at th k

“
u th a s al a
n er o er ere e n ee , en s u nu u s

th y a
e w iv sal a M B vil B w d sc ib s th m
re n o un er ,
”
s r. e ro ne e r e e .

I
34 R O BE R T H U G H BEN S O N
f ashions f e ve rishly adop t e d thos e e xisting and d eve lop e d
or

th e m He li ke d t e aching oth e rs to do what h e could

do —walking o n stilts fo r instanc e ; was a bowl e r and
.

, ,

n e a r ly i n th e e l e ve n and coach e d h is dormitory fo r ,

match e s wh ich h e arrang ed Bo y-lik e h e kn e w n o .

1
,

hal f ton e s : p e op l e w e r e
- “
b e asts or h ero e s Th e .

r e ver e ntial f aculty showe d no f u rth e r sign o f d e v e lop

m e nt A t A ddington i n th e holidays H ugh onc e sat
‘

.
, ,

with his f ri e nd i n a c e dar and told stori e s and looke d

st e althily down o n th e h e ads o f a doz e n gath e r e d B ishop s
and inv e nt e d a nicknam e fo r e ach .

Mr A C B e nso n wo u ld I imagin e consid e r th e

. . .
, ,
'

colours o f this pictu r e to o gay if n o t i dealise d quit e by

"
,

r e minisc e nc e “ H ugh oft e n Spok e o f Cl e v e don

. he .

writ e s to m e and al w ays i n a d e pr e ss e d sort o f way

“

Th e town its e l f was —th e n at any r at e —sordid mod e rn

, .

, , ,

and straggling ; Wal e s ros e shadowy across th e mud

“

stai n e d tid e H ugh dislik e d th e V i e w and f ail e d r e ally

.
,

to fit in with th e lif e o f a privat e school a plac e wh e r e , ,

mor e than i n any oth er th e individualist is bo u nd to ,

pay . If i nd e ed H ugh s m e mo r i e s O f Cl e ve do n w e r e
, ,
'

s u bstantially unpl e asant I e xp e ct that h e r e ally was non e ,

too happy th e r e A t th e tim e h e may q u it e w e ll not

. ,

h ave known this A small boy has an e xtraordinary .

pow e r o f n o t knowing wh e th e r h e is liki ng h is li f e as

a whol e o r not H e ca n p ass at a h int from gloom
.
, ,

to e xcit e d pl e asur e ; it tak e s long b ef or e a summing up

is p o ssibl e and by that tim e d e v e loping p e rsonality has
,

gr i e vously alt e r e d th e l e ns e s o f th e mind B ut o n th e .

,

whol e whil e th e m e mory t e nds to omit th e unpl e asant

,

1
is said t h av i nv t d a t t i al syst m f his cl ass i which the
He o e en e
“
u or e or , n

t p b ys w h lp th backw a d B t ass dly th p actic f xacti g ”

o o t er e o e e r . u u re e r e o e n

t ll f m th s p i xp t is ld
o ro e u gh a d did t q i i v ti g
er o r e er o e n ou , n no re u re n en n

by H gh u .
 AT CLEV ED ON A N D ET ON , 1 88 2 —1 8 8 9 35

and to d e corat e th e past with aur eol e s Cl e ve do n ,

appa r e ntly n e ve r i n h is ey e s wor e a halo I n 1 885 .

h e w o n a s cholarship at Eto n and w e nt th e r e i n Se p

t e mb e r .

A boy s li fe at a P u blic School find s many mo r e to

’

sp e ak o f it than his e arli e r days at som e Te mpl e G rove

o r Elst r e e p e rhap s b e caus e th e mind o f a small boy is
,

so h idd e n a thing and so h u g e ly r e mot e from middl e

ag e d nov e lists so inarticulat e and so d e voi d o f th e
, ,

significant moods o f adol e sc e n c e that it is l e f t alon e .

A n d ye t Mr K e nn e th G raham e has bri e fly b u t su ffici e ntly

.

r e mind e d th e r e ad ers o f Tb e Golden A g e that it is during

th e first t e rm sp e nt at a p rivat e school that th e r e al gul f
is cl e ft b e tw e e n th e hom e -br e d ch ild and th e boy A .

fe w brav e writ e rs hav e invad e d that twilit con sciousn e ss

Mr R ichard Middl e ton for i nstan c e i n o n e o r tw o subtl e
.
, ,

studi e s i n Tb e 6 7203 7 51240 } but unsurpassably o f cours e , ,

Mr Compton Mack e nzi e in th e first volum e o f Si n ister

.

Str eet B ut th e r e would b e n o mat e rials as has b e e n

.
,

s ee n e ve n f or s u ch archit e cts as th es e to constr u ct a

, ,

history o f H u gh s mind du r ing that f asci nating p eriod

’
.

Eton no doubt has fir e d f e w e r to writ e o f h er tha n has

, ,

h e r mor e s e ntim e ntal sist e r H arrow ; probably it is part

,

o f th e unconscious id e al o f th e s e r e n e Coll e g e to f ee l no

n ee d to sp e ak about h e rs e l f Y e t it i s not Eton but .

, ,

still H ugh B e nson h ims e lf who h e r e d e f e ats us Eto n .

n e v e r s e e ms to hav e insp ir e d him much H e n e ve r f or .

,

i nstanc e us e s h is school as th e s e tting o f a nove l

, ,
“
historical o r mod e rn Fo r a lat e R e formation story
.
,

th e r e d-brick Coll e g e and H e n r y s g r e y chap e l th e o ld

’
,

town a nd th e castl e would have mad e an incomparabl e

,

sc e n e ; and th e man who could writ e so lightly a nd

1
T h s
u . i n A D r ama qf You ”: an d The N ew Boy .
3 6 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
sugg e stive ly q u it e en p assan t about a boy still at Eton
, , ,

as B e nson has i n Tile Cow ar d c ou ld hav e w r itt e n d e licio u s ,

th ings a s a study o f mor e yo u thf u l Conve ntio nalists i n

“

that li fe o f rive r and c r ick e t-fie ld and school r oom and ,

abov e all o f H ous e e tiqu e tt e and hi e ra r chy H e love d

, .

to diagnos e th e moods of bo yhood a nd th e gusty t e mp e r

o f adol e sc e nc e Th e sol e m nity o f yo u th masking its ,

timidity ; th e charm—almost th e sacr e dn e ss —o f cr u e lly

.

n am e d “ calf -lov e s ; th e e lusive r e ligion and th e rigid

cod e o f p ublic op i nion w e r e favourit e top ics fo r h is,

tho u ght Y e t o f th e lif e o f Eto n h e says scarc e ly any

.

thing—a fe w hard pag e s in th e Confess i ons and thr e e ,

cont e mptuous articl e s i n Ev ery man l—and of th e p lac e

its e lf n e ve r a word Wh e n i n 1 90 6 Mrs Warr e Cornish
,
.
, , .
,

th e wif e o f th e Vic e -Provo st o f Eto n implo r e d him to ,

tak e Tudor Eto n for a th e m e h e could not rous e hims e lf ,

to th e slight e st r e spons e I frankly b e li e v e h im to have

.

liv e d i n Eton on th e whol e imp e rvious to th e spi r it o f

, ,

th e plac e and if this is so no possibl e proof could b e

, ,

mo r e cog e nt o f th e tripl e o ak a nd bro nz e which h is p er

s o n alit
y O pp o s e d to all that did not s u it it Th e sam e .

f r i e nd r e minds m e how all his life yo u might p e rc e iv e

in him a g e nu i n e t e mp er am e ntal d e tach m e nt f r om o n e
part of th e imp r e ssive court -like e xist e nc e o f Lamb e th and
,

e v e n A ddington wh e r e th e atmosph e r e w as h eavy with

,

e ccl e siastical and e v e n s e cular politics and i nd e e d a , , ,

c e rtain s e ns e o f sov er eign ty ; and simila r ly from Eton wh e r e ,

a cod e not in th e l e ast his o w n i n so many poi nts i mp os e d

its e lf upon him h e live d half o u t o f sympathy H ow e v er
, .
,

Mr M atth e w H ill a cont e mporary o f H u gh at Eton i n

.
, ,

h se a ticl e s c at d g av a ya c a
1
T e r re e r e n no n e, nd e licit d p t sts by m
e ro e no e an s
wh lly pl ayf l wh his am e c ssa ily cam
o u en n e n e r e u p f i vit ati
or n to th a on e nn u al
di f Cath lic O ld Et
nn e r o o ia s on n .
3 8 R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
consist e d i n turning o n a r o w o f gas j e ts i n Chamb er .

O n e sid e a r m e d with tow e ls h ad to pr e v e nt th e oth er

, ,

from s e tting light to th e gas by m e ans o f torch e s c o n

sisting o f r oll e d -u p n e wsp ap e r s lit at Chamb e r fi r e ! Th e
sm e ll and m e ss at th e e n d o th e r ag w e r e i nd e scribabl e
f “
,

b u t th e joy o f th e combat imm e ns e

r e lic s o f him at Eton Y o u may visit

Th e r e ar e fe w .
,

o f cours e Lo ng Chamb er in wh ich as Coll e g e r h e at

'

first sl e pt and sp e culat e how h e will have d e corat e d his

,

dark wood cubicl e B ut e v e n at Cambridg e th e walls of

1
.

his room o fle r e d n o hi nt o f th e fut u r e d e ve lopm e nt of

h is a r tistic pow e r o f choic e Y o u can se e th e U pp e r .

School wh e r e h e will hav e work e d o r idl e d and obs e rve , ,

his name carve d ( lat e r o n and not o f co u rs e by his o w n , , ,

“
hand ) o n G ladston e s door to th e l e ft o f Dr K e at e s '
.
’

d e sk Th at i s a b out all Eve n his broth er M r A C

. .
,
. . .

B e nson wh o was living at Eton at this tim e with M r

, .

Edward Lytt e lton as a mast e r i n a quaint whit e -gabl e d

“
, ,

hous e call e d B aldwin s Shor e overlooking B arn e s Pool ’

,

saw littl e e nough o f him though as M r Lytte lto n s , , .

’

p r ivat e pupil H ugh cam e in and out o f th e hous e quit e

,

fr e qu e ntly Fo r s e ve ral o f H u gh s s e t w e r e Mr B e nson s

.
’
.
’

o w n pupils and fo r H ugh to hav e b e e n i ntimat e with

,

th e ir t u tor might it was f e lt c r e at e awkwardn e ss o n both

, ,

sid e s I n any cas e th e aloofn e ss i n wh ich most P u blic

.
,

School boys l ive f rom th e ir mast ers is som ething q u it e

astonishing to thos e accustom e d to th e f ar mor e hom e ly
and acc e ssibl e sta ff o f most Catholi c coll e g e s .

M r A C B e nson can supp l e m e nt by a fe w lin e s

. . .

th e almo st total Sil e nc e obs e rv e d by H ugh conc e rning

his Eton fri e nds Sinc e ind e e d h e lam e nts mo r e than
.
, ,

1
w t He c ro e on e to his m th I h av bo ght s m st ff y
o er : e u o e u ou stick on

wi d ws p d ci g
n o , ro u n the m st l v ly st ai d glass a d h av p t s m
o o e ne , n e u o e up in my
m Th at is th
ro o .
”
e on ly hi t n .
 A T CLEV ED ON A N D ET ON , —
1 8 8 2 1 8 89 39
onc e that his Cambridg e f ri e nds drop e ntir e ly o u t o f
h is li f e I imagin e that his school f ri e ndship s did not
,

p rove mor e p e rman e nt Th e y w e r e I dar e say f orm e d

.
, ,

mor e o n a b asis o f qualiti e s wh ich int e r e st e d H ugh at

th e mom e nt ,or harmonis e d with h is i nquisitiv e and
r e stl e ss sp i r it than o n any d e e p f oundatio n o f a ffe ction
,

o r tri e d fid e lity Mr B e nso n writ e s

. .

Th e boys i n wh ich h e liv e d was a cur i ous

se t o f
o n e ; th e y w e r e fairly cl e v e r but th e y m u st have bee n
, ,

I gath e r e d aft e rward s quit e e xt r aordinarily critical and

,

quarr e lsom e Th e r e was o n e boy i n partic ular a caustic

.
, ,

spit e f u l and extr e m e ly mi schi e f-maki ng cre at u r e who

, ,

t u rn e d th e se t into a s e ri e s o f cliq u e s and parti e s H ugh .

u s e d to say aft e r wards that h e had n e v e r known anyon e

i n his lif e with s u ch an eye for oth e r p e op l e s w e ak ’

n e ss e s o r with s u ch a tal e nt fo r putti ng th e m i n th e

,

most disagr e e abl e light 1

.

I t was to this se t that th e small b oy b e long e d whom

H ugh was f als e ly accus e d o f b ullying N o t i nd e e d th at .
, ,

H ugh was i ncap abl e o f r e s e nting what displ e as e d h i m

o r o f imposing his vi e ws upo n hi s n e igh bours .

Th e R e v Dr Lytt e lton now H e admast e r o f Eto n

. .
, ,

has writt e n
A l u dicrously-word e d l e tt e r f rom h im to hi s moth e r
had re f e r e nc e to a s e r io u s di ff er e nc e o f op inio n b e tw e e n
hims e lf and two o r th r e e comrad e s o n th e o n e sid e and ,

an u nfortunat e but obj e ctionabl e n e igh bour .

Th e l e tt e r d e scrib e d a combin e d attack th e y w e r e

m e ditating which if I r e m e mb e r right th r e at e n e d to tak e
, , ,

th e form o f wrap ping a tow e l r o u nd th e offe nd e r s n e ck

’

and p u lling th e e nds as ha r d as th e y could until so m e

thing hap p e n e d ! I cannot b e Su r e that th e p r oj e ct was
e v e r carri e d out Th is m u st have b ee n i n 1 889
. .

H i s l e tt e r was e xc e ll e nt r e ading th e ton e b e ing quit e ,

as grav e as th e sol e mnity o f th e occasion d e mand e d .

1
H ug h , p .
41 .
40 R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
And his t e mp e r still r e ve al e d its e lf as it was always ,

to r e main f r e qu e ntly h o t to boiling -point

,
.

H e spr e ad h is athl e tic int e r e sts mor e wid e ly than

did most o f h is f e llows b ut p e rhap s mor e thin H e
, , , .

st e er e d o n e o f th e boats o n th e Fourth of J un e and a ,

p hotograph still surviv e s o f h im i n h is whit e trous e rs

and middy s braid e d coat with a dirk and e normous
’
,

Victo r ian bouq u e t Th e mouth is alr e ady fi r m e r though

.
,

I do not think this can b e th e

“ n e w p hoto at which ,

Mrs Be nson wrot e o n F e bruary 7 1 8 88

.
“
I so oft e n, ,

look and thi nk how it looks old e r and p urpos e ful

, Be .

coming a c o x was a d e light to him and h e display e d ,

th e i nvitatio n to do so with prid e B ut be sid e s th e .

r owing h e play e d cri ck e t though p e rhap s not k e e nly

, , .

I t was not a tast e that active ly survive d .

“ Your crick e t succ e ss e s his moth e r writ e s o n May 2 5

, ,

1 887 ,
w er e gra nd ! Think o f dry -bobbing to that e xt e nt
whil e you ar e a w e t bob l W e ll w e ll — G e nius is a gr e at
thing , and it is w e ll known that boys inh e rit from th e i r
moth e r .

A l ittl e lat e r it was f rom a pr e cocious ambition to b e

o f practical u se in cris e s that h e su fle r e d H i s moth e r .

wrot e again f rom A ddington P ark o n O ctob e r 1 9 1 887 ,

D EA R EST L A DDI E —Yo u and yo u r A mbulanc e s ! I t

,

will b e a gr e at assistanc e i n th e holidays ( to ) hav e so e x

e r i e n c e d a surg e o n at hand in cas e o f accid e nts I h O e
p p .

w e shall always wound ou r s e lv e s o r br e ak o u r bon e s i n

e xact c Or r e sp o n de n c e with what you hav e l e arnt —
, ,

and ,

having s u ch strong family f ee ling I hav e no do u bt w e ,

shall
n e f e ar conn e ct e d with i t—ao giv e it
.

( I hav e only o
’

w e ight H u gh I am always anxio u s wh e n I h e ar of yo u r

,
.

taking u p n e w thi ngs fo r f e ar yo u r wo r k sho u ld s u ff e r

, .

I don t m e an only th e act u al p r e pa r atio n of give n l e ssons

’

b u t th e r e ading that b ear s o n it which you o u gh t to b e

doing at your p r e s e nt age —ao think o f this ) ’
.
 A T CLEV ED ON A N D ET ON , 1 88 2 —1 8 8 9 41

Th eonly f orm o f spo r t whi ch was to r e mai n a passion ,

and now first r e ve als its e lf was fishing , .

( Fr om M RS . B EN SON ) .

L A M B ET H P A L ACE , SE ,. .

ju ne 2 2 , 1 88 8 .

0 most faithl e ss o f mo r tals ( ME th is tim e ) not to hav e

w r itt e n o n Tu e sday A b ou t tb e r oas I hav e thought
.
’
.

it w e ll ove r and f e e l that I should like to giv e you o n e

, ,

and a good o n e So I Should like yo u to ge t th e m i ddle

.

o n e o f th e th r e e yo u spok e o f Th e p r ic e I can t quit e

’
.

r e m e mb e r You se e my dar ling I want yo u to do w ell

what e v e r yo u do —and I am trusting yo u not to le t it
.
, ,

int e rf e r e with yo u r work That is s u ch a gr e at and im .

portant thing that I sho u ld f e e l v e r y r e p r oachf u l if I

fo u nd yo u had fish e d wh e n yo u o u ght to h av e b e e n
working B u t yo u ar e o ld e no u gh n o t to fall i nto this
snar e and I must trust to this—and fishing I want yo u
.

to fish w e ll —and k ee p yo u r rod i n ord e r and not b r e ak

, ,

it o r los e any o r spoil it in any w ay S O with e ve r y good

wish for your bi r thday I s e nd i t—ant e dating it by fiv e
.
,

months .

A t Eton , a scholar at a ny rat e was e xp e ct e d to do

som e wo r k H ugh s was so poor h is broth e r says
.
“ ’

, ,

that it b e cam e a matt e r f or surpris e among his c o m

panions that h e had e v e r won a scholarsh ip B ut Dr . .

Lytt e lton d ec lar e s mor e f avourably ,

I r e m e mb e r almost noth ing H ugh at th e age o f .

f ou r t e e n was a c u rious mixtur e of liv e lin e ss and dr e am i

n e s s H i s wo r k was rath e r dish e ve ll ed in form b u t sh e w e d
.

consid e rabl e p r omis e .

I sho u ld hav e p u t him among th e s e cond flight o f

Coll e g e rs and not qu it e up to th e sta ndard of th e v e ry
,

b e st
.

H e got i nto no sc r ap e s and s e e m e d v e ry h appy , .

At his hom e how e v e r mor e anxi e ty was fe lt H is

, , .

f ath e r now A rch bishop di splaye d th e utmost co nc e rn

, , ,

and p e r c e iv e d his am b itio ns that H u gh sho u ld turn o u t ,

42 ROB ERT H UG H B ENS O N
a scholar i n th e old e r and mor e acad e mic s e ns e i n
“
,

dang e r o f n e ve r b e ing r e alis e d I quot e f rom a s e ri e s o f

.

l e tt e rs
L A M BETH P A L A C E S E , .

M ay 7 , 1 88 7 .

m u st take gre at pai n s to b e acc u r at e This is

You
—
.

your s nar e now and acc u rat e only m e ans that you give “

yo u r s e lf car e f u lly to a thing I t s not a gift lik e wh it e

.
” ’

hair o r a R oman nos e .

Qu e e n s jubil e e w e e k int e rv e n e s and provid e s o n e

Th e
’
,

long dist r action

LA M B ET P ALA E S E H C ,
. .
,

ju n e 2 5, 1 887.

Yo u will lik e all o f us have had a w e e k o f r e g u lar

irr e g u la r ity—e ve rythi ng that is usual brok e n i n upon
, ,

and I am sur e yo u will n e v e r f o r g e t th e Q u e e n s ju bil ee as ’

long as yo u live—may th at b e long A n d now d e ar ,

laddi e with all thos e wond e r ful p ictu r e s b e fo r e yo u r e ye s

, ,

and all thos e m e mori e s sto r e d u p do ask G od to make

nothing b e i n vai n —and ask H im to mak e yo u r wo r k
,

st e adi e r and mor e car e f ul and good e v e ry day I t is s u ch

, .

a p le asu r e and happy tho u ght for th e f u t u r e wh e n you

, ,

do w e l1 .

A D D I N G T ON P A R K C R O YD ON , ,

Sep tembe r 2 7, 1 88 7.

th er e i s on e th ing which yo u want th e habit

And
of —b u t which you r p owe r s o f r e sol u tio n ar e quit e e qu al to
-V iz to do tb e w ar /
. e i n tile fi r s t p ar t an d n ot i n tb e las t p ar t
,

f tb ti m all w d f i t Y a cap ital in e solving to

e t o u t o f b e d and doing i t—
o e e o e o r o .u r e r

g O nly b e j u st as r e solut e abo u t

/z t m om en t for b e ginning w o r k L—
,

t/ze r n and you wo u ld do

e xc e ll e ntly G o d bl e ss you Do n t fo r g e t D r A rnold s’ ’
. . .

p r ay e r .

A DD N G T ON P A R K C R O YD ON
I , ,

Octob er 8 , 1 88 7.

I am glad you lik e d th e box o f i nst r u m e nts Th e y ar e .

v e ry good on e s A n d I had a box give n m e by my u ncl e

.

abo u t yo u r age wh ich p e rp e t u ally s e rve m e and comfor t

,

me . So I tho u ght you wo u ld lik e a set fo r you r birthday

p r e s e nt .
 A T CLEV ED ON A N D ET ON , 1 8 8 2—1 8 8 9

unstudio u s b o y is give n a tutor fo r th e summ e r

Th e
h olidays and o n N ov e m b e r 1 3 1 887 his f ath e r agai n
, , ,

writ e s
N ov emb er 1 3 , 1 887 .

N O doubt
holiday tuto r i ng was ve ry us e f u l th e .

Mr M itch e ll says yo u ar e i mp r ov i ng but that th e r e i s

.
“ “ ”

still r oom for I mp r ov em en t -i f th e r e is r oom fo r I m

p r ove m e nt p r ay ask h im ( M r I mprov e m e nt ) i nto it and
,
.
,

e t him to sit down e hosp itabl e to him

1
g B . .

That th e
situation was f e lt at Lamb e th as acut e is , , ,

cl e ar from a l e tt e r writt e n by h is moth e r at a bo u t th is

sam e tim e .

A DD N I O N P A R K C R O YD ON
‘ ‘
I G , ,

October 2 5, 1 887.

B y all m e ans h ave br e ad and milk for s u pp e r i f ,

2
yo u
like it b e st I wo nd e r how all go e s with yo u Yo u .

know I n ee dn t t e ll yo u that —you know how d e lightf u l I

. ' .

think all good and n i c e am u s e m e nts—b u t I am som e

,

tim e s a f r aid my d e ar e st boy that you may b e fo r g e tting

, ,
how critical this t e rm is to yo u I hat e anything that
so u nds lik e a thr e at—this isn t that—b u t it i s a r e mind e r
.

’
.

B e ca u s e th e t e r m 15 passing and e ach day 13 fixing wh e th e r , ,

o u will o r no yo u r fat e i n a way q u it e di ff e r e nt f r om th e

y
ordinary way—and I know yo u ar e inclin e d at Me m om en t
,

to los e sight o f th is 0 H u gh do r e m e mb e r all that was .

,

said to you last holidays ! W e only don t say it always ’

b e caus e th e r e i s no good i n that b u t it b e com e s lik e a tal e

that is told—but ou r m inds do n t alt e r W e must h e lp yo u
,
’
.

to gain ch aract e r a nd purpo s e and all thos e things that

1
chbish p
The A r N v mbe 2 5 1 8 87 o s th s w ds : Ma ti al is
, on o e r , , us e e e or
“
r

v y witty is it t ?
er t s a d at I w ish di ffid tly t s gg st t hat
so
"
, no er e n ne . en o u e

a y
n on e wh c ld speak f M a ti al a i t
o ou v als th at h still f lt th at
o r s
“
, re e e
“
e

ast di gly h m a ( th gh p h aps m st displ asi g ) c at a a b o k t

tiat s th A chbish p s atti tu d —
o un n u n ou er o e n re u re s o , no

a ma This ally di f
f th gh it w a t ’

c fi d t him—t w a ds sch l st dy ofth cl assics f m th at which H gh w a

n. re e r en e e r o e ou s no

on ne o o r oo u e , ro u s,

I b li v c apabl
e e f taki g b t which f m l ack f assist a c h
e, e o n v t k
, u , ro o n e, e ne er oo .

Still h , w a H gh
e re adi g M a ti al at
s uly j st sixt !
re n r on u ee n

N t th at H gh w a ab v g ast
o u mic p cc p ati s s o e ro n o re o u on .

ET ON C LL EG E W I N D SO R 1 888 O ,
. .

P l as a k B th t s d my h amp at
e e s e if h
o a —
enb ca s w h av er once s e c n e u e e e

li t ally
er t m no lt p t ione m at/ W a lit ally st a vi g th gh
o r se o u n ou r o rs . e re er r n , ou

I d t wish i th l ast t al a m y b t w a wasti g away with fami

’
on n e e o r ou , u e re n n e.
44 ROB ER T H UG H BEN S O N
you n ee d and it must b e by deeds n o w not words D ee ds
, ,
.

which wo uld b e as sad to us as th e y would to you b u t ,

which w e should do all th e sam e wi th G od s h e lp I fee l '

as if I w e r e som e o n e e ls e writing t o you —it cam e ove r m e

, .

so this morning h o w t e rribly critical it was —I didn t think ’

y o u s e e m e d quit e to b e r e alising i t—and I thought I m u st

j u st writ e o n e gr e at p lead to yo u and th e n l e av e it—but
do n t y ou l e av e i t — do tak e it hom e to you—Sixt e e n on
,
’

N ov e mb er 1 8th M artin was only s eve nt e e n wh e n h e

.

cam e o u t h e ad o f th e school at Wi nch e st e r .

B ut a littl e lat e r n e ws com e s that working be tt e r h e is

only go o n and o n —th e r e i s pl e nty o f possibility
w e k n ow— do u se it all .

Th e y e ar 1 888 pass e d i n fitfu l improv e m e nt and

r e lap s e Th e A rchbishop had b ee n r e ading th e M edea
.

O f Eu ripid e s i n M r A rthur Sidgwick s blu e -backe d e dition

.
’

with h is so n d u r ing th e holidays and o n F e bruary 1 1 1 888

, , ,

h e wr ot e
L A M BETH P A L A C E S E , .

Feb r u ary 1 1 , 1 888

M Y D EA R EST H U G H I E —
.

l h O p e th e s e cold winds have

,

n o t nipp e d your nos e o r your throat I am slowly .

str u ggling out o f th e s e rp e ntin e coils o f a cold which has

grip p e d m e like a Laocoo n all ov e r
I have e ve n not car e d for riding—but Maggi e and
.

'

I w e nt qu ickly r o u nd B att e rs e a P a r k this mo r ning .

Wh e n you have don e a good bit o f composition som e

tim e soon s e nd it m e H ave you f o nd M e d e a Sidgwick
, . u “

B lu e tell ?
H o w w e e nvy N elli e h er sunsh in e to say nothing o f ,

h e r N il e s a nd h e r C r ocodil e s a nd O b e lisks
I have got a b eautiful book o f Monum e nts which
“

r e v e al th e f act that th er e ar e mor e b e autiful thi ngs i n

Lo ndon than I kn e w o f .

M ak e Mr Lu xm o o r e t e ll yo u h o w h e thinks you ar e
going o n and g e tting o n —ask him straight o u t—and t e ll
.

m e o n Tu e sday .

W e ar e go ing down for a fe w ho u rs to Wi n ch e st e r o n

Monday Y o u r e m e mb e r w ily—and will r e m e mb e r us
.

th e r e H appy Su nday to yo u -Your loving f ath er

. . ,

EDW C A N TU A R . .
 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
obligatory thr e e y e a r s o f th eology I d oubt wh e th e r I
,
“

C O U LD hav e stood i t .

Possibly th e viol e nt clash of this artist s t e mp e ram e nt ’

with th e clumsy m e thod mostly i n vog u e at Eton and o f ,

cour s e n e arly e v erywh e r e e ls e wh e n B e nson was a boy

, , ,

was r e spo nsibl e for th e fact that aft e r f our y e ars h e had
“

l e arn e d so to h at e th e classics that I hav e n e ve r willingly , ,

r e ad a G r ee k play sinc e ; I fum b l e d th e oth e r day only , ,

ove r a sum in simpl e division and it has n e ve r e nt e r e d ,

my h e ad to try and wi n a Lati n V e rs e priz e in th e West .

m i n ster Gaz ette Th e r e ar e to -day I suppos e still

.
, ,

l e f t two subj e cts which I can study without r e pugnanc e

— h istory and English ; sinc e in n e ith e r of th e s e two
.

branch e s of knowl e dge can I r e m e mb e r a singl e l e sson

e ve r b e ing giv e n m e whil e I was at school .

I n th e sam e articl e which ap p ea r e d in Ev eryman

, ,

D ec e mb e r 24 1 9 1 2 h e ass e rts th at at h is cramm e r s

, ,
’

wh e r e h e w e nt fo r a y e ar a f t e r l e aving Eton h e l e arnt ,

n o t j ust a fe w e xaminational tip s a fe w brilliant and

“
,

t e ll i ng touch e s but mo r e o f th e solid pri ncipl e s o f

,

math e matic s mor e o f th e g e n e ral o u tlin e s O f history in

,

its broad and r e ally imp ortant asp e ct mor e O f th e r e al ,

glori e s o f th e classics than i n all my f our y ea r s at

Eton . I n B rittany too wh e r e h e Sp e nt a month or so
, ,

h e found that Fr e n ch was a languag e i n which

‘

id e as could b e conv e ye d and l e arnt mo r e o f it than ,

e v e r at Eton H e puts this down to th e total disr e gard

.

at Eto n (and o f cours e h e e xpli citly d e clar e s at all o f

, , ,

th e g r e at e r public schools ) o f th e idiosyncrasi e s o f th e

i ndividual O ve r all alik e rolls th e traditional Jugg e rnaut
. .

Eton i s how e v e r without gu e ssing it th e most insan e of

, , ,

sp e cialists h e urg e s and drills th e boys r e mor s e l e ssly in

, ,

a su b -d e partm e nt o f classical study and te ac h e s th e m to ,

 A T CLEV ED ON A N D ET ON , 1 8 8 2 —1 8 89 47

wi e ld a few only of th e tools o f th e most na r r ow-mind e d

and complac e nt class i n th e world th e classica l gram
“
,

ma r ian . H e conclud e s by lam e nting th e dr e arin e ss o f

s u ch t each ing as i s giv e n and asks Whos e busi n e ss wa s
, ,

it to i nt e r e st m e i f n o t my mast er s
,
’

Th e b e st r e to r t which I hav e s ee n addr e ss e d to thi s

artic le app e are d i n th e sam e p e riodical f r om th e p e n ,

o f an Eton mast e r and its simpl est argum e nt was that

,

H u gh B e nson was sp e aki ng o f an Eton al r e ady twe nty

y e ars distant Th e writ e r could poi nt to i ncr e as e d s pe cial
.

i sati o n and could pl e ad th e apologia o f w e ari e d mast e rs

, ,

and co u ld m e ntion as co ntrary instanc e M r A C B e nson

, ,
. . .

hims e lf and th e histo r y l e sso ns which h e mad e famous .

O f cours e instan ce s to th e contrary prov e littl e P r ob

, .

ably all schools will hav e at l e ast o n e mast e r i n th e m

who can i nt e r e st his boys or e ve n thrill th e m like , ,

E E B ow e n o f H arrow o r Cory o f Eton or Mr A C

. .
, , . . .

B e nson Th e q u e stion o f amount o f sp e cialisation and

.
,

its p r op e r mom e nt is mor e ove r still a n O p e n o n e A n d

, , , .

though m u ch was d e ad i n th e o ld e ducation giv e n i n o u r

schools much is shoddy i n th e ti nk e r ing that go e s o n to o
,

oft e n nowadays and is call e d r e f orm It is e ve n a qu e s

, .

tion wh e th e r to live v u lgarly b e not wors e tha n to die like

Sir L e ic e st er D e dlock I t r e mains that H u gh B e nson did
.

not solve his p r obl e m Eve n h e wo u ld hav e probably

.

grant e d that in mod e rn schools chaos has oft e n r e plac e d

p e trifaction and that no mor e e d u cationally appalling
,

sp e ctacl e ca n b e conc e ive d than a would -b e e ducational

e stablishm e nt simulta n e ously bla nch e d by th e blight o f

th e e xamination sys te m and haras s e d by th e cham e l e on

tint ed whims o f mod e r niz e rs .

Of cours e all pur e ly inte ll e ctual e d u cation should b e

subordinat e d to th e g e n e ral t r aini ng of th e charact e r .
48 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
This was what pr e occupi e d I n e e d not say th e mind o f
, ,

th e A r chbishop and hi s wif e far b e yond m e r e scholarship .

B y qu oting a few e xt r acts from h is par e nts l ett e rs I ’

,

may make it cl e ar what t e nd e nci e s in H u gh n e e d e d in ,

th e ir O p inion stimulus o r C h e ck
, .

I am s u r e [th e A r chbishop wrot e o n May 7 1 887

u won t fo r g e t all o u r talks abo u t C o n fir m ati o n —an
,
’
o
y
what is m u ch mo r e i mpo r tant you w ill b e su r e to t e
m e mbe r Confir mati on i tself—your p r omi s e s—and th e c e r
,

tai nty that G od will giv e yo u th e str e ngth yo u n e e d

le t your las t day at b ome b e for e going to school h e a day
that Shall l e av e happy and sw e e t m e mori e s with e v e ryo n e .

Do you u nd e rstand -I h op e you will have a happy and

tho u ghtf u l S u nday .

H ugh had i nd e e d show e d at first how e ve r no attra e

, , ,

tio n towards Confi r mation a nd that rit e had b ee n post

,

po n e d for a y e ar o r two This t e nd e ncy to laisser aller

.

was ve ry ma r ke d at this tim e and annoye d his f ath e r

g r ave ly .

A D D I N G T ON P A R K C R O YD ON , ,

October 21 , 1 887 .

I ask e d you particularly at o nc e to a nsw e r m e a c e rtain

q u e stion I was d e p e ndin g o n th e answ e r coming at
.

o nc e Pl e as e le t m e know d1r e c tly

. .

I want also to know how yo u tb i an you ar e doing in

sc h o o L
I wrot e v e ry f u lly lat e ly about oth e r things A n d SO .

I will add no mo r e
I wish yo u a good and happy Sunday —Yo u r affe c
.

ti o n ate fath e r , Enw C AN TU A R . .

H is moth e r saw th e sam e n e e d for acc e nt u ating th e

hard e r o r mo r e s e lf -sac r ifi c in g s id e o f his lif e
A D D I N G T ON P A R K C R O Y D ON , ,

N ov em ber 1 7, 1 887.

D EA R EST O F DEA R B O Y S — A ll b e st and sw e e t e st

,

wish e s f or to -mo r row My own d e ar boy yo u know

I long that yo u may have all be st bl e ssings—sp e cially
.
,

just now th e d e v e lopm e nt o f manhood wh ich sixt e e n

 A T CLEV ED ON A N D ET ON , 1 8 82 —1 8 89
y ears s e e ms appropriat e to Com e hom e to us proud
and happy .

I ncid e ntally o n e may add that h is t e nd e ncy n o w to , , ,

Slackn e ss show e d its e lf in a total ina b ility to k e e p acco u nts ,

which i nd e e d pursu e d h im thro u ghout li fe with th e e x

, , ,

c ep t1o n o f path e tic p e riods o f att e mpt e d acc u racy

1
Bu t .

h aving said this I must undoubt e dly e mphasiz e th e fact ,

that by no m e ans was any radical n e rve l e ssn e ss o r apathy

th e n o r e ve r appar e nt i n h im H e was f ull o f his o w n .

int e r e sts and e ndl e ssly busy ov e r th e m Mor e ov e r h e

, .
,

lov e d h is hom e ti e s a nd was fussy fo r l e tt e rs f rom Mrs

“
,
.

B e nson who wrot e r e g u larly o n Tu e sdays with th e rar e st

, ,

lap s e s du e to th e e normous e xacti on s o f th e A rchi

,

e piscopal car e e r With h is sist e r too h e was o n th e b e st .

, ,

o f t e rms A charact e r istic l e tt e r surviv e s to wr it e which

.
,

moth e r and sist e r joi n e d

M ay 1 2 , 1 888 .

D EA R EST LA DD I E — I did e nj oy your l e tt e r imm e ns e ly , ,

a nd I am going now to b e quit e r e gular agai n in w r it

ing I have n t b e e n ve r y w e ll —and things hav e b e e n
.
’

di fic lt
f Oh h ! di d th e y call his hammock an u n “

n e c e ssary luxu r y ? 2 N EV ER mind —[ M iss Margar e t B e nson

u o .

(F m M B EN S ON )
1
ro R S.
LA M ETH P A L A E S E B C o

Ju ly 1 5. 1 88 9

—
M i d y w it t m f lly ab t this [ paid b at s bsc ipti at
1V B . . n ou r e o e u ou un o u r on

Et ] f I m st k w all ab t it th ghly I t am t d t £ s d D
giv y mi d t b ca f l ab t m y—a d acc ts
on ,
or u no ou orou . o un e o 2, O . 0 . o

e ou r n o esit at d a w a re u ou on e n o un u e s e re ,

it is v m imp ta t f
e en th a f th s t b v y c a f l
ore or n or u s n or o er o e er re u .

B t w sh allu th at l at e h h a his acc ts k pt f him a d h ad a

se e er o n e s o un e or , n

g d h ad f m y matt s
oo e or on e er .

N wa h orv w aw a f c t ai t mp am
s e e t al d fici ci s H
en no un re o er n e er en e en e . e

w it s i 88 7 (P)
r e n 1 :

C ld y s d m 5 fth
ou th at I hav d i g th h al f—I had ath
ou en e 3. o e 1 0 5. e ur n e r er

t h av th wh l c a I k w I sh ld sp d it all t q ick ”
no e at e o e 1 0 5. on e, s no ou en oo u .

H gh h ad bs v d ab t th a th ity w h had f bidd

1
u o er e him t p t his ou e u or o or en o u

h amm ck p o u

I sh ld l v t t ll him that b is q it
ou oc ssa y a d tai ly t a
e o e e u e unne e r ,
’
n cer n no
‘
l x y a d th f h m ay t b
u ur ,
’
n
p I v h a d s ch BO S H
ere o re e n
’
e u .
’
ne er e r u

I D
50 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
co ntinu e s ] Mama co u ldn t finish this so I am goi ng ’

W e ar e going to Pa r ti e s to-night —to dinn e r and

,
to.
,

th e n o n like r e g u lar London er s to th e R ussian ambassa

, ,

dor s B e th wants m e to p u t o n a so il e d d r e ss b e ca u s e
’
.
,
sh e says Sh e always r e ckon s that for e ign e rs hous e s will ’

b e di r ty Mr B has com e to-day H e looks rath e r sti ff

I thi nk but yo u may put h im on your list —who knows ?
. . . .
,

It is such a n i nscrutabl e list .

O n h is sid e , H ugh app e al e d willingly to h is sist e r at

int e ll e ctual cris e s
ET ON CO LL EG E, W I N D SOR ,

I have b ee n e l e ct e d to Coll eg e Pop and hav e to “

,

mak e my O p e ni ng sp e e ch n e xt Saturday on S nday “ u

Closing and hav e w r itt e n to Maggi e to ask h er fo r som e

,
”

a r gum e nts about it : I wa nt s eve ral as I shall h ave to ,

sp e ak last and th er e for e shall p r obably hav e s e ve ral tak e n

,

by oth e r p e opl e b e for e my t u rn com e s .

I s e e m th u s to p e rc e iv e in H ugh a p e r so nality f u ll o f
stu ff fluid as ye t but d e stin e d to se t v e ry fi r mly and
,
“
,
”

to take th e stamp with e dg e s unus u ally cl e anly ou t B ut .

that was for th e f u tu r e .

M e anwhil e r eligion was not q u it e wholly in ab eyanc e , ,

p e rhap s but dormant in th e main

,
.

I can not r e call M r H ill a ffi r ms any st r ong r eligi ou s

, .
,
“

f e e ling i n H u gh I r e m e mb e r him t e lling m e with rath e r a

.

show o f bor e dom how h e was e xp e ct e d to go to chap e l in ‘ ’

th e holidays at A ddington e v e ry day o r at l e ast tak e pa r t

i n som e s er vic e—aft e r br e akfast I t h ink it was H e S
,

, .
,

and mys e lf us e d to s natch a f e ar f u l j oy in watching X

conducting th e s e rvic e s i n chap e l and imi tating him aft e r
ward s .
”

R e v e r e nc e f or
ss e ntial obj e ct o f r e ligion and a
th e e

d e tach e d e ve n amus e d criticism o f its c u lt can q u it e

, , ,

w e ll go tog e th er as G r ee k and m e di e val history can Sho w

, ,

and as H u gh s O wn lif e will by many e xampl e s prove or

’
, ,

ca n it b e that at this p e riod h e was anticipating that “

 AT CLEV ED ON A N D ET ON , 1 8 82 -
1 88 9 5:

t e rribl e age (of e ight e e n ) wh e n th e soul s e e ms to hav e “

dwindl e d to a spark ov e rlaid by a mo u ntain o f ash es

wh e n blood and fir e and d e ath and lo u d nois e s s e e m
th e on ly things o f int e r e st and all t e nd e r things sh ri nk
,

back and hid e f r om th e dr e ad fu l noonday o f man hood 1

This o f co u r s e would at any tim e b e tru e no mor e

, ,

than p artially o f H ugh B e nso n w h o was n e v er p arti e n ,

lar ly noisy -l e ss so e ve n tha n th e av e r ag e public school

,

b o y who can b e r e li e d upon to conc e al h is callow

,

instincts save o n th e o ccasio ns strictly Sch edul e d by

,

public O pinion und e r th e most rigidly no n -committal

,

mask ; and h e w as n e v e r pur e ly d e structiv e e ve n wh e n ,

h e took v e h e m e ntly to sport H e r e to o h e f ollow e d

.
, ,

his o w n lin e his f ath e r and moth er having be e n c o n

,

fe sse dly “
B uddhists in th e matt e r o f taking lif e wh il e ,

to th e A rchbishop wa ntonly to d e stroy flow e r o r f e rn

,

ap p e a r e d a downright b r e ach o f th e Commandm e nt which

fo r bids man to tak e in vai n th e nam e of his Mak e r .

H ugh th e r e for e ask e d at la st wh e n his Co nfirmation

w as to occ u r and w as g e nuin e ly astonish e d to find it had
,

b e e n p u t o ff b e ca u s e h e had shown n o si nc e r e d e sir e fo r

it H e had r ega r d e d it as a kind o f Spi r itual coming -O f
.

age which happ e n e d a u tomatically A t l e as t h e f e lt .

, ,

th e A rchbishop ought to hav e “ giv e n h im a l e ad

Dr Lytt e lton w r it e s o f H u gh s pr e paration

.
“ '

I can r e call th e e xact spot i n a hug e armchair wh e r e

h e sat an d I was pr e paring h im fo r h is Confirmation I .

don t think h e u nd e rstood much and was not th e so r t o f

’

boy to f e e l v e ry d e e ply th e s e ns e o f sin .

An dHugh r e calls that th e s e hal f -doz e n talks according ,

to th e cus to m o f th at tim e w e nt ch i e fly o n th e topics o f

,

morality a nd th e n e e d o f be i ng str e nuous A sugg e stio n .

,

1
L ie/
i t I nv i si ble, p . 1 9.
52 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
H ugh says o f i nformal con fe ssion e licit e d naturally th e
,
“
, , ,

r e spons e that h e had nothing to r e v e al Dr G o u lb u r n s . .

’

book P er son alR eligi on was pr e s e nt e d to h im and r e main e d

, , ,

with pag e s uncu t A discussio n o n th e prop r i e ty o f five s

~

b e ing play e d in th e aft e rnoon iss u e d i n a d e cision f avo u r

abl e to th e gam e wh ich was play e d how e ve r with a
, , ,

Sligh tly chast e n e d air H e lost th e M alt e s e cross h is

.

moth e r gave h im and was d e pr e ss e d at th e f e e ling Sin

, ,

c e r e ly ob e y e d at first that Communion mor e impr e ssiv e

, ,

than Confirmation impli e d a duty o f b ehaving b e tt e r in th e

,

f ut u r e A copy o f B ishop K e n s Pray e rs f or Winch e st e r

.
’

s cholars in th e g r acious f ormality o f th e ir Carolin e

,
“

English and discov e r e d in a stor e -room at Lamb e th

, ,

to u ch e d hi s imagination H e us e d it assid u ously f or a

fe w month s—
.

th e n dropp e d it and with it all pray e r and , ,

co nfin e d his Comm u nion s to occasions wh e n abs e nc e

would have caus e d r e mark .

N ot that th e Chap e l fail e d to affe ct him though it still ,

lack e d th e dignity o f bronz e and rich blu e marbl e fo r its

altar a nd had l e ss coat -armour o n th e walls o f its ant e
,

chap e l than si nc e th e B o e r War to giv e it colour Still

, , .
,

th e man ifold sl e nd e r and soaring lin e s o f its P e rp e ndicular

arch it e ctu r e cr e at e spontan e ously th e e ff e ct o f aspi r ation ,

and th e singing is som e tim e s b e a u tiful and oft e n o f th at ,

h e artin e ss wh ich impr e ss e s visitors SO profoundly and

is not to o curio u sly e xami n e d i nto as to caus e a nd q u ality , ,

e v e n by th e sing e r A part how e v er from such e motions

.
, ,

as th e plac e and tim e might a ff ord th e r e was no ,

str e ngth e ning o f th e soul by dogma : th e profe ssors o f

r e ligio n th e ms e lv e s h e ld but rar e ly to cl e a r dogmatic
cr e e d a nd anyhow in a r e pr e s e ntative institution like a
, , ,

big p u blic school e sp e cially w h e n it is o n e o f th e O ld e r

,

foundations to pr each a d e finit e dogma i s i mpossibl e

,
.
54 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
in s e cr e t I n Catholic schools all r e ligion is canalis e d
.
,

so to say and e ve n d e votio n flows mainly with in fix e d

,

limits Wh e r e r e ligion was fi r mly taught at hom e it

.
,

would Show its e l f at Eton say in th e voluntary

, , ,

att e ndanc e o f a v e ry consid e rabl e numb er of boys at th e

Co mmunio n S e rvic e i n th e parish ch u rch wh e n non e
was p r ovid ed in th e chap e l Wh e r e th e family was
.

H igh Ch u rch it might p r oduc e an apostl e who Should

,

form a group to r e cit e Compli n e e ach night ; wh e r e it

was Evang e lical conve rsion might b e r e sponsibl e fo r
“
,
”

B ibl e -m ee tings and pray e r t e rmi nat e d at o n c e o n th e

, ,

only oc cas ion o n wh ich B e nson assist e d by an ex p lo ,

sion o f hal f-hyst e rical laught e r This -it must b e own e d .

, ,

was wholly uncharact e risti c o f Eton

“
as was th e ,

ho r ribl e incid e nt which h e r e lat e s in his Confession s .

“
H i s Lo w Church e vang e list invit e d a n O ld boy to
com e down to Eton and addr e ss th e H ous e wh ich h e ,

did e motionally and giving h is sp e e ch th e air o f a co n

, ,

fe ssio n N aturally th e boys w e r e app all e d at th e o ffe nc e

.

—for as such e ve ryon e not Eton boys alon e m u st f ee l

—
, ,

i t against sh ee r “
fo r m and tast e Fo r a b o y sin .
,

a nd sanctity ar e abov e all e ls e to b e k e p t s e c r e t To .

e xpos e th e roots o f hi s soul or ind e e d any part o f

,

that Shrinking thi ng s con struction should b e for him

’

, , ,

th e gross e st o f i nd e c e nci e s .

I t would b e idl e to dw e ll up on H ugh B e nson s ’

r e minisc e nc e s o f th e Eton moral cod e It is that of all .

public sch oo ls a nd has n o th in g to do with th e ology or

,

e v e n th e Te n Commandm e nts I f you don t int e rf e r e with ’

.

oth ers oth e rs will let yo u al on e bo ots h u r l e d at boys who

,

p e rsist i n saying th e ir p raye rs s u rviv e only as adornm e nts

o f thos e sc h ool -sto r i e s which ar e w r itt e n fo r th e e nt e rtai n

m e nt of a u nts and oth e rs who like to imagin e th e y know

 A T CLEV ED ON A N D ET ON , 1 882 —1 8 89 55
what th e ir n e ph ew s li fe at school i s lik e and ar e rightly
'

cl e ar that it is not probabl e h e will t e ll th e m A strictly .

limit e d truthfuln e ss a v e ry c u rio u s sch e m e o f hono u r

,
“
,

ath l e tic courag e ve rbal mod e sty lib e rality and cle an
, , ,

n e ss in dr e ssing and e ati ng ar e e xact e d by Public O p i nio n

a s G ood Form and what may hav e gon e to f ashion this
,

it app e ars to m e idl e e ve n to att e mpt to f ormulat e I t .

r e mains that it is as ridi culous to r egard a public school

as a “
“
sink o r de n o f iniq u ity ( th e s e ar e th e words
o n e mostly has h e ard u s e d ) as to d e scrib e a Catholic
,

school as a n e nclos e d paradis e o f virtu e Each has its .

cod e which can o nly b e app r e ciat e d by clos e and

,

sympath e tic study ; and e ve n wh e r e th e cod e s may coi n

cid e th e whol e int e rior at ti t u d e may b e so diffe r e nt
at l e ast at c er tain l e ve ls in th e boys souls—that to compar e
,
’

th e tw o is to co u rt th e utmost e rror .

I t is int er e sting to O bs e rv e th at th e A rchbishop in th e ,

ve ry y e ar that was supplyi ng H u gh with th e b e st mat e rials

for th e s e f u tu r e r e fl e ctions was writing o n his sixti e th
, ,

birthday a n a u tobiographi cal not e I n it h e says

, .

N ow i f I th ink—what would I do qu it e di ffe r e ntly

,

i f it cam e agai n Th e plain est poi nt is that I wo u ld sp eak

to my boys m u ch mor e r e ligio u sly—and straight to th e
,

point o f Lov e o f G o d in e d u cating a e at school Th e

, .

chap e l and th e s e rmons n o t ind ividua e n o u h though , ,

so far as th e y w e nt right and not to b e chang e
,

H is son also d emand e d an insist e nc e o n that Love

which alo n e sho u ld b e capabl e of ousting its o w n
caricatur e s Y e t p e rhaps h e and H ugh —th e Catholic
.

H u gh at any r at e —w e r e n e v e r r e ally at o n e about what

,

vital r e ligion r e ally was I t will n ot b e d e ni e d that th e

.

A rch bishop activ e ly dislik e d as w e ll as dis be li e ve d in

Catholicism and though h e could as w e saw
, ,
“
think , ,
56 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
with a workma n s mind h e n e ve r could look ’

,
o ut at
h e ave n and e arth with Catholic e y e s 1
.

H ow e ve r , th e
tim e had com e f or H u gh to choos e
a ca r ee r a nd his tast e s inclin e d it s ee m e d towards th e
, , ,

I ndian Civil S e rvic e Th at thi s was a disappointm e nt to .

h is fath e r cannot b e d e ni e d ; but nothing can e qual th e

loyalty with which th e A rchbishop r e frain e d from co e rcing
his son s lib e rty and d e mand e d nothing mor e than that
’

th e situatio n Should b e cl e arly stat e d and d el ib e rat e ly

thought o u t .

H e w rot e on May 2 7 1 889 ,

LA M BETH P A L A CE S E , . .

I want you to have c l ear b e f or e yo u th e qu e stions

which w e h av e to d e cid e and I shall b e r e ady to h e ar
your vi e ws about th e m—and I pray th at w e may b e le d
,

to mak e a ri ht d e cisio n [ H e puts th e cas e and r e .

,

cap it u lat e s ] h e thr e e p lans ar e

To tr y for th e I C S in 1 890 : —
.

1 . To do so with th e . . .

b e st chanc e o f s u cc e ss s e e ms to involv e your l e aving

Eton this su mm e r [ H e adds o n r e -r e adi ng :] I f yo u

fail e d in 1 890 what wo u ld yo u do —th er e would b e a y e ar

.

b e tw ee n tb at and Cambr idg e or di n ar i ly .

2 To try for th e I C S i n 1 890 without l e aving Eton

now —
. . . .

and to go o n at Eton if yo u fail u ntil 1 89 1 This , ,

.

do e s not s e e m v e ry hop e f u l as r egards succ e ss f or I ndia .

3 T O
. giv e up th e I C S and go on at E ton till th e . . .

tim e com e s fo r going to Cambridg e I f this latt er .

plan is adopt e d I h O p e yo u wo u ld n o t fi nd th e sti mu lu s

,

r e move d and that yo u would r eally w or k o n with all yo u r

,

might at classics and math e matics mainly I should b e .

m u ch disappoint e d if you work e d l e ss w e ll .

N ow th e n th e choic e is b e for e you and yo u mus t

, , ,

th ink it ove r and let m e know .

1
is st a g th a t ad a a Cath lic his c mm ts —I will
N o thi n g r n er n o re s o o en on

s tw p i ts —th p actic f th C f ssi al a d its s lts a d m d

, .

choo e o o n e r e o e on e on n re u , n o e rn

m on asticism sp ci ally i m d I taly H i vi ws a

, e e tt ly j stifi d f m
n o e rn . s e r e so u er u e ro

his p i t f vi w a d y t psych l gically t t fact whil

o n o e , n e xcl siv
so o o u n ru e o , e so e u e

even o f th mi
e su rth at th y a e th s nt
se e r u u rue .
 A T CLEV ED ON A N D ET ON , 1 8 82 —1 8 89 57
From th e sam e :
A M B ETH P A L A CE
L , SE .

ju ne 3, 1 889 .

MY D EA R EST am v ery sorr y to think o f yo u r

H U G H, -I

le avi ng Eton . Th e loss

o f a y e a r in th e Sixth can n e v e r
“

b e mad e u p and i n yo u r cas e it would b e two y e ars

, A ll .

th e good o f s ch 1 th e n g e ts conc e ntrat e d an d mad e

p r oductive Bu t I said you sho u ld if you r e solv e d o n
.
_ ,

d e siring it hav e a chanc e of e nt e r ing th e I ndian Civil

,

S e rvic e and so I shall not th r ow a ny obstacl e i n yo u r

,

way by any action of min e It will b e gri e vous wo r k

.

parting with yo u for I ndia but G od watch e s th e r e as w e ll

,

as h e r e without slumb er ing o r sl e e p ing

, .
”

I hop e yo u oft e n say ov e r th e Psalm Q u i c u m q u e C o n fidit .

H u gh d e cide d that th e I ndian Civil S e rvic e was what

h e r e ally want e d and ,
on Jun e 20 th e A rchbishop not ed
i n hi s diary
A n ew powe r o f manlin e ss s ee ms to hav e com e ove r
him I t r u st in answ e r to th e many p r ay e rs “ that h e
.
, ,

may know hims e lf to b e G od s s e rvant and G od s child ’ ’

,

and liv e as to th e Lo r d and not a s to m e n , .

”

“ O u r littl e sh e lt e r e d boy ”
! h i s moth e r says and b r eaks
my h e a r t I always re ckon e d o n this o n e to b e my g r e at
.

fri e nd as I g r e w o ld .

It is no doubt tru e that H ugh h ad b e e n worki ng hard e r

fo r som e tim e and had won his way into
, First H undr e d ,

as th e Sixth Form with th e n e xt th r ee classical divisions i n

th e school ar e habitually and o ffi cially call e d .

O n A p ril 2 8 his moth e r wrot e f rom Lamb e th

A p r i l 28 .

H u r rah ! and H urrah ! for th e Fi r st H u n dr ed I am .

t/z at lad and so ar e w e all I told yo u r fath e r in th e

m i dd e o f a disting u ish e d company—I co u ldn t hold it i n
.
,
’

-and h e was so lad L e t th e t e rm b e a b eau tifu l

.

o n e my own d e ar
,
o y full of work and all lov e ly th ings
, .

I b ate your r e adin Tr u tb and P olice N ew s Do think

it s g
.

b e tt e r o f it ik e pr e f e rring a s e w e r to th e Tham e s
’
.
58 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
Mor e ov e r h e wrot e fo r th e H e rv e y Priz e P o e m o n
, ,

Fath er Dami e n and wo n it which caus e d e v e rybody quit e

, ,

as much astonishm e nt as pl e asu r e B ut for all that h e .

1

was cond e mn e d to l e av e Eton and o n his last night th er e ,

h e wrot e

I writ e this o n Thursday e v e ning a f t e r te n . Pe e l

k e e ping p assag e $
1
.

My feeli ng s on leav i ng ar e
Ex ci tem en t .

For eb odi ng of Wr en s an dfellow s t/i e r e

’
.

Sor r ow at leav i ng Eton .

P r i de at b ei ng an old Eton i an .

Cer tai n p leasu r e i n leav i ng for m any tr i v i al m atter s .

Feeli ng of i mp or tan ce .

Fr tg/i tfu l long i ng for I n dia .

H omes i c/
eness .

D EA R M E 3

1
Y e t h e h ad st ishi g b t fsh w sifi ati
o Tw po ms f his
n an a on n en o r v er c on. o e o

s viv f m 1 88 1 f which s m li s a q t d i th A pp dix A ls i

ur e ro , o o e ne re uo e n e en . o n

1 88 8 1 889 h w
or t tw st i s Fat a d a
e am d gh st st
ro e y I giv th e
o or e e, n n un n e o or . e

o tli
u f th s i
ne th
o sam pl ac I Tb P
e e n t Et ia e N v mb 6 e e. n e r esen on n, o e er ,

1 88 8 is a c,
v ti ally h m on s acc t f a V illag C c t a d i H e
en on u orou ou n o e on e r n n ou s

h ld Q
o i ath l at a T ys i a pic a p m L ki
u er es r er er , e nn on n e , oe on o .

P l is Sid y P l th i S xth F m Th p a sag s a p at ll d

“
ee ne ee , en n i or . e s e re ro e

by th Sixth F m f m t t h al f-p ast t s th at

e or b o y l av s his
ro m en o , o ee no e e r oo

with t p missi
ou A C B s
er H g/ p 4 6
on .
”
. . en on , u z, . .

Th3
a v y f w lics f this p i d O is a l tt f m B th who,
e re re er e re o er o . ne e er ro e

M A C B s
r. .t lls f d l tt r -w iti g m t l ab i s
. e n on e u s, oun e e r n os o r ou

'

A DD 1 N G TO N PA R K , C O R YD
ON .

[P N ov emb er 1 887] Tu esday .

A R ES T —O li
,

DE , s di g y B t -m w Wed sd ay
ne ne to t ll y
e ou I am en n ou r ox o or ro , ne .

I h p y o will g t it b f t a-tim I k w y u will lik s m thi g f

e ou e e o re e e. no o e o e n or

t a; y
e ca k p y c ak f y
ou n B i thd ay
ee I sh all thi k ab t y
our e or ou r r . n ou ou o n

F id ay Ev yb dy h a g e away I had
r . er o t w it f m I th ght
s on , so n o on e o r e or e. ou

you w ld t mi d m w iti g t y
ou no D a st l ve f m y r d a
n e r n o o u. e re o ro ou e r

B ETH .

A d lici sly f igh tf l s pia sk tch t s viv s I t sh ws tw l afl ss t s

e ou r u e e , oo , ur e . o o e e re e

with ca i c ws s at d th m Th sky is bl ack ai p s d w F m

r r on ro e e on e . e r n our o n. ro

a m a sh a h a d p
r t d s a d it is a l ab l bea i g th w ds A ROTT I N G
n r o ru e , n on e r n e or ,

C R PSE
O U p th back f this is t b f d his tim -tabl f r the F i st
. on e o o e ou n e e o
“
r
 A T CLEV ED ON A N D ETON , 1 8 82—1 8 89 59
H ugh B e nson l e ft Eton th e n and i f
unabl e to , , w e ar e

d e t e ct d u ring his stay th e r e much that will b e charact e ristic ,

w e can c e rtainly notic e i n this final docum e nt a r e ally

r e markabl e s e l f-knowl e dg e Fe w boys would own in th e .

,

v e ry first plac e to e xcit e m e nt ; fe w to app r e h e n sion o f

, ,

th e n e xt st e p to b e tak e n and o f th e eq u als to b e e xp e ct e d

th er e To not e that o n e f e e ls impo r tant is fra nk
.
“ ”

b e yond th e common ; th e frightful lo nging fo r I ndia

“

i s i n its e lf a r e ve latio n N o amount o f f e ar could annul .

th e d e sir e o f th e mom e nt This f e ar a nd this app e tit e .

will accompany him thro u gh li f e A n d th e hom e-Sickn e ss .

is I take it f or th e England an d th e par e nts h e wo u ld

, ,

l e av e wh e n I ndia summon e d him and by no m e a ns fo r ,

Eton ; fo r h er h e has alr e ady e xp r e ss e d his q u alifi e d

,

r e gr e ts A n d th e whol e e nds with th e supr e m e ly ch arac

.

te r isti c e xclamation which h e will u se to th e e n d wh e n

standing aghast at th e b e wild e rm e nts o f li fe and its e x ac
tions ; and aft e r all it was lo ng ago d e cid e d that th e
, ,

moth e r o f all philosophy was Wo nd e r .

H un d d I t i cl d s h s f H o d t s Livy H ac V gil th Da /a
re . n u e ou r or er o u , , or e, er , e ce t ,

the Epistl t th R m a s G e k a d Lati p s Lati v s a d G k

o e o n , ree n n ro e , n er e n ree

i ambics B sid s this I fi d ly

. e t -b k f ll f d awi gs f b tt fli s
e n on one n o e oo , u o r n o u er e

a d m ths with v
n o y f ll t s Th d awi gs a ally xc ll t f a b y f
, er u no e . e r n re re e e en or o o

his ag a d s gg st th at h will alw ays d be tt at di ag ams th a at alistic

e, n u e e o er r n re

S k tch s
e eI m st h w e v
. te th p ssibility f this t -b k th gh f d
u o er n o e o o no e oo , ou oun

with H gh B s s po ss ssi s h avi g b

u en o n i ality th
’
w k fM E F e on , n ee n n re e or o r. . .

B s
en o n. I t m st b t c f ss d th at his h a dw iti g is b tt at this pe i od
u e, oo , on e e n r n e er r

th a v it w a t b agai th o gh l ss ch a act istic

n e er s o e n, u e r er .
 CI TA P TER I I I
'

AT W R EN S ’

,
1 889 —
1 89 0

I dimly g ss wh at Tim i mists c f ds

ue e n o n o un

Y t v a da
e e er na t mp t s nds
n on ru e ou

F m th b id battl m ts f Et ity
ro e e en o ern

Th s sh ak
o e mists a sp ac s ttl th
en e un e e, en

R d th h al f-glimpsed t ts S l wly w ash agai

o un e u rre o n.

FR A N C I S TH O M PS ON .

H UG H B ENSO N l e f t Eton , th e n b efor e his tim e and aft e r a

, ,

bri e f stay a b road was s e nt to a cramm e r s whos e assistanc e ’

was r e gard e d by H ugh s f amily as an op e ratio n mad e

“ ’

n e c e ssary by h is som ewhat unsatis f actory int e ll e ctual

progr e ss .

H e w e nt how e v e r first o f all to Di nan and o n jun e 3 0

, , ,

his fath e r wrot e th e followi ng l e tt e r quot e d also by Mr , .

A C B e nson in H ug /z
. . I t is so charact e ri sti c that I mak e
.

no apology f or quoting it again in full

LA M B ET H P A L A CE S E , .

1 889 .
ju n e
—W
30 ,
MY D EA R EST hav e b ee n r ath e r mo u rn
H U G H I E, e

ing abo u t not h e ari ng o n e wo r d fr om you W e supp osed .

all wo u ld b e r ight as you w e r e a la r g e party B ut on e .

wo r d would b e so e asy to thos e who lov e you so who ,

hav e don e all th e y could to e nabl e you to follow your

o w n lin e agai nst th e ir o w n wish e s and a f
, f e ction
W e hop e at any rat e yo u ar e writing to -day A n d w e .

h av e s e nt o ff Pio n e e rs and Fo u n de r s wh ich w e hop e

“
,
”

will both giv e yo u happy and int e re sting Sunday r e ading

and r e mi nd yo u o f us .

Mr Spi e rs writ e s that you ar e backward i n Fr e nch

.
,
b u t g e tting o n rath e r fast .

I want yo u n o w at th e b e gi nning o f thi s c r ammin

y e ar to mak e two o r th r e e R e sol u tions be sid e s thos e w hic g ,

y o u know and hav e thought o f oft e n and practis e d

60
62 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
who is not a m an of G OD Don t f org e t abo u t
“ ’

N e v e r do it R egard it—as it is
.

w or k i ng o n Sunday . .

as th e Day o f R est an d Wor sb ip ”

.

O n e f ragm e nt f rom h is stay i n Franc e is wo r th p r e

s e rving
W e w e nt a long e xp editio n y e st er day sixty mil e s th e r e ,

and back by ca r r iag e : and r e turning I ran abo u t s e ve n

, ,

mil e s o u t o f th e thi r ty by th e sid e o f th e ca r riag e and am ,

ha r dly at all sti ff this morning .

I s e nd yo u o n e photog r aph o f mys e lf and a spl e ndid

A lg e rian g r e yhound “ Simo u n w h o can k e e p w e ll u p
”
,

with an av e r ag e t r ai n fift e e n mil e s and a ca r riag e a ,

h u ndr e d and fifty mil e s : thi s also shows th e colo u r of

my hands and f ac e v er y accu rat e ly : I hav e also grown
abo u t fo u r f e e t : and a n oth e r o f a fish ing e xp e dition w e
w e nt : I sho u ld lik e th e o n e o f th e dog and m e back
wh e n I com e as I hav e n o t anoth e r o f it and I want to
, ,

k e e p th e m all tog e th e r .

B y july n e ws that h e had won th e H e rv e y

22 th e
P iz Po e m had r e ach e d Lam be th
r e “
Dr Warr e writ e s . .
,

his fath e r says it has a ve ry good to n e about it and a

“
,

q u i e t thoughtfuln e s s that l e nds it a charm I b e li e ve .

that th e s e po e ms w e r e n o t printe d and doubtl e ss th e loss ,

o f such comp ositions is not h e avy : still it wo u ld have ,

b ee n e nt e rtaining to see H ugh at his most acad e mic and

conve ntional This poe m b r o u ght h im a littl e lat e r as
.
, ,

a pr e s e nt from th e A rchbishop a portrai t o f Fath e r ,

Dami e n s fin e kind b e n e vol e nt d e t ermin ed f ac e

’

, , , .

H O T EL D E L A P L A E P O R T R EU C , I X,

j u l
y 2 5, 1 8 89 .

M Y D EA R PA P A —Thank yo u v e ry m u ch for yo u r l e tt e r
,

I was so tr e m e ndo u sly s u rpri s e d about th e H e rve y Prize .

1

1
To his m th o er he w t
ro e
PO RTR u wx , ju ly 27.

I w as m sly s p is d ab t th H v y P iz —I had littl th ght

so e n or ou ur r e ou e er e r e so e ou

f g tti g it th at I h ad f g tt all ab t it a d f th fi st m m t c ld t ’
o e n , or o en ou , n or e r o en ou n

rem mb wh at it wa
e er s.

N thi g c ld b tt
o n x mpli fy his al ady t i mpha t i sti ct f f g tti g
ou e er e e re r u n n n or or e n

wh at w a p ast a d g i g st aight t the xt thi g

s n o n r on o ne n .
 AT W REN S 8 8 9—1 8 9 0 63
’

, 1

I Sho u ld like to stay with M r K e v ill Davi e s v e r y much .

it sounds v e ry nic e and sho u ld p r e f e r to have only o n e

,

room : it wo u ld s e e m mo r e compact and altog e th e r nic e r ,

I thi nk to hav e all my thin s i n O n e r oom

H s e e m e d to lik e M rs I§ e v i ll Davi e s v e ry much
.
,

. . .

I th i n k also that i t would b e v e r y conv e ni e nt lunchi ng

at Mr Spi e rs ; I sho u ld only have to I b e li e ve fo u r tim e s
.
’

, ,

a w e e k : and th e oth e r two days I could go back to Long

r idg e R oad : I sn t it a pity abo u t H H e has b e e n wo r k
’
.

ing tre m e ndo u sly som e tim e s f ourt ee n h ou r s a day : and

th e y all said h e was c e rtai n to ge t in —b u t h e f ail e d H e
,

was i n th e I ndian and Civil —I should think probably h e

.

ov e rworke d .

I suppos e Mama will writ e and t e ll m e th e particulars

o f my j o u rn e y I can l e av e h er e any day on o r aft e r
n e xt Thu r sday —Yo u r v e ry loving son
.

.
,

R O B ER T H U G H B EN SON .

H ugh had n o t how e v e r co nc e r n e d h ims e lf at first with

, ,

stayi ng at a strang e r s O n jun e 1 0 h e had c h ar ac ter i sti

’
.

cally writt e n to his moth e r

ET ON CO LL EG E W DSO , rN R,

lu n e 10 , 1 8 89 .

I have got a lov e ly id e a but don t say anything abo u t ,

’

it ye t : I don t know if i t would b e possibl e b u t I do n t

’

,
’

s e e why not .

To hav e two rooms in Morton s Tow e r got r e ady I

’
,

co u ld bring up all my things f r om Eto n and f u rnish th e m ,

o r at l e ast o n e o f th e m and stay th e r e always

,
I co u ld .

com e ov e r fo r m e als in th e ho u s e whil e yo u w e r e th e r e ;

and wh e n yo u w er e not th e r e M rs H u mphr e ys o r Mrs ,
. .

Park e r could cook fo r m e it would b e love ly .

It wo u ld have all th e advantag e s o f lodgings such as ,

b e i n g abl e to go i n a nd o u t wh e n I wi sh ed b e sid e s having ,
non e o f th e disadvantag e s .

M e anwhil e Hu gh is l e arning to climb and appar e ntly ,

taking risks A n e cho is h e ard in a l e tt e r from his moth e r

.

“
Th e f e arful i ncid e nt o f th e r o cks and th e r O p e mad e my
blood r u n rath e r cold .
64 ROB ERT H UG H BENSON
Early i n A u gust h e i s at Wi e sbad e n and th e r e sp e nds ,

a fe w days to l e arn som e G e r man H e is e nthusiastic .

ov er h is p r ogr e ss and h is moth e r with d e lib e rat e h umour

, , ,

hop e s h e is g e tting o n as fast with G e rman as h e did with

Fr e nch G e rman too alas ! r e mai n e d an u nl e arnt lan
.
, ,

guag e for h im always O f i ncid e n ts at Wi e sbad e n non e .

can b e r e call e d save th e purchas e o f a fox -cub wh ich ,

Mrs B e nson r egr e tt e d b e cause it was e xtravagant ( and

.

h e was s e nding in no accounts o f h is e xp e ndit u r e and h e

co u ldn t possibly carry it about with h im B eth on h er
’
.
,

Sid e implo r e d his moth e r to f o r bid him k e e ping it

, Foxe s .

ar e so Sly and it ll b e s u r e to kill him wh e n it g e ts old e r

’ 1 ”
.
,

I n mid -A ugust h e r e turn e d to England by way o f Paris

I saw th e Exh ibition h e writ e s and w e nt hal f-way
” “
, ,

up th e Ei ff e l Tow e r j ust marv e llous : I s it s ee n with th e

e ye s ? i s th e first th ing you think wh e n yo u ar e n e ar 1
and w e nt to Wr e n s and G u rn e y s coaching e stablishm e nt ’ ’

lodgi ng at th e R ev X c v i ll D av ie s s hous e i n K e nsington .

’

fo r o n his r e t urn h e fo u nd h e had cross e d his f amily o n

, ,

th e ir way o u t to th e R i ff e l A lp wh er e th e A rchbishop oft e n

w e nt fo r a holiday From Z ermatt his moth e r wr ot e .

to him
Z ERM ATT A g t 5 1 889 ,
u us 2 , .

I t is most hor r id to b e holiday -maki ng h e r e without

o u and to think o f yo u grinding yo u r nin e ho u r s a day in
y ,

st u ff y o ld London Still -I ndia b e ckons and H u gh says .

,
“
I com e -and th e r e is c ertainly no oth er way o f
coming .Th e r e have b e e n v e r y fe w accid e nts this
y e a r O n e man who is g e tting b e tt er roll e d do wn th e
.
, ,

Matt e rh o r n about 1 20 0 f e e t and bo u nd e d ove r two glaci e rs ,

in hi s roll h e pr e s e r vi ng compl e t e conscio u sn e ss all th e
,

tim e and calc u lating wh e th er o r n o t h e wo u ld fall i nto

,

1
A t E on h e t
is m mb d f his f d ss f a im als H p p s d
re e e re or on ne o n . e ro o e to
c aj l th A chbish p i t k pi g k a ga s at A ddi gt
o e e r o n o ee n n ro o n on.

This w a a xcl am ati f B th s wh h fi st aw a s w m t ai in

’
1 n on o e r s no oun n
s e en s e

Switz l a d
er n .
 AT W R EN S
’

, 1 88 9 —
1 8 90 65

th e glaci e r . Wh e n h e stopp e d h e g ot up —and had his

i c e -ax e in h is hand all th e tim e .

From th e sam e p lac e hi s fath ei wrot e two days lat e r a ‘

long l e tt e r o f advic e o n th e importanc e o f Sl e e p and

e x e rcis e and conclud e s
,

know
You we f e ar ou r d e ar Mar tin did n ot know th e ir
importanc e .

He add s
K e e p your p ray e rs and a few ve rs e s o f th e B ibl e
re ading v e ry u ndisturb e d by anxi e ti e s —and as e ach pi e c e
o f work b e gins j u st q u i e tly fo r o n e mom e nt li f t u p your
“

h e art —SVR SV M C O R Th e n all will go in p e ac e—and

,
”
.
,

your f o r tni ghtly (o r w e e kly ) commu nion I am sur e yo u

will n o t om i t I t has b e e n such a str e ngth and growth to
—t
.

yo u esti s su m .

And he r e p e ats th e advic e o n S e pt e m be r 1 2, 1 8 89 ,

adding :
It is a good th ing bo th physically and sp iritu ally to
do what P rud e ntius says
Co rp u s l i ce t fatisce n s
Jac e at r e c li n e p au llu m
jesu m tamer: su b z
p sa
M edi tabi m u r so p or e
whi ch M arti n translat e d
T h e n le t th e w e ar y b ody
A l i ttl e wh il e r e p o se
Th e l as t th o u gh t b e o fJe s u s
B e fo re th i n e e y e li ds c l os e .

( Yo u kn ow th e t e mpor al u se
j u st b e for e ) o f sub : .

I t was at th is p e riod that o n e o f M iss M B e nson s .

’

l ett e rs r e v e al s fo r a mo me nt th e p ec uliarly clos e r elations

e xisting b e tw e e n h e rs e l f and H ugh Sh e habitually wr ot e .

him l e tt e rs o fa u niqu e char m Sh e had th e G r e e k irony “

and a f te r most s e nsitiv e d e scriptions o f sc e n e ry —Egypt

.

1 E
66 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSO N
Te n e dos , Troy —whi ch
had r e ally impr e ss e d h er by its
b e auty o r as sociations was abl e h e rs e lf to prick any ,

bubbl e o f pomposity o r pr e ciosity sh e might s ee mingly

have blown by th e p in -poi nt o f h er hum o u r Her ex
, .

tr e m e ly acut e comm e nts o n fo r instanc e visito r s e c c le si , , ,

asti c al d uti e s and th e lik e Show a r e al m e ntal d e tachm e nt

, ,

and obj e ctive pow e r o f r e alising what an atmo sph e r e o f

e ccl e siastical dom e sticity might t e nd normally to distort 1 ,

and sh e would la u gh whol e h e art e dly at th e high t alk

- “
,

such as B e th said o u r g e ntl e m e n talk

, , .

Sh e i nsp ir e d by Sitting i n th e chair o f th e Pri e st o f

,

Dionysus in th e th eatr e at A th e ns asks to b e h e lp e d by ,

H ugh through r e ading and dis cussio n to ge t above th e

, ,

narrowi ng life o f doing my Duty To b e ab sor b ed in

“
.

h e lping oth e r s sh e s ee s to b e c e rtain r u in Sh e wants .

to r e ad with him n o t as a cov e rt way o f improving yo u

,

o nly I wo u ld rath er r e ad with yo u than with anyon e —you

like po e try I know—b e sid e s —
, w e ll —y ou ar e y ou —I wond e r
wh e th e r yo u know h o w much I hav e f e lt that from th e ,

tim e wh e n I us e d to t e ach yo u o u t o f R eadi ng w i t/tou t

Tear s—right up to n o w —wh e n o u r r e lation is an eq u al
o n e—for age matt e rs so littl e a f t e r th e v e ry first y e ars o f

all and at th e tim e o f his e ight e e nth birthday sh e adds :

I have b e e n consid e ring yo u as w ell ov e r e ight ee n fo r
som e tim e past I m u st stop i f this i s to r e ach yo u
.

b e f or e what B e th p e rsists i n calling your birth day m e aning ,

yo ur b ir th mom en t z e to -night I r e mark e d that th e

,
. . .

whol e day was your b irthday Sh e said O h sh e thought

not—it was
.
,

I v e b ee n thi n k i n g th at wh e n som e o n e e dits your Lif e

’ ’

”
and l e tt e rs th ey will b e puzzl e d ov e r B r er Rabbit and
,
2
,

i d ed it may i all c t sy h c fesse d th at it w ld b difli lt t

'

1
An d n e n ou r e e on ou e cu o

c t a fami ly m e s
e n ou n er ly abl a d willi g t bs v a d ass ss its w
or e re n e e n n o o er e n e o n

m mb s th a is h s
e er n er .

H 1
ick am f H gh
er n n e or u .
 AT W REN S ’

, 1 8 8 9- 1 89 0 67

will rightly conj e ct u r e that “ B r e r m e ans broth e r and ,

mak e a brilliant sugge stio n that R abbit is r e ally a mis ”

r e adi ng for Rob e r t Don t you th ink so ? Good-by e

.
” ’
.

In one s e nt e nc e sh e r e v e als quit e a nu mbe r of i ntimat e

littl e f acts .

N on e your dr e ss cloth e s ar e h e r e Sh e wrot e in

of , .

answ e r to a passionat e app e al B e th says yo u must hav e .

th e m all Bu t M iss B e nso n adds a v an will b e n e e d e d

‘

.
, ,

fo r th e transport o f h is b oots .

A n d in a hom e ly li n e o r two Sh e throws all that w e

hav e of light o n H ugh s stay at h is cramm e r s ’ '

Sep tem ber 1 5, 1 889

I am sorry th e oth e r boys ar e lik e that—cads Bu t it s

.

’
.

only I suppo s e what is to b e e xp e ct ed as B eth would say

, , ,
.

B ut I am glad yo u hav e K and D . .

Th e fastidious H ugh cam e away f rom th e risks o f his

e nvironm e nt untai nt e d but h e f ail e d in h is e xaminatio n fo r
,

th e I ndian Civil S e rvi c e and it was s e ttl e d h e Should go

,

to Tri ni ty Coll e g e Cambridg e and r e ad th e r e f or Cl assical

, ,

H ono u rs .

I n B e nson how e ve r n o m oo d good o r bad maintain e d

, , , ,

its e lf at th is p e riod at any rat e for v e ry long ; and quit e

“

, ,

apart from a tang e ntial i nt e r e st i n Th e osophy wh ich s e n t ,

him whil e at Wr e n s down b y-ways f ull o f e xcit e m e nt i f

,
'

, ,

n o t o f pl e asan tn e ss h e f ound h is arid wast e r e fr e sh e d

,

by two sourc e s o n e o f which was music and th e oth e r

, ,

H Sh o r th o u se s romanc e jo/m I ng lesan t O f music

’
. .
,

I hop e to sp e ak lat e r h e r e it must su ffic e to say that its

,

e nchantm e nt dr e w him again and agai n to St Paul s ’

.
,

and put a soul into its c e r e moni e s and as to Isabe l N orri s ,

i n By Wltat A u tb or i ty th e e choing dignity o f th e Cath e dral

,

gav e th e first h int to H ugh o f what corporat e worship

might m e an Liddo n th e n pr e achi ng th e r e did n o t mor e
.
, ,
68 ROB ER T H UG H BENSON
than passingly afle c t h im ; th e b oy sat in organ-lo f t or
‘

stall and let th e music sw e e p his so u l about and cl e ans e d

, ,

his spiritual f aculti es f rom th e clogging e xp e r i e nc e o f

m e r ely m at e rialistic b e haviour It may n ot have str e ngth
.

e n e d him but at l e ast it k e pt him active .

O f unr e cko nabl e import an c e was h is e ncount e r with

T h e strang e history o f this book is known
j o b n I ng lesan t . .

Writte n wh e n its author was in f ull middl e -age d e lay e d ,

by th e obsti nat e publish e rs till h e was o ld it obtain e d ,

a succ e s s whi ch savour e d o f th e port e ntous Doubtl e ss

. .

this was du e not wholly to its lit e rary m e rits : it is lo ng ;

it lacks balanc e ; it has no climax ; it i s e pisodic Bu t .

it suit e d a party i n th e English Church and thi s Quak e r s ,

’

romanc e play e d a co nsid e rabl e part i n A nglican propaganda .

B ut th e s e nsation it cr e at e d was incomparably wid e r and

mor e vari e d th an is produc ed by anything j ust s e ctarian .

Sh o r th o u se has manag e d to cast ov e r p e rsons sc e n e ry , ,

and e p isod e s a glamo u r so e nchanting that th er e is hardly

any p art that do e s n o t throb with vitality H e lights u p .

what h e touch e s as it w e r e f rom within : it is as though

, ,

sunlight w e r e e nt angl e d in so m e f ruit -tr ee all in flowe r ;

th e v e ry p e tals b e com e in cand e sc e n t ; yo u can almost
se e th e sap circulating lik e bubbl e s o f light in th e d e licat e
, ,

v e in s o f th e l e ave s B oyhood s imaginati on (i f o n e mor e

.
’

witn e ss may b e add e d to H ugh Be nson s) falls an e asy ’

victim to [ 0 1 m I ng lesant whose v ery nam e has som e th ing

,

( I onc e f anci f u lly f e lt ) o f that virility an d that m e lody

which m ake his sto ry n e ith e r too s e nsuous n o r e v e r l e ss

than magi c al A n old e r critic may marve l how th e
;
.

B irmingh am ch e mist who scarc e ly kn e w his England

, ,

and c e rtai nly h ad n e ve r l e f t it save by guid e -book su c

, ,

c eede d i n capturing n o t alon e th e various atmosph e r e s

.

of th e world o f Cavali e r and o f P u ritan and o f Lau d

~
,
70 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
with N icholas Fe r rar at his Prot e stant N unn er y o f “ ”

Littl e G idding i n H untingdonshir e I n I n glesan t s l if e .

’

th e Littl e G idding Sacram e nt -Sunday with its r e ali sation o f

th e imm e diat e P er son ali ty o f Christ and th e je suits r e main , ,

parall e l i nflu e nc e s ch e cking each th e oth er wh il e H obb e s

, ,

and C r ashaw d e v e lop ye t oth e r sid e s o fhis r ich p e rsonality .

With ph ilosophy and po e try th e love o f M ary Coll e t ( a ,

v e ry B e atric e at G idding to this dr e ami e r Dant e ) mod e ls

, ,

hi s so u l mor e e v e n than do e s downright war und e rtake n f or

King Charl e s ; tho u gh th e s e cr e t s e rvic e loyally r e nd e r e d , ,

and cr u e lly r e paid by th e king s d e nial o f h is m e ss e ng e r ’

str e ngth e ns profoundly I n gle san t s spiritual d etachm e nt ’

.

Priso n and immin e nt d e ath and abo ve all th e assassination , ,

o fhi s broth e r Eustac e s ee m to compl e t e his

, p u rification
and in Paris h e m e e ts Ma r y Coll e t onc e mor e b u t now a
nun Tw o path s th e r e f or e ar e plac e d b e for e him —that of
,

.
, ,

th e so u l cruci fi e d with je s u s amid th e spl e ndours o f all

pagan and Ch r istian cultur e and th is th e je suits pr e ach ;,

an d that o f simpl e s e l f - su r r e n de r to th e p e rsonal charm

‘

of j e sus who should b e f ollow e d in th e d e s e rt away from

, ,

co u rt o r u niv e rsity o r political intrig u e : Ser e n u s de

,

Cr e ssy th e B e n e dictin e o ff e rs him this privil eg e H e turns

, , .

f ro m th e monk sorrowf ul amid h is gr e at poss e ssions

,
.

P l ato still it s e e m e d should partly gov ern him ; but still

, , ,

and f ar mor e c e rtai nl y Chri st love d th e young man

, .

This s e rvant o f th e je suits w e nt o n to I taly and

Rom e with th e fix e d id e a o f ve nge a nc e o n his b r oth e r s
’

m u r d e r e r mo r e vivid n o w in h is mind than e v er A t

, ,
.

Flor e nc e h e m e e ts Laur e tta di Visalv o h is d e sti n e d ,

wi fe ; but first h e must co nqu e r i n h e r r egar d that

e a r thlin e ss o f passion whi ch imp e rils ye t f u rth e r h is
e v e r mo r e cloud e d id e al I n th e wan light o f th e dawn
.

h e r e nounc e s th e promis e d e cstasy o f sin ; a nd though

 AT W REN S
’

, 1 88 9 —
1 8 90 71

yo u l e f t doubt f ul what p r e cis e ly with in him w o n

ar e

that vi ctory (f or that a t e mptation f ost e r e d b y passionat e

moonlight should wa n e wh e n th e cold gr e y mornin g
blanch e s away th e myst ery o f things n ee d m e an no ,

triumph carri e d o ff b y o r withi n th e Soul ) at l e ast it i s ,

cl ear that john had th us at any rat e r e nounc e d two , ,

e arthly gr e at r e wards onc e fo r h is king and n o w i f

, , ,

n o t fo r G o d at l e ast for his spiritual conc e p t o f what

,

Lo ve sh ould b e That sc e n e in th e midnight hut i s

.

unsurpass e d fo r lo f ty human e motio n ; fo r mystical

e nchantm e nt th e third r e nunciation wh e r e j
, oh n f or giv e s ,

his broth e r s murd e r e r Malv o lti whom h e at last

’
, ,

e ncount e rs i s supr e m e 1
, .

Wh e n B e n son says that [ ai m I nglesan t i nflu e nc ed him ,

h e do e s n o t m e r e ly m e an that it vitalis e d for him th e

Carolin e p e riod o f English history e ve n o f English ,

e ccl e siastical Church h istory still l e ss that hi s d e scription ,

o f th e supp r e ss e d monast e ri e s i n l e K i ng s A c/
'
z i ev emen t

is v e ry r e mi nisc e nt o f that at W e stacr e and R alph s ,

’

loyalty to Cromw e ll i n th e sam e bo ok o f joh n s fid e lity ,

'

to th e f aith l e ss Charl e s I I ; n o r e v e n that th e tripl e

t e mptation succ e ss fully e nco u nt e r e d by Rog e r which
, ,

w e r e ad o f in Oddsfi slt ( a book first writt e n at Rom e ,

b e for e h is ordination a nd dir e ctly u nd e r th e sp e ll o f

,

join t I ng lesan t) i s again r e minisc e nt o f Sh o r th o u se s

’

psychic s e ri e s N o r do e s h e e v e n p e rc e iv e i n th e
.

Q u ake r s sympath e tic d e li n e ation o f M olinos th e sourc e

’
,

of much o f that orthodox Qui e tism h e hims e l f d e v e lop e d .

N o r of cours e i s th e int e rw e avi ng o f th e pr e t e rnatural

, , ,

and i nd ee d of th e e lfish and bizarr e with th e r e alistic , ,

what most o f all attract e d him in jo/m I ng lesan t Ev e n .

1
In this pis d Sh th
e o e or o u se m od ls hims l f with g
e e r ea t x act ss
e ne on th e st yor

o f San G i v a i G albe rt
o nn u o.
7 2 ROB ERT H UGH B ENSO N
th e cre ation o f th e H ar e Str ee t co lony so to call it , ,

r e alising as i t did a dr e am first conc e iv e d a f t e r studying

r
‘

th e e xquisit e int e rl u de o f Littl e G idding an d n e ve r .

al lowe d to fad e w as not th e ch i e f re su lt o f th e absolut e

,

passi o n B e nso n conc e iv e d for th at romanc e .

To b e gi n with its r e v e lation o f th e P e rsonality o f

,

j e sus Christ c a m e to him lit e rally lik e th e t e ari ng o f

ve il s and th e call o f a loud trump e t and a l e aning ,

f orth Of th e Son o f G od to touch him Th e v e ils swung .

back again and sil en c e w as soon onc e mor e to swaddl e

,

h i s soul into i n e rtia ; but virtu e had gon e forth and ,

without his r e alising it h is li f e would app e ar to hav e b e e n

,

pois e d around a n ew axis ; its c e ntr e o f gr av ity w as ~

shift e d ; o r if you will th e n o tion o f th e dominancy o f

.
, ,

e sus havi ng s u nk i nto h is subconsciousn e ss work d

j
‘

,
e ,

th e r e i n sil e nc e until i n du e tim e it r e v eal e d its adult '

significanc e Flash e d upo n joh n during th e Co m

.

munion s e rvic e at Littl e G iddi n g th e f ull b laz e o f ,

r e v e latio n shon e ou t fo r him wh e n th e blind e d Malv o lti ,

n o w a fr i ara told I n gle sant o f th e spiritual vi sion wh i c h

,

had r e ach e d h im .

Sinc e this was o n e o f thos e pag e s which H ugh l e ar n t

and k e pt by h e art as having substantially alt e r e d him I
, ,

quot e it without ap ology .

T e murd e r e r o f Eustac e you may r e m e mb e r was

( h , ,

Sitting on th e C apitol and in imagination s ee ing , ,

th e w hol e o f R om e its church e s its worshipp e rs its, , ,

c r u c i fix e s . )
“ Sudd e nly it s ee m e d to m e that I was conscious o f a
g e n e ral move m e nt and rush o f f ee t and that a strang e ,

and wild e xcit em e nt pr e vail e d i n e ve ry r egion o f R om e .

Th e church e s b e cam e e mpty th e p e opl e p o u ring o u t ,

into th e str e ets ; th e d e ad Christs above th e altars fad e d

 AT W R EN S 8 8 9—
’
,
1 1 8 90 73
f rom th e ir cross ,
and th e sacr e d tap e rs w e nt o u t o f th e ir
o w n accord fo r it s pr e ad through Rom e as i n a mom e nt , ,

that a miracl e h ad happ e n e d at th e A ra Co e li and that ,

th e livi ng Christ w as com e From wh er e I sto od I could

.
-

se e th e throngs o f p e op l e p ouri ng through e v e ry str e e t and

lan e and thronging u p to th e Campidoglio and th e stairs

,

an d f rom th e distanc e in th e pal e Campagna from St , .

Paolo witho u t th e walls and f rom subt e rran e an R om e

, ,

wh e r e th e martyrs and confe ssors lie I could se e stra n ge ,

and mysti c shap e s com e sw e e ping i n thro u gh th e b r illiant

l ight .

H e cam e down th e st e p s o f th e A r a Co e li and th e ,

sky was f ull o f starlike f orms wo nd e rful and gracious ;

,

and all th e st e p s o f th e Capitol w e r e f ull o f thos e p e opl e

down to th e sq u are of th e A r a Co e li and up to th e statu e ,

o f A u r e lius o n hors e back abov e ; and th e summit o f th e

Capitol among th e statu es and th e l e ads o f th e Palac e

,

C aflar e lli w e r e f ull o f e ag e r f orms ; fo r th e starlight was

,

s o cl e a r that all might se e ; and th e d e ad gods and th e ,

f auns and th e satyrs and th e o ld pagans that lurk e d i n

, , ,

th e s e cr e t h iding -plac es o f th e r u i ns o f th e Ca e sars ,

crowd ed up th e st e p s o u t o f th e Forum and cam e round ,

th e outski r ts o f th e crowd and stood o n th e For u m p illars

,

that th ey might see A n d Castor and Pollux that stood

.
,

by th e ir unsaddl e d h ors e s at th e to p o f th e stairs l e f t ,

th e m unh ee d e d a nd cam e to se e ; and th e Marsyas who

stood bound brok e his bo nds and c am e to see ; a nd
—
sp e ctral forms sw e pt in from th e distanc e in th e light ,

and th e air was full o f P ow e rs and Exist e nc e s and th e ,

e a r th rock e d as at th e j udgm e nt Day .

H e cam e dow n th e st e p s i nto th e Campidoglio and ,

H e cam e to m e . H e was n o t at all lik e th e pictur e s o f

th e Saints f or H e was pal e and wor n and thin as though
, ,
74 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
th e fight was n ot ye t half ov er- ah no l—b u t through th is
pal e and worn look shon e i nfinit e pow e r and undying ,

lov e and u nqu e nchabl e r e solve Th e crowd fe ll back o n

, .

e v e ry sid e b u t wh e n H e cam e to m e H e stopp e d Ah ! ‘ ’

, .

H e said is it thou ? What do e st thou h e r e ? Know e st

‘

thou not that thou art M in e Thric e M in e—M in e c e nturi e s

,

ago wh e n I hung upon th e Cross o n Calvary fo r such as

thou—M i n e y e ars ago wh e n thou e a rn e st a littl e child to
th e f ont —
,

M in e onc e agai n wh e n forf e it b y e v ery law

, , ,

tho u wast giv e n ov e r to M e by o n e who is a s e rvant and

fri e nd o f Min e Sur e ly I will r e pay
. A s H e spok e a
,
’
.
,

sh u dd e r and a tr e mbling ran through th e crowd as i f ,

stirr e d by th e br e ath of H is voic e N atur e s ee m e d to rally .

a nd to grow be n eath H im and H e ave n to b e nd down to,

touch th e e arth A h e ali ng s e ns e o f h e alth and comfort

.
,

like th e g e ntl e dew visit e d th e w e ary h e art A g r eat cry

,
.

and Shout a r os e f rom th e crowd and H e pass e d on ; but ,

among te n thousand tim e s te n thousand I Sh o u ld k n o w ~

H im and amid th e tumult o f a unive rs e I Sh ould h e ar

,

th e f ai nt e st whisp e r o f H i s voic e .

U pon this app a rition i n H ugh s lif e o f a n e w tra n s ’

f o r ming fo r c e w e will make n o comm e nt cont e nt with ,

having r e gist e r e d it Of a di ff e r e nt charact e r but as

.
,

important o n its plan e was th e conclusion r e ach ed by

,

I n gle san t i n his trav e l o f r e ligio u s e xploration H e was .

le d to it as a matt e r o f f act th r o u gh th e Plato nism by

,

which h e had b e e n e nco unt e re d f r om ch ildhood u p —i n its

,

mor e p ious f orms with th e R o sicrucian vicar o f A shl e y ,

i n its mor e strictly i nt e ll e ctual b u t also practical asp e ct , ,

with St Cla r e and in its artistic and wo r ldly and R e

. .
,

naissanc e pr e s e ntatio n with th e Ca r dinal at R om e joh n s ,

'

conv er sati o n s with whom are philosophically sp e aking , ,

among th e quit e most f ascinating pag e s o f th e book N ow .

 AT W REN S 88 9 —1 8 90
’

,
1 75
Pla to ni sm as Platonism mad e no sort o f scholarly app e al
to H ugh B e nso n : but its c e ntral and unchanging d ogma
was th e imm e rsion of th e Id e a i n matt e r th e sh iv e ring
, ,

o f th e O n e i nto many th e e xpr e ssion o f th e I mmutabl e

,

Reality i n Shifting finit e forms illusory and dr e amlik e all ,

o f th e m ; th e r e fl e ctio n finally o f th e A bsolut e b y th e

, ,

r e lativ e Thus both joh n s Christianity and h is P latonism

.
’

co nspir e d to mak e him se e th e world as its e lf som e th ing

o f a Sacram e nt - b e tt e r e ve n than th e ve il e d Tab e rnacl e
wh er e th e G odh e ad lurk e d with in —in whi ch th e U ltimat e
, , ,

G od imm e diat e ly conv ey e d and con c e al e d H ims e l f ; n o t

a v e il m e r e ly to hid e th e U biquitous b u t a rob e making
, ,

visibl e th e U ns e e n N ow both to I n gle san t and to H ugh

.

B e nson th e qu e stion propound e d its e l f H o w i n this , ,

wo r ld o f myst e ry wh e r e words b e li e th e tho u ght and

, ,

thou ght its e lf be trays th e Word it wo u ld tran slat e can I ,

k now what th e tru e tr u th

“
is I n gle san t con f e ss e d that
Christianity having brought sublim e st P lato nism down
,
“

to th e humbl e st und e rstandi ng had th e r e by b ee n f orc e d ,

“
to r e d u c e its spiritual an d abstract truth to hard and
inad e quat e dogma .I f th e n you ca nnot acc e pt th e
, ,

dogma acknowl edg e h e proclaim ed that

, ,
“
A bsolut e ,

Truth is not r e v e al e d at all Eith e r Rom e is right o r

.
”
, ,

what e ve r e ls e o f a th e ory may b e d e vi s e d it must start ,

f rom this th e non -r e v e lation o f final and univ e rsal Truth

,
.

Th e r e is only o n e an sw e r to th e Pap ist arg u m e nt

A bsolut e Truth is not r e v e al e d A r e w e th e n to r e sign
.
, ,

ours e lv e s to pur e A gnosticism I s our soul to b e for e ve r

to r m e nt e d by th e surmis e that th e Light r e ach e s it so
brok e n r e f ract e d tint ed that p e rhap s thi s ve ry light i s
, , ,

da r kn e ss ? N o urg e s I n gle san t ; with in th e s oul is a

,

f ons v er i lu ci du s ;
“
i n T h y light shall w e s e e light th e

consci e nc e can t e st in my individual soul s cas e at l e ast

,
’

,
76 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
th e valu e o f what I s e e m to se e Th e Kingdom o f G o d
.
.

within m e Shall e cho its Emp e ror s voic e r each i ng i t from ’

outsid e i f ind ee d i t b e H is voic e

, B e nson without .
,

knowing i t was alr e ady r e j e cting this spiritual individual

,

ism Th e dil e mma was alr e ady dimly pr e s e nting its e l f

.

to him as i t did to I nglesan t Eith e r an I n fallibl e .

A uthority sp e aking un mistak ably i n th e e ars o f th e

,

multitud e o r th e g ui danc e o f th e co nsci e nc e which l e ft

, , ,

to its e lf m e ans no mor e n or l e ss than agnosticism with

,

r e gard to the univer sal i ssu e s H e too was acc e pting th e .

world and th e Church as sacram e ntal ; and h e was r e

f u sing to r e gard th e ve il s and ve stur e s o f th e ir I nh abitant
as m e r e illusion and to b e discard e d b ecau se m e r e v e ils
, ,

and ve stur e s rath e r th e y w er e e l e vat e d to H is plan e and

quality an d o f ind e scribably h igh import b e caus e th ey
, ,

w e r e H is .

I n gle san t a f t e r ex pounding his philosophy sits brood

, ,

ing ove r Worc e st e r b ath e d in suns e t .

Th e sun which was j ust s e tting be hind th e distant

,

hills shon e with daz z ling Spl e ndour f or a mom e nt upon

,

th e tow e rs and sp ir e s o f th e city across th e placid wat e r .

Be hind this fair vi sion w e r e dark rain -clouds b e f or e which ,

gloomy background it stood in f airy radianc e and light .

For a mom e nt it s ee me d a glorio u s city bath e d i n lif e

and hop e f ull o f happy p eopl e w h o throng e d its str ee ts
,

and bridg e and th e margin o f its g e ntl e str e am B ut it .

was b r ev e g au di u m Th e n th e suns e t fad e d and th e

.
,

e th e r e al vision vanish e d and th e landscap e lay dark and

,

c h ill .

Th e su n is se t Mr I n gle san t said ch e e r f ully but

’ ‘
, . ,

it will ris e agai n Le t us go hom e . .

H e r e was a symbol for B e nson H e sought a sun .

which should n o t se t a nd a City o n a h ill which might

,
 C H A P T ER IV

CA M B RI D G E
p i di
A e ne xh u i t p i t mps
r n e o n t-ils é pa i a ée s q
n ou s s ff s
n os nn , ue n ou ou ron

d d é si s q i t p bj t i la ch ai i l am i la gl i i i
’ ’
e r u n ou ou r o e n r, u q i o u r, u o re , u r en u

f m j h mm s t pp ss é d a pi ati sa s ’
ai t une or e ou nu no m . Le eun e o e se en o re s r ons n

b u t : i l s é lo ign e de s
’
r a é lit é s d e la ie c mm d
v o p is u l c
e
’
é t ff
une r on o e oeur ou e.

L A C O R DA I R E .

H U GH B EN SON w e nt up to Cambridg e i n th e O ctob e r of

1890 und e r v e ry happy auspic e s N o t only h e fo u nd at . ,

Trinity , a la r g e circl e of Eton acquaintanc e s but h i s ,

f ath e r and e ld e r broth e r and mor e than o n e o f his u ncl e s

had be e n th e r e be for e him and it may b e said witho u t ,

e xagg e ration th at his lo t had f all e n to hi m in a ground

e xc e ptionally fair .

N o t that th e imm e diat e s e tting i n which h e found

hims e lf was in th e l e ast attra ctive Th e nam e o f Trinity .

is by most associat e d with its e normous cou r t i r r e gular i n ,

shap e and ornam e nt with its ch ap e l to th e right its , ,

canopi e d fountai n p e r e nnially pouring sl e nd e r str e ams in

th e midst o f th e wid e pav e m e nts its h e avy arch e s to right ,

and l e f t and its sup e r b gat e way B ut Trinity havi ng

, .
,

outgrown its e lf over l e ap s th e road and th e r e is a m e lan

, ,

c hol y building to th e e ast containing Wh e w e ll s Court ’

wh er e H ugh had r ooms Th e rooms ar e in th e angl e . ,

a nd th e ir wi ndows giv e u pon A ll Sai nts Passag e a nd

B r idg e St r ee t r e sp e ctiv e ly gloomy windows high u p , , ,

splash e d with mud and in th e int e r e sts o f conve rsation

, , ,

ke pt fo r th e most pa r t clos e d From tim e to tim e th e bad .

lighting d e pr e ss e d H ugh and p e r haps h e had no h e art as , ,

78
 CA M BR I D GE 79

w e ll as too und e v e lop e d a tast e to troubl e abo u t f urnish ,

ing his r ooms fastidio u sly .

P rof e ssor R B osanqu e t n o w o f Liv e rpool whos e

.
, ,

assistanc e has b e e n o f gr e at valu e to m e in th e forma

tio n o f my m e ntal p ictur e o f H ugh during th e s e y e ars ,

had rooms n e ar his i n Wh e w e ll s Co u rt and r e n e w e d a ’

,

fri e ndship inaugurat e d at Eto n th e mor e e asily b e caus e

H ugh alr e ady i nstall e d put his rooms at his f ri e nd s dis
, ,
’

posal until his o w n effe cts should b e arrang e d H ugh .

struck Mr B osanq u e t as b e ing m u ch d e v e lop e d and old e r

.

f or th e month s Sp e nt i n trav e l and at Wr e n s sinc e h e ’

l e ft Eton ; tho u gh to th e e n d h is fac e and mann e r w e r e

“

thos e o f a n impulsive b o y H ugh was still fu ll of h i s .

e xp e ri e nc e s in Switz e rland and was by now wi nning h is

,

f r i e nds att e ntion by h is d e light f ul pow ers o f conver sation

’

a sp e cial charm h e will n e v e r los e b u t whi ch had r e mai n e d ,

lat e nt I n e e d n o t say at Eton though e v e n th e r e a c e rtai n

, , ,

vol u bility and a fl exibility o f e xpr e ssio n b e li e d th e o r thodox

r e tic e nc e a nd th e mask Trac e s how e ve r o f shyn e ss still
.
, ,

r e main e d and o nly with his mor e i ntimat e fri e nds would
,

h e discuss with i nf e ctio u s humou r th e vari e d typ e s and

, ,

charact e rs to b e m et i n a larg e Coll e g e A lr e ady h e love d .

to mak e acq uaintanc e s whom h e might st u dy a nd h e le d ,

'

th e m o n i n conv er sation to th e r e v e aling o f som e Chink

, ,

i n th e ir co nve ntional armo u r through which h i s quick

i magi natio n might pi e rce be n e ath th e sur f ac e N o r w e r e .

his i nve stigations co nfin e d to Tri nity B y gr e at good .

f ortun e h e found doors op e n to him at King s wh e r e his ’

,

b roth e r Mr E F B e nso n l iv e d i n a circl e wh e r e both

,
. . .
,

dons a nd und e rg r aduat e s j oin e d in an intimacy th e n p er

hap s l e ss usual than it Se e ms to — d ay Th e r e we r e two .

soci e ti e s in particular o f which H ugh soon f ound hims e lf

a m e mb e r : o n e was a K ing s and Trinity lit e rary soci e ty ’
80 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
call e d th e Chit -chat of w hich I find no r e cords ; 1 th e oth e r ,

was rath e r mor e artisti c i n t e nd e ncy a nd was call e d th e

T A F b e caus e it m e t Twic e A Fortnight —
,

. . . i n fact e ach :
,

S u nday e ve ning I ts m e e tings w e r e i naugurat e d b y c e rtain

2
.

ve n e rabl e gai e t ie s Th e host Prof B osanqu e t assur e s m e .

,
.
,

“
wa s e xp e ct e d to provid e c e rtain traditio nal cold dish e s
and a r e aso nabl e quantity o f hock and it was an agr e e ,

abl e c u stom that th e gu e st s o n th e i r arrival sho u ld vi e w

th e tabl e with m e lancholy f ac e s and murmur audibly that
th er e s e e m e d to b e nothing to e at Som e o f th e party .

w e r e e xc e ll e nt actors and much of th e ch a ff that w e nt ,

o n through supp e r was conduct e d i n th e assum e d voic e s

o f c e r tai n w e ll -known char act e rs A ft e rwa r ds w e ad .

u r n e d to o n e of th e larg e r s e ts o f rooms i n Fe llows

’

jo
B u ildings as o f t e n as n o t M R jam e s s wh e r e th e r e was
,
3
. .
’
,

m u sic and mor e s e rio u s talk fr e q u e ntly o f Fr e nch cath e ,

dr als ill u minat e d manuscripts th e liv e s o f obsc u r e saints

, ,

and oth e r m e di ae val lo r e I n thos e e ars Mr J am e s was

f u ll o f t h e r e constructio n o f th e li br ary and church o f
. .

th e Mo nast e ry o f St Edmund at B ury an i ntri c at e p i e c e .

,

o f r e s e arch which h e publish e d in 1 89 5 and I h av e n o ,

do u bt that th e talks i n wh ich h e sk e tch e d th e lif e o f that

gr e at H o u s e f amiliar to him from boyhood furnish e d , ,

som e o f th e colo u r wh ich H ugh was to u se so s k ilf u lly

”
wh e n h e cam e to writ e o f th e m e di ae val Church 1 .
.
‘

not e th e n at King s b e sid e Mr Montagu e

O th e r m e n of
’
.

jam es w e r e M arcus D imsdal e

,
Walt e r H e adlam and for , ,

a tim e j K St e p h e n whos e un f org e ttably brilliant ca r ee r

. .
, ,

with its m e lancholy clos e is sympath e tically trac e d by ,

M r A C B e n son in The Leav es of the Tr ee

. . . .

1
Mr . A . C . Be n s on ,
i de ed thi ks that this s ci ty f m which th n n o e , ro e

A p stl s w la g ly c it d w a th xti ct I t is s aid t h av b

”
o e e re r e re ru e , s en e n . o e ee n

highly stim l ati g A bs l t c a d w a xact d fall w h sp k at it

u n . o u e n ou r s e e o o o e .

This s ci ty cc s in M
1
E F B ns s st y Th B ab B A I will ’
‘

o e o ur r. . . e on or , e e . .

l av i g i s ad s t s mis wh at t aits H gh B s s ppli d t th at

e e n e n ou re er o ur e r u en o n u e o

c mp sit ph t g aph O sh all I m ti

o o e o o P Th Bab c ld c a s a
r . r en on on e . e e ou u e

ca v d pi c f ang pe l t di spl ay with hid s acc acy ce t ai pis d s

r e e e o or e e o ,
e ou ur ,
r n e o e

p p t a Ch a l c ssin g S c ld H gh
ro er o nne ro . o ou u .

N w P v st
3
o P bably t l ast i Th K i g’ A hi m t
ro o . ro no e n e n s c ev e en .
82 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
and anoth e r po e m call ed I du na whi ch I cannot find , .

Te nnyso n I sho u ld say influ e nc e d th e ir styl e ; a sto r y

, ,

writt e n i n conj unction with h is sist er which e arn e d hi m ,

in F e bruary 1 8 1 f rom e M on th l ck et will

£ 6 , r os ,
.
9 th y P a ,

have be e n mor e original .

Mor e than this h e wrot e a satiric p o e m i n th e styl e

"
, ,

o f P O p e e ntitl e d
,
“
A Scandal i n H igh Lif e
, d e aling with ,

som e und e r graduat e f r e ak o f i nsubordinatio n Th e m e n .

i nvolve d w e r e youth s o f d e sti n e d importanc e in th e ir

co u ntry and r e s e nt e d th e sarcasm I nq u iry fail e d how
,
.
,

e v e r to discov e r th e author
, .

H e and M r Marshall shar e d th e ir lit e rary ambition s

.
,

or rath e r thought that it would b e nic e to writ e stori e s

,

and get mon e y fo r th e m W e did w r it e a j oint o n e an d .

,

I hav e th e manusc r ipt som e wh e r e still I t was a ve r y .

p oo r story but contain e d a few gl e ams of obs e rvation It

, .

must have be e n a y e ar o r so aft e r thi s that H u gh fi nish e d

a nove l and it was a v e ry bad nove l e nding up with th e
, ,

viol e nt d e ath o f all th e chi e f charact e r s I said that this .

s c e n e was n o t le d up to in any way and th e r e fo r e miss e d ,

fir e . Hugh said that it was a v e ry eff e ctiv e sc e n e and ,

th e r e for e co uld n t miss fir e Bu t th e nove l was n e ve r

’
.

p u blish e d Looking back it Se e ms to m e that both o f us

.
,

Show e d e xc e ptionally small p r omi s e i n thos e days o f e v e r

do ing anything with fiction I th ink that H u gh s fi r st im .

’

p u ls e cam e from th e n e c e ssity t h at it was fo r h im always

to b e do ing so m e th i n with a p e n Lat e r o n h e pl u ng e d .
,

d e e ply into lif e a nd i s craftsmanship fitt e d its e lf to his

,

knowl e dg e 1 .

A lr e ady ,
how e ve r an ing e nious story -t e ll e r ( h e always
,

r e cast th e plots o f th e b ooks h e r e ad ) h e u s e d to be g u il e ,

long walks by a syst e m which h e will still mak e u se o f

wh e n in Rom e H e would sta r t a story d e ve lop it with
.
,

e xtr e m e rapidity f or a c e rtain numbe r o f min u t e s br e ak ,

of f abruptly a nd l e av e h i s com panion to continu e it

, He .

1 7 h e Cor n hi ll M agaz i ne , Fe b . 1 9 1 5.
 CA M BR I D G E 83

love d mor e over improvis e d acting though h e n eve r

, , ,

play e d a pa r t mor e s e r ious than that o f a m e mb e r o f th e

cho r us in th e I on o f Euripid e s 1 M r A C B e nso n says . . . .

that h e was a k e e n d e bat e r (th e d e bating cl u b was

call e d th e D e c e mviri ) but I cannot find h is nam e down
,

as sp e aking (and o nly o n c e I think as pr e s e nt ) at th e , ,

Coll eg e d e bat e s in so far at l e ast as I have found th e i r

, , ,

r e cords fo r th e s e y e ars i n th e Tr i dent N ot that this

, , .

impli e d as yo u may w e ll imagi n e that h e was slack i n

, ,

th e d e f e nc e o f h is o w n vi e w B ut e v e n th e n h is d e bat e s. ,

t e nd e d e ve r towards th e i ntol e rant ; th e rival argum e nt

must b e i nt errupt e d ; th e th e sis must b e sta r t e d from a
dogma .

I can se e h im writ e s Mr R onald N orman a clos e

, .
,

f i e nd o f H ugh s
r “
in his r ooms i n th e G r e at Co u r t at
’

,
Tr inity pl u cking c e as e l e ssly at h is chin with fing e rs
,

stain e d with ( too much ) cigar e tt e-smoking as h e strove ,

with his stamm e r to b r e ak into an arg u m e nt which was

going a ain s t h is vi e ws and now and th e n e xploding into
,

a short a u gh .

A s fo r athl e tics “ h e st e e r e d th e thi r d Tri nity boat

,

all th e tim e h e was at Cambridg e and was a m e mb e r o f ,

th e L e and e r Club and disp lay e d no symptoms o f n e rv e s

, .

A t golf oth e r f r e shm e n f ound him to b e an e xp e rt

,
He .

play e d f or som e tim e r e gula r ly o n th e Coldham Common ,

rail e d f u riously at th e background o f d r ab brick hous e s

whic h mad e it impossi bl e h e urg e d to p lay gol f i n th e , ,

p r op e r spi r it .N ot j ust th e gam e it will b e surmis e d , ,

was paramount in this artist s unconc e ntrat e d thought ’

.

Still golf had a val u e w id e r tha n its e lf

, .

A llow m e to congratulat e you a f ri e nd wrot e in May

,

o n th e fact that you have at last succ e e d e d in

“
1 89 1 ,

1
I t w as i n 1 89 2 th at h pl ay d th 6 1 f a ti d t ad sm a s d a ght i
e e e r e o re re r e n
'
u er n

h
a C ara e ,d Cov en try , o f which q ai t d awi gs still
u n mai i a littl t -b k
r n re n n e no e oo .
84 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
add r e ssing a l e tt e r to me q u it e corr e ctly—mo m e an achi e ve
m e nt fo r an e r r ati c -mind e d lit e r ary man ! S e co ndly allow ,
m e to congratulat e yo u o n th e fact that yo u r lat e st c r aze
is a h e althy and sporting o n e which has my sympath i e s ,

mor e than m e sm erising .

”

O f th is latt e r pursuit I sp e ak mor e at l e ngth b e low .

B e sid e s this ,
weh e ar that in th e s u mm e r o f 1 89 2 h e was
much o n th e U pp e r R iv e r ah in exha u stibly talkative , ,

companion in long c ano e exp e ditions a nd a f u rio u s and ,

rath e r r e ckl e ss p e r form er i n a va r i e ty o f wat e r p olo th e n

pop u lar at Tri nity which was play e d in cano e s and
, ,

always e nd e d i n th e whol e o f both t eams b e ing ups e t

into th e wat e r .

I n th is conn e ction th e r e i s littl e e ls e to m e ntion save

hi s lov e o f walking wh ich le d him quit e f ar afield—to
,

Ely for instanc e and Sa ffr on Wald e n

, ,
H i s b r oth e r h as .

re lat e d how h e and H ugh o n e wint e r w e nt for a walk

1
, ,

i ng to u r in Yorkshi r e i n pu r s u it of th e o r igins o f th e
,
“

B e nson family Th e y w e nt f ro m P ate ly B ridg e by way

.

“
o f R ipon ,
B olton A bb ey and R ipl e y to Yo r k ,
th e ,

th e rmom e t er falling low e r and low er e v e ry day in

sympathy with ( th e ir ) r e s e arch e s Fo r tho u gh th ey .

trac e d th e ir f amily tr e e back to th e fo u rt ee nth c e ntury ,

th e y consid er e d th e e arli e r e stat e o f th e i r anc e sto r s too

u ndistinguish e d to provok e e nth u siasm H ow e ve r H u gh .
,

wrot e to h is fath e r at consid e r abl e l e ngth o n th e s u bj e ct .

H e would climb to o with h is b r oth e r s i n Switz e rland

, , , ,

and was fo u nd by th e m to b e agil e q u ick s u r e -foot e d

“
, , ,

and e ntir e ly i nt r e p id A r e ally s e r ious accid e nt was

.

e xp e r i e nc e d by th e m n e ar Pontr e si na without a singl e ,

m e mb e r o f th e pa r ty having brok e n th e sil e nc e by so

much as an e xclamation and onc e o n th e Piz Pal ii ,
‘

1
I n H ug h , p . 62 .
86 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
to have gon e with him b u t th e arrang e m e nt f e ll through
, ,
and almost at th e last mom e nt I agr e e d to go with him
and stay th e n i ht at Lamb e th tho u gh I doubt e d wh e th e r ,

e ith e r o f us cou d stay th e distanc e H e was t r e m e ndously .

in e arn e st and I think e xcit e m e nt k e pt h im awak e most

,

o f th e pr e vious night I re m e mb e r his k e e n e nj oym e nt

.

o f th e e arly br e akfast which w e cook e d ou r s e lve s and h is

, ,

confid e nc e wh ich no warnings co u ld Shak e in a pair o f

, ,

A lp in e boots by a not e d mak e r which w e r e to carry him ,

i n t r i u mph to Lamb e th W e w e r e o ff at fiv e had a

.
,

s e cond b r e akfast at R oyston and all w e nt w e ll u ntil w e ,

h alt e d fo r l u nch i n a vi llag e whos e nam e I have long for

gott e n I can still se e th e sand e d tap -room wh er e H ugh
.

r e mov e d o n e o f his boots and disclos e d a gall e d h e e l and ,

th e e ld e rly tramp o u r f e llo w -gu e st who pr e scrib e d a p ad

, ,

o f b r own pap e r and fitt e d it hims e lf Th e A lpin e boots .

w e r e o u r u ndoing A f t e r anoth e r two ho u rs H u gh was

.

goi ng r e al ly lam e b u t it n e ve r o cc u rr e d to h im to give in

, .

Som e wh e r e so u th o f War e I p ers u ad e d him to tak e my

ar m a nd h e st u mp e d along still p e rf e ctly ch e e r f u l b u oy e d
, , ,

up by th e incr e asing numb e r o f h o u s e s and gas lamp s

wh ich d e c e it f ully sugg e st e d that w e w e r e n e aring th e o u t
skirts o f Lo ndon W e w e r e o nly at th e tip o f o n e o f thos e
.

t e ntacl e suburb s which f r ing e th e mai n r oads fo r many

mil e s be f o r e r e al town b e gins Th e pac e b e cam e Slow e r .
,
and I h ad to ge t him som e brandy and th e n d e cid e d that ,
i f h e att e mpt e d mo r e h e might make hims e lf r e ally ill .

B e at e n in body but still unbroke n in spirit h e was p e r

, ,

s u ade d to et into th e t r ain at a station call e d Pond e rs

En d and S e p t all th e way to Liv e rpool St r ee t

, W e had .

s e nt o u r bags o n to Lamb e th and had a v e ry kind w e lcom e ,

wh e n w e a r rive d th e r e lat e at night H u gh was abl e to .

dis s e mbl e h is lam e n e ss and th e A r chbishop s principal

,
’

conc e rn was fo r th e l e vity with which w e had p ass e d a

s e ri e s o f i nt e r e sting ch u r ch e s witho u t pa u sing to study
th e i r archit e ct u r e H is surp r is e is r e co r d e d i n his p u b
.

li sh e d diary .

T hat was th e first o f s e ve r al visits which show e d m e

som e thing o f th e b r acing atmosph e r e in w hich H u gh had
g r own u p .

N e ith e r climbing nor th e tramp to Lo ndon w e r e fo r

th e
gott e n by H u gh B e nson o r l e ft unus e d wh e n h e b e gan
, ,

to draw upon h is e xp e ri e nc e fo r his wo r k Th e A lpin e .

 CA M BR I DG E 87

sc e n ery o b s e rv ed so to say f r om abo v e is int r oduc e d

, , , ,

with sup e r b r e alism i nto The Lor d of the Wor ld and th e ,

m e chanical t e chnicaliti e s no l e ss than th e mor e p sych o

,

logical concomitants o f a climb i nto th e Cow ar d A s fo r ,

.

th e tramp it i s work ed with much acc u racy o f d e tail into

, , ,

th e nov e l wh ich introd u c e s to o no littl e o f Camb r idg e

, , ,

backgro u nd and e ve n o f Trinity its e l f N on e Other Gods

, , .

Th e r e it is G u is e l e y who tak e s to th e u naccustom e d road ,

and it is G u iseley s f oot that suff e rs ; and th e su ffe ring

’

is as magnifi e d as th e tramp .

H u gh was le d to King s by ye t anoth e r i nflu e nc e He

’
.

r e s e nt e d strongly th e lack o f m u sic u pon most w ee k-days

i n Trinity having be e n us ed fo r y e ars to th e i nspiring
,

daily s e r vic e of Eton I t i s t ru e that h e e nj oy e d to th e

.

f ull what he call e d squar e sho u ting hymns sung by th e

“
,

whol e congr e gation ; but h e appr e ciat ed alr e ady a b e tt e r

m u sic a nd in most o f hi s l e tt e rs to th e A rchbishop occurs
,

th e nam e o f th e anth e m h e last had h e ard With M r . .

C r abtr ee n o w o f S u n ningdal e o n e o f th e v e ry fe w among

, ,

his e a r li er acquaintanc e s with whom I can discove r H u gh

to hav e k e pt up any kind o f corr e spo nd e nc e h e u s e d to ,

sp e nd much tim e in various o r ga n lo f ts at Cambridg e , ,

o r at Lambe th H ugh e v e n trav e ll e d aft e r music as f ar

.

as Ely H is p e rformanc e s w e r e not wond e r ful but th e y

.
,

witn e ss e d to a r e markabl e natural i nsti nct as I shall ,

i ndicat e b e low Wh e n aft e r th e laps e o f many y e ars M r

.
, , .

Crabtr e e call e d o n H u gh at H a r e Str e e t h e was at first ,

take n f or th e tax -coll e ctor H ugh wh e n h e r e cognis e d .

,

h is id e ntity be cam e charming and f or th e last tim e

, ,

th e f ri e nds play e d tog e th e r o n H ugh s littl e A m e rican

’

organ B u t r ath e r as hi s golf suffe r e d f rom u nki nd sur

.
,

roundings so did h i s music Th e chap e l at Trinity was

, .

d e corat e d at an un f ortunat e m om e nt and h e fled f rom ,

 88 ROB ERT H UGH B ENSON
its h e avy gild e d carvings to th e soari ng arch it e ctur e o f
K ing s Eto n had b ee n but a pr e limina r y hint o f all this
’
.

spl e ndo u r Eve n so h e n ee d e d a touch o f th e dramatic

.
, .

I n th e e ve ning th e ante-chap el wh e r e h e sat was al mo st

, , ,

wholly dark and th e gr e at lo ft an d organ w e re silhou e tt e d

,
'

against th e radianc e str e ami n g upwa rd f rom th e choi r

“
‘
.

From this sid e and fro m that pro ce ssio n s e nt e r e d m ee ti ng , ,

i n th e middl e D 0 0 1 S O p e n e d a nd th e n shut ; c u rtai n s

.
' ‘

w ere drawn ; th e whit e -rob e d minist e rs had p ass e d into

th e uns ee n m e lodio u s “
Paradis e and H ugh r e main e d ,

e cstatically i n th e dark Trai n e d by Lis Es c o p Lamb e th

‘

.
, ,

Eton an d King s h e will n e v e r quit e tol e rate a r o o dle ss

’

, ,

ch ap e l and in th e tiny shrin e at H ar e Stre e t h e w ill r e

'
l
, ,

e stablish th e di v ision ; only th e r e it will b e h e who will ,

.

kn ee l half s e en insid e th e rood

, , .

A visit mad e by him to B ayr e uth som e month s lat e r

“

o n is i nstructive h e r e
,
H e was ask e d by som e fr i e n ds to .
'

accompany th em to a Wagn e r f e stival th e r e and wrote '

e nthusiasti c ally to thank his f ath e r fo r allowing h im to !

acc e pt

I am so v e ry gr at e ful to yo u f or allowing m e to go to
B ayr e u t h and fo r your long l e tt e r —I Shall e njoy th e op e ra
most e n or mou s ly-L in its lit e ral se ns e—I have n e ve r ye t
h e ard o n e
1
.

arriv e d aft e r a f a
He tig u ing j o u rn e y o f whi ch cr u d e ,

r e mini sc e n c e s su r viv e i n h i s sk e tch -bo ok and w e nt straight ,

that aft e rnoon o P ar s ifal Bu t what r e mains with h im

t 11
.
,

F mm th a this
1
ro i sta c I gath th at th A chbish p t wh m
o re n o ne n n e er e r o , o o

H gh w t l tt s Of a s m wh at p pitiat y ch a act
u ro e e er h ad b f d f o e ro or r er, ee n on o

i sisti g th xact tym l gi cal val fth w d

n n on e e m e o o ue o e or en or o u s.

I f h k pt t his igi al p g amm f h a i g fi p as ly h a

1
1 or n ro r e o e
e e o r n ve o er on , e c n

nev h av ass ist d at th Ri g at a y at i its ti ty f h c t ai ly h a d

er e e e n , n r e n en re or e er n e r

Ta ha a d th M i t i g a d p h aps ( si c h ch s s th m f
'

nn u ser n e e s er s n er , n er n e e oo e e or

d sc ipti i L li ) T i ta a d L h g i
e r on n on e n ess r s n n o en r n.
9 0 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
Music li f t ed him a b ove m e r e matt e r Quit e e arly i n h is .

Cambridg e care e r h e turn e d with z e st to sp iritualism still , ,

how e v e r mor e as a Sport th an o u t o f any r e al p sychical

“ I n h is e arly und e r r adu ate days a c los e f ri e nd o f

h is has writt e n to m e e go t two rustics into his rooms
,
“
,

and p r oc ee d e d to hyp notis e th e m o n e a ft e r th e oth e r ,

t e lling e ach in turn b e for e h e was rous e d that h e was not

to r e m e mb e r what had happ e n e d ; and h e aft e rwards
thorough ly e njoy e d th e la u gh e ach h ad at th e oth e r .

Bu t th e matt e r cam e I b e li e ve to th e e ars o f th e

, ,

au thoriti e s who p r ohibit e d th e furth er i n du l e nc e in th is

,

tast e I r e coll e ct that onc e i n th e Long wh e n e was going

.
,

of f aft e r H all o n e night with thr e e oth e rs to r e ad i n th e ‘

rooms o f o n e ( I am afr aid o n most occasions th e r e ading

did not last v e ry long ) th e conv e rsation happ e n e d to t u rn
,

on c r ystal -gazing and nothing would sati sfy him but

,

that w e Sho u ld all fo u r stand i n di ffe r e nt corn e rs o f th e

room gazi ng into a glass o f wat e r (th e n e a r e st approach
to a crystal that could b e imp rovi s ed ) u ntil gr e atly to H u gh s ,
’

d isgust a lo u d laugh from o n e o f th e pa r ty p u t an e n d to

,

th e e r fo r m an c e I also r e coll e ct o n e aft e rnoon in a M ay

.

w ee h is insisting a f t e r lunch in his room on darke ning

, ,

th e room and o u r sitting with our h ands o n th e ta b l e

waiting d e ve lopm e nts and h is i ndignatio n wh e n th e i n,

e vitabl e happ e n e d and som e o f us se t to wo r k to ge t th e

,

tabl e going .

I was pr e s e nt writ e s Pro f e ssor B osanqu e t at o n e

“
, ,
“

o f th e s e thought -r e ading p e rfo r manc e s ; so far as I can

r e m e mb er half a doz e n o f us in o n e room w er e told to
,

f oc u s o u r tho u hts o n th e w e ath e r -co ck o f th e U n ive rsity

Ch u r ch and a f t e r a tim e th e m e di u m i n th e n ext r oom
, , ,
was aware o f a c o w p e rch e d on a st e e pl e H e r e ad som e .

o f th e old e r magical lit e ratu r e and was int er e st e d in

D r D e e an e arly f e llow of th e Coll eg e ; b u t I cannot b e
.
,

s u r e wh e th er an articl e o n D e e s occ u lt e xp e ri e nc e s which ’

,
ap p e ar e d in th e Tr i den t th e Coll eg e magazi n e f or D e c e mb e r
, ,
”
1 89 1 was H ugh s o w n work o r som e o n e e ls e s
’
’ 1
, .

1
I gath it w a er s n ot Hu gh s
’
.
 CA M BR I DG E 9 1

He told his moth e r about this and Sh e of h e r gr e at e r ,

e xp e r i e nc e e arn e stly dissuad e d h im from making f urth e r

p ractical e xp e rim e nts

L A M B ET H P A LA E C ,

Feb . 1 7, 1 89 1 .

Oh ,
pl eas e don t go playing tricks with hyp notism
’
.

( A n d I said Oh p lease I ) I t is a d e adly thing and ought

, , ,

I am s u r e to b e take n u p sci e ntifically o r not at all A n d

,
.

for goodn e ss gracious sak e not n ow wh e n yo u r wo r k is

I t i s v ery e xha u sting—I know this in so
, ,

so importa nt .

many ways Tri e s n er ve s and e xha u sts brain D o l e ave it

. .

alon e fo r th e pr e s e nt I t s q u it e a qu e stio n o f aft e rwards

.
’

and a s much eye -wi nking as e ve r yo u can do .

L A M B ET H P A L A E C ,

M ar ch 20 , 1 89 1 .

A b ou t m es m er is rn I still f e e l stro ngly that at p r e

.

s e nt it isn t the ti me fo r yo u to follow o u t a s u bj e ct so

’

e ngrossing as o n e o f this kind i s and I sho u ldn t f e e l — ’

happy at yo u r doing it witho u t talking it out with yo u r

fath e r .

It would b e di ffic u lt to d e ny that th e r e was a touch at

l e ast o f morbidity i n hi s instinct fo r th e occult .

I t is i n a l e tt e r to his fath e r that w e first find th e cas u al

m e ntion i ns e rt e d b e tw e e n q u it e ali e n topics o f an e ve nt
, ,

wh ich l e ft a practical e ffe ct o n h is stay at Cambridg e .

I am e tting o n w e ll in my wo r k I th i nk—Dr V e rral l

ju ne 1.

t e lls m e f
, .

am makin progr e ss I am r e adin th e D e Cor on d

with my Coach —I 0 not find it so ha r d as e xp e ct e d
.

A n awf u l thing happ e n e d in Tr inity last n i h t—

.

a man
shot h ims e lf appar e ntly fr om ov e rwo r k at nig t and was
, ,

found d e ad y e st e rday morning by som e o n e whom h e had

ask e d to br e akfast .

To con v i nc e h is f ath e r p e rhaps that h e was n o t , ,

morbidly a ffe ct e d by this e ve nt h e add e d som e s e nt e nc e s ,

o n e v er yday top ics so callous -sounding that I omit th e m

, .

H e was n o t callous but c e rtainly u nawak e n e d ; a nd wh e n

, , ,

no o n e wo u ld tak e th e s u icid e s r ooms which w er e in ’

B ishop s H ost e l again outsid e G r e at Co u rt H u gh i m

’

, ,
 9 2 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
m e diat e ly appli e d fo r th e m to th e ang e r o f s ev e ral o f ,

his fri e nds and sl e pt for som e tim e i n a room wh e r e a

,

bloodstain mar k e d th e boards a nd a bull e t had pi erc e d th e

pan e l H e Sinc e r e ly hop e d to e nt e r into som e sort o f co m
.

m u n i c atio n with th e soul w h o th e r e had mad e th e tr e me n

do us choic e and had p r e f e rr e d to hav e don e with lif e
, .

B y 1 893 h is int e r e st in th e l e ss trodd e n among Spi r it u al

path s has pass e d f r om oc cultism to mysticism and h e was ,

pl u ng e d i n Sw e d e nborg .

H e in f orm e d his f ath e r o f this n e w int e r e st an d th e ,

A rchbishop with tru e r e sp e ct o f fr e e dom tol e rat e d and

, ,

e v e n furth e r e d it .

I have b e e n r e ading H ugh wrot e som e mor e o f , ,

“

Sw e d e nborg s books A r e at d e al of th e m is e xt r aordinarily

’
.

cl e ve r but o n e o f th e t i ngs that I cannot b e li e ve is that

”
h e d e ni e s th e immo r tality o f an I m als .

Th e A rchbishop l e nt him two books o n Sw e d e n borg ,

which h e h and e d o n to his sist e r Maggi e—H u gh was at

thi s tim e ill a nd not allow e d to ge t up and e xc u s e s hi s
, ,

e xtrao r dinarily dull and short l e tt e r by th e fact that

“

h e h as nothing to d e sc r ib e o r writ e abo u t .

A ll th e s e pursuits how e v er w e r e m e r e ly i ncid e ntal to

, , ,

o r at b e st b y-p roducts o f h i s way o f li f e To b egin with .

,

i nd e e d it looke d as if that lif e w e r e to b e e ve n l e ss p u rpos e

,

fu l than that o f Eton Tru e h e was o bs e r ve d to

.
,
“
walk
f ast and always to look busy
“ b u t wh e n h is b r oth e r
ask e d h im what h e did i n that dark room in t w e lls
’

Court h e answ e r e d H e av e n k nows ! A s far as I can

,
“
,

r e m e mb e r I mostly sat up lat e at night and play e d ca r ds

,
.

Tho u gh it is ttu e that h e was n e v e r i n a gambli ng s e t

'

p r op e r ly so call e d h e sp e nt Mr A rth u r B e nson r e calls

, , .
,

a good d e al o f mon e y and tho u gh hi s allowanc e was ,

g e n e ro us a fi n an CI al crisis conclud e d his first y e a r and

, ,
94 . ROB ERT H UG H BENSO N
I g r i e ve to say th at many mor e fish ar e f o u nd d e ad
sinc e th e thaw m e lt e d th e banks o f sw e pt snow o ff th e sid e s
o f th e i c e I t is mo st p it e ous th e poor th ings s ee m to
.

have com e to th e e dg e wh e r e th e wat e r is shallow e st

th e r e is a shoal wh er e w e g e n e r ally f e e d th e swans .

I am hap py to say th e goldfish s e e m all alive and m e rry .

Th e contin u al dropping o f f r e sh wat e r has no doubt sav e d

th e m—th e y w e r e n e ve r h e rm e tically s e al ed i n like th e oth e r
poor things .

Y e ste r day l was at R ingwould n e ar Dove r Th e f ar ,

.

m e r s had be e n u p all night saving th e ir cattl e in th e stalls

f rom th e s u dd e n floods .

H e re w e hav e not had any though th e e arth is wash e d ,

v e ry much f r om th e h ills in str e aks

W e ar e—at l e ast I am —dr e adf u lly sorry to go to London ;
.

tho gh e hous e is v er y d u ll witho u t th e boys

u t h “ ”

A ll right abo u t th e books —Ev e r your lovin fath e r

.

EDW . A N TU A R .

fi r st shock to h is e asy -going e xist e nc e o ccurr e d

Th e
quit e e a r ly i n h is stay at Cambridg e I t was th e d e ath o f .

his e ld e r si st e r N e lli e I t occ u rr e d in O ctob e r 1 890 o f

.
,

diphth e r ia and Mr A C B e nso n has writt e n i n a pr e fac e

. . .
,
.

to h er nove l A t Su n dry Ti mes an d i n D i v er s M an n er s o f

, ,

h e r comm u nicativ e p e rsonality and h er d e votio n to huma n

n ee ds i n Lamb e th Sh e to o it may b e gath e r e d had that
.
1
, ,

r e adin e ss fo r s e lf -oblatio n so stra ng e ly mingl e d with a

ma r k e d n e e d o f lit e ra r y s e l f -e xp r e ssio n wh ich i n H u gh
took its p e culiar b u t v e ry d e ve lop e d form It may b e .

rar e that th e apo stl e and th e a r tist ar e u nit e d i n o n e

p e rso nality Y e t th is to o th e A rch bishop hand e d down
. .

Th e last r e ports f rom A ddi ngto n had b ee n good and th u s ,

i nt e nsifi e d th e shock .

O n S u nday night , P rof e ssor B osanqu e t wrot e to h is

fath e r at th e tim e, th e T A F m e t in B e nson s rooms ,
“
. . .
’

and both th e broth e rs s e e m e d v e ry ch ee rful ; th e n o n

1
Th e A r chbish p als w t o o ro e a m m i e o r i n he r b k
oo , Str eets an d L an es f
o

the Ci ty , which w a p ivat ly p i

s r e r n te d .
 CA M BR I DGE 95

Monday morning cam e th e t e l e gram much wors e and I , ,

’

walke d with H ugh to King s to find h is broth e r and th e y ’

,

w e nt only to find that sh e had di e d I h e ard f rom H ugh

,
.

thi s morning I t is a t e r ribl e blow- sh e was so s trong a nd

.

so cl e v e r Wh e n h e r et u rn e d (h e adds ) o n e saw th at
”
. ,

his wo r ld had g r own dark H e spok e mor e f r e e ly of h 1s .

f amily and hom e li fe and r e v e al e d a most t e nd e r and affe c

,
tio n ate natur e H ard hit a s h e was h e said that his wound
.
,

was light in comparison with his e ld e rs and spoke e sp e c 1ally

o f hi s broth e r A rthur —
,
”
sh e was n e ar e st to h im i n age .

P ro f e ssor B osanqu e t u ndoubt e dly r egard s H ugh s char ’

act e r as having b e e n i f n o t alt e r e d , at l e ast som e what

,

d e ve lop e d by this g r av e shock I Should like to be li e ve .

that it was so I t would b e pl easant t o s ee in H ugh too

. , ,

som e thing o f a P arsifal du r ch M i tleid w issend Ev e n , .

though th e first so r row s e e ms to si nk b e n e ath th e sur f ac e

o f th e soul and vanish ye t i n th e r e c e ss e s o f s u bconsc ious
,

n e ss it s u rvive s and is O p e rative 1

I t is how e ve r wholly .
, ,

tr u e that H u gh v e ry rar e ly ind e e d looke d backwards : h e

n e ve r brood e d ; li ng e ring m e lancholy was a li e n to h is
t e mp e ram e nt A gain to o and agai n w e shall hav e to
.
, ,

e mphasiz e that Singular lay e r o f hardn e ss wh i ch cross e d

his charact er wh ich h e so o f t e n v e h e m e ntly r e cognis e d

, ,

and wh ich so m e o f h is admir e rs so hotly co ntrove rt .

Be that as it may about hal f-way th r ough h is tim e at

,

Camb r idg e o r e ve n e arli e r h e d e finit e ly turn e d his atte n

, ,

tion f r o m classics to th e o lo gy i n vi e w o f p ossibl e o r dination .

It is quit e tr u e h e w r o te in a l e tt e r un f ortunat e ly
, ,

undat e d to hi s e ld e r broth e r about th e th e ology and I

, , ,

f ee l almost c e rtai n that I Shall take o r d e rs I th ink it i s a .

thing abo u t wh ich o n e can not possibly mak e up on e s mind ’

u ntil a com Jar ativ e l long tim e has pass e d and o n e is sti ll

th e r e for e o fth e sam e opinio n ; but I f e e l as c e rtai n a s

y ,

possibl e so far .

1
ims l f H ugh th ght that
H e , ou his mi d
n w as p h aps t
er urn e d by th is d ath e

t w a ds di ati
o r or n on.
9 6 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
I like th e wo r k far b e tt e r th an th e classics abo u t ,

which I was n e ve r r e ally kee n I had s u ch an e no r mo u s .

quantity o f gro u nd to pick up and it was altog e th e r n u ,

satisfacto r y .

“
Papa s u gg e st e d it to m e j ust b e fo r e I w e nt back to
Camb r idg e b u t as yo u kno w I had b ee n th inking o f it fo r
s o m e tim e pr e viously —f or about a y e a r in fact
, ,

I hav e ,

n o ciga r e tt e ca s e and I think I should l ik e it abov e e v e ry

,

thing .
”

I t is quit e tru e that his succ e ss i n classic s was n o t

mark e d O n e translatio n pap e r o f h is which s u rvive s
.

provok e d f e rocio u s r e crimi nations

might fancy wrot e th e angry e xamin e r yo u

On e , ,
“

had n e ve r h e ard o f Ti b er i u s This i s a v ery bad mistak e .

you se e yo u do not stop to consid e r at all how yo u r tr an sla

tion i s to com e o u t of th e words Y o u m u st b e mor e car e ful
.
.

if yo u ar e to ge t o n .
”

C e rtainly H ugh s Slap das h m e tho d was p e culia r ly suit e d

’

to a nnoy a scholarly -mind e d p ro f e ssor .

Still e ve n wh e n h e had shift e d his room s to thos e i n

,

th e G r e at Court h e was still worki ng und e r Dr Ve r r all

, .
,

who if anyon e sh ould hav e b e e n abl e to fir e th e imagina

, ,

tio n and e ve n th e fancif u ln e ss o f hi s pupil h ad th e classics

, ,

e ve r be e n d e stin e d to m e an anyth ng to h im e writ e s

i H .

to his fath er with that o dd boylik e to n e which will cling to

,

him in h is corr e spond e nc e with th e A rchbishop e ve n aft e r .

,

h e has l e ft th e U niv e r sity

Dr V e rrall has give n m e som e v e r y n ic e rooms in th e

G r e at Co u rt —th e y ar e pan e ll e d and ar e o n th e g r o u nd floo r
.

— L e tt e r 1 Facing th e H all Th e y ar e on th e L e ct u r e
. .

R oom staircas e wh ich is a Slight drawback tho u gh n o t

, ,

n e arly as much as I h ad tho u ght I t mak e s it e ntir e ly .

n e c e ssary to k e e p sp ort e d all th e mo r ning as oth e rwi s e o n e ,

wo u ld b e so disturb e d by m e n going to and f r om L e ctu r e s .

I thanke d Dr V er r all ve ry much fo r his t r o u bl e

. .
9 8 ROB ER T H UG H BENSON
I think it was to this fri e nd that h e stoutly maintain ed that
th e r e was no r e al di ff e r e nc e b e tw e e n th e int e ll e ct u al posi
tion o f an ath e ist and that o f an agno stic O n b e ing .

r e mind e d o f th is in lat e r y e ars h e will d e ny that h e co u ld

,

e v e r p ossibly hav e s u ppo r t e d s u ch a th e o r y .

I fe e l gr e at
ho r ror h e b e gins i n anoth e r l e tt e r at
, ,
“

n o t having writt e n mo e and continu e s : H ave yo u

“
r

r e ad The N ew G osp el of P eter ? Don t yo u think it a rath e r ’

f e e bl e id e a that o f th e n e c e ssity o f th e ang e ls to b r ing o u r

,

Lo r d from th e tomb I t throws th e e n e rgy i n th e w r ong

plac e .

“
Th e a u th oriti e s do not s e e m to ag r ee as to it s
t e nd e ncy doc e ti c o r oth e r wis e Dr Si nk e r says it is
, . .

e nti r e ly orthodox whil e Mo nti e jam e s says that it is most

c e r tainly doc e ti c .

What is o n e to say in th e Tripos ?

O bs e rv e th e n
, ,
pur e ly asc e tical i nt er e st h e f e e ls i n
th e
what h e r e ads A S fo r th e critical asp e ct h e l e ave s it with
.
, ,

much sang -froid to th e a u tho r iti e s A ll h e asks is th e

,
.

p r op e r thing to say in th e examination .

Did h e f e e l it n e c e ssa r y to alt e r h is plan o f lif e at all ,

I n vi e w o f hi s probabl e o r dination I doubt it I t i s tru e .

th at h e fi nd s that h e has h ith e rto tak e n no int e r e st in

th e Tr in ity Coll e g e M issio n and e nt e rtain s th r e e of its
,

r e pr e s e ntative s to lunch B eyond th is I find no e xplicit

.

r e f e r e nc e to r e ligio n in th e s e l e tt e rs th ough o n e quai nt ,

paragr ap h r e v e als that R o me was not yet e x e rcising

ov e r h is att e ntion more than th e sp e ll which is cast by a n
obj e ct o n e dislik e s .

“
G r e at indignation writ e s o n Ju ly 24 1 89 3 p r e
, he , ,

vails at Cambr idg e owing to th e p r ivil eg e s acco r d e d to

th e Ext e nsionists to whom th e S e nat e H o u s e and th e
,

U nion ar e thrown O p e n A n d th e r e i s o n e f u r th e r thing

.

i n th e map o f Cambridg e p r int e d Sp e cially for th e m and ,

d r awn o u t by an app ar e ntly comp e t e nt committ e e th e ,

Roman Church is m ark e d as th e Catholic Church ‘ ’

.
 CA M BR I D GE 99

Th is has b e e n alr e ady d r awn att e ntion to i n th e Cam

—
b r idg e R ev i e w with a r h e torical qu e stio n as to wh e th e r
th is 15 th e kind o f l e arning ex ten de d to th e m wh ich is —
”
good .

I f it has b e e n sugge st e d that h is attit u d e toward s h is

f ath e r was o n e o f mainly e xt e rior d e fe r e nc e hi s tr e atm e nt ,

o f th e sugg e stion o f a trav e lling tutorship to follow h is ,

going down f rom Camb r idg e s e e ms to modify this Th e , .

A rchbishop did not like th e id e a though h e wo u ld not v e to ,

it H u gh writ e s to Mr A C B e nso n that wh e n h e told

. . . .

th e A rchbishop h e wo u ld not acc e pt it

I think h e was pl e as e d W e part e d on th e v e ry b e st

.

o f t e r ms I am so r r y it Should have rais e d s u ch an int e ns e

.
,

and appar e ntly u nr e aso nabl e opposition i n thos e qua r t e r s

, ,

b u t I think it is all smooth e d ov e r A s yo u say with .

,

o u t hi s app r ov al th e thing would h av e b e e n dis grac e f u l

b u t it was hi s app r ov al I was trying to ge t I p r actically .

had his con sen t fr om th e first but an u nwilling o n e and , ,

I f e lt that it was n o t su ffici e nt .

He mad e i n cons e qu e nc e ar r ang e m e nts wi th D e an

, ,

Vaughan o f Llanda ff to Sp e nd som e month s with him ,

pr evio u s to ordination from S e pt e mb e r onwards

, .

O nly th e Tripo s its e lf was l e ft to distract his last days

at Cambridg e A musing tal e s surviv e o f th e panic to which
.

its app roach r e d u c e d him M r Crabtr e e r e m e mb ers him

. .

pac ing frantically u p and down h is room i n an awf u l ,

stat e b e ca u s e h e was only going to ge t a Third My fath e r

all my u ncl e s all my broth e rs—all all— —
,

, all got Firsts and ,

h e r e am I go ing to ge t a Third ; whil e Mr N o r man ”

.

r e m e mb e rs a ye t e a r li e r stag e o f d e spair wh e n H u gh , ,

f u rious th at h e was to b e th e o nly Eton Coll e g e r who

“

e v e r got plo u gh e d tri e d by th e h e lp of a di e t o f gr e e n te a

,

( d nk and at l ast onc smoke d ) to acquir e th e l earn in g

r u ,
e e “
,

o f th e a ge s i n a fe w months .
I OO ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
ASa matt e r of fact it was a Thi r d which b e f e ll h im , ,

and h e fo r thwith wrot e to th e A rchbishop

I can not say that I am e xactly d isappoint e d abo u t

th e Tr ip os I t is annoyi ng i n o n e way b u t i n anoth e r it
.
,
is satisfacto r y ; th e r e is a c e rtain g r im satisfaction in th e
fact that nin e t e e n p e op l e f ail e d to get through whil e ,

tw e nty -s ev e n pass e d .

Th e lin e H ugh B e nson was following was that h e ,

aft e r wa r ds cam e to f e e l o f l e ast r e sistanc e H e c e rtai nly ,

.

did n o t cal c u lat e o n th e h e lp his fath er s position would ’

b e to him in a cl e rical car ee r ; it was nat u ral how e ve r , ,

that h e at any rat e should f o llow his f ath e r s p r o f os

,
“
,
’

sion and h e was not a littl e drawn by th e co nsciousn e ss

,

that h e would win h is fath e r s h ighly -p riz e d approval to ’

a d egr e e most pl e asant to his soul still som e what fili ally ,

af r aid O f marriag e h e loath e d th e thought f rom c o n

.
,

g e nital i nstinct u nl e ss I er r and p e rhap s mo r e Sign i fi

, ,

c an tly so than if this abhorr e nc e h ad b e e n m e r e ly th e

r e s u lt o f asc e tical sp e culation H e for e saw as th e o n e .

r e ligious lif e possibl e that o f a q u i e t country cl e rgyman , ,

with a b e a u tif u l gard e n an e xquisit e cho ir and a sob e r , , ,

bach elor e xist e nc e O r so h e cam e to think A t th e tim e

1
. .
,

h e h e ard e cho e s o f a mor e positiv e calling and confid e d ,

to his moth e r o n e S u nday night i n th e sil e nt par k o f

,

A ddington o n th e i r way hom e from Eve nsong that h e

, ,

“
had answ e r e d H e r e am I s e nd m e , A ring g r av e n , .
,

with th e s e wo r ds and for many y e a r s worn by H ugh , ,

will p e r p e tuat e th is imp r e ssiv e e xp e ri e nc e Ev e n in 1 89 1 .

2
,

1
He visit d
d idg R ct y a d d cid d th at th at d light f l pl ac might
e Su n r e e or ,
n e e e u e

s it him
u B t W h at I S h
. ld ally lik h xcl aim d is t b a Ca di al
u ou re e,
”
e e e , o e r n .
”

1
A y a tw l at wh h c iv s it h will w it I lik d th m tt
xt m ly—a d als v y m ch lik th e syst m f w iti g it i sid th i g
e r or o er , en e re e e , e r e : e e o o

e re e n o er u e e o r n n e e r n .

I t is ane th a th
re r tsid O ddly h e sp aks a if the m tt s e m ed t
n on e ou e. , e s . o o e o

him by w wh lly his m th s ch oice

, no , o o er
’
.
 C H A PTER V

O R D I N A TI ON : T H E ETON M I SS I ON
S EP TEM B ER 1 89 3- O CTO B ER 18
96

N e xt s d l f faith th is thi g f m ch c s q c a a
to a o un ru e o , e re no n o so u on e ue n e s

s b sta da d f f li g i m att s f p actical ligi ; a d it is th p c li a

o er n r o ee n n er o r re on n e e u r

h appi ess f th Ch ch f E gl a d t p ss ss i h a th is d f m l a i s
n o e ur o n n o o e , n er u or e or u r e ,

a ampl a d s c
n e p visi f b th
n e u re ro on or o .

Wh at if E glish ai b sti d ou r n r e rr e

With sighs f m s ai tly b s ms h a d ro n o o e r ,

O p it ts t l a i g a g ls d a
r en en , o e n n n e e r,

Ou w ly M th is t h ? r o n , o ur o n o er no ere

J K EB L E f m th P fac t Th Ch i tia Y a
. : ro e re e o e r s n e r,

an d M other ou t o f Sight .

F R O M Cambridg e th e n H u gh w e nt i n S e pt e mb e r 1 893
, , , ,

to r e ad fo r ord er s und er D e an Vaugh an at Llandaff O f .

no p e riod in h is lif e have I found it so difli c u lt to form

a satisfactory pict u r e P e r hap s that is n o t astonish ing . .

Th e lif e its e lf was r ath e r f e at u r e l e ss its dominant not e ,

b e ing th e p e rsonality o f th e D e an h ims e lf A n d this for .

,

o n e who n e v e r kn e w him p e rsonally may d e fy capt u r e , ,

e v e n and still l e ss may b e co nv e y e d i n writt e n paragraph s

,
.

B ut it is q u it e c ertai n that wh e n Mr A rchibald M arshall in .

,

a n articl e o n his clos e f ri e nd H u gh B e nson in th e Cor n h ill ,

M ag az i ne for F e b r ua r y 1 9 1 5 sp e aks o f his b e autif u l sp i r it ,

with wh ich rath e r th an with any stamp o f e ccl e siastical

,

ma r k Va u ghan imp r e ss e d his m en h e is not yi e lding to

, ,

s e ntim e ntal e nthusiasm Th e g r e at port r ait o f th e D e an in .

,

th e Vaughan Library at H a r row (h e had b e e n H e admast e r

th e r e ) do e s n o t wholly fail to co nv e y that mingl e d im
,

pr e ssion o f swe e tn e ss and calm B e nson sp e aks o f h is .

10 2
 OR D I NA TI ON : TH E ETO N M I SSI ON 10
3
“e xtrao r dinary charm o f p e rsonality and o f h is high “

spirituality o f his r e markabl e pre aching —h is s e rmon s

,

w e r e writt e n o u t laboriously i n an English wh ich was

“ simply p rf ct comparabl e only I think to that o f
e e , , ,

R uskin and N e wman Th e r e is a hint that h is p liabl e

.

a nd point e d voic e and h is sp e cial sort o f magn e tism

, ,

r e ach e d but hi s mor e e ducat e d h e ar e rs

“ b u t th e m it
a ff e ct e d like a strai n o f music
“
To h is s e r e n e faith .

and int e ns e lov e o f th e Pe rso n o f O ur Lo r d th e most

dogmatically-mind e d o f hi s h e ar e rs succ u mb e d and th e n ,

c e as e d to qua r r e l with his li b e ral e vang elici sm 1

.

A s a f oil almost to th e gracious p i e ty and a u st e r e

, ,

l e arning o f D e an Vaughan was to b e found h is wi f e a , ,

m e mb e r o f th e Stanl e y clan th e ologically so ale r t e x , ,

p lo r i n g and i nd e p e nd e nt ; sh e was in fact a sist e r o f th e

, , ,

f amous D e an Like Q u e e n Victoria in f e atur e sh e was

.
, ,

to o witty v e rsatil e to a high d e gr e e and r e fr e shingly

, , ,

u nco nv e ntional H u gh s dim -ti nt e d harml e ss lif e a s h e

’
.
, ,

liv e d it at Llandaff wa s fle c k e d with h igh lights by ,

h e r brilliant pr e s e nc e Whimsical an e cdot e s ar e to b e .

found co nc e rning th is lady whi ch it wo u ld hav e b e e n a ,

pl e as u r e to t r ansp ort from th e ir prop e r s e tting into th e

m e moir o f H u gh B e nson .

Th e p ost -g r aduat e th e ological coll e g e whi ch th e D e an

maintain e d was o n th e whol e info r mal and its li f e was f r ee ,
.

Th e m e n liv e d in rooms n e ar th e D e an e ry and th e D e an ,

dir e ct e d th e i r r e ading rath e r than co ntroll e d d e tails o f

e ducatio n .

I find , H u gh
w ot e imm e diat e ly u pon ar r ival that
r
“

th e r e i s a g r e at d e al to do h e r e — l hav e got two s e rmons to

,

1
D e an Vau gh an
cip c at d H gh s attachm t
re G iv th A chbish p
ro e u
’
en . e e r o ,

h c w t my d ti f l l v a d th a k him f all his ki d ss a d p i

e on e ro e , u u o e, n n or n ne , n es ec

ally fo th l a t m f his —w iz w 1 l w This I c d th A ch ” ”

"
r e o n o e o so n o o . re or , e r

bish p adds i his di a y f d a H gh s ak

o n r , or e r u
’
s e.
10 4 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
pr e ach this t e rm—and a s er vic e to take and s e v e ral L e sso ns ,
to r e ad ; I hav e j ust had a dist r ict giv e n m e which I am ,

to b e gi n o n to -morrow I am told by som e p eop l e

]g
.

oing
e r e that th e visitin is n o t r e ally m u ch good b e caus e th e
p e opl e n e v e r will g
,

i s te n to a layman and th e y always ,

e xp e ct mo n e y and ar e rath e r spoilt I shall tr y this t e rm
though and see how I et on
,
" .

, g .

He is still troubl ed with this top ic o f sick-visiting in th e

N ov e mb e r of 1 894 .

N ov . 1 6 , 1 894 .

I have b e e n r e ading a v e ry good book on Cat e chising

by B ishop D u p an lo u p H av e yo u r e ad it I be li e ve h e is
.

th e R oman B isho p of O rl e ans .

He has also h e proc ee ds b e e n r e ading H ook er B ook V

, , , ,

but can find no satisfactory work o n Pastoral Th e ology .

G ibson s L e ct u r e s and a book by Dr Moul e d e al ch i e fly

’
.

with th e way th e cl e rgyman sho u ld h ims e lf live at hom e

“
.

The P r i est s I n n er L ife by L i ddo n do e s n o t d e al with

’

, ,

visiting .

Th e s e things aft e r all ar e not to b e l e arnt o u t o f books

, , ,

and i f i nstinct o r a pr e dominant s e ns e o f d u ty do e s not

, ,

make th e pasto r al f u n ction an int e gral p art o f a p r i e st s ’

e xist e nc e it may b e doubt e d wh e th e r h e will e v e r succ ee d

,

i n that particula r d e partm e nt To th e e n d yo u will find that .

H ugh pro claims and truly that h e h as no pastoral soul

, , .

Poor p e opl e h e sums up aft e r a lo ng d e sc r iption o f

, ,

a visit to a sick b o y (whos e p ain and pati e nc e had much

impr e ss e d him ) poo r p e op l e ar e so dr e adfully f unny
“
,

about e v er ything .

H ow e ve r h e was to hav e a s u itabl e amount o f p ractic e

,

in this p art to o o f p ossibl e ministe rial d u ty

, , .

Sep t . 28, 1 89 2

l hav e j u st b ee n appoint e d to th e B ishopric o f Pont

canna . It is always in th e cha r g e of o n e o f us who is ,
10 6 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
th e influ nc e of jolz n I ng lesan t H e b e gi ns to pr e f e r
e .
“

Comm u n i on b e fo r e b r e akfast H e e nt er s upon th e dr e am

.
,

n e ve r wholly to l e av e h im o f s e tting u p som e community

,

or oth e r lik e that o f N icholas F er rar at Littl e G idding H e .

visits a fe w ho u s e s e ve n wh ich h e f anci e s s u itabl e fo r

, ,

this but th e id e a r e main e d a floating o n e .

I n th e summ e r o f1 894 h e ask e d and obtain e d his fath e r s ’

p ermissio n to go to Switz e rland fixing o n th e R i ffe l A lp , ,

which h e alr e ady kn e w as an id e al d e stination H is f ath e r .

,

how e v e r p lann e d o u t a di ff e r e nt tour wh ich in its e l f sounds

,

d e lightf u l ; but what I had b e e n ve ry anxious to do was

“

to go to th e R iff e l and do glaci e r -walking and R i ff e l H orn

climbing and o n e big p e ak It cannot H u gh urg e s i nj ur e
.
”

h is h e alth —h e has had lat e ly a g r e at d eal o f e xe rcis e i n

, , ,

th e way of “
har e and hounds s u ch as six mil e s in thr ee
,

quart e rs o f an hour ; and his doctor consid e rs that h e has

grown much strong e r than h e e xp e ct e d and has by no ,

m e ans r e main e d abnormally u nd e ve lop e d

“
H e e nt e rs .

into consid e ra b l e d e tail with r e gard to e co nomy though ,

ind e e d at this p e riod h e h as to o w n that his allowa nc e

, ,

n e ve r quit e cov e rs his e xp e ns e s .

I h e ard from Mama h e conclud e s “ this morning

, , ,

that I might go anywh e r e i n Switz er la nd I think I sho u ld .

pr e fe r th e R i ff e l to any oth e r plac e If th e R iflelb er g is

any ch e ap e r I am thinking of go ing th er e —it is high e r fo r
.

, ,

o n e thing .

I am so v ery g r at e ful to you for allowing m e to go to

Switz er land —and mo r e e sp e cially f or allowing m e to choos e
”
my p lac e I shall e njoy it e no r mo u sly
. .

Th etim e p ass e d rapidly o n th e whol e and h e found

, ,

hims e lf o n th e ev e o f th e U niv e rsiti e s Pr e liminary e xamina

tion I find mys e l f e ntir e ly unabl e to b e com e cl e ar as to
.

its th e ological nat u r e Doubtl e ss h i s ve ry u nsyst e mati c

.

cours e o f r e ading incl u d e d som e se t books at an yr ate

“
,
 OR D I NA TI ON : TH E ETON M I SS I ON 10 7
a nd I e xp e ct a c e rtain o u tlin e o f Ch urch history, and p er
hap s som e e l e m e ntary patristic work and a good d e al o f
s e mi -d e votio nal lit e ratur e A nyho w i n this e xaminatio n
.
,

h e got a First and wrot e to his f ath e r

,

Thank yo u v e ry much fo r yo ur co ng r atulato r y t e l e

gram I am d e lightf u lly s u r p r is e d I h ad t e r r ibl e dr e ams
—
last n ight abo u t i t—Six altog e th e r i n two o f th e m I go t
. .

Fi r sts , i n th r ee a Th i r d , and in o n e I fail e d I t is a lo ng .

tim e, th e D e an said thi s mo r ning , Sinc e any o f us have

go n e i n fo r that e xaminatio n and got a First .

D e a n Vaughan wish e d th e candidat e s fo r ordinatio n to

sp e nd th e few days imm e diat e ly pr e c e ding that c e r e mony
at Llanda ff H ugh how e v e r had di ff e r e nt plans
.
, , .

I have b ee n thinking about what I said to you about

r e ti r in g b e fo r e my ordin ation I think that Llandaff i s a
Spl e nd i d plac e fo r th e p r ecedi ng y ear —
.

but som e how not

suitabl e for th e six or s e v e n w e e ks [o r days P] jzest b e fore
I sho u ld lik e i f po ssibl e to b e ab solu teb alon e —I m e an
.
,
/

without any s e rvants—and to b e in a plac e wh e r e I should

, ,

not m e e t p e opl e at all—I co u ld do all n e c e ssa r y things i n

th e way of m e als and sl e e ping fo r mys e lf I do f e e l that
.

I want to b e e nti r e ly alon e You propo s e St David s I

. .
’
.

sho u ld th ink that that would b e d e light f u l i n e v e ry way

i f th e r e was any plac e a fe w mil e s o u t wh e r e I co u ld b e
e ntir e ly alon e I co u ld go i n o n S u nday to St David s ’
. .
,

and r e c e ive th e H oly Communio n th e r e but oth e rwis e se e

,

no o n e at all Co u ld yo u writ e and t e ll m e wh at you thi nk

.

a bo ut this q u e stion and also to th e D e an ? I f e e l I would

,

soon e r you wrot e to th e D e an than that I should sp e ak to

him o f it .

N ov emb er 3 r i .

I am taking yo u r advic e abo u t making m e thodical

plans fo r that tim e I d r e ad th e going away n ext w ee k
.
,

chi e fly b e caus e it has b e e n so d e lightful h e r e and pa r tly ,

b e ca u s e I hat e going away f r om any plac e Th e good -by e s .

ar e always so u npl e asant .

I t was d e cid e d aft e r a good d e al

, of discussio n that ,

he sho u ld go to Li ncoln fo r his r e tr e at . H e did so taking ,

10 8 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
rooms in a park lodg e a fe w mil e s o u tsid e th e city I n his .

l e tt e rs hom e h e m e ntions how h e walk e d to c e rtain p lac e s

r e coll e ct e d from among C h ildhood s dim o r oddly vivid ’

m e mo r i e s h e r e cognis e s this o r that triviality this o r that

massive fact h e wholly has f o r gott e n H e e xamin e s th e .

Chanc e r y ; not e s his f ath e r s coat -o f-arms i n th e window ;

’

ha u nts th e Cath e d r al wh ich h e finds o f u niqu e and t r ans

,

”
c e n de n t b e auty ; Cologn e h e d e cid e s do e s n o t com e
“ “
, ,

anywh e r e n e ar it a n ind e p e nd e nt j u dgm e nt which p er

,

hap s do e s hi m cr e dit What h e s e e ms n ot to m e ntion i s

.

th e p e riod O f “ d e solation as th ey say through which

, ,

h e pass e d th e r e and o n wh ich h e i nsists so m u ch in th e

,

Confess i ons .

He had arrang ed to Sp e nd th e day i n pray e r m e dita ,

tion a nd e xe rcis e I t i s significant that h e alr e ady O ft e n

, .

r e cit e s th e Littl e H o u rs at an yr ate though of cours e

“
, , ,

i n English Fo r r e asons dive rs e ly to b e diagnos e d h e

.
,

e nt e rs a m e ntal agony Th e r e i s no t r u th i n r e ligion

“
.

J e sus Ch r ist is not G od ; th e whol e o f lif e i s an e mpty

Sham h e h ims e lf i s if n o t th e chi e f e st o f sinn e r s at l e ast ,
,

th e most mon u m e ntal O f fool s O n A dve nt S u nday h e

.

walks fasting i nto Lincoln comm u nicat e s Sits abo u t in

, , , ,

th e dusky nav e o f th e Cath e dral Th e sonoro u s O ffic e s o f

.

A dv e nt pro c e e d : th e r e i s always a touch O f t r ag e dy and

t e rror i n th e ir a u st e r ity Th e S e cond Coming is anno u nc e d
.

in pray er and h ymn and b e it tru e o r u ntru e th e f u tur e

, ,

s e e ms e ith e r way cloudy and appalling .

Was this du e j ust to that t e ns e e xcit e m e nt to which

H ugh r efe rs at th e prosp e ct o f his diaconat e making its
, ,

r e action f e lt as it w er e b e f or e th e tim e ?
, , Was it a kind of
struggl e O f th e p ur e ly h uman cr e at u r e f e e ling its e l f about ,

to b e e nchain e d TO all ve ry mobil e souls finality brings

in varying d eg r e e a s e ns e o f h orror I n th e cas e o f .
1 10 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
H u gh was Sinc er e ly happy in hi s hom e ; and all that i n
lat e r y e a r s was known as so cha r act e risti c o f h im all h is ,

inve ntiv e n e ss boyi sh e nthusiasm ke e n n e ss o n a h u ndr e d

, ,

c r ossi ng sc e nts was alr e ady th e r e Mr A Marshall i n

, . . .
,

th e articl e al r e ady q u ot e d o ff e r s us a r a r e glimps e of ,

that holiday lif e at A ddington with th e f e rny glad e s and ,

hollows o f its pa r k a nd at Lamb e th with its r omantic

, ,

tow e rs Th e A rchbishop lik e d to hav e yo u ng p e opl e

.

th e r e and unb e nt to th e m i n all kindn e ss and court e sy

,
.

“
A s fo r M r s B e nson
. M r M arshall w r it e s it is di fficult
,
“
.
,

to sp e ak of h e r kind n e ss i n e v e n t e r ms Sh e wo u ld pack .

of f H u gh and H u gh s fri e nds in o n e o f th e A r c h iep i s

’

copal ca r riag e s to s ee a play ; sh e would lov e to h e ar o f

th e ir st ealing o u t to witn e ss th e blood -curdling m e lo
“

dramas o f th e S u rr ey Sid e : I can se e (h er) Shaking

“

with laught e r at H u gh s d e scriptions o f o u r e xp e ri e nc e s

’
.

Sh e was always r e ady to ge t a talk with u s ; sh e was as

yo u ng as w e w e r e and w e w e r e v e ry young th e n e v e n fo r
, ,

our y e a r s .

Fr om th e organ loft wh e r e o n e o r both o f th e m ,

playe d as a r u l e at th e morning and e v e ning s er vi c e s in th e

, ,

ch ap e l —and it i s saf e to say that Mr Marshall was f or much .

i n th e mainte nanc e a nd d e v e lopm e nt of H u gh s m u sical ’

tast e s —a way le d straight to th e Lamb e th smoking -room

( onc e it
, was said C r a n m e r
, s b e droom ) T hith e r H u gh
’
.

r u sh e d fr e sh f r om B ach a nd Pal e st r ina to h is cigar e tt e s

, , ,

o r to th e pip e
( disca r d e d as y e a r s pass e d) whi ch onc e
,

se t h im alight as o n his whit e ho r s e h e rod e alo ng

, , ,

Vauxhall f r om Lamb e th down to A ddington Th e r e th e .

fr i e nds would stay alon e som e tim e s u sing a d e lightf u l

, ,

s u nny r oom call e d th e school r oom and h aving th e ir ,

“
abundant m e als in th e st ewa r d s r oom O ve r th e s e ’
.

m eals th ey re ad but also talk e d o n top ics growi ng d ee p e r

, ,
 OR D I NA TI ON : TH E ETON M ISS I ON 1 1 1

as th e mo nths w e nt by aft e r H u gh s ordination ,

A l so
’
.
,

th e y shot and r od e and climbing a wood e d knoll wh e n

, , ,

e v e ning cam e wait e d with books in hand for th e wood

, , ,

pig e ons to com e ove r .

I shall b e fo r giv e n for quoting o n e whol e paragraph

in full
A t th e tim e s wh e n th e A rchbishop was in r e sid e nc e
at A ddington , life was no l e ss p l e asant fo r a gu e st such
as I was H u gh s bro th er s w e r e oft e n th er e, and th e r e
’

—
.

w er e th e two chap lai n s young m e n , as th e A rchbishop

lik e d th e m to b e, and not too m u ch tak e n u p by th e i r
duti e s , i n thos e q u i e t e r month s , to b e u nabl e to e nj oy
th e ordinary pl e as u r e s o f a count r y ho u s e Lif e w e nt .

qui e tly and s er e n e ly with p l e nty to do o u tdoo r s and in

, , .

Th e r e was always m u ch disc u ssio n going o n e sp e cially ,

wh e n th e young e r m e n and oth e rs wh o might b e staying

,

in th e ho u s e m e t at night at Ph ilippi
,
“
Th is was th e .
”

l a r g e attic smoking -r oom which had to b e away f r om ,

th e r oo ms o cc u pi e d by th e A r chbishop Som e tim e s th e .

discussion wax ed rath e r wa r m H u gh and o n e o f th e .

chaplai ns onc e e nd e d by falling o u t s e rio u sly Th e n e xt .

mo r ni ng H u gh w e n t away fo r a fe w days with th e b r e ach

still u nh e al e d Wh e n h e r e tu r n e d th e chaplain m e t h im
.
, ,
and said Wh e n yo u had l e ft I tho u ght th ings o ve r
“
, , ,

a nd cam e to th e concl u sion that yo u h ad be e n r ight So .

I bought yo u a box o f th e most e xp e nsive cigar e tt e s to ,

mak e u p .Th e n a smil e b e gan to spr e ad ov e r h is fac e .

“
Bu t th e y w e r e so good that I m afraid I hav e smok e d
’

”
th e m all h e said
, .

Bu t by this tim e th e r e al work of h is lif e was b e gin ning

fo r H u gh at H ackn e y .

Th e Eton
M ission was o n e o f thos e many school
M issions wh ich w e r e i na u g u r at e d in th e e ighti e s Th e y .

consist as a rul e o f a parish o f which th e cong r egation

, ,

i s o f th e poor e st whil e th e ch u rch a nd its ann e x e s ar e

,

b u ilt and mai ntai n e d by th e subscri ptions o f th e school

r e sponsibl e for th e M i ssion and sta ff e d if p ossi b l e by , , ,
 1 12 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
“ old boys o f th e par e nt school Th e s e M issions w e r e.
!

carri e d f orwa r d by th e wav e o f social and philanth r opic

e nt e rpri s e wh ich at that p e riod was sw e e ping all b e fo r e

it ; and th e y w e r e m e ant to produc e a do u bl e e ffe ct—th e

e vang e lisation that is not only o f th e district in which
, ,

th ey e xist e d but o f th e school which cre at e d th e m It

,
.

was f e lt o f cours e that an acc u m u lation o f boys b e long

, ,

ing as th e m e mb e rs o f th e big publi c school s ar e suppos e d

,

o n th e whol e to do to th e w e althi e r class e s might b e

,

taught in this way th e r e sp onsibiliti e s o f fortun e and ,

also by th e various kinds of co ntact th u s e ngin eer e d b e

, ,

bro u ght into organic and sp i r itual conn e ction with class e s
oth er than th e ir o w n It would b e o u t o f plac e to disc u ss
.

how far this plan s u cc ee ds ; what is quit e cl e ar is that

th e s e v e ral M i ssio n s do provid e a rallying -poi nt a c e ntr e ,

naturally turn e d to fo r thos e Etonians H arrovians and

, , ,

Wyk ehamists and so o n who f rom what e ve r caus e find

, ,

th e ms e lv e s touch e d with social z e al That it will b e th e .

o ld boys ,
rath e r than th e actual g e n er atio n o f th e school ,

who in vario u s ways ar e thus awak e n ed do e s not imply ,

that th e e nt erpris e e ve n as a school e nt e rpris e is a fail u r e

, , .

I f th e M ission cl e rgy b e m e n lik e th e lat e Fr Dolling

, .
,

who know how to p u t th e ms e lv e s in sympathy with boys ’

imagination and points o f vi e w th e r e is n o r e ason why

,

e v e n at school boys Should n o t tak e a k e e n and fo r mativ e

i nt er e st i n th e ir M ission I t r e mains that I cannot r e

.

m e mb e r any s u ch int e r e st b e ing g e n e rally f e lt for th e

only M i ssion I hav e p e r sonally known and Mr A C , . . .

B e nson s e e ms to imply that n e ith e r at Eton was th e

H ackn e y Wick pa r ish an obj e ct o f much act u al e nth u siasm .

I n ee d not say that m er e ly to i nvit e s u bscriptions from

th e boys to th e i r M ission o r s e ttl e m e nt is o f all m e thods
th e most f util e p e rso nal s ervi c e i s alon e o f val u e .
1 14 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
aft e r say 1 90 2 cannot r e cognis e th e ir f u ll truthfuln e ss
, , ,

pr e vio u sly to that dat e .

Th e first l e tt e r h e wrot e to th e A rch bishop from th e

M ission give s som e sort o f pictur e o f his lif e th e r e
[jan u ary 1 89 5 ]
Wh e n I ar r i ve d o n Fr i day night I w e nt to a la r g e
child r e n s party with priz e -giving & c and last night I
’

j ust w e nt into an I nfants Te a —a nd to -day th e r e h as

, , .
,
’

b e e n t e aching in th e S u nday School which I f o u nd ,

ve ry ha r d much ha r d e r than p r e aching as o n e s e e s th e

, ,

bo r e dom of on e s a u di e nc e so m u ch mo r e cl e arly Th e n
’
.

th e r e was a la r g e ch ild r e n s s e r vic e

’
I f e e l so t e r ribly
.

i ncomp e t e nt at p r e s e nt A ll th e r e st o f th e m know th e
.

child r e n by sight and nam e & 0 A n d at p r e s e nt I

, .

sca r c e ly know a singl e p er son by sight A lso th e y know

h o w to do things—
.
,

and I am o nly falling ov e r my o w n

e xp e rim e nts —b u t I suppos e th e s e things will improv e I .

am looking forwa r d ve ry much to my tim e h e r e I .

hav e n o t got to pr e ach for som e tim e yet I am glad ,

to say .

An d a littl e lat e r
jan u ary 1 89 5 .

I am attach e d to th e M e n s Club h e r e partic u la r ly

’

and have to go i n g e n e r ally i n th e e v e ning and talk to

th e m ; th e y ar e m u ch mo r e sociabl e than I e xp e ct e d ,

and I think I have mad e f r i e nds with fiv e o r Six o f

th e m Bu t th e r e is a class o f th e m who play cards and
.
,

ap par e ntly hav e not th e slight e st wish to pay o n e any

att e ntion I n visiting I have mad e a b egi nning ; but
.

it is v e ry hard sta r ting with a la r g e n u mb e r of p e o p l e

non e o f whom I have e v e r Se e n b e fo r e W e all m e e t
th e ladi e s as w e ll —and go ov e r th e d ist r ict on pap e r on
.

M onday mo r ning For th e fi r st tim e to -day I have b e e n

.
, ,

d e p u t e d to visit sick p e op l e i n my district and am ,

going to do it this aft er noon but I am v e ry anxious
,

about it .

And again
jan u ary 1 8 1 89 5 , .

I find this a t e rribl e plac e fo r sl e e p in e ss O n e do e s

.

n ot e t back to th e ho u s e g e n e r ally till e l e v e n and on e

g ,

cannot instantly go to b ed ; and th e r e is S e rvic e e v ery

 OR D I NA TI ON : T H E ET ON M I SS I ON 1 1
5
morning at e ight at l e ast—som e tim e s at A n d I am
always ve ry sl e e py in th e morning and hav e s e v eral
d e vic e s fo r wakin —an alar u m and a st r ing ti e d to my
,

fing e r wh ich is p u le d lik e a b e ll -rop e from o u tsid e Th is .

morning e ve rythin g f ail e d e xce pt th e ala r um which wok e ,

me . I fi nd it q u i t e n e c e ssary to have mor e than o n e

thing to d e p e nd on .

Sinclai r works most t e rribly hard and is p erp etually ,

o n th e mov e abo u t th e p a r ish ; with add r e ss e s &c I ,

.

ca n not think h o w h e do e s it to that e xt e nt ; and h e is

always p e r f e ctly ch e erf u l wh ich is most r e ass u rin g H e
,
.

i s q u it e a spl e ndid p e rso n to b e u nd e r .

I am be ginning to hav e Sick visiting and I think ,

that o n th e whol e it is e asi e r than ordi na r y visiting : it

always s e e ms hard to say c e r tain th ings o u t of a cl e ar
Sk y whi ch is n o t so i n Sick visiting
, Th e Sick s e e m to .

e xp e ct it much mor e ; i t is e xtrao r dinary ho w a sick

p e r son s e e ms to b e a kind o f f r e e show to all th e
n e ighbo u r s who crowd i nto th e room and sta r e sol e mnly
, .

Th e sick p e r son hims e lf to o s e e ms to ap p r e ciat e th e

, ,

dignity o f s u ffe ring tho u gh th e y oft e n tu r n it into th e

,

conc e it o f su ff e ri ng i nst e ad .

He lo st no tim e how e v e r in cr e ating som e such

, , en

v ir o n m en t as h e f e lt h ims e lf to n ee d .

Most o f my p ictu r e s ar e hung n o w and b ookcas e s ar e ,

b egi nning to com e in I hav e an imm e ns e lot o f books

.

many o f th e m nov e ls (i n which I am my mamma s son ) ’

.

S e ve ral also d e ali ng with d r awing -room mysticism ( i n

which also I am my mamma s So n ) ’
.

I n th e ske tch -book I have m e ntion e d abov e th er e ar e

num e rous littl e portraits o fH ugh s f e llow-curat e s by H u gh
’

, ,

and o f H u gh by th e m H u gh sits as a rul e in a n attitud e

.
, ,

o f cont e nt e d collaps e i n a vast ar m -chai r

,
Th e r e ar e two .

or thr e e ind e sc r ibably d e pr e ssing d r awings o f th e H ackn e y

M arsh e s ; and o n e pag e is f ull o f tiny Sk e tch e s o f al l
mann e r of Mission athl e tic Sp o r ts and oth e r Mission in ,

c i de n ts
. A billiard tabl e is lab e ll e d “
e v e ry e v e ning a
youth playing bas eball ( o n e would gath e r) is ti cke t e d
1 16 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
“
eve ry day Th e r e ar e cri cke t and football match e s and
.
,

rac e s ; a card -tabl e and an e normous soup -kitch e n with

,

G othic windows A H ackn e y dam e e xclaims i n a phras e

.

“ W
H ugh was S i ngularly d vot d to
e e e can t h e lp b e ing ,

poor b u t w e can h e lp b e ing hon e st ; and th e c e ntral

,
”

fig u r e of th e pag e is a r e ally w e ll -charact e ri s e d cost er ,

Sho u ting at th e
“
Eton M ission a nd Mansfi e ld H ous e
,

match in 1 89 5 B u st is e ad B u tty I Som e tim e s a bri e f

, ,
’ ’
,

l e ge nd disarms o u r criticism : This is int e nd e d to r e

pr e s e nt th e dog Timothy —with th e fir e plac e b e hind but ,

it i s not r e ally v e ry lik e him o r th e fir e p lac e A n d i n th e .

midst of th e s e full -blood e d caricat u r e s app e a r s th e e xotic ,

black a nd wh it e silho u e tt e o f A Lady aft e r A u br e y B e ard ,

sl e y . This i s a ti ny h int ; b u t it i s r e info rc e d by a se n

t e nc e from a v ery e nt e r taining corr e spond e nt wh o r e g r ets ,

that two l e tt e rs o f H ugh s hav e n e v er r e ach e d him “’

It
to h e ar what I lost —all
.

is a blow to m e h e writ e s
” “
, ,

th e virtu e o f Tlee G r een Car n ati on without th e vic e no ,

doubt H e also te lls H u gh a story abo u t Mr R ichard L e

.
‘
.

G alli e n n e adding “
Pl e as e don t t e ll th e sto r y as comi ng ’

, ,

f r om m e fo r I don t b e li e v e a w ord of it Te ll it as X s
,
’
.
’
,

o r b ett e r still H e r e comm e nds a story by Mr

’ ”
Y s , . .

Montagu e J am e s i n th e N ati on al R ev i ew “
It is a ge m .

tho r o u ghly jam e sian with slight touch e s O f Lefan u and ,

quit e as blood -curdling O bs e rve th e n th e authors whom.

, , ,

B e nson i n h is c onv e ntio nal e nviro nm e nt did n o t d e ny to

, ,

h ims e lf Els e h e b e cam e accustom e d to r egard th e Eto n

.
,

M ission as an extr e m e instan c e o f th e S u itabl e a cat egory ,

for which h e has yo u will notic e a co r dial d e t e station

, , .

I n N one O tlzer G ods th e M ission is d e pict e d i n a mix e d

,

Spirit o f a f f e ction r e sp e ct a nd amus ed annoyanc e Th e

, , .

c u rat e visits his district and that mak e s a bitt e r littl e ,

vign e tt e Frank G uis e l e y calls o n th e curat e and finds his ,

118 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
“
I n 1 89 5 a fr i e nd o f his wrot e aft e rwa r ds wh e n h e
, ,
“

was at th e Eton Mi ssion I onc e h e ard him tak e a Childr e n s

,
’

S e rvic e and aft e r wards t r ain a whol e lot o f child r e n fo r

,

a Ch r istmas pantom im e which h e had hims e lf writt e n o n

, ,

th e R ose an d Me R i ng I do not know which p e r f o r manc e

.

was th e mo r e imp r e ssive H e e stablish e d strong cords .

o f sympathy and a f f e ction with ch ild re n and I th ink th ey ,

”
lov e d him b e caus e h e love d th e m .

He co ntinu e d his custom o f usi ng f airy-stori e s as a n

“ approach which h e had b egun at P o n tc an n a .
,

I l e nt h im h e w r it e s to Mr s B e nson th e Gr een Fai iy

, .
,

Book with M a r y B e nson A ddington w r itt e n in th e b e

, , ,

ginning That book has don e a sur prising amount o f

.

work and I e xp e ct will do a good d e al mo r e b e fo r e yo u

,

se e it again : if such an unlik e ly thing e v e r h app e ns

”
.

He tak e s childre n down to A ddi ngton ,

and his l e tt e rs ar e
f u ll o f th e R ose an d tile R i ng wh e n h e is pr e pa r ing that
p antomim e ; h e Ske tch e s its r e h e arsal too in his littl e , ,

book and it would s ee m to hav e b e e n a ve ry consid e rabl e

,

a ffai r To b e ar out h is fri e nd s j u xtapositio n o f ritual and

.
’

r e h e arsal th e r e e xists too a book o f Child r e n s S e rvic e s

, , ,
’

and i nst r uction s most acc u rat e ly p lan n e d Ye t h e did n o t .

confin e his i nstructio ns nor his succ e ss e s to childr e n

, ,
.

“
I am b e ginni ng h e t e lls h is f ath e r two class e s a
, ,
“

w e e k for som e o f o u r choi r m e n o n th e Pr ay e r B o ok

and B ibl e—th e B ibl e Classe s ar e fo r th e Sunday School
.

Exami natio n I t is d e lightf u l to tr y to t e ach p e opl e who

wa nt to l e arn —for a chang e
.

and h e c e rtainly fi nds that it is by th e s e mor e con v er sation al

approach e s that h e com e s n e ar e r so u ls than i n th e p u lp it .

I n vi e w o f h is lat e r e xp e r i e nc e s it is odd to find that h e ,

could n o t pr e ach e xt e mpo r e .

O nc e h e did ind e e d att e mpt to do s o with m u ch ,

n er vo u sn e ss and h e sitation .
 OR D I NA TI ON : TH E ET ON M I SS I ON 1 1 9

Th e sam e e ve ning St Clair Donaldson said to him.

kindly but fi r mly that pr e ach e rs w e r e of two ki nds—th e

ki nd that co u ld w r it e a fai r ly coh e r e nt disco u rs e and
d e live r it mor e o r l e ss impr e ssive ly and th e kind that ,

might v e nt u r e aft e r car e f ul p r e paration to Sp e ak e xt e mpor e

, ,

an d that h e f e lt bound to t e ll H ugh that h e b e long e d

undoubt e dly to th e fi r st kind 1
.

Lo r d Stanmor e how e v er M r A C B e nson go e s o n to

, , . . .

say no in exp e r i e nc e d j udg e plac e d H ugh e v e n b e for e h is

, ,

conve rsion i n th e first rank o f A nglican pr e ach e rs .

O n o n e f amo u s o ccasio n e xt e mpor e harangu e was ,

f orc e d u pon H ugh H e had b ee n app oi nt e d to r e ad th e

.

fun e r al s ervic e and at th e se t hour n o h e a r s e arriv e d

, , ,
.

H u gh r e ad coll e cts and s u itabl e passag e s o f Sc r iptur e and

d e liv e r e d an addr e ss Fi nally h e gav e o u t th e n u mb e r o f
.

a hym n ; it was unknown ; th e organist had d e s e rt e d his

po st H ugh sang th e hymn as a solo
. .

Th i s wa s I think th e fun e ral o f which h e writ e s

, ,

I am taking my fi r st f u n e r al to-day—a child whom I

visit e d wh e n h e was ill I had to go and se e h im lying i n
.

stat e which was ho r ribl e Th e pa r e nts had a s e ns e o f

, .

pl e as ed p rop r i e torship which was not so appar e nt wh e n

h e was aliv e ; and th e r e w e r e d o o r s to b e u nlock e d a nd ,

hor r ibl e y e llow blinds to cast a l u rid light .

Q u it e e a r ly i n h is stay at th e Eton M ission—i n fact ,

i n F e brua r y 1 89 5—h e was i nv it e d to att e nd a r e t r e at at

,

K e msing a villag e n e a r S e v e noaks aft e rwards important in

, ,

his lif e Th e r e t r e at ma r k e d an e poch Of it h e wrot e to

. .

his fath e r th e following bri e f words

M Y D EA R P A PA — I am w r iting to wish you many
,

hap py r e tu r ns o f th e day for to -morr ow ; I am afraid I

hav e n o t oft e n r e m e mb e r e d yo ur bi r thday b e for e .

W e hav e h ad a d e lightf u l tim e h e r e this last w e e k ; th e

add r e ss e s w e r e s pl e ndid Th e r e w e r e about tw e lve cl e r gy
.

h e r e tog e th e r with th r ee o r fo u r laym e n

, .

1
H ug /i , p . 86 .
1 20 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
One of th e s e laym e n was M r A Marshall who we nt . .
, ,

lik e H ugh n e rvo u s l e st th e fl e sh sho u ld b e too w e ak to

,

be ar th e strain o f a r e tr e at lasting two full days and ,

i nvolving s e ve n addr e ss e s i n all o f a n ho u r e ach a day , ,

strictly map p e d o u t and o ffic e s r e cit e d in common

, Bu t .

th e r e was no strai n says Mr M a r shall ,

“
Fr Maturi n . . .
,

th e n of th e Cowl ey Fath e rs o f all th e pr e ach er s I have ,

e v e r h e ard was at h is b e st , th e most capabl e o f holding ,

his h e ar e rs att e ntion ; and h e was at hi s v e ry b e st th e n .

H e sat in a chai r o n th e c hanc e l st e p u nd e r n e ath th e ,

carv e d arcading o f th e r ood lo f t a nd talk e d ; and I f or ,

o n e hardly took my e y e s o f
,
f him .

I was says B e nson

,
co mpl e t e ly take n by storm
,
1 “
.

Fo r th e fi r st tim e Christian Doct r in e as Fath e r Mat u rin ,

p r e ach e d it display e d its e lf to m e as an o r d er ly sch e m e

, .

I saw now how things fitt e d on o n e to th e oth e r h o w th e ,

sacram e nts follow e d in e vitably f r om th e I ncarnation how ,

body and spirit w e r e alik e m et i n th e m er cy o f G od .

H e ca u ght u p my fragm e nts o f tho u ght my glimps e s o f ,

spirit u al e xp e ri e nc e my g r opings in th e twilight and

, ,

show e d m e th e whol e glowing and tr an sfigu r ed i n an,

imm e ns e sch e m e whos e exist e nc e I had not s u sp e ct e d .

H e to u ch e d my h e a r t also p r o f oundly as w e ll as my h e ad
, , ,

r e v e aling to m e th e Sp r ings and motive s of my own natur e

”
i n a compl e t e ly n ew mann e r .

H u gh , h ow e ve r on tho s e wintry aft ernoons a r gu e d

, ,

“ i n his hot dogmatic way which ye t was logical and

, ,

p e rsuasiv e says Mr Ma r shall against th e p ractic e o f

,
.
,

Con f e ssion o n wh ich Fr Mat u r i n so st r ongly dw e lt

,
. .

Th e r e was n o h int that H u gh would budg e f r om his v i a

m edi a o f doct r in e whi ch was so ac c u rat e that h e co nsid er e d
,

its s u itabl e e xp r e ssion i n cl e rical dr e ss to b e a f r ock -coat

, , ,

a whit e tie and any collar th at was not R oman

,
H u gh .

at this tim e b e li e v e d that in days gon e by th e Chu r ch o f

, ,

1
Confessi on s, p .
35
.
1 22 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
dista nt Th e joy which followe d this conf e ssion was h e
.
,

says Simply ind e sc r ibabl e I w e nt hom e i n a kind o f

“
,
.

e cstasy So to o was his o r dinatio n an “ imm e ns e happi

.
, ,

n e ss H e walke d about th e A ddingto n woods e xulting

.
,

in th e co nvictio n that h e was n o w a p r i e st and co u ld do ,

fo r oth e rs what th e y hith e r to h ad don e for him H ere .

,

i nd ee d is th e sac e rdotal spirit : H ugh B e nso n f e e ls that

,

h e has not o nly a high e r positio n but is i n som e s e ns e ,

alt e re d e ve n as man by h is ordination A n e w and uniqu e ,

.

Spirit a nd h e nc e a n e w u n shar e d pow e r of act i on 13

, , ,

withi n him .

H e r e turns th e r e f or e to th e Eton M ission f u ll of a n e w

, ,

e nthusiasm mor e than cont e nt obsti nat e ly sur e for i n

, , ,

sta nc e that th e i nt e ll e ctual p osition o f hi s Cambridg e

,

fri e nd ( now Fr R itchi e o f th e B irmingham O rato r y) must .

n e c e ssar ily b e ing R omanist b e ridi c u lous

, Still h e go e s ,
.
1
,

to stay with h im i n Corn wall and having no cassock of , ,

his o w n borrows hi s fri e nd s r e ligio u s habit and in a so rt

,
’
, ,

o f j oyo u s e xcit e m e nt w e a r s it i n th e pulpit o f th e p arish ,

ch urch 2
.

For all that his p e rsonal r e ligion was still d e e p e n ing

, ,

and tog e th e r with a dawning notion o f th e corporat e life

,

o f th e Christian as symbolis e d i n and produc e d thro u gh

th e Sacram e nts h e b egi ns to r e alis e that th e s e v e ry ,

1
R idi n g on e day with th e A r chbish o p d o w n B i rd -C ag e Walk t o w ar ds Lamb e th ,

he will d cl a h h a v e d st d th at a ticl f th c d which p f ss s

re e s ne er u n er oo r e o e re e ro e e

b li f i th H ly Cath lic Ch ch F i sta c h i q i s a th R m a

e e n e o o ur . or n n e, e n u re , re e o n

Cath lics a p a t f th Ch ch f Ch ist ? Th A chbish p c ld t a sw

”
o r o e ur o r e r o ou no n er

c at g ically p h aps th i
e or s had b
: s ch a t i v lv th i f feiti g
er e r e rr o r een u s o n o e e r or n

m mb ship i Ch ist s B dy
e er I giv this a cd t
n abb
r vi ati g a littl
’
o e ne o e, re n e,

C f i I t is ight t ay th at t H gh s family this app a s

’
f m th
ro e on e ss on s. r o s o u e r

wh lly ch a act istic fth A chbish p w h o always a sw d s ch q sti s

o un r er o e r o , n e re u ue on

f lly a d ag ly
”
u n e er .

Wh y th
2 xcit dly ? Simply with th sch lb y s j y i d ssi g p
, e n , so e e e oo o
’
o n re n u ,

which l d him t app p i at a d w a a f i d s M A h d at a ligi s

e o ro r e n e r r en
’
. . oo re ou

f cti
un i S i gd al ? H w l g will it b b f this l m t f xc t m t
on n un n n e o on e e o re e e en o e i e en

will b filt d fr m his li f ?

e e re o e
 OR D I NA TI ON : TH E ET ON M I SSI ON 1 23

sacram e nts ar e p e rhaps n e c e ssa r y fo r that mat e r ialising o f

r e ligio n e xact e d too by th e soul as individ u al Th e clubs .

and visiti ng and pantomim e s and all th e programm e of

philanthropy so sci e ntifically and s e lf -r egardl e ssly carri e d
,

o u t at th e Eton Mission s e e m to him almost no n -r e ligious

, .

H e b egins to long for a chaplain s lif e a nd i n Jan u ary

’

, ,

1 8 96 ,
asks to discuss with h is f ath e r plans for a n e ar
, ,

d e partu r e .

B ut th e d e cision was tak e n f rom his hands I n O ctob e r .

1 896 th e A rch bishop di e d sudd e nly in M r G ladston e s

’
.
, ,

chu r ch at H award e n H ugh was give n th e t e l e gram

.

wh e n actually taking S u nday School H e t r ave ll e d down .

to H award e n that night a nd i n th e tra in r e ad th e Eve n

, , ,

son g appoint e d fo r th at day I n th e S e c o nd L e sson h e .

,

will always th e r e a f t e r r e coll e ct occ u r r e d th e s e wo r ds

,
'

“
Lord s u ffe r m e first to b u ry my f ath e r and th e n I will
, ,

f ollow Th e e Th e days o f burial w e r e ind e e d f ull o f a

.

c ertain distraction o f dignity a nd sorrow

“
H ugh c e l e .

b r ate d at H awa r d e n b e for e h e l e ft for Cant e r bury wh e r e ,

th e actual f u n e ral took plac e i n a viol e nt sto r m o f th u nd e r ,

rain and wind H ugh r e turn e d to A ddington still hal f

, .
,

daz e d with th e Shock of so many viol e nt impr e ssions .

Th e r e was a s e nsation as long aft e rwards h e r e m e mb e r e d

,

“
som e o n e saying to him as if th e roo f w e r e gon e H o w
, .

e v e r grown -u p o n e is on e s fath e r always stand s as a

’

s ort o f prot e ctive cov e ring to o n e s o w n w e akn e ss ’

He .

had m e ant as f r om a l e tt e r f r om his vi car is q u it e cl e ar to

, ,

r e turn o n th e subs e qu e nt Saturday to H ackn e y “

I can .

quit e imagin e you will wi sh to do so Fo r aft e r all wo r k .

, ,

is a w e lcom e r e fug e B ut at a w e e k s notic e h e was

.
’

ord e r ed to Egypt with h i s moth e r and Sist er b e i ng ,

thr e at e n e d with rh e umatic f e v e r and h e n ev e r r e t u rn e d

,

to th e M ission H e sail e d i n th e Su tlej fro m V e nic e o n

.
1 24 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
No v and I se e that o n N o v 2 0 h is going to a c u racy
. 2 5; .

at K e msing had alr e ady be e n arrang e d 1 .

A fe w path e tic l e tt er s o f fa r e w e ll s u rviv e among h is

pap e rs L e t m e quot e o n e w hich any man might f e e l
.

happy to r e ce ive .

A parishio n e r wrot e to him

Can yo u not go away for th e wint e r and com e back

to us i n th e Sp r ing do not l e av e us altog e th e r w e ar e all
r ough and Igno r ant but our lov e is st r ong if not Shown in

th e b e st way and I f e e l that I am in som e way answ e rabl e

,

fo r yo u r Tro u bl e I wish I had not Spok e n to yo u as I

did it wo r ri e s m e mo r e than I can say and ye t I o nly
answ e r e d yo u ac cording to what yo u was saying I .

am s e lfish b u t I know l was o n e o f th e first yo u visit e d

wh e n yo u first cam e and yo u did n o t mind my ro u gh way
o f sp e aking to yo u and th e r e ar e a gr e at many who think
j u st as m u ch as w e do do not give u s up altog e th e r i t
s e e ms so st r ang e that as soon as w e e t a cl e r gyman w e
like th e y l e av e u s w e must b e a dr e adfuglot o f p e opl e .

clos e d thus a mom e ntous chapt e r i n his lif e I t

He .

had i nclud e d that o r dination which will gov e r n so m u ch

o f his f u t u r e fo r h e will n e v e r b e abl e to think o f hims e lf
,

oth e r w i s e than as a p r i e st and t h e r e fo r e with th e d u ty o f ,

acting di r e ctly u pon so u ls H i s p e r sonal cha r m and pow e r .

will r e info r c e hi s b e li e f and h e w ill s u cc e e d i n this lin e ,

o f dir e ct spirit u al action and h e will f e e l no n e e d for ,

f u rth e r prof e ssional st u dy n or f e a r l e st by l e aving to o n e ,

sid e th e ordina r y car e s of pa r o chial e n e rgy h e i s abandon ,

1
T h
is a a cd t which sh ws I thi k th s t f g tl flip pa y
ere n ne o e o , n , e or o en e nc

oft e nt ic abl i H gh which wh mi gl d with g i g avity f d

no e e n u , ,
en n e en u n e r o un er

lyi g f li g i ss s I thi k alm st i t t d ss

n ee n , ue , n , o n o en erne .

I h ad b
‘

t a ght a f i d fH gh s h a w itt t m
~ ee n u t l v,a d
”
r en o u
’
s r en o e, o o e n

admi th A chbish p th gh adi g A C B s s bi g aphy A ft visit ’

re e r o , rou re n . . en o n o r . er

i g th t mb at C a t b y I s aid t M g B s
n e o I f lt m
n er i cli d t a k
ur , o r. en o n : e o re n ne o s

his p ay s th a t p ay f him
r er Y h a sw
n o d I d sta d th at
r Ior .
’
e s,
’
e n er e ,
‘
un er n .
’

d t b li v I said a ma lik th at has a y P gat y H a sw d with a

on
’
e e e,
’
, n e n ur or .
’
e n e re

twi kl
n O h I thi k if it w a l ft t m I d giv him ab t fi mi t s
e : ,
n s e o e,
’
e ou ve nu e .
’

H gh B s on gu l a ly said M ass f his fath s s l ’

u en re r or er ou .
 OR D I N A TI ON : T H E ET ON M I SS I ON 125

i ng h is duty H e has found his road and all his r e adi ng

.
,

and obs e rvation will b e a r rang e d h e nc e f orwa r d to corro

, ,

borat e h is march th er e in .

O n e r e gr e t h e will always k e e p H e had not r e ally

.

known th e f ath e r whos e d evotion f or him was so passion

ate and p ro f o u nd Ev e n wh e n h e r e alis e d h im th e be tt e r
.

f rom hi s o w n i ncr e asing exp e ri e nc e his love had r e main e d

,

all to o inarticulat e Y e ars lat e r o n r e adi ng th e A rch

.
,

bishop s lif e by Mr A C B e nson h e will r e cognis e th is

’
. . .
,

ye t mo r e fully and to h is moth e r h e will writ e from

,

Cambridg e
Ju ly 9 M , 1 90 5

By th e way I hav e b e e n r e ad ing th r ough papa s Lif e

,
’

what a book ! It is o n e o f th e most i nt e r e sting and a ffe ct

ing things I hav e e ve r r e ad A n d how e xt r aordinarily w e ll
.

A rth u r h as don e it ! I wish I could have r e ad it tw e nty

y e ars ago .

M e a nwh il e h is horizon was to wid e n rapidly and h is

, ,

whol e spirit u al lif e to grow ye t mor e mark e d and mould e d

i n its d e sti n e d lin e s .
 C H A P T ER VI

AT K EM S I N G
Con Fa ci lli F a
n u n c iu llo s api t m t
en e en e .

Fr om an Ep igr am on St P h i lip N ar i at R o me
. .

MRS C R A I G I E wh e n r e lating th e v er y sing u lar conve rsion

.
,

o f Lord M arl e sfo r d t e lls how h e sta r t e d fo r N orway b u t

, ,

broke th e journ e y at Pa r is wh ich h e found ,

i nsu ff e rably t e dio u s and a sto r y too old for words H e

,
.

abandon e d th e N o r way e xp e dition and w e nt i nst e ad to ,

V e nic e I n V e nic e it s e e m e d almost v u lga r to b e a P r o

.

t e stant ; h e h u r ri e d o n to Flor e nc e To b e a P r ot e stant .

i n Flor e nc e i s to b e a to u ri st at b e st ! H e w e nt to R om e .

To b e a Prot e stant in Rom e was to b e uncivilis e d illit e rat e , ,

and a shad e ridic u lo u s Tw o months lat e r h e was r e c e iv e d

.

i nto th e Roman Ch u rch .

Th e fe w month s which H u gh B e nson now Sp e nt in th e

East had i n sob e r f act r e ally som e thing of a similar
, ,

infl u e nc e upon him H i s cont e ntm e nt with th e Church

.

o f England su f fe r e d a Shock H e trav e ll e d straight through

.

Franc e a nd across N o r th Italy to V e nic e and i n church ,

aft e r church h e f ound h ims e lf as an e ccl e siastical o fficial , ,

to b e ignor e d .B e hold ! w e w e r e nowh e r e Fr om .

V e nic e h e sail e d to Egypt and at L u xor assist e d th e ,

h ot e l chaplain i n h i s s e r vic e s f e eling th e whol e busin e ss ,

to b e t er r ibly isolat e d and provincial

“
You r e cognis e .

b o w o u t o f plac e ar e th e Englishwom e n yo u will m e e t

i n contin e ntal trains d r inking th e ir te a cook e d ove r sp irit
,

lamps with milk boil e d for f ear o f inf e ction ; yo u r e s e nt

,

th e i r cloth e s r e v e al e d in Franc e as p e rf e ctly impossibl e

, , ,
1 26
1 28 ROB ER T H UGH B ENSON
now wrot e b e gging to b e admitt e d into communion with
,

him Th e Patriarch would not answ e r and H ugh was

.
,

l e ft shive ring .

I n je rusal e m which B e nso n r e ach e d som ewhat lat e r

, ,

and appar e ntly alon e h e r e -e nco u nt e r e d M r Mol e sworth

,
. .

H e r e as th e latt e r has kindly writt e n

, ,

W e a r rang e d to trave l tog e th e r th r o u gh th e H oly Land ,

sharing th e sam e t e nt I n this way I saw a gr e at d e al o f

.

him and it e stabli sh e d an i ntimacy b e tw e e n u s I shall

, .

always r e ckon it a sing u lar pi e c e of good fortun e that I

had as a companion o n that camping -o u t e xp e dition from
e r u s ale m to Damasc u s o n e who co u ld approach th e H oly
lac e s with so sympath e tic and imaginative a mind H i s .

e ag e r e nth u siasm a nd buoyant Spirits I r e m e mb e r com , ,

m u n i c ate d th e ms e lv e s to th e e nti r e party o f f e llow

trave ll e rs .

Th e r e coll e ction o fo u r tour i n Pal e stin e stands o u t fr e sh

i n my mind to -day although e ight e e n y e ars hav e e laps e d
,
sinc e th e n W e w e r e g e n e r ally in th e saddl e most o f th e
.

day sta r ting at six i n th e mornin g and h e u s e d thoroughly

, ,

to e nj oy th e rid e i n th e k e e n m o r n i n g air N oth ing e scap e d .

h is notic e as w e visit e d o n e aft e r anoth e r th e sac r e d p lac e s .

A t nights i n o u r t e nt w e u s e d to hav e lo ng talks o n a

vari e ty o f s u bj e cts and h e was fond o f t e lling m e o f
,

ghost sto r i e s and ap paritions associat e d with haunt e d

hous e s & c i n which th e A rch bisho p had b e e n int e r e st e d
, .
, .

I tho u ght aft er wards I saw in all th i s a g er m o f th e id e as

that app e a r e d in hi s e a r li e r books tho u gh at that tim e h e
,

s e e m e d to b e wholly unconscio u s o f th e lit e rary pow e rs h e

subs e qu e ntly display e d .

H is conve r sation t u rn e d r e adily o n th e topic which was

be ginning to ha u nt h im and th e r oad b e tw e e n je r u sal e m
,

and Damasc u s onc e mo r e was witn e ss o f a spirit u al u p

h e av al tho u gh it was th e b e ginning th is tim e not th e
, , ,

con summating o f a proc e ss which sh o u ld chang e a man

into loving what onc e h e hat e d ; but a goad at l e ast was
o ff e r e d n o w to H u gh again st which for a whil e h is r e stiv e, ,

f e e t might kick A t je rusal e m its e lf h e found th e A nglican

.
 A T K EM SI NG 1 29

B ishop kind and ,

ask e d to pr e ach in h is chap e l and
w as ,

was give n a cross n o w hanging on an im ag e o f O ur

Lady H e obtai n e d too l e av e to c e l e brat e i n th e
, ,

Chap e l o f A braham and th e Con f rat ernity o f th e B l e ss e d

,

Sacram e nt provid e d him with v e stm e nts ; but th e G r e e ks

wh ee l e d i n a tabl e to r e plac e th e ir altar which th e y d e ni ed ,

to h im and watch e d him with polit e curiosity from th e

,

door S e ct a f t e r s e ct to o o fficiat e d at th e S epulchr e

.
, ,

“
strang e u ncouth rit e s w e nt f orward at B e th l e h e m .

A lon e th e A n glican Ch urch was h e ld aloo f Fo r all th at .

,

h e surround e d th e O ri e ntal Church e s wi th th e path e tic

halo give n by m e n to what th e y woo a nd c annot win ,

wh il e o n R om e h e bor e with a hard n e ss wh ich Mr .

M ol e sworth consid e r e d to b e u nm e rit e d C e rtainly h e .

was ang er e d to f e e l h ims e lf in f ull communio n with

“

som e Irish Prot e stan t f e llow -t r av e ll e rs and wo r e h is ,

cassock p u bli cly by way o f prot e st a nd j oi n e d with an

, ,

A m e rican cl e rgyman now a Catholic who h ad bro u ght

, ,

with h im a f ull e q u ipm e nt fo r Sayi ng Mass and r e cit e d ,

O ffic e e v e n wh e n o n hors e back It wa s som e thing o f .

a douch e aft e r this to b e snubbe d by a shopman w h o de

,

c lar e d that d e spit e th e cassock M r Be nson must b e a .

cl e rgyman n o t a pri e st
, .

A subj e ct Mr M ol e sworth writ e s i n which w e

,
.
,
w e r e both i nt e r e st e d at that tim e was Commun ity Li fe i n
th e Ch u rch o f England A n d w e us e d to talk abo ut its
.

growth and possibiliti e s a gr e at d e al I r e m e mb e r h e .

th e n consid e r e d th e Cowl e y Fath e r s syst e m as too rigid ’

and s e ve r e n o t q u it e h u man e no u gh p e rhaps n o t quit e

, ,

e no u gh English Th e M ir fi e ld lif e had also n o t th e n

.

app e al e d to him Bu t h e was attract e d by th e pictur e

.

r e p r e s e nt e d in jok n I ng lesan t and th e life e stablish e d ,

at Littl e G iddin g by N icho las F e rrar W e talk e d so much .

abo u t this as b e i ng th e lif e i n a ccordanc e with th e g e ni u s

o f th e Church o f England that at a lat e r dat e I mad e a ,
 ROBER T H UG H B ENSON
'

1 30

sp e cial p ilg r imag e tO Little G idding and r e por te d to him '

,

o n what I tho u ght its possibiliti e s

’

H ugh mphasi ze d th e n e e d of k e e pin g th e Comm u nity

e

qu it e English b y which h e Sa y s h e m e ant Catholic

,
’
“
.

w e we r e h e writ e s to w e ar n o Eucharistic v e stm e nts

, , ,

but f u ll surpli c e s and black scarfs and w e r e to do nothing ,

i n part i c u lar .

A t Damascus how e v e r som e thing o f a thund e r bolt

, ,

did fall Th e G u ar dian r e ach e d h i m e v e n th e r e and told

.
,

him that Fath er Matu r in had b e e n r e c eiv e d i nto th e Church .

Th e ma n who had giv e n h im fo r th e fi r st tim e a visio n , ,

o f Christ endom and an i n te lligib le sch e m e o f dogm a h ad

'

'

t r an sf e r r e d h is all e gianc e to th at Se e whos e voi c e B e nson ,

aft e rwards de clar e d was e v e n th e n calling him and b e ing , ,

disr egard e d .

H is r e t u rn to En gland and to K e msing was in e ff e ct a , ,

flight H u gh s a d ven t as I said had b ee n arrange d almo st

'
’ '
. , ,

imm e diat e ly aft e r his fath e r 3 d e ath Th e vicar of K e msing ’

.

w as th e R ev Ti Car le to n Sk ar r att a cl e rgyman o f much

i '

.
,

r e fin e m e nt and cultu r e H e h e ld out g r eat attractions to .

H u gh B e nson p r o m 1s1n g h im n o t only a mod er at e incom e

‘

ove r and above his board and lodgi ng but two rooms fo r ,
'

living i n th e y e llow b ed r oom and h i s o w n study provid e d

, ,

that h e w e r e still all ow e d to s ee pari shion e rs th e r e privat e ly .

I would giv e you h e wrot e a fr e e h and with th e

“
, ,
“

ch ild r e n as u ntil n Ow I h ave n e ve r b e e n abl e to t r ust

—
,

th e m to anyo
’
n e e ls e th e K e msing mo r ning ] school
w ants to o mor e syst e m and m e th od A lso th e r e i s th e
day school —a most important fi e ld W e have 1 96 chil dr e n
.
, , ,

i n th e day school and 1 2 0 i n th e S u nday school ,

.

has b ee n h e adds coachi ng child r e n fo r a

'

He
‘

, ,

“
Eu cha r ist b u t has b ee n oblig ed to g iv e up yo u ng m e n
,
"
a nd boys and allud e s to th e m u c h s in and igno r anc e
,
“
,
11 3 2 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
wi th a larg e ard e n Th e r e i s a p e rf e ctly b e auti f u l church
.

j ust b e low t e hous e ; th e churchyard j oins o n to th e

ard e n A n d th e r e i s a de c ided Cons ervativ e pop u lation
. .

t is not u nlik e A ddingt on in th e ton e o f th e p e opl e .

Most o f th e big p e opl e ar e away f or wh ich o n e is thankful , .

“
A s far as I can s e e I wish to stop h e r e th e r e st o f my
,

lif e I t is p ur e bli ss i n e ve ry way

. .
”

A n d to his moth e r h e wrot e

M ay 2, 1 89 7

M A MM A —
.

MY D EA R H e r e I am at last It is all p er .

fe c tly h e ave nly A rchi e [ Mar shall ] has appoint e d him

.

s e lf sacristan o f th e chu r ch and I have ap po int e d him , ,

most unwillingly o n his part cat e chist f or th e child r e n ,
.

A lso w e ar e goin to sta r t a nd e dit a parish magazin e

,
g
tog e th e r I hav e j ust com e o u t f rom a ch ildr e n s s ervic e
.
’

and am p r e ach ing th is e v e ning .

Of all p e opl e I m e t B e th at Victoria Sh e had gu e ss e d

, .

at my train and com e to m e e t m e and i s looking br i lliantly ,

w e ll . Eh n o w t e ll your mam ma that yo u hav e s e e n

,

Bu t I had to h urry away and couldn t talk to h e r

’
me .
,

for mor e than a fe w minut e s .

I am afraid yo u ar e having horribly h ot w e ath e r I .

wish w e co u ld give you som e of th e cold wi nd h er e I am .

w a i g Ja g b u t th e r e is a divin e bl u e sky Y o u must r e ally

e r n e er
, .

com e down h e r e soo n W e hav e o u r first child r e n s B ucha r

.
’

ist on ju n e 1 1 and Frank is going to compos e at o nc e a

,

sp e cial s e rvic e fo r th e m Bu t you mustn t com e fo r th e

.
’

fi r st yo u must com e wh e n w e h ave s e e n that it i s all right

in e ve ry way B ut som e tim e in J un e again th e r e will b e
.

anoth e r .

Th e C s ar e n t h e r e O n e dr e ads h orribly making

’ ’
.

th e ac q u ai ntanc e o f e ve rybody Ev e rybody is a m e anin

l e ss blur at p r e se n t -all e xactly alik e O n e can o nly divi g
.

m
e .

th e m i nto dark and fair .

We have got a Co nfi r mation i n this church o n We dn e s

day —th e s e cond sinc e th e Re f ormation
.

Th e r e ar e all kinds o f p e o pl e always tu r ning u p

th e r e is a d e al o f company .

My rooms h e r e ar e lov e ly : I hav e t u rn e d Mr Sk ar r att .

o u t o f his study and Frank o u t o f his be droom

, I must b e .

g e tting som e o f my furn it u r e down this w e e k .

I am goin u p to th e Eton Mission th is w e ek I e xp e ct , ,

f or a r e h e ar sa o f th e pantomim e .
 A T KEM SI NG 1 33

I t is all so p e rf e ct that I sit and s mil e with d e light at

Mr Sk ar r att and th e Marshalls with th e e xpr e ssio n o f an
.
,

e arn e st Christian and th e y smil e back , .

W e had a lov e ly crossin g f rom Calais to Dove r ; a nd I

ate roast m u tto n thank yo u i n th e cabi n and th e n smok e d
cigare tt e s o n d e ck Som e p e opl e tho u gh w er e i ll—Eve r
, , ,

.
, ,

your most loving son H UGH , .

Eve n
much lat e r as a Catholic h e i nvit e d a f ri e nd , ,
to
pass with him o n a walking to ur through K e msing : , ,

and his hou s e and chu r ch ! [h e cri e s ] Th e y

Sk ar r att .

ar e too b e a u tiful ! A n d h e is e xactly lik e N apol e o n

B onapart e paint e d r e d and th e Wood e n M an o f Bo u lak
,
.

H e also has an Italian gard e n and a choir that sing lik e ,

s eraph im .

It is quit e tru e that H ugh s li fe th e r e was e xtraordinari ly ’

pl e asant Th e Vicarag e was r e lativ e ly luxurious l and its

.
,

h ospital ity was g e n ero u s H ugh w as surround e d with .

fri e nds M r A rch ibald Marshall was living in th e villag e

.
,

and hi s broth e r Mr F Marshall i n th e Vicarag e its e l f

, . .
, .

B e sid e s th e s e th e r e wa s a f t e rwards pr e s e nt M A l e xi s
,
.

Larp e nt who f rom h is h om e i n P aris and d e spit e h is grav e

, ,

i n fi r m itie s has most g e n e rously s e nt to m e h is r e m i n is

,

c e nc e s o f H ugh .

Th e y dat e from e arly i n 1 89 6 wh e n M La r p e nt was , .

at A ddington H e is a patri stic scholar and was assist

.
,

ing th e A rchbishop in s e e ing h is St Cyp r i an th r ough th e .

P r e SS H e arriv e d o n th e day o f th e “ H o u s e hold B all

.
,

and at dinn er which was s e rve d i n th e Chin e s e room h e

, ,

m e t H ugh who was full o f th e Eto n M ission and danc e d

,

1
Wh
visit ed it the lat s mm had st
en I , e u er r ipp d th g
e e ro u n ds f th i be st
o e r

gl i es Still
or . d th m a y l awns
, th t
r oun e n , on e e rr ac s and i
e , th n e I t ali a g a d
n r en ,

roses a d p pl cl m atis a d h g t ft f sw
n ur e e n u e u s o ee t p eas a d sm n o k e-bl fl w s
ue o er

l k d go g s agai st y w h dg s clippe d i
oo e r e ou n e e e , n t o fa tastic f n or ms a d i th
, n n e

ti y po ds c im w at -lili s bu ed
n n r so n er e rn .
1 34 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
e n e rg e tically th e wh ol e e ve ning th r o u gh M La r p e nt .
1
.
,

who c onf e ss e s to u n e c e r tain e f r ay e u r de c e q u e l on

“ ’

app e ll e Social wo r k co u ld not b e p e rs u ad e d to talk to ,

Hu gh e v e n by th e n e ws that th e young cl e ri c had writt e n

p iously on St B e rna r d H e ca r ri e d away with him how
. .
,

e ver an impr e ssion o f happi n e ss and p u rity and o f a

, ,

c e rtain radianc e o f sp irit f r om his b r i e f e ncou nt e r ,

.

Tw o y e ars lat e r M Larp e nt w e nt to K e msing to ask , .

H u gh fo r a M S of th e lat e A r chbishop d e aling with th e.

,

A pocalyps e which H u gh poss e ss ed : Miss B e nson had

,

b e gg e d M La r p e nt to look th r ough it Qu an tu m m u latn s

. .

H ugh was dr e ss e d in a cassock ; h e wor e a crucifix in h is

b e lt H e was int e nt upo n that catholi ci si ng of th e
.
“

pa r ish at which h e h ints i n th e Confessi ons H e h ad to .

trave l wa r ily Th e r e cto r and hims e lf us e d lin e n v e st

.

m e nts lights and waf e r s but only at th e e a r ly c e l e

, , ,

b r atio n s A t midday th e sq u i r e att e nd e d

. and th e ,

squir e tho u gh k indly was Low Ch u rch Y e t th e Eu c h ar

, , .

ist was alr e ady d e a r to H ugh and h e su ffe r e d from this ,

ac c e pting o f p e r sons O nc e to th e villag e s amaz e h e .

,
’

ca r ri e d th e sac r am e nt f r om th e altar to th e Sick H e .

r e ad th e s e rvic e slowly a nd with pa u s e s—a habit h e

aft er wards r e pudiat e d —and som e tim e s w e a r i e d (as a
K e mpis f e a r e d m ight happ e n ) tho s e assisting A cl e r gy .

man d e clar e d that h e w as selfi s/z at th e altar M Larp e nt . .

,

who had b e e n e d u cat e d i n th at Cathol ic faith to which

H u gh watch e d h im lat e r st e p by st e p r e t u r n had r e , , ,

tain e d intact his lov e for th e Moth e r of G od and gav e to ,

gh m e th a
1
Hu c all d s i l tt s t his l athi g f d a c s th
or n on e u e n e er o o n or n e , e

lik lih d fwhich i d d a l ad him t f s i vitati s t s j

e oo o , n s pl as a t
ee , c n e o re u e n on o o o u rn ,
e n

e ls i c t y h s s A ft a di
e, n oun r t h w it s t h
ou e m th th at h
. er nn er, oo , e r e o is o er e

fi ds h h at s y g ladi s m th a h th ght p sibl

n e e o un I b li v th at
e o re n e ou os e. e e e

l k m a y p pl f all th at h
i e n j y d d a ci g h at f l i p sp ct c
eo e, or , e en o e n n , e u n ro e ,
on e

h h ad b g
e t da c e un o n e.
1 3 6 ROB ER T H UGH B ENSON
thoughts should n o t pr e vail Th e charm o f rit u al its e lf .

gav e him f rom tim e to tim e th e sick appr eh e nsio n that

po ssibly it might b e but a drug Th e chanc e l b r ass o f a .

c e rtai n p r e -Re formation pri e st Thomas de H op e had , ,

irony i n its glanc e 1 Th e papal d e cisio n agai nst A nglican .

O rd e rs mov e d h im l e ss ind e e d than might hav e be e n

e xp e ct e d but l e f t h im with a “ b ruis e d s e nsation
,
i n his
so ul ; again h e was mad e to f e e l hims e l f som e thi ng o f an
,

“
outsid e r A bov e all h e was f e e ling ( M Larp e nt ca n
.
,
.

r e call ) that th e sobri ety o f A nglicanism lacke d fir e and

th e will to soar H ugh r e alis e s that e v e n th e work to
.

wh ich b e h e r e give s h ims e l f lacks as did th e Eton M issio n , ,

som e th ing that h e i s s ee ki ng H e took d e light i n th e .

c hoir whi ch in Mr Marshall s hands r e ach e d a p e r f e ction

,
’

quit e e xtraordinary i n th e circumstanc e s—f or K e msing

.

was but a small commu nity o f villag e rs ; and th e p lays

to which h e gav e hims e l f h e art and soul w e r e a r e markably
civilising i nflu e nc e I sp e ak o f th e m bri e fly fr om th e .
,

dramatic point o f vi e w b e low ; h e r e I will b u t e mph asiz e ,

that th e y w e r e n o trivialiti e s like th e R ose an d Me R i ng ,

o f H ackn e y M usic orch e stra sc e n ery costum e and

.
, , , ,

e ve n prof e ssional training w e r e so p er f e ct that says ,

Mr A M a r shall H ugh could k ee p up h is p e rformanc e to

. .
,

c r owd e d hous e s for a w e e k p e opl e coming f rom all th e ,

country round and e ve n from Lo ndon to see th e m , , .

child r e n cam e e a er ly u p fo r r e h e a r sal and f or

Th e
training a nd as th e tim e r e w o n for th e g r e at w e e k w e
, ,

had th e m with us almost all day and e v er y day I t had .

a r e markably good e ff e ct i n soft e ning th e i r sp ee ch and

th e ir mann e rs and i n raising th e ir int e llig e nc e I n th is
,
.

small villag e aft e r th e first rath e r ro u gh p e rfo r manc e

, ,

1 “
It is the o ld st h al f b st i E glan d a d may d at f m 1 34 0 —
e u n 1 3 50
n , n e ro .

T h m as d H
o e o pe di d at K msi g i 1 34 7 H e cc s i l C w a d a d
e e n n . o ur n e o r , n

i d d M dh
n ee e u rs t vill ag th d sc ib d i a ath s v ca icat
e, e re e r fK msi g
e , s r er e er e r u re o e n .
 A T K EM SI NG 1 37

th e r e was n e v e r any di ffi culty i n finding young actors and

actre ss e s o f surpri sing ability fo r th e chi e f parts and th e ,

thirty o r so w h o took pa r t w er e all much mor e than c o m

p et e nt I hav e sinc e s e e n s e v e ral much adve rtis e d troup e s
.

o f villag e play e rs but i n th e third play th at H u gh wrot e

,

fo r th e K e msing ch ildr e n th e y w e r e f ar and away b e tt e r

,

than any o f th e m I f h e had stay e d o n th e r e I am sure

.
,

that th e K e msing villag e play e rs would hav e b e com e r e

n o w n e d througho u t England .

P e rhap s th e list of p e ncill e d nam e s o f K e msing ch ildr e n ,

wishing him good -b ye ar e among th e t e nd e r e st r e lic s

,

b e qu e ath e d by any part o f his li fe .

H e had a simpl e and dir e ct way with childr e n writ e s ,

h is b r oth e r e qually r e mov e d from bo th p e tting and au th o
,

r itativ e n e s s H is o w n nat u ral childlik e n e ss cam e o u t and

.

ind e e d all his li f e long h e pre s e rve d th e in no c e nc e th e im ,

p u ls i v e n e ss th e mingl e
, d impati e nc e a nd docility o f a child
mo r e than any man I e ve r saw .
”

R e f e r e nc e
to h is work among childr e n occurs almo st at
o nc e in his l e tt e rs to his moth e r wh i ch give so exactly
“
, ,

s h e writ e s to m e th e stir and sparkl e o f h im a nd h is

“
, ,

almost childlike d e light at a b eginni ng like that

Mr Sk ar r att and I do various things I hav e not don e
. .

much visiting yet but I have be e n to a few hous e s with

,

him B u t I hav e b egun to t each i n th e schools and it is

. ,

wond e r f u l how di ffe r e nt a day school is from a S u nday

school Th e ca n e loom s b e hind and that mak e s an im
.
,

m e ns e di ff e r e nc e B e sid e s i n this p lac e e v e ryon e s ee ms to

.
,

h ave a natural aw e for cl e rgy Eve rybody bobs wh e n th e y .

m e e t m e j ust as i f o n e was a lord d u k e riding thro u gh

,

t e nants cottag e s
’
.

B y th e way Mr Sk ar r att has told m e to rid e his hors e s

, .

wh e n e ve r I want H e k ee p s tw o love ly black hors e s A n d

. .

I hav e b ee n l e arni ng th e bicycl e [ Th i s l e tt e r i s much

.

illustrat e d ] .

Pr e aching to o was a gi f t which th e n be gan to r e v eal

, ,

its e l f.

Ev e ryth ing w r it e s M r A Ma r shall

,
“
that h e said . .
,
 1 3 8 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
had b e e n w e ll pr e pa r e d b e for e hand and h e did n o t d e part ,

f r om it tho u gh h e s e e m e d to b e pr e aching e xt e mpo r a r ily

, .

H e sp e nt most o f h is mo r ni n gs w r iting o u t his s e r mons

and p r e pa r ing his add r e ss e s and school l e sso n s I w o u ld . .

g up som e tim e s an d find him at his d e sk which how ev e r

o
, , ,

h e wo u ld occasionally l e av e to go into anoth e r room wh e r e

th e r e was a p iano o r to r e ad a few pag e s o f a book i n ,

which h e was i nt e r e st e d o r fo r a fe w min u t e s talk I ,

’
.

n e v er r e m e mb er him at any tim e so d e e ply a bso r b e d i n his

wo r k that h e dislik e d b e ing i nt e r r u pt e d or int e r rupting
hims e lf H e had th e pow e r of rapid c onc e ntration o r h e
.
,

co u ld n e v er have prod u c e d th e amount that h e did aft e r .

wa r ds i n th e midst of all his oth e r activiti e s Wh e n h e .

had w r itt e n h i s s e rmons I th ink his syst e m was to r e ad ,

th e m ov e r s e ve ral tim e s to ge t th e m fixe d in h is h ead Bu t .

h e did not l e arn th e m by h e art o r pr e par e f or any e la

borat e e ffe cts N or did h e st u dy orato r y at all What
. .

e loq u e nc e h e had was natural to him and was bas e d upo n ,

i nt e r e st in h is s u bj e ct a nd h i s i mp e t u ous habit o f mind

and sp e e ch A s h i s mi nd b e cam e mo r e stor e d his n e e d
.
,

fo r s e lf -e xp r e ssion g r e at e r and his p ow e r s of sp e e ch mor e ,

fl e xibl e h e might hav e b ee n e xp e ct e d f r om th e signs h e

, ,

th e n show e d to b e com e a gr e at p r e ach e r

, .
” 1

Lat e r o n this d e v e lop ing gift will l e ad h im aft er taking

, ,

p art in a paroch ial M ission to l ook to r e g u la r mission wo r k ,

u nd e r Cano n Ca r t e r th e Canon M ission e r o f th e dioc e s e

, .

Quit e apa r t f ro m th e fact that th e Cant e rbu r y Chap e l

'

wh e r e h e would have minist e r e d was to hav e non e o f that

‘

rit u al wh ich alo n e h e now b e li e v e d ad e quat e ly e xp r e ss e d

, ,

th e faith h e h e ld h is p lan c am e V i sibly to nothing aft e r

,
'

half an ho u r s talk with A rchbishop Te mpl e kind but

’

,
“
,

p e r e mptory H e was told h e was too yo u ng and h e w e nt

.
,

back to K e msi ng .

B ut w e ll b e fo r e this th e o ld d e si r e for comm u nity lif e

had b e e n taking shap e Mr Mol e swo r th as was said . .
,

1m d ll d hims l f M La p t thi ks ( th gh I sh ld ay th b di c
He o e e e ,
. r en n ou ou s e o e en e

t
o a m d l wa
o ec sci s ) p La dai ; a d H gh p ais d th Vi d
s un on ou ,
u on co r re n u r e e e e

St M ad l
e. by that w it
e ei n e liv fa x t p v s a M La p t j dg s it
r er , re u e er er , s . r en u e .
 140 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
have b ee n at l e ast thr e e y e ars i n p r i e st s ord e rs A n d that ’
.

w i ll not b e till Christmas y e ar .

Your pr e d e c e ssor is coming down to pr e ach at o u r

H arve st F e stival n e xt w e e k I f o r g e t wh e th e r you h av e .

m e t him H e is a rock o f faith to many rich p e opl e in

London —e xtraordina r ily holy
.

I am ti r e d to d e ath o f H arve st F e stivals I have lat e ly

pr e ach e d at f our Th e y puzzl e m e dr e adfully A t th e ir
. .

worst th e y ar e p ur e ly pagan ; at th e ir b e st th e y ar e a
substitut e for Co r pus Chri sti Day Fo r th e latt e r I think .

th e y ar e most u s e ful as o n e h as r e ally no fix e d O p p o r

,

tu n ity fo r urgi ng th e d u ty o f Communion 1 .

Littl e G idding sch e m e o f cours e f e ll thro u gh

Th e

( though pow e r f ully stimulat e d by th e e xampl e o f th e

A nglican n u ns at East Malling wh e r e H igh Ch u r ch p r a o ,

ti c e s obtain e d to an e xt e nt as ye t un e xp e ri e nc e d by H ugh ) ,

but th e r e was a mom e nt wh e n th e possibility o f j oining

a broth e r hoo d f ound e d by Cano n Mason sugg e st e d itse lf
to him I t was th e Co mmunity o f th e R e surr e ction how
. ,

e v e r which finally riv e t e d to its e lf his asp iratio ns

, .

Thi s Community had b ee n found e d by th e p r e s e nt

B ishop o f O xfo r d wh e n as Cano n Charl e s G o r e h e was , ,

h e ad o f the P u s e y H ous e th e r e A f t e r a bri e f soj o u r n at .

R adl e y it mig r at e d to its pr e s e nt hom e i n Yo r kshir e At .

th e tim e o f which w e ar e t e lling Dr G or e was living in , .

th e Littl e Clo ist e r in W e stminst e r “ an oasis ,

wr it e s M , ,

“
Larp e nt de pri er e s e t d é tu de s dans l abbay e mort e
,
’ ’
.

To h im H u gh pr e s e nt e d hims e lf as a p robation e r with

th e A rchbisho p s p e rmissio n to r e sign his curacy Som e
’
.

op positio n was o ffer e d by h is family o n th e grounds o f

his imp u lsive n e s s and i n e xp e ri e nc e o f life and of th e

1
Hu gh ca icat d this th y f H a v st F e stivals i th pitil ss sk tch
r u re e or o r e n e e e

ofM Sti li g i Tth S t i m tali t

r. r n n M Sti li g f d th at th l av s s d at
e en en s s. r. r n oun e o e u e

s ch f stivals ca i d allth t achi g fC p s Ch isti with t its m at i alistic

u e rr e e e n o or u r ,
ou er

ass o ci ati s on .
 A T K EM SI NG 14 1

ministry I summaris e a l e tt e r o f th e Cano n

. to Mr . A . C .

B e nson writt e n o n ju ly 9 1 89 8
, ,

I dar e say our e stimat e of your broth e r i s th e tr u e

one . I tol th e A rchbisho p and yo u r moth e r that I
p f
r e e r r ed a man to hav e had mor e pa r ochial and g e n e ral
e xp e r i e nc e than yo u r broth e r has had b e fo r e coming to us
but that I wish e d to admit h im pa r tly b e ca u s e o f h is o w n
stro n wish —so st r ong it s e e m e d to m e th at to r e f u s e h im
,

, ,

w o u l b e an ov e r - r e at disco u rag e m e nt to him [ th e

g
Canon insists o n th i s at som e l e ngth ] and partly b e caus e ,

I thought h e gr e atly want e d th e disci lin e o f st u dy and an

ord e r e d lif e O n this g r ound th e A r c pbishop allow e d h im
.

to r e sign h is c u r acy in ord e r to com e to us .

I am s u r e that h e o u ht to b e admitt e d to a y e a r s ’

probationa r y disciplin e hat will b e p u r e ly to th e "

. good .

[Th e vows h e r e minds M r B e nso n ar e only y e arly a nd

,
.
, ,

o u r lif e i s v e ry m u ch not a n e nclos e d o ne .

I do n o t think o n e can t ak e th e plac e o f Provid e nc e i n

arranging wh e n o r und e r what circumstanc e s sorrow Sin
, , , ,

and failu r e ar e to e nt e r into th e substanc e o f a man s h e art ’

a nd life B u t I would n o t h av e yo u thi nk that o u r lif e is

.

sh e lt e r e d from co ntact with th e s e as th e y e xist i n o r dinary

human live s .

Mrs B e nson wrot e to Mr A C B e n so n o n july 1 2 1 89 8

. . . .
, ,

that this l e tt e r o f Cano n G o r e s e xpr e ss e s so m u ch my

“ ’

o w n f e e ling i n th e matt e r that I proba b ly lik e it b e tt e r than

y o u do I t is diffi cult to se e what e ls e Canon G or e could

.

h av e don e as H u gh i s distinctly his o w n mast e r and yo u

, , ,

se e it do e sn t bind him to anyth ing and it is tru e h e wa nts

’

, ,

an ord e r e d li f e .

O n th e sam e day M Larp e nt w r ot e to Mr A C B e nso n

. . . .

a l e tt e r wh ich is doubly ill u minative fo r o u r knowl e dg e o f ,

H ugh and of H ugh s e nvironm e nt

'

ju ly 1 2 , 1 89 8.

My own th e ological positio n is ext r e m e ly o r thodox but ,

as I am an antiqu arian th e cons e q u e nc e is that I am
,

e xtr e m e ly mod e rat e in all my vi e ws Yet I sho u ld n o t .

,
obj e ct in th e l e ast to H ugh s opinions o r f o rmal sac e r ’
142 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
do tali sm and vows of c e libacy if yo u r b r oth e r could do
what Plato cal ls 8 861 0 1 , 1 If I co u ld convinc e
.

mys e lf that h e has iti s ow n philosophy of lif e lz is ow n w e ll ,

r e ason e d conviction s u pport e d by w e ll -,

de fi n e d argu m e nts ,

ni s ow n syst e m o f tho u ght and cond u ct I sh o u ld withdraw ,

at o nc e all my obj e ctions What ala r ms m e i s that h e has .

mad e u p his mind and do e s not giv e th e r e ason o f his

,

d e t e r mination O f co u rs e h e give s som e r e asons b u t I do

.
,

not f e e l that th e y ar e his o w n .

I am so r r y h e is n o t s e nsitiv e and r e c e iv e s advic e with

comp l e t e pad yla Wh e n I Saw him at K e msing I implor e d
v .

h i m to Sp e nd a few y e ars q u i e tly r e ading som e o f th e

books which th e A rchbishop l e ft h im I want e d him to .

do a Cyprian o f lzi s ow n B u t h e r e ads not ! I d e e ply .

love him an d I am g r e atly hono u r e d by th e confid e nc e

,

wh ich h e plac e s i n m e b u t I f e e l pow e rl e ss Y o u ar e quit e

,
.

right in not doi ng mo r e tha n yo u hav e don e H e must .

tr y that sort o f lif e Bu t b e tw e e n yo u and m e my d e ar

.
,

f r i e nd it is distr e ssi n to se e that his qu e st of c e libacy

,

will aft e r all b e d e c id e aft er a short novitiat e I t involv e s .

th e philosophy o f a whol e lif e I do no t know G or e I . .

hop e h e will not advis e v i tem ’

e .

P S —O f co u rs e yo u f u lly r e alis e what a consolatio n it

. .

wo u ld hav e b e e n fo r m e if I h ad fo u nd i n him a stud e nt s ’

mind ! H e might have b eg u n a gr e at wo r k th e wo r k o f a ,

whol e lif e and I Sho u ld hav e b ee n so happy to h e lp him at

,

th e b e ginning ! Fancy st u dying Te r t u lli an with him o r ,

A ug u stin e Th e p e r sonal g r i e f is r e al b u t aft e r all I want ,

h im to b e happy a nd follow hi s ow n way .

H u gh h ad r e f us e d a good o ff e r o f a living e xplaining to ,

h is broth e r that h e n e e d e d disciplin e was far too comfort ,

abl e and was going to s u cc e e d i n missionary rath e r than

,

i n pastoral wo r k .

H i s broth e r ask e d him i n r e t u r n wh e th e r , ,

he might n o t p e r haps find th e disciplin e h e n ee d e d in

doing th e pasto r al w o r k wh ich did not int e r e st him r ath e r ,

than i n d e ve lopi ng h i s lif e on li n e s which h e p r e f e r r e d .

B u t I did not u nd e rstand H u gh at th is dat e I t is always .

a st r ain to find o n e whom o n e has always r ega r d e d as a

boy almost as a child h olding st r ong and d e finit e ly matu r ed
, ,
1 4 4. ROB ER T H UGH B ENSON
fi e ld . I t s ee ms to m e that th is Community e ntir e ly satisfi e s
o n e s d e sir e s Th e y ar e n o t so rigid as Cowl e y th e r e
’
.

s ee ms to b e a mo r e fam ily spirit among th e m ; and I admir e

Canon G or e th e Sup e rio r e xtr e m e ly
, , .

I have oft e n wond e r e d wh e th e r your thoughts had e ver

turn e d to that Community .

May I ask yo u r pray e r s fo r m e i n this n e w li fe

H e r e w e ar e i n a gr e at f u ss and h urry—anoth e r chil
dr e n S pantomim e comin o ff n e xt we e k—and th e ho u s e
’

i s f u ll o f d r e ss e s and go de n crowns I hop e it will go .

of f w e ll .

Things go o n h e r e much as us u al I am t e rribly sorry .

to l e av e f or som e r e ason s b u t h av e no doubt that I am

, ,

doin right .

T e r e is undoubt e dly disti nct disciplin e at Mi r fie ld and ,

I don t know how far o n e will stand it This hous e is e xt r a

’
.

o r dinarily pl e asant but e xtrao r dinarily undisciplin e d N o

, .

p artic u lar r ul e s fo r anything in th e world I t will b e a .

shar p chang e .

Th e world i s rath e r tumbling about m e altog e th e r Th e .

pri e st to whom I go to confe ssion is g e tting m arri e d and ,

I am wond e ring wh e th e r I shall cont i n u e to go to h im

I f ancy not —p articularly as I shall b e up i n th e north f or
.

so long .

Do s e nd m e a lin e to wish m e w e ll .

I think to o m u ch f uss i s b e ing mad e abo u t this Crisis

in th e Ch u rch I do n t b e li e ve a Crisis e xists at all ;
.
’ ’

and i f it do e s what e v e r o f it do e s c e rtainly i s all fo r th e

, ,
good and l e ads to sob r i e ty and qu i e tn e ss P e rso nally I
, .

Sho u ld n o t b e ov e r wh e lm e d with so r row if a fe w p ri e sts

s e c e d ed to R om e It would b e bitt e r fo r th e mom e nt b u t

.
, ,

I have no doubt wo u ld l e ad to mor e fruit in th e f utur e as

, ,

to r e sp e ct fo r authority - Ev e r yours .
,

H U GH B EN SO N .

H ugh th e r e f or e l e f t th e pl e asant p lac e s o f th e south

f or th e u nlove ly Yorkshir e town H e w e nt in s e arch o f .

disciplin e to a hous e which h e was d e stin e d to l e ave i n

pursuit o fan authority ye t mor e compr e h e nsive K e msing .
,

with its d e light f ul occupatio ns was allowing him h e f e lt , , ,

to squand e r himse l f almost as a man o f g r oss e r b e nt wast e s

him s e l f ov e r pl e asur e M ir fie ld will b e unabl e to provid e
.
 A T K EM SI NG 14 5

f or his int e ll e ct that dir e ction which its r e stl e ss

timorous , ye t
cha r act e r d e mands H e l e ave s th e villag e wh e r e hi s i ndi
.

v i du alism had p e rhap s had too f r e e a Scop e an d his s e l f

,

d e v e lopm e nt had risk e d turning into s e l f -indulg e nc e : h e

must p lung e into community e xist e nc e and sink his
aggre ssiv e p e rsonality i n th e g e n e ral li f e Ye t no n e can
.

say that at Mir field h e succ e e d e d i n r e ducing hims e l f to

“
typ e : p erhaps at M ir field and ind e e d th e r e e sp e cially
”
, ,

th e r e was no typ e to which th e ortho dox should con f orm .

C e rtainly H ugh n ev e r b e cam e typ i cal o f anyth ing at M ir

fi e ld any more than h e had b e e n o n e i n typ e with M r
,
.

Sk ar r att M Larp e nt o r e arli e r Mr St Clair Do naldson

, .
, , , . .

o r D e an Va u ghan With all th e e nthusiasm b u t with l e s s

.
,

than th e pai n which Francis Thomp son proph e si e s fo r th e

artist h e live d h is li f e h e live d h is li f e
“
, .
 CH A P T ER V I I

M I R F I ELD , 1 89 8 —
1 90
3

Q ue lq ch s d c alm d pa v et d f t v l pp la c lli T t
'
ue o e e e, e u re e or en e o e o ne . ou e st

cl ai t pa l sa s a tific 5 Pi m
r e r e n r e 1 r e.

Et la ch ap ll é p d e e r on

J s is la egl la t ité l li j s is c ps d p sé s fix s t
’
e u r e, u or , s en e u un or e en e e e la
cit é d é d am s
or o nn e es e .

Jagi t ai t fim c ti la p ai i C x q i vi t m spi
’
er on e, on nue r r e. eu u en n e n e re re r se

m tt t ap s d q sti s
e en o er es ue on .

M ais la h p llc s dit

‘ i e e n ou :

V isit s d la p ai i app t z m i
eu r e é p q j l ép
r r e, or e - o v os r v e s ou r ue e es u re , v os

éla s p q j l i t
n ou r ue e e s o r en e.

M A U R I C E B A RR ES ( La C lli I p i e ) o ns ns r e

TH E hous e to wh ich H ugh w e nt i n S e pt e mb e r 1 89 8 is , ,

b u ilt o n th e high r idg e which fac e s so u th ac r oss th e vall e y

of th e Cald e r Mir fie ld is on th e j u nction o f th e London
.

and N orth -W e st e r n and th e Lancashir e and Yorkshir e

R ailways ; oth e r li n e s r u n thro u gh it : Le e ds H udd e r sfi e ld , ,

Wak e fi e ld B radford surround it O ve r th e whol e land

, , .

scap e save wh e n rain s hav e wash e d it a film o f soot has

, ,

s ettl e d I n rain its e l f it is dismal b e yond words Y e t th e

.
,
.

sc e n e has its fasci nation A t sunris e Tu r n e r would have .

,

worshipp e d it ; in almo st any w e ath e r Whistl e r would ,

have love d its f u gitive effe cts A t night th e whol e vall e y .

,

is romantic with th e gr e e n a nd crimson lamps o f Signal s

and th e r u sh of trai ns Th er e ar e Sp r ing or autumn aft e r .

noons wh e n th e s u nlight q u iv e ring in th e bi r ch and ,

mountain -ash t r ee s num erous all around tr an sfigu re s , ,

th e whol e co u ntry -sid e B e nso n lik e all artists was .

, ,
1 46
14 8 ROBER T H UG H B ENSON
what i s a g e nuin e cli ff-f ac e o f rock a nd at o n e point o f , ,

this c onfronting th e s ee thi ng lif e b e n e ath it like any

,

Calvary o f B r e ton o r Spanish coast stands a tall crucifix , .

To th e l e f t li e s a quarry and to th e right th e ground f alls

,

rapidly into a kind o f pocke t i n th e hill and h er e sur , ,

ro u nd e d o n all sid e s by rocks and tr e e s and brambl e s ,

no Sig n o f human i nte r f e r e nc e anywh e r e visibl e a man ,

might in a mom e nt p ut h ims e lf into r e t r e at That H ugh .

cam e h e r e oft e n is c e r tain s inc e h e w e nt to th e troubl e

,

o f making a path a nd st e p s up to th e h igh e r l e v e ls still ,

“
call e d H ugh s Path by thos e who r e m e mb er it for
’ ”
, ,

with th e cutting of a wid e r track th e u se a nd th e m e mory ,

o f th e hum bl e r stair ar e d isapp e aring and th e work h e did ,

upon th e hillsid e is half hidd e n by th e brambl e s .

B e low all this lie th e road th e blacke n e d riv e r th e

, ,

canal th e branching railways th e h u ddl e d stony town

, , .

Th e n th e vall e y ris e s into its f urth e r Slop e .

Within th e ho u s e H ugh B e nson found doubtl e ss th e , ,

discipli n e h e n ee d e d and ye t in no s e ns e an a u st er ity o f

,

li f e which q u e nch e d h is sp irit Mod e r n r e ligious con .

r e atio n s t e nd I suppos e to i nc r e asing th e rigidity o f

g g , ,

th e i r original organisatio n rath e r tha n r e laxi ng it ; and

M ir fie ld which to -day is Lazarist so to say in ton e was
, , , ,

th e n ( as a Cowl e y Fath e r put it ) O r atorian rath e r than

monastic a nd was animat e d by a family sp irit wh ich
, ,

with th e g r adual st r e ngth e ning o f its tissu e s has n o t ,

wholly e vaporat ed .

Th e Community i n H ugh s tim e ros e at at

’

th e Pray e r -book o ffic e o f Mattins was r e cit e d f ollow e d ,

by a v e rsion o f P r im e A t . th e Eu charist was

c e l ebrat e d by o n e m e mb e r o nly of th e Community fo r , ,

i n th e int e ntion of th e Mir field Fath e rs th e social asp e ct ,

o f th e common O blation is thus e mphasiz e d B re ak f ast .

 M I R F I ELD ,
—
1 8 9 8 1 90 3 14
9

follow e d in sil e nc e ; Te rc e was said at

, M e ditation
follow ed at This was mad e as a r ul e i n th e Chap e l , ,

o r i n privat e rooms ; H ugh charact e ristically pr e f e rr e d

th e gard e n Di nn e r at
. f ollow e d S ext at te a
was aft e r N on e at Ev e nsong was said at
sup p e r was at Complin e at and th e lights w e r e
o ffi cially e xting u ish e d at 1 0 .

Th is was th e ord e r o f H ugh s day and it has n o t b e e n

’

alt e r e d substantially i n o u r o w n Its s e tting how e v e r at .

, ,

l e ast as f ar as th e r e ligious s e rvic e s ar e conc e rn e d has ,

chang e d consid e rably I n May 1 9 0 2 a n e w chap e l was

.
, ,

be ing mad e H ugh s o w n r oom with two oth e rs be ing

,
’

thrown into o n e fo r that purpos e Wh e n th e big church .

was suffici e ntly advanc e d th e Community r e sort e d to it,

fo r th e ir de votion s and th e s e ar e now said in a sp e cial

,

chap e l th e r e Wh e n it is compl e t e d c h ap e ls o f th e
.
,

N ativity th e H oly Cross th e R e s u r r e ction th e A sc e nsion

, , , ,

and th e H oly Spirit will mak e a c r own about th e H igh

,

A lta r ; to -day o nly o n e oth e r altar that to which H ugh

, , ,

i n th e o ld chap e l was accustom e d sta nd s i n th e n ave

, ,
.

A plast e r statu e o f Mary hold s forth th e Divin e Child for

wo r ship and ligh ts flic k er b e for e th e cr u cifix I n this
,
. .

sombr e som e what B yza ntin e church th e u su s A ng lican as

, ,

obtains wh ich i s not e xactly Sarum ( a ritual to b e s e e n

,

in its spl e ndour at for instanc e St A gn e s K e nnington )

, ,
.
, ,

b ut i s accurat e ly bas e d w e l e arn upon th e u se i n a

, ,

majority o f p r e -Re formation English parish e s H e nc e .

artists among th e br e th r e n can satis f y th e ir e ye with

ve stm e nts o f rich p e nit e ntial blu e and L e nt e n whit e to o , ,

is notic e abl e at Mir fi eld H u gh d e sign e d two altar -cloth s

.

i n th e s e tinctur e s : th e wh it e o n e b e ars u pon it th e

h er ald r y o f th e Passion app li qu e i n sombr e r e d ; th e fi e ld
,

is g ou tté with gr e at drop s o f blood O ve r th e crimson .

1
50 ROB ER T H UG H BENSON
background o f th e oth e r Spr e ads a gr e at tr e e o f lif e in
blu e ; th e sam e e scutch e on s hang from its branch e s and ,

th e l e g e nd t e ll s how th e tr e e o f d e ath has born e a f r uit

o f lif e . This ritual its e lf d e v e lop e d Slowly Colour e d .

v e stm e nts cam e i n owing to B e nson s h e lp ; th e Lambe th ’

opinions gove rn e d th e u se o f inc e ns e ; a san ct u ary lamp

was light e d annoyingly to B e nson s logical vi e w fo r it
, ,
’

shon e s e ntry to no tab e rnacl e .

Sil e nc e was mor e strictly obs e rv e d as i n most Catholic ,

communiti e s f rom th e e n d o f e v e ning “ r e cr eation till

,

a f t e r br e ak f ast O n th e oth e r hand th e r e was no r u l e

.
,

fo r th e p u tting o u t o f privat e ligh ts ; and it was j okingly

said that in th e morning nothing in th e wo r ld wo u ld ge t
H u gh o u t o f b e d “
b u t th e sound o f o n e o f th e Fath e rs
saying his p ray e rs i n th e bath r oom From br e akfast .

to di nn e r “
l e ss e r sil e nc e was to b e obs e rv e d ; that is ,

c onv e rsation was to b e bri e f and o n n e c e ssary subj e cts .

With all th e good -will i n th e world H u gh n e v e r co u ld ,

carry this o u t H is n e ighbou r s door wo u ld b e agitat e dly

.
’

O p e n e d with or witho u t a knock H ugh w h o had j u st

, .
,

writt e n som e thing h e lik e d o r i n whos e brai n som e s u dd e n

,

id e a had tak e n fasci nati ng shap e wo u ld invad e th e worke r , .

“
I say j ust l-l-list e n to th is
, I say is n t this
.
,
’

“”
r r ripping
- H ush sh wo u ld com e th e answ e r
- - “
.
, Ye s .
,

”
I k n ow ,
H u gh wo u ld u r g e “
but l-look h er e ,
j u st on e
min u t e . A n d th e e xcit e d talk w e nt forwa r d .

A ft e r dinn e r th e p r obatio n e r wo u ld r e t r e at to his room

,

with o n e o r two sp e cial fri e nds and th e n ov er th e fi r e , , ,

“ disc u ss th e situation as h e call e d it C e r tainly h is

, . .

tong u e was sharp e r than h e allow e d it to b e in lat e r y ea r s

y e t h e was notic e abl e fo r h is una ff e ct e d g e niality and good

will M u ch tobacco i n th e shap e o f halve d ciga r e tt e s

.
, ,

sooth e d his n erve s till h e r e solv e d to rid hims e lf of this

,
1 52 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
Th e whimsically spiritual int e rpr e tation and th e e vo c ation , ,

by a word o f an id e a e ls e n o t associat e d with his th e m e

, ,

ar e wholly charact e r istic .

B e sid e th es e labours o f lov e a c e rtai n amo u nt o f

. ,
!

hous e work was g e n e ral Th e b r e thr e n mad e b e ds broke

.
,

coal c l e an e d b oots Fo r dr e ss th ey wor e a loos e cassock

, .
,

with a l e ath e r b e lt ; and though th e h e ad o f th e C o m

mu nity as long as Dr G or e h e ld that position was known
, .
,

as S e nior th e nam e Sup e rior soon cam e i n and th e

“
,
“
,

oth er p r i e sts w e r e call e d Fath e rs in mod e rn f ash ion

“
, .

B e nson strongly u r g e d this chang e A monastic e l e m e nt .

,

too was notic e abl e i n th e w e e kly Chapt e r wh e n fa u lts

,
“
,

agai nst th e R ul e w e r e conf e ss e d p u blicly by th e br e th r e n

o n th e ir kn e e s .

A t Christmas Fath e r B e nson s e nt to his moth e r a

,

numb e r o f Chri stmas Card s sk e tch e d i n p e n and

“

colo u r e d chalks upon half -sh ee ts o f not e pap er Th e .

rath er chill buildings o f th e monast e ry figur e twic e and ,

ar e mor e s e rio u sly drawn ; most o f th e sk e tch e s ar e

h umorous and display in kindly ca r icat u r e th e daily

, , ,

occ upations o f th e Fath e rs A sturdy H e b do m adar iu s .

,

in black c oat ove r h is flutt e ring nightshirt hair to u selle d , ,

f ee t r e d-slipp e r ed j angl e s h is b e ll down th e bl e ak corridor

,

cassock e d fig u r e s shav e i n bath r ooms ; ca r r y brooms and

pails down th e sam e gr e e n -door e d passage s ; Sit with ,

h e ads p lung e d in n e wspap er s in an aust e r e br e akfast ,

room o r bo w e d abov e th e ological tr e atis e s i n th e lib r a r y

, ,

o r h ast e n lat e again towards th e r e l e ntl e ss door Fo r

“
.
, ,
“
dissipation th ey ar e p ictur e d as playing battl e dor e and
,

shuttl e cock ove r a cloth e s-li n e hung with n e w spap er s f or

n e ts cassocks t e mporarily laid asid e o r thr ee by thr e e
, , , ,

with upli f t e d fi ng e r p oi nting th e ir th e ological d e bat e ,

p atrolli ng th e vi llag e str e e t wh e r e th e v e ry dogs paus e to

,
 —
M I R FI ELD 1 8 9 8 1 90 3 ,
1
53
cont e mplat e th e pio u s sp e ctacl e “ A n A ppalling Sc e n e i n .

a Mod e rn R e ligious H ous e s e e ms to display th e walling

up o f som e r e fractory monk b y two B ritish workm e n ,

shock e d and stol id r e sp e ctive ly ; black -habit e d inquisitors

i n th e background urg e o n th e work 1
I n two myst e rious .

companio n drawings a bisho p i s first s ee n writing hi s , ,

“
charg e at a tabl e o n an ov e rhanging a nd crumbling
mountain l e dge A workma n with a gun and a black
coat e d top -hatt e d figu r e —i s h e a N oncon f ormist minist e r
.
,

—holding a huge l i f e -pr e s e rve r stand b ehind him A

,

.
,

distant P op e be ckons anoth e r layman and a b ir r e tta d ’

pri e st to R om e I n th e s e cond p ictur e th e workman has

.
,

fir e d h is companion has hurl e d h is li f e-pr e s e rv e r th e

, ,

rock h as split and th e B ishop with all h is paraph e rnalia

,

i s s e nt flying From a f ar o n th e road to R om e two tiny

.
, ,

figu r e s look back to th e catastroph e .

Th e s e r e lics hav e th e ir pathos Th e y may s e rve too .

, ,

to Show that H u gh could s tand back and se e hims e l f and

hi s companio ns in all th e q u aintn e ss e s incid e ntal to th e ir
nobly -chos e n lif e and co u ld d e fy all ali e n laught e r by
,

having b ee n hims e l f th e first to laugh ; and b e st o f all , ,

that i n h is o w n laught e r th er e was no slight e st not e o f

bitt e rn e ss ; his caricatur e is o f th e kindl i e st ; th e d e sir e to
h u r t n e ve r stirr e d with in h i m ; h e was for th e tim e at his , ,

happy e as e i n th e Mir fie ld Sion .

This first y e ar was almost wh olly sp e nt i n pray e r and

study though w e find trac e s o fslight e xt ernal activity H e
, .

giv e s a lant e rn l e ctur e o n th e H oly La nd in aid o f th e

“
j e rusal e m Fund and f or e s ee s anoth e r o n Egypt fo r
, ,

An fi ish d sk tch c all d Paid by th Day sh ws a th g p of

un n e e , e
“
e , o no er ro u

w km d aw with a g i s s f ch a act val f li a d fi m ss f

or en r n enu n e en e o r er, ue o ne, n r ne o

t ch Th st a still th w k f a cl v sch l b y with q ick y a d

ou . e re re e or o e er oo o u e e n

s ppl th gh t ai d h a d
u e ou un r ne n .
I
S4 ROBER T H UG H B ENSON
” 1
which h e will have to r e ad up B a e d e ke r A n d on “ .
!

Ma r ch 1 1 899 h e writ e s to th e Re v
, , H Mol e sworth . . ,

apropos o f a r e c e nt A nglican controv e rsy

W e En lish ba r k a g r e at d e al
It i s b e tt e r than vi cio u s
snarling gr e ally do not th ink th e r e is v e ry m u ch v ice o n
.

e ith e r Sid e though a t erribl e lo t o f dust and nois e W e

, .

Shall all b e sitting with o u r tong u e s lolling o u t pr e s e ntly ,

smiling at o n e anoth e r I am barking in my poor way at

my M e n s B ibl e Class ; b u t th e y won t bark back—th ey
.

' ’

only g r in like a do g and take it admi r ably ,

H is trictly th e ological and historical st u di e s w e shall

S

d e scrib e lat e r : i n lit e r ary works o f two or thr e e d e part

m ents h e was always int e r e st e d .

During his y e ars at M ir fi eld th e books h e m e ntions ar e ,

o f cou r s e
jolz n I ng lesan t and with this
, what b e ca
,
m e for ,

h im a kind of pagan I n gle san t Walt e r Pat e r s M ar i u s ,

’

tlze Ep icu r ean ; and ind e e d q u it e apart from th e som e

, ,

what simila r pilgri mag e trac e d by th e s e two young m e n ,

singularly r e fin e d s e nsitive and O p e n to r e ligious exp e r i

, ,

e n c e s i n e ith e r cas e towards th e p ractic e o f Catholicism

,

and o f Christianity r e sp e ctive ly as magical a light broods ,

ov e r that p ictu r e o f th e R om e o f th e A ntonin e s as upon

th e England o f j oh n s day and fe w can e scap e th e
’

glamou r di ffus e d by Pat e r s p r os e ’

.

I r e ad M a ze E
r i u s t/ p i cu r ean h e writ e s “ i n th e , ,

holidays —fo r th e fi r st tim e I am asham e d to say What ,

.

a ma r v e llo u s book it i s ! I d e sir e to b e a pagan He .

t u r ns this o ff lightly with an all u sion to an o ld prof e ssor

,

i n A th e ns r e l e gat e d to an asyl u m b e ca u s e h e o ffer e d

,

sacrific e and inc e ns e to A pollo and Ath e n e in his dom e stic

la r a r ium a r e ally cha r mi ng old man I exp e ct but th e ,

Not till
xt y a did h giv with th R C B ick st th a iti a t
ne e r e e, e ev . . er e , n ne r n

missi i C w all pl ayi g d vil s adv cat t his c mpa i s xp siti s f

on n o rn ,
n e
’
o e o o n on
’
e o on o

d gm a th gh s m assig it t 1 899 H is th m t -missi f sh ad w ed

o ,
ou o e n o . e re e o or on ore o .
1
56 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
p e rc ep tions Th e v e ry d u ll e st things b e com e Significant
.
,

with him to d e scrib e th e m I wond e r wh e th e r you agr ee

.

at all .

He had also b e e n r e ading ve ry mildly G eorg e

,
“
,

Sand ; whos e nam e e ve rybody s e e ms to hav e babbl e d

“

f rom th e ir cradl e u pwards e xc e pt m e , Sh e too h e . ,

finds tr an sfigu r e s th e commonplac e ; but n o t like Ma e t e r

,

linck by making yo u f e e l that th e r e ar e hug e myst e rio u s

, ,

Pow e rs b e h ind b u t by making th e v er y things and

,

charact e rs tli emselv es i nt e r e sting quit e apart f rom th e ir

,

significanc e and sym b olism .

”

H u ysmans to o a nd to a l e ss e r e xt e nt Zola s ee m e d
, ,

to him to ach i e v e th is tr an sfigu r i n g e ff e ct though H u ys ,

ma ns did i t th e mo r e e asily as h e p u ts th e whol e thing

“
,

i nto a mystical fram e H e kn e w b u t had n o t I think

.
, , ,

r e ad h is L ei b u s n o r Zola s l e ss r e putabl e works I n con

-
,
’
.

s e qu e nc e i t is ha r d to gath e r wh ic h of th e latt e r autho r s ’

books h e co u ld hav e s e e n save p r obably L ou r des and

, , , ,

possibly L e R ev e lat e r h e r e ad mor e o f H uysman s b e sid e

‘

L a Catlzédr ale incl u ding L a-oas tho u gh h e r e sist e d for

, ,

a long tim e At last h e yi e ld e d to th e argum e nt that as

.
,

a pri e st (e sp e cially i f int e r e st e d as h e was by Satanism

, ,

and th e mo r biditi e s o f wo r ship ) h e ought to H e bitt e r ly

,
.

r e pr o ach e d his co u ns e llor h is vi suali sing br ain torm e nt e d

h im with th e pictur e s o f imp i e ty it had o ffe r e d and his ,

c r ucifix at Mass b e cam e f or a tim e a torm e nt I do

, ,
.

not thi nk h e e v e r r e ad A R eb ou r s H ad h e don e so o r .

,

e v e n its English l e gat e e Tile P i ctu r e of D or i an Gr ay his

, ,

charact e r -drawing i n Tb e Sen ti men tali sts might hav e b ee n

don e with a firm e r hand Si r R i c/z ar d Calmady to o was
.
, ,

a book with d e finit e ly morbid e l e m e nts o n which h e found

h is vi e ws to o complicat e d to writ e .

N o t that h is r e ading had throughout this sickli e d cast .

 M I R FI ELD ,
1 —1 90 3
89 8 1 57
He thoroughly like d Kip ling and studi e d On tize H eels of ,

D e Wet though this d e pr e ss e d him and h e f o u nd th e

, ,

B o e r War a dingy aflair

“
h e was “ thankful fo r o n e s ’

count r y s cr e dit that it has som e how manag e d to stop

’
.

“
H is s e ns e o f humour was o f t e n rioto us : h e la u ghs
h ims e lf Sick ove r stori e s wh ich h e r e co r ds som e tim e s ,

twic e i n l e tt e rs to th e sam e p e rson and which n e e d h is

, , ,

inimitabl e t e lling to s ee m comical ; and h e had an u m

chast e n e d tast e i n Lim e ricks H is love for th e occ u lt is .

still th e r e
W e told host sto r i e s h e writ e s to I ndia i n May
e r -tim e —
,

1 02
9
“
last nig t till pray and I n e a r ly had a fit

with fright wh e n I fo u nd mys e lf alon e in my room —with

,

ghostly c u r tains round my b ed [an abs u rd gobli n i s sk e tch e d

i n th e ma r gin p e e r ing b e tw e e n two curtain s ] I e xp e ct e d
,
.

th e m to b e part e d by bony fing e rs and a fac e to look ,

thro u gh A n d th e r e w e r e c u rio u s thump i ngs in th e hall

.

at 1 1 R M that t e r rifi e d m e
. .

“
My e ld e st broth e r has lat e ly writt e n som e mystical
stori e s which h e has ask e d m e to c r iticis e Th e y ar e q u it e
1
.

f ascinati ng Do yo u lik e that kind o f th ing ? O r ar e yo u

.

too steglin g and blowsy a nd h e althy ?

Lat e r o n a n att empt wi ll b e mad e to judg e h ow f ar
h e took th e s e imp r e ssions s e riously and h ow far h e ,

laugh e d at h ims e l f and th e m C e rtainly at this ve ry . ,

tim e h is h e althful love fo r animals was as k e e n as e v e r .

“
Last w e e k h e wrot e o n March 1 1 1 9 0 2 I w e nt to
, , ,
“

th e Zoo with my b r oth e r W e had a spl e ndid tim e -tipp e d

.
s

k e e p e rs and w e r e take n b e h ind th e sc e n e s W e had a

, .

ch e e tah s cag e O p e n e d and sc r atch e d h is h e ad and con

’
,

ve r s e d with a p e r f e ctly mad lio n who was b e ing k e pt i n

th e dark W e tap p e d his cage fr om o u tsid e and h e
.
,

positiv e ly f oam e d with rag e and bange d against th e iron

plat e I t was lik e to u ching a b u tton and l e tting o ff an
.

e xplosio n instantly Th e n an ap e sp at at u s i nsol e ntly

.

s e ve ral tim e s I t is a most f ascinating plac e

. .
1 58 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
He also w e nt to h e a som e m u sic as r e cr e ation but
r “
,

chi e fly wants mor e Zoo and sp e nds l u nch -tim e in th e

,

So u th K e nsington M us e u m with th e st u ffe d birds and a ,

littl e lat e r gl ee fully w r it e s :

W e ar e goi ng tohav e a dog at last ! I am so pl e as e d
an Irish t e r r i e r and w e hav e lat e ly g r own a r abbit o n th e
,

e stat e — I am a f raid th e y won t hit it o f

f too w e ll H e is a
’
.

r e al wild r abbit who has app e ar e d and who f e e ds o n th e

lawn i n th e e ve ning B u t I y e a r n fo r a pa r r ot—that would

,

p u t th e gild e d pi nnacl e o n my hop e s .

Th e Irish t e rri e r us e d to sl e e p und e r Fath er B e nson s ’

b e d and d e ve lop d
, e
“
a passion fo r fli e s wh om h e e ats
1

i n a g e ntl e manly mann e r o ff my wi ndow-pan e Bu t th ey .

ar e n o t good fo r him Yi e lding how e v e r to a darke r

.
, ,

passion for poaching th e do g to H ugh s gri e f had

, ,
’
,

shortly to b e got rid o f .

Y e t e v e n in th e i n noc e nt life o f b ird and be ast h e

would n o t r e f us e th e stim u lus to dw e ll o n th e uncanny .

F r om Tr e m an s o n e J u ly h e wrot e that h e had b ee n

, ,

list e ni ng to
owls hooting and snoring at night I love th e s e ns e o f .

myst e ry that owls giv e o n e W e u s e d to Si t o u t and w atch

.

th e m aft e r dinn e r going like c r u e l ghosts aft e r mic e O nc e

, .

o r twic e th e y app e ar e d against th e w e st Sk y silho u e tt e d , ,

with a mo u s e in th e ir claws .

O f lit er ary work during this first p e r iod I do u bt

,

wh e th e r h e did any ( save of co u rs e th e , ,

pr e paration o f
s e r mons and th e lik e ) oth e r than th e e d ition o f h is

fath er s Pray e rs a nd S e rv i c e s
’
.

H e had b e gun this b e for e act u ally going to M ir fie ld ,

and a l e tt e r from Mr s B e nso n surviv e s i n wh ich sh e

.

b e gs him to submit th e ma nuscript to som e o n e of a

liturgical t e mp er am e nt who was also an intimat e fri e nd
1
Is it childish t o no tic e th e p s i fyi g p
er o n n ron ou n ?
1 60 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
r e tr e ats di ff e r i n no substantial way from thos e to which
Catholics ar e accustom ed A noth er not e-book contain s .

M e ditations o n th e sac e rdotal l i f e and spirit arrang e d ,

f or te n days Th e y ar e bu ilt stri ctly o n th e lgnatian

.

l in e s ; two pr e l u d e s thr ee points a nd a colloq u y Th e s e , , .

,

I con fe ss s e e m to m e f rom pur e ly i nt e rnal and stylistic

, ,

qualiti e s to b e i f n o t original at l e ast writt e n down

, , ,

mo r e fr ee ly according to H u gh s own t e mp er am e ntal ’

“
dict at e s 1
I nt e rc e ssion s w e r e a r e gular f e atur e o f
.

Mi r fi e ld lif e and f ollow e d S e xt Th is habi t o f r e gular

, .

a nd o ffi c ial int e rc e ssion l e ft a li f e long imp r e ss upon

“

H ugh C ertai nly it stimulat e d his i nt e r e st in Miss H M

. . .

Kyl e s book Ban ds of Lov e spok e n o f b e low and in spir e d

'

, , ,

h is last small volum e Vex i lla R eg is writt e n af te r th e , ,

outbr e ak o f war in 1 9 1 4 I n a small p ray e r-bo ok e nti tl ed .

Su r su m Cor da by Mrs A L I llingwo r th and th e R e v , . . . .

W H Fr e r e and brought out on O cto b e r 20 1 898 to which

. .
, , ,

th e pr e s e nt B ishop o f Wi nch e st e r had writt e n a pr e f ac e ,

h e not e s down th e main anniv e r sari e s o f h is lif e and adds ,

l ists o f initials partly o f p e rsons partly o f p ious e nt er

, ,

pris e s to th e sch e m e s o f int e rc e ssion includ e d i n th e

,

pray e r -book H e i ns e rts p r ay ers to M ary fo r th e H oly

.

Souls a p ict u r e o f O u r Lady and a na i v e ly pai nt e d

, ,

Ch alic e and H ost f or fro ntisp i e c e ; and i t i s cl e a r that

h is pray e r lif e is alr e ady f u lly Catholic
- “ I n f act h e t e lls .
,

u s so h ims e l f i n h is Confess i ons ( p adding that h e .

said hi s Rosary r e gul arly This I sho u ld i ndicat e n e ith e r .

, ,

was nor i s a r egular Mir fie ld custom but a practic e ,

1
Th e R e v W H a t ass s m th at th y w p actic ally igi al
. G . . r re u re e e e re r or n .

1
Th m s b l gi g t this pe i d s viv
re e se r on C h istm a a d its
e on n o r o ur e : on r s, n

impli d v s al f h m a sta d a ds f j d gi g ;
e re er o th c p at li f f th
u n n r o u n on e or o r e e o e

C h ch ;
ur th law f
on t ib ti Th y a
e w itt th gh t with
o re r u on . e re r en ro u ou ,

additi s b t p acti cally

on ,
as
u s Th ir th l gy is th d x ; th i styl
r no er ur e . e eo o or o o e r e

st ill c tai s t m ch f th A d xtly

on n oo A d thu agai of th e
“
n ne ,
” “
n en n,
”
o e co n

v en ti al p ach
on t b att activ
re er o e r e.
 M I R F I ELD ,
1 89 8—1 90 3 1 61

which if not forbidd e n to th e individual would not b e

, ,

e ncourag e d still l e ss o fli c ially sanctio n e d

, .

H u gh B e nson had b e e n admitt e d as Probation e r with ,

th e R e v Sam u e l H e aly w h o r e mai n e d h is v e ry i ntimat e

.
,

f r i e nd o n O ctob e r 4
,
B y J u ly 1 899 th e r e f o r e th e
, , , ,

y e ar o f P robatio n was r u n ning o u t and th e q u e stion of ,

P rof e ssion ros e abov e th e horizon B y Prof e ssion was .

m e ant th e taking o f th e th r e e standard vows o f pove rty ,

chastity and ob e di e nc e u nd e rst o od in this s e ns e that th e

, , ,

candid at e mad e a sol e mn promis e to obs e rv e th e r u l e o f

th e Community for thirt e e n months and d e clar e d h is ,

i nt e ntion o f r e maining i n th e O rd e r fo r li f e Th e s e vows .

th e n contain e d no mor e e ss e ntial p e rman e ncy than did

th is i nt e ntion : if this Sh o u ld flag n o disp e nsation w as ,

n e c e ssary but d e p art u r e could tak e plac e automatically at

,

th e e n d o f th e p e r iod o f months I t coul d also b e allow e d .

,

impos e d o r r e fus ed b e for e th is Th e v o w o f ob e di e nc e

, .

was und e rstood i n th e usual way : e xt e rnal ob e di e nc e was

r e q u ir e d sav e wh e n conscie nc e g e nuin e ly prot e st e d ; i n
,

te r io r ob e di e nc e wa s e xp e ct e d withi n th e limits impos e d

by e ach man s p sych ic t e mp e ram e nt B y chastity c e li
’
.
,

bacy was m e ant Th e r e was no s u gg e stion I gath e r that.

, ,

marriag e att e mpt e d i n d e fianc e o f th is vow was n u ll and

”
void Pove rty impli e d that a man s capital r e main e d i n
.
’

tact to him b u t his i ncom e was hand ed ove r to th e

,

Community Th e dict u m mor e ove r Qu i dgu i d m on aclt u s

.
, ,

acgu z r i t m on as ter i o acgu z r i t was r e cognis e d : books wr itt e n

' '

, ,

at M ir fie ld r e main e d a so u rc e o f r e ve nu e to th e ho u s e
his is th f ast f St F a cis f A ssisi t wh m h h ad f m th s a ly
1 T e e o . r n o , o o e ro e e e r

d ays a g i d v ti
enu ne H ga d d him a th p att
e o f th at childlik
on . ss e re r e s e e rn o en e

a d simpli city f
n which a his l tt s sh w h w a c st a tly p ayi g
or ,
s e er o , e s on n r n .

M i fi ld a l ady p it t f H gh s c sid
1
d w a a s t f p is wh ’
r e , en en o u on e re , s or o r on e re

cl gym a m ad t d a th y a t ld a d g ally h mb gg d
er en re e o N
o s e re o , n en er u u e .
”

Fath B s a sw d I am a m k a d c a t m a y I fa cy this
er e n on n ere , on , n nno rr
”
. n

sa casm w a q it c sci s
r s u e un on ou .
1 62 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
th u s Th e L ig ht I n v isi ble prove d l u crativ e long aft e r its
,

author s disapp e aranc e B e th Mr A C B e nson t e lls u s

’
.
1
,
. . .
,

u s e d to mak e him littl e pr e s e nts and at i nt e r vals lam e nt

“
,
”
his stat e o f d e stitution “ I can t b e a r to th in k of th e .
’

gr ee dy c r e atur e s taking away all th e g e ntl e m e n s things ’

.

I n 1 899 how e v e r B e nson did not f e e l hims e lf in a mood

, ,

suit e d to prof e ssion H e conti nu e d th e r e fo r e e x p er i

. , ,

m e n tin g and e mbark e d upon a lif e f u ll e r o f e xt e r nal work

,

than h e had hith erto att e mp t e d From almanacks and .

l e tt e rs it would b e almost possibl e to r e con stit u t e th e

list o f plac e s tha t h e visit ed A ft e r hi s r e tr e at at S e lwyn .

Coll e g e Cambridg e from S e pt e mb e r 1 1 th to 1 sth it is

, , ,

H arve st F e stivals and isolat e d s e rmons in th e n e igh bour

h o od o f Mir fie ld that ar e at first not e d ; h e pr e ach e s
twic e in th e op e n air n e ar H udd e rsfi e ld and giv e s a M ission
o f o n e w e e k at St Joh n s Church S e ve noa k s Du r ing it ’
.
.
,

h e pr e ach e d daily to ch ildr e n at 9 A M at Eve nsong at . .

a nd a sp e cial M ission s e rm on and i nstr u ction at

P M . From N ove mb e r 6 to 23 h e sp e nt his holiday
.

chi e fly I think at Tr e m an s N o e ngag e m e nt -book f or

, , .

1 90 0 s ee ms to s u rviv e but his apostolic exp e ri e nc e s d u ring

thi s and th e f ollowing y e ars had nothing o f p e c u lia r i n
te r e st ; th e y incr e as e d st e adily in num be r and b e cam e ,

probably mor e d e finit e ly r e vivalisti c in charact er Th e y

“
.

ar e in f act o f t e n e nough actually call e d “ Re vival W e e ks

, ,

h e d e lib e rat e ly r e ad Talmag e b e for e pr e ach ing in ord e r

2
,

to work h ims e lf up
“
and th e mingling o fCatholic dogma
with Evang elistic f e rvour (which ca u s e d a c e rtain cl e rgy
man to d e light h im by Sp e aking o f his pr each ing as hal f
W e sl e yan hal f R omanist ) r e mai n e d with him i n a
, ,

chast e n e d f ashion all his lif e H e u s e d g e st u r e s at

,
.

this p e riod f ar mor e than e ve r h e did as a Cath olic and ,

1 H gh ,
u p .
97
.
1
Th e fa m s A m ica
ou er n Ev an ge li cal p re ach er .
1 64 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
To som e n o t vicious p e op l e I b e li e ve it wo u ld b e a posi
, ,

tiv e r e li e f i f I could anno u nc e n e xt Sunday that th e r e was

no s u ch hop e A S fo r any r e alisation o f dang e r in Sitting
.

th u s loos e ly and car e l e ssly I see not a trac e Th e O pinio n .

Ca r lyl e i s cr e dit e d with is I e xp e ct w id e ly common , , ,

.

A s for J e s u s h e was a good yo u ng man disgust e d wi th

,

th e Shams and hypoc r isi e s of his tim e which h is so u l

co u ldn t abid e ’
A n d ye t such p e opl e ar e pl e asant
.
,

ag r e e abl e and i nt e r e sting v er y lik e abl e and v e r y much

, ,

amus e d wh e n th e parso n g e t s h ot and pr e ss e s hom e

co nviction .

I n March B e nson writ e s agai n

Work is acc u mulating v e ry m u ch I have e ngag e m e nts
fo r n e arly two y e ars ah e ad —and f e e l as if I w e r e ca u ght
.

i n a mach in e and w e r e b e i ng slowly d r awn in Do yo u .

know that s e nsation ? Th e only th ing to do is not to

think about it .

B ut th e “ re t admill s e nsation is o ft e n e no u gh all u d e d

to by h im . A l r e ady o n D e c e mb e r 6 1 9 0 1 h e h ad writt e n , ,

thing that o n e finds most t r ying i n this wo r k i s th e

Th e
fact that o n e has to b e
“
o n th e spot e v er y tim e One
”
.

can t do it in a r o u tin e sort o f way I f o n e is j u st i n a

’
.

kind o f d u ll l e ve l o n e had b ett e r not b e th e r e Pa r ochial

cl e rgy can mak e up for a slack fit aft e r wards —and w e
.
,

can t Th at r e ally is a g r e at strain O n e g e ts to a plac e

’
. .

and has i nstantly to b e at full st e am and r e main so u ntil

o n e go e s — and that is trying to body and so u l 1
.

N on e l e ss wh e n h is activiti e s could take o n th e

th e ,

colour o f an adve ntur e e ve n u npl e asant h e r e viv e d , ,

.

O p e n -air pr e aching was at onc e t e rrifying and exciting to

him I n th e J uly o f 1 90 2 h e wrot e :
.

This
month w e b egi n p re ac h in g i n th e Q u arry : and I
am t e rrifi e d to know that I have to take S u nday w e e k
W e h av e a br ass band —and oth e r pranks
.

1 this s am l tt h all d s t a g i va c d sti d t p v l asti g

In e e er e u e o r e n e e ne o ro e n

X l ks a l t oold I wish I did I h av b

o i f m d f my y th f l
o er. : e e en n or e o ou u

twic t -day—a d th s c d tim by a ag d m a with a l g

.

app a a c
e r n e e o n e e on e n e n on

b a d - which sp ci ally a ys m
e r e e nno e.
 M I RF I ELD ,
1 89 8 —1 9 0 3 1 65

O n S e pt e mb e r 2 5, he was j ust back f rom Lincol n

tir e d to d e ath St . r ee - —
t pr e ach ing e v ery v ning f ollow e d e e
by a s ermon & c i n ch u rch W e had such larg e and
,
.
, .

att e ntiv e c r owds Th e colli e rs stopp e d at o nc e th e v e ry

.

small e st att e mpt at dist u r banc e ; a nd th e n a good many

follow e d us into chu r ch .

int e r e sting sid e light i s th r own

An u po n his work
at th is tim e by th e R e v C H art now . .
, o f St N inia n s
.
’

Whitby
I w e nt h e writ e s o n a M ission with h im to St
, ,
“
.

Pat r ick s B irmin ham i n 1 9 0 2

’
, I r e m e mb e r how h e
, .

d r e ad e d it b e f o r e and and was n e rvous ; how h e s e mi

hypnotis e d th r e e yo u ng f e llows who cam e i n o n e night and
sat i n th e f r ont r o w to sn e e r ; h o w h e gave o u t th e hymn ,
‘
Faith o f o u r Fath e rs with this app e nd e d r e ma r k : B y
,
’
‘

thos e fath e rs I do n ot m e an Cranm e r R idl e y Latim e r , , ,

and that kind o f p e rso n ! Probably nobody in th e con ’

e ati o n e xc e pt th e cl e rgy had h e a r d o f any o f thos e

g g
r
divi n e s A t th e sam e M ission aft e r a fe w da 5 o f s e e m
.
,

i ng fail u r e th e p e opl e b egan to com e up i n o c k s nigh t

,

by night quit e st e ady and u n e xcit e d to r e n e w th e ir

, ,

baptismal vows ; and h e and I Sp e nt th e last fe w days o f

th e fo r tnigh t i n ch u r ch all day lo ng s e e ing p e nit e nts and ,

o nly making flying visits to th e cl e rgy -ho u s e to snatch

c u ps o f te a I can also r e m e mb e r b e in u ps e t at first to
find th at aft e r som e ve ry powe r f u l an ge arn e st s e rmon
.

h e would at on c e adj ourn to th e h o u s e and b e gin r e ading

a Shilling shock e r with all his might ; but I found that
‘ ’

it was his way o f givi ng a s e dativ e to h is brai n and that ,

if h e had not don e som e thing o f th e kind h e would hav e ,

b e e n to o m u ch e xcit e d to Sl e e p and so th e n e xt day s ,
’

wo r k would have su ff e r e d .
”

He xpr e ss e s a pr e f e r e nc e
e he was d e stin e d to mortify '

oft e n e nough i n lat e y e ars

I ag r e e absolut e ly about bazaars Th ey ar e t e r ribl e
th e y ar e dishon e st —u n dign ifie d —silly —and abov e all
.

, ,
tir e som e b e yond wo r ds I f I was oin to give to an
§ an e swindl e d I
.

obj e ct I wo u ld much rath e r give tl

, , .

can t see th e attractio n at all

’
.
1 66 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
I f I may ve ntu r e an O pinion upon thi s p er iod o f e x
t e rnal activity it shall b e that with i n it all h e is making
,

d e finit e progr e ss toward s th e Spiritual a nd th e int e r ior .

A t first th e r e ar e too many l e tt e rs o f th e follo w ing de s c r i p

tio n
fan . 26 , 1 90 0 .

St Paul s was q u it e gorg e ous Fiv e cop e s ! [Th er e

.
’
- .

follows th e q u ai nt e st ske tch o f fo u r b ee hive-lik e p e r sonag e s

app r oaching a candl e d alta r ] Fo u r o f th e c op e e s had not .

anything pa r ti cular to do b u t th e fifth Canon K was , ,

c e l e brant B e e thov e n i n C
. O Savin Vic tim
(G o unod ) H ail F e stal Day ( M ino r ) a nd
, , r b s b e ata ,
.

I n e a r ly w e pt for j oy Tw o altar lights and tw o standa r ds

—a f airly la r g e o r ch e st r a who w e nt o u t in proc e ssions like
.

”
th e H e ge m o th o r so m e thing of King David A vast
“
.

congre gation with comp ar ati v ely fe w comm u nicants .

Th e f ollowing card was writt e n ( in a Latin e mancipat e d

f rom any obligation it wo u ld s e e m followi ng at final
, , of
“

by th e subj unctive ) from Mark e t H arboro o n M arch ’

2 2, 1 90 1

G ratias tibi ago f rat e r pro pistola tua hodi e acc epta
, , e , .

Mo e r o r pra e s e rt i m de do lo r ib u s t u is : se d e q u ide m tam

de fe ssu s sum u t tibi e tiam i nvid e o C atar r h am e tiam , ,
.

in capit e tam tu m e fac tam u t mo r t u u s e ss e d e sid e r o .

O mnia Sp ir itu ali a tam e n b e n e satis p r o gr e di u n tu r D e .

P o e n ite n ti a e lo c u tu s p av idu s sum se d p o e n i te n te s e t , ,

salu te m e su r ie n te s e xp e cto P r o c e ssio n e s p e r vias non .

,

Si n e cr u c e lu m i n ib u s q u e fu r or e m po p u li ex c itav e r u n t : ,

n e c sin e li c to r e i n pac e m s e r v an dam p r o c e de b am u s Se d .

,

b e n e dic tio n e D e i e t p r o te c tio n e B V M e t Patro ni H u gonis . . .

o m n iu m q u e Sanctorum salvi fu i m u s e i r ac u n dia p r ot e s

tant u m : e t omnia tranquilla sunt
1
O ra f r at e r p r o
nobis —H B 1
.
, ,

. . .

1
h a k y u b th f y r l tt
T n o , ro er , or ou e e r , re e c iv d t -day I am sp ci ally s y
e o . e e o rr

f y
or w s b t my sid I am ti
ou r oe u on e so re d th at I act ally vy y [ I h av ]
u en ou . e

too a c ld i omy h ad st ff d p th at I
n e , so u e u wi sh I w d ad e re e .

H w v o all spi it al b si
e er, ss is g i g r u u ne o n on w lle gh I S p k
e nou P ac . o e on en n e,

a d am v y f ight
n d ; b t I am xp
er r e ne u e e cti g p it ts a d m h g y f
n en en n en un r or

s alvati P cessi s th gh th st ts
on . ro on r ou e r ee ,
no t with t c ss a d lights xcit d th
ou ro n , e e e
1 68 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
as a practic e may b e th e Church o f R om e has an ac c u m u
,

lat e d exp e ri e nc e and a traditio n o f e xtr e m e antiquity

, ,

a moral th e ology pati e ntly and minut e ly e laborat e d and

laborio u sly instill e d into h er Le vit e s which pr e clud e much ,

dang e r o f amat e u r ish n e ss Ev e n so it is normally with

.
,

t e r ro r that th e young pri e st e nt ers fo r th e first tim e his

.

Conf e ssional Mo r al th e ology is e v e n yet n o t o ffi cially

.

ta u ght I gath e r at M ir fi e ld That B e nson co nsci e ntiously

, , .

mad e a dig e st o fall Le hmku hl omitti ng (as h e e nt e rtainingly,

r e cords ) th e s e ctio ns o n th e Sov e r e ign Ponti f f as irr ele

“

vant was e xc e ptional B ut h e undoubt edly f e lt th e n e e d

,
.

o f t r aining and gr e w not e d among two o r thr ee sp e cial

,

fr i e nds as a v e ry cl e ve r cas u i st .

This not e as I most di ffide n tly s u bmit o f amat e urish

, ,

n e ss mad e its e l f cl e arly h e ard in a cas e wh e n h e s u gg e st e d

to a Sick p e nit e nt that s h e Should r e c eiv e U nction .

ju ne 22

P e rso nally I am so ignorant about it all that I da r e ,

say it is quit e wrong e v e n to su g e st it Bu t I cannot .

h e lp fancying that a Christian w o u d h av e a right to claim

it in illn e ss quit e apart f r om b e ing i n ex tr emis Bu t it is
, .

di ffic u lt to ge t and might b e q u it e w r o ng

,
.

He con s u lt e d Fath e r Fr e r e and wrot e ,

on J uly 1 ,
1 90 2

Th e r e appar e ntly two m ethods o f bl e ssing o il

ar e
W e st e rn which must b e cons e c r at e d by a B ishop o r
, , ,

u nd e r c e r tai n ci r c u mstanc e s by s e v e n pri e sts ; ( 2 East e rn

, ) ,

which i s n o t cons e c r at e d at all but is tak e n from a ,

lamp that bu r ns b e f or e a holy imag e S e condly th e r e .

,

is th e d e ve lop m e nt of its u se wh ich e nds in Ex tr eme

U nctio n —and th e r e i s also th e o r iginal p r actic e which ,

was a kind o f Catholic Faith -h e aling .

Fath e r Fr er e ag r e e s that it is p er f e ctly within th e r ights

of a Christia n to avai l hims e lf o f this s e cond u se so long ,

as h e is r e ally r e ady to acc e p t G od s will Fath e r F r e r e ’

.

also adds that whil e h e would p r e fe r a B ishop to bl e ss it ,

 M I R FI ELD ,
1 89 8 —1 90 3 1 69

ye t that h e wo u ld n o t scr u p l e to u se o il bl e ss e d by a
pri e st i f h e could ge t no oth e r
, .

H ow e v e r Fath e r B e nso n p r omi s e s to try and ge t som e

,

o il bl e ss e d by a B ishop i n Scotland if his p e nit e nt will

,

try to ge t a pri e st who will cons e nt to u se it and e nds ,

by r e comm e nding h e r to p u t h e rs e l f i n th e corr e ct dis

“

p ositio n o f r e signation and also to disr e gard h e r p eopl e s

,
’

vi e w that h e r illn e ss was n ervous A ft e r all th e doctors

.
”
,

kno w .

I f e e l convinc e d that I shall n o t e ve n b e s u sp e ct e d o f

smiling at thos e A nglicans who ar e trying to r e sto r e to
customa r y u se thos e Sacram e nts which th e y r e cognis e to
hav e lap s e d as pa r t of th e ir e ccl e siastical lif e ; it is o n e ,

may say M ir fie ld s programm e to Catholicis e England

,
’

th r o u gh th e Sacram e nts ; and Fath e r B e nson s spi r it u al ’

d ir e ctio n which f r om 1 90 1 w e ar e abl e to trac e c o n se c u

,

tiv e ly was firm and wis e no l e ss than e nth u siastic

, , Ten .

tati v eness is a q u ality which e ve n at th e b e ginni ng

, it ,

wo u ld b e hard to find i n it and Fath e r W aldegr av e H art

has told m e that what s u rpris e d him not l e ast i n so yo u ng
a man as B e nson was h is su r en ess o f spiritual to u ch .

From hi s whirlwi nd activity abroad B e nson us e d to ,

r e turn with i nfinit e cont e nt to th e hav e n o f Mir field It .

is a gr e at thing to poss e ss a haunt o f p e ac e e v e n if yo u ,

u se it chi e fly as a r e pai r ing-dock in vi e w o f fu r th e r e xc u r

sions Bu t h e r e ally love d it and by f ar th e s u r e st proof

.
,

o f this is that during this p e r iod e v e n in h is hom e h e f e lt

, ,

h ims e lf Som e what a fish o u t o f wat e r Lat e r o n wh e n th e .

,

chang e wh ich it might hav e b e e n f e ar e d wo u ld c r e at e

, ,

a final s e v eranc e had b e e n mad e th e atmosph e r e o f

, ,
1 70 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
Tr e m an s was to h im d ear b eyond most oth e rs . B ut i n
D e c e mb e r 1 9 0 2 h e could writ e
, ,

lif e h e r e wh ich I love mak e s o n e stupid i n

Th e , ,

an y oth e r ci r cumstanc e s a nd I can t fit i n th e r e for e at all

'

with my p e op l e I t is r ath e r d r e ary b u t so it is

.
, .

H is attitud e towards h is associat e s at M ir field was

charac te ristic H e co u ld b e e nthusiastic but h e was by
.
,

no m e an s undisc r iminating O n c e rtain days wh e n th e .

ho u s e was full o f cl e rics ass e mbl e d f or qui e t days or

“
, ,
”
th e li k e h e wo u ld e scap e to a f ri e nd s room Save m e ! ’
.
,

h e would e xclaim as h e b u rst i n “ to o many b -b -lack ,

cl e r gym e n abo u t Wh e n a f t e r th e confusion wh ich

.
,

att e nd e d th e e l e ction o f Cano n G or e to th e B ishop r ic o f

Worc e st e r in 1 9 0 2 a n e w sup e rior was finally appoint e d
,

to th e M ir fie ld Community B e nso n w r ot e e cstatically o f ,

him that h e was

a l e an man a th e o logian lit u rgiologist hym nologist scholar
, , , , ,

musician pr e ach e r athl e t e and a saint ! I t is a good

, , ,

list and h e ex cels in e ach it e m and withal a ve ry

, ,
pl e asant human p erso n .

On oth e r hand it was aft e r an e ncount er with o n e

th e ,

o f th e br e thr e n wh o go t badly o n h is n e rv e s that h e

“

had to wr e stl e s e riously with h ims e lf i n soul and wrot e ,

th e re upon th e v e rs e s e ntitl e d I n the Gar den of a R elig iou s

H ou s e .

He r e gr e tt e d imm e ns e ly th e disapp e a r anc e o f his

Camb r idg e f r i e nds ye t n e v e r had h e I imagin e quit e so
, , ,

sha r p a tong u e as at th is p e riod

It s e e ms to m e q u it e e xtraordinary h e wr ot e to his ,

corr e spond e nt in I nd i a in 1 90 2 th e way o n e has lost

“
, ,

sight of p e op l e o n e kn e w at Cambridg e R eally you ar e .

”
almost th e o nly p e r son I know now .

It s r e ally awful h e wrot e again a good many mo nth s

’

,
”
,
1 72 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
He m e ntio ns a r e c e ntly -appoint e d pr e lat e a nd d e clar e s ,

that h e i s a n e xc e ll e nt e xampl e o f consp ic u ous m e diocrity ;

and th e r e fo r e acclaim e d loudly by th e Church o f England .

“
Tr u e g e ntilit y says an e ight e e nth c e nt u r y maxim
, ,

“
forms n o convictions and is n ev er d e monstrative ,
.

He i s what
must call ast u t e and it is a poor thing
on e
to be .
“
Be good sw e e t P r e lat e and le t wh o will b e
, ,
”
cl e v er . That i s r e ally tr u e I th ink S u r e ly ast u t e n e ss in
,
.

s piritual things n e a r ly always e nds by falling into th e pit

that it has e laborat e ly digg e d for oth e rs
“ H ow e v e r .
,
st u pidity in sp iritual thin s is n e a r ly as disastro u s Th e
f
.

r e al s e cr e t e adds dryl is co u r s e to find th e gold e n

[h y o f , ,

m e an such a s yo u and I p u r s u e A r e ally stupid good

,
.

p e r son ro u s e s m e to a kind o f f r e nzy I m e t onc e a r e ally .

good and st u pid Q u ak e r I love th e id e a o f Q u ak e r s b u t

.
,
not th e i r r e ality at l e ast if this was a sp e cim e n I .

have hardly e ve r want e d so much to d e stroy anybody .

H is occ u pation s p ursu e d th e ms e lve s quit e p lacidly

ow n ,

and o f cou r s e th e d r ama— ch ildr e n s drama—co u ld not b e

, ,
’

n egl e ct e d I n th e J an u ar y o f1 9 0 0 a Child r e n s Pantomim e

.
’

The Beau ty an d th e B eas t was act e d i n th e M ir fi e ld school

,

room and h e propo s e d I gath e r to act i t again in 1 90 2

, , , , ,

i n th e Quar r y This how e v er n e v e r happ e n e d

.
, , .

“
Th e Pa ntomim e was a gr e at s u cc e ss h e wrot e o n ,

D e c e mb e r 2 9

I was stag e -str u ck again—as I always am and b egan ,

to wish I wasn t a cl e rgyman in ord e r that I might act

’

mys e l f A n d I always fall d e e ply in love with th e l e ading

.

f e mal e cha r act e rs—w hich is unfo r tunat e for a monk !

H ow ev e r I hav e to r n mys e l f away
, B ut th ey look so .

be a u tif u l all ro u g e d u p and e ye b r ow ed b e hi nd th e foot

, ,

lights Th e y ar e sca r c e ly o f an a e to b e marri e d ye t

1
.

”
abo u t thi r t ee n is th e e ld e st ; a nd t e y have n t an h i n
,
“ ’

th e i r e nti r e r e p er toi r e and say “ o i for I and so o n

,
”
,
”
.

Still th e y ar e exq u isit e cr e at u r e s .

1
He m ad e up th e child re n himsel f a , nd en o j y d it imm s ly
e en e .
 M I R F I ELD ,
8
1 9 8—1 90 3 1 73

At a dramati c mom e nt th e “ B e ast was to b e laid ,

ou t ,with a pal ! and candl e s as d e ad Th e r e was a , .

mom e nt o f n e rve s—th e candl e s had to b e r e mov ed l e st ,

th e villag e rs migh t find th e m “ R oman Catholic N e xt .

,

o n e o f th e mor e romantic lyrics had its tun e alt e r e d

th e B aptists us e d it as a hymn Finally th e e xpr e ssio n .

,

“
G o to b laz e s had to b e e xp u ng e d in d e f e r e nc e to ,

p io u s e ars possibly intol e rant o f th is r e mot e allusio n

, ,

eve n to e t e rnal fire s H ugh n e v e r b e cam e quit e pati e n t

, .

with th e ir susc e ptibiliti e s .

B e sid e s th e s e mor e s e c u lar avocations h e display e d ,

a n int e rmitt e nt a nd rath er p erfunctory int e r e st in

for e ign missions A s e arly as July 1 90 1 h e had ask e d
.
, ,

a n I ndian civil s e rvant for in f ormatio n co nc e rning I ndian

missions to b e in corpo r at e d i n a book a Mir fie ld Fath e r
,

was writing H e pr e ach e d for th e. a nd spok e ,

lat e r o n with sympathy o f th e Community s n e w hous e

’

in Johann e sb u rg Fo r th e Childr e n o f th e Church

“
.
,

King s M e ss e ng e rs
’
a d e partm e nt o f th e Childr e n s
,
’

S P G M issionary A ssociatio n h e e v e n produc e d at r e

. . .
, ,

qu e st a Syl labus o f I nstruction compri sing sk e l eto n

, ,

l e ctu r e s o n th e live s o f B ishop s Fi e ld o f N e w f oundland ,

M D o u gall o f Labuan and Sarawak Callaway o f St

‘
, .

Joh n s Ka ffraria G e org e S e lwyn o f N e w Z e aland and

'

, , ,

Edward B icke rst e th o f S Tokyo with r e f e r e nc e s to th e

.
,

standard works upon th e m B u t h e did n o t e nj oy it . .

A ll my spar e tim e h e writ s e “

is occ u p i e d i n tra ns
, ,

lating hymns and also in writing dr e ary S u nday

School l e sso ns o n th e s u bj e ct o f for e ign missio ns Poo r .

stu ff I am a f raid
, H e charact e r istically sugg e sts that
.

th e l e ssons sho u ld b e d r iv e n hom e by tabl e aux .

B e sid e s th e s e translations o f hymns h e wrot e a fe w ,

po e ms p u blish e d at th e tim e i n th e P ilot which n e ve r

, ,
 1 7, ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
r e f us ed h is o ffe rs Th e s e aft e rwards f orm e d th e b u lk
.
1

of th e coll e ct e d Po e ms p u blish e d in 1 9 1 4 by M e ssrs .

B urns O at e s H e had only cons e nte d to th e ir ap

.

p r an c e in o r d e r that any p r oc e e ds o f th e ir sal e might

e a

b e d e vot e d to Mr N o r man Pott e r s H om e s o f which

’
.
,

I sp e ak be low ; and ind e e d th e i r app e al unl e ss I e r r , ,

li e s chi e fly i n th e p e rsonal not e—h e r e pl e ading upo n ,

th e whol e and p ath e ti c — which h e manag e d to inf u s e i nto

n e arly all his writing Th e r e is i n th e m but littl e passion .
,

and p e rhaps no v ery high po etic i nspiration ; th ey ar e

, ,

at o nc e l e ss acad e mic but mor e r e stri ct e d in th e ir ,

app e al than say The Chr i sti an Year ; th e y have non e o f

, ,

th e s u bstanc e o f th e Ly r a G er m an i ca fo r ins tanc e nor th e , ,

fr e sh whimsicality o f G e org e H e rb e rt s pious a nd ve ry ’

p e rsonal po e ms which H ugh n e v e r r e ally lov e d nor

, ,

a nything at all o f th e rapt u r e of a Francis Thomp son ,

whos e joys and ang u ish tor e his soul to p i e c e s Y e t all .

th e s e nam e s hav e th e y by qualiti e s alli e d o r contrast e d , ,

r e call e d to m e mo r y U ndo u bt e dly i t is th e still wistful .

,

r e calcitrant s e a r ching sOu l o f a man known to most as

,

So bright buoyant and ski e y which ap p e als to th e

, , ,

r e ad e r e v e n wh e r e lit e rary p e rf e ction is abs e nt Th e .

first po e m and th e carol ar e thos e p e rhaps which mov e , ,

u s most
2
.

Wh th P il t p ish d Why is it th at p a ti s s cc ed h ask d a d

1
en e o er e , r e u e , e e , n

th at si c ity d s t ?
n er oe n
’

B sid s th s h m ad a
1
e e f t i Lati
f e e, ifi ati
e th fi di g f a e n e or n n v e rs c on , o n e n n o

sti p i th f dati s f the ld M i fi ld stabl s th b i g t d i t th

r ru n e oun on o o r e e en e n u rn e n o e

nu cl s fth w C ll g H s gg st d
eu o e ne o e e. e u e e

E sch l a q il i tat st pit s sic d iq m di

n o e u e ns re u en ue un

Ca l m p aci c d t —t h ma t
e oru e i e oc ce ne

Si t m st m tibi t a m t p ong i s ab bi ru , e r r ru u er e r nu or

Ad a l t m b m viv s v Di
c e es e ur e ere , er e e .

H gl f lly s t th s his fi st pig am si c Et

e ee u en t M
e e,A C B s wh r e r n e on , o r. . . e n on , o

t d it with s m t call d f c mm ts Th pig am i w i sc i be d

r e urn e o e no un e - or o en . e e r s no n r
1 76 ROB ERT H UGH B EN SON
p ow e r ove r th e matt e r i n hand than do e s that forc e f ul
r e casting which r e ve als a p e rsonality incapabl e o f any
s e lf -expr e ssion short o f s e lf -impr e ssion .

For e most among h is lit e r ary e nt e rp r is e s is o f cou r s e , ,

th e coll e ction o f stori e s call e d Th e L igh t I n v i si b le Mr . .

A C B e nson had l e nt his broth e r th e ma nuscript o f

. .

c e rtain mystical tal e s a f t e rwa r ds p u blish e d as The H ill

“
,

of Tr ou b le and H u gh had b e e n f ascinat e d

, .

Th e last o n e h e wrot e on May 2 2

,
Th e Clos e d
Window t e r rifi e d m e for hours What I lik e so m u ch i s
,
’
.

yo u r d e vic e o f making th e sup e rnatu r al wo r ld op e n

o u t di r e ctly from th e nat u ral I do b e li eve that is th e

.

s e c r e t o f e ff e ctiv e sup e rnat u ra l sto r i e s .

Th u s insp ir e d h e b egan to writ e but e xp e ct e d at first

, ,

to collabo r at e with hi s sist e r Miss Margar e t B e nson , .

My Sist e r and I h e w r ot e i n th e a u t u mn o f 1 9 0 2
, ,

ar e bringing o u t a book call e d R edcap Look o u t for it .

,

and See That Y o u G e t It I t is a qu e e r book of odds

.

and e nds My sist e r has don e mo st o f it Many o f th e

. .

contrib u tions ar e tr u e Th e y ar e Short sk e tch e s o f s u dd e n

and startling e v e nts—lik e b e ing n e arly kill e d —Egyptian
.

things 81 0 It is call e d R edcap f or an abstrus e r e aso n

, .

which th e pr e fac e e xplains .

”

R ath e r lat e r
an no u nc e s that th e book will app ear in
,
he
th e Spring (o f 1 9 0 3 ) e dit e d by his sist e r an d it is to b e ,

call e d Tales of a Visi on ary Th is plan how e ve r f e ll .

, ,

th r o u gh though it will b e r e viv e d wh e n first h e writ e s th e

,

M i r r or of Shalott sto r i e s in 1 9 0 4 Slightly n e rvous as to .

h o w his book s r e ligious colour might a ff e ct th e r e putation

’

or th e f e e lings o f th e M ir fi e ld Community h e w r ot e ,

a comp l e t e vol u m e o f h is o w n “ u nd e r an ing e nious

p s eu donym that I do not b e li e v e anyon e will gu e ss He .

sign e d hims e l f simply R ober t B en son r e viving th e unus e d ,

 M I R FI ELD ,
1 89 8—1 9 0 3 1 77

R and droppi ng H ug h H e e ve n o n o n e occasion allow e d

.

it to b e surmis e d that Mr A C B e nson had w r itt e n th e

. . .

sto r i e s M iss Ma r gar e t B e nson pl e ad e d fo r Simplicity a s

.

th e b e st conc e alm e nt if conc e alm e nt was to b e at all

,

Ps e udonymity is a g r e at mistak e unl e ss it m u st b e p r e

s e rve d ; and th is can t b e pr e s e rv e d and I don t se e why
’ ’

I should say f u ll nam e at o nc e—i f not

,

it sho u ld , ,

R ob e rt A lways Sp e ak th e truth e sp e cially as yo u may ,

b e fo u nd o u t if you don t
’
.

Th esto r i e s ar e p u t i nto th e mouth o f a n ag e d p r i e st

whos e dogmatic position was to puzzl e r e ad e r aft e r r e ad e r .

O n tw o topics conn e ct e d with this book its author was

positiv e ly bombar d e d with i n qu i r i e s : We r e th e stori e s
tru e and Was th e pri e st a Catholic o r a n A nglican
,
He
invariably an sw e r e d that th e stori e s pr e s e nt e d th e ms e lv e s
as nothing e ls e than fiction This prov ed and p rove s a .
, ,

di sappointm e n t to a n u mb e r o f p e opl e ; but th e fact

r e mains that B e nson h ims e lf n ev e r h ad a dir e ct e xp e r i e nc e
o f th e sort h e h e r e r e lat e s and was i n practic e — sav e i n a
, ,

kind o f play f ul q u it e ar b itrary mann e r —v e ry sc e pti cal o f

,

th e r e al obj e ctiv e val u e o fwhat h e h e ard B ut that spi r it u al .

facts might e xpr e ss th e ms e lve s som ewhat in th e mann e r

o f th e s e incid e nts h e n e v e r for a mom e nt do u bt e d ;
g r ad u ally h e wo r k e d u p a whol e philosophy conc e r ning
thi s ; m e a nwhil e h e c o u ld m ake v ery e xc e ll e n t sto r i e s o u t
o f th e mat e rial supp li e d by imagination o r by fri e nds .

A s fo r th e q u ality o f th e o ld pri e st s r e ligion e v e n ap art

’

from th e fact that th e A nglican burial s e rvic e is som e wh e r e ,

qu it e cas u ally quot e d and that phras e s l ik e “ th e gr e at

, ,

whit e thron e b e long r ath e r to a n Evang e lical mysticism

i nto wh ich th e A pocalyps e i s wove n tha n to mod e rn ,

Catholic phras e ology I do n o t p e rsonally th ink that a

,

Catholic wo u ld find m u ch di ffic u lty i n diagnosing th e

1 M
1 7 13 ROB ERT H UGH B ENSON
atmosph e r e at l e ast i n so far as that it was not what h e
,

was accustom e d to br e ath e B e nson hims e l f t e lls us that .

h e d e lib e rat e ly r e frain e d from asking h ims e lf wh ich h e

m e ant th e o ld man to b e—A nglican o r Catholic and aim e d ,

constantly at th e wat e r-lin e H e had at th e tim e a th e o r y .

abo u t th e Church Di ff usive o n which I shall touch b e low , ,

by m e ans o f which h e was att e mpting to oblit e rat e “

distinctions with in Christ s body a nd to s u bstit u t e fo r ’

“
th e cont e mplation o f cold cut dogma th e
- “
warm
r e aliti e s o f Spiritual e xp e ri e nc e H e d e v e lop e d a viol e nt .

and as h e h i ms e lf says rath e r e xagg e rat e d dislik e fo r

,
“
,
”
th e book 1 du e to a r e action h e consid e rs against th e
, , ,

unr e aliti e s i n which h e was th e n living .

I dislik e quit e i nt e ns e ly The L ight I n v isib le f r om

, , ,

th e spiritual point o f vi e w I wrot e it in moods of gr e at .

f e ve r ishn e ss and i n what I n o w r e cognis e as a v e r y subtl e

,

stat e of s e ntim e ntality ; I was striving to r e assur e mys elf

o f th e t r u th s o f r e ligion and ass u m e th er e for e a positiv e , , ,

and ass e rtive ton e that was la r g e ly insinc er e 2

.

I thi nk h e was worri e d aft e rwards by th e thought , ,

that almost h is most popular book h ad s u ch a s u cc e ss

among A nglicans ; a nd by th e r e coll e ction that it was a n
A nglican nun n e ry which had inspir e d th e chapt e r call e d
I n th e Conv e nt Chap e l a pan egyric o f that cont e mplative ,

lif e which h e cam e to hold was e ss e ntially what th e

, ,

A nglican Church could mak e noth ing o f Mor e ove r h e .

,

had writt e n it wh e n staying i n th e Cl e rgy H o u s e o f St .

Cuthb e rt s P h ilb eac h G ard e ns wh e r e th e Sacram e nt wa s

3
'

, ,

He en d d by p
ssi g a ti disb li f th at a y
e ro f
e ld ally lik th
n n en re e e n one cou re e e

b k a d had t b giv a list f c f ss dly ight p pl w h did

oo , n o e en o on e e r eo e o .

Th A bb t f C ald y h w v
3
e t lls m th at th id a f th
o o e , k li g
o e e r, e e e e o e n un n ee n ,

sosil t y t p w f l a c t f spi it al
en , e so ogy fi st st ck F B s
er u en re o r u e n er , r ru r. en on

wh h th still D m A l d Ca lyl f th A glica B dicti s i t

en e, en o e re r e, o e n n ene ne , n ro

d d his
u ce fé t th East M alli g ch ap l m
c o n r re ti d b l w
o e n e en one e o .
1 80 ROB ERT H UG H B EN SON
r e f er to s u ch e xq u isit e visions as that o f Mary Consolatrix ,

A ffiic to r u m moth e ring th e wak e f u l child und e r h e r blu e

,

mantl e ; n o r th e m e r e r e -focussing o f rabbit -cropp e d ,

b r ack e n -f ring e d glad e with its p ool and pin e s into th e

, ,

“
G r e e n R ob e wo r n by Cr e ation s imman e nt Lord : still ’

l e ss th e o dd all e gorical pictur ing o f th e n u n s p r e vailing

,
'

p ray e r as an e laborat e machi n e and h e r s e lf as a financi e r

,

dir e cting O p e ratio n s from b ehind a city d e sk I n short

"
.
,

wh e n B e nso n talks o f sight o r imagination h e do e s

“
,

not at all m e an what is th e e ss e ntial p r e rogativ e o f all

vi s u alis e r s w h o translat e e ve ry s e nsation and all th e ir
,

m e mo r i e s i nto colour and lin e Visualis e r h e r e main e d .

to th e e n d and i n a high d e gr e e
,
Th e Catholic stori e s i n
.

th e M i r r or of S/z alott ar e as highly visualis e d symbolical , ,

and i nca r nat e so to say as e ve r w er e th e A nglican B ut

, ,
.

h e f e e ls that h e has still r e gard e d Faith too much in th e

Evang e lical s e ns e o f a strongly felt ass e nt rath e r than as
a u niqu e ly m om/ed ass e nt Th e Catholic doctri n e of faith
.
,

with all that d e partm e nt o f th e s u p e rnatural with which

it is e ss e ntially alli ed mo r e tha n a ny oth er e l u d e s as a
, ,

rul e the g r asp o f non -Catholics Th e Catholic do e s not

,
.

say I b e li e ve b e ca u s e my i nt ell e ct s ee s its r easonabl e

, ,

way to so b e li e ving ( as that D e moc r acy is good or bad ) ;

, ,

sti ll l e ss b e caus e it is co e rc e d ( math e matically as it w e r e )

, ,

i nto so b e li e ving ( as that th e va r ious prop ositions o f

,

Euclid ar e tr u e ) ; n o r again I b e li e v e b e caus e tho u gh

, ,

my int e ll e ct may b e sil e nt o n th e matt e r o r ind e e d c o n ,

tr adi c t m e h e r e in I f e e l s u p e r lative ly and int e riorly

,

convinc e d that so and so i s tru e : b u t I b el i e v e it be ca u s e , ,

an authority which (r e aso n has convi n c e d m e) is divin e

, ,

ass e rts it so t o b e R e ason that is has le d m e to a poi nt

.
, ,

wh er e it b e com e s right fo r m e to ass e nt though I can ,

still with varying d eg r ee s o f c u lpability r e f u s e Catholi c

, , .
 M I R FI ELD ,
1 89 8—1 90 3 1 81

th e ology t e ach e s that sup e rnatural gr ac e str e ngth e ns th e

human will making th e r e for e th e ass e nt o f th e will and
,

all fut u r e ass e rtions o f th e gu id e d int e ll e ct to b e s u p e r

nat u ral acts Such th e n is i n und e f e nd e d outli n e th e
.
, ,

Catholic dogma B e nson p e rc e iv e d that Tb e n lzt I n v isi ble

.

o ffe nd e d against this in two ways ; o r rath e r it did so , ,

and b e p e rc e iv e d o n e o f th e m N am e ly for h im i nt e ns e
.
, ,

faith was id e ntifi e d with a mod e o f sp iritual p erc e ptio n

lat e nt in all m e n b u t n o t ye t act u alis e d a s all m e n may
, ,

b e suppos e d pot e ntially to contai n th e artisti c s e ns e o r

th e moral s e ns e B y d e v e lop ing this spiritual s e ns e o r
.

f aculty—a d e v e lo pm e nt du e mai nly to pray e r and mort i

fic atio n —th e soul b e com e s a bl e to b e at choic e awa r e o f , ,

o n e o r oth e r o f two int e rp e n e trating pla n e s o f r e ality th e ,

mat e rial and th e sp i r itual rath e r a s a math e mati cian can

,

at will “ abstract f r om th e conc r e t e q u aliti e s o f any obj e ct

and consid e r th e id e al syst e m of f orc e s and curv e s o n
which it is organis e d .

This kind o f doctrin e is to b e fo und e xpos e d at l e ngth

in th e mor e r e putabl e books upon Th e osophy ; and o f .

cours e ev e ry phras e us e d i n th e e nunciation o f it can

b e parall e l e d f rom th e most orth odox o f th e ologians ,

dogmatic n o l e ss than mystical A s a whol e howe v e r .

, ,

it confu s e s th e natural and th e sup er natural and l e ads ,

to a n e xagg e rat e d subj e ctivity Corr e sponding to thi s

1
.

ove rrating of th e subj e ctive f ac u lti e s o f th e so u l is found ,

a d e pr e ciation of thos e obj e ctiv e m e thods which r e ason

follows to r e ach a r e cognition o f th e divi n e I nt e ll e ct .

ap p e ars to hav e nothing to do with faith 2—no mor e ,

at l e ast than th e j e w e ls e nt e r i nto th e constitution o r

,

cr e ation o f th e woman th e y ado r n Christian apolog e tics .

1
It is m st clo ear ly xp ss d by th p i st
e re e e r e i n TIn: L igh t I n v i si b le , on pp .

5 6 . an d 60
, . S p 2
ee . 1 67 ib .
1 82 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
ar e inad e quat e Conv e rging lin e s o f probability
en ti r el
y .

may l e ad to G o d but do n o t r e ach H im Faith is th e ,

.

product not o f int e ll e ctual but o f moral condition s Thi s

, , .

r e cognisably is a doctri n e wh ich l e ads if pr e ss ed to a , ,

positio n known as Mod e rnist “

A truth may b e tru e .

r e ligio u sly which i s n o t tru e int e ll e ct u ally I nt e ll e ct u ally .

I know Christ s dust still to lie within H is tomb ; ’

r e ligiously I b e li e ve H im to b e ris e n O n th e mat e rial

, .

p lan e o r histo r ically H e was Mary s so n and jos e ph s ;

, ,
’ ’

Spiritually I poss e ss H im as Son o f G od Th e habit u al

,
.

misint e rpr e tation o f N e wman s doctrin e o f accumulat e d

“ ’

probabiliti e s may hav e led B e nson to s p e ak thus in

accurat e ly ; much mor e p r obably his doctrin e follows
straight f rom h is t e mp e ram e nt which was profo u ndly ,

id e alist and intol erant o f labou r e d i nte ll e ctualism as w e ,

shall shortly se e M e anwhil e it i s wholly o u tsid e my .

p r ovinc e to d e f e nd th e Catholic position I hav e stat e d ;

I had only to show wh e r e it di ff e rs fr om that expr e ss e d
in Tb e I nigli z I n v is i ble and what h e m e ant wh e n lat e r on h e , , ,

con stantly acc u s e d his book o f conf u sing faith with sight .

M e anwhil e th e stori e s r e pr e s e nt a l e ap full i nto

mat u rity o f styl e a nd lit e rary e xpr e ssion astonishing fo r
its sudd e nn e ss S e nsitive obs e rvation acc u rat e applica
.
,

tion o f lang u ag e suit e d to o n e s e ns e ( as h e a r ing) to anoth e r

( as sight ) and th e spontan
, e ous int e rpr e tation of so u nd

by colo u r and sight by music and th e like v e ry p er f e ct

, ,

co mmand o f m e taphor fo r th e d e sc r iption o f th e subtl e st

p sychic stat e s ; all this is as good as e v e it will b r e 1
.

1 his m st s cc ss f l d i
O ne of a d t
o b e s cc ss f l it m st b
u e m st
u e v ce s w
n o u e u u e o

skil f lly s d —is th pict i g t ay f th h sh b f th st m S

u u e e ur n , so o s , o e
“
u e ore e or .
”
o,

exc ll tly
e en p 1 2 ad m
, on lightly p 2 4 8 I T/ N m a
. 0 , n , th o re , . . n ze ecr o n cer s, e

sc wh M N g t h a s th d g-c a t i th ight giv s it y p f ctly

en e e re r s. u en e r e o r n e n , e ou er e .

D ick s w a f d f this d vic ; h

en s on s d it m ast f lly g b f th d ath f
o e e e u e er u , e . .
, e ore e e o

Ca k r i B m bay a d S
e r, n o fM t ag Tigg i Va tm Cb l w i t
n on , o r o on ue , n . r uzz e .
1 84 R O BE R T H U G H BEN S O N
“
t r e m e ndous g r ip o f th e book as a whol e h e all u d e s ,

to distinction and cha r m as it s characte ristics A n d

“

that p e r haps is tr u e ; B e nson charms yo u —that is unl e ss

.

you ar e o n e o f thos e whom all th e tim e h e ang e rs—and

all o f a sudd e n grip s yo u A n d if you q u a r r e l with his .

in cid e nts w e ll as i n th e sam e l e tt e r Mr E F B e nson

, , . . .

p u ts it To say I am sorry but it hap p e n e d that way

,
‘
, ,
’

is
[ ] th e i nali e nabl e right o f th e author .

B ut th r oughou t th e book e m e rg e th e main id e as which

ar e to b e B e nson s th e m e s throughout h is li f e : th e ’

sac r am e ntality o f all natur e taught imm e diat e ly in Tlee ,

G r een R ob e : th e appalling r e ality o f sin ( P oen a D ean n e) ,

and o f diabolic ag e ncy ( Tli e Watelzer ) which have caus e d ,

th e spirit u al and mat e rial and int e ll e ct u al plan e s which ,

no r mally should int e rp e n e trat e a nd harmoniously c o

e xist to b e as it w e r e tilt e d and awry
, , ( O v er tlz e Gatew ay) , ,

bringing it to pass that Pain is th e in e vitabl e punish

m e nt divin e ly alch e mis e d into th e sup r e m e st r e m edy
( W i t/z D y ed G ar m en ts T b e B r i dg e ov er z e Str eam
t/ ) a , ,

r e m e dy which p u r e so u ls owing to th e ir incorpo r atio n ,

with Christ ach i e v e d by love ( Un to Babes) and pray er (I n

r e privil e e d to apply to th e rac e at
t/z e Con v en t Cl z ap el
) a g ,

la r g e at so to say th e ir o w n exp e ns e ( Tlee Sor r ow s of

, , ,

tire Wor ld) I n th e morning com e s Th e Exp e ct ed

“ ‘
.

G u e st and B e nson finish e s (as i n me K i ng s A e/z i ev ern en t)

,
’ '

with a s e nt e nc e d e lib erat e ly and e v e n a u daciously am

”
b igu o u s “
Th e R e ctor had com e
.
1
.

1
will d f d this q ai t d vic —f m a lit a y st a dp i t t lik
He
di gs t his m high pitch d d s —a b i g at c psych
e en u n e e ro er r n o n no un e

H ac s q i t
’
u e en n o or e - e o e s e n on e o
or e

l gically a d ligi sly acc at Y c st a tly a

o n re t s ouwh at a v t ur e. ou on n re no u re n e en

mas e n wh at y
, or w w ds m a ; it is h w v i k pi g with th
ou r o n or e n , o e e r, n ee n e

g al sch m fthi gs th at th y sh ld t s m xt t b s ac am t al
en e r e e o n e ou , o o e e en , e r en .

Wh th s ti s a m ad xplicit th at is d lib at a d th wh l
en e e no on re e e , e er e n on e o e

distast f l t him H fa p f d t l av y with vag a d t m d s

e u o . e r r e e rr e o e e ou ue n re en ou

imp ssi n s f u s e t a sc d t fo c s i n te acti g s ch a M a t li ck will

re o o n en, r n en en r e r n ,
u s e er n
 M I R FI ELD ,
8
1 9 8—1 90 3 1 85

Tb e Blood Eag le
i s a story wh ich stands rath e r alo n e .

I n it B e nson mak e s o n e o f his rar e e xcursions into a

philo sophy o f paganism I t i s parall e l e d by Fath e r
“
.

B ianchi s story about M ithra i n th e M i r r or of Snalott

'
.

Th e o ld p r i e st wh e n a boy had assi st e d at a si ngu lar , ,

sp e ctacl e -i n a wood whi ch was id e ntifi e d wh e n h e , ,

d e scrib e d it to a Prof e ssor as a blood-e agl e o r sacrific e ,

to som e pagan d e ity o f whom th e b o y (tho u gh th e P r o ,

fe sso r disr e gard e d this be ing but a H igh e r Critic ) had ,

a vision H e was standi ng o n a t u m u l u s wh e r e th e s e

.

sac r ific e s originally human had i n anci e nt tim e s b ee n

, ,

o ffe r e d B ut th e e arth was still black a nd sodd e n wi th

.

th e blood o f th e pig which h e had s e e n escap e wound e d , ,

and p u rs u e d by an o ld man dripping to o with it s blood ,

and fo r which (do e s Fath e r B e nson giv e us to und e r

stand ?) h e was in ge nui n e dang e r o f hims e lf b e ing sub
stitut e d Th e story is d e cid e dly un pl e asant and i n
.
“
,
”

Spirit as w e ll as i n s e tting r e mind s us though still pal e ly

, , , ,

o f Mr A Mach e n s H ou se of Sou ls
’
. . .

Pr actically e v e rybody h e wrot e o n J u n e 7 1 90 3 , , ,

ha s e ith e r fail e d to und e rstand it o r has di slik e d i t A n d , .

y e t I think that what I m e ant is both ha r ml e ss a nd t r u e :

v iz that a br utal and filthy s u p e rstition so long as th e r e

.
,

i s a d e f er e nc e paid to th e uns e e n wo rld is b e tt e r than th e ,

most polish e d mat e rialism Th e o ld man and th e P rof e ssor .

ar e th e p ivo t s .

I n 1 9 0 0 a n e v e nt occ u r r e d wh ich might we ll hav e

,

alt e r e d H ugh s whol e car e e r O n e o f th e cano ns o f

’
.

hi tn at . M ae t e r li n ck
i d d still b ds v th b k ; th silh tt f , n ee , roo o er e oo e ou e e o

T mare th c v is q it bsc
n s on e gh t sati fy him
o er u e o u r e e n ou o s .

A l ady wre catch s lv s smili g at th

e c t B ia t s f
o ur e e n e r e u r ren e n so n n u rn o

th ght a d ph asi g
ou I s a ch d f i sly
n r H b ck
n .d t m f i sly
“
e r e u r ou . e e one o e u r ou
”

s l tt s th at p ats its l f— H am I w iti g

.

H w ft i H gh B s
’
“

f i sly —
o o en n u e n on e er re e e e re r n

u r ou w ki g f i sly A ds t
or c s b gi a i K ipli g s a li w k
n ur ou n e n en e e n, s n n
’
e r er or ,

ft with Y implyi g i t pti s h a d gh ( wh y

”
so o en N “
es or
“
o, n n err u on r en o u en ou

t y) t p t i t
r o w ds u n o or .
1 86 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSO N
St G e org e s Wi ndsor sugg e st e d to M r A C B e nson that
.
’

, ,
. . .

H ugh m ight b e willing to acc e pt th e living o f H ung e r

ford in B erksh ir e which was vacant I t was a position
, .

o f impo r tanc e b e ing w e ll e ndow e d its sta f

, f o f r e ctor and , ,

I thi nk th r e e curat e s sh e ph e rding at that tim e a p o p u

,

lation o f thr e e tho u sand I t was a singu larly high o ffice to

.

b e o ff e r e d to so yo u ng a man and was to b e judg e d e v e n ,

mor e by what it promis e d than by what it was in its e l f .

O n ju n e 7 1 90 0 h e wrot e f rom 4 Littl e Cloist e rs

, , ,

W e stminste r r e f using th e o ff e r
,
.

I f e e l it is such a t e r r i bly r e spon sibl e position —and I

am so in e xp e ri e nc e d Bu t th e offe r h as had s u ffici e n t
.

effe ct o n m e to make m e r e consid e r th e Community qu e stion

altog e th e r—and I hav e p r actically d e cid e d to postpon e
my prof e ssion and to ask f or anoth e r y e a r s p r obatio n
,
’
.

A ltho u gh I sinc e r e ly f ee l th at I am not m e ant to take this

pa r tic u lar p ost it may b e an indi catio n that I am ulti mat e ly
,

m e ant to do work o f this kind I n any cas e th e t i m e is .

n o t lost as I am g e tting e xp e r i e nc e o f a c onc entrat e d

,

ki nd that o u ght to b e v e ry valuabl e .

By Ju ne is a bl e to writ e that h e has d e fi nit ely

9 h e

r e nounc e d standing fo r h is e l e ctio n i n uly and o n Jun e 1 2

j ,

h e says

C e rtainly a n outward invitation to tak e up any n e w

wo r k has a gr e at i nfl u e nc e o n o n e wh e n it com e s u n e x
p e c te dly
— b u t o nly wh e n it m e e ts a g r owing conviction i n

on e s e lf that that kind o f wo r k 13 right fo r o n e [ S u ch was .

th e invitation to go to M i r fi eld such is n o t that to go to , ,

H ung e rford .

You s u gg e st that I am wil f u l i n this and am choos ,

ing r ath e r than following but I cannot say mo r e than that

,
’’

I am doing my b e st to b e sinc er e B e sid e s do e s n o t .

,

fo llowing conv e y a s e ns e o f contin u ing to do what you

”

ar e alr e ady doing and “

choos e a s e ns e of starti n g fr e sh
, ,

in a way ? I t s e e ms also to b e a r e cognis e d canon o f

l e a r ning v o c at1o n that aft e r a co u r s e o f lif e has b e e n
take n up it should not b e forsak e n f or any l ess stro n g
,
 1 88 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
vital work and th e B aptist s only incid en tal to it so th e
’

pa r ochial syst e m i s u ndo u bt edly th e vital o n e—but it i s

,

h e lp e d b eyond m e as u r e by what Comm u niti e s ar e r e ally

only abl e to do O n e s e e s conti n u ally in th e wo r k o f on e s
.
’

br e th r e n at M ir fie ld pa r ish e s startl e d i nto n e w lif e .

A s fo r th e int e r na l lif e of th e Community it is e xactly ,

th e kind n e c e ssary n o t only to mak e m e n e ffi ci e nt wo r k e r s ,

b u t pio u s p e rsons I can say all this with m u ch mo r e

.

f r e e dom sinc e I am n o t yet at all cl e ar as to wh e th e r I am

call e d to th e lif e .

My l e tt er looks v e r y cool and didactic b u t yo u wish e d ,

m e to say wh at I thought I t s ee ms to m e that th e only

.

w e ak point is that conc e ivably m e n mys e lf amon g th e m , ,

might b e att r a ct e d by th e g r e at privil eg e s o f th e l1 fe to a ,

stat e to wh ich G od may not h av e call e d th e m Do writ e .

again soon . H B . .

Th e y e a r th e n pass e d i n work such as w e have de

scrib e d and B e nson found as J u ly o f 1 90 1 approach ed
, , ,

that it was b e tt e r than r e tr eat

“ " I am sur e h e h ad
.
,

writt e n o n A pril 2 8 o f that y e ar that th e w ay i n which

“
,

vocations ar e usually f ound is by doing th e n e xt thing as

it com e s to hand—a nd be ing cont e nt to go o n doing it
witho u t impati e nc e .

I i ns e r t h e r e pa r t o f tw o l e tt e r s which acc u rat e ly show

his attit u d e o f mind towards li f e at Mir fi eld

I agr e e abo u t Mir fie ld b e i n g a n ar r o w i n g life

en ti r el
y
b u t that is p r e cis e ly why I am h e r e To do anything w e ll
.
,

o n e m u st d e lib e r at e ly sac r ific e a larg e numb e r of oth e r

e xc e ll e nt purs u its and tast e s That is s u r e ly what you
.
, ,

hav e to do yo u r s e lf You sac r ific e all that living in

.

England m e ans r ightfully and d e lib e rat e ly fo r a p ar ti c u lar

, ,

p u r p os e .B r oadn e ss is th e v e r y d e ath o f e ffi c ie n c y
e xc e pt to o n e or tw o g e nius e s who h av e so m u ch e n e rgy
that th e y s e e m at any r at e to b e abl e to d e vot e th e m
, ,

s e lve s to s e ve r al things at onc e Th e r e ar e simply sco r e s

.

of p e opl e o n e co u ld q u ot e who w e igh e d th e cost and

, ,

th e n n egl e ct e d o n e pa r t o f th e ir nat u r e o r rath e r p r u n e d

,

it o ff i n ord e r to have mo r e tim e and l e is u r e and e n e r gy

,

fo r that particular thing th e y m e ant to do w e ll .

 M I R FI ELD ,
1 8 9 8—1 9 0 3 1 89

Th e Scriptur e s favour m e to o , I fancy ( 1 Cor . ii . 2,

Phil iii
. .

( This is a pr e tty pass wh e n I ,

fir e t e xts at yo u across
th e se a !
)
I nd e e d all this is my sol e mn op inion C e libacy and .
,

many oth e r things ar e right j ust f or that ve ry r e ason

, ,

a nd n o t b e ca u s e ma r r iag e is lo w o r carnal o r any

“ “ ”

nons e ns e of that kind .

I t s e e ms to m e that th e r e ason why w e hav e such an

ala r ming n u mb e r o f m e dio cr iti e s and lack of giants i s , ,

b e caus e o f this accu r sed gosp e l o f broadn e ss and “ ke e ping ,

in touch with c u rr e nt thought W e ar e g ive n a smatt e r .

”

ing of man y subj e cts and command o f no n e and z e al i s

, ,
”
always d e r id e d as narrow .

And again
Le nt has b e e n to o t er r ific f or anything R oughly I .
,

e stimat e I hav e pr e ach e d a bout s e v e nty s e r mons and I ,

n e v e r wish at pr e s e nt to u tt e r anoth e r wo r d on th e
, ,

s u bj e ct o f R e ligio n I n abo u t a fo r tnight I kick o ff

again : b u t not for long thank goodn e ss —be caus e th e n I
.

hav e my holiday and th e n a month o f p eac e and qui e tn e ss

,

h e r e d u r ing wh ich tim e I hop e to take th e final ste p of

,
committing mys e lf to th is lif e at M ir fie ld I t is rath er .

t e r r ifying to co nt e mplat e and I am not absolut e ly d e t e r

,

mi n e d ye t ; b u t if nothing startling happ e ns by th e e n d ,

o f J u ly I shall b e com e a fixt u r e .

Th e lon e lin e ss m u st b e vil e [h e was wri ting to

I ndia ] I do ind e e d symp athis e—b e ca u s e I am e xactly th e
.

sam e . To b e q u it e alon e e v e n for a day is abominabl e

to m e B u t I always think th e r e is a c e rtain grim satis
.

faction i n shoving a thi ng alon e i n a humd r um way , .

W e h av e a dog at hom e who runs with th e car r iag e :

wh e n h e has spo r t e d h ims e lf abo u t en ong lz h e go e s u nd e r ,

th e ca r r iag e into th e d u st and pads along with his hind ,

l egs and tail showing ove r th e back ; and I always sym

p a t h i se H e. wish es I th ink to b e pa r t of a going
, ,

machin e and p u ts hims e lf into to u ch with a la r g er thing

,

th an hi ms e lf and h e finds it worth th e d u st b e ca u s e th e

, ,

wh e e ls ar e going all r o u nd h im I al w ays f e e l j u st th e

sam e h e r e—aft e r barki ng i n vario u s plac e s o n e com e s
.

back and fits into thi s machi n e ; and th e v ery mo notony

is a joy Wh e n I f e e l down I always d r aw satisfaction
.
1 90 ROBERT H UG H BENSON
f rom b e ca u s e th e r e is an e xt r ao r dinary pl e asur e
th e do g,
in absolut e ly w e ari som e r outin e and it has a kind o f ,

hypnotic fascination that a t u r n ing wh e e l has .

Exc u s e this o u tb u r st o f all ego r y .

H e nc e h e school e d hims e l f to writ e , on

july 1 2 , 1 90 1 ,

to Mr . A . C B e nson :
.

I thi nk Mamma told yo u a littl e tim e ago that I was

g e tting mo r e s e ttl e d h e r e and now I think I h av e quit e
,

mad e up my mind to j oi n th e Comm unity at th e e n d o f

this month Pr obably h e adds h e wo u ld hav e j oin e d
(
.
, ,

last y e ar but or his broth e r s wo r d s ] I fe e l now th at '

th e r e is nothing e ls e to b e don e I am both mor e e ffi ci e nt .

and mor e happy than e ve r i n pa r ish wo r k and am l e ss ,

incomp e t e nt at this p arti cular kind o f work than any

oth e r .

H ow e v e r , a bomb xplod e d brusqu e ly

e . He w r ot e
agai n on
july 2 3 to Mr . A C B e nson
. .

J u ly 2 3 I am sorry to say that e ve rything i s in th e

.

wild e st co nfusion and for th e pr e s e nt m y p r of e ssion is

,

postpon e d I shall hav e to d e cid e by M onday mo r ning

.

wh e th e r I will o ff e r mys e l f fo r e l e ction or not I t aros e .

out o f a l e ct u r e giv n to s by Canon G or e on H igh e r

e u “

Criticism that u ps e t m e t e r r ibly I had n o t h e a r d that

”
.

ki nd of thing b e for e and th e Community can not se e its

,

way to giving m e l e ave to b e abs e nt .

A ll this allud e s to an e pisod e whi ch as far as I can ,

s e e h e aft e rwa r ds e ntir e ly forgot

,
A t any rat e nowh e r e .
, ,

that I can find has h e m e ntion e d it Y et q u it e cl e a r ly

, .

it was a p ivotal point i n his lif e—if not ind ee d an e v e nt , ,

di r e ctiv e o f all his m e ntal d e v e lopm e nt .

Th is e pisod e occu r r e d o n th e occasion o f o n e o f thos e

“ Qui t
e Tim e s at which all availabl e m e mbe r s o f th e
Comm u nity m e t tog e th e r at M ir fie ld Th ey involv e d with .
,

oth er e l e m e nts a l e ctur e o r p e rhaps tw o upon som e

, , ,
1 92 R O BE R T H U G H BEN S O N
abo u t th e a u th e nticity of books o f th e B ibl e—a r gum e nts
of th e c r itical r e aso n- and w er e to give h is mind s er io u sly
to th e m h e f e a r e d h e wo u ld b e com e a sc e ptic This so r t
, .

o f critical r e asoni ng app e ar e d to him to r e sult wholly i n

sc e p ticism With him it was all o r nothing
. If h e w e r e .
”

to hold on to r e ligio n h e must acc e pt it simp ly o n ,

a u thority b e caus e o f hi s mo r al n e e ds .

Th is h e said q u it e s e riously and sol e mnly I do not .

know what h e may have tho u ght lat e r o n i n his lif e but ,

I am c e rtain that at th e p er iod wh e n h e cam e to M ir fie ld ,

a nd all through th e tim e h e was th e r e th is r e pr e s e nt e d ,

h is stat e o f mind ; and I do not think anyon e co u ld give

a t r u e account o f what h e was at that tim e and i n his
lat e r y e ars amongst u s witho u t makin g thi s appa r e nt .

Thus I hop e yo u will p u blish thi s l e tt e r l h e sc e n e I hav e

‘

d e scrib ed has r e mai n e d in my m ind extréiOr di n ar ily dis

ti n c tly e v e r sinc e th e tim e o f o u r co nv e r sation and I hav e ,

O ft e n pond e r e d ov e r it I am sur e that I hav e not e x

a ge r ate d —Yours faithfully
.

g C O X ON , . .

B e nson hims e lf wrot e though not upon this occasion , ,

to I ndia
r e ga r ds th e Epistl e to Ro m an s I am partic u larly
“
As ,

igno r ant o f comm e ntari e s H e discov e rs how e v e r by .

, ,

i nquiry Sanday and H e adlam !

,

I can t ge t along with comm e ntari e s at all I t is a

’
.

fo r gott e n e l e m e nt in my th e ological composition What

"
.

I lov e is dogmatic and sc i e ntific th e ology and asc e tic “

,
.

I hav e b ee n r e ading a lot o f this latt er lat e ly Moth e r ,

J u lian o f N o r wich “
Molinos & c Moth e r J u lian was
,
”
, .

a d e lightf u l lady o f 1 4 0 0 who was an a ncho r e ss at N o r ,

wich and was n o scholar but who had th e most

“ ”

A l shal b e e w e ll—al
, ,

b e a u tif u l and comforting visions “

.

shal b e e w e ll and th ow shal s e e for thys e lf that al man e r

o f th yn ge shal b e e w e ll A n d so o n V ery d ee p to o 1 ”
. . .

J a a y 90 2 h h a ad this fam s mystic wh m h l

1
By nu r , 1 , e s re ou ,
o e o v s d spit
e e e

th p pl xiti s f h l ast ch apt s tw

e er e e o th tim s I sh
er er ,
“
o or re e e .
”
ou ld l k ti e o

emph asiz al ady th at th l gic al a d i t ll ct al di ff c s g

e re eo o n n e e u ere n e e n er ally v ne er

s m d t i j his p s al lati s his s s f q ity J st a

ee e o n u re e r on re on or en e o e u . u s o ne f his
o

cl s st f i ds at M i fi ld w a s cialist i t d cy
o e r en r e h is d light
s o n en en ,
so e e e d wh h en e

fi ds his f i ds lik Ca
n G
r en s b ks ; a stly c mm ds
e no n ore
’
oo e rne re o en his P ay r er
 M I R F I ELD , 1 89 8—1 9 03 1 93
Th e storm subsid e d s u p e rficially as rapidly as it ros e
, , .

B e nso n r e tu r n e d to M ir fi e ld u nabl e o n his sid e to s e e any

thing pr e ve nting his p r o f e ssion A t l e ast th e e motion that .

drove f r om Lib e ralism had still e d th e e motio n that dr e w

to om R e
“
A r e .
yo u Canon G or e in quir e d o f him in
,
“
,

any dang e r o f lap s e ? “

N o said th e candidat e aston , ,

i sh e d at th e qu e stion H e was e l e ct e d o n J u ly 2 9th and

.
,

p r of e ss e d o n th e I st o f A u g u st 1 90 1 H e writ e s i n h is ,
.

Confessi ons with sinc e r e e motion of th e happ in e ss o f that

, ,

day Eeee n ov a faei o onzn i a H e obtain e d a n e w cassock

. . .

H i s moth e r assist e d at th e initiation o f a n e w lif e From .

th e br e th r e n h e took th e Pax th e kiss o f p e ac e ; at th e ,

altar h e r e c e iv e d Communio n I n th e aft e rnoon I drov e .

o u t with my moth e r i n a ki nd o f e cstasy o f co nt e ntm e nt .

H e fl u ng hims e lf i nto work onc e mo e r “ I t is hard .

,

h e writ e s “
fo r Cathol ics to b e li e v e it but it is a f act that
, ,

as a n A nglican I had far long e r h o u rs in th e Conf e ssional

than I have e v e r had in th e Catholic Ch u r ch I n on e .

Londo n pa r ish fo r i nstanc e for abo u t four days at th e

, ,

e n d of a missio n my bro th e r -mission e r and I i nt e r vi e w e d

,

p e opl e h e a r ing conf e s sions and r e comm e ndi ng r e sol u tio ns

,

a nd r u l e s of lif e fo r ov e r e l e ve n ho u rs e ach day two mo r e

,

ho u r s w e r e occ u p i e d i n d e l iv e ring s e rmons to vast c o n

g gr e at i o ns W e cam e f rom o u r qui e t lif e r e d-hot with
.

ze al and f o u nd ev e rywh e r e m e n and wom e n who s e e m e d

,

to hav e b ee n waiting for u s i n an extrao r dina r y mann er .

B e sid e s th e s e e xt e rior activiti e s th e M ir fie ld Th e ological ,

Coll eg e was at this tim e pr e occ u pyi ng H u gh s mind a '

littl e and h e wrot e to th e A rchbishop of Cant e rb u ry

,

about it .

an d th e
'
L or d s P r ayer , an d The Cr eed o
f the Ch r i sti an ; b ut of his B dy f o o

c f ss th at h says h fi ds it a t ibl b k a d
Ch r i st I on e e e n e rr e oo , n re ally m sl adi g
i e n

i l a g ag —a t t ally w
n n u e g imp ssi ! f wh at h e allyfb
o ro n re on o re e li
e v e s.A ll his
f i ds ay
r en s so .

I
11 94 R O BE R T H UGH B ENSON
Th e A rchbishop , in h i s r e ply dat e d ,
A ug u st 2 8, 1 9 0 2,

said
N EW T ON D O N , K EL S O , N B . .

2 8th A ugu st 1 90 2 .

I am ke e nly i nt e r e st e d in what yo u t e ll m e of th e
n e w d e p a r tur e—fo r it i s n e w I suppos e —
, i n th e work o f
yo u r Comm u nity .

A n d e v e r y tho u ghtf u l and capabl e plan f or th e wis e

pr e paratio n and g u idanc e o f ordinands ought at pr e s e nt ,
I think to b e w e lcom e d by th e whol e Ch u r ch Wh e th e r
, .

th e act u al doctrinal and p r actical t e aching which y ou

wo u ld giv e to such ordinands co r r e sponds quit e with what
I sho u ld mys e lf giv e is r e ally a mi no r tho u gh a most
, ,

impo r tant matt e r Th e r e is h u e p e ril as I thi nk i n m e n

taking to th e t e chnical study 0 gth e ology with a vi e w to
, .
, ,

o r dination without its b e ing bas e d upon ad e q u at e edu

,

catio n O f a g e n er al so r t and I th er e for e r e joic e to see th at

,

you cont e mplat e p r e paring all yo u r m e n fo r a d eg r e e i n

A rts b e for e th e y b e com e th e ologians .

I n this l e tt e r th e A rchbishop not only add e d his voic e

to that gr e at chorus O f e xp e rts i n all branch e s who d e clar e
that h e s u cc e e ds b e st in his sp e cialis e d d e partm e nt w h o
has not b ee n d e fr aud e d o f that wid e bas e O f g e n e ral e duca
tio n which th e traditional form s of public school and
unive rsity t e aching take as th e ir id e al ; but h e was with
i nfinit e d e licacy r e minding Fath e r B e nson h ims e l f that his
th e ological studi e s s u ch as th ey w e r e r e p os ed o n no v e ry
, ,

wid e o r solid foundations Of hi s U n iv e rsity t r aining

.

e no u gh has alr e ady b e e n said H e did not love th e

.

classics ; of sci e n c e h e will writ e :

What a r e li e f it is to com e ac r oss anyon e who
do e sn t know abo u t sci e nc e
’ “
P e rsonally I f e ar I am a
.
”
,

hop e l e ss p e r son to ask abo u t it ; it always s e e ms to m e a

r e d h e r r i ng i n Ch r istian apolog e tic s and that u nl e ss
“ ” !

o n e r e ally knows about it like Fr

,
o n e h ad m u ch
.

b e tt e r ke ep to g e n er aliti e s such as that sci e nc e and r e

,

ligio n hav e no mor e to do with o n e anoth e r than e g ,

. .
,

g e ogra p h y and m u sic ! Th e y ar e both b ranch es O f truth ,

1 9 6 R O BE R T H UG H B ENSON
Th e only principl e I am quit e co nfid e nt o f is that e v e r y
syst e m o f e d u cation ( r e lig i o u s ) which is not str i ctly de
n o m i n ati o n al is rott e n I would far soon e r J e wish child r e n.

w e r e ta u ght J e wish r e ligion than a wash e d -o u t Christianity .

C h r istiam ty has simp ly not be e n giv e n a chanc e in o u r

schools Y o u mi ht as w e ll have a board to discuss th e
ingr e di e nts O f m e § i c i n e and strik e o u t all poisons ( e g
.

“ .
, .

st r ychnin e as hav e a boa r d O f vag u e manag e rs to

,

disc u ss r e ligio u s t e aching Th e r e i s som e thing conn e ct ed .

with th e origi nal I will admit l e ft i n both cas e s but i t

, , ,

is n e ith e r m e dicin e nor Christianity .

I t will th e n b e idl e to s e e k for any O f B e nson s p r e

, ,
’

o ccupatio ns at th is tim e outsid e th e th e ological i nt e r e sts

wh ich w e r e always his I t might p e r hap s hav e be e n .

e xp e ct e d that an illation could b e mad e f r om th e class of

st u di e s impos e d by th e M ir field Fath er s upon th e st u d e nts

O f th e ir Th e ological Coll e g e to thos e wh ich th e y d e mand e d

O f th e ms e lve s B ut to b e gin with th e Coll eg e syllab u s

.
, ,

though n o w o f a v ery compr e h e nsiv e and e ffici e nt sort 1

,

was i n H ugh B e nson s tim e still fairly fluid Mor e ove r

,
’

, . ,

th e family spirit r e igni ng i n th e Comm u nity bro u ght it

to pass that although i n almost e v e ry d e partm e nt th e
,

hous e might i ncl u d e a man O f r e al distinction and

originality ye t such ve ry wid e lib e r ty was d e lib e rat e ly
,

acco r d e d to e ach as r egards occupation and d e tails o f

study that it would b e impossibl e to e stimat e f r om th e
, ,

m er e f act o f his havi ng b e e n th e r e what a man might ,

have a ch i e v e d B e sid e s m e n arrive d at Mir fie ld at v ery

.
,

di ff e r e nt stag e s o f th e ir m e ntal f ormation som e i n middl e

age wh e n th e mind do e s not tak e k indly to nov e lti e s o f
,

tho u ght l e ast of all o f abst r act tho u ght and wh en th e

, ,

1
t
A f e r th e t aki g f th i d g at L ds U iv sity wh th y sid i
n o e r e re e ee n er , e re e re e n

a Ho st l
e ,th st d ts sp d tw m y a s i th l gical st dy at Mi fi ld
e u en en o o re e r n eo o u r e .

t
Af er O r di ati a d s m xp i c f p ast al w k th y a i vit d t
n on n o e e e r en e o or or , e re n e o

t f
r e u rn or a visit fa w k om d i g which th y st dy m al th l gy a d
ee or o re , ur n e u or eo o n

cas ist y
u r .
 M I R FI ELD ,
1 8 9 8—1 9 0 3 1 97

m e mory r e fus e s in most cas e s to cha r g e its e l f with a ny , ,

n e w burd e n of f acts .

A nyhow what di f fe r e ntiat e s Mir fie ld most comp l e t e ly

,

f r om a Catholic s e mi nary nat u rally is that th e ology can ,

th e r e b e taught historically o r at most p hilosophically o r ,

i n both th e s e ways but n o t dogmatically Th e r e might , .

b e th e s e s but to th e s e n o ,
“
not e could b e attach e d ;
th e prof e ssors could not p r opound as Catholic p ro f e ssors ,

must This th e sis is of fai th o r p rob able or theolog i cally

“
, , ,

cer tai n I nt e r e sting pious and e nco u ragi ng th e th e o

.
, ,

logical e xp lanations B e nson h e ard might b e but scarc e ly ,

satisfying to his soul wh ich crav e d authority I n con ,

.

s e q u e n c e apart from his moral not e s th e synop sis o f

, ,

Le hmkuhl r e f e rr e d to above among h is many not books

,
e -
,

o f that p e riod I find o n e o nly wh ich can b e call e d th e o

logical a nd it contains by th e quaint e st chanc e a v e ry

, , ,

bor e d dige st o f P u s e y s comm e ntary o n th e M i nor P r op hets ’

and th e A bbé Tu rm e l s h isto r i cal account O f th e dogma ’

O f original sin Thus did th e high orthodox A nglican .

e lbow th e Fr e n ch M od e rn ist ; and on n e ith e r do e s Fath e r

B e nson fe e l hims e lf d r awn to e xpr e ss any s e ntim e nt as

to wo r th o f m e thod o r conclusion O n e book h ow e ve r .
, ,

o f an e xc e ptional kind e xists It i s a minut e and pur e ly .

mystical int er p r e tation O f G e n e sis and Exodus tak e n almost

ve rs e by v e rs e This was writt e n i n 1 9 0 1.
1
.

1
I q ot
li s f m th m editati s s gg st d by Ex d s xiv
u e a fe w ne ro e on u e e o u .

1 -4 Th fi al bl w ag ai st si
. eby placi g s ls be y d its ty a y
n o n n, n ou on r nn .

7 60 0 ch a i ts : th m a k f ass a lt (6 66
. r o mb fB ast ) e r o u nu er o e .

14 Th s th A p stl s w
. u t ifi d til th p w had fi ally c m
e o e er e e rr e un e o er n o e,

a d th y w s p a at d f m i by P t c st ’

n e e re e r e ro s n en e o .

1 6 Th B l ssi g f th Wat
. e e n o e e r.

1 9 Th C l . d is th Spi it b th t g th s av I s a l
e ou e r o o e er e r e .

Wat a d th Spi it c stit t B aptism

er n e r on u e .

2 0 Y t th w ld fails t d sta d Th Spi it is d a k th w ld s sid ’

. e e or o un er n e r r on e or e.

A pe pe t al all g y
r u e or .

Th is a littl m i a th b k ab t th A p calyps b t v y littl

e re e o re n no er oo ou e o e, u er e

els e.
1 9 8 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
Such th e n is th e acco u nt as compl e t e i n all save o n e
,

d e p artm e nt as I can make it o f B e nso n s li fe at M ir fie ld

,
’
.

I n that d e partm e nt i s o f cours e to b e fo u nd all that

, ,

r e lat e s dir e ctly to his Rom e ward mov e m e nt A t M ir fie ld

.

h e was r e ligiously happy : h is apostolic work was activ e

to th e point o f f e v e rishn e ss h is lit e rary pow e r was
d e ve lop ing e normously all his futur e charact e ristics w e r e
plainly visibl e H is li fe might have s e e m e d to him id e al
.
,

h ad it not b ee n fo r th e discordant voic e r e it e rating i n his

e ars a call o f wh ich h e could not j udg e th e natur e H e nc e .
,

a c er tai n hardn e ss irascibility n oisi n ess ( if I dar e so de

, ,

scrib e it) still disc e rnibl e i n h im is to b e put down n o t

, ,

alo n e to th e r e lativ e su p e r fic iality o f youth s e motion s ’

and i n e xp e ri e nc e d outlook but to th e u n e asi n e ss o f o n e

,

w h o is n o t wholly in his prop e r m ili eu and hal f knows

,

it and wholly tri e s to p e rsuad e hims e l f that thi s is untru e

,
.

A r tifi c iality e nt e rs such a li f e th e man is n o t altog e th e r

hims e lf
. I t will b e o u r duty to study n o w h is diffi
, ,

c u lt tra nsit from o n e atmosph e r e o r rath e r wo r ld into

, ,

anoth e r ; th e machin e ry o f hi s lif e will groan an d j ar

mor e harshly still b e f ore all h is soul runs smooth
,
.
 20 0 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
to B e nson s t e mp e ram e nt irr e sistibl e Fo r a long tim e
’

,
.

to th e v e ry e v e in fact o f his r e conciliation —h e will

, ,

b e li e ve hims e lf a pri e st ; and th e i nf e r e nc e that wh e r e

th e sac r am e nts ar e and wh e r e grac e is giv e n with th e m
, ,

th e r e is th e Church s ee m s at first sight ir r e sistibl e

, .

I n th e J u n e th e n O f 1 90 2 h e told his moth e r as th e y

, , ,

paus e d upon a littl e b r idg e ove r a brook n e ar Tr e m an s ,

that h e had b ee n dist u r b e d in his mind by th e vision o f

R om e but that h is m 1 u d was onc e mor e at r e st
, N e wman .
,

how e ve r a f t e r th e t er r ibl e chall e ng e o f A u g u sti n e s claim

,
'

agat n st th e Donatists 1 sol e mnly cri e d alo u d that h e who

,

h as o nc e s ee n a ghost can n e v e r b e as tho u gh h e had n e v er

s e e n it ; and so f or H u gh B e nson too th e vision onc e
mo r e dawn e d o n his horizon aft er b e ing only a month
o r two e clips e d H e had p romis e d that noth ing sho u ld
.

b e thought or do n e by him without his t e lling his moth er ,

and som e tim e b e tw e e n that and Christmas I had to

“

r e d e e m my p r omis e B y th e fulfilm e nt o f this p romis e

.
,

and th e car e f u l acq u ai nting o f Mr s B e nson and o f .

F ath e r Fr e r e o f each st e p in h is p r og r e ss h e r e nd e r e d ,

hims e lf invuln erabl e o n his conv e r sion to o n e whol e

, ,

flight o f da r ts shot by thos e for whom d e c e it and

,

Catholicism ar e associat e d notions and wh o cannot ,

imagi n e a conv e rsion hon e stly ca r r i e d through Loyally .

did th e r e cip i e nts o f his c o n fide n c e s disab u s e hi s acc u s e rs

i n this matte r .

I must th er e for e try to summaris e as cl e arly as pos

sibl e th e th e ory o r rath e r th e two th e o r i e s by which
, ,

dur ing h is Mir fie ld p e r iod h e j ustifi e d his position as a

m 1 n 1 ste r in th e Ch u rch of England A n d h e r e as always
.
, ,

wh e n d e aling with what is th e combi n e d prod u ct o f

di r e ct exp er i e nc e o f i nt r osp e ction o f r e minisc e nc e and
, , ,

um .
1
Secu r u s i u ai cat or b i s
’
ter r ar
 CON V ERSI ON 20 1

o f th e sch e matising i nt e ll e ct I will not forg e t that at any

,

give n mom e nt o f th is p e riod B e nso n might n o t hav e t e

cogni s e d as his what i s h e r e assign e d to him I t can b e .

ch e cke d in two ways—fi r st by his Confessi ons o n which, , ,

O f cours e I draw la r g e ly and s e cond by h i s l e tt e rs o f

, , ,

this p e r iod A n d ye t e v e r ybody knows h o w d u ring a

.
,

sp ac e o f y e ars th e int e ll e ct has b e e n s u bconsciously at

,

wo r k upo n its mat e rial e liminating r e arranging focus

, , ,

ing Wh o wo u ld have s u ppos e d that th e t e mp e st -toss e d

.

A ugustin e—as w e se e him portray e d long a f t e r wh e n h e ,

r e lat e s h is conve rsion in his o w n C onfessi on s—was th e man

who in r e ality h ad b e e n w r iting p h iIO SO p h ic t r e atis e s and ,

comm e nting o n V e rgil for ho u rs tog e th e r and e nt e rtai n ,

ing his moth e r and a group o f cult u r e d fri e nds in th e ,

villa at C assic i ac u m ? that th e p assionat e conv e rt as ,

alon e most r e ad ers know h im was too th e tranq u il ,

th e orist who d e cid e d to e mbrac e Chri stianity d e t e rmin e d

, ,

all th e whil e that h e wo uld hav e to find nothing wrong

with N e op latonism ? Y o u must inf u s e a consid e rabl e
e l e m e nt o f calc u lation it may b e into A ugustin e s Con ’

, ,

fessi on s to O btai n a truthf u l pi ct u r e ; and o f passion not

, ,

to say whim i nto Fath e r B e nso n s Confessi ons to O btain

,
’

a portrait o f th e M ir fi eld H ugh S O too altho u gh w e can .

,

watch him i n th e l ett ers Spoke n o f a bove wh ich hav e ,

alr e ady shown him as a man o f moods th e s e may o n , ,

th e ir sid e do so too e xcl u sive ly for l e tt er s ar e things o f

, ,

th e mom e nt and n eed th e y too co r r e ction

, ,
B ut th e r e , .

ar e som e cont e mpora r y and d e lib e rat e ly drawn u p docu

m e nts which shall g u id e u s .

Fo r a co nsid e r abl e tim e th e n h e consid e rs h e had , ,

h e ld to th e p osition that th e A nglican Ch u r ch w as an

accurat e o r fairly accu r at e r estor ation o f th e t e aching i n
, ,

vogu e at a P r imitiv e p e riod consid e r e d o n th e whol e to , , ,

20 2 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
have e xi st e d down to th e e n d o f th e fifth o r sixth c e ntury ,

o r p e rhap s up to th e Fourth G e n e ral Council inclusiv e .

Th e n corruptio n had s et i n : R om e a nd Co nstantinopl e

had pil e d up th e ir exc e ss e s ; th e N o nconformists by ,

d e f e ct had dropp e d o u t altog e th e r Th e th e o ry is a

, .

f amiliar o n e and v e r y simpl e at first sight It d e mand e d

, .
,

how e v e r that o n e should admit th e f ail u r e O f Christ s

,
“ ’

promis e s for a thousand y e ars ; it assum e d too that , ,

th e r e constructio n O f primitiv e do c trin e was a n a ffair o f

historical r e s e arch to b e d e mand e d pr e s u mably f rom
, , ,

e xp e rts A rch ae ology had at no tim e much f ascination

.

f or H u gh H e d e mand e d a living voic e i n a mode r n

.

world Cl e ar that th e Pray e r B ook was no mor e o f a

.

“
living voic e tha n th e B ibl e h e t u rn e d to th e only
,

e l e m e nts i n th e Church o f England which b e ar any

r e s e mblanc e at all to a living voic e—th e d e cisions o f
Co nvocation th e r e solutions o f Pan -A nglican Conf e r e nc e s
, ,

and th e utt e ranc e s o f B ishop s —with th e r e sult that h e

found th e m contradictory o r d u mb or as h e na i v e ly
, , ,

owns th e y answ e r e d i n a mann er wh i ch I co u ld not

,
“

r e concil e with what I was co nvinc e d was th e Christian

Faith . H e n e v e r that i s e xp e ct e d to find i n th e m a
, ,

voic e e ndow e d with e ve n that minimum o f authority

which should gove rn at l e ast h is e xt erior co ns e nt and public
t e achi ng Modify it ind e e d h e did b u t according to what
.
,

th e cl e rgy of th e churc h e s h e visit e d might e xp e ct Th e .

shap e colou r and adornm e nt o f th e ir stol e s proved h e

, , ,

says a f ai r ly acc u rat e ba r om e t e r of doct r in e ; it was

,

mo r e confusing wh e n v e stm e nts w e r e wo r n ind ee d b u t ,

only at s e rvic e s to wh ich “ important P r ot e stants did not

com e . To v e i l yo u r languag e to utt e r disco u rs e s f u lly
,

int e lligibl e to a s e l e ct fe w might am u s e a naughty boy

, ,

still at th e age o f plots and cod e s and ciph e rs but was ,

20 4 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
A rticl e s wer e xplai n e d away in th e man n e r f amiliar to
“e

”
A nglican cont r ov e rsialists 1
Fath e r B e nson th e r e for e
.

d e clar e s hims e l f to hav e b e li e ve d in th e Church D iflu siv e ;

from s u ch communiti e s as had r e tain e d th e A postolic
ministry and th e Cr e e ds a kind of g e n e ral cons e nt e xhal e d
,

its e lf though how this i narticulat e c o nvictio n was to b e

,

stat e d i n dogmatic forms r e main e d a puzzl e ; doctors

would mo st c e r tainly disagr e e ; to who m should th e u n
l e tt e r e d layman not skill e d i n diagnosing th e con stitu e nt
,

e l e m e nts o f b e li e f wh il e h e ld as it w e r e i n so lu tio n an d u n
’

pr e cipitat e d app e al ,
W e ll arg u e d Fath e r B e nson , ,
“
to a cl e r gyman who acknowl e dg e s with m e th e Church , ,

D iflu siv e i n my s e ns e H aving thus pack e d on e s j ury

’
.
,

a nd b e ing o n e s e l f th e j udg e th e r e should b e no gr e at ,

di fficulty about a satisfactory v e rdict .

B ut as I said no ho n e st man could in this f ram e o f

, , ,

mind f ee l secu r e I t was at this tim e that his s e cond

, .

attack o f anxious surmis e sup e rve n e d .

H e th e r e for e mad e o n e n e w cl e ar stat e m e nt o f th e

Di ff u siv e Th e ory and s e nt it to th e R ev G Tyr r e ll S J
, . .
, . .
,

u nd e r cov e r o f th e following l e tt e r I quot e th e l e tt e r .

in f ull : th e stat e m e nt will b e s e e n i n th e A pp e ndix ,

V o l I I p 4 51
. .
,
. .

Pr ivate and Confidenti al .

H OU S E O F TH E R ES U RR ECT I ON ,

. M I R FI EL D .

R EV . AN D D EA R will pardon a compl e t e

SI R, —
Y ou
strang e r troubli ng I have had th e pl e asur e o f
yo u ?
r e ading most of yo u r books and f e e l that if yo u will , ,

allow m e I c an mo r e e asily cons u lt yo u about th e po sition

,
I am in tha n anyon e i n th e R oman Catholic Communion
,
.

Fo r abo u t fiv e y e a r s I h av e had f ro m tim e to tim e , ,

st r ong d r awings towa r ds R om e I n att e mpting to t e st
“
.

th e nat u re O f th e s e drawings I hav e practically always fo u nd ,

1
C onfess i on s , p 74 '
. .
 CON V ERS I ON 20 5

that my motive s w e r e so mixe d and s e co nd -rat e that I cou ld ,

n o t in any way cl e a r ly disting u ish th e motions o f th e H oly

G host and it ap p e ar e d to m e my d u ty to r e gard th e m as

assa u lts upo n faith A gai n and again I cam e to th e c o n
.

e lusi on aft e r tho u ht and pray e r that G o d had plac e d m e

i n an e xtr e m e ly difl
, ,

i c u lt position in th e fi e ld of H is Church ,

and that it wo u ld b e a t e r r ibl e br e ach O f trust to l e av e it .

Si nc e L e nt how e ve r th e s e drawings have app e ar e d

, ,

mor e strongly th an e ve r V e ry fr e qu e ntly h ow e ve r I

.
, ,

still d e t e ct among th e m s e co nd -r at e motiv e s o f p e r sonal

”
t e nd e nci e s and p olicy as w e ll as d e finit e ly e vil motive s
“
,

o f a lov e o f e as e ,
and subtl e forms o f prid e poiso ning ,

all th e springs o f thought A gain and again som e h u milia

.

tion has t u rn e d my thoughts to th e R oman Comm u nio n

as a way o f e scap e B ut I f ee l that i n sp it e o f th e s e e vil
.
,

and i nad e q u at e motiv e s som e thing mor e i s b e hind ; and

,

I cannot t e ll wh e th e r th e voic e is th e voic e o f G od o r n o t .

Th e r e ar e to o to my mind s e v er al v e ry r e al and
, , ,

w e i ghty O bstacl e s i n th e way o f my submission to Rom e

( if 1n de e d th e y ar e not Divin e warnings ) ; and it is about
, ,

thos e obstacl e s that I chi e fly wish to mak e inq u iri e s .

I n th e m e antim e I am l e arn ing I think mor e than

, , ,

e v e r th at faith is a gift and n o t a climax o f int e ll e ct u al

,

proc e ss e s ; and it i s this gift that I lack I f Rom e alo n e .

is th e Catholi c Church I lack it ; o r i f th e Ch u rch o f

,

England is part o f th e Catholic Ch u rch I t e nd to lack it ,

.

A t pr e s e nt th e ph r as e “
I b e li e ve i n th e Catholic Ch u rch
m e ans littl e mo r e to m e than that I b e li e v e th e r e is such
a th ing .

B u t wh e th e r th e s e d r awings ar e o f faith o r t e mptation ,

I a m unabl e to f ollow th e m u ntil I am in good faith as

r e ards int e ll e ct u al di fficulti e s O f cours e I am q u it e
.

w i li ng to l e av e many obscur e things unsolv e d ; but it

cannot b e right to act cl e an cont r ary to what do e s n o t
s ee m O bsc u r e at all b u t p e r f e ctly cl e ar Som e o f th e
,
.

qu e stions o n th e pap e r that I e nclos e s e e m to m e p e rf e ctly

cl e arly against R om e “
.A n d it is o nly this d ee p e ning
touch o n my soul (wh e th e r of G od o r th e Evil O n e I am
not s u ffi ci e ntly spirit u al to disting u ish ) which mak e s m e ,

e v e n disc u ss th e s e q u e stions with mys e lf and ask wh e th e r ,

I am r ight o r wr ong i n my int e ll e ctual conc e ption s .

Th e e n clos e d pap e rs contain th e chi e f o fmy di fficulti e s ,

and I sh ould b e most d e e p ly rat e ful i f th e p ap ers might

b e r e turn e d to m e annotat eg with comm e nts o r with ,
20 6 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
f r n c e s to books that I should r e ad I am willing to o
re e e .
,

o f cours e ( and sho u ld b e g r at e f u l ) to s e e yo u r s e lf o r

,

anyon e that yo u r e comm e nd if that is right and to , ,

obs e rve any co u r s e o f d e voti on o r r e ading that is advisabl e

so far as th e s e th ings ar e withi n my pow e r B ut I am .

natu r ally ti e d to a c e r tain ext e nt by th e conditions o f my

lif e h e r e .

Bu t I am a b ov e all a nxious to avoid anything ap proach

ing a controve rsial to n e If a c ertain ton e ( which fo r .

want O f anoth e r t e rm o n e m u st call co nt r ove rsial ) is at all

p r omin e n t i n th e bo oks o n e is r e comm e nd e d to r e ad o n e s ,
’

h e a r t so quickly turns to s e lf-d e f e nc e and b e com e s hard ,

and clos e d to tr u th I n mo r e than o n e R oman book

.

I have r e ad lat e ly I have b e e n r e nd e r e d incapabl e o f

app r e ciating f ully th e fo r c e o f a r gum e nts b e caus e it s e e m e d ,

as i f th e w r it er s d e sir e d to b u lly m e ; and as th e y w e r e

unabl e to j u dg e dispassionat e ly th e y have attribu t e d f alse ,

motive s and mis r e p r e s e nt e d facts i n conn e ction with th e

,

Ch u r c h o f England A n d it is pa r tly for this r e ason that I

.

am pr e s u ming to w r it e to yo u sinc e I f e e l s u r e that you

,

know that sinc e rity is not wanting to o u r cl e rgy and that ,

th e “
Catholi c Move m e nt i n th e Ch u r ch of En land is
not mainly s u pport e d by blasph e mo u s fools w 0 lik e
playing at b e ing pri e sts and that at l e ast som e o f o u r
,

l e ad e rs poss e ss co m mon hon e sty and s e ns e .

My qu e stions I h ave t r i e d to e xpound i n th e simp l e st

possibl e fo r m as I wish to avoid e ve n th e app e a r anc e o f
,

arg u m e ntation I t i s not my wish to att e mpt to p r ov e

.

anybody wrong but only to b e convinc e d o f th e t r uth

,

what e ve r that may b e ; so I h av e th rown all my d e f e nc e s

op e n so f ar a s I hav e b e e n abl e
,
.

O n th e top O f all thi s e gotism may I add a littl e mo r e

as I do wish as far as possibl e to p u t b e fo r e yo u all th e facts
—O th er s b e sid e s thos e o n which I d e si r e to cons u lt yo u .

1 .S O far as my knowl e dg e o f mys e lf e xt e nds I b e li e v e ,

that I am si nc e r e and that th e r e is no s e lfish d e si r e in m e

,

strong e no u gh e ith er to ho ld m e wh e r e I am o r to s e nd ,

m e to R om e
“
O f co u rs e it is only too po ssibl e that I may
.

b e i n a stat e o f dr e adf u l s e lf -d e c e ption ; b u t at l e ast I am

u nd e r th e impr e ssion that I w ill submit to th e Catholic

Ch u rch—i n fact that I am al r e ady in a stat e o f s u bmissio n

, ,

so far a s th e gift of faith is g r ant e d m e M u ch o f my .

darkn e ss how e ve r if not all may w e ll b e th e r e sult o f

, , ,

sins against f aith .

20 8 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
constitution of mind ( tho u gh I dar e say I am compl e t e ly
w r ong ) is a cat e na o f Fath e rs which I co u ld ve r ify o n th e , ,

Se e o f P e t e r as th e n e c e ssa r y c e nt r e of u nity and th e ,

P e trin e t e xts as w e ll as a r e f e r e nc e to som e book d e aling

with th e schism of East and W e st dispassionat e ly—giving
,

I m e an a r e cord o f facts with as littl e comm e nt as possibl e

, .

I have of co u r s e also cons u lt e d oth e r writ e rs on pa r tic u la r

, ,

points .

6 Th e R e fo r mation p e r iod s e e ms to m e th e st r ong e st

.

a r g u m e nt fo r R om e in o n e s e ns e O n e has littl e do u bt .
,

give n fortit u d e o n which Sid e o n e w o u ld have b ee n So

,
.

[ n e e d no p r e ss u r e o n that point Y e t I find mys e lf by .

, ,

th e Provid e nc e o f G od i n th e English Comm u nion which , , ,

aft e r all has shown a ma r ve llo u s sac r am e ntal vitality a nd

, ,

I fe e l bo u nd to give gr eat w e ight to that f act SO long as it ,

is possibl e to r e main i n good faith .

Esp e cially d e a r s ir I ask th e cha r ity O f yo u r pray er s

, , .

I f too yo u could say a Mass fo r m e I Sho u ld b e d e e ply

, , ,

grat e ful Som e cu r ious coincid e nc e s have tak e n plac e in

.

my lif e in conn e ction with d e votio n to th e H oly G host and

th is s u bj e ct and if th er e w e r e any d e votions o f th e kind
,

i n which my n e e ds could find a plac e I f e e l sur e th at it ,

wo u ld g r e atly h e lp m e .

I f e e l ind e e d how m u ch I am asking o f yo u a nd how

, , ,

g r e at my d e bt of g r atit u d e will b e if yo u Sho u ld h e lp m e ,

i n any dir e ction towa r ds a solution o f th e s e di fficulti e s

,
.

I f any e xpre ssio ns in my l e tt e r o r in th e e nclo su r e , ,

s ee m to yo u pr e sumptuous o r o ff e n sive i n any way may I ,

ask yo u r pardon b e for e hand ?

B e li e ve m e cle ar and r e v sir yo u rs faithfully in Christ
, .
, ,

H U G H B EN SON .

Th e R ev Fr TYR R ELL . . .

Disastro u sly e nough o n e pag e only numb e r e d 8 o f , , ,

Fath e r Tyrr e ll s a nsw e r su r viv e s I t contains a v er y cl e ar

’
.

and th e ological not e o n th e first s u gg e stion i n s e ction iv .

o f th e stat e m e nt and th e b e gi nning of a not e on s e ction v

,
.

I n h i s l e tt e r th e p r i e st disti ng u ish e d car e fully b e tw e e n th e

dogma of th e Ch u r ch —th e wo r ding o f th e Vatican form u la
h e consid e r e d m 1 n 1m 1 s1 n g — and th e p ractical policy and
ton e so to sp e ak O f th e Ch u r ch wh ich h e call e d maxi
, , ,
 CON V ER SI ON 20 9

m isi n g b e ing a mi nimis e r co u ld r e mai n wh e r e h e

. He ,

was but f e lt a c ertain r e luctanc e (which was not ind ee d

,

logical but had i n it a c e rtai n d e licacy o f f e e ling with

,

r e gard to th e appropriat e and a t e nd e rn e ss O f appre h e nsion

,

l e st a conv e rt admitt e d O n Tyrr e ll s l in e s should find

,
’

hims e lf disillusion e d and dep ayse in so ali e n an atmosph er e ) ’

fo r r e c e iving an inqu ir e r
“
H e e nd e d by be gging B e nso n
.

to r e m e mb e r him i n h is mass a r e qu e st f u ll o f Tyr r e ll s ,

’

irony in any circumstanc e s and doubly so i n th e s e A t

, ,
.

th is tim e Tyr r e ll was not known e v e n amo ng hi s associ ,

at e s fo r th e op e nly mod ernistic attitud e h e a f t e rwards

,

assum e d and had scarc e ly publish e d e v e n ps e udonymously

,

th e bo oks which aft e rwards mad e h im so w e ll known .

B e nson s e ye was quit e unlik e ly to d e t e ct th e th e ological

’

flaws o r dang er o u s t e nd e nci e s which e xp e rt scholastics

alr e ady obs erv e d in his books and was like so many oth e rs , , ,

utt e rly captivat e d by th e ind e scribabl e charm o f Tyrr e ll s ’

styl e th e lucidity o f h i s e xpositions and th e warmth o f his

, ,

charity still SO notic e a b l e .

“
Fath e r Tyr r e ll h e e xclaims always s e e m s to m e
“
, ,

to say t e last po ssi b l e word

h 1

Disconc ert e d by Ty r r e ll s r e bu ff h e acc e pt e d fo r a ’

mom e nt th e int e rp r e tation plac e d upon it by thos e whos e

j u dgm e nt h e valu e d and d e cid e d h e was m e ant to stay wh e r e
,

h e was A lmost imm e diat e ly th e p e ndul u m swung back

.
,

and h e imp lor e d l e ave to canc e l h is wint e r e ngag e m e nts .

Sup e riors pr e scrib e d th e d r ug o f work and k e p t h im to it , .

H e p ut hims e lf i n to uch how e v e r with th e R e v , , .

Sp e nc e r J on e s in whom if in anyon e h e f e lt h e c o u ld
'

, , , ,

find h e lp in his di fficulti e s .

Th e R e v Sp e nc e r J J on e s r e ctor o f Mor e to n -in -th e

. .
,

Ma r sh w as invit e d i n N ove mb er 1 899 by th e A sso ciatio n

, , ,

1
Sp i r i tu al Letter s, p . 1 6.
 21 0 ROB ERT H U GH B ENSON
fo rPromoting th e U nity o f Ch r ist e ndom (th e
‘

to
p r e ach o n e o f a s e r i e s o f s e r mons b e a r ing upon r e u nion , ,

o n th e Sai ri ts days of 1 0 0 T e f e ast o f St P e t e r was

’
i
9 h . .

c e d e d to Mr Sp e nc e r Jon e s at h is r e qu e st owing to hi s
.
, ,

atte ntion having r e c e ntly b ee n focus e d o n th e P e t r in e

asp e ct of Ch u rch u nity by a book publish e d in 1 89 5 ( The
,

G ift of th e K eys) by Cano n Ev e r e st o f Tr u ro an A nglican , .

F r om N ove m b e r 1 899 to J u n e 1 90 0 M r Sp e nc e r Jo n e s
, , , , .

pr e par e d his add r e ss which was i n fact d e live r e d to a

,

s e l e ct a u di e nc e o f m e n p r o fo u n dly i n ter e ste d in th e ; ideals

o f th e Th e addr e ss wh ich was pr e f ac e d by a ,

Bidding Pray e r last e d a n ho u r and a half ; and having

, ,

be e n invit e d aft e rwards to publish it Mr Sp e nc e r Jones , .

fo u nd that it gr e w b e n e ath his hands to th e dim e nsio ns o f

a book wh ich ap p e ar e d o n Jan u ar y 1 3 1 90 2 und er th e
, , ,

titl e Eng lan d an d the H oly See an Essay tow ar ds th e R eu n ion

, ,

of C h r i sten do m To
. th is Lord H ali f ax contrib u t e d an
I nt r oduction A first ed itio n ran out in e ight mo nth s a nd
.

lat e r in th e sam e y e a r ( 1 90 2) a ch e ap e r and m u ch abridg e d

e dition ap p e a r e d and p r ov e d so p e rman e ntly p op u lar
that it has b e e n iss u e d i n a ch e ap shilling form as l at e a s
th e e n d o f 1 9 1 4.

It is h y th e co u r t e sy of Mr Sp e nc e r Jo n e s hims e lf that
.

I am abl e to give what I can sa fe ly ass e rt to b e an e q u it . ,

abl e account o fh is th e sis .

I t is ass u m e d that r e union among Christi ans is a

.
,
'

consummation to b e hop e d and work e d for Th e id e al .

has b e e n pu r s u e d how e v e r with too much s e ntim e nt

, , ,

too littl e o f th e sci e ntific s pirit Sci e nc e obs e rv e s ; mak e s .

e xp e r im e nts t r av e ls towa r ds hypoth e sis adopting a wo r k ,

ing hypoth e sis di r e ctly it can ; a nd th e nc e to th e o r y

”
, .

Thus i n politics a B ill pr e c e d e s an Ac t

, ,
B ut as a B ill .

will b e discuss e d as though it w e r e alr e ady o n th e

212 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
Sinc e A nglicans admit R oma n O r d e rs b u t Rom e do e s ,

n o t admit A nglican it is b u t r e asonabl e fo r th e form e r

,

to acc e p t th e ordin ation rit e o f th e latt e r but unr e asonabl e ,

to e xp e ct R om e to acc e pt that of England .

That corpo r at e r e union is possibl e is prov e d ( w e now ,

o n a small scal e by th e Franciscans o f N e w York

see
) , , ,

and o n a larg e r by various East e rn Communiti e s

, , .

Mr Sp e nc e r J on e s having f ormulat e d th is th e ory

.
, ,

proc ee d e d to a r gu e that it should n o t prove impossibl e

for A nglicans to se e th e i r way to r educing it to practic e ,

and to joi n i n e stablish ing no m e r e f ri e ndly conf e d e ratio n ,

o f Ch u rch e s organically s e parat e d but a singl e body , ,

pro fe ssing o n e faith u sing id e ntical sacram e nts i n su b

, ,

ordination not only de facto acc e pt e d but de i u r e impose d

, ,

to th e A postolic Se e I nd e e d th e Pop e i t could b e .

, ,

alr e ady h e ld by th e m is th e H e ad o f th e Chu r ch n o t ,

m e re ly de i u r e ecclesi asti eo b ut de i u r e di v i no and i s to , ,

h av e b e e n So appoint ed by Christ not alon e politically ,

fo r gove rnm e nt but spiritually fo r t e aching

,
H e nc e , .

e ve n infalli b ility may b e pr e dicat e d o f h im inasmuch ,

Christ promis e d in e rrancy to H is Church as a whol e ,

a nd sh e may e xpr e ss h e r unive rsal f aith not o nly through

th e g e n e ral b e li e f and practic e o f h er childr e n o r th e ,

coll e ctiv e voic e o f h e r bish ops in council but thro ugh h er ,

Supr e m e P astor r e gard e d n o t as a s e parat e oracl e but as th e

mouthpi e c e o f th e whol e U nio n with Rom e was n ec e s 1
.

sary not alon e fo r th e ben e esse o f a Church but normally ,

and in th e long run fo r its esse A dislocat e d limb is not eo .

ipso d e ad though if it b e n o t swiftly r e stor e d to its prop e r

, ,

play within its so ck e t it will soon n ee d amp u tation and, ,

m e anwhil e it s u ff e rs and is r e lativ e ly us e l e ss .

C t mp a y Cath lic app ci ati f M Sp c J s s b k a d th ’

1 on e oo
on e or r o re on o r. en er , n e

th e l gical l cidati
o o e u on this p i t i p a tic l a may b j dg d by th
of o n n r u r, e u e re e

l adi g a ticl s i th
e n r e n e Tab l t M a ch 1 5 a d 22 a d A p il 5 1 9 2
e ,
r n , n r ,
0 .
 CON V ERSI ON 21 3

R e union ,
th e r e f or e must b e z e alously sought fo r ; b u t , ,

fo r thos e who be li e v e d th e A nglican Church to b e thus

Sick a nd dislocat e d cor or ate r e u nion might b e a mbition ed
p ,
.

H e only who b e li e ve d h ims e l f to b e b e caus e withi n th e ,

A nglican Ch u rch th e r e f o r e o u tsid e th e body o f th e

,

Catholic Church n e e d f e e l individual s u bmission to b e

’

imp e rativ e We r e it aske d o f m e n who pro f e ss e d th e ir

.

conviction that th e P op e s voic e was i nfallibl e i n faith '

and morals why th e y did n o t submit to th e unvarying

,

u tt e ra nc e o f R om e —that th e A nglican Church was no

Church and that it was th e duty o f e ach A nglican to
"
,

“
com e i n th e an sw e r was th e O ld ap p e al from th e P op e
,

ill -inform ed to th e P op e b ett e r-i nform e d th e I talia n Curia

as pro bably misund e rstood th e A nglica n positio n as
av e rag e Englishm e n quit e c er tainly w e r e ignoran t o f th e
r e al doctrin e and g u arant ee s o f Roman Catholici sm B ut .

a discip linary d e cr e e b as ed o n a mis u nd e rstanding could

b e disr egard e d ; whil e i f th e A nglican Church w er e a
part o f th e Cath olic Church th e P op e s voic e utt e ring ,
’

what Sh e disb e li e ve d in was sp e aking n o t according to ,

th e faith o f th e Church as a whol e a nd was th e r e f or e ,

not infallibl e 1 .

B e nson as a dir e ct cons e qu e nc e o f hi s study o f

,

Mr Sp e nc e r Jo n e s s book wrot e to hi m in May 1 90 2 a s

.
'

, , ,

follows :
H OU S E F TH E R ES U RR ECT ON M R FI EL D O I , I ,

M ay , 1 90 2 .

D EA R B R O TH ER —Will yo u pardon a compl et e stran ge r ,

to yo u o n th e subj e c t O f your most in tere sttn g

n d th e H oly See ? I borrow e d a copy th e
q it m d d f d
1
Of u e o e rn e en er s this p siti th R R ald K x th
of o on e ev . on no , e so n

of th B ish p f M a ch st
e o o n e er, is I im agi
, th b st k w a d c t ai ly th
ne, e e no n n er n e

m st brillia t ; h e i his R
o n , n i
e u n on all R d d c s th v abl id a f
ou n , re u e e ener e e o

i b y a y m a s th
r eu n o n n e n o er th a R m t
n o l tl ss an ab d m th at h
e o so r e e n e su r u , e

mak s his ad s f ar f th
e re er e or e validity fhis w cas
o o n e.
2 14 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON - ’

oth e r day which I must r e turn imm e diat e ly ; and w e have

not ye t a C opy o f o u r o w n h e r e so that I am not s u r e ,

that I will b e abl e to look u p any r e f er e nc e s in it to which

y o u might dir e ct my‘
att e ntion sho u ld yo,
u car e to answ e r

my l e tt e r .

B u t I writ e to ask a q u e stio n wh ich p ossibly you may

not wish to answ e r b u t I am e nco u r ag e d f r om yo u r book
,

to hop e that yo u will ; b u t if you do not car e to answ e r i t

I shall p e r f e ctly und e r stand that it i s a s u bj e ct you might
not wish to disc u ss with a strang e r B u t b e fo r e I ask i t .
,

may I Say how d ee ply i nt e r e st e d I am i n th e book a nd ,

how compl e t e ly so far as I hav e had tim e and poss e ss

,

capac ity to Study it my o w n opi nions ac c o r d with thos e

,

put fo r ward i n it 1 '

’

You s e e m apa r t from d e tails to e stablish

, , tha t th e
P r imacy o f P e t e r is o f Divin e origin ; ( 2) that th e r e is no
d e mand mad e b y th e Se e o f P e t e r to b e h e ld de fi de as a ,

t e rm of comm u n i on which I s impossibl e to conc e d e

, .

Th e r e for e do e s it not s e e m a d u ty to s u bmit to that

,

Se e ? Fo r R om e h e rs e lf stat e s normally that it is n e c e s

, ,

sa r y to salvatio n : and grant e d , I do not se e what

O bstacl e can j u stify anyo n e p ri e st o r layman t u r e f u sing
, ,

to O b e y th e call o f h im whom o u r Bl e ss e d Lord appo i nt e d

to r u l e H is Ch u rch Fo r if ( 1 ) is tru e s u r e ly th e r e can
.
,

b e no j u r isdiction apart fro m that d ivin e ly appoint e d

u

H e ad .

Th er e are of co u r se many r e asons fO I h e sitation th e

, ,
.

fact o f having im plicitly to d e ny th e validity o f o n e s own ’

sacr am e ntal acts if that is to say o n e is to s e rve as a

, ,

pri e st i n th e R oman Church ; th e fact o f finding o n e s e lf

plac e d provid e ntially in this pa r t o f Ch r ist e ndom ; th e
f e ar o f b e ing blind e d by th e e xt r e m e discomforts o f th e
A nglican p osition —ar e all s u ffici e nt to mak e o n e h e sitat e
a consid erabl e t i m e b e fo r e taking s u ch a s e rio u s st e p .

Bu t: I wish to ge t th e g r o u nd C l e a r so far as may b e , ,

b efo r e anyth ing e ls e ; and yo u r own book stating as it do e s , ,

so many o f my o w n convictio ns and e manating as it , ,

do e s from o n e who is still cont e nt to minist e r 1 n the

Ch u r ch of England has e nco u rag e d m e to ask wh e th e r
,

y o u can giv e m e f u rth e r data or r e f e r e nc e s in th e di r e ction

I have indicat e d .

May I add fu r th et that I am awa r e that many with ,

g r e at r e ason b e li e ve that th e Ch u rch o f England has a

,

wo r k to do i n th e world of a p e c u liar d e licacy Bu t th is .

216 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
th e cons e nt o f Ch r ist e ndom—wh e th e r conciliar o r diffusive .

This o f co u rs e stand s o r falls as a p ossibl e th e ory with

, ,
th e A nglican conc e ption that I hav e tri e d to stat e abov e .

Pl e as e und e rstand how f ully awar e I am o f th e i n

ad e quacy O fthis l e tt e r Bu t I have d e lib e rat e ly omitt e d all
.

that app e ars to b e o f th e natur e o f sid e -iss u e s ; on th e

u nd e rstanding that i n th e mai n I b eli e ve that I hold v e r y
much what your book would l e ad m e to think that you
yours e l f hold . H B . .

M r Sp e nc er Jon e s answ e re d n e ve r having m e t Fath er

.
,

B e nson b ut kn owing him by r e putation only in a l e tt e r

, ,

which wa s e ith e r l e nt and not r e turn e d o r I surmis e in

, , ,

cons e qu e nc e o f som e e xp li cit r e qu e st d e stroy e d fo r at

, ,

this p e riod and lat e r B e nso n k e pt l e tt e rs quit e r e gardl e ss

o f th e triviality o r th e r e ve rs e o f th e ir co nt e nts He
'

e mphasiz e d ,
howe v e r h is d e sir e that Fath e r B e nson
,

should k ee p h i s S u p e rior continuously inform e d o f th e

corr e spo nd e nc e thus initiat e d O n May 23 B e nson
.

answ e r e d by a short not e e xp r essi n g h is f e ar l e st h e

,

“
might b e yi e ldi n g to th e t e mptation to d e s e rt a di ffic u lt
and it may b e all b u t unt e nabl e p osition i n th e battl e ,

and ye t a vital o n e for o n e o f comparativ e e as e and

,

s e curity . To dis e nta ngl e motiv e s was d e plorably di fficult .

H e nc e th e valu e o f M r Sp e nc e r Jon e s s book which ’

.
,

dive rt e d att e ntio n from s e lf to O bj e ctive f acts Y e t .

s e lf-knowl edg e was n e c e ssary to avoid a bias e d int e r

p r e tati o n o f thos e v e ry f acts .H o w imp e rativ e th en , ,

to h e sitat e !
O n May 27 h e fo llow e d this U p with a l e tt e r in which
, ,

a f t e r d e ploring th e fact that m e n who d e ny dogmas

e xplicitly stat e d in th e C r ee dS—
'

such as th e Virgin B i r th
ar e tol e rat e d in th e Church o f England h e continu e s ,

What you say abo u t R ound Tabl e con f e r e nc e s is most

int e r e sting and most inspi r ing and I hop e r e ally that th e
,

id e a will not b e allow e d to drop altog e th e r Th e v e ry f act .

 CON V ERSI ON 21 7

of h olding such a conf e r e nc e apart f rom any int r insic ,

good that might r e s u lt would awak e n p e opl e to th e f act o f

,
th e dis u nion o f Catholic Ch r ist e ndom Th e sadd e st fact .

about th e whol e q u e stion is that th e maj ority o f English

m e n tak e it for g r ant e d ( 1 ) that th e Chu r ch of England
ap proximat e s towards P r ot e stantism and that r e union with ,

th e m and th e r e cognition o f Prot e stant p rincipl e s ar e

nat u r al and obvious things to b e d e sir e d ; ( 2) that th e
Church o f England i s s e parat e d by an imp assabl e ulf
f r om ac atholic Christ e ndom and that r e unio n i n t at ,

dir e ctio n is impossibl e and th e d e sir e fo r it disloyal

,
.

An d a littl e lat e r he says

Th e bo ok that you sp e ak o f to com e o u t in two ye a r s ,

’

tim e is j ust what is n e e d e d Th e mod e rn controve rsial

, .

books s ee m to m e hop e l e ssly i n ade ( uat e Th ey ar e to o

o bviously and conf e ss e dly w r itt e n f
.

o r a purpos e ; and
many o f th e m n o doubt i n good faith omit thi ngs that
, ,

s e e m to on e s e lf vital but which s ee m to th e writ e r s as

,

b e sid e th e point : e g th e st r ong e st ar u m e n t to my

.
,

mi nd a ain st R om e consists in th e r e ma r abl e o missio ns

i n th e lgath er s & c St Vinc e nt and St Ch r yso stom both
, ,

. . .
,

giv e an acco u nt o f st e p s to b e tak e n to asc e rtain what i s

th e Faith wh ich as it app e a r s to m e co u ld not by any
, , ,

str e tch o f imagina tion hav e be e n w r itt e n by a mod e r n

R oman doctor— n o t from what th e y do say b u t from what

th e y don t say N o w that is th e kind of ar u m e n t o n e

’

g
.

wants thoro u ghly d e aling with ; e sp e cially b y parall e l

p assag e s i n mo r e mod e r n divin e s Showing e g that th e , , . .
,
Primacy O f R om e and th e n e c e ssity o f comm u nion with
h e r was s o O bviously tak e n fo r rant e d that th e s e saints
did not m e ntion it O n e wants to av e th e broad historical
.

situation b e for e o n e and not minut e wr e stlings ove r d e tail ,

and som e tim e s littl e schoolboy Slap s at O ppon e nts A .

large bo ok consisting chi e fly o f e xtracts with few o r no ,

comm e nts exc e pt p u r e ly h istorical would it s e e ms to m e

, , , ,

m e e t this want i n a way it has n e v e r b ee n m e t ye t A n d I .

do h op e and pray th e r e may b e no disput e d passa e s i n

th e book : diSp u te d I m e an as to th e ir a u th e nticity
, ,
here .

is nothin that cau s e s mor e mis er abl e co nf u sion and i m

p uting o e vil motive s and bitt e r sarcasm o n both Sid e s
than that .
21 8 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
Th e hop e d -for confe r e nc es w e r e mad e possibl e wh e n ,

i n F e bruary 1 90 3 it was d e cid e d to form a soci e ty o f

, ,

m e n i n sympathy with th e drift o f Mr Sp e nc e r Jon e s s

’
.

e ssay Th e ina u gu r al l e ct u r e was give n in O ctob e r 1 9 0 3

.
, ,
‘

to th e So c ie ty o f St Thomas o f Cant e rb u r y and was .

,

p ublish e d und e r th e titl e o f R ome an d R eu n i on Th e . .

b oo k which Be nso n hails as n e e d e d and immin e nt n ev e r

ap p e ar e d in that fo r m Its plac e may hav e b e e n tak e n .

by e g The P r i nce of the Ap ostles to wh ich Mr Sp e nc e r

, , ,
.

J on e s contrib u t e d a pr e f ac e and som e o f th e chapt e rs .

A ft e r th e l e tt e r o f M ay 2 7 B e nson wrot e no mo r e to Mr , .

Sp e nc e r Jo n e s till h e had b e e n r e c e ive d into th e Chu r ch

i n th e Se pt e mb e r o f 1 90 3 and i nd e e d anno u nc e d that ,

e v e nt to h im n e ith e r b e fo r e n o r aft e r its occurr e nc e

'

tho u gh h e kn e w Mr Sp e nc e r Jon e s had b e e n familiar .

with Woodch e st e r This I som e how find charact e ristic .

h e was at all tim e s s in gu larly d e tach e d f rom p e rsons : it

was in mom e nts o f e nthusiasm eg aft e r r e ading a book
'

'
. .
,

by an author which had str u ck him that h e would n e gl e ct ,

co nv e ntion and introd u c e hims e lf : h e rar e ly look e d '

backwa r ds l e ast o f all p e r hap s wh e n as at Woodch e st e r

, , , , ,

hi s whol e att e ntio n wa s fix e d u pon th e f ut u r e H ow e v e r .

,

this Sing u lar acquaintanc e w as n o t altog e th e r d r opp e d .

Th e Soci e ty o f St Thomas of Cant e rb u ry m e e ts i n May .

and N ove mb e r and it is a r u l e that th e M ay m e e ting

,

sho u ld b e addr e ss e d by a Catholic I n Ma y 1 9 0 8 at .

, ,

M r Sp e nc e r Jon e s s r e qu e st Fath e r B e nson gav e th e

’
.
,

l e ctur e taking onc e mo r e at th e Soci e ty s r e qu e st som e

, ,
“ ’
,

”
asp e ct of I n fa111b 111ty to sp e ak u pon H i s l e ct u r e has .

sinc e b e e n p u b lish e d by th e Catholic Truth Soci ety u nd e r

m

th e titl e of I nfallz b z lz ty and Tr adi ti on .

1

pl asa t l ttl i cid t s viv s

1
A e Onth at ccasi
I w it s M
e n en ur e . n o o n, r e r.

Sp cenJ s w h h ad v s B s a d w a v t m t him agai

er on e ,
o ne er ee n en on , n s ne er o ee n ,

I m mb wh w e w waiti g f p pl t a iv F Syd y Smith

re e er en e re n or eo e o rr e, r. ne
220 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
be e n r e c e ive d into th e Church and ordai n e d at ,
Rom e . He
was to b e com e a littl e lat e r a m e mb e r o f th e Dominican
, ,

O rd e r and it was owing to thi s that Fath e r B e nso n mad e

,

h is way to Woodch e st e r fo r r e c e ption Fath e r R ichards .

di e d i n M e xico o f consumptio n .

Fath e r B e nson b e gan to writ e r e gularly to Fath e r

R icha r ds about th e middl e o f July 1 90 2 but th e first l e tt e r , ,

wh ich shows th at h e had aske d th e Catholic pri e st f or

i nformation upon th e qu ality o f his th e ory o f th e papal
claim i s dat e d r st D e c e mbe r
, I n it Fath e r R ichard s
says that h e h as s u bmitt e d th e diffi culty to s u ndry th e o
lo gian s o n e o f whom Prior Vin c e nt M c N ab b O P th e n
, , , . .
,

Prior of Woodch e st e r and now o f H aw k e syar d Rug e l ey , ,

wrot e o u t an e xc e ll e nt m e morand u m o n th e s u bj e ct Th e .

e ss e nc e O t his answ e r was natural ly

. that wh il e th e r e is , ,

o nly o n e “ i nfallibility grant e d by Christ so that no ,

rivalry as it we r e o f i n f allibiliti e s is conc e ivabl e in f allibl e

, , ,

Pop e proclaiming agai nst i nfallibl e Church yet infallibility ,

is prop erly g r ant e d to thos e w ho p oss e ss it ex sese th at is , ,

dir e ctly and not d e rivative ly Th us th e Pop e can sp e ak .

imm e diat e ly and ye t infallibly nor do e s h e n eed to consult

, ,

th e Ch urch b e for e Sp e aking tho u gh h e may do so and , ,

possibly o u ght to a nd us u ally do e s B y far th e most

, .
1

sol e mn d efinition o f r e c e nt tim e s is that o f th e Immaculat e

Conc e ption Th is was how e ve r give n aft er prolong e d
.
, ,

co nsultatio n o nly : e qually c e r tain is it that no ap p e al is ,

now th e ologically conc e ivabl e from th e voi c e o f a d e fining

Pop e to a Co u ncil claiming so to say p erhap s to ove rrid e , ,

th e papal pronounc e m e nt .

1 M u ch
c f si fmi d xists am g -Cath lics by faili g t disti g ish
on u on o n e on n on o n o n u

b tw i fallibility which is a gativ ch a ism a a d i spi ati

e ee n n ,
I fallibility ne e r , n n r on . n

m a s th at th P p is p v t d f m t achi g
e n e o ath d a
e t th at h
re en e ro e n e rr o r ex c e r no e

d c iv a y sp ci al a d divi ill mi ati i th at t achi g s ch a is

n ee re e e n e n ne u n on n e n , u s

ess ti al t i spi ati

en o i d d th at h
n d t ach at all i
r on , n orfa a n ee e n ee so e , . s. s o r s

th act al gi ft f i f
e u allibility is c c do n on e rn e .
 CON V ERS I ON 221

N e e dl e ss to say I did not t e ll [Fath e r Mc N ab b ] yo ur

,

nam e wr ite s Fath e r R ichards or that yo u w e r e o n th e

, ,
“

point o f making yo u r submissio n to th e H oly Se e .

Eith e r th e n Fath e r R ichards m isint e rpr e t e d B e nson s

'

n e arn e ss to th e Church o r th e p e ndulum had swung

,

n e ar e r R om e fo r th e mom e nt than it was to r e main .

H ow e v e r B e nson had com e across som e ph r as e s which

, ,

if th e y w e r e acc u rat e ly quot e d ( and this I th ink possib le ) ,

pr e sumably cam e from th e frantic p e n o f som e Fr e nch

j ournalist Th e Pop e was call e d Spous e and Co -partn e r
.
“

o f th e Church th e D e positum Fid e i was lodg e d in his

“

brain a Fr e nch bishop was fantastically r e pr e s e nt e d as

saying that th e Pop e was th e I n carnation of th e H o ly
G host From th e s e absurditi e s wh ich w e r e e ith e r n e v e r
.
,

spok e n o r w e r e du e to a rh e to r ic d e t e stabl e in tast e and

,

( obj e ctiv e ly consid e r e d ) h e r e tical i n th e ir e ss e nc e Fath e r ,

R ichards had n o t th e slight e st difli c u lty i n turning Be n

so n s mind to th e n e c e ssary dogma and th e authoritativ e
’

m e aning o f i ts formula .

B e sid e s Fath e r Mc N ab b D o m John Chapman , ,

of Erdington was b e ing e nlist e d by Fath e r R ichards to

,

h e lp h i s f ri e nd Dom John had r e c e ive d Fath e r R ichard s

.

i nto th e Ch u rch and to h im Fath e r R ichards u s e d to

,

f orward B e nson s l e tt e rs wh ich pro f oundly impr e ss e d

’

him with th e candour a nd i nte llig e nc e o f th e ir writ e r .

Th e nam e and addr e ss w e r e at first car e f ully c u t o u t ,

so that th e id e ntity o f th e writ e r was k e pt conc eal e d .

Dom Joh n h e lp e d B e nson much f rom th e imm e ns e ,

r e so u rc e s o f h is patristic knowl e dg e in r egard to histo r ical

,

qu e stions r e lating to th e e a r li e r ag e s o f Ch r istianity and

th e Papacy i n its l e ss d e v e lop e d f orm ; i n f act from h im ,

B e nson w e nt n e ar e r than e v e r e ls e towards g e tting that

cat e na o f patristic proo f h e n ee d ed D o m Joh n show e d .
222 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
B e nson s l e tt e rs to his coll e agu e
’

, Dom B e d e Camm w e ll ,

known fo r h is h istorical works u pon th e English Martyrs

and th e R e format ion p e r i o d g e n e r ally ; so B e nson had
e nlist e d on his s id e e xp e rts who Should g u id e his dogmatic

i nquiri e s and h isto r ical r e s e arch e s anci e nt and mod e rn

alik e .

I n L e nt B e nson was s e nt with Fath e r G W aldegr av e

, .

H art to co nduct a mission at St G ile s s Cambridg e It ’

. .
,

was t e last e was to pr ach as an A nglican and it

h h e -
,

was to h im a sourc e o f m ingl e d jo y and horro r A S a .

mission it was succ ssful e “

Your s e rmons w ro te the .
,

Re v .
J B uxton . th e vicar “
hav e had -mor e e f
, f e ct i n ,

stirri ng m e n to th ink than any e ffort o f th e ki nd which

has b e e n mad e fo r th e m at St G ile s s sinc e I cam e h er e .
’
.
”

Y e t agai n and again aft e r h is s ermon h e wo u ld com e

, , ,

back to th e r oo m h e shar e d with Fat he r H art and bury , ,

ing his fac e in his hands would groan I can t go o n “

, ,
’
.
”

To pr e ach wh e n p erchanc e h e had not be e n

,
“
s e nt ,

was agony to him 1

.

O n East e r Sunday h e pr e ach ed o n St Ma r y Magda .

l e n e at Tunbridg e W e lls and n e v e r again e nt er e d an ,

A nglican p u lpit .

V e ry e xhaust e d and d e pr e ss e d h e we nt to Tr e m an s
“ f or p ac
e e and qui e t Th e r e h e found h is two broth e r s .
,

a nd aft e r a tim e complain e d th at h e was b e ing drawn by

th e m into th e ologi cal di sc u ssions “
B ut to b e q u it e .
,

hon e st w r ot e Mr A C B e nso n o A p r il 2 0 you hav e

,
n “ . . .
,

o f lat e b e com e so sil e nt o n oth e r topics that it is di f fi

cult to know qu it e what to talk about — and as a family
w e m u st talk o r lik e th e lady i n Te nnyson w e shall di e
, , , .

1 his missi gav him ew light p th c diti s f p pl h had

T on e n u on e on on o eo e e

l g liv d am g H w t t a f i d B dm ak s a d gyps h av a h a d
on e on . e ro e o r en : e er n e r er

tim th a I v th ght D i d y
e n e alis
er th at a b dm ak a t c iv H ly
ou . o u re e e er c nno re e e o

C mm i o i t e m tim e l ess h has a spe cial s vice b fo e 6 cl ck A M ? ’

o un n n r un s e er e r o o . .
2 24 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
O ne do e s f ee l confid e nt th at all is i n G od s H ands ’
.

N e ith e r do I fe e l anything b u t lov e and hono u r fo r th e

Ch u r ch of England ; and p l e as e G od what e v e r happ e ns
, , ,
that will contin u e .

He writ e s agai n upon this subj e ct on A pril 23 St , .

G e org e s Day 1 90 3 H i s corr e spond e nt o n h er Sid e

’

, .
, ,

is o list e n
t to no doubts Sh e as h e is i n compl e t e
.
“
, ,

p e ac e as r egards Sacram e ntal G rac e in th e Church o f

England .I t would b e intol e rabl e oth e rwis e B ut G od .

s ee ms to e op e ni ng n e w doors without exactly closing

b “

o ld on e s .

H e i s convi nc e d mo r e ov e r that th e spi r it dir e cti ng

, ,

th e m is f rom G o d and quot e s St Ignatius s doct r in e that

,
.
’

th e G ood Spi r it should g e n e rat e p e ac e .

Mi r field its e l f was a n abod e O f p e ac e aft e r work I .

am working away at a book o ff ourt ee nth -c e ntury d e votions

that I hop e to p ublish som etim e ; and th e y ge n e rat e s u ch
a happy atmosph e r e I n th e s e simpl e pray e rs his sp i r it
.

found p e r haps its only r e fr e shm e nt duri ng th e s e arid

, ,

month s .

A nt icipating I will q u ot e a long l e tt e r i n which h e at

,

O nc e guid e s hi s p e nit e nt in th e first stag e s o f h e r “ con

v e rsio n and i ndicat e s to us his m e thod as r egards
h is o w n .

M ay 4 A S r e ga r d s th e oth e r matt e r s I ,

e nti r e ly agr e e that yo u Should k ee p yours e lf from d e cision

so long as yo u ar e i n this stat e o f h e alth I n fact th e .
,

only satisfactory d e cisions that ar e e ve r mad e I think , ,

ar e thos e in which G o d f orms a conviction f r om th e

bottom O f th e so u l upwa r ds so to sp e ak so that wh e n
, ,

it r e ach e s th e top and e m e rge s into action and manif e sta

tio n it is be yo nd all q u e stI O n o r r e consid e ration a solid
conviction o fon e s e nti r e p ersonality
’
O f co u r s e all that
.

n e e ds pati e nc e and tranqu illity ; but it is worth gr e at

struggl e s aft e r s e l f-r e p r e ssion to win th e solidity of such
a co nviction .
 C ON V ERSI ON 22
5
O n e s soul is in d e pa r tm e nts
’
illustrat e by a
. Le t m e .

“ r
diagram . So long as o n e i s i n g r ac e in th e g ound ,
”
of th e so u l th e r e i s always th e sp r ing o f w at e r o f
” “

which O u r Lo r d spok e to th e Sama r itan woman This .

spring i s conti n u ally rising and falling Fo r p e rf e ct .

s an c ti fi c ati o n it o u ght to b e continually at high flood ,

a! gr ou n d o fth e s l
ou

6 w ill

righ t up th r o u gh b c and i e th e will should b e

, ,
. .

conv e r t e d th e h e art ki ndl ed and th e int e ll e ct ill u minat e d

, ,
.

A n d that proc e ss o u ht to b e practically always in that

o r d e r Fi r st th e wil sho u ld b e conv e rt e d so that o n e
.
, ,

i s e ntir e ly r e sign e d and only d e siro u s o f kn owing G od s

,
’

f u ll o f burning d e si r e—
will ; th e n th e h e art is drawn to lov e it O n e b e com e s .

a nd at last th e int e ll e ct u nd e r stands

and p e rc e ive s .

N ow for a compl e t e con v i cti on o f a nything all th e s e

, ,

compartm e nts o f th e so u l sho u ld b e fill e d ; i e how e v e r . .

much on e s h e a r t may love th e R oman syst e m and

’

circ u mstanc e s ye t o n e m u st n ot go u ntil th e i nt e ll e ct i s

,
”
e ith e in f o r m e d as to di fficulti e s o r at l e ast satisfi e d
“ “
r ,

that th e r e is an e xplanatio n Som e wh er e .

I f yo u apply [th is tho u ght ] to all kinds o f so u ls a nd

circum stanc e s it s e e ms to work o u t A t th e co nv e r sio n
, .

o f a n ignorant s inn e r it i s wond erful to see how th e

,

fo u ntai n o f wat e r that has always b e e n th e r e tho u gh at ,

a v e ry low e b b sudd e nly ris e s in a flood and p e n e tr at e s

,

e v e ry part o f his b e ing ; so that h e love s a nd p r e f e r s

r e ligio n to irr e ligion and all his i nt e ll ectual diffic u lti e s
,

ar e simply sw e pt away at onc e Th e n aft e r conve rsion

.

it g e n e rally e bbs a littl e ; and th e wo r k o f san c ti fic atio n

consists I n th e p e rp e tual move m e nt and flow o f th e
I P
226 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
“
wat e r o f lif e Eve ry good act o f th e so u l s e ts it i n
.

motion ; e ve ry s in driv e s it down again 1

.

On h er sid e h is moth e r w r ot e
A p r il What you say about cont r ov e rsy make s
23 .

m e say w hat has b e e n hov e r ing i n my mi nd o f lat e Y ou .

said som e littl e tim e ago that yo u f e lt yo u kn e w tho r oughly

th e sid e yo u had b e e n bro u ght u p i n and that th e r e was ,

no n ee d to go into that any mor e I didn t think it q u it e .

’

so u nd at th e tim e but I sca r c e ly kn e w why and now I

have a cl e a r er vi e w This—l th ink yo u r p r esen t plac e is
, ,

cl e ar to yo u —that m u s t b e B u t I think th e thing o r

.

.
,

vi e w o n e was b r o u ght u p i n is oft e n by no m e ans so cl e ar

,

to o n e in its r e asonabl e la r g e n e ss as th e vi ews o n e has

com e into lat e r O n e tak e s so m u ch fo r g r ant e d in th e
.

e a r ly y e ars without r e asonabl e e xamination M ight n o t .

it b e w e ll at th is c r itical junctu r e i n o r d er that N O

, ,

pains may b e spa r e d to om i t n othi ng o f the w hole case ,

that yo u sho u ld go into it thoro u ghly with som e mod e rat e

p e rson who has tho u ght o u t his p osition ? O f co u r s e th e
A rchbishop o ccurs to my mind m e r e ly b e ca u s e h e is SO ,

v e ry mod er at e r e asonabl e and fair and b e caus e I am

, , ,

s u r e h e wo u ld do anyth in for yo u r fath e r s son I ’

hav e n t b r e ath e d a word to g 1 i m abo u t wanting this —

.

’
and
o f co u r s e yo u may pr e f e r som e on e e ls e e v e n if my f e e li n g ,

about doing th e thing comm e nds its e lf Still I would .

,

u r e it o n yo u r consid e r ation I want you to l e ave nothing

g .

undon e which wo u ld in any way r e ally cont r ibut e to a

knowl edg e all ro u nd .

N O l e tt e r could hav e b e e n mor e f e arl e ssly g e n e ro u s ,

mor e larg e and loyal Y e t o n e ca n se e that it wil l b e abl e .

to influ e nc e H ugh s mind but littl e tho u gh it will di r e ct

’

his b e haviour Th e r e ar e mom e nts wh e n a m an knows

.

w e ll e nough wh e th e r h is ed u catio n has ind ee d minist e r e d

ad e qu at e ly to th e e xig e nci e s o f his lif e ; h e ga u g e s h is
1
his i g i
T n e n ou s a al gy s ff s f m all th di ffic lti s att d a t
n o u er roa y e u e en n on n

divisi f th s
on o e ou l i t fac lti s Wh h a th w at
n o u e . s k t d i g
”
ere s e
“
er un o ur n

i ? Wh at if a
s n bc m s c v td b t t ;
e o e on a b
er e a d d a d, t ?
u no c or , ,
n , n no c

Th d p a tm t
e e r en c is a v y di ffic lt
er t d fi i st ict psych l gy
u one O th o e ne n r o o . n e

wh l I thi k B
o e, n s w ld l at
en o n ou h av i v t d th d pa tm ts a d b
, e r on , e n er e e e r en c n .
 228 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
Fath e r Re ginald B uckl e r r e curs b e n e ath h is p e n M e an .

whil e th e w e b o f p r ay e r s Fath e r B e nson will SO o f t e n

,

d r aw around h is conve rts is clo sing in u po n hims e lf ,

.

Th e Domi nican nuns hav e long b e e n praying fo r him .

O ft e n th e M ass i s b e ing o ffe r e d f or h im O nly Fath e r .

,

R ichards urg e s le t h is soul r e mai n al ert

,
‘

A film o f .

'

Q u i etism so to say has dull e d th e sh arp colo u r o f his

, ,

l e tt e rs lat e ly . H e r e in is r efl e ct e d that numbn e ss which

B e nso n s ov e rstrai n o f so u l was bringing o n h im Tw o
’
.

days lat er Fath e r R i chards r e c u r s to Qui e tism and m en ,

tions th e Pr e fac e by Fath e r Wilb er f orc e O R to Blo siu s s

, , ,
’

I n sti tu ti o Sp i r i tu ali a e dit e d by h im Th e spirit u al wat e rs

.
,

going softly should r e f r e sh th e wast e s O f co ntrov e rsy : h e

,

ha s alr e ady r e comm e nd e d Manning s Temp or al M ission of ’

th e H ol y G ho s t ; again t h e
“ short pithy s nt e nc e s
, e in that
part o f N e wman s L oss an d Gai n e ntitl e d Qu estion s for On e
'

w hom i t Con cer n s ar e tho u ght by h im s u it e d to stimulat e th e

soul flagging b e n e ath th e concat e nat e d arg u m e nts Fi nally .

,

h e bids h im “
r e st h i s mind w e ari e d o f th e study o f
,

th e Church s not e s o f unity a p ostolicity and th e lik e by

’

, , ,

th e q u i e t cont e mplatio n o f h er gr e at glow o f Sanctity .

H e was not how e v e r to find h is r e st f rom books o r

, , ,

p ersons fo r a wh il e
, .

H i s S u p e rior visit e d Tr e man s and o n May 2 7 1 9 0 3 , , ,

M rs B e nso n wrot e
.

I t has b e e n so good having Fath e r Fr e r e h e r e—h e is

delig h tfu l and I don t w ond e r at yo u r fondn e ss fo r him
’
.
,
W e talk e d long and lat e I lay awak e n e a r ly all night i n
.

th e thou ht of yo u and at h e c e l e b r at e d
, it
calm e d a l and mad e o n e strong for what e ver has to b e
,

born e
H e r e ad your l e tt e r qu i e tly through —so I know all
.

your mind as e xp r e ss e d th e r e I f e e l sca r c e ly to know

what yo u and h e will com e to i n talk to -mo r row—b u t I
.

cannot b e li e v e that in d e aling with a man like that and ,

 C ON VERS I ON 2 29

yo u, th e r e n e e d b e o r will b e any b itt e rn e ss or rash

, , ,

action o r anythin fo r which th e r e sho u ld b e r e g r e t

O n e thin h e comg
.

O r te d m e u pon —h e i s quit e cl e a r about

,

g
yo u r com i ng hom e on J un e 1 5 That 13 what I crave fo r
’

. .

Y o u know how strongly l hav e f e lt with yo u that non e

b u t th e gr eat i ssu es should b e consid e r e d and yo u will ,

r e alis e h o w I have k e pt all p e r sonal f e e lings out o f it to

th e b e st o f my ability Y o u kno w w e ll e no u gh what a
.

t e r r ibl e blow any such st e p wo u ld b e to m e i f I look e d at

it p e r sonally—what a sorro w it m u st b e if it happ e ns , .

B ut this is not th e l e v e l o n which I take it with my h e art

a nd will I kno w yo u r utt e r sinc e r ity o f h e a r t and I only
. ,

d e sir e that knowl e dge and tho u ght Sho u ld com e u p to

that—and I am not u nmindf u l—d e ar e st son how cou ld
I be — o f all yo u r p ain an d conflict and p ati e nc e—and all
,

th e g e ntl e n e ss and sw e e tn e ss which hav e b e e n g r owing

g r e at e r day by day .

Fath e r F r e r e told m e o f Lord H alifax s d e sir e that '

you Sho u ld go out to I taly and see h im and now i n

ans w e r to you r t e nd e r and d u tif u l wish to se e anyon e I
sho u ld lik e yo u to se e may I say that I do st r ongly d e sir e
,

that yo u sho u ld see him .

I can t fo r g e t how good h e was to you in 1 90 1 and I

’

know how sw e e t and alto e th e r acc e ptabl e his atmosp h er e

a nd way of looking at t ings i s to yo u So I am n o t .

asking a ha r d thing .

No o n e, Mrs B e nson adds not e v e n th e Community can

.
, ,

wish sav e that yo u Sho u ld follow G od s guidanc e wh e n “ ’

all has b e e n don e Th e Wh itsunday and A ll Saints

.
’

coll e cts w e r e f e lt by h e r to bring hom e to th e so u l th e

facts o f th e g u idanc e o f th e Comfort e r a nd th e vision
“

O f th e B l e ss e d D e ad .

M e anwhil e h e was back in controve rsy Fath e r .

R ichards hims e lf at B e nson s wish had to tak e to a r gu

’

, ,

m e nt tho u gh non e that I e lSe h ave s e e n has b e e n so

,

swe e t e n e d by th e cha r m and h u mility o f th e wr it e r B ut

p e r haps h e co ncl u d e s an a r g u m e nt from autho r ity which
,

i n e ff e ct w e igh e d m u ch with B e nson “ I sp e ak as a f ool , ,

i nd ee d I am sur e I do i f th e r e is any thi ng o f my o w n

,
2 30 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
in what I say Pl eas e t e ll m e if my l e tte r s wor r y or
.

dist r act you Yours h e lp m e not a littl e for th e y assist

.
,

m e to look at th e matt e r from th e poi nt o f vi e w o f anoth e r

mind ; and p e rhaps I am to o apt to fancy that th e road
I cam e on is th e o nly o n e that l e ads to Rom e —A lways
” 1
you r s a ffe ctionat e ly .

A t M ir fie ld h is r e ading was t e rrific in e xt e nt H is .

Confess i ons m e ntion a dismal list : “

Dr G or e s books ’
.
,

Salmon o n I nfallibility R ichardso n P u s e y R yd e r Littl e , , , ,

dal e P u ll e r Darw e ll Ston e P er cival Mortim e r Mallo c k

, , , , , ,

R ivingto n ; a brilliant M S book o n Elizab e tha n his .

to r y a nd s u pr e m e ly N e wma n s D ev elop men t and, ,

’

M o z le y s answ e r ( p To m e h e w r ot e 2 “
( Ne w
’
“ .
, ,

man ) is the Proph et but to many I know h e i s m e r e ly ,

sophistical .
”

B u t fro m th e s e a few stand o u t .

To Fath e r G W alde gr av e H art h e wrot e on May 1 9 .

B ut I hav e j u st b e e n r e ading t o—
day an i r r esis ti b le book
Mallo c k M Y W ORD
'
s D octr i ne an d D octr i n al D isr up ti on .

I t is a ma sterp i ece . R e ally hon e stly I hav e practically no

, ,

fu r th e r doubts .

I w r ot e to th e Sup erior y e st e rday t e lling him h o w ,

immin e nt was my d e pa r tur e and I f e e l almost i nclin e d ,

to wir e to d ay Bu t I shall wait about thr e e o r four w e e ks .

mo r e and th e n r e ti r e to R e tr eat
, .

Th is is all v e r y sad .

1
It is path tic t tic th at fB s
e s b y di ffi lti
o not c all th m e one o e n on
’
- cu e s, so o e ,

w as th e vi w th C h ch t k ab t c lty t a im als a d th s vival f

"
e e ur oo ou ru e o n n e ur o

th i e r s ls F ath R ich a ds c ll ct d a g d d al f th l gical m at i al

ou . er r o e e oo e o eo o er

on th e t pic a d f w a d d it with m ch t l a c fvi w a d wis c mm t

o n or r e , u o er n e o e n e o en ,

to B en son .

2
p 31
Sp i r i tu al Le tter s , . .

I t is i this l tt
1
that a t fi tim at p ath s cc s Fath H a t w a
n e er no e O n e o o ur . er r s

ill I am g i d t h a y a t t f p ai y t B s w it s
r ev e oB t e r ou re n
’
ou o n e
”
en o n r e u

t—b
. .
,

w it s d awi g it still Th s ph as s w famili a

’
‘
N ay no , r n ou e , e e r e e re r

u p th l f his ld
on e s B th w h s d th m i th
S o s y wh O nur e, e , o u e e n e nu r er en

m sta d pl ast s had t b appli d t h

u r stiv babi s A t this c isis i H gh s
er o e e o er re e e . r n u
’

S pi it al g wth th w ds
r u c d th m
ro asily b ca s h w a sch
e li g
or re u rre , e o re e e u e e s oo n

hims l f m tally t be c m c m a littl child

e , en , o o e on e ore e .
232 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
m e mb e r o f a Community which was i n all loyalty bound
to a Church whos e authority and communion such a
conve nt wo u ld r e pudiat e H is p l e dg e h e urg ed still
“
.
, ,

bound h im a nd h e could not b e r e l e as e d till lat e i n

,

A u g u st . Prof e ssio n doubtl e ss was O f varying valu e and

imp o r t to di ffe r e nt br e th r e n ; but B e nson had wish e d
to f e e l hims e lf to b e mor e and n o t l e ss d e finit e ly pl e dg e d
to th e Community To go ov e r to Rom e Fr Fr e r e
.
,
.

d e clar e d was wrong an e r r o r in j u dgm e nt a d e fianc e

, ,
.
,

of authority a r e pudiation o f sacram e nts and g r ac e s

,

r e c e ive d ,
and th e r e for e sacril eg e Th is th e Community
.

might gri e ve dly cont e mp lat e b u t not facili tate To

,
.

B e nson hi s r e q u e st fo r r e tr e at in a Catholic conv e nt

,

might app e ar o n a par with that f or l e ave to writ e to

Fath e r Tyrr e ll and Fath e r R ichards NO ; that had b e e n .

a p olicy o f hop e i n ord e r to k e ep H u gh back though

, ,

e v e n to writ e to Tyrr e ll app e ar e d to i nvolv e som e slight

disloyalty .
“
To o u r utt e r surpri s e th e answ e r was a ,

mo r e d e finit e d e ci sion i n that s e ns e tha n you o r I had

conc e ive d to b e possibl e ; and I cannot but th ink
that i n that un exp e ct e d way to which w e w e r e st r ang e ly
le d yo u had yo u r r e al g u idanc e f rom G od A nyh ow .
,

h e r e p e at e d what H u gh n e e d e d was not r e tr e at and

,

p e ac e b u t s e rious e xaminatio n o f th e r e asonabl e grounds

,

by which yo u r faith ought to b e s u pport e d ; i t is your

i nt e ll e ct t hat yo u have n ee d to giv e f air play to rath e r ,

than your soul B e nso n h ad u nknowingly shi r hed

.
, , ,

he had “
an u nr e asoning dr e ad o fand g r u dg e against r e ason
and i nt e ll e ct .

Yo u lik e a m an looking abo u t for a s u rve yor to com e

ar e
and guarant e e to him that th e f oundatio ns o f his ho u s e
ar e s e c u r e r ath e r than run th e risk of e xamining th e m
,

and finding th e m ins e cur e ; th e y ar e s e cu r e e nough all

 CON VERSI ON 233

th e tim e ,
co u ld qu it e e asily b e mad e so but h e dar e n t
or
’

fac e th e r isk that it might b e oth e rwis e o r cont e mp lat e ,

th e p o ssibility O f making n e c e ssa r y alt e rations o r r e pai r s

i n ord e r to mak e th e m s e c u r e [ H e instanc e s B e nson s.
’

t e rror o f B iblical c r iticism ] Som e [h e co ntin u e s] k e e p up

.

th e i r “ blind r ef u sal aft e r going ove r to th e e n d as fo r

”
, , ,

instanc e Mannin with th e r e s u lt that oth e r hon e sty

b e sid e s i n te lle c tu aghon e sty has b e com e warp e d and con
, ,

sci e nc e has c e as e d to prot e st in that sph e r e O th e rs lik e .

,

H utton A ddis B r adl e y and C O r e laps e into R ationalism

, , ,
.
,

o r U nita r ianism u nd e r th e angry r e v e ng e o f th e int e ll e c t .

O th e rs fi nally
,
com e back to th e fa i th
, .

Th is was h e avi e r artill e ry it may b e than was r e alis e d

, ,

by th e author o f th e l e tt e r wh ich w e hav e summaris e d .

A part f r om h is cond e mning th e j ad e d man to a f u rth e r

i nstalm e nt o f hi s Sisyp h u s task h e ro u s e d also in his ,

brain th e Sp e ct r e s o f a possibl e moral collaps e or d es tin e d ,

rationalism ; o f a d e fiance of G od s will alr e ady it may ’

b e accomplish e d a nd ye t wors e p r oj e ct e d
, , Thos e who .

play o n th e s e St r ings scarc e ly know h o w t e rrific is th e

r e ve r b e r ation in a tortur e d br ain o f phras e s lik e r e tu r n
,
“
,

to th e faith .

B e nson wr e stl e d ye t onc e mor e M ight h e p ut hims e l f .

i nto f o r mal comm u nication with R oman Catholic au th o

“

t iti e s d u r ing th e thi r t e e nth mo nth W e ll p r e sumably h e , ,

migh t b e abs e nt and n o qu e stions ask e d should a Chapt e r

, ,

agr e e to it Th e Community co u ld n o t gra nt e ve n this

.

“
with its e y e s O p e n That is it could allow i t to happ e n
.
, ,

but n o t e xplic itly arrang e fo r it .

M e anwhil e a m e as u r e of r e fr e shm e nt was to b e give n

h im H e migh t l e ave M ir fie ld f rom mid -J u n e to mid
.

J u ly p r ovid e d h e ke e p s o n n e utral gro u nd H e fli e s to

, .

Tr e m an s as to a ho u s e o f r e f u g e ; h e will n o t wait e v e n
to pack though i n h is h e art h e knows h e will n e v e r r e turn
, .

Y e t h e o n his sid e m u st t e ar h ims e l f away from th e

, ,
23 4 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
hous e that clings to h im H e kiss e s its doorposts as .

h e go e s and his h e ar t f ee ls brok e n 1

, .

A t Tr e m an s h e f o u nd his broth e r A rth u r ,

and f ro m
his book o f r e mi nisc e nc e s , H ugh, I will quot e th e follow
ing passag e s
H u gh
s d ej e ction which I th ink was r e s e rv e d fo r his
’

ti r e d mom e nts was not appa r e nt To m e ind e e d h e , .

, ,

ap p e a r e d i n th e ligh t o f o n e i nt e nt o n a g r e at adve nt u r e ,

with all th e rapt u r e o f confid e n c e and e xcit e m e nt abo u t

him A S my moth e r said h e w e nt to th e sh e lt er of h is
.
,

n e w c r e e d as a lov e r m ight r u n to th e arms of his b e lov e d .

Like th e so ldi e r i n th e o ld song h e did not ling e r but , ,

gav e th e bridl e -r e i ns a shak e H e was not e ith er .

”

m e lancholy or b r ooding H e look e d v e r y w e ll h e was .

,

e xt r e m e ly activ e i n mind and i n body .

I find th e f ollowi ng e xt r act from my diary o f A ugust

a f t e rnoon walk e d with H ugh
A ug u st, 1 9 0 3 .
-I n th e
th e P ax h i ll r o u nd
H u gh i s in v e ry good ch e e r f u l spirits .
, ,

st ee r ing i n a high wi nd st r aight to R om e writing a h isto r i cal ,

nov e l f u ll of l if e and j e sts and la u ght e r and ch e e r f u l n e ss

,

J H N wm a w t t W J C p l a d
1
. . e his fi al d p a t
n f mro e o . . o e n , or n e r ure ro

L ittl m I q it t
e o re mys l f away a d c ld t h lp kissi g my b d
u e or e e , n ou no e n e ,

a d m a t lpi c
n a d th p a ts f th h s I h av b m st happy th
n e e e, n o er r o e ou e . e e en o e re ,

th gh i a st at f s sp s A d th it h a b
ou n e th at I h av b th b
o u en e . n e re s e en e o e en

t a ght my w ay a d c iv d a a sw t my p ay s M W Wa d ha
u n re e e n n er o r er . r. . r s

re mi d d th at n et R di g i L a d Gai kiss s th v y will w t s

us so , oo , e n , n oss n n, e e er o - re e

o f O x f d wh h m st l av it
or en e u e e .

Lik N wm a t e H gh l k d wist f lly b ack t w a ds th h m h w a

e n, oo , u oo e u o r e o e e s

ne v t er ag ai I h av
o se e v s O f d si c N wm a w t wist f lly
n. e ne er e en x or n e,
”
e n ro e u

i
n 1 86 4 xc pti g its spi s a th y a s
,
“
e e f m th n ailw ay Fat w a re , s e re e en ro e r
”
. e s

ki d t him th a t B s a d
n er o day h did t n B t f N wm a t
o e n on , n on e e re u rn . u or e n o

t
r e u rn t Oxf d w a a o v t f dim si s i c mp a ably vast th a a y
or s n e en o en on n o r er n n

t
r e ur n o f H gh s t a y M i fi ld u
’
o n r e . 0

N at ally it w a f lt awkw a d at fi st by Mi fi ld t
ur s c iv back
e r , r , r e , o re e e o n e so

f a kly a ap st at ; b sid s I d st a d th at if p missi t t ”

r n n o e had e e , un er n er on o r e u rn

b een g a t d t him a p c d t w ld h av b
r n e o t which i ,
a p a tic l a re e en ou e e en se n r u r

i st a c it w ld p v di ffi c lt th gh xp di t t av id f ll wi g I divid
n n e ou ro e u ,
ou e e en , o o o o n . n u

ally th Fath s f M i fi ld sh w d th ms lv s i
, e er w ay vi dictiv ; B
o rs e o e e e e n no n e en o n
 CON V ERSI ON 23 5

n ot cr eep ing in und e r th e shadow o f a wall sobbing as

, ,
”
th e o ld cords br e ak b u t e xcit e d e ag e r j u bilant e njoying
, , , ,
.

H is room was p il e d with books a nd pap e rs ; h e us e d

to r u sh into m e als with th e glow o f susp e nd e d e n ergy
e at rap idly and with app e tit e —I hav e n e v e r s e e n a h uman
,

b e ing who ate so fast and with so littl e p r e f er e nc e as to

th e nat u r e o f what h e ate —th e n h e wo u ld sit abso r b e d
fo r a mom e nt and ask to b e e xcus e d using th e old childish
, ,

fo r mula M ay I ge t down Som e tim e s h e wo u ld com e

sp ee ding out of h is room to r e ad alo u d a passa e h e had
w r itt e n to my moth e r o r to play a fe w chor g
,
s o n th e
,

piano H e wo u ld not as a rul e join i n gam e s o r walks

.
, ,

h e w e nt o u t for a sho r t rap id walk by hims e lf a littl e , ,

m e as u r e d r o u nd and fle w b ack to his wo r k H e g e n e rally

,
.
,

I should think wo r k e d abo u t te n ho u r s a day at this tim e

, .

I n th e e v e ning h e wo u ld play a gam e o f ca r ds aft e r dinn e r ,

a nd wo u ld Si t talking in th e smoking -room rap idly con ,

su m i n
g ciga r e tt e s a nd flicking th e ash o f f w ith h is f or e
fing e r H e was also I r e m e mb e r v e ry a r g u m e ntative
.
, ,
.

H e said onc e o fhims e lf that h e was p e rp e tually quarr e lling

with h is b e st f r i e nds H e was a most e xp e ri e nc e d coat .

trail e r ! My moth e r my si st er my b r oth e r M iss L u cy , , ,

Tait who live s with u s and mys e lf would find o u r s e lve s

, ,

e n ag e d i n h e at e d a r g u m e nts th e disp u tan ts br e athing

g ,

q u 1c k ly m u tt,
e r ing u nh e e d e d ph r as e s s e e king i n vain for ,

a Ioophol e o r a pa u s e I t g e n e rally e nd e d by H u gh saying.

with mo u r nf u l pathos that h e co u ld not u nd e rsta nd why

e v e ryon e se t o n him —that h e n e v e r argu e d in any oth e r

ci r cl e and h e co u ld o nly e ntr e at to b e le t alon e I t is t r u e

, .

that w e w e r e acc u stom e d to arg u e qu e stions o f e v e r y

kind with t e nacity and e v e n w ith inv e ctive Bu t th e fact .

that th e s e partic u la r a r g u m e nt s always d e alt with th e i n

consist e nci e s and di ffi c u lti e s o f e ccl e siastical instit u tio ns
r e v e al e d th e i r origin Th e fact was that at this tim e H ugh
.

was acc u stom e d to ass e r t with m u ch e mphasis som e e x

tr e m e ly p r ovocativ e and controv e r sial po sitions H e was .

ma r k e dly sco r nf u l o f A ngl ican f aults and mann e risms and ,

b e hav e d both th e n and lat e r as if no A nglicans co u ld hav e

any r e al and vital b e li e f i n th e ir pri ncipl e s b u t as if ,

th e y must b e s e cr e tly asham e d o f th e m I t u s e d to r e mind .

st ay d at th h m f
e f th m ; a d h i his t
e o e o m ad a b i fs j
one o at e n e n u rn e r e o o u rn

H a St
re t B t t b f a k B s had b
re e . u p t d a d aft t a spl a ta
o e r n , e n on ee n u ro o e , n er r n n

ti h w a t d sti d t fi d a y fth ld s il cli gi g ab t him

on e s no e ne o n n o e o o n n ou .
23 0 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
me of th ep r i e st in o n e o f St e ve nson s books w h o said ’

to St e ve nson : Yo u r s e ct—fer it wo u ld b e doing it too

,
“

much h ono u r to call it a r e ligion and was th e n pain e d ,

”

to b e tho u ght disco u rt e o u s o r inconsid e r at e .

Disco u r t e ous i nd ee d H u gh was n o t I h av e known

, , .

fe w p e op l e who could ar u e SO fi e rc e ly without p e r sonal

i nnu e ndo B u t o n th e o t er hand h e was bo th triumphant
.
,
“

and sa r castic .

H e r e is anoth e r e xtract from my diary at this tim e

A ugu s t, 3 dinn e
1 90r H u gh and I f e ll into a fi e r c e
. At
-

a r g u m e nt wh ich b e cam e painf u l mainly I think b e ca u s e

, , , ,

o f H ugh s v e h e m e nc e and what I can o nly call viol e nc e

’
.

H e r e it e r at e s his conscio u sn e ss of his own st u p idity in an

i r r itati ng way Th e point was th is H e maintain e d that
. .

it was u ncharitable to say What a bad s e r mon So -and SO ,

‘ -

pr e ach e d and not uncha r itabl e to say W e ll it is b e tt e r ,

‘
,

tha n th e sicke ning st u ff o n e g e n e rally h e a r s u ncharitabl e

to say What nasty so u p this is l and not uncharitabl e
,
‘ ’

to say W e ll it i s b e tt e r than th e filthy p igwash g e n e r ally

, ,

call e d So u p I maintain e d th at to say that o n e m u st hav e

.
’
,

pa r tic u la r soup s in on e s mind ; and that it was ab u sing ’

mo r e s e r mo ns and so u ps and ab u sing th e m mor e s e ve r e ly ,

than if o n e fo u nd fa u lt with o n e so u p o r o n e s e r mon .

“
B u t it was all no us e H e was v e ry impati e nt if o n e .

join e d iss u e at any po int and said that h e was int e rrupt e d , .

H e d r agg e d all so r ts o f r e d h e rrings ov e r th e co u r s e th e ,

O pinions of Roman th e ologians and di ff e r e nc e s b e tw e e n ,

mo r tal and v e nial si n & c I don t thi nk h e e ve n tri e d ,

.
’

to ap p r e h e nd my point o f V i e w b u t w e nt o ff i nto a ,

long rigma r ol e abo u t disting u ishing b e tw e e n th e sin and

th e sinn e r ; and said that it was th e sin o n e ought to
blam e not th e si nn e r I m aintain e d that th e co ns e nt of
, .

th e sinn e r s will was of th e e ss e nc e o f th e sin and that

’
,

th e cons e nt o f th e will of th e sinn e r to what was not i n

its e lf wro ng was th e e ss e nc e o f sin —e not Sinful to drink
a glass o f wi n e b u t sinf u l i f yo u had al
.

, r e ady had e no u gh .

I t was rath e r disagr e e abl e ; b u t I got so u s e d to

arg u ing with absol u t e f r ankn e ss with p e op l e at Eto n that
I fo r g e t how disagr e e abl e it may so u nd to h e a r e rs —but it
”
all s u bsid e d v er y q u ickly lik e a boiling pot ,
.

H u gh
p nt his ti m e wo r king furio u sly at th e nov e l
S e
“

which was aft e rwa r ds to b e com e By What A u thor i ty ?

23 8 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
had put B inst e ad
tun e is ex cellen t
of G it th e last not e b ut one . B ut th e
.

tou r had tak e n him first to P ar k m i fiste r th e

H is ,

famous Chart e rho u s e i n S u ss e x H e was arm e d with an .

i ntroductio n from Fath e r R ichards to a conve r t cl e r gy

man w h o was a monk th er e ; but fo u nd hims e l f r e gard e d
as a probably complac e nt critic and r e tir e d chill e d and , ,

anyhow cl e ar that P ar k m in ste r d e sp it e its ominous nam e , ,

St H u gh s was not to b e th e plac e h e Sh o u ld choos e fo r

.
’

that fat e ful r e tr e at h e d e scri e d not distant f rom him .

H e stay e d a Sunday at Chich e st e r conf e ss ed wa s absolv e d , ,

a nd told to ch e e r u p by th e cl e rgyman to wh om h e
“

avowe d that almost c e r tainly h is goal was Rom e and for ,

th e last tim e att e nd e d a Cath e dral s e rvic e 1

and r e c e iv e d
th e A nglican H oly Communion H e bicycl e d hom e aft e r .

his p assing through Le w e s a nd Rye by way o f Mayfi e ld , .

A t th e a nci e nt conv e nt walls h e gaz e d with “

gnawing
e nvy and pray e d fo r a mom e nt s p eac e in th e villag e ’

, , ,

Catholic Ch u rch 2
.

I n th e sam e l e tt e r h e says
TO -morrow I go to Lamb e th fo r a fe w days to dis ,

co ur s e with th e A rchbishop , among oth e r things o n M Y ,

eccl e siastical vi e ws . I am goin to s ee Tr e v e lyan and

Lord H alifax also . Bu t I f e a r I , e ar .

And to anoth e r corr e spond e nt he was writing

Le t m e t e ll you that I am s e r iously u p s e t i n my mind
abo u t th e Ch u r ch o f R om e and th e Church of England .

It is a d r e a r y o ld sto r y I am afraid ; b u t d r e a r y o r n o t , , ,

I am o n e o f th e charact e rs i n it n o w A gain don t b e .

,
’

1
H e h ad on c l a gh d at Cath d al s vic s t
e u e e r er e o M rs B e n s o n , b u t in
. his h e ar t
he l v d th m
o e e .

1
M ayfie ld Con v e n t ly Child c sists i p a t
o fth e Ho on n r o fth e r u n i s of th e o ld

P al ac e o f th e Ar chbish ps Th th m ag ific t a ch s
o . e re e n en r e o f th e G r eat Ha ll are

e mb dd d i
e e n th e a chit ct
r fth
e s ch ap l
u re o e n un
’
e .
 C ON V ERSI ON 239

alarm e d I am not goi ng to p u t my a r gum e nts b efo r e yo u

,
.

Th e y ar e v e r y long and e labo r at e and hav e be e n gath e r ing ,

like a th u nd e r sto r m fo r abo ut a y e ar and a hal f and n o w ,

a crash s e e ms clos e H ow e ve r o n e n e ve r knows I only

.
,
.

m e ntion it b e caus e you ar e my f ri e nd .

”

Of his visit to Mr Tr e v e lyan h e

sp e aks i n h is Confos
.

s i on s ,
p 1 1 8 Th e r e th is cl e rgyman mad e u se o f e xactly
. .

th e arg u m e nt which B e nso n h ad us e d against Fath e r

R ichard s h e had put it “
ca n th e r e b e a sacra
”
.H ow , ,

m e ntal r e vival wh e r e th e r e ar e no sacram e nts ? N ow

th e a r gum e nt had c e as e d to “ "
app e al to him and h e ,

said i n f act that it was n o t cog e nt

, ,
I t was nat u ral . ,

h e saw that a r e v i v al sho u ld mov e along lin e s indicat e d

,
'

by th e P ray e r B ook : G o d gave gr e at e r grac e wh e r e th er e

was g r e at e r z e al ; it still was n o t prov e d how e v e r that , ,

th e mod e o f s e e king it was sanctio n e d by H i m .

H i s stay at Lamb e th was o n e natu r ally wh ich de

m an de d e xtr e m e forb earanc e tact and i ntuition Prob
, ,
.

a bly th e r e was h e r e a conflict o f two t e mp e ram e nts as ,

w e ll as o f two th eori e s o f r e ligion i n ultimat e e ss e nc e

disparat e B e nso n in his Confessi ons says that th e A r ch
.

bishop was p r ofoundly s u r pris e d that h e could s u bmit

to a Ch u rch whos e m e thod s o f worship w e r e i n c e rtain
d e pa r tm e nts o r d e tails distast e ful to h im B e nson u r g e d .

that if h e w e nt to Rom e h e should go as a ch ild ; having

, ,

p e rs u ad e d hims e l f that th e r e G od s voic e was sp e aking ’

,

h e wo u ld not q u ar r e l with its f orm u las still l e ss with its

“

,
.

m e ssag e not e v e n with its acc e nt Wh e th e r o r no th e

,
.

A r chbishop as B e nso n f e lt r e gard e d thi s r e adin e ss fo r

, ,

i nt e ll e ct u al s u bmission as immoral h e did not disguis e ,

from h is gu e st that h e f e lt as lodg e d in hims e lf o r i n ,

th e Ch u rch at larg e no supr e m e and final a u thority abl e

,

and oblig e d to impos e a dogma finally r e ve al e d by

 24 0 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
C hrist . Te mp er am e nt a nd tast e l e gislat e d in th e ultimat e
co u rt .

As a matt er o f fact H u gh tho u gh h e r e sp e ct e d p ersons

, ,

whos e cha r act e r claim e d r e sp e ct had no r e ve r e nc e at ,

any tim e I e xp e ct fo r p ersonag e s Th e vision o f H ugh

, , .

as h is fath e r s train -b e a r e r i s a charming o n e ; b u t h e had

’

n e v e r b e e n as hi s broth e r s cu r i osa feli ci tas will have it

,
’

o n e o f th e N e thinim o f th e sanctuary .

Th e A rchbishop con f e ss edly found H ugh B e nso n in

tractabl e and wrot e t e lli ng Lord H alifax so
,
B e nson .

w e nt th er e for e imm e diat e ly to H ickl e ton Lord H alifax s ,

’

hous e n e ar Doncast e r and stay e d th e r e a littl e ove r a

,

w e e k including I gath e r two Sundays o n which h e

, , , ,

still communicat e d with h is host Th e r e n eve r had b ee n .

a tim e wh e n Lord H alifax was anyth ing but utt e rly sym
path e tic and a ff e ctionat e towards H ugh Th e fr i e ndship .

p e rsist e d absolut e ly undamag e d by th e most s e arching

caus e o f s e paratio n that human lif e admits H ugh was .
,

Lo r d H alifax w r ot e to m e aft e r B e nson s d e ath a v ery

,
“ ’
,

d e ar fri e nd o f mi n e and I think o n e o f th e ve ry most

,

d e lightful companions it was possibl e to acq u ir e O n e .

may b e v e ry f ond o f ma ny p e opl e whos e d e aths don t ,

’

l e av e a s e ns e O f li f e b eing poor e r ; b u t H ugh B e nson s ’

d e ath —at l e ast I f ee l it so —tak e s som e th ing away wh ich

l e ave s a particular blank n o o n e e ls e can fill Som e .

how I cannot f ancy h im as e v e r g r owing o ld and p erhaps ,

his d e ath C oming as it did and wh e n it did p u t th e s e al

, ,

on all that was SO d e lightfu l and uniqu e in him .

”

Mr Tr e v e lyan had dir e ct e d B e nson s e ye to th e

.
’

spiritual e n e rgy disc ernibl e withi n th e Ch u rch o f England ,

a ph e nom e non h e was i n no way conc ern e d to d e ny ;

th e A rchbishop starting f rom pr e mis e s wh ich w e r e not
,

H u gh s e nd e d nat u r ally i n an id e al and s ch e m e o f d u ty

’

,
24 2 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
i n wh ich w e find ours e lve s wo r k most imp o r tant in th e ,
int e r e sts o f Ch r i st e ndom a nd that yo u will b e l e aving this
work and making it mo r e di fficult fo r oth er s—p er hap s I
,

sho u ld say d e p r ivi ng th e m of the help which s u ch an o n e

as yo u wo u ld so p r e-e min e ntly b e in br inging p e opl e to
th e t r uth and h e lping to u ndo som e o f th e things don e i n
,

th e sixt e e nth c e nt u ry .

last tim e H ugh r e t u rn e d h om e as an A ngli can

Fo r th e ,

still i n th e sam e stat e o f sp iritual e xhaustio n B u t it was .

f or a fe w days only I th ink h e us e d no mor e th e littl e .

chap e l o f which his moth e r had writt e n e xactly a y e a r

ago : Th e whol e plac e is so f u ll o f yo u that it i s q u it e
“

”
comforti ng to m e 1
.

To M iss Kyl e h e had writt e n o n J uly 29

I do c e r tai nly th ink that it will e n d i n going ; but it

has not don e so ye t and I am not absol u t e ly c e rtain .

I cannot imagin e wh y o u r Lord is giving m e th e s e

pa r tic u la r mo nth s O f u nc e r tainty I t s e e ms to m e in ex .

p licabl e B ut o f co u r s e H e knows
. .

And on adds A u g u st 2
7 h e

I am so b ewild e r e d that i t is lik e a kind of ca u t e r y o n

all s e nsation I am r e adin hard som e pap er s a fri e nd
.

has s e nt m e [th e s e w e r e r o m Lord H alifax] Bu t I .

b eli ev e I Shall go ve ry soon .

littl e e a r li e r h e wrot e to Fath e r G W H art who was

A . .
,

to l e av e London for So u th A f r ica o n S ept e mb e r 1 9th

H e r e thin s go along Divin e w e ath e r I wo rk fu r i
g . .

o u sly abo u t Si x hours a day at th e v e ry l e ast and rid e a ,

bi cycl e fo r a co u pl e o f h ou r s e ach aft e r noon .

1
T his w a
t y which a I s aid with its adj i i g ms fig d i
s th e o ra o r , s , o n n ro o , u re n

Th L ig ht I
e i ib l It wa h
nv s t th at h p ai t d (i w at -c l s ) th
e. s e re , oo , e n e n er o ou r on e

wi d ws ti s p ti s f Sai ts
n o er u Th y w
on fa m visibl M A C
er o n . e e re r o re e,
”
r. . .

B s
e n ont lls f me tsid th a f m withi a d th i fa t astic silh tt s
u s,
“
ro ou e n ro n,
”
n e r n o ue e

f th m th am am g th vill ag s f M B s s d lls H gh “ ’ ”
won or e e n e, on e er , o rs . en o n o . u

w a th
s ghly pl as d with th m at fi st b t aft w a ds ffac d th m H
or ou e e e r , u er r e e e . e re

t
urn ed h w v t th ch ap l l at
, o e er, ; M ass w a c l b at d th
o e a d th e er on s e e r e e re , n e

wh l pl ac is sti ll ify ch s f ll f H gh
o e e , ou oo e, u o u .
”
 C ON V ERS I ON 24
3

P e opl e ar e staying h e r e a lo t .

I hav e n t th e fai nt e st i d e a o f wh e r e I shall b e S e pt e mb e r

’

1 2—19 B u t if I am i n London by G ad I will le t yo u

.
, ,

kno w B ut e v e n th e n I too may b e starti ng fo r R om e !

.

Qu i en sab e P

H ow e ve r , b y S e pt e m b e r
his corr e spo nd e n c e with
2,

Fath e r R ichards e nabl e s him to t e ll h i s p e nit e nt that h e

h as almost fix e d upo n a Dominican ho u s e for th e r e t r e at
which is n o w cl e a r b e for e h im B ut h e make s it plai n to
.

h e r th e y must not m e e t n o r will h e h e ar h e r con f e ssio n

,
.

P l e as e agr e e i nt e r io r ly with m e o n tho s e poi nts .

H u gh B e nson was involve d in o n e corr e spo nd e nc e ,

a nd o n e only involvi ng r e al bitt e rn e ss and conflict o f

,

two so u l s wh ich sh ould h av e b ee n at p e ac e with o n e

anoth e r Dr Wordsworth th e lat e B ishop of Salisb u ry
. .
, ,

a v e ry o ld f r i e nd o f H ugh s fath e r has l e f t a nam e so

’

r ightly v e n e rat e d fo r l e a r ning and f o r virt u e that it wo u ld

b e pr e fe rabl e in many ways to o mit any all u sio n to h is

l e tt e rs at th is crisis N othing co u ld b e fu r th e r f rom my
.

wish than to d e pr e ciat e a nobl e m e mory Still th e i nt e r .

,

chang e o f th e s e l e tt ers lash e d H ugh s n e r ve s to fr e nzy ’

.
,

and this e l e m e nt i n h is e xp e ri e nc e s ought not quit e to b e

omitt e d .

Writing f r om P ontr e sina o n A u g u st 1 8 th e B ishop ,

surmis e d that H ugh w as looking to th e R oman Ch u r ch

i n hop e s fo r a r i ch e r Christian lif e not thro u gh do u bt of ,

salvatio n i n th e En gliS h H ow e v e r th e B ishop c o nsid e rs

.
,

that
th e untruthf u ln e ss o f th e p apal syst e m has gon e so d e e p
i nto th e whol e r e ligio u s lif e o f R oman Catholi cs e v e n ,

of go od m e n that it wo u ld b e vain to s e e k a high e r

,

o r so high a lif e among th e m as that wh ich i s b e ing le d

,

by many mo r e q u i e tly p e rhaps i n th e English Ch u rch I

, , .

j u dg e th is from th e cas e o f an o ld p u p il o f mi n e o n e o f ,
24 , ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
th eswe e t e st nat u r e s I e ve r kn e w ,
w ho visibly d et er iorat e d
wh e n h e b e cam e a J e suit .

Heth e n discuss e s th e P e trin e t e xts o n th e O ld Victorian

lin e s showing th e c u stomary misconc e ptio n o f Catholic
,

th e ology Writing with e xtraordi na r y fid e lity to th e r u l e s

.

o f th e controv e r sy
p r O p e r to a p e r iod n o w f or e v er p ass e d ,

h e e xho r t e d H ugh to trav e l b e for e h e form e d opinions

abo u t R om e ; b e d e t e ct e d in th e homag e to th e Madonna
and th e Saints and i n th e grav e d e fl e ctio n o f th e Eu cha
,
“

rist from its prop e r p u rpos e “ con c e ssions to h e ath e n

,
”

i nstincts within th e Ch urch .Ch ristianity w e nt that

way o nly i n purs u it o f s e c u lar supr e macy Th e s e .
,

says th e B ishop most path e tically h aving d e sc r ib e d a ,

m e ntality supr e m e ly di ff er e nt i n st r uct u r e a nd pro c e ss

f rom H ugh s ar e som e of th e thoughts up p e r most in my
’ “
,

mind wh e n I try to imagin e th e r e asons which may attract

,

m e n o f i nt e llig e nc e to a cc e pt R oman claim s .

O n th e 2 6th h e wrot e with at fi r st f ar mo r e i nsight

, ,

as f ollows
A ug . 26 , 1 9 0 2.

I t s e e ms to m e th at yo u h ave b ee n call e d to b e a
t e ach e r a nd a guid e of oth e r s to o soon i n yo u r lif e b e for e ,

you had s e ttl e d th e nat u r e and g r o u nds o f yo u r own b e li e f .

A m I w r o ng in thinking that th e pro c e s s of your mi nd is

now som e what as follows
“
I f e e l bo u nd to b e a Christian A ll my e xp e ri e nc e s
.

poi nt i n that dir e ction I want also to b e a t e ach e r and

.

p r e ach e r That s e e ms my vocation and my tal e nt u pon

.
‘ ’

which I shall h av e to giv e an acco u nt B u t th e r e ar e .

many th ings which p u zzl e and p e rpl e x and e ve n r e p e l m e

i n Ch r istianity N othing but a u th o r ity can mak e th e m
.

acc e ptabl e to m e I want to live witho u t m e ntal str u ggl e

.

and do my wo r k e asily Th e a u tho r ity o f th e Papacy

.
,

which i s at any rat e an anci e nt and a wid e sp r e ad fact of

”
Ch r istian h istory s e e ms what I n e e d
,
.

Th e n s e condly : “
I t is tr u e that th e pap al claims ar e
to a g r e at e xt e nt o f Slow d e ve lop m e nt B ut d ev e lopm e nt .
24 6 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
lov e of mon ey have work e d tog e th er sinc e about A D 20 0 .
,

th e tim e o f Pop e Victo r to e nthrall mankind ; and h e

‘

allud s to
e th e
“
f als e hoods o f r e sp e ctabl e m e n lik e
“

I nnoc e nt I and th e ologian s lik e L e o 1 H e e nlight e ns

, .

h im o n th e t r ading p rop e nsiti e s O f F r e nch r e ligious ; th e

Con co r dat was an i nstrum e nt by wh ich ( originally ) King
“

and P O p e divid e d th e rights o f th e Church b etw e e n th e m ,

and p r e v e nt e d th e Chu r ch o f Franc e f r om th e r e ign o f ,

Fr an go is I o nwards f rom b e coming th e r e al pow e r i n

,

th e Stat e a nd e x e rcising its prop e r infl u e nc e as a body

”
co r porat e “
H e ave n f o r bid that a nyon e o f yo u r nam e
.

and family should h e lp to r e-e stablish a Simila r ali e n

dominatio n i n England ”
R om e i s far mor e than
.
“

o u think a mon e y -making institution T h e Papacy e xists

y .

to s u pply sala r i e s to th e Cardinals and p lac e s to an a r my ,

o f hang e rs -o n I f th e Conco r dat w er e t er minat e d Papal

.
,

co ff e rs would e mpty : it must th e r e for e b e p r e se rv e d at

all co sts .

My d e ar boy w hat you n e e d is to c e as e dr e aming and

, ,

to b e com e a h u mbl e s e r vant o f th e poor in som e w e ll

[ ma nag e d p arish 1
] —
n o t too hop e l e ssly u nd e r mann e d

wh e r e yo u r sp i r i t wo u ld find r e st i n r e ally growi ng lik e

Christ i n daily tasks .

O nc e mor e w r ot e hop ing that H ugh wo u ld r e turn

he ,

to th e Chu r ch o f England saf e and sound e ls e h e wo u ld ,

los e his Christian faith altog e th e r o r possi bly b e com e a , , ,

“ hard n d R omanist
”
H u gh d e stroy e d this last l e tt e r
e e .
,

tho u gh th e r e st s ur vive I n th e m w e see th e r e v e lation

.

o f a t e nd e r and y e arning mind wasting its passionat e

a ff e ctions ove r an i ll u sion ; l ivi ng in a p r e s e nt and fo r e
casting a futur e with r e gard to th e R oman Catholic lif e
, ,

aft e r a fashion conc e ivabl e by a Catholic only with th e

1
I th k this is ight
in r . The B ish p
o w as w iti g i
r n n th e t ai
r n .
 CON VERSI ON 24 7

most viol e nt imaginativ e e ff ort A t l e ast it will s e rve th e .

Catholic fo r a l e sso n O f th e all but i nfinit e di fficulty in

volv ed i n his appr e ciati ng th e Prot e stant mind wh e n h e ,

s e e s h o w a man o f imm e ns e l e arning profound p i e ty , ,

utt e r si nc e rity and d e e p p e rsonal a ffe ction can so mis ,

conc e iv e th e Catholic m e ntality .

I can not r e frai n f r om quoting th es e lin e s O f a l e tt e r

f rom Mrs B e nson to H u gh dat e d S e pt e m be r 1 7th
. ,

Th e s edays [th e B ishop o f Salisbury had writt e n to

Mr s B e nso n] have b e e n days of ac u t e mi s e ry to m e
”
. .

H e is r e ally s u ff e ring v e r y m u ch and hi s love o f yo u r

'

f ath e r and th e Ch u r ch o f England is v e ry st r ong and ,

works i n him till h e can scarc e ly be ar 1t [ H e had not

e xp e ct e d th e chang e was so immin e n t ] H e has got a big

o ld h e art at bottom .

H ugh ally had no di fficulty i n ap pr e ciating what h is

re

i nsight no l e ss th an his moth e r s at o nc e laid hold o f

,
’
, .

Th e r e was n e v e r in h im th e l e ast sp ark o f vindictiv e n e ss

, ,
.

Th e pray e rs which H ugh had ask d e “

f or o n e t e mpt e d
to s e c e d e had b e e n o ffe r e d how e ve r not i n vai n On , , .

S e pt e mb e r 7th h e l e ft Tr e m an s in lay cloth e s onc e again , ,

fo r th e Dominican P r iory at Woodch e st e r wh e r e Fath e r ,

R e ginald B u ckl e r O P w as awaiting him ,

.Ev e ry stag e
.
,
.

i n this last j o u rn e y h i s moth e r watch ed i n tir e l e ss

th ought Each day almo st a l e tt e r follows him
.
, , .

O n S e pt e mb e r 8th sh e was writing '

Sep tem ber 8 .

Sinc e I saw th e diminishing snak e curv e u nd e r th e

bridg e in e v e rything b u t in p hysical sight yo u hav e b e e n
, ,

so to say n e ar e r than e v e r ; at 6 I pict u r e d th e wait fo r

“

b u s —about yo u r a rr ival — th e e v e ni ng O ffic e s

, ,
‘ ’

( bl e ss e d ) — at 1 1 wh e n I was going to b e d I hop e d for

y o u
asl ee p i n ord e r to b e r e ady fo r ve r y e arly mo r ning— and
, ,

now AM ) I think o f yo u e ith e r admi r ing th e s u p e rb

.

vi e w o r talking as 8 Francis ov er the d oor to 8 D ominic

, . .
24 8 ROB ER T H UGH B ENSON
—and bl e ss ing o f G od ove r all
th e I am hung e r ing .

”
fo r to mo r row to h e a r fr om yo u
- “
th e prog r amm e as
y o u said b e caus e I
, want to t e ll th e ho u s e hold abo u t i t
b e fo r e th e r u mo u r s fr om O u tsid e r e ac h th e m and b e caus e ,

I want—O H O W M U C H—to hav e a touch fr om yo u B e th s .

’

d e a r e st lov e .

H is e ld e r broth e r ,
to o , wish e d h im a g e n er o u s G od
sp e e d
I say with all my h e a r t that k n o w i n what yo u f e e l , ,

I could n t wish yo u to act oth e rwis e an I will add G o d

’

bl e ss and p r osp e r yo u !
With th e p l e asant e st Cotswold sc e n e ry H ugh B e nso n
fo u nd hims e lf e nrapt u r e d .

This ,writ e s to I ndia o n Se p te m b e n r o th is th e

he “

most astonishing co u nt r y—among th e Cots w olds I t is

,

a so r t o f Scotland— high hills—r u nni ng str e ams —and

r e ally s teep hills and vall e ys I want to liv e h e r e p e r .

”
m an e n tly .

Els e wh e r e h e
says h e f o u nd it lik e som e parts o f “

I taly and to Miss Kyl e h e gaily says Thi s is a b e a

“
u ti ,

f ul hous e in a b e a u ti f u l co u ntry and contains som e b e auti ,

” 1
fu l p e opl e .

Thi s tr an sfigu r atio n a ff e ct e d only what h e r e ach e d

with that pa r t o f his soul wh ich h e nam e d e xt e rnal .

Withi n h e sat u tt e rly still numb ed cont e mplating this

, , ,

romantic o u tsid e world and h ims e lf e njoying it as in a ,

p ict u r e Th e St r o ud omnibus carri e d him along with

.

it s e e mi ngly motionl e ss like a sp e ctato r fac e d by th e

, ,

moving sc e n e ry in P ar sifal H e list e n e d to a r osy-fac e d .

o ld man talking ; h e watch e d som e childr e n w h o w e r e

t r o u bl e som e .

1 th t c t y h w t ( Sp i t al L tt
A ll a o un r , e ro e ir u e er s , p 1 8) is b d p with
.
“
ou n u

my w h appi ss i my mi d ; th g at hills a
o n ne n n e re nd v all ys a d th m l s f
e n e i e o

t abl l a d at th t p —lik th t p f p ay
,

e n e m o e e o o r er : t
on o o n ou s with s s ati al
, en on

app ach s b t high

”
ro e p , u u .
2 50 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
owing possibly to h is radical simplicity i s “ j ust th e l e ast ,

apt to classify to o qu ickly and to tak e sil e nc e fo r con ,

s e nt 1 I wast e d a day or two thro u gh not r e alising that

. .

To a noth e r h e writ e s too of a pri e st

,
“
like a whit e-hair e d
mo u s e dr e ss e d in flan n e l—ve ry littl e and pious and o ld .

To him h e r e lat e s h o w Fath e r B uckl e r is organist ; h e

cons u lts H u gh s tast e s ; do e s h e lik e th e t u n e s ? Shall h e
’

play a littl e B ach or H and e l to -night f or a ch ang e ? A n d ,

would h e like to se e h is ske tch e s ? B e sid e s this th e i n ,

s tr u c to r took his discipl e for long walks through th e

romantic countrysid e and was sinc e r e ly distr e ss e d that ,

h e could n o t induc e him to p rovid e h im with som e diffi

c u l ty to e xplain H e gav e him th e Cat e chism ; h e
.

be gg e d fo r q u e stions ; h e t r i e d to r ais e th e ghost O f I n

dulge n c e s—sur e ly they must scar e h im ? N ot i n th e l e ast
H u gh wasn t cl e ar h e und e rstood th e last word a b out
’

th e m but h e b e li e v e d th e m q u it e without anxi ety

,
.

H ow e v e r th e e ag e r Dominican was giv e n his chanc e and

, ,

e xpound e d I nd u lg e nc e s at satis f actory f u ll l e ngth .

To h im H u gh show e d th e typ e d C opy o f A Ci ty set

on a H i ll and th e pri e st told h im th e r e was nothing l e f t
,

b ut for him to ki s s St P e t e r s Chair

’
2
. .

What H ugh n e e d e d mo st o f all was j ust that amount

o f pray e r which sho u ld k e e p h is tir e d so u l alive without
d e mandi ng fro m it any e xe r cis e H e was to r e st : e ve n .

th e supr e m e O p e ration Fath e r B uckl e r wa s r e solv e d upo n

p e r f orming m u st b e p e r f orm e d without add e d shock .

H ugh was his own an ae sth e ti c z h e was u nconscio u s

e v e n o f j oy H e h e ard Mass ; was at th e day O ffi c e s now
.

1
M an y
mist ak s w ld h av b esav d h ad H gh B s s i t vi w s
ou e ee n e u en o n
’
n er e er

b m ca f l t m mb th at th xt m p lit ss which p mpt d his

ee n o re re u o re e er e e re e o ene ro e

sil c s did t c ss a ily i th l ast i dicat ass t

en e no ne e r n e e n e en .

1
This b kl t p blish d by th
oo e , u c t ai s his fav it a g m ts f
e e on n our e r u en or

Cath licism a d which

o n d -st at m t n ee no te e en .
 CON V ERS I ON 2 51

and th e n and always at Comp lin e of which th e Dominican

, ,

Salv e R egi n a was th e only l u mi no u s plac e i n a spiritually

g r e y day .

I mm e diat e ly upon his ar r ival h e wrot e to his moth e r

and e xplain e d that h e would not b e baptiz e d e ve n con ,

ditio n ally owing to th e absol u t e c e rtai nty that h i s

,

A nglican baptism had b ee n valid i n form a nd int e ntion ,

wh ich give n th e A r chbishop s knowl e dg e o f lit u r gy and

,
’

h is co nstant practic e could s carc e ly h ave b e e n oth e r wis e 1

, .

H u gh also m e ntions th e possibility of h i s r e c e iving

tons u r e and possibly minor ord e rs dir e ctly aft e r h is
“

r e c e ption H e wo u ld th e n b e abl e to w e ar h is “ customary

.

cl e rical cloth e s tho u gh i n th e cas e o f his sing u la r ly,

straightforward mind I th ink th e humiliation which

“

str i ke s so many conve r t cl e r gym e n with downright panic

—o f r e v er ting to lay co st u m e—would hav e s e em e d
sing u la r ly u nimpr e ssive .

O n S e pt e mbe r l o th M rs B e nson answ e r e d .

TR EM A N S, Sep tember

M Y D EA R EST —
10 .

Your l e tt e r this mo r ning is a wo nd e r f u l

,
~

comfo r t and yo u can u nd e rstand how h u ngry and thi r sty

,

w e ar e fo r e v e r y small e st d e tail I r e ad e v er y word to .

B e th imm e diat e ly aft e r pray e r s and tho u gh h e r fac e ,

b r ok e u p now and th e n sh e b e am e d at th e e n d and i s , ,

now d e e p i n th e myst e ri e s O f th e di ff e r e nc e b e tw e e n
c e ll u loid collars and lin e n o n e s —a nd I can t u nrav e l that ’

e ith e r I am d e e ply thank f u l as to yo ur not b e ing '

re- baptiz e d It all so u nds v e r y st r aigh t and simpl e

which is j u st what o n e wants —and it is s o go od that
.

1
th lic p actic f c di ti al baptism f c v ts is a v y f q t
Th e C a o r e o on on o on er er re uen

ca s f
u e o c ssa y dist ba c t
unn e e Cath lic l k s Wh th c v t
r ur n e o n on - o on oo er . en e on er

ha c t ai ly b
s er baptiz d c tai ly t th Ch ch s s f th baptism al
n e en e , or er n no , e ur u e no ur er

c m y baptiz s t ight Wh th A glica baptism ha b d bt f lly

d —a d v
e re on or e ou r . en e n n s een ou u
,

admi ist n ere w ly xp i c a sh w h w ft this is

n e en no , on e e r en e c n o o o en so

th C h
e ch b aptiz s b di ti
ur Th v ise i th at
su f thi gs con on e . ere n e er , n or n e n u re o n

ca b n baptism C di ti al b aptism m a s I fy h av v be baptiz d

e , r e- . on on e n , ou e ne er en e ,

this is baptism I fy h av it is thi g at all

. ou e, no n .
2 52 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
th e r e i s no pr e ssing or u r ging o nly putting th ings
b e for e yo u to se e e xactly what it m e ans and wh e th e r
you can acc e pt all Y o u will le t m e know A T ON C E
.
,

I know wh e n you ar e act u ally r e c e iv e d o r if yo u CA N

b efor e SO that my h e art—o u r h e a r ts —
, , ,

may b e sp e cially
w ith yo u — I Shall j u s t wait f r om day to day
,

I int e nd .

to t e ll th e ho u s e hold as soo n as I h e a r f r om you for

c e r tain —as I sho u ld like th e m to know f r om withi n
first Without [ p e opl e] will n o t b e p i e -e mi n e ntly sym
.
,

path etic A n d I am glad abo u t th e “ mino r ord e rs ;

.
”

it will b e a comfo r t to yo u to Sh ow in o u r dr e ss e xactly

w h at yo u ar e and not to s ee m lik e a ayman —
,
i t will b e
f ar wis e st all r o und .

D e ar e st yo u r wo r ds s u r r o u nd my h e art with infinit e

warmth —i t has b e e n j u st what I so e a r n e stly d e si r e d
,

how loving yo u as I do could I do anything e ls e —ind ee d

, , ,

as you know w e all thr e e w er e e nti r e ly of o n e mi nd and

, ,

if yo u fo u nd it as yo u did G od bl e ss yo u th e atmosph e r e
, , ,

that h e lp e d yo u r so u l why what bl e ssing and thankf u ln e ss

, ,

f r o m all o ur h e arts to G od ! Y o u hav e b e e n so p r e ciously

Sw e e t in th e s e mo nth s and so e ag e r to do all I ask e d .

N e xt day sh e wrot e agai n

Sep te mb er 1 1.

I am not so r ry th er e ar e no d e lays— I am SO
glad th e r e i s no r e baptism—and I thi nk th e tons u r e and
-

th e mino r o r d e r s wo u ld b e a comfo r t in a way do

com e back soon .

I told th e ho u s e hold to -day that th e y might know ,

th e e xact tim e .

A n d at 5 o clock to -day how sp e cially w e shall b e

’

with yo u my D e ar e st , .

O nly k e e p u s post e d i n ev ery p ossi ble detai l all so d e a r

to o u r h e arts A n d G od s bl e ssin g wid e d ee p and high
.
’

, ,

b e on yo u and G od s lov e full r i ch and larg e comp ass

’
, , ,

you r o u nd .

B ut on th e e v e ning that day at in th e e ve ning

of , ,

Fath e r B u ckl e r h e ard H u gh s co nf e ssio n i n th e Wood

’

ch e st e r Chapt e r -ho u s e and gave h im th e kiss o f p e ac e

, ,

saying “ I shall hav e to call yo u i n f u t u r e My d e ar

,
‘

H u gh H ugh lov e d th is f ath e r li n e ss and allud e s to it

’
. ,
2 5, ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
p e ate d i n ki nd
“ Th e stamm e r whi ch was q u it e notic e
.

abl e i n o r dina r y talk n e ve r d u ll e d th e point o f h is sto r i e s .

Th e r e was a childlik e ob e di e nc e about h im which st r u ck

m e as b e ing not a nat u r al gift but a ha r d -wo n acq u isi ,

tion It was a nobl e s e co nd -childhood which Spok e of

.
,

victory won .

Th e w e arin e ss which h e sp e aks o f in his own ac count

o f conv e rsion was o nly j ust notic e abl e I r e m e mb e r taking .

it to b e th e aft e r math O f so m e y e a r s at o n e o f o u r gr e at
U niv e r siti e s It was b u t a f u ll -grown Englishman s p o r
.
’

tion o f th at s e l f contro l wh ich has b e com e a prov e r b

b e yond th e s e islands .

Within h is so u l lu r ke d thee l e m e nts o f a trag e dy I f .

i n th e e n d h e di e d th e d e ath as h e had liv e d th e lif e

, ,

of an apostl e it w as no do u bt du e to th e y e ars o f s e lf
,

cont r ol which not e v e ryon e r e co n i se d in th e u nti r ing

writ e r and p r e ach e r M any o f t e so u ls to whom h is
.

cha r act e r app e al e d by its e n e r gy and vivid colo u r ing did

not p er hap s r e alis e that e ls e wh e r e i n ov er look e d r e gions,

of h is b e ing lay h is st r e ngth I nd e e d som e of thos e

,
.

points o f cha r act e r that mad e most f r i e nds w e r e p er hap s

co u nt e d by his J u dg e amongst th e dang e r s o f h is so u l .

I n s i len ti o et i n sp e C e r tai n h abits o f tho u ght and

.

actio n of h u mility i n mind and d e e d o u tbalanc e d th e

, ,

gifts that som e m e n prais e d most .

On Monda yh e l e f t Woodch e st e r for Talacr e aft er

th e ,

a fo u r days stay o nly H is e xp eri e nc e s r e ad as if it had

’
.

b e e n four w e e ks Y o u will b e so r ry to l e av e that p e ac e

.

fu l plac e and th e d e a r littl e man hi s moth e r wrot e ,

.

Bu t lif e go e s o n and wo r k and th e s e d e a r hav e ns lik e

, ,

o u r th r e e month s tog e th e r ar e lik e th e A rbour fo r Pilgrims

, ,

I s u ppos e f or r e f r e sh m e nt a nd not f or r e maining

, , At .

Talacr e Fath e r R icha r ds acting th e r e as chaplain to Sir

, ,

P i e rs and Lady Mo styn was awaiting h im , D r e ams .

add e d glamo u r to his going ; b e r e cognis e d h is n e w

“

su r roundings and f e lt hal f -path e tically half-whimsically

, , , ,

that ind e e d h e was coming hom e .

H e r e main e d qui e tly at Talacr e fo r som e tim e and ,

 C ON V ERSI ON 2 55

’
visit e d th e J e suit hous e Of th e ology at St B e u no s th e .
,

Capuchin novitiat e at P an tasap h and St Wini f r e d s W e ll , .

’

at H olyw e ll hard b y A bove all h e was sp e culati ng o n

1
.
,

a nd a r ranging for his futur e car e e r A t first it is th e .

Dominican id e a which r e c u rs oft e n e st in his l e tt e rs It .

is an op e n s e c r e t that h e at first wish e d to e nt e r that O r d e r ,

and I am allow e d to say that h e act u ally O ff e r e d hims e lf

for acc e ptanc e as a novic e Th e Dominican fath e rs .
,

how e ve r with g e n u in e disint e r e st e d n e ss would not p e rmit

, ,

any such rapid st e p tho u gh that h e was d e stin e d for th e ,

pri e sthood w as cl e ar .

I hav e nothing mor e h e wrot e o n S e pt e mb e r 2 3 , ,

1 0 3 to M r A C B e nson f r om Talacr e than e d ee p e st

“ h
9 , . . . t ,

possibl e convictio n —no e motionalism o r s e n s e o f r e li e f ,

o r anyth ing o f that kind A ll th e fi r st w e e k I was with .

th e Dominicans —w h o I imagin e will b e my final d e sti na , ,

tio n aft e r two or th r ee y e ars .

I imagi n e I shall b e gi n to r e ad th e ology agai n i n ,

vi e w o f f u t u r e ordination This would take him e ith e r .

to Rom e i n N ove mb e r o r to Prior Pa r k n e a r B ath wh e r e , , ,

h e could t e ach as w e ll as r e ad .

Mamma a nd I ar e m e e ting in Lo ndo n n e xt w e e k Sh e .

r e ally has b e e n good to m e b eyond all wo r ds H er .

pati e nc e and kind n e ss hav e b e e n u nimaginabl e

W e ll —this i s a d r e a r y and e gotistical l e tt e r Bu t yo u
.

ask e d m e to w r it e abo u t mys e lf

W e ll —I m u st thank yo u agai n fo r you r e xtr e m e ki nd
.

n e ss— I r e ally am g r at e f u l tho u gh I am always d u mb ,

about s u ch things wh e n I m ee t p e op l e .

1 lyw ll h h ad a disc c ti g xp i c Th pl ac w a c wd d
At H o e e on er n e e r en e. e e s ro e

with pilg ims wh h i his g y s it a d b wl hat a iv d sc t d by

r en e, n re u n o er , rr e e or e

Fath R ich a ds Th p i st i ch a g f th w ll k wi g Fath R ich a ds

er r . e r e n r e o e e , no n er r

a d his i t
n st i c v ts sh t d a w lc m t him ( f h c ld t ach
n e re n on er , ou e e o e o or e ou no re

him ) a d ask d i f h had s

, n e th c v si fB se a c d th at day
ee n e on er on o e n on, nn o un e .

H gh
u m ai d s
re a d aft w a ds w
ne t t t a at th p sbyt y
e re n e , n er r en o e e re er .
2 50 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
Fath e r Re gi nald B uckl e r f ollow e d up h is k in d O ffic e s _

with wi s e and l e isu r ely advi c e s u pr e m e ly i n k e ep ing with ,

H u gh s o w n t e nd e ncy O f lif e
’

DO not my d e a r f e llow hav e any misgivings as to

yo u r vo cation to th e p r i e sthood—I firmly b e li e ve i n it
, ,

Yo u r lov e for th e pri e stly o ffic e and fo r Divin e things , ,

a nd yo u r aptit u d e fo r th e work all point to it .

B e nson had som e J£50 a y e ar a nd could th e r e for e go ,

to R o m e i n su ffi ci e nt ind e p e nd e nc e ; and i n vi e w o f his

possibl e d e part u r e thith e r Fath e r B uckle r i ntroduc e d him ,

to Fath e r Pa u l Mac K ay O P who h ad long b e e n r e sid e nt

,
. .
,

th e r e Th e important poin t was to ge t o r dain e d b e for e

.

e nt e ring a n ord e r .

I am fo nd o f th e s e nt e nc e Fath e r B uckl e r w r ot e o n ,

O ctob e r 2 2 wh e n his d e pa r t u r e s ee m e d still u ns e ttl e d

, ,

L e t u s l e av e room for Provid e nc e to wo r k I f you r ’

.

going to R om e b e d e lay e d I take it that th e r e ar e souls i n ,

England waiting fo r yo u r h e lp to th e i r conv e r sion and ,

that if yo u had b ee n away yo u wo u ld hav e miss e d th e m , .

I n any cas e cultivat e th e cou r ag eo u s so u l and ‘

,
’

tak e th e littl e ch e cks as trials of th e spi r it and r id e straight

,

ov er th e m—t r ansc e nd th e m to u se a nic e O ld pat r istic

,

word H o w soon a fe w y e a r s go by l
.

He p e at e d m u ch
re th e sam e advic e aft e r H ugh h ad
l e ft England
N ov . 1 6 , 1 90 3 .

N O do u bt I O ft e n said that must l e av e room fo r we “

Provid e nc e to wo r k Y o u will f e e l I am sur e that yo u r

.
”
, ,
pr e s e nt position and work at Cambr idg e 15 all pa r t o f th e
Sp i r it u al sch e m e D e u s e st ag e ns p r i ncipal e i s anoth e r
“
.

sp l e ndid pri nci pl e L e t G od wo r k and a r r ang e fo r m e

. .

Th e Divin e El e m e nt is st r on ge r than th e h u man i n th e ,

Church altho u gh th e human i s and has b e e n and always

, , ,

m u st b e SO strong
,
.

Ea h i h i h idd
c ph n fbli s w s en s e re o s or oe

O h m i t p i i t s dw e ll
ur er s r .
”

Tho s e two v e r s e s ( that contain th e s e lin e s ) ar e to m e

qu it e p e r f e ct and non e that K e bl e e v er wrot e s ee m to
,
2 58 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
ar e .I am quit e s u r e that wh e n th e choic e li e s b e tw ee n
a non -nat u ral u se of word s u p on wh ich so m u ch d e p e nds
and a change o f faith it is an ho n e st man s duty to mak e ,
’

th e chang e rath e r than to practis e what to m e at l e ast

s e e ms to b e a cou r s e o f d e lib e rat e e vasion o r d e c e it .

Ve ry littl e b u t ki nd wish e s follow e d him e v e n fr om

thos e wh o f e lt his loss most ke e nly Dr Ed e n th e B ishop . .
,

o f Wak e fi e ld wrot e most sorrowf u lly b u t with t e nd e r e st

, ,

a ffe ction assu r ing h im of its contin u anc e and b egging

,

that no bitt e rn e ss might h e nc e f or w ard alt er H ugh s kin dli ’

n e s s o f h e art towards th e Ch u rch h e had l e ft .

Fath er Fr er e w r iting from th e tro u bl e d atmo sph er e o f

,

St M icha e l s Shor e ditch said

.
’

, ,
Sep t . 1 3, 1 90 3 .

Writing I am mo r e g r at e ful than e ve r for th e

ner e,
m an ner o f it and for all yo u r g r e at consid e ration and
goodn e ss in doi ng what was so diffic u lt to all conc ern e d ;
th e contrast ner e co ld ha d ly hav e b ee n mor e ma k e d
u r r 1
,

and it make s m e all th e mo r e f e e l what w e all hav e b ee n

spa r e d o f bitt e rn e ss and m i su n de r s tan din I hop e th e
Dominicans will b e you r h om e if it isn t $ olly o f m e to ,
’

say so I t was s u ch a r e li e f to se e yo u r add r e ss and b e

.

abl e to thi n k o f yo u i n hands that o n e can far b e tt e r t r u st

tha n som e oth e rs Te ll u s som e tim e s how things go
.

o n fo r th e r e will b e ma ny who will w ant to know and fo r

, ,

whom many old ti e s of love and common wo r k and w o r

ship will n e ve r b e broke n .

O n h is sid e Fath e r B ick e rst e th with mor e than ,

one

p oi n te d e
’
brok e t h e n e ws
m alice, g e ntly to fo r ty ladi e s to

whom h e was giving a r e t r e at Th e y w e r e mildly shocke d .

,

b u t f e lt su r e that to follow consci e nc e was th e b e st Fo r .

Th e L ignt I n v is i ble d e stin e d to b e r e ad at tabl e h e rath e r

, ,

slyly s u bstit u t e d Pag e t s Sp i r i t of D i sap li n e “

Is it u n’
.

fai r h e asks
,
“
to t e ll p e op l e as I do that you w e r e
,

trai n e d by Dr Vaughan and that yo u cam e to M i r fie ld

.
,

1
Th e ll si h
a u on e re visibl fl cts th c t mp a y mis d st a di g
e re e e on e or r un er n n o f
the re c e t c v e si o s
n on r n so se s ati ally acc m plish d at St Mich a l s
n on o e . e
’
.
 CO N VE RS I O N 2
59
with c e rtai n t e nd e nci e s which w e w er e abl e to r e strai n
b u t not e radicat e ? I hop e you ar e n o t w e aring a
r ed ti e .

Th e B ishop of Worc e st e r wrot e

B I S H OP S
'
H o u se , Wo ac asr aa ,

Sep t

—
2 1 , 1 90 3 .

—G od bl
.

MY D EA R H U G H, ss you May it all turn out

e .

fo r th e b e st fo r all ofu s . Yo u r s a ffe ctionat e ly ,

C W I G O RN . .

I can not p ut Es q “
.
,
and you would n t wish f or Rev ’
.

Th e r e for e nothing .

Shortly b e f or e this h e had h eard f rom Fath e r Tyrr e ll .

H e writ e s that h e is glad th e mor e si nc e r e ly “

,
as I
know you ar e e xplicitly a w ar e o f what s ee ms to m e th e
tr u e stat e o fth e q u e stion i n r e ga r d to th e nat u r e o f Church
a u thority . Eith e r you hav e s e e n your way to acc e pt
th e e xt r e m e vi e w o f th e matt e r which may b e th e right ,

vi e w aft e r all o r e ls e Fr B uckl e r do e s not shar e.

with m e i n a scrup l e wh ich I co n fe ss i s normally r e gard e d

as som ewhat ove r -r e fi n e d and p e dantic H e w e nt o n .

to r e call that sacrific e is sw e e t at first ; r e action com e s ,

and n e e d o f shut e y e s and full trust i n H im who has

H ims e lf d e c e iv e d u s if w e ar e d e c e iv e d and who must ,

se e us thro u gh th e pas s to wh ich H e has brought us .

H e p r ay e d that no ting e o f co nve rt f anaticism might mar

H u gh s attit u d e to thos e h e had l e ft ; h e must n e v e r b e
'

impati e nt L e t patronising ai r s b e l e ft as a monop oly to

.

no n -Catholics fo r Catholics g e ntl e n e ss o f j udgm e nt sym , ,

pathy with m e ntal di fficulti e s tol e ranc e o f intol e r anc e , .

Fath e r E I P u r b r ic k wrot e to H ugh fro m C lo n go w e s

. .

Wood Coll e ge Sallins Co Kildar e o n Se pt e mb e r r oth

, , .
,

Sep t . 1 6 , 1 90 3 .

Th is mo r ning I r e ad in th e p ap e r o f yo u r r e c e ption
i n to th e Church at Wo odch e st e r and cannot r e f rain f ro m ,
2 60 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
congrat u lating from my h e art a so n o f my d e a r e st old
f r i e nd yo u r fath e r A s boys w e advanc e d along th e sam e
,
.

path towards th e Ch u r ch and h is conve rsio n was my daily

,

p r ay e r u ntil h is d e ath I pray e arn e stly fo r th e

.

r e pos e o f h is soul .

B e n so n a nsw e r e d and Fath e r ,

P u r b r ic k wrot e again ,

i n wo rds which will be valu e d by many , on S e pt e mb e r 1 9

Yo u have n o id e a how th e n e ws r e jo ic e d my
‘
c an
h e a r t Your d e ar fath e r was my old e st and most val u e d
.

f ri e nd and my gr e at e st sorro w sinc e I b e cam e a Catholic

,

was as I e v e r told him that h e and Light f oot had not

, ,

r e c e iv e d th e sam e i n e stimabl e g r ac e So I r e joic e more .

than I can e xp r e ss that o n e o f his so ns is now a f e llow

Catholic . Y o u may d e p e nd o n my daily m e m e nto
h e nc e f orth i n th e H oly Sacrific e .

I have work e d thro u gh a gr e at pil e o f l e tt e rs from

A nglicans and to my astonish m e nt th ey ar e n e a r ly all
, , ,

congratulatory Som e d e plo r e th e d e partur e but by no

.
,

m e ans f or dogm ati c so much as for r e aso ns conn e ct e d rath er

with e ccl e siastical politics Mo r e ov e r th e y ar e e ith e r i n
.
, ,

th e mass f rom cl e rics o r f rom quit e poor p e opl e

, ,
.

From o n e co r r e spo nd e nt h e r e c e ive d th e following

Sep t . 1 9 , 1 90 3 .

With what j oy I l e arn that to you has b e e n vo u chsaf e d

th e call to go up high e r Wh e n e v e r th is is grant e d to
any of my f r i e nds I always say a G l oria i n Exc e lsis l ik e
“
,

Dant e s holy so u ls i n P u r gato r y at a b r oth e r s r e l e as e To

m e it has n o t com e ye t—
’ ’
.

o r r ath e r G od s hand s e e ms still

’

to bar th e path I so long to tr e ad P r ay for m e that b e fo r e .

I die I too may hav e g r ac e to e nt e r th e City o f G lad n e ss .

Tobalanc e this h e h e ard f rom oth er s : h o w if I had

, ,
“

not b ee n s o gr e at a cowar d I sh ould long ago have l e ft th e ,

Chu r ch o fEnglan d but o utwards a w ay fr om all faith , .

A n d constantly th e blam e fo r h i s d e partur e i s laid at

th e door o f th e A nglican authoriti e s M or e ove r a rath e r .
,
 R O BE R T H U GH BEN S O N
sp e cial i nt e r e st attach e s to a l e tt e r from th e pr e s e nt
A
A bbot o f C alde y f r o m it I quot e a fe w s e nt e nc e s

I t s e e ms so ha r d to go o n with th e m e n to whom o n e
looks to do r e at things i n th e ca u s e o f Corporat e R e union
dr o p p in 0 o n e by o n e into littl e r e unions o f th e ir o w n .

W at a j oy it m u st b e to b e i n R om e as a R oman
, ,

not as a m e r e sp e ctator ! Do yo u r e m e mb e r tho s e

happy days at Malli ng wh e n yo u w e r e “ coming o n
What a n anti -R oman you w er e th e n

I t was with this A bbot of C alde y wh o at last has

'

follow d a lik e call that H u gh took r e fug e to mak e his

e ,
“

soul f or th e last tim e in r e tr e at n o t a month be for e h is

, ,

d e ath .

From h is o w n l e tt e rs I will quot e two e xt r acts To .

M r Sp e nc e r jo n e s h e wrot e thanking him cordially for

.

hi s co ngratulations a nd h is sympath e tic warning in vi e w

,

o f th e sing u lar light -h e art e dn e ss with wh ich Catholi cs t oo

O ft e n s e e m to a cc e pt th e ir privil eg e s

One is still som e what b e wild e r e d i n th e s e n e w sur

roundings b u t I think I know what yo u m e an about th e
,
“
app ar e nt fli p p an c y but as yo u say it is a mark o f
, ,

f e arl e ssn e ss and s e c u r ity in th e poss e ssio n o f th e m .

I t also st r ik e s m e h o w v e ry littl e p e opl e o n this sid e

r e ally know o f A nglican m e thods of thought Th e y se e .

th e i nconsist e nci e s and w e akn e ss o f th e oth e r sid e and so

,

on ,
b u t do not s e e m to r e alis e th e ir r e al points o f vi e w at
all I h ave b e e n q u it e asto nish e d in r e ading som e o f th e
.

controv e rsial books an d pamphl e ts to see how e nti r e ly

th e y som e tim e s miss th e targ e t —and do not r e ally e v e n
ai m at th e Catholic party i n th e Ch u r ch o f England much ,

l e ss h it th e m It do e s c e r tainly s ee m that misund e rstand

.

i ng and cont e mpt ar e r e sponsibl e fo r a g r e at d e al o f n e e d

l e ss division .

N e xt to th e saving o f h is own soul it do e s r e ally s e e m

,

as if th e ve ry first duty o f an A nglican who has mad e h i s

submission is to do his b e st to mak e p e op l e on th is sid e
und e rstand a littl e b e tt e r th e point of vi e w o f p e opl e o n
 C ON V ERS I ON 263

that R e ally nothing can b e gai n e d f rom drawing carica

.
,

tur e s o f on e s opp on e nts ’

.

I t is e xtr e m e ly rash o f m e to talk lik e this o f co u rs e ; ,

but both from your book and your l e tt e rs I know that you
will u nd e r stand what I m e an and that I can say all this ,

w itho u t th e dang e r of yo u r thinki ng that my s u bmission

has not b e e n whol e-h e a r t e d a nd u n r e s e r v e d Fo r e ve n .
,
fo r c ont r ov e r sial p u r p os e s it is b e tt e r f or o n e to kno w ,

on e s e n e my s po sitio n accu r at e ly rath e r tha n i n ac c u

’
“ ’

r ate l
y Yo
. u r book I am su r e is o f th e g r e at
,
e st val u e j u st
, ,

fo r th e r e ason that it i nsists so pow e rfully o n th e n e e d o f

looking at thi ngs f r om oth e r p e opl e s poi nt o f vi e w i f o n e ’

is to b e o f any s e r vic e to th e oth e r p e opl e .

To I ndia he had w r itt e n

DO writ e agai n soon I ca n t t e ll yo u h o w much I love ’

to h e a r A n d a l e tt e r like th e last abov e all I know yo u

. .

w o n t le t any chang e o f r e ligio n m ean a ch an e o f

’
“

anything e ls e I t s e e ms to m e shocking that it sh ou ( I do

.

that .

Lord H alifax wrot e almost in th e sam e words :

H IC K L ET ON , D ON C A S T ER ,

Sep t. 1 3, 1 90 3 .

M Y D EA R H U G H - lt do e s i nd ee d make no diffe r e nc e as
,

far as I am conc e r n e d Why should it ? Th e r e i s o nly .

on e Ch u r ch and as I b e li e ve yo u have m e r e ly chang e d

, , ,

yo u r op inio n as to c e r tain matt e rs o n a family qua r r e l upo n

wh ich from any point of vi e w th er e is m u ch to b e said o n
, ,

both sid e s and i n r e gard to which n e ith e r sid e i s ass u r e dly

,

blam e l e ss H o w th e matt e r may pr e s e nt its e l f to anyon e

e ls e —
.

o r e v e n to yo u cannot a ffe ct my j u dgm e nt of th e ,

sit u ation and I do b e g yo u to b e li e ve my v e ry d e ar f ri e nd

that i f yo u ar e not controv e r sial and u nj u st —and I ca nnot
, , ,

conc e ive of yo u as e ith e r —your hop e s and plans your ,

obj e cts a nd i nt e r e sts will b e j u st as much a matt e r o f ,

co nc e rn to m e as e v e r th e y w e r e G od may have a sp e cial .

work for yo u and I pray H im to bl e ss yo u and it with all

,

my h e art .

So ki nd w e r e th e l e tt e rs h e r e c e ive d that h e would o ft e n

u s e th e words It is a r e al joy to b e writt e n to like that
, .
2 64 R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
For compl e t e n e s s sak e let m e giv e th e s e e xt r acts from
'

his c o r r e spond e nc e with Miss Kyl e .

O n S e pt e mb er 1 2 h e w r ot e
I am n o t w r iting abo u t f e e lings a nd so on ; b e ca u s e , ,

a f t e r all th e y can n e ve r b e t r u st e d ; a nd th e r e is no n e e d
,

to write abo u t convi ction s e v e n if yo u car e d to h e a r of

,

th e m .

A n d yo u n e e d not b e af r aid that I shall both e r yo u

with co ntrov e rsy b e ca u s e p er sonally I b e li e v e that that is
,

th e long e st ro ad to truth if i nd e e d it e v e r g e ts th e r e at all

, , , .

And agai n on S e pt e mb e r 15 r f om Talacre

I told my moth e r I was tro u bl e d in mi nd mo r e than a
y e a r ago Of co u r s e it was som e thing of a Shock to h e r
.
,

b u t co mparativ e ly slight T h e n as th e mo nth s w e nt by I

.
, ,

k e p t h er f u lly info r m e d so far as was p ossibl e as to my

, ,

stat e o f mind and u ltimat e ly wh e n my d e cision was tak e n

, , ,

it was v e r y littl e sho ck to h e r as th e id e a had be com e ,

familiar to h e r I also gave h e r a promis e o r rath e r an

.
,

u nd e r standing whi ch I disting u ish e d from a p r omis e that

, ,

I wo u ld not b e r e c e ive d without l e tting h er know Th e .

r e s u lt has b ee n that n e ith e r sh e nor I ar e conscio u s of an

e strang e m e nt [ I t is q u it e p o ssib le l sho u ld think , ,

too always to le t th e m [ on e s pa r e nts] know as it w e r e by

,
’

, ,

th e way ; and not mak e an anno u n c e m e nt o f it P e opl e .

ar e g e n e rally shock e d if w e le t th e m s e e w e e xp e ct it a nd ,

n o t oth e r wis e .

You ask m e abo u t my own s e nsations now What I

k now is this —that I co u ld hav e don e nothi ng e ls e ; that
.

e v e r ything point e d st e adily to th e e v e nt ; that th e Ch u r ch

of England “ was a schoolmast er and th e r e for e that , ,

I have a g r e at gratitud e and t e nd e r n e ss still and pl e as e , ,

G od always shall h av e fo r h e r B u t that now I hav e

, ,
.

ar r ive d R ight down b e lo w th e r e i s all this f u ndam e ntal

.

knowl e dg e and c e r tit u d e that th e Se e of P e t e r is th e o n e

and o nly c e nt r e o f u nity B ut as fo r act u al f e e lings I
.
,

may fr ankly say that l h ave no n e at all ye t o f any sort ,

sca r c e ly e ve n o f d r yn e ss
“ Fo r th e last th r e e months my
”

so u l s e e ms to have b e e n compl e t e ly n u mb e d —no distr e ss

.

and no j oy—at l e ast in th e spi r it u al r e alm —tho u gh pl e nty

o f p kys i cal d e pr e ssion and e xaltation I S this v e r y vag u e ? .

I do n t know how e ls e to e xp r e ss it B u t I am compl e t e ly

’
.
 66 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
‘

And r ath e r lat e r on

I wish you could hav e h e a r d Fr Matu r i n s addr e ss I t .

’
.

w as amazing H e w e nt o n like a torr e nt fo r o n e and a

.

qu art e r ho u rs and it was all packe d with int r i cat e ar gu m e nt

,

and answ e r and co u nt e r -answ e r I can t conc e i ve th e .

’

proc e ss of mind by which h e do e s it .

Fath e r Matu r in was e ag e r that H u gh should e nt er th e

Sulpician s e mi nary i n Rom e B ut it was full and this .
,

r e bu ff was th e first which B e nso n s s e nsitive e ag e r n e ss to

’

be gin e xp e ri e nc e d H owe v e r n e gotiations with th e En g

.
,

l ish Ch urch O f San Silv e stro follow e d almost at onc e Th e .

visit to Er dington A bb e y had b ee n succ e ssfully a e com

p li sh e d and o,f it D o m B e d e Camm has w r itt e n to m e :

W e w e r e ask e d i nvit e h im to Erdington as i t was

to ,

tho ught som e stay i n a Catholi c mo nast e ry wo u ld b e good ,

and h e ca m e on to u s f r o m Woodch e st e r I can hardly .

say how much I was d e light e d with him H is e nth u siasm .

as a Catholic and his humility as a r aw co nv e r t w e r e

e qually touching H e th e n b e gan to co ns u lt m e o n th e
.

book h e was writing o n th e Elizab e than p e r s e cution I .

took him to O sc o tt and h e was g r e atly d e lighte d with th e

t r e asur e s pr e s e rve d th e r e—th e old v e stm e nts th e chalic e s
,

, ,

missal alta r -ston e s & c o f p e nal days H e pour e d o u t

, , .
,
.

th e d e tails o f th e book as it was shaping its e lf and e ag e r ly

, ,

s e ize d o n any p oints that wo u ld b e o f u se to him I n th e .

e n d it was s e ttl e d that I should r e ad and co rr e ct th e proof

sh ee ts and do my b e st to h e lp him t o s e cur e h istorical
acc u racy B ut b efor e that I u s e d to ge t (a f t e r h e l e ft u s)
.

sh e e ts o f q u e stions f u ll o f historical p uzzl e s o f t e n b e yond

, ,

my wit to answ e r .

B ut inc e By W/eat A n t/z or i ty was no t p u blish e d till

S

lat e r I will r e s er ve what e ls e Dom B e d e c an t e ll abo u t its

,

g e n e sis till I sp e ak mor e f u lly of it .

A ft e r Erdingto n h e cam e back by way o f London to , ,

Tr e m an s .
 C ON V ERS I ON 2 67

He writ e s to Mr . A . C B e nson
. on O ctob e r 5, 1 90 3

B A R TO N ST .

Y e st e rday I w e nt abo u t a littl e and mad e acquai ntanc e

,

with church e s It was all ve ry q u e er but I s u p pos e o n e

.
,

will f e e l comfortabl e soon Th e combination o f e xt r e m e

.

h om e lin e ss and magnific e nc e i s v er y o dd but v e ry striking , .

No tlong aft e rwards th e dat e fo r his d e part u r e f or

R om e was fix e d N ov e mb e r 2 n d
,
“
I can not b ear th e
.

thought o f it h e writ e s to his e ld e st broth e r

,
.
 CH A P TER I

IN RO M E

N O V EMBER 1 9 0 —
3 ] U N E 1 9 0
4

g tib s am
Fe c isti p atri am di ue r sis en u un

P ro f d mi a t c api
u i t i n u i ti s, te o n n e, .

Dum qu e off s i ti p p
er u c c s ti a i is
s ro rn on o r ur ,

U rb e m f i ti q o d p i s
ec s u bis at r u or er .

R U T1L 1 US NA M A TI A N U S .

ON th e chilly morning o f A ll Souls Day 1 90 3 H ugh s ’

, ,
’

moth e r o nc e mor e stood at h is sid e to h e a r t e n h is de

pa r t u r e U p on th e Londo n platform an in cid e nt took
.

plac e fo r which our m e mo r y will b e always grat e f u l .

I mm e diat e ly o n h er r e tu r n Mrs B e nso n wrot e .

Wh e n th e last Sp e ck o f yo u r disg u sti ng t r ain h ad

gon e L and I w e nt o u t o f th e station and a fi r m hand
,
.
,

g r asp e d my arm I look e d round and th e r e was th e

.
,

B ishop of St A nd r e ws ! H e had dash e d o ff o n r e c e iving

.
,

a l e tt e r fr om m e t e llin him yo u we r e goi ng this morning

fg
,

h O p in g to se e yo u o f ) u t j u st to o lat e
,
H e was delzg/i tfn l .
,
r e mi nding m e that if your fath e r whil e h e was o n e a r th , ,
wo u ld hav e wish e d yo u at all costs to follow your co n
s ci e nc e h o w much mo r e in Paradis e and h e said many
, ,

d e lightf u l thi ngs o f yo u too Th e y a r e n t all 8

. S
’ ’

You r room h e r e looks fi e ndish without yo u W e w e nt .

i nto yo u r Ca th e d r al as w e cam e back and p r ay e d for yo u r ,

saf e j o u rn e y and hap py arr ival .

H u gh wir e d h is succ e ss f u l c r ossing and his moth e r ,

wrot e agai n o n th e 4 th
B e th has b e e n going about lik e a bird with a b r ok e n
wing b u t th e t e l e gram has h e a r t e n e d h er u p and sh e
, ,
2
71
2 72 R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
s e nds h e r d e ar lov e It i s all so v e ry e xc e e dingly F L AT .

to u s all now yo u ar e gon e and w e must not BE flat , .

Ev e n th e ho u s e hold giv e s it as its opinion that th e hous e

i sn t its e lf witho u t o n e o f O u r G e ntl e m e n
’
O my .
”

son I want to f e e l
,

A nd e ac h
t h at is g o n e one

H as l e ft m y h e ar t l e ss l o n e ly ” 1

abo u t you to o I hav e h ad a r e al P R IZ E o f a l e tt e r

.

f r om A B about yo u which b e ats X out and o u t Sh e

. .
, .

appa r e ntly hop e s yo u ar e a littl e o u t o f yo u r mind Such .

a s impl e way o f acco u nti ng for it

On sam e day
th e H ugh wrot e illustrating his l e tt e r
,

h er e a nd th e r e
SA N SI LV ES T R O 1N C A TE PI ,

N ov .
4 .

I am at last Ever ythin g o n th e j o u r n ey w e nt

H er e .

of f all right ; but i t i s a long b u sm e ss and I have b e e n ,

t e a r ing about all day e v e r sinc e I a r r iv e d this mo r ning .

N othi ng at all e xciting happ e n e d o n th e way Th e .

Chann e l was lik e a M P ; nobody ill at all anywh e r e ;

2
. .

th e chick e n at Calais as usual dinn e r at P aris a s usual .

My cabman b e at his ho s e a nd I scr e am e d at him

r 8
,

A s s e z de fou e t so fi e r c e ly that w e c r awl e d all th e r e st

of th e way Eve r ybody i n Paris was w e aring a kind o f
.

cl e r ical hat so th e y all looke d lik e Lo w Ch u r ch cl er y

,

m e n [ sk e tch ] R e ach e d R om e half an ho u r lat e t is

.

mo r ning A ll my l u ggag e t u r n e d up ; no do u an e any

. .

w ner e e xc e pt at Calais wh e r e th e y op e n e d nothing A ll , .

day long M r h as b e e n taking m e e v e r ywh e r e to

.

b u y cloth e s H e looks magnific e nt in a f u r r y h at and

.
,

b u ckl e d sho e s [ sk e tch ] W e have th e most compl e t e .

f r e e dom h er e W e m u st b e in by 1 0 P M and that is

. . .
,

th e o nly r e gulation at all o f any ki nd O n e a r r ang e s .

e v e rything fo r o n e s s e l f I w e nt to a coach to-day P r o ’

.
,

fe sso r La u r i who is going to coach m e fo r two ho u r s

a w e e k and o n F r iday I sta r t l e ctu r e s—two o r th r ee a day
,

.
,

F m a Cath lic hym f th d p a t d by Lady G gi a a F ll t

1
ro o n or e e r e , e or n u e r on .

I ca
2
t d t mi wh th H gh m a t a mill p d
nno e er t ne e er u e n - on
, or no .

A ft
3
h h ad b sh w v a h s which h admi d imm s ly his
er e een o n o er ou e e re en e ,

h st ss d light dly w t t M B ns
o e e I h av
e v r m t a yb dy w hro e o r s. e on
,
“
e ne e e n o o

am d
sc r e m ch e so u .
2 74 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
B u t th e atr ium was mad e sinist e r by ye t oth e r m e mori e s
O f blood Mo r e th an o n e tho u sand y e a r s ago Pop e St
.
, .

L e o I I I had b ee n dragg e d i nto it by a m u rd e rous gang ,

w h o st r ipp e d him ston e d h im and tor e o u t h is e y e s

, ,

and tong u e i n San Silv e st r o B e n e dictin e s had follow e d .

th e B asilians and i n 1 2 77 th e Poor Cla r e s w e r e giv e n

,

th e monast e ry and th e r e in F r anciscan pov e rty and p r ay e r

, , ,

th e y liv e d till i n 1 849 th e e x -p ri e st G avazzi drove th e m

, ,

o u t to mak e r oom fo r G aribaldi and his r e d-shirts Th e y .

r e t u r n e d b u t again i n 1 871 th e y w e r e e vict e d a nd p ostal

, , , ,

and t e l e graphi c s e r vants and p ublic o ffic e s e stabli sh e d

th e ms e lve s within th e s e anci e nt walls br u nis as H u ys
“
,

mans wrot e par la pri er e

,
I nto th is haunt e d atmosph er e
.

H u gh B e nson cam e to liv e Enough o f th e O ld b u ilding

.

still wa s standing for th e t er rific so u l -forc e s which by , ,

h is o w n th e ory th r o u gh so many mu r d er ous and mystical

,

c e nt u ri e s must hav e d r e nch e d th e m to r e -iss u e as kind , ,

o r d r e adful i nflu e nc e s and p e n e t r at e h is spi r it B u t at

, .

first h is impr e ssions w e r e conf u s e d and ov e r -rapid .

H i s stay how e ve r in R om e falls d e finit e ly into two

, ,

parts —th e e a r li e r d u ri ng wh ich his mind was o ccupi e d

,

with half a h u ndr e d diffe r e nt trai ns o f tho u ght and h is

days w ith a r u sh o f v e h e m e nt activiti e s and th e lat e r , ,

wh e n all his att e ntio n was conc e ntrat e d on h is o r dination

and his f u t u r e It s e e ms b e st th e r e for e that aft er a sho r t
.
, , ,

account o f th e o u tlin e into which his daily O ccupatio ns

fe ll I sho u ld coll e ct from his l e tt e r s his domi nant i m
,

pr e ssio ns and arrange th e m u nd e r c e r tain h e ads —th u s ,

his visits to th e Pop e his lit erary occupations th e ac

, ,

u a i n tan c e s h e mad e and th e lik e ; and th e n that I sho u ld

q , ,

r e lat e cons e cutiv e ly h is plans fo r th e f u tur e as thro u ghout , ,

h is stay th ey gr e w alt e r e d and finally took d e finit e Shap e

, , ,

and w e r e r e alis e d .
 IN RO M E 2 75

Of H u gh
s fi r st days in R om e it may mo st simply b e
’

said that th e y b ewild e r e d and bor e d him .

O n N ove mb e r 1 1 ind e e d h e was f r e sh e nough to writ e

, ,

to Fath e r G W H art . .

H er e, as you se e I am at th e c e ntr e o f papi stry Mr

and I ar e h e r e tog e th e r —th e o nly two Englishm e n
. .
,

all th e oth er s—h e give s a list o f som e fi v e or six nam e s

- ar e at th e “ B e da wh ich is an ann e x e O f th e English
,
”

Coll e g e and o n e o r two mo r e at th e Procu r a o f S

,
“
.

S u lpic e W e h e r e hav e e nti r e lib e r ty ; no r u l e s at all

.
,

e xc e pt to m e ntio n it if w e p r opos e to b e o u t aft e r 1 0 P M . .

B ut as a matt e r o f fact o u r day i s a s follows : r i s e abo u t

, ,

6 AM . hamm e rs o n my wall ) Th e n w e go down .

to ch u r ch abo u t a nd r e main th er e going as you “

p l e as e till z o —b e ads ho u r s m e ditatio n pray e r co m

,

m u nion w hiy
, , , ,

e mass e s r u mbl e o n at th r e e altars o u t O f th e

ni n e ( S u ch a lov ely church —f r e sco e d chap e ls ma r bl e s
,

.
, , ,

idols & c ) Th e n at a ny tim e that w e f e e l w e have had

, .

e nough g e n e rally about

,
w e go to th e hous e again ,

through a love ly palm co u rtya r d and b r e akfast O ff co ff e e ,

and r olls Th e n follo ws a b r i e f br e athing spac e a nd th e n

at 8—
.
,

l e ct u r e at th e P R O P A G AN DA i n Latin 9 hug e c r owds

o f st u d e nts—F r e nch
,

English G e rman Spanish G r e e k

, , , ,
.

Th e n back hom e and shav e and r e ad and w r it e l e tt e r s

and see p e opl e till th e n d é j e u n e r with co ff e e aft e r
wa r ds ( I) ; th e n l e ctur e 1 4 5—24 5 ; th e n Sl ee p o r walk till
,

4 o r
5 wh e n I mak e te a i n my o w n r oom ( high u p looki ng
, ,

o n to a c o u r tya r d fill e d with t r e e s til e d cool ) ; th e n , ,

r e ad o r w r it e again and go to B e n e diction g e n e rally i n ,

ch u r ch abo u t s u p p e r ; th e n talk o r h e ar m u sic

o r p r ay o r r e ad till -10 b e d R ath er a sound day
93 0 .

A s fo r ou r s e lv e s w e look pr e tty startling too i n h u g e

, ,
f u rry hats and tass e ls a nd fe r r i das and b u ckl e s and w e ,

go sw elling and bulging about as if w e had d on e it fo r

y e ars .

B ut D e c e m be r 4
on he is b e coming d e pr e ss ed and ,

w r it e s to a noth er fri e nd

We ( 1 ) ge t up 6—
6 3o , o down church and pray
to
gt 8—
.

till br e ak f ast ; e c u r e, 9 ; shav e dawdl e a ,

2 76 . RO BER T H UG H B ENSON
littl e and th e n r e ad till 1 2 3 0 ; di nn e r 1 2 3 0 — 1 3 0 ; l e ctur e
1 30 —
, .
, . .
,

. 2 .dawdl e and walk t ill any ho u r -4 5 , ,

n e s o w n room ; r e ad s u p p e r ; dawdl e
’
t a
talk ; b e d 9 3 0 —
53
. 0 ; e I n o ; 73 0 .
, ,

10 A missp e nt day rath e r with an ab

,
. .
,

no r mal amo u nt of idl e n e ss ; b u t s u ch is th e syst e m and ,

o n e can b u t follow it .

I din e d with B at a h ot e l n e ar h e i s a good so r t ,

e xc e e dingly h u mbl e I sho u ldn t b e a bit surp r is e d if h e ’

.

b e cam e a Catholic som e day ; h e has th e so r t of mind that

take s e asily to th is r e ligio n I wish I had Bu t f r ankly I .
, ,

have n t N othing i n th e wo r ld wo u ld hav e mad e m e o n e

’
.
,

e xc e pt th e c e rtainty that it is tr u e i n spit e o f all th e s u r fac e ,

things that I fe a r will n ev e r b e cong e nia l to m e .

W e ll do s e nd a lin e again soo n to ch e e r m e up I

, .

am an e x 11e and a wand e r e r .

He is r e p e ating what h e had said to M r A C B e nson . . .

nam e ly that o n first j oi ning th e Catholic Church h e fe lt

,

li k e a lo st dog ; whil e o n N ov e mb e r 26 1 9 0 3 h e had , ,

w r itt e n
My O w n n e ws i s almos t impossibl e to t e ll as e ve r ything ,

i s Simply b e wild er ing I n about fi v e y e a r s from now I .

Shall know how I f e lt b u t at p r e s e nt I f e e l nothi ng b u t

,

discomfo r t I h at e for e ign co u nt r i e s and fo r e ign p e opl e

. ,

and am finding mo r e e ve ry day how hop e l e ssly ins u lar I

am b e ca u s e o f co u r s e u nd e r th e ci r c u mstan c e s this is
, , , ,

th e prop e r plac e fo r m e to b e b u t it is a kind o f d e ntist S

’

chair .

N ot that th e sove r e ignty o f

mazestas R oma , th e
'

aar ea

that R om e which had mad e o n e city o f th e world ,

e scap e d h im lo ng ; and s om e tim e s his r e cognition o f

R om e s catholicity will b e e cstatic som e tim e s j ust a q u i e t
’
,

r e gistrati on of th e fact .

O n N ov e mb e r 1 9 h e wrot e to th e R e v H Mol e s . .

wo r th
is ind ee d e xtraordina r y to b e out h er e and to f e e l
It ,

that o n e is a n insid e r o f i t all that o n e h as a r e cognis e d ,

r ight to Co mmunion and so o n B ut I th ink th e thing

,
.
2 78 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
compar e d to it e xc e p t j ust o n e o r two wh i ch ar e r e all y
, ,

good ; and th e o r gan -playing is awful too This at l e ast .

was sav ed h i m wh e n i n St C allixtu s s Catacombs h e h e a r s

.
’

“
love ly u naccompa ni e d four -part Pal e strina music with ,

plain -so ng .

B u t b e sid e s th e aust e r ity O f plain -song th e s u av e ,

m e lodi e s o f A nglican hymn -t u n e s ha u nt h im H e sp e nds .

an e v e ning with a r e ally ni c e co nv e rt lady wh o love s

“
,

th e Chu r ch of England and th e p e opl e i n it ; and w e

talke d l ik e conspi r ators fo r two ho u r s ; and som e body
was playing Hy m n s A n ci en t an d M oder n n e xt door all
th e wh il e ; and w e r e ally e nj oy e d o u r s e lv e s A noth e r .

e v e ning h e sp e nds i n playing th e s e hymns aft e r “ a ,

fun ny littl e m e n s din n er -p a r ty of conv e rt s —A ngli cans

’
.

W e all said how m u ch nic e r th e y w e r e th an anything

w e h e a r i n this e t e r nal old city .

East e r how e ve r e sp e cially th e B e n e dict u s of Te n e

, ,

b r a e and o f co u r s e th e Ex u ltet and th e Singing at th e

, , , ,

B e n e dictin e M o nast er y of Sant A ns e lmo e n r apt u r e d’

him ; nor had h e e v e r h e ard anything to compar e with

th e congr e gatio nal singing of R om e wh e n at Te D em n s , ,

for insta nc e th e thousands who had flo ck e d to St

, .

”
P e t e r s wo u ld r oar th e hymn i n u niso n
' “
I h e adds .
, ,

“ mad
e a loud buzzing nois e with my mo u th
,
I .

didn t know th e words by h e a r t

’
.

H i s r e lations with San Silv e stro w e r e at all tim e s

e xc e ll e nt. H e catalogu e s his food -st u ffs for th e co nsola
tion of his o ld n u r s e B e th H i s joh n B ullism displays
.

its e lf pl e asantly e nough wh e n m e al s hav e to b e m e ntio n e d .

O n N ove mb e r 1 8 h e had r ashly allow e d it to b e known

that it was his bi r thday .

O n W e dn e sday my h e alth was sol e mnly drunk by

e v e r yon e p ropos e d by M gr
, ( d e lightf u l
. a wond e rf u l
 IN RO M E 27 9

musician ) in a bottl e o f p e c u lia r ly sol e m n win e grandly

, ,

f e tch e d from th e c e lla r ; and I had to smirk and

and p r e t e n d it was all r ight What q u ee r ways .

h ave ! I was e xp e cting to have to make a Sp e e ch .

W e hav e had h e writ e s o n F e bruary 1 4 a h ug e “

—
, ,

dinn e r -party as usual again to -day -

3 P M l mor e . .

w e a r i som e than o n e co u ld b e li e v e p ossibl e with about ,

e ight cours e s and a gr e at d e al too much to dri nk and ,

a qua ntity o f tir e som e p e opl e I b e gu il e d it by doing .

s

conj u r ing t r icks to [my n e ighbo u r s ] Scotch and Irish

[r e sp e ctiv e ly ] and askin g a lo t of r iddl e s about two trai ns
, ,

and that man s fath e r I s my fath e r s son A n d I had

‘ ’ ’
.
’

positiv e ly to w r it e o u t th e whol e thing and draw a

port r ait i n a gilt f ram e b e f or e th e I rish ma n co u ld se e it .
”

Wh e n e v e r a n English p e rsonag e o f importanc e visit e d

R om e h e with ,
“
swa r ms o f do u btf u l counts ( H u gh
, ,

lik e Sir N e vill Fanning co u ld not take fo r e ign titl e s ,

s e rio u sly ) had to b e e nt e rtai n e d at th e s e p o n tific al

,

r e pasts .

Th e h e avy e ccl e siastical hosp italiti e s prolong e d th e m

s e lve s culmi nating i n th e ho r r ibl e ban qu e t o f h is
,
“ ”

ordination day wh e n h e h ad d u r ing th e much h e alth

, ,

d r i nking to look down h is nos e a good d e al

“
,
.

To B e nson accustom e d to his ,

prop e r English br e ak
fast and abov e all to n o si e sta aft e r th e st u p e fying
,
”
, ,

m e al o f midday th e s e f e astings w e r e o f co u rs e ex c e p
, , ,

ti o n ally disco nc e r ting What with th e s e and a littl e .

,

lat e r h i s constant dinn e rs and lunch e s with his f r i e nds ,

h e found hims e lf ru e f u lly to hav e e at e n mor e at R om e

, ,

tha n in any o n e y e a r o f his English lif e L e nt h ow .

,

eve r ,
took its r e ve nge Long ago h e had wr itt e n to a .

f r i e nd f r om M ir fie ld that h e natea L e nt and that East e r

, ,
'
,

s e e m e d an impossi bl e d r e am To him to o h e co nf e ss e s .
, ,

that at R om e i n Le nt h e go e s v e r y cold and hungry

, ,

and half asl e e p .

2 80 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
At o nc e and naturally
, , he mad e Of
f to s ee th e Pop e .

N ov .

To d ay I have int e rvi e w e d an A rchbishop and s e e n

th e Pop e
W e w e nt this a f t e rnoon to o n e o f th e cou r tya r ds
( Mr . and I ) o f th e Vatican by tick e t - a h u ge
,

plac e cr amm ed with a ga r licky c r owd and all th e roofs

, ,

and wi ndows fille d 2 A hug e r ed canopy was at th e .

wall at th e e n d with Swiss halb er di er s all o n a platform

, , ,

and a bla r i ng b and b e low H e was h alf an ho u r .

lat e A t last w e saw h al b e rds going along b e hi nd in

.
,
th e cloist e r ; and th e crowd b e gan to sway and roa r ,

and a woman f ai nt e d n e xt to m e A n d th e n h e cam e .

on all i n whit e bowi ng and smiling and th e p e opl e

, , ,
”
b e llowing Evviva and so on A n d th e n h e sat down
“
,
.

and p u t o n a larg e r ed hat ; and all his Court in ,

purpl e and r ed standing round ; and a choi r sang two ,

odes
A n d th e n at last h e Stood u p and pr e ach e d for
, ,

abo u t te n minut e s i n a m e llow voic e v e r y strong with , , ,

a few b e autif u l g e stur e s spr e adi ng h is hands o u t A n d ,

.

th e n aft e r h e had into n e d a v e rs icl e and r e spo ns e h e

, ,

gav e th e A postoli c b e n e dictio n ; and e v e rybody cross e d

th e ms e lve s and roa r e d o u t A m e n Th e n som e body put .

o n h im hi s hat agai n and an imm e ns e scarl e t cloak ; ,

a nd th e e ffe ct o f colo u r was quit e e xtrao r dinary ; and

th e p e op l e howl e d W i th d e light Th e n h e walke d v e ry .

slo w ly ro u nd th e e dg e o f th e platform bl e ssing and ,

waving hi s hand a nd b eam i ng ; h e was v er y much fl u sh e d

with p r e aching ; and th e n at last h e w e nt back I t w as
glo r io u s Eve r y tongu e an d natio n was th e r e—G e rmans
.
, ,

and English a nd Fr e n ch Lor ! .

I am going p r obably to ge t an a u di e nc e with th e

Pop e in a fe w days i n th e g e n e r al English pilgrimag e ; ,

a nd shall ge t pr e s e nt e d to him I t is a vast a ffair ; and .

th e A r chbishop told m e to o to get i ntrod u c e d by a bishop

to a privat e audi e nc e S O I shall k e e p my e ye s .

1
So dat d e . Bu t fr o m th e tick t e th e d at e a ppe a s r to h av be
e en th e 8 th
th e h o ur w as 3 P M . .

Of c s
ou r e ,
”
he w t
ro e to Fath er C B . ick st th
er e , I th ght
ou o fth e q u ar r y .
2 82 ROB ER T H UG H BENSON

th e Mass ; h e l iv e s i n la r g e r ooms e nti r e ly f u r nish e d i n

r e d damask and gold and is a littl e man lik e a fo x -t e r r i e r
, , ,
with h i s h e ad 0 11 o n e Sid e in pu r pl e silk , .

p e rmissio n cam e lat e

Th e on
jan u ar y 2
9 in “ a la r g
e,

whit e e nv e lop e fast e n e d with , a scarl e t waf e r lik e a l e tt e r

,

on th e stag e .

O n january 3 1 th e r e for e

W e w e nt to th e Vatican u p staircas e s and thro u gh,

ma r bl e a nd c r imson and tap e st r y r ooms i nto a c r imson ,

damask r oom with two folding doo r s at th e e n d wid e O p e n , ,

a nd an alta r all gold and candl e s b e yond Th e n sudd e nly .

th e Pop e app e a r e d r u ddy-brown fac e whit e cas sock and

, ,

cap and gav e h is bl e ssing in th e doo r way th e n v e st e d at

, ,

th e alta r with thr e e O fficials h e lping him ; in a p u rpl e

,

j e w e ll e d chas u bl e H e said Mas s at a mod e r at e p ac e

.

and voic e with a rath e r path e tic intonatio n ; and gav e us

,

all Comm u nio n at th e alta r -r ail at th e e n d th e n h e unve st ed

and kn e lt d u r ing anoth e r M as s said by a c h aplain ; th e n
gav e u s his bl e ssi ng Sil e ntly and disapp e are d A n d that .

is all o n e can say ; b u t it l e ft an e xt r ao r dinary s e ns e of

simplicity and h u mility ; th e r e was not th e s u spicion
o f an air of a g r e at pre lat e e xc e p t i n h is sup r e m e ,

nat u r aln e ss .

Pop e Pi u s X u s e d not to make th e dazzling imp r e ssion

o n h is visitors wh ich L e o X I I I p r od u c e d Pop e L e o s .
’

smil e e nv e lop e d yo u lik e a flam e h is g e st u r e s lash e d th e ,

dull e st into al e rt att e ntion and h i s glanc e s w e r e lik e

,

e l e ct r ic Shocks Pi u s X r e s e mbl e d Pio N ono not only i n

.

f e at u r e as his p o r t r aits p r ov e b u t i n a c e rtai n bonhomi e

, , ,

so w e ar e told and a twinkl e o f h u mo u r wh e n h e was not

, ,

too ti r e d wh ich cha r m e d ma ny whom Le o s vitality

,
’

t e r rifi ed Bu t b e yond all e ls e I think it was th e s u pr e m e

.
,

r e coll e ct e dn e ss o f Pi u s X wh ich r e mai n e d in on e s m e mory ’

h is e y e s look e d at you O ft e n f r om an imm e ns e distanc e ;

and his voic e w as n o t witho u t its not e O f aw e e ve n wh e n
h e la u gh e d a nd e v e n wh e n h e ask e d th e most practical
,
 IN RO M E 2 83

qu e stions a bout Shall I Say food o r studi e s o r workm e n s

, , , ,
'

clubs o r O x f ord This was for som e th ing in that qu ality

,
.

of Gr eatn ess H ugh diagnos e d in h im : To -morrow h e

“
,

wrot e o n Low Sunday to his moth e r will b e spl e ndid , ,

wh e n th e P op e says Mass i n St P e t e r s B ut h e is Larg e .

’
.

to o — and like s prop e r thi ngs a nd p e opl e ; and prop e r

m u sic and not MU C K ; and th e salvation o f souls and
, ,

childr e n .

Th e not e o f La r ge n e ss r e main e d with him .

I t was ov e rwh e lming ! h e wrot e Th e whol e church

”
.
1

was cobbl e d with h e ads and ove r that pav e m e nt cam e th e ,

hug e ca nopy with th e gr e at j e w e ll e d fig u r e b e low it and

, ,

th e sol e mn fans waving be h ind That w as o n e o f th e .

k e e n e st mom e nts I n front cam e an almost e ndl e ss row .

O f mitr e s movin along Th e n th e p lain -song was lik e

o n e e normo u s defi
.

b e r ate voic e talking and e v e ry now and ,

th e n sho u ti ng i n that e no r mo u s plac e A n d th e n o f

,
.
,

co u r s e th e final gr e at mom e nt was th e El e vatio n i n d e ad

, ,

sil e nc e and only brok e n by th e silv e r t r u mp e ts e xulting

,

u
p i n th e dom e I t gav e o n e a n e xtrao r dinary s e n s e o f
cons u mmation —th e vi sio n o f Ch rist offe r ing Ch r ist in th e
.

v e ry c e ntr e of th e world wi th r e pr e s e ntative s o f th e wh ol e ,

Christian wo r ld th e r e and th e ang e ls blowi ng th e ir trump e ts ,

ove r h e ad O n e f e lt as i f e v erythi ng that was impo r ta nt o r
.

r e al was focus e d th e r e oth e r things s e e m v e ry small

aft e r that 2
.
”

had no mor e audi e nc e s f rom th e Pop e I think until

He , ,

j u st b e fo r e his d e partur e fro m Ro m e wh e n h e a r m e d ,

hims e lf with many bl e ssi ngs and obtain e d th e Pop e s ,

’

Sp i r i tu al Le tt e r s, p .
72 .

2
Hed s t m ti a d light f l a d cha act istic i cid t P i s X
oe no en on e u n r er n en . u

dislik ed th fl tt d h a dk chi fs a d ch s f th P p -ki g which gav

e u e re n er e n eer or e o e n e

L eoX I I I s ch k satis facti

u H h ad rd e d th at th
een sh ld b thi g o n. e o er ere ou e no n

of th s t e N
or th l ss d
. i g a c tai c m y th s pp ss d th si asm
o ne e e , ur n er n e re on ,
e u re e en u

ofth c wd w a b g
e ro i g t b ak t at c tai p i ts B s l apt passi
s e i nn n o re ou er n o n . en on e on

at ly
e t his b ch a d with wavi g a ms a d
on o en g tic b hi g f c d
, n n r n ener e us n e n or e

sil c
e n e so v y a th it ativ ly th at th Wh is h ? eag ly ask d by all a d
er u or e , e o e er e rou n ,

s ffici tly s bstit t ed

u en w c ut fdist ba cu 9. n e e n re o ur n e.
2 84 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
whit e Silk sk u ll p according to custom offe ring an
-c a
,
l
,

e xactly Similar o n e i n e xchang e H e obtain e d a sp e cial

‘

bl e ssing fo r Fath e r B e nson s family a nd nurs e and thr e e

“ ’

books and also p e rmission to say M ass i n his moth er s

,
’

hous e Thi s took plac e o n jun e a4th

. .

H ow e ve r for a mind con stitut e d as h is was th e Pop e s

'

, ,

pr e s e nc e was always pr e s e nt a s a kind o f sustain e d p edal

not e i n th e changing h a r moni e s o f R om e Wh e r e ve r yo u .

ar e o n th e Q u iri nal as o n th e Palatin e in th e Corso and

, ,

Trast e v e r e it is quit e impossibl e to f org e t him

,
H e fo r e saw .

that Catholicism would be com e e ve r mor e papalistic and

mor e li b e ral S u ch i nde e d was his o w n ca r e e r Th e
.
, , . -

P op e haunt e d him and it is i n his two strange books , L or d

,

of th e W or ld and T h e D aw n f
o A ll that h e giv e s full play ,
”
to h is homag e to th e Ch r ist o n Ea r th as St Cath e ri n e
“
, .

o f Si e na so boldly us e d to call Ch r ist s Vicar I n Th e ’

.

L or d of the Wor ld P ius X is most dir e ctly r e call e d

,
He .
[

i s joh n XX IV th e P ap a A ng eli cas w h o had car ed it

,
“
,

app e ar e d nothing what e ve r for th e world s O pinion ; h is

,
’

p oli cy so f ar as it could b e call e d o n e c onsist e d in a ve ry

, ,

simpl e th ing ; h e had d e clar e d i n e p istl e a f t e r e pistl e

that th e obj e ct O f th e Church was to do glory to Go d by
prod u cing s u p e rnatural virtu e s i n man and that nothing ,

at all was o f any significanc e o r importanc e e xc e pt i n so

f ar as it e ffe ct e d this obj e ct H ow e v e r thi s J oh n XX I V
.
,

was as vigorous an organis e r as e v e r was Pop e Pi u s ,

whos e r e forming activity so much disconc e rt e d his con

t e mporari e s Pi u s X mad e a ve ry strong hand f e lt
.

thro u ghout th e world o f s e minari e s o f e ccl e siastical law , ,

of m u sic and o f ar t o f criticism o f j ournalism o f social

, , ,

work ; though it was i n his s u pr e m e r e solve to r e c ap i “

tulat e all things into Christ his campaign against mod e rn ,

It is n ow in a gl ass c as e in th e middl e o fth e H are S t re e t lib a y m a t lpi ec

r r n e e.
2 86 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
s u rfac e s b u r n e d giganti c coats s u p po r t e d by b e as ts and
to p pe d by cro w ns Th e papal proc e ssio n e nt e r e d .

tru mp e ts cri e d aloud and th e t e ns o f thous a nds crowding , ,

th e basi li ca roar e d acclamati on to th e S u pr e m e P o ntiff

,
.

Far ah ead se e ming to cl e ave its way th r o u gh th e s u rg

,

i ng h ead s l ik e th e p oo p o f an anci e nt Sh ip move d th e

, ,

ca nop y b e n eath wh ich sat th e Lo r d of th e World ; and

be tw ee n h im and th e p r i e sts as if i t w e r e th e wake o f that
sam e sh i p sway ed th e gorg eo us pro c e ssion —p rotonotari e s
,

a postolic g e n e ral s o f r e ligio u s o r d e rs a nd th e r e st—maki ng

,

, ,

i ts way alo n with wh ite gold scarl e t and silv e r foam

be tw e e n th e f
, , ,

iv in banks o n e ith e r sid e O ver h e ad h u ng .

th e spl e ndid barr e o f th e roof and f ar in f r ont th e h av e n ,

o f G od s al ta r r e a r e d its monstro u s p i lla r s be n e ath which

’

burn e d th e s eve n y e llow s tars that w e r e th e harbour lights

of sanctity It w as an astonish ing sight b u t too vast and
.
,

be w ild e r ing to do anythi ng b u t opp r e ss th e obs e rve rs wi th

a co nscio u sn e s s o f th e i r own futility Th e e normous .

e nclos e d air th e giant statu e s th e dim and distant roo fs

th e ind e s c r i babl e con c e rt o f so u nd —
, , ,

o i th e mov e m e nt o f
f e e t th e m u r mur o f te n thousand voi c e s th e p e a] of o r gans
li k e th e crying of gnats th e thin c e l e stial musi c —th e faint
, ,

, ,

s u gg es tiv e sm e ll o f i n c e nse and m e n and bruise d may and

myrt l e and s u p r e m e abo ve all th e vibrant at m osph e r e of
, ,

human e moti on shot wi th s u p e rnat u r al asp i r ation as th e

, ,

H op e of th e World th e hol de r of th e Di vin e Vi c er oyalty , ,

pass e d o n his way to stand be tw e e n G od and man .

Th e P ope stoo d at
altar to h im drive n from th e ir th e ,

thro n e s cam e th e ki ngs and e mp erors to mi nist e r at th e

,

Mass Th ey pou r e d wat e r th ey plac e d cushions th ey bore

.
, ,

h is trai n Towe ring above th e world was th e fig u r e o f

.

Chr ist s Vica r u ntil th e mi r acl e be ing accomplish e d th e

’

, , ,

Ch r i st hi mse lf was th e r e a nd P op e and ki ngs bow e d e qually ,

be f or e th e i r Lo r d .
l

When P e cy F a kli hims l f is P pe th all eg ry is c mpl t d b t th

r r n n e o , e o o e e , u e

s
c en e and i ci den ts a l ong d aw f m B o s x pe ie c f R m
n r e no er r n ro ens n
’
e r n e o o e.

The y sta d sepa at a d

n th i w m e its a d I will speak f th em wh
r e n on e r o n r , n o en

7h : L d f th W ld m t b all d d t
or o e or us e u e o.
 IN RO M E 2 87

B e nson s lov e ’
pag e antry r e ve al s its e lf again in th e
fo r
D aw n of fI ll wh e r e th e Pop e Te mporal R u l e r of all Italy
, , ,

and p r actically acknowl e dg e d by th e whol e world as its

spirit u al lo r d r id e s t r i u mphant across R om e Th e s am e
,
.

stag e -pro p e rti e s if I may call th e m so r e p e at th e m

, ,

s e lve s th e s e lf sam e adj e ctiv e s ar e u s e d T e

- h o u t-o f-door .

proc e ssion r e plac e s th e prog r e ss thro u gh St P et e r s ; th e .

’

bl e ssing f r om th e balcony is s u bstit u t e d fo r th e Mas s A .

tr e m e ndo u s r e c e ption glitt e ring and noisy displays th e

, ,

Vatican f r om a n e xactly op posit e poi nt of vi e w as a foc u s

, ,

o fpow e r . B u t B e nson is i nsisting on a s u btly di ff e r e ntiat e d

do ctrin e I n both nov e ls th e Pop e stand s for spi r it acting
.

th ro u gh th e fl e sh ; but i n th e fi r st th e e mphasis is o n th e
spirit in th e s e co nd 0 11 its incarnational v e hicl e so to say , .

Th e Pop e is th e av e rag e man ; h e is a sa f e financi e r ; h e

has n e v e r fac e d a crisis b u t is sound at busin e ss
, He .

o ff e r s to th e w orld that h e avily h u man asp e ct which e nabl e d

B e nso n i n a nglicising G i u s e pp e Sar to s s u r nam e de li b e
,
’

r ate l y to sp e ak of Pi u s X as B ishop Taylor Th is j ars 0 11 .

p e r hap s a maj ority o f h e ar e r s Bu t why d e ny th e fact ?

.

I t is a s u p r e m e illust r atio n o f his r u thl e ss r e cognition that

that in which th e spi r it i ncarnat e s its e l f is fl e sh and noth ing
e ls e
. I t is utt e rly o f a pi e c e with h is displ e asing p ortrait
u r e s o f p r i e sts his r e l e ntl e ss ridic u l e o f e ccl e siastical ar t
,

a nd j argo n and mann e r ism I t wo u ld b e fals e wholly I.

,

will not say to hi s e xt e rio r attitud e but to som e thing ve r y ,

d e e p -se t i n him i nd ee d w e r e it to b e disg u is e d that i n h is

,

sacram e ntal constr u ing o f all lif e h e d e lib e rat e ly and rath e r
,

b r u tally insist e d o n th e human co e ffi ci e nt th ro u ghout

‘

O bs e rv e too that i n th e lat e r nove l th e balanc e is r e d r e ss e d

, ,

with skill almost with ing e nuity Th e M onsignor I ncli n e d

, .
,

to thi nk thi s Catholicism too wo r ldly l e ave s th e r e c e ption , ,

lose s h is way in th e labyrinthin e Vatican push e s op e n an ,

288 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
ung u a r d e d doo r and su r pri s e s th e Pop e at conf e ssio n
,
to a
F r anciscan f r iar H e was ove rwh e lm e d
. .

had s e e n nothin g r e markabl e i n its e lf—th e

He
P op e at co nf e ssion A n d ye t I n som e mann e r b e yond th e
.
,

fact that h e had grop e d his way all u nknowing to th e , ,

Pop e s p r ivat e apa r tm e nts and at such a mom e nt th e

’
, ,

d r amatic co ntrast b e tw e e n th e gla r e and nois e o f th e r e c e p

tio n outsid e its e lf th e climax of a s e ri e s o f brilliant e xt e r nal
,

spl e ndours and th e sil e nt half -light e d chap e l wh e r e th e

, ,

Lo r d o f all kn e e l e d to conf e ss h is sins ca u s e d a s u r prising ,

d isturbanc e i n h is soul .

U p to now h e had b e e n introd u c e d St ep by st e p into a

n e w se t o f e xp e r i e nc e s Christian i nd e ed ye t amazingly
, ,

wo r ldly in th e ir asp e ct h e had b e g u n to l e arn that r e ligion

co u ld transform th e o u t e r world and a ff e ct and u se fo r its ,

o w n p u rpo s e s all th e pomps and glo r i e s o f o u twa r d e xist

e nc e h e h ad be g u n to r e alis e that th e r e was nothing ali e n

to G od no li n e o f division b e tw e e n th e Cr e ator and th e
,

c r e at u r e ; and now i n o n e i nstant h e had b e e n brought

, ,

fac e to f ac e again with i nn e r r e aliti e s and had s ee n as it , ,

w er e a glimps e of th e s e cr e t cor e o f all th e Spl e ndo u r

,
.

Th e Pop e att e nd e d by pri nc e s th e Pop e o n h is kn e e s

, ,

be fo r e a bar e -foot e d fr iar ; th e s e w e r e th e two magn e tic

points b e tw e e n wh i ch blaz e d r e ligion .

Thus th e n th e spirit u al e l e m e nt is t e-int r oduc e d and ,

th e humiliation o f th e fl e sh is only th e mo r e Sha r ply

e mphasiz e d .

A s e ri e s o f r e ligious functio ns mak e s Rom e uniqu e

among th e wo r l d s mod e rn cap itals ’
.

From th e outs e t B e nson assists much puzzl e d h o w to ,

j u dg e th e m at th e s e disp lays which alt e rnat e ly inspir e and

,

disco nc e rt h im .

SA N SI L ES TR O CA P T E V IN I ,

N ov em ber 20 .

I am b e ginning this l e tt e r e arli e r this w e e k as th e r e will ,

b e a r u sh on S u nday I e xp e ct as I am going o ff to St Cal

, ,
.

li x tu s s Catacomb for Mass as it i s St C e cilia s Day

’ ’
. .
,

( P r ivat e ly I am not q u it e s u r e o f th e conn e cti o n but da r e n t ,

’

ask I am n e arly s u r e that h e r body was fo u nd th e r e )

. .
2 90 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
e ve ry chair tak e n ; h u nd r e ds standing and walking and , ,
kn e e ling as th e y like d R e ally this r e ligion i s alive
. .

Bu t mor e e xtrao r dinary than anything was Mass thi s

morning i n St C allix tu s s Catacomb Sixty f e e t down H igh
.
’
,

M ass in th e chap e l wh e r e h e r body was fo u nd lov e ly fo u r ,

part unaccomp ani e d P ale str i n ian m u sic with plai n -song ; ,

a crowd cramm e d along th e passag e s of th e catacombs ;

th e whol e plac e full o f r e d and whit e C h r ysanth e m u ms and
altars with hundr e ds o f candl e s O n e w e nt straight back .

1 80 0 y e ars wh e n th e sam e words and lang u ag e w er e u s e d

,

in th e sam e plac e I t has touch e d m e far mor e th an any

.

thing in R om e .

He took habit o f att e nding Mass at c e rtain cata

th e
combs O n th e patronal day o f th e ir ch i e f martyr and would ,

s e nd hom e b o x-l e av e s f rom th e ir d e co r ation Th e Sp e ll o f .

th e catacom b s n e v e r dimi nish e d f or him and yo u will ,

find that i n I n i ti ati on th e sc e n e in th e catacombs i s mor e

touch e d with g e n u in e em otion than almost any oth e r .

H e participat e s n e xt w e e k in a Cardinal s M ass and a ’

,

colossal proc e ssio n O f th e B l e ss e d Sac r am e nt in St J oh n .

Lat e ran a nd p e r haps b e caus e th e unaccompani e d choir

, ,

sang Pal e strina e xqu isit e ly e nds with th e o utcry which, ,

will g r ow f r e q u e nt I t was a g org eou s c er e mony

, .

O n D e c e mb er 1 9 h e and a f r i e nd att e nd e d an O rdina

tion also at th e Lat e ran th e lat e A r chbishop Sto n o r s kind
, ,
’

n e ss having obtain e d s e ats fo r th e m O n th e i r arrival at .

A M th e c e r e mony had w e ll b egun and w as n ot

“
.
.
,

finish e d at 1 2 “
Th e r e i s a tr e m e ndous mom e nt wh e n
.

th e choir i s fill e d with m e n i n albs flat o n th e ir fac e s , ,

without sti r ring This go e s o n for about te n min u t e s as

.
,

th e Litany o f th e Saints is s u ng Tr e m e ndous ! A ll th e

.

nam e s o f th e A r chang e ls and Saints o n e aft e r anoth e r ,

f ollow e d by O r a pro nobis until yo u ar e awar e that th e

‘
,
’

e nti r e Co u r t O f H e av e n is assisting .

I n R om e it may n o t g e n e r ally b e known many oth e r

, ,
 IN RO M E 291

rit e s ar e o b s e rv e d b e sid e s th e R oman e sp e cially abo u t th e ,

tim e o f th e Epiphany which was from th e o u ts e t th e

,

East er n Ch r istmas B e nson did not appr e ciat e th e m .

Th e r e has b e e n h e wrot e o n J anuary 1 0

, ,

a ro u nd o f O ri e ntal r it e s h e r e with choi r s howling ,

lik e D e rvish e s and tinkling lo ng pol e s with b e lls o n th e m

, ,

and b e ating tom -to ms and th at i s about all I s u ppos e .

it wo u ld b e v e ry int e r e sting i f o n e kn e w what it was all

abo u t but as it is it is o nly rath e r int e r e sting
, ,
.

H e r e turn e d with satisfactio n to po pular and r e ally

R oman c e r e moni e s .

Thus at A r a C oe l i o n th e last day o f th e Epiphany

O ctav e a n amazing Te D e u m was
“
,

s u ng by th e choir and B ELL O W ED by th e cong r e atio n i n

alt e r nat e v e r s e s ; a B ishop mad e a s e r mon h o ding th e ,

B ambi no i n his l e ft arm fro m th e altar -s te p s to a pack e d

, ,

crowd who r u sh e d up to kiss its silve r foot a ft e r I t was

, .

r e ally most b e a u tiful and impr e ssiv e .

Th e popula r singing o f Te D eu m s always impr e ss e d

him O n th e 1 9 th o f March F e ast o f St Jos ep h and th e
.
, .
,

Pop e s nam e-day h e mingl ed with th e tw e nty tho u sand

’

worshipp e rs who throng e d St Pe t e r s and with whom .

’

, ,

wh e n th ey R O A R ED th e Te D e um h e n o t knowing th e
“
,
'

words mad e th e lo u d buz zing so u nd al r e ady told of

,
“
.

B u t it was with H oly W e e k that th e r e al “

wh irl o f c er e
moni e s b egan Th e fifty tho u sand at St P e t er s for
. .
’

T hursday Te n e b r a e th e h undr e d tho usand who visit e d

,

San Silve stro s A ltar o f Re pos e o n that sam e day imp r e ss

’

him but
,

b e st o f all and o n e o f th e few c e r e mo ni e s at wh ich

,

th er e was su ffici e nt p e ac e to p r ay was at S Te odoro s o n , .

’

G ood F r iday mo r ning : a littl e ro u nd r e ddish ch u r ch o n ,

th e foot o f th e Palatin e j ust b e low th e C ae sars palac e s

’

, .

I t was striking to h e ar th er e I f thou le t this M a n go th ou

“
, ,

art not C ae sar s fri e nd and Whoso e ve r make th h ims e lf

’ “
,
29 2 ROB ERT H UGH B ENSON
ki ng sp e ak e th against C ae sa r ! Th e r e was a choir th e r e
”
,

a m e dia e val G u ild e nti r e ly o f R oman nobl e s in sackcloth

, ,

and r op e s and hoods who kiss e d th e c r u cifix ba r e foot e d

,

at th e C r e e ping to th e C r oss
“
A n d th e r e was only a .
”

small congr e gation and I had a chai r which is a l u x u r y

, ,
at g r e at f u nctions 1 .

Th e n [h e goes o u ] it was h e av e nly this morning at

, ,

St J oh n Lat er an — I got th e r e at se v e n and m e t ca r ts d r awn

.
,

by ox e n and p il e d with olive -b r anch e s coming in f r om

th e co u nt r y Th e fi r st mai n c e r e mony was th e bl e ssing
.

o f th e fi r e by th e Ca r dinal Vicar ; this was don e i n th e

t r ans e pt ; th e n o n e o f th r e e candl e s on a pol e all w r e ath e d
with r os e s was light e d th e n anoth er a fe w st e p s fa r th e r
,

o n and th e n th e thi r d ; and at e ach th e d e acon in whit e

,

sang o u t L u m e n Ch r isti and e ve r yon e r oar e d D e o

“ “
,

G ratias .
”

T h e n h e sang th e “
Ex u lt e t —such a song —f r om a
p u lpit and light e d th e h u g e Paschal Candl e i n th e middl e
, ,

and w e nt o n with S u r s u m Corda

“
Th e n I r u sh e d .

o u t abo u t nin e and got co f f e e at a Shop and r an back to

, ,

th e B aptist e r y which was all st r e wn wit h my r tl e and

,

flow er s th e n th e p r oc e ssio n cam e i n singing Lik e as th e

ha r t d e si r e th th e wat e r -brooks and th e wa te r was bl e ss e d ,
”

and a Je w -child baptiz e d I t was glo r io u s ; and th e n th e .

proc e ssion cam e o u t again across th e squ a r e and back to

th e ch u r ch ; and Mass b egan in whit e v e stm e nts ; th e n
th e climax cam e at th e “
G lo r ia in Exc e lsis Th e Ca r dinal .
”

p u t o n a n e no r mous gold mit r e and b ellow ed th e fi r st wo r ds

,

th e n th e o r gan a nd A LL th e b e lls r oar e d and j angl e d fo r

th e first tim e in a sort of fr e nzi e d volunta r y and th e n th e
choir b e gan ; and wh e n I cam e o u t as it was lat e all th e
b e lls in R om e w e r e ringing —MY G O O DN ESS M E ! What
, ,

a r e ligio n it is ! Y o u f e e l that the e nti r e c r e ation has par t

i n it and that nothi ng is common o r u ncl e an aft e r Chris
,

tian i ty has tak e n it in charg e .

by East e r h is soul will e xult i n tun e with thi s

East e r
r e su r r e ction -hymn and to it h e cons e crat e s som e o f th e
,

most sw e e t and childlik e o f th e pag e s i n hi s P ap er s of a

P ar i ah O n H oly Satu r day h e watch e s th e bl e ssing o f
.

1
A sm all sk tch f a p t t f ll ws
e o en i e n o o . its vit ality
I t h as : th e ba t s
re oe

are wis ly all w d t v l ap th m a gi

e o e o o er e r n. H an ds a d f t an ee re th e l ast d tail
e

an u n r t ai d p cil is willi g t att mpt

ne en n o e .
2 94 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
two of his arrival impr e ss e d h im i n a Similar fash ion ,

and i n l e tt e rs r ight and l e f t h e allud e s to it

, ,

N ov em ber 1 5
.

Y e st e rday aft e r l e ctur e an o ld man was point e d out

to m e i n th e ga r d e n in a filthy o ld cassock and hat and ,

u nshav e n b u t with o n e o f th e most e th e r e al fac e s I hav e

,

e ve r s e e n Th er e was a g r o u p o f stolid working -m e n sta r

.

ing at him ; and Fath e r Va u ghan whisp e r e d to m e that

h e w as going to b e a saint som e day I t is o n e o f th e .

things in R om e to se e h im say Mass ! and h e of co u r s e , ,

is blankly u ncon scio u s of it all I t is so int e r e sting to .

s e e a saint i n th e maki ng .

I n th e b e haviour o f th e p e opl e e sp e cially i n th e ir r e l a ,

tion to th e B l e ss e d Sacram e nt h e finds th e sam e Spirit ,

e xpr e ssing its e lf .

“
Th e two pivots h e e xclaims o n wh ich all lif e
, ,

turns ar e O u r Lord in th e B l e ss e d Sacram e nt a nd H is

, ,

p eopl e .A n d again and agai n h e lam e nts that p e opl e

who com e to R om e p e rmit th e ms e lv e s to see only th e
wro ng th ings “
Th e y do n t know h ow to find th e p e op l e
.
’

at th e ir praye rs .

Th e ligion h er e is asto nishing C r owds o f p e opl e

re .

h e r e at e ve r y Mass and B e n e dictio n Last night i n th e .

R e d e mpto r ist ch u rch th e r e was som e Spl e nd i d pop u la r

singing like a M ission A n d i ns e cts abound e d
,
. .

A nd a w e e k lat e r he wrot e to M iss Kyl e

N ov em b er 14.

A co u pl e of days ago in this church h e r e in abo u t thr e e ,

min u t e s th e following things happ e n e d within a ya r d o f

,

me . Fi r st a man cam e kn e lt b e fo r e O u r Lady H o p e of

“
,

England c r o ss e d h imse lf with o ilf r om h er lamp anoth e r

”
,

cam e kn e lt said th e pray e r fo r England kiss e d th e glass

, , ,
in which it was f r am e d and we nt away Th e n I mov e d to , .

th e Pi e t a; o n e man was al r e ady kn ee li ng th e r e and i n a ,

mom e nt mor e cam e a noth er moa ning o u t p r ay e rs alo u d ,

as h e cam e kn e lt st r e tch e d o u t his r osa r y towards th e

, ,
imag e s with hands o u tstr e tch e d got u p r e ach e d towards , ,
 IN RO M E 29 5

railing touch e d O ur Lady s f oot kiss e d hi s hand that

th e ,
’

,
had touch e d it and w e nt away , .

A n d that kind o f thing is go ing o n all day e ve rywh e r e , .

“
I n th e e v e ning h e e ls e wh e r e writ e s 1 a f t e r an a lm o st
, ,

t e xt u al r e p roduction o f th e ab o y e I w e nt to th e gall e ry
“
, ,

wh e r e I was alon e B e n e diction was going o n b e low ; .

nothing to att r act ; hid e ous m u sic th e contin u e d c r e aking ,

and g r oaning o f chairs no organ o r choi r and a c r owd o f , ,

s e v e nty o r e ighty p e opl e (j u st an ordinary w e e k-night ) and ,

a br e athl e ss r ap t sil e nc e at th e mom e nt its e lf Th e atmos

,
.

h r e o ffaith and wo r ship was ov e r wh e lming e sp e cially as

p e ,

it was so sing u la r ly unatt r active f r om e v e r y physical p oint of

vi e w . Y e t [ th e r e was ] this c r owd scatt e r e d i n a g r e at ,

disord erly g r o u p all ado r I n g That w hich was i n th e m o n

,

stranc e in th e littl e dim sid e-chap e l A n d that o e s o n .

night aft e r night all th e ye ar round and th is c h u r c is not ,

e xc e ptional at all Th e d e votio n o fth e p e opl e is b e yond

all d e sc r iption e sp e cially I r e ally think o f th e m e n wh o
, , , ,
fo r m qu it e half if not mor e o f all th e mid -day co ngr e
, ,

ati
g ons .

Ev e r yon e
g e ts his o w n chair and kn e e ls and p lants it ,

e xactly wh e r e h e lik e s at any angl e poi nt e d towa r ds any , ,

M as s th at h e lik e s I was watch ing a w e l l -d r e ss e d man

.

this mo r ning with no book b u t whos e li ps w e r e moving

, ,

quit e inc e ssantly ; and anoth e r a ro u gh ha ir e d boy fr om ,

-

th e co u ntry absol u t e ly r apt a nd m o t1o n le s s k n e e li n

, on ,

th e sto n e s w ith his fac e hidd e n fo r I sho u ld think ha f an

, , ,

ho u r Th e s e ns e o f worship i s be yo nd anything I h ave

.

e v e r dr e amt o f o u t o f h e av e n
”
2
.

I t was o f cours e at th e Ex po sitio n o f th e B l e ss e d Sac

, ,

ram e nt that th e s e disp lays o f popular yet intimat e d e votion

r e ach e d th e ir mo st poignant manif e station s O n March .

2 6 th e Q u ar an t O r e was proc e e ding at San Silv e stro

’
.

I t is most moving I lo o k e d into th e ch u rch at mid .

night last night f r om th e g r ati ng and th e r e w e r e fo u r

, , ,

m e n kn e e ling and p r aying and th e altar was blazing with ,

candl e s and gr e at banks of w h it e flowe r s o n e ach sid e

,

running down th e flight o f st e ps into th e ch u r ch Th e .

1
Sp i r i tu al L etter s, p .
53 .
2
p . 64 .
2
9 6 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
Q u e e n i s th er e n ow with h e r ladi e s o n e ach sid e Sh e has
, .

s e nt most o f th e flow e rs too Th er e is always at l e ast o n e .

ch u r ch all th e y e a r round in R om e wh er e it go e s on and ,

it is always w e ll fill e d all day I t is o n e o f th e most ove r .

wh e lming things i n th e whol e plac e Me n tak e th e night

watch e s o f fo u r ho u r s e ach —1 o—
.

, 2 2— 6 ,
.

similar c e ntr e of d e votion was San Cla u dio clos e by

A ,
.

H e r e f e r s to it :so oft e n that at th e risk o f b e i ng t e dio u s I , ,

shall q u ot e f rom th e l e tt e r to Fath e r G W H ar t of . .

N ov e mb e r 1 1

And now fo r th e r e al thing Th e r e ligion is som e th ing .

s u rprising Y o u cannot find a ch u r ch that is not contin u

.

ally aliv e with p e opl e o f e ve ry so r t and class all mixe d , .

I t i s alm ost impossibl e to s e l e ct b u t two stand o u t i n ,

on e s mi nd : ( 1 ) th e R e d e mptorists [Ske tch ] ; o n Sat u r

’
1

day e v e ning w e w e n t th e r e for shrivi ng th e ch u r ch w as

f u ll organ booming a l itany p e opl e and p r i e sts r oa r i ng it
, ,

lights blazing O u r Lady o f P e r p e t u al S u cco u r b e aming

“
,

i n a coro na of candl e s ov e r th e high altar and in c e ns e ,

r e e king A t th e mom e nt o f b e n e diction th e o r gan blar e d

.

o u t and th e b e lls b e gan to p e al f e v e r ishly ; I w e pt ; th e r e

was i nd e sc r ibabl e m e lody and ligh t ( 2) St Cla u d — P e r

,

. .

p e tu al E xpositio n g oe s o n h er e T h e B l e ss e d Sacram e nt .

stands co ntinually with a g r e at e r min e r ob e b e h ind it 2

Sk e tch ] and a crown ov e r it and candl e s b e low w ith m e n
[ , , ,

in cottas kn e e ling be fo r e it and th e body of th e ch u r ch ,

h u m m i n with p ray e r Th e d e votion o f th e p e o pl e is q u i te

.

b e yond e sc r ibi n g I don t know what p e opl e m e an wh e n

.
’

th ey say that th e wo r ship o f O u r Lady i s tho u ght mor e o f

than o f th e B l e ss e d Sac r am e nt Th er e is nothing r e se m b .

ling i t Th e r e is p e rp e t u al a nd f e r v e nt e nthusiasm
. .

A s Som e body said pap ists out h e r e ar e lik e spoilt ,

ch ildr e n o f G o d as e ntir e ly at hom e as i n th e ir o w n ho u s e s

,
.

I hav e watch e d ch ild r e n d u r ing M ass sitti ng flat in th e

middl e o f an inlaid floor tr e ating it as a kind o f castl e and , ,

t r acing its fo u ndations with filthy fi ng er s Bu t th e p r ay e r s .

o f th e m and th e p e opl e wh e n th e y s e t th e ms e lv e s to it ar e
, ,

1
fi ds th R d mpt ists w k i c mpa ably ffi caci s b t c i sly
He n e e e or
’
or n o r e ou , u , ur ou

e n ou gh v ( th at I k w f) sh w d sig s f w a ti g t j i th i C mpa y
,
ne er no o o e n o n n o o n e r o n .

2
Th c ati
e b f N ap l I
o ro n o n ro e o o eon .
29 8 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
B y D e c e mb e r flatn e ss o f life h as b ee n div ersifi e d
6 th e
by a dom e stic c er e mo ny th e r et u rn to Sa n Silv e stro of th e
,

h e ad of St J oh n B aptist fro m th e Vatican

. .

ch i e f thi ng is th e r e turn of St Joh n th e

Th e .

B aptist s h e ad to this ch u r ch f r om th e Vatican aft e r b e ing

’

away fo r th i r ty-th r e e y e a r s O n e can t say wh e th e r o n e ’

b e li e v e s it to b e th e h ead o r n o t—o n e s ima ginatio n

.

“ ’

cannot g r asp what it m e ans ; o n e can only paw I t B u t .

h e r e it is b r o wn and sh r iv e ll e d and with out th e low e r jaw

and its r e co rd go e s back I don t know how many c e ntu r i e s
’
.

I t is in a go r g e o u s r e liq u ary with p e a r ls and am e thysts

, ,

altog e th e r abo u t 7 f e e t high We m e t it at th e door with

.

torch e s and cottas and p e aling b e lls ; it cam e i n a waggon

d r awn by m u l e s
Th is attitud e towa r ds r e lic s and th is p sychological
q u ality o f b e li e f i n th e ir a u th e nticity is i nt er e stingly all u d e d
to B e for e now h e had ass e rt e d a f t e r N e wman that h e
.
, , ,

b e li e v e d b u t did n o t h n ow that h e b e li e v e d So h e r e i n
, .
,

mino r a ffai r s h e could not b e sur e o f h is spiritual stat e

, .

P robably it was int e rm e diat e H e c e rtainly be li e ve d that

.

St Paul s body witho u t a Shadow o f do u bt lay b e n e ath

.
’

his altar at San P aolo fuori le M ura a nd that St P e t e r s ,

.
’

was und e r th e Vatican basilica H e as c e rtainly did n o t

.

b e li e ve i n th e u ncan ny e xp e ri e nc e s h e like d to admit as

th r ills now as m u ch as e ve r A Si ngular passage o ccurs
, .

i n a l e tt e r writt e n o n Lo w S u nday :
I w e nt to se e a ch u r ch y e st e rday that yo u wo u ld L O ATH E
but I hav e n e ve r s e e n s u ch e xt r aordi na r y th ings in my
lif e—a coll e ctio n o f shirts and habits and tabl e s and
books and things on which So u ls from P u rgato r y had
laid th e i r hands -and l e ft d r e ad f u l ma r ks ; and an
e xtrao r dinary fac e t h at app e a r e d on th e wall i n th e ch u r ch
its e lf e ight y e a r s ago at th e e n d of a s e r i e s of d e votions
for th e So u ls in P u r gato r y—a r e ally w o nd e r ful fac e o f
,

so r r ow and pain and joy ; it i s th e r e to this day—I will

t e ll yo u all abo u t it wh e n w e m ee t I know it all so u nds.
 IN RO M E 29
9

v e ry u nconvi ncing and mat e r ialistic and that was e xactly ,

what I th o u ght till I saw th e m all Bu t th e y ar e simply .

asto u nding .

He was in all this as us u al tw o p e rsons ; aloo f critic

, , ,

and schoolboy e ag e r for th r ills .

Thus a littl e lat e r o n f r om N apl e s h e will gl ee f u lly

, , ,

writ e
Th is flat i s h a u nt e d ; I will t e ll yo u abo u t it Som e tim e ;
I had an awf u l night I dar e say subj e ctive ; and was
,

awak e n e d twic e by a smashing blow o n th e door It was .

r e ally r ath e r a bl e ss e d mom e nt to h e ar at last th e b e lls of

th e goats and c ows going to pastur e an d th e co cks crow ,

i ng.

H is moth e r play e d up gallantly and wrot e i n re ply : ,

Mr L told us y e st e rday o f a haunt i n th e

r ooms h e had at Cambridg e a w e e k a o —wh e n scr eam s
.

g
cam e fr om the w ashs tan d d u r ing th e ni h t tw i c e H e said
th e fi r st s c r e am awoke h i m and h e g
.
,

ay awak e th e who l e
,

o f th e s e cond scr e am b u t no th ing h ap p e n e d W Tell .

m e m or e ab ou t you r hau n ted r oo m at N ap les .

He answ e r e d
My hau nt at N apl e s was o f two viol e nt blows i n th e
“

night which awake n e d m e—(o n my doo r )—b u t this was

aft e r I had b ee n told that a phantom cat h ad b e e n s e e n by
Mr Sp e nd e r that hi s b r oth e r who is a s ee r had b e e n i n
.
, , ,

r e at t e rro r o f a woman whom h e kn e w instinctiv e ly was

gau n tin g th e plac e ; and that a family had p r e viously l e ft

th e room s b e caus e A unt saw things .

Parall e l with this he can writ e

I have also m e t a numb e r o f p sychi cal p eop l e —Pr o
te stan ts and convinc e d on e s —o f n o pa r tic u lar d e nomina
tion O nly o n e o f th e m will do at all—all th e r e st ar e
,

simply c r e d u lous and ge t c r oss if o n e s u gg e sts at all that

,

oth e r e xplanations may possibly acco u nt for th e ir littl e

b o sh y things .

A n d h e still tak e s a pu r e ly obj e ctiv e i nt e r e st i n h is

3 0 0 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
dr e ams ; and r e cords th e m with m e ticulo u s ca r e . I s e l e ct
o n e e xampl e H e w r ot e o n F e bruary 2 7 .

good d r e am last night : that th e A rchbishop had p u t

A
a marbl e flight of st e ps with a ca r p e t down th e c e nt r e , ,

inst e ad o f th e wood e n stai r cas e that joins th e co r r idors :

and that o n e ach Sid e o f th e ca r p e t like an adve rtis e m e nt ,

at Ea r l s Co u rt th e nam e o f a book o r p e r son that h e or

’

E had fo u nd
.
“ h e lpful ”
[A ske tch follows ] Th e only . .

nam e I can r e m e mb er was that o f a book call e d A R ose of

D aw n .
1

I tho u ght it r ath e r ing e nio u s and nic e : it mad e goi ng

u pstairs r e ally i nt e r e sting and start e d inn u m e rabl e t r ains ,

o f th o u ght ; and I r em e mb e r coming downstairs back

wards i n ord e r to r e fl e ct .

M e anwh il e h is sp irits w e r e r ising and in h is r e ligio u s ,

li f e th e pr e ssur e was r e moving its e lf “

May l say som e .

thi ng h e writ e s o n D e c e mb e r 6 :

d e adn e ss wh ich has b e e n o n m e witho u t a

Th e
br e ak Si nc e East er h as gon e at last - only a day or two ,

ago s u dd e nly It s a bl e ssing A n d I know mys e lf w e ll

,
.
’
.

e no u gh to know that it won t com e back fo r th e p r e s e nt

’

—
.

B e st love to e v e r yon e ESP C I L Y B TH

E A L E 2
.

1 b adi g T
H ad h e ys s Vi i f Si e en re n en n on
’
s on o n

H w c mm
2
icativ i
o s s his l tt s w f lt t b I j dg
o un e, n one en e , e er ere e o e, u e

f m th f ll wi g xt act w itt
ro e wh h w a still d p ss d a d b wild d
o o n e r , r en en e s e re e n e e re .

H i m ths h S id w t t him a admi abl s i s f l tt s d sc ibi g

o er on er e ro e o n r e er e o e er e r n

th tw a d v ts fth li f which c ti d th gh h h ad l ft it i E gl a d
e ou r e en o e e on nu e , ou e e , n n n

h er refl cti s t e p s s a d i cid ts h g

on , sly p ass d
oo , o n H gh er o n n n en s e e n e rou e on. u

still i f I d a s mis this w a t p cc pi d i assimil ati g w imp ssi s

, re ur e , s oo reo u e n n ne re on ,

t b
o c sci s f his
e on th s m st t ly p s al liv s
ou o or o er
’
o ru er on e .

D ece m ber 3 .

thi k I d
I d st a d ab t y
n li f M B s w t
o un er n ou o ur e, r s. e n on ro e,
“
an d you

giv m a y pict s I a
e so it all—I wish it w a m i t sti g b t I still
n u re c n se e s o re n e re n u

thi k it is g d f y
n th wh l —t h av th at acq ai t a c W th th c
oo or ou o n t e o e o e u n n e i e e n re

f thi gs which y d t g t a ywh ls I thi k y a v y g s ’

o n ou on e n ere e e. n ou re er e n e ro u

ab t th S mi a y spi it a d fc s I am gl ad y ag with m ’
ou e e n r r , n , o ou r e , ou r ee e.

B th is f ight f lly pl as d t h a h w m ch y
e r at a d d i k a d b ams
u e e o e r o u ou e n r n ,
n e

o v y l tt s a d th sp ci ally B th
er o ur e er , n e e e e .
’

Sh h s l f c t ib t s p -pict s l a g ly a d l a ghs v L d G sch s ’

e er e on r u e en u re r e ,
n u o er or o en

c iticisms
r ccl si astical p s ag s i th A glic a Ch ch
on e e L d G sch e r on e n e n n ur . or o en

is a d lici s p s t t alk t ; h pl ays th gam f C v sati - a-w k

e ou er on o o e e e o on er o n on - ee
39 2 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
th efront door wid e O p e n Th e I n dex do e s N O T stat e that
.

th e books ar e u ntru e b u t that th e y ar e calc u lat e d to p r o

,

duc e an u ntru e o r disp r opo r tionat e imp r e ssio n .

”

Wh e n it b e cam e cl e ar that th e A bb é Lo isy was no

mor e and p er hap s had long c e as ed to b e a Catholi c h e
, , ,

dropp e d compl e t e ly and finally o u t o f B e nson s p r e o c c u ’

p a t i o n .T hi s always happ e n e d ; it will b e So with M u r ri ,

a nd with Ty r r e ll I t will b e s o with th e many u po n whom

.

H u gh B e nso n pass e d at first a favourabl e b u t mistak e n

, , ,

j u dgm e nt Th e y ar e “ co nd e mn e d
. h e drops th e m with
scorch ed fing e r s a nd pass e s quic k ly o n to som e oth e r
,

l u minous p oi nt h ee dl e ss p erhap s wh e th e r it to o i s to
, , ,

p rove a b u rning coal r ath e r than a saf e ly guard e d lamp .

H e stay e d i n R om e for Ch r istmas and was d e light e d ,

with th e c e l e brations H is window mor e ove r a la r g e

.
, ,

one ,
“
six f e e t by fiv e I should th ink had not onc e
, ,

b e e n clos e d ye t night o r day e xc e pt wh e n rain positive ly

, ,

str e am e d o n to th e floor .

It is id e al w e ath e r again sh arpish brilliant sun and , ,

blu e sky windl e ss

, Th e limpid air o f Italy i s an u nti r ing
.

marv e l for h im “
. I was in I taly h e w r it e s i n th e P ap er s ,

of a P ar i ah (p wh er e th e air is like wat e r and th e

“
.
,

wat e r lik e wi n e M o r ning by mo r ning I awoke to th e

.

crying o f th e swifts o u tsid e d r awing long icy br e aths of ,

f r e sh n e ss s ee ing th e n e tt e d su nshin e st r ike o n th e c e iling

,

from th e jug o f wat e r o n th e floor h e a r i ng th e r u stl e o f ,

th e l e av e s b e low my window Th e r e in I taly th e mo r ni ng

.
, ,

str u ck th e k ey o f th e day ; th e world was alive th e r e and ,

as good as G od mad e it a nd e verythi ng was in H is hand

, .

T his crystallin e cha r act e r o f th e air this sha r p n e ss of i m ,

p r e ssion s carr i e d o u t in th e wh e e ling flight o f th e swifts

,

and th e crisp o u tlin e and so u nd o f th e e v er gr ee ns is what ,

s e e ms ( b e sid e th e bl u e o f Sk y and se a) to stand o u t b e st

 IN RO M E 30 3

fo r him i n r e minisc e nc e against th e bl u rr e d a nd h e si tating

, ,

Shap e s and tints o f England .

M e anwh il e th e church e s with in w e r e growing f e arf u l , ,

a nd wond e r f u l to his N orth e rn e y e s with r e d damask , ,

tinkling chand e li e rs and asto u nding cribs H e d e lights

,
.

in th e s e pa r tly with th e dir e ct sympathy o f a ch ild who

,

love s to se e spo ntan e o u s s e lf -e xpr e ssion partly with th e ,

naughty gl e e o f o n e who f e e ls h e is taking all possibl e

w ind o u t o f th e sails o f P r ot e stant criti cs Wh at th e y .

e xp e ct h im to b e Sh o f and e xplain away h e e x u lts in

y ,
.

H e visits th e A r a Coe li and finds two “

brow n fr iars ,

making th e crib .

D ec . 20 .

I t was a whol e chap e l mad e into th e stabl e with ,

sh e p h e r ds all along th e Sid e lif e -siz e and hi deou s and ca r d , ,

board ang e ls d e sc e nding ; b u t it was h e av e nly with a ,

c r owd of childr e n r u nning u p and down th e st e ps i nto

it and b e ing p u sh e d o ff and j aw e d and jawing back A n d
, .

w e saw th e B ambi no cov e r e d with ri ngs a nd brac e l e ts

and 10 1 l—nobody b u t convinc e d papists sho u ld b e allow e d
, ,

to see that I can imagin e nothing that wo u ld mor e

.

put o ff an in qu i r e r .

And h e r e I i ns er t his ow n rubric

A bout what I want p r ivat e may I e xplain my vi e ws ,

Wh e n I say absolu tely privat e I m e an nobody Wh e n

“
, .

I say p r ivat e
“
Maggi e and Lu cy and B e th may b e told
,
!
,

b u t nobody e ls e and th e y u nd e r p r omis e o f s e c r e cy

,
And .

wh e n I don t say anything b u t m e r e ly ab u s e papists and

’

,
a
p p i s h i n
g ways will yo u u se yo u r discr e tion r ather sev er ely
,

Y o u s e e I am frank
, .

r e ad e r too will in all discr e tion e val u at e H ugh

Th e , ,

B e nso n s vivid c r iti cisms

’
.

H e w e nt to N apl e s o n D e c e mb e r 2 6 and was e nchant e d ,

with so n e w a n e xp e r i e nc e Th e rooms to sta r t with had .

, ,

exq u isit e f u rnit u r e all O ld damasky and b r o c ady and

, ,

gild e d with e mbroid er i e s and pot-pour r i and ca bin ets

,
30 4 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
and littl e Re naissanc e t e mpl e s with Christian and pagan
imag e s and p e acock curtains and til e d floo r s and all v ery
, ,

large and br e e zy with balconi e s and a sh e e r drop o f a

, ,

h u nd r e d f e e t into th e town and th e bay b e yond It is a

lov e ly day too —no fi r e s and all th e wi ndows wid e op e n
, .

, ,

and V e n e tian sh u tt er s d r awn and th e s u n lying i n st r e aks ,

all ov er th e r u gs and til e s Th e r e ar e books e v e rywh e r e .

too bound i n v e llum a nd brow n l e ath e r It is r e ally all

, .

b e yond wo r ds lov ely ,

.

N e apolitan r e ligio n h e d e light e d in cours e a nd found ,

of ,

th e som e what sob e r R oman cult e normo u sly e nhanc e d by

th e South e r n passion o f th e s e childr e n o f G od and G r e e c e .

H e t e lls e v e rybody about a c e rtai n “

imag e o f th e B l e ss e d
Virgin i n a glas s cas e d r e ss e d in bl u e Silk and holding a
, , ,

lac e handk e rchi e f i n h e r hand B ut th e d e votion o f th e .

p e opl e was e xtrao rdi nary —audibl e p r aying du r ing C o m

m u nion and quit e r e ma r kabl e r e v e r e nc e, as w e ll as c o m
,

p le te f r e e dom T h e pri e st was p

. e r f e ctly rapt in p ray e r ,

but i nt e rrupt e d hims e l f twic e to Sp it .

H e is e nrapt u r e d with th e town n o t o n e Singl e B ritish

“
criticism Cap r i li e s like a blu e clo u d across [th e bay ]
.
,

and V e s u vi u s looking a s if it was mad e of p u r pl e ve lve t

, ,

slowly smoking H e visits Pomp e ii and his pag e s bristl e

.
,

with trip l e e xclamatio n marks V e suvius Shows o nly .

th r ough a storm as it did all tho s e c e nturi e s ago Light

, .

n ing flash e s ; th e clouds ar e black ; b u t th e tourist climbs

b r ave ly and p ee rs i nto crat e rs and chok e s i n sulphur
, ,

f u m e s H e buys a “ charming cl er gyman a “ p e rfe ctly

.
,

b e autif u l cl er gyman a cardinal in fact mad e to b e looking

, ,

o n at a crib dr e ss e d in f ad e d r e d silk and e xq u isit e lawn

, ,
” 1
and e ight ee n i nch e s high So to o ar e th e N e apolitans .
, ,

charming ; th e cook b e gs l e av e to com e and say good

b ye and kisse s his hand
,
Childr e n kiss it to o in th e .
,

1
He is st a di g w ( A g st 1 9 1 5) th lib a y m a t lpi c
n n no u u on e r r n e e e at t
H are S re e t ,

an d is t oo l a ky f g ac a d l ks i t xicat d
n or r e, n oo n o e .
3 0 6 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
book by anoth e r Soci e ty—Fol e y s R ecor ds of the
of o ur
’

”
“
Y es I know that w e ll
”
Soci ety offesu s .
,
.

T h e n h e took m e s e rio u sly and was p e r f e ctly charming , ,

and took m e all ov e r th e plac e and to anoth e r li br a r y and , ,

h e lp e d m e to s e a r ch for books and told m e to com e again , .

A n d I giggl e d stupidly all down th e st r e e t wh e n I l e ft him .

B e sid e s this , he worke d at th e Vatican

fan 1 8 . .

last th r e e mo r nings I hav e t orn

Th e f to th e
of

Vatican Libra r y ; and th e fi r st two w e r e e nti r e ly occ u p i e d

with r e d tap e o r r ath e r th e fi r st tim e it was sh u t b e c au s e
-
, ,
“
, ,

it was Th u r sday B u t s u ch a p lac e ! w ith no r e d-ta p e

.
”

w h e n yo u ge t i nsid e ; yo u may p u ll it abo u t and tak e ,

down books and l e av e th e m abo u t a nd Shove ladd e rs

, ,

abo u t witho ut r e p r oof

,
.

A l so , h e s e nds fo r Ev e lyn s D iary ; P e pys s too and ’ ’

finds hims e lf writing diari e s in h is styl e .

H e b e gan to b e imp r e ss e d mo r e ove r by p aga n R om e , , .

Pagan R om e h e writ e s o n J anuary 2 3 is simply ov er

,
“
,

”
wh e lming and I am going to se e a lot mor e o f it
, He .

b e gs for a M ar i u s “
I m u st r ead it all over agai n o u t
.

h er e . M ar i u s was how e v e r long d e laye d ; and I fancy

, ,

his ardour for th e pagan r elics cool e d To t e ll th e t r u th .

,

unl e ss a ma n s imaginatio n b e most f u lly no u r ish e d and

’

h ighly r e constructiv e th e bl u r r e d l u mp s o f masonry thr u st

, ,

ing th e ir sudd e n b r icks thro u gh th e mod er n pave m e nt th e ,

lon ely col u mns a nd a r ch e s half e ng u lf e d th e bl each e d and

, ,

d e siccat e d Fo r um m e an tantalisingly littl e A n u nl e ash e d

,
.

imaginatio n is o f cours e disastrous B e nson s was n e ith e r

, ,
.
’

r e c kl e ss n o r o n this p oint w e ll inform e d ; what h e saw

, ,

o f anci e nt R om e h e saw thro u gh th e e y e s o nly o f that

,

grave Ep ic u r ean youth b r ooding lik e I n gle san t over a , , ,

lif e which h e took far from at its fac e val u e and (fo r th at
is n o si n ) most individ u alistically B e nson n e ve r wrot e .

anything f r ankly abs u r d lik e Lytto n s book about Pomp e ii ,

’

,
 IN RO M E 3 0 7

or p aga n R om e but h e could have by no m e an s r e ach e d

,

such an admirabl e approximatio n to r e ality as for e xampl e , ,

“
John A ysc o u gh s Fau s tu la achi e ve s This b ook stands
’ ”
.

to th e p e riod o f th e A ntonin e s abo u t as clo s e as By What

A u th or i ty do e s to Elizab e tha n days but its add e d Spic e o f
mo d e r nity poi nts r u thl e ssly th e parall e l be tw e e n collapsing
paganism and th e d e cad e nc e o f th e English Ch u rch a f act ,

which has ca u s e d much annoyanc e to s e n sitive r e vi ew e rs .

B e nson would hav e lov e d to u se th e s e lfsam e th e m e ; it

was fo r him to o e l u sive but h e ve ry n e arly p e rc e ive d th e
, ,

possibility o f a nov e l ill u strating th e Ch u rch s catholicism ’

i n vi e w o f h e r r e lation to paganism .

M ar i u s, w r ot e o n Ma r ch 1 3 h as ar r iv e d saf e ly
he ,
“
,

and I hav e flo w n th r ough th e fi r st vol u m e I t i s e xt r a .

o r dina r y how o u t h e r e o n e f e e l s that all that w as good

I n th e o ld r e ligion s has b e e n tak e n u p and t r ansfo r m e d I n

this A g r e at d e al I S j u st th e sam e both o f th e e xt e r nals

.
,

th e p r oc e ssions stat u e s lights Sh r in e s and so o u - and o f

,

th e int e r nals —th e familia r ity with th e s u p e rnat u r al th e

, , ,

s e n s e o f G od manif e sting H ims e lf locally and o i th e ,

saints looking aft e r yo u I n a s e conda r y so r t o f way I t

.

is o n e o f th e mo st co nvi ncing things I have e ve r com e

ac r oss I f e e l I know M a r i u s as n e v e r b e fo r e a nd that
.
,

w e Sho u ld hav e b e e n abl e to talk abo u t “

o u r commo n

faith . A n d if I may
, 0 o n a mom e nt that i s w h e r e,

P u r itanism s e e ms to fai I t has gon e o n p e r p e t u ating

.

th e e xcl u siv e n e ss o f e a r ly Ch r istianity which was n e c e s ,

sa r y e nough u ntil Ch r istianity was o u t o f dang e r o f be ing

abso r b e d but is wholly harmf u l now that Ch r istian ity
,

is st r ong e nough to abso r b e v e r ything e ls e A divin e .

r e ligio n m u s t incl u d e in its e lf nat u r al r e ligion o r it is

simp ly a n e w nat u ral r e ligion its e lf —o n e mo r e amo ng th e
,

oth e r s I sn t that th e wh ol e di ffe r e nc e b e twe e n s e cta r ian

.
’

ism an d catholicism .

jan . 13 .

I am imm e ns e ly int e r e st e d h is sist e r w r ot e by what

, ,
o u sa o f t h e way in which R oman Catholicism e xplains
y y
oth er r e ligio ns O f cou r s e I see that m u st b e i n a s e ns e
.

t r u e b e ca u s e of th e ve ry f act that on th e oth e r ha nd th e

, ,
3 0 8 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
r e p r oach is that it has amalgamat e d with paganism and
tak e n u p h e ath e n sup er stitio n with its e lf Th e r e is a tr u th .

that li e s b etw e e n th e two o r is rath e r vindicat e d by both ,

.

It was th e n quit e e arly during h is stay at R om e that

, ,

B e nson co nc e iv e d th e id e a o f a nov e l d e ali ng with th e

p e r iod o f Charl e s I I To coll e ct h is r e f e r e nc e s to it will
.

b e i nt e r e sting as showing his m e thod of wo r k and h is

, ,

consultation with his moth er so clos e as almost to d e s e rve ,

th e nam e of collaboration and in this way it will b e fo u nd ,

that many oth e r all u sio ns ar e e xplain e d Mo r e ove r if w e .

,

ar e to hav e in imagination a tru e p ictur e of B e nso n s ’

, ,

m e ntal pr e occupatio ns at R om e w e cannot a ff ord to po st ,

pon e th e s e e xt r acts till w e m e ntion in its prop er plac e , ,

tbc Oddsfish i nto which this Charl e s I I sto ry gr e w

,

I wond e r if th e r e is any n e ws o f my book [By

Wh at A u thor i ty ] P e r so nally I am g e tting low e r and
.

low e r at th e tho u ght o fit O f co u r s e I sbist e r won t acc e pt .

’

it ! b u t I am b e g i n ning to wo nd e r wh e th e r anybody will .

A ll th e sam e I am madly b e gi nni ng to th ink abo u t anoth e r

,
-p e r iod Cha r l e s I I ; h er o a R oman Catholic cl e r gyman
, ,

( as I n e e d sca r c e ly say
) who go e s to Co urt n e a r ly j oins
, ,

th e Ch u r ch of England and finally b e com e s a B e n e dictin e

,
.

H e is to m e e t J o h n I n gles an t in En land now an o ld ,

man H e i s g r andso n of I sab e l an has j u st s e e n h e r

.
,

wh e n h e was a child a nd so o n and so on Charl e s I I, ,

.

looms larg e i n it I r e ally am b eginni n g to have an

.

a ff e ction for him .

H ad B e nso n b ee n abl e to p lan his wo r k a littl e mo r e

w id e ly this nov e l and sanctifi e d R o u gon Mac q u ar t s e r i e s
,

might hav e fo r m e d an e xc e p tionally s u btl e st u dy i n

histo r y and h e r e dity H e continu e s o n Janu ary 1 0
.

Pl e as e give m e yo u r advic e abo u t my n e w book My .

h e r o N icholas B uxton a p r i e st is th e g r andson o f I sab el

, , , ,
3 10 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
ar e n ot good and that it is r e ally worldl in e ss dr e ss e d u p
, .

Cha r l e s I I di e s and J am e s I I offer s him a p ost at Co u rt ;

,
but h e th r o w s it all u p a nd go e s back to R om e to pray ,

and w o r k st r aightfo r wardly I think it may wo r k o u t .

r ath e r w e ll as th e t e mptations go i n a st e ady g r adation

,

o f s u btl e ty ; and it giv e s any amount o f op po r t u nity fo r

backg r ound- th e Co u r t co u ntry lif e & 0 What do you , , .

thi nk ?
A w e e k lat e r h e has th e first two parts ra n g e d o u t i n
chapt e rs but finds pa r t th r e e m u ch ha r d e r to p u t i n
,
“

o d er
r Cha r l e s I I h e finds
.
“
mad e d e finit e p r opo sal s
, ,

to Rom e i n 1 662 and that th e Po p e answ e r ed ; b u t his

,

l e tt e r i s lo st so I am inv e nting o n e and am making

, ,

Charl e s r e vive h is p r O p o sals i n 1 682 and e m p loy my h e r o ,

in th e m e sp e cially in so u nding th e A nglican a u thoriti e s

, .

H e th e n b e gs h is moth e r and Sist e r to s e nd him “ not e s

pictorial & c of
,
“
thr ee o r fo u r i mpo r tant A nglican
.
,

p e op l e e sp e cially th e two A rchbi shop s K e n and anyon e

, ,

e ls e whom i f possibl e I can plac e in London

, , , During .

th e n e xt w ee k th e book sp e e ds ah e ad .

N icholas B u xto n at this mom e nt has e nt e r e d King s th e

’

room l am f u r nish i ng Wh it e hall r e ga r dl e ss of e xp e ns e

.
, ,

with Silve r -mount e d mir r o r s and br onz e s and tap e stri e s ,

and d r e ssing N icholas in a black p e ri w ig with lac e and ,

sword ; and th e y ar e all b e ginning to talk o f th e ms e lve s .

B e th has b e e n ac cus e d of witchc r aft y e a r s ago and has , ,

b e sid e s a g r e at g r e y cat in h e r gard e n and i s n o w looking

, ,

aft e r N i c h o las s ho u s e i n K e nsington w ith S u san and a

’

man and has had a doo r mad e q u it e u s e l e ss wh ich sh e

, , ,

imagin e s h e will e scap e by wh e n th e constabl e s com e

and I sab e l B u xton s p o r t r ait hangs i n N ic h o las s st u dy
’ ’

and h e has a lock o f hair of A n thony s that I sab e l c u t ’

i n th e To w e r aft e r hi s d e ath ; and so o n Th e y ar e all .

going to hav e s u ch tim e s

Th e book grows so e ng r ossing that h e h ad to make a “

r u l e n o t to wo r k at it b e fo r e din n e r e xc e pt o n Sundays ,

a nd M ondays b u t by th e e n d o fF e bruary So cial functions

 IN RO ME 3 1 1

ar eund e rtaking to p u t any n e c e ssary drag upon th e work .

H ow e v e r on F e br u ary 27 aft e r a w e e k s d e p r e ssion h e

’

, , ,

a nnounc e s
B ook r u shing alo n g A nic e cl e rgyman (o f th e Church
England ) has ma de his app e aranc e —r e ally nic e and
.

of ,

I have n t an id e a wh e r e h e cam e from : h e i s not lik e

’

anybody I know A F e llow o f Christch u rch Pr e b e ndary

.
,

of Chich e st e r squ ir e o f G r e at K eyn e s ; o ld thin r u ddy

, , , ,

m u sical humo r o u s g e ntl e manly and mystical ; a nd h e

, , ,

w e a r s an i r on -g r e y w i a nd will sho r tly carry a Silve r

h e ad e d can e U ltimat e y b e i s to r e pr e s e nt th e acad e mic
—
.

Spi r i t as O ppos e d to th e G osp e l o f th e poor and th e

“

s e cond pa r t o f th e book t u rns rou nd h im and G e rtrud e

Maxw e ll H e ca r r i e s N ich o las with h is nasty s e minary
.

id e as altog e th e r o ff h i s l e gs and plays m e lting t u n e s o n ,

th e Chich e st e r o r gan among th e g r e y Shadows and so o n ,
.

I j u st look e d i nto a room and th e r e h e was so I list e n e d , ,

to h is r e marks .

M ar ch 26 .

My book is cr e e ping o n and b e coming v e ry p sycho ,

logical ; a nd I am g e ttin th e u nfo r tunat e N icholas i nto

such an int e r nal tangl e t at I cannot imagin e h o w l am
e v e r to e t him o u t ; and h e h as o t to go d e e p e r ye t
g ,

poo r man ; and finally a kind o f th will ge t h im o u t ,

I s u ppos e A n d I am g e tting r e ally sorry fo r G e rtru d e

. .

Sh e is so v e ry nic e that I ha r dly hav e th e h e art to mak e

i e r e n d so dr e arily
; but Sh e w ill do it and I can t stop
’

f
l er .
,

East e r ,
with its whi r l o f c e r e moni e s i nt e rv e n e d
“
,
.

Th e book is hop e l e ssly stuck I t is no sort o f good .

doi ng it s e nt e nc e by s e nt e nc e—and my po nd is e mpty ,

o f cours e .

H ow e v e r r e ally nic e cl e rgyman “

th e “
,
;
my o ld ,

fri e nd Mr Rog er s to my gr e at r egr e t h as turn e d o u t to

.
, ,

b e a Shallow old h e a r tl e ss man I don t know what to ’

.
, ,

do I am so sorry
, H e was so nic e b e for e
. Th e s e p e opl e .

ar e going along quit e i nd e p e nd e ntly o f m e and I can t

’
,
~

h e lp it A n d anoth e r nic e man is tu r nin g o u t rath e r a

.
 3 12 ROB ERT H UG H B EN SON
b ut e to o
r A littl lat . and th e book is sailing ah e ad
e er , “

again H e r e ads it aloud to a pri e st who is d e light e d

.
, ,

but for e s e e s viol e nt criticism B e nson h e holds tho u gh .

, ,

touching th e most d e licat e possibl e poi nt ( a pri e st

falling i n lov e) has n o t said o n e wo r d th at i s o ff e nsive
“
,

”
at bottom “
H e has e nco urag e d m e e no r mo u sly
. He .

sat th e oth e r night tr e mbling with e xcit e m e nt with his

, , ,

mou th and e y e s O p e n as w e Skirt e d along th e v e r y brink

,

o f what was po ssibl e and h e pant e d with r e li e f like a

,

whal e wh e n it was ove r I am pl e as e d w ith mys e l f

. .

N e w charact e rs ap p e ar and vanish Th e first d r aft will .

e asily b e finish e d by h is r e tu r n Y o u will b e p e st e r e d

“
.

with th e whol e o f it e ve ry wo r d from b e ginning to e n d

, ,

ov e r again B y May 1 5 .
“
I o nly hav e abo u t th r e e mo r e
chapt e rs o r so It has b e e n flowing lik e a str e am It
. .

m ilst b e call e d A Semi n ary P r i est of the Sev en teen th

Cen tu ry 1
I have to run f u rio u sly with p e n and pap e r
.

all ove r th e country aft e r my cha r act e rs ; th e y ar e b e

having wildly a nd most p sych ologically ; a nd D r K e n
, .

has j u st b e e n appoint ed B ishop o f B ath and W e lls and ,

th e J e s u its ar e o n th e v e r y e dg e o f th e lin e so that it ,

d e p e nds o n yo u r pr ej u dic e s as to what yo u th ink o f th e ir

actions e xactly as it do e s i n r e al l if e My I rish pri e st
, .

giggl e s all ove r at th e ir goings -o n and says it is p e rf e ctly

ino ff e nsive and j u st like th e m
,
O n M ay 2 1 h e is i n .

“
r e tr e at at Sant A ns e lmo Th e book is j u st o n th e
’
.

point o f e nding ; o nly o n e mo r e chapt er now ; and I

tr e mbl e so m u ch that I dar e n t b e gin it Th e finality of ’
.

it paralys e s m e I shall r e ad it sol e mnly alo u d at Tr e

mans so to sp e ak from 1 2—
.

,
1 and 4 -5 o n Mondays
, ,

We dn e sdays an d Fridays wh e th e r anyo n e com e s to ,

list e n o r not .

He had no t ye t e xp ie r e nce in the cho i ce of s lli g titl s

e n e .
31, ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
af r aid that Catholics will n o t car e fo r th e book It i s to o .

Saxo n —s u ch words as amiabl e ar e not p e rmitt e d for ‘ ’

a mom e nt Bu t I am s u r e yo u will like it Th e d evotions

. .

ar e an e xtraordinary mixt u r e o f passion and r e straint ,

str e ngth and d e licacy A f r i e nd at R om e gaily

.

ag r e ed with h im : “ Catholic s wo n t i n th e l e ast und e r ’

stand th e m A ll th e y want i s a dr e adful thi ng call e d A n

.
‘

U nive r sal Pray e r in which o n e asks G od to make o n e

,
’

s u bmissiv e to o n e s sup e riors cond e sc e nding to inf e riors

’

, ,
’

&c . whil e lo ng ago h is A nglican p u blish e r had r e g r e tt e d

that th e book f e ll b e tw e e n th e two stools o f d e votion and
“

schola r sh ip Y e t i n May h e h as r e solv e d not to b e

.

d e t e r r e d by e ith e r group o f c r itics and d e cid e s on th e ,

—
d e sign fo r th e cov e r pi e r c e d h e a r ts and r os e s and a “
,

f r o ntispi e c e o f th e Five Wo u nds Y o u will notic e that .

thi s is th e book o f wh ich Lady Maxw e ll in By What

A u th or i ty k e e p s a Sligh tly id e alis e d e dition b e sid e h er i n ,

th e shadow o f th e ye w h e dg e as Sh e a nd h e r si st e r th e ,

o ld e x -n u n tak e it by turns to r e ad and e mb r oid er at

,

G r e at K e yn e s .

Th e book did not act u ally app e a r till lat e i n 1 90 4 and ,

acknowl e d ge d its d e bt to th e sugg e stions and h e lp o f Fr .

Fr e r e of Mi r field Th e b u lk o f th e mat e rial i s d r awn

.

f r o m th e writi ngs of R ichard Roll e th e h e rmit of H ampol e , ,

n e ar Doncast e r who di e d i n A D 1 349 A b r i e f acco u nt

, . . .

o f thi s English mystic whom B e nson lov e d s e co nd only

,

to J u liana th e an k r e s s of N o r wich is add e d in an app e ndix

, ,

to th e p r ay e r s and R oll e h ims e lf will r e app e ar as th e

,

fo u ndation o f th e e xquisit e R ich ar d R ay n al th e book ,

which its a u tho r lov e d b e st o f all his writings w h il e th e ,

nam e R oll e c u rio u sly e no u gh is d e lib e rat e ly give n in Shap e

, , ,

R olls to th e r ath e r t e r r ibl e h e rmit o f Th e Sen ti m en talis ts

, ,

j u st as A bbot R aynal of San t A ns e lmo in R om e will

,
’

,
 IN RO M E 3 1 5

s u pply a nam e fo r th e saintly h e ro o f th e lat e r r omanc e

.
.

I n his p r e fac e B e nson e xplains his syst e m of a mi nim u m

o f adaptation and adds a n i nt r od u ctio n d e aling with th e

main Ch a r a ct er istics o f English d e votions

“
Th e s e h e
.

r e d u c e s e nti r e ly to th e prin cip l e anno u nc e d by Moth e r

J u liana wh e n disr e garding th e f r i e ndly “ pro ffe r i n h e r
,

r e ason to look up past Ch r ist to H i s Fath e r sh e ,

“
answ e r e d i nwardly with all th e might o f my so u l and ,

said : N ay ; I may not ; fo r Th o u art my H e ave n I

wo u ld li e ve r hav e b e e n i n that pain till Doomsday than to
com e to H e av e n oth e r wis e th an by H im . Th u s was
I l e a r n e d to choos e J e sus to my H e av e n From th e
.

passionat e and if yo u will down r ight romantic d e votio n

, ,

to th e H umanity o f J e sus Christ flow e d di r e ctly th e e xtra

ordina r y intimacy o i Sp e e ch i n th e s e o ld d e votions and ,

of
“
t e nd e r colloq u y wi th o u r Lord wh ich so m u ch
a ffr o nts th e o r d e r ly pray e r form s o f o u r c u lt u r e d worship
B e nson hat e d Latinisms and loath e d g u sh ; but h e could
not b e a r formality and was s u r e lov e Should b e a r d e nt
,

and e ag e r in its ways Filial wo r ship for Mary and a

.
,

min u t e d evotion to the d e tails o f th e Passion w e r e f u r th e r

,

cons e qu e n c e s o f th e dir e ct childlik e associatio n b e tw e e n

th e w r it e r s of th e s e pray e rs and th e uns e e n Pr e s e nc e s I .

w o u ld say at o nc e that B e nson s o w n amazing e j ac u lations

’
,

his D e ar Lo r d do wait j u st o n e mom e nt

“
, e v e n h is

O h ye s Lo r d —j u st o n e mor e cigar e tt e w e r e e xpr e s

, ,

sions (shocking it may b e to thos e whos e spirit u al live s

, ,

ar e liv e d as most m e n s ar e o n a totally di f fe r e nt plan e )

’
, ,

witn e ssing to th e pr e s e nc e i n hi m o f th is s e l f -sam e child

lik e familia r ity o i int e r co u rs e A n d if th e p ossibility o f
.

this habit r e qui r e s mo r e illustration I wo u ld s e nd th e

,

sc e ptical out r ight to th e Lif e o f Moth e r Ma r ga r e t H allahan ,

who is h e r s e lf s u ffici e nt ans w e r For th e vividn e ss and

.
31 6 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
sw e e tn e ss o f such i nt e rco u rs e apa r t from its whimsicality
, ,

h e hims e lf r e f e rs to th e spiritual habit o f John I n gle san t ;

and with a f e arl e ss trust i n tr u th h e t e ll s you O f th e sam e ,

Spi r it dominant i n th e P uritan I sab e l whos e whol e

1

spi r it u al lif e c e ntr e s ro u nd th e P e rso n o f J e sus Ch r ist .

h esu jh esu es to m i ch i ] h es us was long to h im a s u f fici e nt

j , ,

praye r Th e Fr ien dship of Chr i st is his o w n tal e o f th is

. .

H is lif e at Rom e howe v e r was far from b e ing m er e ly

, ,

one of worsh ip and o f lit e rat u r e R oman e sp e cially .

,

A nglo and A m e rican -R oman soci e ty claim e d him ; and ,

in his l e tt e rs to h is moth e r it i s e asy to follow h is grad u

,

ally changi ng vi e ws upon its charact e r .

H e was initiat e d soon e nough into th e pr e liminari e s

o f R oman social lif e .

N ov e m ber 20 .

Th e r e is a lot o f stu ff h e r e abo u t calling that I cannot

b e a r ; it is all th e sam e thi ng W e have to have cards .

p r i nt e d and l e ave th e m o n p e opl e ; and th e y com e and

,

l e av e th e m o n u s ; and th e n yo u n e ve r se e th e m again .

I t all do e s Se e m to m e a most astounding wast e of

But his e a r li e st fri e nds ar e dom e sti c and e ccl e siastical

I hav e mad e gr e at fri e nds with two e xt r e m e ly I rish
pri ests with flami ng r e d fac e s and a b r og u e that l e av e s
,

stains b e h ind it and a strong sm ell of sn u ff B u t th e y

, .

ar e d e lightf u l an d o n e o f th e m is th e b e st -e d u cat e d man

[ I h av e m e t] ! [ h e ] knows lots o f things — G e o r ge

M e r e dith and G e o r g e Eliot and op tics and inn u m e r abl e

fu nny sto r i e s n ot conn e ct e d with e ccl e siasticism I hav e .

giv e n h im ] oh n I ng lesan t to r e ad and h e is absorb e d by ,

it at p r e s e nt ; b u t h e can t hold with Fr Sancta Cla r a s

’
.
’

tr e atm e nt o f I n gle san t at all

A pa r t
f r om th e s e his animals mak e him ha p py H e
, .

has a n e w dog two cats two pa r r ots and Th e cats com e

, ,

1
By What A u thor i ty , p . 1 1.
3 8
1 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
th e wo r ld o u tsid e that no o n e e ls e can h av e ; and that
co nve rts can b e as papal as yo u lik e witho u t b e ing latitu di ,

na r ian Th e r e is no do u bt that ( 1 ) is d e c r e asing and that

.
, ,

wh e th e r th ey like it o r n o t n e w blood m e ans n e w id e as

, .

A n d at p r e s e nt th e conflict l i e s th e r e R e ally that p r incipl e

go e s d e e p —o r r ath e r th os e two p r i ncip l e s and th e y
.

und e rli e th e whol e s e c r e t o f g r owth v iz c e nt r alisation and , .

e xpansion and a h e althy growth m u st incl u d e both ; th e

,
”
“
l e ngth e ning o f co r ds an d th e st r e ngth e ning of stak e s .

M y diagnosis th e r e fo r e is that w e Shall ge t mo r e and mo r e

, ,
”
papalism an d mo r e and mo r e b r e adth and th e C u ria ,

and th e mod e rn thought ar e co r r e lativ e and compl e m e ntary .

Mr s B e nson . diagnos e d i n th e antago nism o f th e O ld

Catholics towa r ds th e n ew that f e e ling wh ich i s s u mm e d
u
p in th e r e p r oachf u l p hras e Tho u hast mad e th e m e q u al
,

u nto u s whil e as fo r c e ntralisation and d e c e ntralisation ,

Don t you th ink Sh e s u gg e st e d it oft e n has to b e o n e

’
,
“
,

at a tim e ? To t e ll th e tr u th B e nso n was n o t thinking

,

much at all j ust n o w H e was coll e cting imp r e ssion s and

.

allowing h is soul to r e spo nd vigo r o u sly to e ach e motion as

it cam e Lat e r h e w ill synth e sis e O n e o f h i s mo st
. .

p e r man e nt con cl u sio ns will b e that n e v e r onc e has h e ,

p e rsonally e xp e ri e nc e d anything save what was ki nd and

co u rt e o u s and i nd e e d mo r e tha n g e n e r o u s at th e hands
, ,

of th e O ld and o f th e B lack .

H e v 1SI ts Sant A ns e lmo s with two ladi e s and e n j oys I t

’ ’
.
,

Bu t I can n ot se e mys e lf q u acking away at te a and g e tting

i n and o u t o f victo r ias and so on ; it is wr e tch e d wo r k .

B u t h e imm e diat e ly follows thi s u p w ith a qu acking te a

party at which h e t e lls ghost -sto r i e s and by F e b r u a r y 20
, ,

h e has h aul e d down th e flag H e din e s o u t it b e ing a

.
,

F r iday in Le nt with an A m er i can millionai r e H e was

,
.

r e assur e d by b e i ng Shown first into a p rivat e r oom wh e r e ,

two Cardinals and an A rchbishop w er e bowing and m u r m u r

ing to o n e anoth er and to fo u r o r fiv e magnific e nt ladi e s ;
 IN RO M E 31 9

b ut I got o u t with fair grac e Mor e ove r h e f u lly e njoy e d

.
,

hims e lf and th e r e w e r e an imm e ns e amo u nt o f ve r y f u nny

,
“

sto r i e s A n d now th e p e n -p ict u r e s b e gin

. Th e r e is th e .

stout fab u lously rich lady who live s i n a palac e and thinks
,

him a sort o f Walt e r Pat e r : Y o u sho u ld hear o u r h igh

“

talk ! I was co nd u ct e d grave ly ro u nd th e lib r ary th e oth e r

day and had to comm e nt in a lit e r ary mann e r o n p e op l e
,

I had sca r c e ly h e a r d o f B ooks ar e s e nt hi m H e is

. .

going “
to mak e ac u t e r e ma r ks abo u t Pa u l B o u rg e t ,

a nd pull him sol e mnly to bits—Lo r I n f act h e can say ,

by F e b r u ary “
I cont e mplat e mys e lf and am amaze d
, , ,

b e caus e I am b e ginning to q u ack as if I had n ev e r don e

anything e ls e With o n e host e ss I so to sp e ak tak e my
.
, ,

m e als onc e a day and twic e on S u nday anoth e r wh om ,

h e do e s n t much lik e so to sp e ak go e s to te a with th e

’
“
, ,

Pop e H e m ee ts and s e e s much o f th e lat e Lady H e r b e rt

.

of Le a black o f th e black b u t whom th e English colony

“
, ,

in Rom e will c e rtainly r e m e mb e r with affe ctio nat e r e sp e ct

fo r v er y many y e a r s H e r d r awing -room was u ndo u bt e dly
.

a magn e t fo r th e d e vout and cl e r i cally -mind e d laity ; b u t

it was not l e ast by th e good o ffi c e s o fsom e i n h e r imm e diat e
e nto u r ag e that th e doors o f thos e wh it e salons which h e

u ltimat e ly fo u nd so co ng e n ial b egan to O p e n for him .

It is most int e r e sting h e k e e p s r e p e ating but v e r y

,
“
, ,

v ery o dd I have n e ve r sp e nt s u ch a qu ee r L e nt
. Bu t .

h e mad e som e e nd u ring f r i e nds Fo r many y e ars th e .

nam e o f Prin c e ss Ru spoli whos e sons h e assist e d in th e i r

,

e d u cation at Eton r e curs in his l e tt e rs

, A l so h e writ e s .
, ,

“
I hav e m e t som e mor e o f th e Va u ghans ; th e y ar e a
wond e rf u l family all s imply as good as gold and asto
, ,

n i sh in l
gy simpl e T h er e is
. a nic e Captain Va u ghan ,

with b e autif u l boots a nd a f ac e lik e a hidalgo int e ns e ly

, ,

r e ligious Fath er B e rnard Va u ghan was f u ll o f admiration

.
3 2 0 ROB ER T H UG H BENSON
for Mgr B e nson in lat e r days ; h e r e alis e d how f u lly
.

B e nson s blo ssomi ng was du e to his Catholic atmo s

“ ’

h
p er e B e nso n consid e r e d Fath e r Vaughan s s e r mons
.
’

v ery e vang e lical and obtain e d h is promis e to p r e ach

“
,

wh n B ntingford Ch rch should b e op e n e d ; and it was

e u u
1

in Mr s Cha r l e s Va u ghan s hous e at B roadway that h e

.
’

took what was almost his lat e st holiday It was n o w .

,

too that h e m e t Lady K e nmar e whos e hospitality i n

, ,

I r e land was to c r e at e for him som e o f th e most r e fr e shing

spac e s i n hi s laborio u s y e ars ; and Cardinal th e n A bbot , ,

G asqu e t so nic e and English and s e nsibl e A n d h e will

“
, ,
.

not le t m e kiss h is ha nd H e i s giving a l e ctu r e p r e

.

s e n tly to a Soci e ty o f A nglica n cl er gy and i s going ,

to do H e nry I I I a nd talk e d to m e abo u t Provisors as if

,

I kn e w all about it

I hav e also h e w r it e s b e e n m ee ti ng som e dang e r

, ,
“

o u sly Wh it e p e opl e and like th e m v ery m u ch mor e t h a n

,

th e B lacks ; th e y ar e r e ally s e nsibl e ; and abov e all I had

a sol e mn conve r sation in Italian fo r fo r ty min u t e s with
Do n M u r r i th e l e ad e r o f th e Social D e moc r atic Catho lics
,
.

H e i s a cl e r gyman small and black a nd acad e mic and is

, ,

a sort o f M e ph istoph e l e s to th e B lacks W e conspir e d to .

m e e t p r ivat e ly— I said I da r e n t go to his ho u s e ; and $ 0

,
’

to sp e ak w e all wo r e somb r e r os and cloaks I t w as e x

,
.

c e e di n gly f u nn H e o nly onc e e nt r e at e d m e to say a

y .

s e nt e nc e aga i n i n English as h e tho u ght h e wo u ld b e abl e ,

to und e rstand i t b e tt e r so .

I have b e e n m e e ting som e mor e h orr id B lacks h e ,

writ e s o n Low S u nday with th e ir minds abo u t as big as,

o ; I want to pla nt th e m o n e by o n e o n s e par at e i slands

i n th e middl e of th e A tlantic and le t th e m b e r ai n e d and ,

blow e d u p on u ntil th ey u nd er stand that A lmighty G o d

i s a littl e larg e r than th e ms e lve s Bu t I am afr aid th e y .

wo u ld only mak e an oblatio n o f th e i r su ff er ings to St .

Jos e ph in hono u r of th e Fo u rt e e n M is u nd e r standings o f

1
A p mis k pt wh
ro e e en M gr B e n s o n
. w as th e i e no m ore to a ssist .
3 2 2 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
I was aw f ully int e r e st e d Mrs B e n son r e pli e d i n , .
,
“

all yo u say about th e R ock and th e p e opl e who stand o n

it and e s p e cially th e two t e xts—and I acc e pt fully th e
,
’

fi r st as o u rs thou h w e naturally both claim e ach oth er s

,
’

also Y e t aft e r al G od is a Sp irit ar e o u r Lord s o w n

.
,
’ ’

words I think it is qu i te t r u e that you sp e cialis e much

.

mor e than w e do and divid e lif e u p and f or p r actical

, ,
‘

life many R oman ways s e e m to m e much mor e adapt e d

’
.

W e rath e r tak e a gr e at p ri ncipl e and ch u ck it o u t and , ,

l e av e p e opl e to do w hat th e y can with it ; it all com e s

back to th e two larg e princip l e s o f Lib e rty and A uthority .

O u r p e opl e mak e j u st th e mistak e s and ge t i nto j ust th e

diffi culti e s which att e nd l e arni ng you r r e spo nsibiliti e s and ,

you r s s ee m to m e to abando n g r e atly p er sonal r e sponsi

b ility an d hav e th e vi r tu e s a nd faults o f s u ch a position
, .

O h how I Sho u ld love to b e abl e r eally to pictur e th e c o n

,

ditio n o fthings as r e gards all th is b e for e th e R e fo r mation ,

U ndoubt e dly B e nso n s cha r m was making

h im fo r
’

thos e vari e d fri e ndsh ips wh ich p r e cl u d e d so m u ch that

might b e narrow and bitt e r i n o n e whos e fri e nds w e r e
fe w and homoge n e ous .

I t is r e ally rath e r r e ma r kabl e h e writ e s th e way , ,

“

in whi ch w e have mad e fri e nds with both Sid e s W e lunch .

with Lady X abo u t onc e a w e e k wh e r e e ve rybody is coal ,

black and th e r e i s nobody but cl ergym e n and th e d e vo u t

,

and go in and o u t anyhow at th e Y s wh e r e th e r e is n ev e r ’

,
a cl e rgyman to b e s ee n I wond e r if w e ar e simply crafty .

”
hyp ocrit e s .

was most happy too i n th e soci e ty o f Mr and Mr s

He , , . .

Wilfr id Wa r d with whom h e ina u g u rat e d an acqu aintanc e

,

which br ought h im into to u ch with som e o f his most con

g e nial fri e nds—Mr R e gi nald B al f o u r f or instanc e with
.
, ,

wh om h e was to collabor at e a nd oth e r f e llow -cont r ibu to r s ,

to th e D u bli n R ev i ew I t was a hap p in e ss to which h e

.

oft e n r e curs that h e re h e o nc e mor e m et Lo r d H alifax .

I walk e d hom e with h im and w e JA W ED , .

H e h ad to o in A p r i l an i nte r e sting m ee ting at an o ppo

, , ,
 IN RO M E 2
3 3

Sit e e xtre m e—with th e R e v . R .

J Cam
. pb e ll th e n o f th e City ,

Te mpl e .

To M iss Kyl e h e wrot e

I m e t Mr Cam b e ll th e oth e r day th e minist er o f th e

.
,

City Te mpl e and I ar dly e ve r have m e t anybody so attr ac

,

tive .H e was th e kind o f p e r son with whom o n e wast e s

no ti m e in talking about th e w e ath e r and th e t r ai n -s e rvic e
but with whom o n e can ge t to th e point at on c e—I don t
,
’

m e an o f cont r ov er sy but o f common r e ligion I am look

, .

ing forward so m u ch to s e e ing him in Engla nd H e was .

Simply d e light f ul and won e v e ryon e s h e art

’
.
,

f ri e ndship was not transito r y b u t prov e d i nd ee d

Th e , , ,

so f aith f ul and was so unlook e d for , I co nf e ss by many

, ,

who r e strain th e ir activiti e s and a ff e ctio n s to thos e o f th e

h ous ehold th at I may b e allow e d to e mphasiz e it so m e
,

what by quoting almost i n full th e ve r y i nt e r e sting l e tt e r

M r Camp b e ll has co u r t e o u sly w r itt e n to m e upon h is r e la
.

tions with H ugh B e n so n .

I t would b e be sid e th e mark altog e th e r w e r e I to add my

o w n co mm e nts upon M r Camp be ll s j udgm e nt ; any poin t
’
.

o fwhich h e Sp e aks and which app e ars to sugge st r e fl e ction

, ,

will I hop e h e tr e at e d e ls e wh e r e i n th e s e pag e s

, , .

SA V ER N A K E , AS T ON R O A D, E AL N G W
I ,

D EA R F ATH ER M A R TI N DA LE —I n complianc e with your ,

ve ry kind r e qu e st I can b u t say that it affo r ds m e gr atific a

,

tio n to say a littl e about my lat e fr i e nd Mgr B e nson I . .

first m e t h im i n R om e soo n aft e r his r e c e ptio n i nto th e

Catholic Chu r ch W e w e r e both th e gu e sts at th e tim e o f
.

Fr W hitm e e o f San Silv e st r o i n C ap I te

. I w as strongly .

att r act e d to h im and f r om that tim e until h is d e ath w e

,

r e main e d on t er ms o f fri e ndsh ip and m e t at not infr e q u e nt ,

i nt e r vals C u rio u sly e no u gh how e ve r I do n o t r e coll e ct

.
, ,

e ve r having m e t him i n th e company o f o th e r Catholics

,

e xc e pt on th e occasio n sp e cifi e d altho u gh I am fort u nat e ,

in e njoying th e f r i e ndship o f not a fe w I n e v e r w e nt to .

H ar e Str e e t and n o w d ee ply r eg r e t that I was unable to

,
3 2, ROB ER T H UG H BENSON
k e e p my p r omis e to do so in r e spo ns e to h is r e p e at e d
kindly i nvitations H e has b e e n to se e m e o n occasio ns
.

e v e n at th e City Te mpl e— privat e ly o f co u rs e and not

, ,

d u r ing th e holdi ng o f any r e ligious s e rvic e W e hav e also .

m e t at th e ho u s e o f a Prot e stant fri e nd and I hav e b e e n ,

h is chai r man at th r e e o r f o u r p u blic m ee tings duri ng th e

last te n or a doz e n y e ars H e has twic e o r thric e add r e ss e d
.

City Te mpl e a u di e nc e s e ach tim e w ith th e g r e at e st acc e pt

,

anc e ; i nd ee d it is b u t t r u e to say that no m e mb er o f

,

anoth e r communio n was mo r e lov e d and admi r e d by my

p e opl e tha n h e I n sayin g this p e r hap s I o u ght to add
.

that th e m e e tings i n q u e st i o n w e r e not h e ld o n th e City

Te mpl e pr e mis e s b u t i n public buildings e ls e wh er e
, Th e .

mo st m e mo r abl e o f th e s e took plac e only a short tim e

b e fo r e h is d e ath wh e n h e spoke o n p syc h o lo ical r e s e a r ch
,

from a r e ligious standpo int N early th r e e t o u san d p er

.

so ns h e ard that addr e ss which was a r e markabl e fe at o f

,

orato r y as w e ll as o f cl e a r san e r e asoning and ill u minating

,

stat e m e nt H i s p r e vio u s visi t had b e e n to a m u ch mo r e

.

r e strict e d a u di e n c e and o n a s e mi -p r ivat e o ccasio n wh e n

, ,

h e discours e d with e qual e lo qu e nc e o n th e Catholi c Ch u rch

and th e Fut u r e .

H i s i nfl u e nc e among Prot e stants was e xtraordinary ; I

do not know any living Catho lic w h o app r oach e s it A S .

h e said hims e l f th e last tim e h e stood b e for e a City Te mpl e

,

ass e mbly tw e nty y e a r s ago it wo u ld h ave b e e n u nthi nkabl e

,

that a Catholic Sp e ak e r e xpounding Catholic doctrin e

would hav e b ee n giv e n a sympath e tic h e aring o n a P r o
t e stant platfo r m H e wa s good e nough to cr e dit th e
.

di ff er e nc e to m e a nd said so v er y e mphatically in r e p lying

,

to a vot e o f thanks ; b u t in this h e was mistak e n ; it was

h e h ims e lf who mad e th e di ff e r e nc e Th e charm and .

b e a u ty th e boyish frankn e ss o f h is mann e r tog e th e r with

, ,

h is e vid e nt s inc e rity and sp i r itual pow e r captivat e d e v e r y ,

body and mad e him ir r e si stibl e P e r hap s I ought to

.

m e ntio n that for som e y e ars be fo r e hi s d e ath h e had o c c u

pi e d with mys e lf and oth e r s a plac e 0 11 th e adviso ry boa r d
of th e Ch r istian Common w ealth a r e ligio u s p e r iodical with
an op e n platfo r m —a so r t of po p u la r H ib b er t jou r n al Mgr
,

. .

B e nso n s positio n th e r e was u s e d so l e ly fo r th e p u r pos e of

’

r e vising b e fo r e it app e ar e d any r e f e r e nc e to th e Catholic

Chu r ch o r stat e m e nt b e aring upo n Catholic vi e ws in r e ard
to p u blic a ffairs I t did not fo llow that h e ag r e e d wit it
.
,

b u t in th e inte r e sts o f fairn e s s and acc u racy such articl e s

3 2 6 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
f u til e pro c e e ding ; b u t u nl e ss I am utte rly mistak e n th e
, ,

i nt e ll e ct p lay e d almost no pa r t i n th e tr e m e ndous d e cision

wh ich le d h im to s u bmit to R om e H i s mind struck m e ‘

as qu ick rath er th an p r ofo u nd a r d e nt and e ag e r r ath e r ,

than o r igi nal o r ve r y p e n e trating I th ink h e would hav e .

ackno w l e dg e d this for h e mo r e than onc e quot e d to m e

,

o u r Lo r d s saying abo u t th e divin e myst e ri e s hidd e n f r om

’

th e wis e and r e v e al e d to bab e s H is ignoranc e o n B iblical .

criticism wa s som ewhat abysmal e ve n startlingly so ; i n ,

f act o u r conve r satio ns hav e le d m e to inf e r that his r e ad

,

ing was n e v er ve r y thorough in a nything H e had a c r e ative .

g e nius o f h is o w n and a pow e r o f assimilating what h e

want e d but n e v e r of st u dy fo r study s sak e
,
—Yours ’
.

v e ry truly , R J C A M P B ELL . . .

Mr . Campb e ll in a s e rmon spok e n f rom th e City

,

Te mp l e pulp it o ff e r e d a warm tribut e to Mgr B e nson s

’
, .

m e mory .

B e nson mad e th e usual e xcursio ns with th e s e f ri e nds ;

o n e was to T uscul u m .

You should have j ust h e a r d my H igh Talk ; Po e try

and Civilisation and Lif e and B e ing ; and I playe d
,

absurd gam e s Fizz and B u zz with th e childr e n and w e

, , ,

told sto r i e s round A lso I told an e normous story in.

th e th e at r e abo u t an old R oman pop u lation who had

,

e scap e d at th e G oth ic i nvasion and two boys and a gi r l ,

who found th e ir way to th e m by a s u bt e r r an e an passag e .

A n d I also d e sc e nd e d a w e ll by a rop e with th e boy , .

Wh e n w e got bac k I drove sol e m nly i n a V ictoria with

th e gi r l and sh e told m e all abo u t h e r hat and how
,

much it cost and that it was Pa r isian Sh e i s ag e d te n ;

and w e w e nt to anoth er a w f u l crush —L o r ! B ut w e
, .

had a h e av e nly day ; with tw o carabin e e rs to g u a r d us

f r o m b r igands ; and th e blu e Sabin e H ills and th e se a , ,

and th e viol e ts ! l am d e g e n e rating i nto a q u ack e r

at te a-tabl e s and shall probably play lawn -t e nnis in a
,

black flann e l shi r t wh e n I ge t hom e again .

He go e s to O stia and att e nds childr e n s balls all i n

,
’

,
“

p e r u k e s and powd e r and patch e s and swords but still

, , , ,

finds childr e n s pa r ti e s o dd “ o n S u nday

’
Th e Villa .
 IN RO M E 3 7
2

d Este
’
nchants him ; but y e st e r day th e re was a cr u sh
e
“
,

making a noi s e like a m e nage ri e at th e s h er e wh o ’

,

have take n an e ntir e palac e—and the r e w e r e fiv e cardinals

,

and mo nsignori like th e sand o f th e sea—and e v e rybo dy

d r ank champ agn e at 5 P M A gain h e go e s to A nzio
. .
, ,

“
as usual th e o nly e ccl e siastic ! as I w e nt o u t and sat
o n th e ruins of N e ro s villa built into this se a with a
’

s e a and sky lik e turquois e .

Th e r ath e r b i tte r f ruit o f this tr e e o f most imp e r f e ct

'

knowl e dg e is se t o u t fo r o u r cons u mptio n i n th e first

p ag e s o f I n i ti ati on Th e r e ar e i n this I would e mp hasiz e
.
, ,

no s e rious caricatur e s and n o d e lib er at e studi e s o f r e al

,
“
cas e s
. H ow e ve r th e pictur e f or instanc e
,
o f th e , ,

Marchion e ss Daly i s unkind I t is tru e to ty p e ; b u t w e .

know h o w c r u e lly tho u gh tacitly po r trait -pai nt e rs i f

, , ,

such th e ir d e sir e can m o ck H er und e r-c u rr e nt o f

,
“
.

acidity h er p ee vish d e light i n disc e r ning and thrust

,
“
,

i ng a pin thro ugh littl e cracks and h ol e s i n r e putatio ns

,

h e r r e put e d co nv e rsatio ns with th e Se cr e ta r y o f Stat e ,

i n which that pr e lat e i t ap p e ar e d took h e r advic e i n

, ,

e v e ry p a r t icular and be gg e d that h e might have th e

,

advantag e o f it always i n th e fut u r e ar e to ld o f ba r e ly ,

with a smil e c e rtai nly with no g e nial laugh Yo u will

, .

p r e f e r th e w e althy A m e rican M rs H e cke r “

o n e blaz e, .
,

of int e llig e nc e h itting at o nc e o n all th e right p oints

,

i n what sh e look e d at a nd o n th e r ight e pith e ts fo r

,

d e scribing th e m ; cont e mplating th e Catacombs i n a “

ki nd o f e cstasy o f int e llig e nc e and finding that this “

,

i s all to o love ly—so tr u ly Catholi c ; and Sir N e vill yo u , ,

mak e it j ust compl e t e Y o u stand fo r. England ,

y o u know , and th e f e u dal syst e m and h e r e s th e

’

Tr ap p ist monk to tak e us b ack to Sil e nc e W e r e all ’

h e r e —a microcosm you might say B ut what I want

, .

, .
3 28 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
to kn o w is What do e s all this say to m e ? —
, ( Sh e wav e d

an admirably glove d hand round th e tangl e d gard e n

wild e rn e ss ) What is its m e s sage to m e right now ?
What am I to take away with m e that I hadn t b e for e ? ’

Sh e “
always saw th e d r amatic e l e m e nt a sh ad e quicke r
than anyon e e ls e and i n that r e s e mbl e s B e nso n hims e lf
, ,

and p e rhap s that was o n e r e ason why h e like d h er ,

though h e f ou nd h er e xp licit stat e m e nts a trifl e nicke l

'

plat e d fo r his tast e H e r husband att e ntive and trim

.
“
, ,

was as n egligibl e as th e anxio u s Marq u is ; but h e has

his r e ality as have th e grav e magnific e nt cardinals
, , ,

Da ni e ls i n wh os e de n N e vill found h ims e lf a lio n ; th e

I talian p r i e st v e ry r e coll e ct e d and w e ll br e d like a
,
- “
,

G uardsman who h as b e com e a s e minarian th e Princ e ss

Mar e sc hi small fad e d shabby th e f ri e nd o f cardinals
, , , , ,

black e st o f th e black o f an u n mistakabl e dignity th e

, ,

r e plica in Italian disg u is e o f unmarri e d Evang e lical

“
, ,

daught e rs and si st e rs of a nci e nt English duke s ; only

sh e was a Catholic and talke d four lang u ag e s with e qual
,

e as e a nd th e y but o n e
,
With all th e s e f olk N evill mak e s
.

th e e xcursio ns B e nso n mad e to F r as c ati to St Callixtus , ,

.
,

up to th e Pin cian With B e n son h e mak e s c e rtain

.
,

r e fl e ctions prop e r to R om e and first and for e most upo n , , ,

th e u nspann e d gulf b e tw ee n two rival camps cl e rgy and ,

laity .

Bu t if you would see a pag e o n wh ich B e nso n s o w n

’

b e li e fs ar e mor e truly g r oup e d and co r r e lat e d than e ls e

wh e r e yo u must tu r n to th e fi r st visit o f th e English
,

tourists to th e Pi ncian in Th e Cow ar d Th e y look th r o u gh

,
.

th e suns e t acro ss R om e and th e a nci e nt and m e dia e val

,

and mod e rn citi e s ar e visibl e n o t alo n e i n th e motl ey c r owd

,

that throngs th e m but i n actual bricks and mo r tar st r e tch

,

ing i n all dir e ctions broke n by mass e s o f high buildi ngs

, ,
33 0 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
b u t th e work th e r e sounds imm e ns e ly attractiv e It is .

q u it e o dd h o w laym e n e ntr e at m e not to go into r e

ligio n ; th e y say that s e c u lar pri e sts in England ar e quit e
hop e l e ss and that e ve ry r e sp e ctabl e p e rso n go e s into
r e ligio n nowadays —
,

e sp e cially to th e B e n e dictin e s .

And on January 3 r d he r e turns to th e subj e ct

what do yo u think about A m erica r e ally and

No w , ,
tr u ly ? I t i s rath e r gr o w i n g o n m e N ot that I h ave .

a nything but h o r ror at th e th o u gh t o f l e aving En land ;

b u t that e xactly two things that I can do l e ss in e ffici e nt y than
oth e r things —viz missio n p r e ach ing and lit e r a r y work
.

( e diting o f a Catholic n e wspap e r

) —ar e what ar e o f f er e d
me It would only m ean binding mys e lf fo r p r o b ably
.

not l e ss than th r e e y e ars ; ordinatio n n e xt Ch r istmas ,

and a month o r two s h oliday e ach summe r if I wish e d

’

it B u t it wo u ld b e e xt r ao r dinarily e xp e nsive comi ng

.

to England and I p robably could not do it e v e r y y e a r

,
.

Th e r e i s r e ally a good chanc e o f s e ve ral h e r e acc e pting

it I f yo u said N O I Sho u ld n t i n th e l e ast f ee l yo u w e r e
.
,
’

”
standing i n my way but that that was a l e adin “
I
am p e rf e ctly willin g to b e p ush e d abo u t by Divin e grovi
.
,

d e nc e ; and th e th 1 ng that p u sh e s hard e st will win ; a nd

I Shall b e p e rf e ctly cont e nt P e r so nally I still f e e l that
.

hom e sickn e ss will simply i ncapacitat e m e .

moth e r r e pli e d from Tr e m an s on Ja nuary 7th that

H is
sh e won t say N o abo u t A m e rica Your o w n principl e s
’ “
. .

o f d e cision wh ich you gave m e o n e day -o f thinking- o i

praying—o f fixing a tim e and putting it away—all c om e
i n w e ll h e r e Sh e u r g e s that hom e sickn e ss may wa ne
.
,

o nc e h e is i n A m e rica “
Th e y say wi th what truth I do ,

not know th at th e r e i s oft e n n o t e no u gh work fo r s e c u lar

,

pri e sts i n England A m e rica is suit e d to him ; h e could

.

g e t back — i n fact s h e could not b e a r that h e sho u ld n o t do

so .
“
B ut I will tr y with both hands a nd my whol e h e art
to se e as far as I can what is th e nobl e st and f u ll e st thing
y o u can do You can
. t mak e s u ch a d e cision in a mom e nt
’

,
 IN RO M E 331

and things always com e to g u id e o n e be f or e it has to b e

finally mad e .

What mov e d him e sp e cially was what i n his unfocus e d

vi e w h e took fo r th e mistak e n attitud e o f authoriti e s
towards i nst r u ct e d conv e rts .

A lr e ady o n N ov e m be r 2 0 h e had writt e n

A llthat I want to do i s to say Mass and make se rmons

and p r e ach a nd d e al with p e opl e ; and all that I am
allowe d to do is to com e o u t h e r e and r e ad th e o lo that
I know alre ady and l e arn colloq u ial Latin and go t ro u gh
,

a numb er o f social acts and e ccl e siastical f unctio ns B ut

p e r hap s th ey k n ow b e st .

U ndo u bt e dly th e y kn e w b e st ! Ev e n at th e tim e ,

H ugh B e nson kn e w th e y did A t th e risk o f s e e ming

.

la borio us p e dantic and lacking in all humo u r, I would

, ,

i nsist that H ugh B e nson talk e d —wh e n h e f e lt non e

would misund e rstand h im —f ar mor e tha n h e r e ally m e ant .

O f cours e h e f e lt th e c u rb as do all young m e n f u ll o f

,

e ag e rn e ss to b e gin A s f or th e ology h e r e cognis e d long

.
,

aft e r h is extra y e ar e v e n at Cambridg e how Sk e tchy was

, , ,

h is knowl e dg e o f most o f its t e ch nicaliti e s ; as f or th e

long wait—w e ll it is not his disgrac e that h e was t e mpt e d
,

to r e s e nt it but hi s prid e that h e so s e ldom yi e ld e d

,
.

H is sist e r wrot e with insight almost I f ee l unparall e l e d

, , ,

in this corr e spond e nc e and at a n hour wh e n h e was

,

h e sitating about th e mor e rudim e ntary f e atur e s of h is

f u tur e a nd wonde r ing wh e th e r as a lay o b lat e o f som e
, ,

r e ligious ho u s e (had h e be e n r e ading h is f avourit e H u ys

mans L Oblat P) h e could d e vot e hims e l f wholly to lit era r y
’ ’

wo r k .

I am awfully int e r e st e d about yo u r p lans I don t .

’

w an t y ou to b e an oblat e doing lit e rary wo r k And 0 .

D ON T tak e any plac e wh ich might l e ad to this Th e

’

r e asons ar e pa r tly sp e cial and p artly g e n e ral—Sp e cial

.

, ,
33 2 ROB ER T H UG H BEN SON

that s u r e ly you m u st b e a pri e st ; e e r that I don t ’

think that as a f am ily e v e n as r e ga r (g

,

s nlit eal
rary wo r k th e r e
is s u ffici e nt prof u ndity to e nabl e anyo n e saf e ly to do
that only I always f e lt this abo u t
. and though I
can t h e lp th inking you r gift is p e rba s gr e at e r ye t I
’

don t b e li e v e I n any cas e th e w e ll is Cp

,

e no u gh n o t
’
eep

to n e e d constant r ep len i sh m en t oth e rwis e it will e ith e r r u n

,

dr y or thin Symbolism b r e aks down

. I thi nk th e r e .

i s l e ss originality tha n pow e r o f assimilatio n o f mat e rial

and r e prod u ctio n i n a n e w form .

O n N ove mb e r 29 h e has l e a r nt with horror o fa mov e m e nt

to ge t th e e x -A nglican cl er gy thr e e ye ars trai ning ; so h e ’

f e e ls that e v e n if h e do e s ge t two h e w ill b e satisfi e d ,

.

Fo r c onsolatio n h e has tak e n to a so r t o f mild smoking

it r e ally be cam e almost n e c e ssary—b ut I n e ve r smok e
mo r e than th r e e [ciga r ett e s ] a day so f ar a nd oft e n no n e ,

at all So I th ink I am cur e d

. .

A t this mom e nt th e n h is p e r sonal f e e lings c r ystallis e d

, ,

th e ms e lv e s i n tirad e s again st th e s e mi n ary syst e m as , ,

j u dging from what h e con sid e r e d its r e sults it display e d ,

i ts e lf Th e s e r e sults h e consid er e d hop e l e ss -m e n who

.
“

ca n talk c e r e monial and cas u istry and noth i ng e ls e .

O n D e c e mb e r 6 h e wrot e th u s
O ne is slowly so r ting impr e ssions now and th ey ,

ar e i nst r uctiv e Will it bo r e yo u to h e ar th e m ?

.

( )
1 E v e ryon e pri e sts and
,
all fi r st o f all hav e an ,

int e n s e faith and r e alisatio n of th e sup e rnat u r al and ,

e xpr e ss it pe rf e ctly frankly i n wo r ds and b e haviou r

q u it e naturally and d e vo u tly .

( )
2 T h e y a r e also th e r e fo r e ,
flipp a n t v e r y oft e n I t
,
.

is th e s e amy sid e o f faith Th e y make jok e s that mak e .

o n e s hair stand o n e n d B ut th e y do it not b eca u s e

’
.
,

th e y do n t but b e ca u s e th e y do b eli e ve so int e ns e ly

’

,
.

( 3) T h e y ar e rath e r st u p id T hat is th e f a u lt of th e
.

s e m i na r y syst e m ; it t e ach e s th e m th e i r b u si n e ss and

th e ir faith admi r ably b u t it t e ach e s th e m nothing e ls e
,

at all B ut wh e n as i n th e cas e o f r e at di r e ctors th e y

do know human nat u r e th e y know it f
.
, ,

,
ar b e tt e r than any
3 34 ROB ER T H UGH B ENSON
watchword is th e word e difyi n g A ll things ar e “
.

law f ul fo r m e but all are n o t e xpe di e nt

,
Th e atre s .
,
bicyclin g o u t h e r e going o u t witho ut a cassock & c ar e
, ,
.
,

not e d i fying .

Imm e diat e ly upon th is you must r e ad that chapt er in

th e P ap er s of a P ar i ah wh ich d e als dir e ctly with th e ,

Catholic pri e st as a s e minary product I t is call e d A “

.

Fath e r in G od and prof e ss e s o f cours e to b e an outsid e

, , ,

vi e w o f a parish pri e st as take n by a thought f u l u n p re

, ,

j u d i c e d i n fact
,
sympath e tic agnostic Th e r e is e xc e ll e nt .

com e dy i n th e fi r st pag e s wh e re Fath e r Tho r p e d e al s ,

firmly with th e w ealthy Mrs J oh nson a woman who .

,

wo u ld not b e ar domi n e e ring f rom e ve n a n archang e l

“
,

and who was so im portant i n h e r sph e r e that wh e n Sh e ,

di n e d with th e banke r Sh e drov e both to a nd from his r e si

,

d e nc e i n a clos e d fly Th e p r i e st s voic e
.
“
cl e ar and ’

p e e vish was h e ard to say nothi ng but My d e ar child

,
“
,

don t talk such nons e ns e a nd Mrs Joh nson had nothing

’

,
.

to answ e r save V e ry w e ll Fath e r if you think so

“
, , .

“
A n d e v e n this was i n a ton e bo th bland and g r at ef ul .

B e nson s whol e po int is that a p r i e st is as h e is int e nd ed

’

to b e and is acc e pt e d as b e ing a par e nt with his moods , ,

a nd man n e rs but n o t anyhow a lawy e r who must b e

, , , ,

polit e n o r a trad esman who must b e subs e rvi e nt A S

, , .

r e pr e s e ntative to h i s flock o f G od hi s authority is absolut e , ,

always r e cognis e d v e r y c ircumscrib e d U n o ffic ially h o w

,
.
,

e v e r ye t i n dir e ct cons e q u e nc e o f h is o f
,
fi c e his voic e i s ,

list e n e d to d e f e r e ntially i n d e partm e nts wid e ly oth e r than

th e th e ological A nd “
. h o w stra n g e it i s that this stat e
of a ff ai r s Sho u ld b e b r o u ght abo u t through th e s e minary
t e aching What Englishm e n want say th e dignita r i e s
.
,

o f th e Establishm e nt ar e m e n of th e world
,
univ e r sity ,

m e n ge ntl e m e n
,
public -sch oo l m e n —no oth e rs n e ed
,
 IN RO M E 335
apply I solation praye r sp e cialis e d study lack o f f e mal e
.
, , ,

so ci e ty produc e it is u rg e d an u tt e rly incomp e t e nt typ e

, , , ,

sac e rdotally co r r e ct but i nad e qu at e to e qual d e alings ,

with its f e llow -men .

pr e cis e ly th e opposit e app e ars to b e th e cas e I f

Yet .

I wish to smoke my pip e with a cong e nial cl e rgyman o r ,

to h e ar r e asonabl e conv e rsation o n topics o f th e day o r ,

to l e a r n how to d e al with a r e fractory child o r to discuss ,

th e advisability of att e nding a c e r tain rac e m ee ting ; o r if ,

on th e oth e r hand I n ee d a littl e b r isk consolation o r , ,

hav e an unp l e asant s e cr e t to r e v e al o r an inv e t e rat e habit ,

to ove rcom e o r a complicat e d mo r al probl e m to unrav e l

, ,

I sho u ld not d r e am o f ste p p i n ac r os s to th e r e cto r y o r to

th e n e w V i ca r ag e o f St Sym p orosa but
( ) I sho u ld .
1

unh e sitatingly take my hat and go a c r oss to th e popish

pr e sbyt e ry wh e r e I should find a man who had sp e nt te n
,

y e ars of h is youth i n a rigid s e mina r y b u t who som ehow ,

had e m e rg e d f r om it a man of th e wo r ld i n th e b e st s e ns e ,

n e ith e r a lar e -h e art e d b u lly n o r a Spiritual hyp ochondriac

o n e wh o wil n e ith e r shout at m e n o r sh r ink f r om m e who ,

will possibly drop his aspirat e s and b e e ntir e ly ignorant

o f lit e ratur e and art but who will ye t list e n to what I hav e ,

to say und e rsta nd m e wh e n I say it and giv e m e e xc ell e nt

, ,

ad v ic e .

Y e s ye s ; th e Catholic Church is amazingly

,

adroit ; sh e has manag e d to p r od u c e grap e s f rom thorns ,

and figs from th istlps and m e n of th e world f r om s e min ,

a r i e s I hav e n o t an id e a how sh e do e s it unl e ss h er o w n

e xplanatio n o f it is t r u e —
.
,

wh ich i s that th e knowl e dg e o f

G o d is th e short c u t to k n o w le d e o f man th at tim e Sp e nt ,
i n p r ay e r is th e most e conomica i nv e stm e nt o f a wo r king
ho u r and that m e ditation o n s u p e r nat u r al myst e r i e s and
,

familiarity with s u p e r natu r al things conf e r an insight into

o r di nary a ffairs of common lif e th at can b e obtain e d i n no
oth e r way—unl e ss o nc e m or e Christ s words ar e to b e ’

tak e n lit e r ally not m e taphorically and that wh e n H e said

, ,

will t p d c th ign tt s f th wa m h art d th mpi g

1
I no re ro u e e v e e o e r - e e ,
“
u n re ct or

a d th m
n tifi ed vica i t wh s pal a y a i vit ed t p y g
e or r, n o o e e e r ou re n o o en ou r r e i fi n

his ak -li ed v st y
o nxt Sat d ay B s w ed th at his ag stic
e r on ne ur . e n on o n no
”
h ad
h a d l ck i his xp i c e fA glic a cl gym
r u n e a d th p i t is
e r en oti n n er en n e o n , no n what
h d
e c d i th syst ms b t i th fact th at h l a t adic ally t
en o u n e n o er e , u n e e e rn r o re vise
hi w
s o a l vi
n e ws fth e r s lts fs mi a
r e t ai io e u
y y g o e n r r n n .
33 6 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
that thos e who fo r H is sake r e nounc e d wive s and child r e n
and b r e thr e n and lands sho u ld find th e ms e lve s t r e at e d as
husbands and fath e r s and broth e r s i n th e ir t u rn that ,

th ey wh o lost th e i r lif e should find it that th e y who took ,

th e low e st plac e sho u ld pr e s e ntly stand i n th e high e st ,
and that th e m e e k and th e p e ac e make rs sh ould inh er it th e
e arth b e call e d th e child r e n o f G od sh in e o u t as th e light
, ,
o f th e wo r ld and b e s e t u po n a h igh hill a city that cannot
, ,

b e b id .

H ugh was h ow e v er slightly e ncourag e d by r e c e iving

, , ,

at th is tim e a p e rmission stamp e d all ov e r with cardi

“
, ,

nals hats and tiaras to r e ad books upon th e I n dex ; L i b r i

’

, ,

it stat e d e g i or n ali dalla S S e d e proibiti ascopo d i con

“
,
.
,

fu tar n e gli e r ro r i .

“
So b e rath e r r ashly sums up
,
“
I n ee dn t both e r ,
’

now b u t ca n r e ad anything
,
.

H ow ev e r A m e rica still b e ckon ed him

,
.

jan u ary 10 .

A m e rica
s e e ms wholly di ffe r e nt Th e p r i e st who .

has aske d m e to com e i s co ntin u ally sayi ng We want “

,

m e n lik e yo u W e know you know your faith ; a nd

Pr ot e stants —w e
.

w e want p e op l e who ca n d e al with

hav e n t o t any ; yo u wo u ld Simply sw e e p th e m into th e
’

Ch u rch g A n d h e pro po s e s to form a M issio n Soci e ty

.
’

,
with Fath e r and mys e l f as t nucl e us and give u s
h e 1
,

a fr e e hand to go wh er e w e lik e and do what w e lik e and , ,

u se all o u r o ld m e thods It is v e ry t e mpting ; and th e .

pa r ochial p e opl e will b e give n an ind e p e nd e nt pa r ish at

onc e if th ey lik e it and not b e stuck down as j u nior curat e s
, ,

u nd e r som e silly o l d man .

I f I go I Shall p r obably live at th e Cath e dral at th e

,

A rchbishop s ho u s e take ov e r th e n e wspap e r at o nc e

’

, ,

and go trav e lling o ff all ov e r th e plac e pr e achi n g G ood

, ,
.

n e ss m e
Th e A rchbishop looks a spl e ndid p e rso n from h is
photog r aph 6 f e e t 2 inch e s tall v ery la r g e and b e aming
, , ,

a conv e rt hims e lf with a solid fac e lik e a b u tl e r and , ,

e no r mously pop u la r with e v e r ybody .

1 Se e Vo l . p . 20 9 , The Mo t o r Missi o n .
3 3 8 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
to work th e r e aft e r a long e r tim e and wh e n yo u w e r e so
, ,

to say o n a solid e xp e ri e n c e d basis A t p r e s e nt I think it

, .

wo u ld p u t yo u i n a n e xtr e m e ly di ffic u lt and d isagr e e abl e

position an d wo u ld b e scarc e ly a fai r thing to do sca r c e ly
, ,

what you would find yo u could do if it cam e n e ar e r u nl e ss

, ,
it was laid upon yo u as an absolut e duty .

H ow e v e r ,
by January 30 ye t anoth e r s u gg e stio n had
,

be e n mad e Be nson was i nclin e d to grasp at anything

.

which should ge t h im away from R om e .

H e go e s to s e e th e B ishop o f N orthampton who “

is ,

a nic e o ld man but ,

jan uary 30 .

propos e d my going to O sc o tt (as a kind o f fi fth -form

boy ) wh e n I said that R om e did n o t s ee m to b e doing m e
much good whi ch sh ows that his g r asp o f
, th e Situation
was n o t what it might b e I do n t think w e shall com e
.
’

back fo r anoth e r y e ar if w e don t go to A m e rica or ge t

’

ordination som e how I shall tr y to look o u t for a r e ligio u s

.

ho u s e i n England wh e r e I ca n go a nd liv e and work but ,

I shall let th e m cl e arly know that I p r opos e to do lit er ary

work th e r e a s w e ll as th e ology
, .

O n F e bruary writ e s that a p r e lat e has writt e n

6 he
f rom A m e ri ca holding o u t h igh pro sp e cts
,

ordination by Christmas and wh at wo r k w e lik e Bu t

, .

p e o pl e ar e b egi nning to w r it e and say that w e must com e

to England ; that w e ar e want e d “
that it will b e a
compl et e misapp lication o f e n e rgy to go to M ission wo r k
which oth e rs can do and l e av e u ndon e th e work whi ch
,

w e ar e e sp e cially fitt e d to do and so o n and so o n

,
So , .

w e shall wait to s e e what th e autho r iti e s do and wh e th e r ,

it is mor e than words .

Mor e ove r hi s e ye is g r owing accustom e d to a n ew and

,

mor e synoptic outlook ove r his studi e s .

I am g e tting through a quantity o f solid th e ology .

My goodn e ss ! Th e sch e m e o f it all is tr e m e ndous ; e ver y

possibl e obj e ction d e alt with l
 IN RO M E 3 39

H ow e v e r ,it is this apolog e tic vi e w of th e ology wh ich

still i s mainly h is th e i nd e p e nd e nt prosp e ct ov e r th e
spirit u al world with its sch e m e s and syst e m s o f ord e r e d
,

thought and action and th e t r e m e ndous organisatio n and

,

sup ernatur al plan which a th e ologian s e r e n e and u n r u ffle d

, ,

by a ny thought o f attack o r d e f e nc e ca n co nt e mplat e did , ,

n o t b e long to h im nor was it e v e r sav e i n a circumscrib e d

, ,

ar e a o f mystical asc e ticism thoroughly app r e ciat e d by him

, .

A n e w sch e m e h e a dds how e v e r o n F e bruary 7 had

, , , ,

g e rminat e d i n th e f e rtil e brains of H ugh and o f his f r i e nds .

Th e spi r it o f N e wman still hov e r e d o v e r th e p a

ths o f r e c e nt
conv ert-cl eric s out i n Rom e and it was hi nt e d ,

that w e -i e about half a doze n conve rts —sho uld start

. .

a n O ratory at B
“ I t is quit e e xtrao r dina r y how
w e sho u ld fit in w e hav e two missio nari e s two pr e ach e r s , ,

a c e r e monialist a parish p r i e st an organis e r R e ally w e

, , .
,

Should b e abl e to do a lo t B ut it i s o nly th e vag u e st of

.

id e as so f ar A noth e r comfort wo u ld b e that w e should all

.

b e r e sp e cta b ly e ducat e d ; that no bishop c ould int e r f e r e ,

o nly th e Pop e th at w e should hav e a n e ntir e ve to against

n e w applicants w e did n o t lik e I b e li e ve w e shall draw a lot
.

o f oth e rs lik e o u rs e lv e s So th er e ar e a good many alt e r

.

nativ e s We sho uld be gin with a tin ch u r ch and wo r k

.

m e n s cottag e s th e lif e i s v e ry like Mir fi eld A n O r atoria n

’
.

h e r e sugg e st e d it Each O ratory by th e way is ab so

.
“
, ,

lu te ly ind e p e nd e nt o f all oth e rs a nd und e r th e Pop e dir e ct , ,

”
witho t any G e n e ral o f th e O rd e r
u
“
.

P S .
— Th e O ratory would m e an that I could contin u e
.
“

to w r it e a s much a s I like d and pr e ach s e rmo ns and hav e

, ,

an e vang e lical pray e r m ee ting e ve ry w ee k .

O n F e brua r y says that p lans ar e s tanding still

14 he .

B ut Fath e r Talbot has e xplain e d to th e m th e O ratorian

“
s ch e m e B . is th e most ino ffe nsive plac e h e f e e ls ,
”
,

that h e could start i n as h e n e ve r pr e a ch e d th e r e Th e

, .

visio n o f tin c hap e l and cottag e s m e lts i nto that o f a

34 0 .
ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
basilica I t wo u ld b e gorg e ous with gilding and mosaics
.
, .

N am e s follow o f possibl e associat e s .

Th e y quit e delig htfu l th e most s e nsibl e o ld Catholics

ar e ,

w e hav e m e t ye t and e xt r e m e ly p io u s and anxio u s for

, ,

p r op e r work and not this e t e rnal dawdling about a f te r

,
“
ca r e e rs I loath e that word Ev er ybody i s told to
.
”
.

“
mak e a car ee r which m e a ns that u ltimat e ly if yo u
,

dawdl e and intrig u e e nough and e ntir e ly damn your soul ,

y o u
g e t a small pi e c e of pu r pl e to w e ar in your colla r .

N oth ing will i nduc e m e to mak e a ca r ee r .

He sums up

O ratory has for it th e s e advantage s :

Th e Th e
work w e can do ( 2) O n e will hav e no wo r k that
. can t o ne
’

do ; cl u bs music c er e mo nial finan c e all don e by oth e rs

, , , ,
.

(3 ) Fixity o f t e n u r e ; no bishop can t u r n us o u t (4 ) .

R e sp e ctably e ducat e d p e opl e to do with and no dang e r o f ,

cads Th e disadvantag e s ar e v e ry few : ( 1 ) mor e diffi cult

.

to go i nto r e ligio n aft e rwards ; (2 ) financ e ; ( 3 ) imm e

‘ ’

diat e ordination .
”

Bu t on F e bruary 21 he can writ e that

an ambassado r is o n his way to Ca r di nal Re spighi to “

say a fe w p lai n words about Mr and m e or rath e r .

,

not v e r y plai n a s (h e ) said h e would hav e to b egi n a

,

long way fr om th e s u bj e ct and all u d e to it i n a pa r e n ,

th e sis ”
.
[ A di s p e nsation fo r Swift ord i natio n was to b e
aske d for ; th e City set o n a H ill was to b e pr e s e nt e d as
c r e d e ntial s ] I r e ally da r e n t ask what h e i s going to say
.
’

as I am pr e tty c e rtain that h e will colour h is sto r y and I ,

should h ave to co r r e ct h im Th e y ar e funny p e opl e .

Furth e r int er c e sso r s w e r e i nvoke d n ext we e k but th e ,

whol e sch e m e was r e gard e d as a m e r e alt e rnative to

A m e r ica .

B y M a r ch 6 th e Cardinal had exp re ss e d hims e lf “ most

,

favou r abl e and ordinatio n s e e m e d probabl e in th e s u mm e r

, .

A co ns e q u e nc e would b e “
a littl e mo r e r e ading in Mo r al
 34 2 ROB ER T H U G H BEN SON
East e r ? S u bdiaconat e i n A pril and diaco nat e and pri e st
,

hood in May ? Why not “

Th e n I sh all to il i f n e c e ssary
, ,

fo r a month o r s o at cas u istry .

With th e immin e nc e of r e ality th e mor e fantasti c

,

pl e asu r e s o f h is gam e b egan to los e th e ir savour H ugh .

was sob e r e d and s e riously sought to s e e wh e th e r Se lf had

,

b e e n r e sponsibl e fo r th e s e d e ve lopm e nts A gain h e argu e s

.

( M arch 1 9 ) that th is has all d e sc e nd e d so amazingly fr o m

“

th e blu e that I hav e n o sort o f doubt that it is all right ,

and that th e s e things hav e b e e n ar r ang e d by Th e m as i s

abov e A n d o n March 26 h e i s s e e ing that
.
“
probably
aft e r ord ination it will b e b e tt e r if I at l e ast do n t do to o
, ,
’

much active wo r k al l at onc e . H is O ptions ar e ( )

1 Com e

o u t h e r e again and ge t a doctorat e That appa r e ntly

.

wo uld not b e at all di ffic u lt and might b e w e l l worth

,

having in fut u r e to q u i e t silly p e opl e who say it i s im p o s

sibl e fo r a r e c e nt conve rt to know th e ology (2) G o into .

a r e ligio u s ho u s e —Dow nsid e with th e B e n e dictin e s o r

, ,

Woodch e st e r with th e Do m inicans fo r a y e ar o r so Th is

, , .

I should love ( 3 ) G o to W e stmi nst e r Cath e dral and sit

.

qu i e t Th e do ctorat e ap p e als to him ; R om e n o t

.
,
Any .

h o w h e is d e t e rmin e d to r e f u s e Fath e r Wh i tm e e s i nvitation

’

to pr e ach th e n e xt L e nt to English -Sp e aki ng Catholics at

San Silve stro .

H i s moth e r lik e s th e id e a o f a r e ligious hous e sh e f e e ls

that i n th e l e ss ord e r e d lif e h e for e s ee s for h ims e lf at
W e stmi nst e r h e would b e f r itt e r e d without having r e al
,

work H e pro b ably f e lt th e sam e

. .H ow e v e r th e pap e rs
,

had a r rive d by East e r Day ; th e examination for minor

.

ord e r s and s u bdiaconat e tog e th e r was to b e on Tu e sday

i n Lo w W e e k by sp e cial p rivil eg e and in English H e
,
.

was not n e rvous A t a short pr e liminary t e st o n Friday

“
.

his coach thre w down th e book aft e r thirty-fiv e mi n u t e s

“
 IN RO M E 34 3

and said Yo u know it all which I could have told h im

,
‘
,
’

“
be for e h e b egan Th e e xamination was i n f act not .
, ,

v e ry formidabl e I stood opposit e an I talia n p r o f e ssor .

,

a Dominican and th e prof e ssor (who is my o w n coach )

,
I
ask e d m e qu e st i ons at a n e xtrao r d i nary pac e i n Engl i sh
for a qua r t e r o f a n hour which I answ e r e d at the sam e ,
-

th is point all mor e distant int e r e sts f ad e b e hind th e

At
I mm e diat e e motio ns o f an o r di nation promis e d pr e sto ,

pr e sto ye t e v e r it would s ee m postpo n e d

,
1
, ,
.

“
A ft er
all h e wr it e s o n May 1 I didn t ge t minor “ ’

, ,

ord e rs to -day Th e amazing p e opl e at th e Vica r iat e aft e r

.
,

t e lling m e six w e e ks a o that all th e pap e rs h ad com e ‘ ’

told m e o n Friday that ghad to hav e c e rtificat e s o f baptism

,

and confirmatio n and o n e o r two oth er things ! So w e

hav e writt e n f u r io u sly to England B u t w e hop e in spit e .
,

o f it to go into r e tr e at to -mo r r ow ( tho u h w e can t b e s u r e

’

till to -morrow mo r ni ng ) and that I shal have minor o r d e rs ,

i n abo u t te n days and th e subdiaconat e a day or two lat e r ,

.
”

0 H u gh his moth e r wrot e on May 6 Th e I talian .

“

mind ! Th e y ar e G od s cr e atio n I know b u t I h av e to ’

, ,

re mi nd mys e l f o f it now and again wh e n th e y cut across ,

my English e xp e c tations Th er e ! I have don e ! it i s .

”
j ust po ssibl e that you may know your o w n b u sin e ss .

A w eek
lat e r nothing has happ e n e d ; but th e a ffair is,
“

in th e hands o f a pri e st who u nd e rstands th e Vicariat e and ,

it is goi ng swimmingly .

th at H gh w as pai f lly abs b e d

1
Not u n u or in or di ati
n on w o rr e is . I t w as at

this tim th at h w t t M A C B s
e e ro e o r. . . e n on :

Id Ch st e t s Watts ab t th sam tim [ as y

re a e r on T
’
ys “
ou e e e o ur
“
en n on

a d I l k d it
n ath —at l ast pa ts f it w
i e xc ll t b t th w a a t ifl
r er e r o e re e e en , u e re s r e

t
oo m ch C h st t
u I t w a lik a pe s ally c
e d cted t
e r on . i st ad f a i s e r on on u ou r n e o , s n

y b k l ki g at s m thi g th gh xc ll t s pe ctacl s that s m

our oo oo n o e n ro u e e en e o e on e

ls ha m ad H i b k m ad m f l th at h w a p ai f lly cl v —whil e
,

e e s e. s oo e e ee e s n u e er

y s m ad m f l I wa
o ur e e ee s.
34 4 ROB ERT H UG H BENSON
I n fact , he did
r e c e ive tonsur e and mi nor o r de r sfistr i c tly a ai n st all p r e
c e d e nt all at onc e o n A sc e nsio n Day e n e r ally that
take s fift e e n ho u rs in R om e—th r e e ordinations e ach f r om
.
, ,

7 to and min e took two hours A n d I go t th e m .

f r om a p rop e r Englishman A rchbishop Stonor I only , .

h e ard for c e rtain th e day b e for e .

Th e xa m inatio n f or diaconat e and pri e sthood s ee m e d

e

du e fo r Tue sday and r e t r e at pr e vious to th e Subdiaconat e

,

was f or W e dn e sday B y M ay 2 1 all pap e rs had arriv ed

.
,

all examinations had b e e n pass e d H ugh migrat e d to th e .

A v e ntin e and e stablish e d hims e lf fo r r e tr e at i n th e B e n e

,

di e ti n e monast e ry o f Sant A ns e lmo That sup e rb building ’

.
,

du e chi e fly to th e impuls e and g e n e rosity o f Le o XI I I ,

scarc e ly asks th at you sho u ld climb its campanil e i f yo ri

would e njoy o n e o f R om e s grand e st vi e ws ’
.

H i t
ne se p e m do m in o s u ide re c o ll e s
Et to tam l ic e t ae stimare R omain .
”

Martial was sitti ng o n th e Janicul u m wh e n h e wr ot e

that and his ve rs e s ar e still th e r e to r e mind th e pass er -b y
,
.

Still o n thos e slop e s G aribaldi dominat e s you ; th e Et e r nal

, ,

R om e i s sunk som ewhat and e clip s e d b e hind th e wood e d

should e r o f th e h ill from Sant A ns e lmo s balconi e s e v e ry ’ ’

thi ng is you r s A ll R om e and all th e R om e s ar e th e r e fo r

.
, ,

you to r e ckon up A t H u gh s f e e t almost was th e Circus

.
’

Maximus and b eyond it th e i ncomp arabl e a r cading o f

,

imp e rial palac e s o n th e Palatin e Church e s o f be wild e ring .

antiqu ity and charg e d with i nnum e rabl e m e mori e s ros e

, ,

abov e tr e e s o r roofs Sta Sabina Sta Prisca in A v e ntino

. .
, .
,

Sant A l e ssio n e ar e r still and visibl e i n th e hollow th e

’

, , ,

e xquisit e campanil e o f Sta Maria i n C o sm e di n and j ust .

,

be yo nd N e wman s titular church San G iorgio in Ve lab r o

,
’
,
.

Th e y e llow riv e r at th e foot o f th e h ill to th e e ast li nk e d

, ,
34 6 R O BE R T H UG H BEN S O N
dawdl e a littl e and r e ad and smok e a cigar e tt e whil e my
room i s don e Th e n m e ditation ( th e r e ar e no add r e ss e s o f
.

any kind ) and th e n writ e and r e ad and so o n till about

,

wh e n I go and pray again Th e n dinn e r at 1 2 si e sta .

,

aft e rwards walk i n gard e n o r an il e x av e n u e ; te a with a n

,

English abbot at th e n go about a nd m e ditat e o n

anything and s u pp e r at
,
a nd b e d abo u t 1 0 A r e ally .

tranquil p e ac e abl e day ; and I am loving e v e r y m in u te o f

,
~

it It lasts te n days W e talk a littl e but not v e ry m u ch

—and m e als ar e n early always sil e nt
. .
,

He for e s e e s th e pri e stho od only a month ah e ad A f t e r .

a few days f or saying Mass at shri n e s h e propos e s to

“
,

“
t e ar hom e at onc e ( To I ndia h.e wrot e that in J un e h e

sho u ld r e turn to England lik e a bu ll e t from a gu n ; and

“

soak mys e lf again i n lawns and t r ee s an d puddly roads and

M e anwhil e ,

Th e B e n e dictin e s ar e r e ally wond e r f u l so e x tr ao r din —

ar ily p e ac e f u l Th e y n e v e r f uss o n e , and radiat e a sort
.

o f tranquillity ; th e y walk and talk v e ry slo w l and th e ir

c er e mon ial is amazing with v ery d e libe rat e c l ,
ear singing ,
.

W e hav e j u st had a p er f e ctly spl e nd id v e sp e r s with th e

A bbot Primat e in cop e a nd mitr e —all v e r y d e lib e rat e and
,

qui e t O h d e ar ! I wond e r wh e th er W e stminst e r A bb e y

.

will e ve r see it again

O n M ay was ordain e d su b d e acon i n th e Lat e ran
28 he
by Cardinal R e spighi th e Vicar -G e n e ral with som e , ,

h undr e d oth e rs .

S u ch sights and sound s h e writ e s to Mrs B e nson ,

. .

“
I am e xtraordina r ily pl e as e d to b e a s u bd e acon at last ;
and th e offi c e is not a b u r d e n and I do not think will b e ; ,

it is wo nd e r f u lly b e a u tiful O u r r e tr e at was almo st p e r f e ct

.

th e o n e flaw w as th e susp e ns e as w e had to sp e nd F r iday ,

i n t e l e phoning and int e r vi e wing to mak e c e r tain of th e

n e xt day W e ar e b e ing v e ry shar p with th e authoriti e s
.
,

and hav e w e ari e d th e m o u t lik e th e U nj u st ju dg e a nd th e y ,

will giv e u s anything w e ask fo r I thi nk Th e y will have , .

to am e nd th e ir p r ov e rb and say Tim e i s mad e fo r slav e s

,
‘

and B r itons .
’
 IN RO M E 34 7

He is m e anwh il e back at San Silve stro th e h e at b e ing

, , ,

f e a r ful all shutt e rs clos e d th e courtyard full o f swooping

, , ,

crying swifts Th e gr e e n parrot n e arly w e nt o ff its h e ad

.

with jo y at s e e ing him again and th e cat to o was pl e as e d ,

with hi m and claw e d hi s fis h all d u ring supp e r ; [ and

,
“

ate ] th e whol e o f th e h e ad and outlying parts o f a sol e ,

e xc e pt th e backbon e .

Th e diaconat e was for S u nday ] u n e 5 and was give n , ,

i n th e int e rior chap e l o f Sa n Silv e stro Th e w e ath e r had . ,

anyhow n e c e ssitat e d r e tr e at
,
“
H u gh had sat gasping .
”
,

i n pyj amas a hot pal e sky glari ng through a can e work

, ,

blind that mad e th e tr e e s and roof and sky look lik e bad
sampl e r -wo r k A ll th e c e r e mo ny was e xtr e m e ly qui e t ;
.

n o music no congr e gation O h cle ar ! how v e ry

“
.
,

strang e it al l is l B u t I n e dn t say how happy I am

e 1 ’
.
”

H i s moth e r had al r e ady writt e n to him

I pray G od to bl e ss with what f u lln e ss o f d e sir e it is ,

impossible to say th is taking u p a ain o f your D e dication

, ,

this r e n e wal o f your p ri e sthood i n t e Ch u rch o f G od .

And now that th e date was practically fix e d , sh e wrot e

I shall p r ay fo r yo u j ust this —th e words you will b e h e ar

i ng o n Sunday G r ant that h i s t e achi ng may b e a sp iritu al
.

r e m e dy fo r G od s p e opl e and th e fragranc e o f his li fe a

'

d e light to th e Church o f G od .
”

Sh e had studi e d th e august ordination ritual with such

acc uracy that sh e kn e w it almost by h eart ; and und e r ,

th e sp e ll o f its wid e s e r e nity s h e was abl e to calm o n e ,

of h is e xpr e ss e d f e ars I do n t be li e v e whate v e r th e

.
’

s e rvic e o n Sunday is that it will b e disturbi ng You ,

‘
.
’

will b e o u t o f all that .

His on e gr i ef
, he c
s d w a th at h w ld
on f
e se , s e ou ne v t
er e n er a th at
e re g i
a a n.
He n ee d n o t, it p v d h av bee
ro e , a xi s e n so n ou .
34 8 R O BE R T H UG H ! B ENSON
H u gh B e nso n was th e n ordain e d pri e st on th e 1 2 th

Jun e th e third Sunday aft e r Pe nt e cost i n th e s am e tiny

, ,

chap e l op e ning o u t o f th e San Silv e stro library .

S Se. asr R o , ju ne 1 2 .

MY M A MM A —W e ll it is j ust ove r ; and e ve ry

D EA R
body has gon e—and w e ar e e xtrao r di narily happy
, ,

A rchbishop Stonor was ill and co u ldn t com e ; s o

’

A r ch bishop S e ton a Scotchman thin and tall with a ve r y

, , ,

fi n e brown fac e ordain e d u s inst e ad ; and it was all as

,

simpl e as possibl e : and last e d just ove r th e h our Th e n .

e v e rybody rush e d u p a nd kn e lt down o n e by o n e to k i ss ,

o ur hands and b e bl e ss e d ; th e n w e all w e nt down to

b r e akfast about nin e Th e r e w e r e half a doz e n Englishm e n
.
,

p r i e sts and st u d e nts who assist e d and a cong r egation o f

, ,
abo u t a doz e n mo r e m e n mostly laym e n with a B e n e , ,

dic tin e and a je s u it among th e m Th e n p e opl e be gan to .

give us p r e s e nts Th e n w e all w e nt u p to o u r roo ms and

.

TA L K ED Th e n th e post cam e and you r l e tt e r

. Thank , .

y o u s o m u ch f or it .

Fo r mys e lf I f e e l j u st n Or m al again and that I am

, ,

what I am b e ca u s e I co u ldn t imagin e mys e lf r e ally any

,
’

thing e ls e .

W e fail e d to ge t l e ave fo r St Pe t e r s in tim e fo r to .

’

morrow : so I am saying mass in St G r e go r y s w h e r e St .

’

, .

A u g u stin e start e d from and o n Tu e sday i n St P r iscilla s ’

.

catacomb wh e r e St P et e r p r e ach e d ; and o n W e dn e sday

i n St Pe t e r s —not at th e alta r o f th e choir —b u t ove r St
.
,
’
. .

P e t er s body ; and o n Th u r sday v ery e a r ly b e for e starting

’

Th e jou r n e y will b e ghastly—me l e av e

, ,

i n S Silv e stro
. .

at 8 A Ml and trav e l thro u gh that awf u l h e at

. , .

B y th e way I am br inging s u ch v e stm e nts ! o ld

,

o n e s that I bo u gh t s e cond -hand in th e marke t and in ,

which I was o r dain ed all blazing with gold and flow er s

B ut I shall hav e to l e av e a good d eal be h i nd m e—(pr e par e
.
,

B e th —to fo llo w b y se a as I hav e acc u m u lat e d s u ch ,

a lot .

He m e ntions th e su dd e n d e ath of A bbot Raynal at

Sant A ns e lmo and e xulti ngly conclud e s
’

B e st love to e v e ryon e . E B . . B ut I s h all e r ach hom e

almost as soon as this l e tte r I
 CH A PT ER I I

AT LL A N D A FF HO U SE

I will pack
tk t i , and a e a ra n ,
A d g t m to E gl a d
n e c e agaie n n on n

F E gl a d s th
or la d I k w
n n
’
e on e n , no ,

Wh e e m with Spl did H a ts m ay g

r en en e r o ;
A d Camb idg shi
n fall E gl a d
r e re , o n n ,

Th shi fo M n wh U nd st a d
e re r e o er n .

R U P ERT B R OO K E .

TH E r etur n j o urn e y from Lamb e th to Cam b ridg e v za ’

R om e as M r Shan e Le sli e has call e d it was soon e nough

, .
,

to b e accomplish e d but with a halt at hom e To Tr e m an s , .

H u gh B e nso n hu r ri e d straigh t from San Silv e stro happy ,

to b e wh e r e
U n k emp t abou t t h ose h e dge s b l o w s
A n En gl is h u no ffic i al r o se
A n d wh e r e th e u n re g u l ate d su n
Sl o p e s do w n to r e s t wh e n day is don e ,

A n d w ak e s a v ag ue u n p u n c t u al st ar
”
.

H e w rit e s
cstatically to I ndia on july 1 3 : H e i s
e

u tt e rly happy h e r e at hom e ; h e bath e s ; h e live s in

fi an n e ls ; h e says M ass 1
Th e r e i s a p e acock and a dog ; .

th e sun shin e s ; th e r e is a br e ez e and br e akfast tak es ,

plac e o u t of do o rs b e n e ath a t r e e H e rows th e

,
.

Prot e stant ga r d e n e r for b e i ng d r unk :

r e ligio u s i nt e rvi e w not magist e rial ; b u t I hop e w e
A ,

both a cq u itt e d o u rs e lve s with c r e dit S u ch a n ice man ; .

fi st M ass i E gl a d a d th at his l ast C p s Ch isti w s aid at

1
H is r n n n , n on or u r , e re

th Ce v t f th Ca
on en ss s R g l a f St A g sti at H ayw a d s H eath
o e no ne e e u r o . u u ne r
’
.

H wae t d at ce th P i ss ki dly t lls m f his si g l a a d

s no e on , e r ore n e e, or
“
n u r n un

obt siv g tl ss
ru e en en e
”
.
 AT LLA N D A FF H OUSE 351

and h e only g e ts dru nk about thre e tim e s a y e ar and I S a ,

f urious t ee totall e r i n b e tw e e n I hav e g r e at sympathy fo r .

that kind o f man .

M e anwh il e a n Elizab e than p lay is in prosp e ct wi th ,

th e ga r d e n front o f th e h ous e as sc e n e Th e r e is a pri e st .

hunt : lights ar e to flash to and fro i n th e windows ; a

captur e is to take plac e o n th e roof It was to r e p r e s e nt .

an i nc i d e nt i n Wyatt s r e be llion Thomas Wyatt s cousi n

’

,
’

h aving own e d Tr e m an s H e walks th e r e h e ad und e r

.
,

And a p par e ntly at thi s p e riod H ugh B e nson still kn e w

, ,

how to loung e H e wrot e to th e sam e corr e sp ond e nt

.

that
wo r ld is divid e d into tw o class e s—tho s e who like
Th e
p e op l e and thos e who lik e th ings It has com e to u s as
, .

a good classification at hom e My moth e r y e arn s c o n , .

ti n u ally fo r town a nd lov e s e l e v e n h u ndr e d p e opl e ; and

,

all th e r e st of u s lov e th e count r y and cocks and h e ns , ,

and small e v e nts o n th e lawn lik e th e dog digging a hol e ,

a nd discuss th e m as if th e y we r e th e pivots o n wh ich
th e world mov e d .

I n this i nt e rspac e o f unmixe d happ in e ss h e be gan to ,

r e vis e th e proo f s o f By Wizat A u thor i ty A s u sual th e .

‘

m e chani cal labou r caus e d th e sp i r it to app e a r e vapo r at e d

f r om its p ag e s as h e r e ad th e m .

O n ] u ly 2 3 1 90 4 h e wrot e to Mr A C B e nson
, , . . .

My p r oofs have b e com e [b egun ] to ar r iv e at last o f ,

my nov e l T h ey rath r give t h mp r e ssion o f H ardly

“

had this u n f o r tunat e mona r ch —

. e e i

and sho u ld b e r e ad m a
h e ad vo ic e by a ma n with pinc e -n e z .

I have b e e n r ev elli ng in Farra r acco r ding to your ,

advic e 1
.

1
H e had an i t l eav d m y f D a Fa a E ic
n er e L i ttl oy L i ttl
o e n rr r s
’
r , or e e,

which h e had ill st at ed I be li v th w a

u r . m o d f d p ssi w it
e e ere s no o o e re on , er e

nev ser o bl ack which h c ld t light e by the e xq isi t c m edy t b e

, e ou no en n u e o o
352 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
B y his b r oth e r s advic e to o th e charming d e dication o f ’
, ,

his book to Mrs B e nso n M is s M B e nson and M iss Tait .

, .
, ,

ass u m e d its pr e s e nt Latin It r e calls this happy spac e at .

hom e in th e company o f tho s e Thr e e mor e than oth er s

, ,

cl e a r at whos e sid e I wrot e this book in whos e e ars I r e ad

, ,

”
it and at whos e sch ooling I cor r e ct e d it
, Thi s nov e l .
,

both as th e fir stfr u its o f hi s Catholic life an d o n many ,

‘

i nt r i nsic titl e s is so uniqu e that to my thinki ng it d e se rve s

,

a full att e ntio n .

I n O ctob e r 1 9 0 4 Dom B e d e Camm finish e d r e ading

, ,

th e p r oofs and p e rsuad e d B e n so n to alt e r th e titl e M ag n u s

,

Valde n o t to b e u nd e rstand e d o f th e multitud e i nto th e

, ,

f amiliar By W/tat A u tfior z iy .

H e want e d to o a n app e ndix which should show I sabe l

, ,

i n h e r Br idge tin e conve nt for e xampl e i n B elgi u m , ,

.

B e n son how e v e r who still mo r e than half i nt e nd e d h e r

, ,

to ma r ry M r B uxto n and provid e d e sc e ndants who should

.

p e opl e th e Cha r l e s I I nove l r e f us e d , .

Dom B e d e has writt e n to m e co nc e rning th e ir unit ed

att e mpt to dive st th e romanc e o f tho s e min u t e historical
flaws whos e e ntir e e limination to j udg e by famo u s e x ,

ampl e s in histo r ical nov e lists is all b u t impossibl e , .

W e did b e st and I th ink that th e r e ar e fe w i n

ou r ,

acc u raci e s th at matt e r I t is tru e that almost o n th e first .

“
pag e I le t pass a assage about th e b u stl e o f th e B righton
R oad wh ich 0 cours e was a t e r r i bl e anach r onism i n
,

Elizab e than tim e s b u t non e o f th e r e vi e w e rs s ee m to have

,

discov e r e d it W e fo u nd it o u t as soon as th e book was

.

finish e d ! B u t no o n e who has not t r i e d has any id e a

h o w di fficult it is to make a histo r i cal romanc e accu r at e
in d e tail I r e m e mb e r R H B t e lling m e that h e had just
. . . .

d t ct d i th s pag s I t w a t him m th a th w at s i a d y l a d which

e e e n o e e . s o ore n e er n r n

so m a y d aw f m th A lic bo ks H als had a simil a ly ill st at d c py f

n r ro e e
”
o . e o r u r e o o

B ish p W lld
o Ge ald E
e ly
on s
’
o a b k w itt
F im d fi l h w ev i
r v er s e
’
: r s z ,
oo r en , o er, n

an h ourf d p ssi
o a d sick
e ss which ith cl aims
re on po ss ess s th n ne , ne er no r e e

t al q aliti s fE i
e e rn u e o r c.
3 54 R O BE R T H UG H B ENSON
bridg e not at A ddi ngton that th e ology r e v e al e d him to
, ,
“

hims e lf ) Th e ological chatt e r ind e e d and a p ar ody o f th e

.
,

Mass disg u st him B u t th e galla nt sp e ctacl e of England

,
.
,

England awak e ning England adol e sc e nt str e tching h e r , ,

m u scl e s flinging wid e h er ind e p e nd e nt e nt er pris e cr e at e s

a compl e m e nta r y vi sion —th e N ational Ch u rch august i n
, ,

w e alth and dignity and royal favour England s e e n as ,

sp i r itual th e r eligious voic e o f th e natio n that was b e

“
,

ginn i ng to make its e lf so domina nt in th e co u ncil o f th e

world . I n fi n e rh e to r ic only to o mod e rn A nthony will , ,

pr e ach that N ationalism to h is Catholic fri e nd B u xton .

M e a nwhil e h e s ee s it th e close r and its m e chanism as , ,

G e ntl e man o f th e H ors e at Lamb e th in th e A r chbisho p s ,

’

h ous e hold a post r e c e iv e d aft e r a wast e d y e a r or two

,

following u pon Cambridg e Bu t th e re disill u sion e d g r adu .

,

ally by th e u nd e rsid e o i all that Stat e r e ligion th e sight o f ,

th e sordid mach in e r y th e Court int r igu e th e cynic sacrific e

, ,

not o f m e n s live s alon e b u t of truth and ho no u r and th e

’

sp irit fo r th e b e tt e r e stablishm e nt o f th e Thron e h e r e alis e s ,

that Engla nd having hacke d h e rs e lf f r e e from th e Conti

,

n e nt h as s ev er e d to o th e bands which link e d h er with th e

,

s u p e r natural Th e A u thority o f Elizab e th th e id e al o f

.
,

England confro nt thos e o f Chri st

,
H e is th e r e adi e r fo r .

M r B u xton s p u ffi ng away o f th e natio nal id e al and

.
“ ’

h is substit u tion o f th e Catholic .

A s A nthony od e back alon e in th e e v e ning s u nlight

r ,

h e was as o n e w h o was s ee ing a vision Th e r e was ind e e d .

a vision be fo r e h im that had b ee n taking shap e g r adually

, ,

d e tail by d e tail d u r ing th e s e last month s and o u sting th e

, ,

o ld o n e and wh ich n o w t e r r ibly e m p hasiz e d by Camp 1on s

’

, ,

a r gum e nts and ill u mi nat e d by th e fi r e of h is p e r sonality

tow e r e d u p imp e rio u s consist e nt dominating —and ac r os s
,

, ,

h e r brow h e r titl e th e Catholi c Ch u r ch Far above all th e

, .

m e lting clo u dland o f th e ory sh e mov e d a stu e n do u s fact ,

living in co nt r ast with th e d e ad past to w h i c h er e n e mi e s
,
 AT LLA N D A FF H OUSE 3 55

cri e d in vai n ; e loqu e nt wh e n oth e r syst e ms w e r e d u mb ;

a u tho r itative wh e n th e y h e sitat e d st e ady wh e n th e y r e e l e d
and f e ll A bo u t h er thron e dw e lt h e r child r e n from e v e r y
.
,

rac e and age s e c u r e in h e r p r ot e ction and wis e with h e r

, ,

knowl e dg e w h e n o th e r m e n falt e r e d and q u e stion e d and

,

doubt e d A n d as A nthony look e d u p and saw h er for th e

.

fi r st tim e h e r e cognis e d h er as th e Mistr e ss and Moth e r

,

o f h is so u l ; and altho u gh th e blinding cl o uds o f a r g u m e nt

and th e ory and s e l f-distr u st r u sh e d down on him again
and fill e d h is e y e s with dust ye t h e kn e w h e had s e e n h e r ,

fac e in ve r y t r u th and that th e m e mory o f that vision

,

co u ld n e v er agai n wholly l e av e h im .

Fact a f t e r fact p rove s to h im that his worship p e d

e mpir e is n o t e v e n C a e sar s b u t that o f C a e sar s fr e e dm e n
’ ’
.
,

A ski ng To wh om th e n shall w e go
,
h e dr e arily s u bmits
, ,

to h is day s strif e o f tong u e s

“ ’
Th e th e o r i e s o f N ich ol ] .
,

e w e ll H arding R stall clash aro u nd h im B u xton s

’

] , a ,
.

brilliant logic bu ff e ts h im Th e path e ti c pl e ading o f th e .

co u rt e o u s old A rchbishop ( B e nso n f e ll in love with

“

G rindal ) cannot h e lp hi m ; though A nthony like H u gh , ,

“
submits to f ar e w e ll i nt e rvi e ws M or e subve rs iv e o f hi s .

p e ac e than any talk has b e e n th e gallant sp e ctacl e o f ,

Campion s d e ath ; abov e all th e h id e o u s p lot concoct e d

’

, ,

by an e x -r e tain e r o f th e Maxw e lls Lac k in gto n th e ] u das , ,

o f th e sto r y A nthony hims e lf is tricke d i nto b e traying

.

j am e s Maxw e ll who caught at Mass i s tort u r e d to d e ath s

, , ,
’

door G r ac e calls ; at B uxto n s hous e h e mak e s und e r

.
’

Parsons th e spi r itual e xe rcis e s and pass e s f r om th e

,
“
,

Ty r anny into th e Ki ngdom .

Th e coincid e nc e s o f H ugh s pilgrimag e and A nthony s

’ ’

ar e admitt e d I wo u ld argu e that in Isabe l s tal e to o ar e ’

.
, ,

e l e m e nts not ali e n to H ugh s Whil e o n th e o n e hand h e r’

.
, ,

psychology is boyish oft e n e no u gh o r ( i f yo u will ) what a ,

b o y thinks a girl s p sychology to b e so in H u gh w e r e c e r tai n

’

rar e f e min in e q u aliti e s r e v e al e d chi e fly in h is i nt u itional ,

356 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
and passionate proc e ss e s O bs e rve first i n I sab e l that .
, ,

p e rsonal ind ee d omantic love o f je s u s which was

r
,
“

] oh n I n le san t s and H u gh s wh ich mad e c e r tain spots in

g
’ ’

lan e o r gar d e n sacr e d and f r agra nt to h e r be caus e h er

“

Lo r d had m e t h e r th e r e J e sus was as r e al as A nthony o r .

H u b e rt ; H i s lov e mad e a third with th e i r s F r om th is .

“
int e ns e i ndivid u alism a visit to London and th e stat e ly
worship o f St Pa u l s lifts h e r as H u gh was partly lift e d
.
’

, ,

in to th e world of corporat e r e ligion A sojo u rn at that .

miniatur e G e n e va N orthampton r e v e als to h e r at o nc e , ,

th e b e st o f Calvin s Church and th e horro r of h is Chri st

’

, ,

h e lpl e ss as H is Fath e r b e n e ath th e Et ernal D e cr e e which

damn e d b e for e hand poor timid d e spairing hoping souls
“
, ,

mo r e infl exibl e e v e n th an M icha e l A ng e lo s g r e at ju dg e ’

who at l e ast c/z ooses to h u rl h is th u nd e r -bolt Th r o u gh th e .

th und e r cam e no human voic e and b r u is e d in s p i r it , ,

.

brok e n to o (by h e r fath e r s sudd e n d e ath ) i n h e art I sab e l ’

r e t u rn e d to th e Dow e r H o u s e wh e r e M istr e ss Margar e t ,

cam e to moth e r h e r Logic o f i nt e ll e ct and fo r c e o f facts .

b u ff e t e d A nthony R om e wa r ds I nfinit e t e nd e r n e ss and .

t e rribl e p ain w e r e to r e mod e l his sist e r s so u l I sab e l ’

.
,

like H u gh m u st com e to th e Ch u rch as a child Th e

,
.
“
.

o ld nun s schooling b e st shown o n th e g e ntl e pag e wh e r e

’

sh e e xplains th e R osa r y r e v eals to I sabe l th e h eave nly ,

M oth e r sh e had n o t dar e d to lo ng fo r ; in swe e t simplicity

s h e mov e s towa r ds th e paramount O b e di e nc e Y e t might .

sw e e tn e ss not su ffic e Pain works th e full e r miracl e 1

. .

1
Pai is a m ti fi
n o n B e n s on
w iti g S d d i th B idg a d ’
s li f e an d r n . oun e n e r e n

th e D y d G a m ts
e f Tb L lglt I r i ib l it
en ach s f ll d v l pm
o t i I i ti a e i z nv s e, re e u e e o en n n

tion a d L li n A th y m st t lack it H s s it a it w i ca at
on e n ess. n on u no . e ee s e re n rn e

i J am s M axw ll s ack d b dy ; th is a p a ag aph ch a g d with i t s

’
n e e r e o ere r r r e n en e

fe li g wh t i g th d a k a d sil t H all A th y k ws th at i
e re , on en er n e en n on no n

that livi g C cifix is awaiti g him—a ad q uat

e n ,
r n , ,

s m
o m
e th th
roo or o er e re, n ru n n e e

a sw
n i its l f t th l sty a g m t f all-t i mph a t E gl a d a d at h m
e r, n e , o e u r u en o r u n n n n o e,

fi ally i his w b dy Pai will t th e spi it f

n , n o n o , n se r ree .
3 58 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
glo r y that p o u r e d down from almost dir e ctly ov er h e ad fo r ,

th e Paschal moo n was at its h e ight above th e ho u s e .

A n d th e n s u dd e nly th e br e athing sil e nc e was b r ok e n

by a r ippl e of m e lody and anoth e r join e d and anoth e r ; , ,
‘

and I sabe l look e d a nd wond e r e d and list e n e d fo r sh e ,

had n e v er h e ard b e fo r e th e m u sic o f th e myst e r io u s night

flight of th e larks all soar i ng and singin tog e th e r wh e n
,

th e r e st of th e world i s asl ee p A n d 5 e list e n e d and .

wo nd e r e d as th e st r e am o f son g pour e d down f r om th e

wond e r f u l sp ac e s o f th e sky r is1n g to far -o ff e cstasi e s as ,

th e wh e e ling w o r ld sank ye t f u r th e r with its Sl e e ping ,

m e adows and woods b e n e ath th e whi r ling sing e rs ; and ,

th e n th e e a r th fo r a mom e nt turn e d i n its sl e e p as I sab e l

list e n e d and th e t r e e s stir r e d as o n e d e e p b r eath cam e
,

ac r oss th e woods and a thrush mu r mu r e d a not e o r two

,

b e sid e th e d r ive and a rabbit s u dd e nly awoke i n th e

,

fi e ld and ran o n to th e lawn a nd sat u p a nd look e d at

th e whit e figur e at th e window ; and far away f r om th e ,

dir e ctio n o f Li n dfi e ld a stag b r ayed l ,

.

”
So long e th my so u l wh isp er e d Isab e l to h e r s e lf , .

Th e n all r ew still agai n th e tr e e s h u sh e d ; th e

g ;
to r r e nt o f m u src mo r e t u m u lt u ous as it n e a r e d th e e a r th
, ,

s u dd e nly c e as e d ; and I sab e l at th e window l e an e d

f u r th e r o u t and h e ld h e r hands in th e bath o f light
, ,

and spok e softly into th e night

0 Lo r d je s u s h ow kind Thou art to m e I
,

Th e n at last th e mo r n ing cam e and Ch r ist was ris e n

, , ,

b e yond a doubt .

u st b e fo r e th e s u n cam e u wh n all h e sky was

j p e t ,

luminous to m e e t h im th e two a ain pass e d u p and ,

r o u nd th e corn e r and into th e litt e doo r in th e angl e

, .

Th e r e was th e sam e Shad e d candl e o r two fo r th e h o u s e ,

was ye t da r k with in and th ey pass e d u p and o n tog e th er

th r o u gh th e Sitting-room i nto th e chap e l wh e r e e ac h had
mad e a fi r st co n f e ssion th e night b e fo r e and had tog e th e r ,

b e e n r e c e ive d into th e Catholic Ch u r ch N o w it was all .

f r ag r ant with flow e rs and h e r bs ; a pair o f tall lili e s l e an e d

th e ir d e licat e h e ads toward s th e altar as if to list e n for ,

th e so u ndl e ss coming in th e nam e o f th e Lo r d ; und e r foot ,

1
O n th e 2 7th ju ne l D y
1 90 k w th
5, h e w t ro e to Mr . R o fe :
“
o ou no e

gl i s h wh th w ld t s i h sl p a d sighs a d th c cks c w
or o u o ur en e or u rn n er ee n , n e o ro ,

a d c ws g t p a d li d w ag ai ? I lay aw ak till a ly th cl ck this ’

n o e u n e o n n e ne r re e o o

m i g a d h a d it all h app
or n n , n e r S m tim s all th Ia ks s a a d si g t g th
en . o e e e r o r n n o e er

at th s am tim
e e e.
”
 AT LLA N DA FF H OUSE 3 59

all abo ut th e altar lay sprigs o f sw ee t h e r b s ros e ma r y

, , ,

thym e lave nd e r bay -l e av e s with white blossoms scatt e r e d

ov e r th e m—a soft carp e t fo r th e Pi e rc e d F e e t not like
, , ,

th o se r u stli n g palm -swords ov e r which H e rod e to d e ath

‘

last w e e k Th e black oak ch e st that support e d th e altar

.

ston e was glo r io u s i n its ve st u r e o f cloth -o f-gold ; and

against th e wh it e -h u ng wall at th e back b e h ind th e silve r ,

candl e sticks l e an e d th e gold plat e o f th e ho u s e to do

, ,

ho no u r to th e Ki ng A n d pr e s e ntly th e r e stood th e r e
.

th e radiant r u stling fig u r e o f th e Pri e st h is p e r sonality ,

sh e ath e d and oblit e r at e d b e n e ath th e spl e ndid symbolism

o f h is v e stm e nts stiff and ch inking with j e w e ls as h e
,

move d .

Th e glo r io u s Mass o f East e r Day b e gan .

“
I m m o latu s e st Ch r ist u s ; itaq u e e p u le m u r Sai nt ,

Pa u l cri e d fro m th e so u th corn e r o f th e altar to th e two

conve rts ( Ch r ist o u r Passov e r is sac r ific e d fo r u s ;
“
.

th e r e fo r e le t us k e e p th e f e ast but n o t with th e o ld ,

“
Q u is r e v o lv e t nobis lapid e m ? wail e d th e wom e n .

(
“
Who shall roll u s away th e ston e f rom th e door o f th e

Se p u lchr e ?
“
A n d wh e n th e y look e d cri e d th e tri u mphant Evan
,

g e li st
,
“
th e y saw that th e ston e was roll e d away ; f or it

was v e r y g r e at e rat q u ipp e magnus vald e .

Th e s u p er b p r oc e ssio n move s forward —th e trump e ts

o f th e G lor ia and th e t r amp o f th e Cr edo and th e
, ,

p r o clamation o f e t e rnal lif e fo r wh ich e arthly lif e may ,

w e ll b e sac r ific e d .

Th e h e ralds pass e d o n , and myst e rio u s fig u r e s cam e

n e xt , h e ar i n g Me lc h ise de c s gifts , shadowing th e tr e ’

m e n do u s e v e nt that follows o n b e h ind .

A ft e r a sp ac e or two cam e th e first lin e s o f th e body

g u ard th e h e av e nly cr e at u r e s dimly s e e n moving thro u gh
,

clo u ds o f glory A ng e ls Dominations Powe rs H e av e ns

, , , , ,

Vi r t u e s and bl e ss e d S e raphim all cryi ng o u t tog e th e r

, ,

to h e av e n and e arth to w e lcom e H im who com e s aft e r

i n th e b r igh t shadow o f th e N am e o f th e Lord ; and th e
tr u mp ets p e al o u t fo r th e last tim e “
H osanna in th e ,

h igh e st !
Th e n a hush f e ll and pr e s e ntly in th e stilln e ss cam e
,
3 6 0 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
r iding gr e at P ersonag e s who sta nd i n h e ave n abo u t
th e
th e Th r on e : first th e Q u e e n M oth e r h e rs e lf
,
lo r io u s ,

w ithin and witho u t moving i n clothing of w r o n g t gold

, ,

hig h abov e all oth e rs ; th e n th e g r e at Princ e s of th e

B lood R oyal wh o ar e admitt e d to d r ink o f th e King s
,
’

ow n C u p a nd sit b e sid e H i m o n th e i r thron e s P e t e r

, ,

and Pa u l and th e r e st with r u gg e d fac e s and scarr e d

hands ; and with th e m g r eat mit r e d figu r e s—Lin u s Cl e t u s
,

, ,
and Cl e m e nt with th e i r companions,
.

A n d th e n anoth e r spac e and a tingling sil e nc e ; th e

c r owds bow down lik e corn b e for e th e wind ; th e far -o ff
t r u mp e ts ar e sil e nt ; and H e com e s H e com e s ! ,

O n H e move s tr e ading und e rfoot th e laws H e has

,

mad e ye t bo r n e u p by th e m as o n th e Se a o f G alil e e ;
,

H e who inhabits e t e r nity at an instant i s mad e p r e s e nt ;

H e who tra nsc e nds spac e is imman e nt i n mat e rial kind ;
H e w h o n e v e r l e ave s th e Fath e r s sid e r e sts o n H is whit e
’
.

lin e n ca r p e t h e ld ye t u nco nfin e d i n th e midst o f th e

, , ,

littl e gold things and e mb r oid e r y and candl e -flam e s and

lili e s wh il e th e frag r anc e o f th e h e r bs r is e s abo u t H im
,
.

T h e r e r e sts th e g r acious King B e fo r e this b e nding g r o u p .

th e r e st o f th e pag e ant di e s into sil e nc e and noth i ngn e ss

o u tsid e th e radiant circl e o f H is Pr e s e nc e Th e r e is H i s .

imm e diat e p r i e st -h e r ald who has ma r k e d o u t th is halting

,

plac e fo r th e Pr inc e bowing b e fo r e H i m st r iving by , ,

g e stu r e s to int e r p r e t a nd f u lfil th e sil e nc e that words

m u st always l e av e e mpty H e r e b e hind ar e th e ado r ing .
, ,

h u man h e a r ts e ach looking with clos e d e y e s i nto th e

,

Fac e o f th e Fai r e st o f th e ch ildr e n o f m e n e ach c r ying ,

sil e ntly words of ado r ation w e lcom e and u tt e r lov e , ,

.

Th e mom e nts pass Th e Co u r t c e r e moni e s ar e p e r

fo r m e d Th e Virgins that follow th e Lamb —F e licitas
.

P e r p e t u a A gatha and th e r e st —st e p fo r w a r d smiling

,

, , ,

and take th e i r p a r t th e Et e r nal Fath e r is invok e d again in

th e So n s o w n wo r ds and at l e ngth th e King d e sc e nding
’

ye t o n e furth e r st e p o f infi nit e h u mility flings back th e ,

last v e stu r e o f H i s o u twa r d R oyalty and casts H ims e l f i n ,

a passio n o f hast e and d e sir e i nto th e still and invisi bl e

d e pth s o f th e s e two q u iv e r ing h e arts mad e i n H is own ,

Imag e that lift th e ms e lv e s i n a n agony o f lov e to m e e t

,

H im .

M e a nwh il e th e East e r morning is d e e p e ning o u tsid e ,

th e sun i s rising abov e th e ye w h e d e and th e de w flash e s ,

d r op by drop into a diamond an vanish e s ; th e th r u sh

3 6 2 ROB ER T H UG H BENSON
th e s e p e rso naliti e s as all m u st who c om e r e ally clos e to ,

th e m Th e r e fo r e th e sc e n e s at B olton Castl e a nd Foth er

.

i ngay w e r e in e vitabl e tho u gh not r e ally in plac e as ar e , ,

thos e i n Com e R ack Come R op e and though th e trial and , ,

1

d e ath of Camp ion influ e nc e s A nthony ye t his b r illiant ,

logic is d u plicat e d by B uxton s his ma r tyrdom by

“ ” ’

Maxw e ll s to r t u r e A gain is not th e charming chapt e r

'
.
,

upon N orth e rn R e ligion an u nwarrantabl e int e rl u d e ?

“

A n int e rlud e c e rtainly i n th e story b u t warrantabl e I

, , , ,

th ink as compl e ti ng th e p ict u r e of Engla nd Fr om

, .

M ir fie ld H ugh had mad e e xc u r sions all ove r that f aithf u l

,

N o r th and had g o w n to lov e th e gre e ns of its windy

,
r “

villag e s th e stony towns o f Lancashir e Yorkshir e and , ,

u
p to W e stmorland ; th e uncompromising H alls th e ,

bl e ak unw e lcoming f e lls wh e r e h e arts w er e ye t so warmly

, ,

loyal and t e nacious of tradi tion Wh e n h e want e d to know .

what was th e o ld f aith o f England Lancashi r e co u ld c e r ,

tai n ly Show it to his appraising e ye and h e was grat e f ul , ,

and h e r e was his d e bt paid A part f r om this th e story .

,

mov e s dramatically e sp e cially a r o u nd th e captur e of jam e s ,

Maxw e ll and th e d eath o f Mary Corb et A n d it is f ull

2
.

lik e th e world wh er e p lots ar e rar e b u t p ersonaliti e s

“
, ,

—
abound o f cha r act e rs
“ B e nson s humo u r was to b e .
’

com e for th e most part mo r dant ; h e r e h o w g e ntly h e ,

la u gh s at o ld Sir N icholas with h is Catholi c ye t most ,

Evang e lical pi e ty his lov e o f shr e wd i ntrig u e and his

“ ”
, ,

childlik e innoc e n c e .

O ft e n B e nson shows u s a chival r o u s and t e nd e r affe c

B en so n gi
g i impl d t w it th d cisiv m a c f
w as a a n an d a a n ore o r e e e e ro n e o

Ma y Q r H t mbl d t t
ue en o f Sc ts
ch it H ag d with M M a ic
o . e re e o ou . e re e r. ur e

H wl tt a th which h admi d th at th th ’ “
f Tl Q Q fia
‘

e e , u or o ze u een s u zr , e re ,
e o er

w m a i M a y s cas w a t Q
o n
”
n Eliz ab th b t Lady B thw ll
r
’
e s no uee n e , u o e .

M l d am atic ally v ; a wh
2
e o r t th q sti W h capt ai d th
,
e en s en , o e ue on , o ne e

E glish ship which aft

n s ch m assac a d sac il g t k th Sp a ish ship ?
, , er u re n r e e, oo e n

c m s th a sw
o e H b t M axw ll
e n er, u er e .
”
 AT LLA N D A FF H OUSE 6
3 3

tion fo r old ladi e s Som e hav e r e s e nt e d this as though h e

.
,

co u ld n o t let hims e lf lov e wom e n till h e could pity th e m .

Still it gave us Lady Maxw e ll and h e r sist e r typ e s s u btly

, ,

di ff e r e nt though e ach o f th e m so g r e at a lady B e nso n

,
.

lov e d that v e lv e t gracio usn e ss and lac e-like d e licacy and

, ,

dignity o f silve r hai r and j e w e ls Lady M axw e ll i s magni .

fi c e n t and t e nd e r ; as wh e n sh e qu e lls h e r villag e folk

, ,

f u r io u s with th e parson s bitt e r wif e who had be t r ay e d

'

th e p r i e st lodging i n th e H all and th e n n u rs e s and ind e e d

conv e rts th e panic -st r i ck e n woman A n d with th e s e two .

p u t M ary Corb e t th e Ma r y Corb e t as a

“
i n eo mp ar aéle
, ,

conspiracy (o n e would think ) o f critics always nam e s h er ,

i n h e r p e acock gowns o r rosy silks o r m u slins w ith h e r ,

clo u ds o f coal -black hair h e r flashing hands and r e stl e ss

,

wit and bant e r and cou r t gr ac e s and with a h e art as pur e ,

and loyal and d e tach e d a s e ve r was Isab e l s Y e t B e nson '

.

kn e w no Ma r y Co r b e t to i n spir e that pi ct u r e wh ich

“
,

is s e pa r at e i n th is book so unn ee d e d by th e story so

, ,

j u stifi e d in its e lf ! H is vision o f h e r must hav e b e e n no

l e ss cl e ar -c u t and di sti nct a nd finish e d and h e n e v e r qu it e ,

r e produc e d h e r Fo r transitio n to what I hold to b e

.

th e tr u e e ss e nc e o f th e book tak e H u b e r t Maxw e ll th e

, ,

s u pplant e r o f jam e s M axw e ll th e b u ccan e e r with D r ak e

, .

H o w boyishly B e nson e x u lts in th e s e tal e s o f blood and

g u npowd e r and how h e adlong is th e r u sh o f his story o f
,

D r ak e s knighting and h o w h igh its colo u r ! H o w ade

’
,

u ate ly th is apostat e fo r th e sak e o f th e prid e o lif e and

q f
lust o f e y e s sym bo lis e s fo r B e nson that wa nton c r u e l
, , , , ,

la u ghi ng England int e nt o n stra ngling th e Spirit with h e r

,

vigoro u s young hands H o w H u b e rt dwi ndl e s wh e n

.
,

a r r aign e d b e fo r e h is moth e r and b e f o r e th e ag e d n u n ;

h o w h e sh r iv e ls whil e s h e r e mains s e r e n e so utt e r ly her
, ,

sel f
. A n d how horribl e i s that hou r of r e action o f low e r e d ,
 6
3 4 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSO N
vitality wh e n h e sits in th e H all now de c ath o lic i se d and
, ,

with all th e so u l str u ck o u t o f it wh il e in his lon e lin e ss th e ,

sinist e r gho st p e e r s at his soul and th e s u rmis e : What , ,

aft e r all if th e R oman Church w e r e tru e ? B e nson lik e

, ,

N e wman had b ee n haunt e d by that gho st and with th e

, ,

dawn w e lcom e d th e substanc e ; for H u b e rt u n r e ality r e

main e d tri u mphant and still at th e e n d w e can not t e ll
, , ,

wh e th e r th e night i s to br e ak agai n for him .

Bu t in H ub e r t and A nthony B e nson r e ally t e ach e s that , ,

as in th e fi n ei d it is R om e not ZEn e as who is h e ro “

, ,

and give s th e p i e c e its u nity so h e r e th e s u pr e m e factor ,

is a City o r if yo u will that th e two citi e s which A ug u stin e

, ,

saw e t e rnally oppos e d G od s and th e wo r ld s w e r e h e r e

, ,
’ ’

and now fo r him i nca r nat e d in R om e and England B e n .

so n s p an e gy r ic o f England th r o u gho u t i s q u it e s u p e r b
’
.

To th e f u ll h e r e alis e s th e magnific e nc e o f h e r dawn and

th e promi s e o f h e r s u n A n d this England w as in h e r
.

t u r n incarnat e in Elizab e th A t Camb r idg e A nthony fi rst

.
,

saw Elizab e th ; th e n h e r p r e s e nc e sca r c e ly le d h im b e

,

yond its e lf Lat e r fr om a balcony i n Ch e ap sid e b r oth e r

.
, ,

and sist e r watch h e r p r og r e ss G o r g e o u sly th e rapid p r os e

.

paints th e proc e ssion — a pomp o f royalty p r e c e d e d ,

tho u gh by that sco u r g e d man writh ing at th e ca r t s tail

, ,
’

his back o n e r e d wound y e ll e d and la u gh e d at by th e

,

c r owd lik e any of tho s e scou r g e d fools o f anci e nt days

“

in Syr ia or i n Egypt H e pass e d and A nthony saw th e

.
,

Q u een .

A fig u r e o f e xtrao r dina r y
dignity sitting upright and ,

sti ff lik e a p agan idol , dr e ss e d

in a magnific e nt and fantas
tic p u r pl e robe with a gr e at do u bl e r u ff lik e a h u g e colla r
, , ,

b e hind h er h e ad ; a lo ng tap e r waist vol u mino u s ski r ts ,

sp r e ad all ove r th e c u shio ns e mb r oid e r e d with c u r io u s ,

fig u r e s and c r e atur e s O ve r h e r sho u ld e r s b u t op e n e d in

.
,
 3 6 6 ROB ERT H UG H BENSON
o n whit e h o r s e s b e hind ; and wh e n th e fanfar e s w e nt
shatt e r ing down th e st r e e t vibrating thro u gh th e contin u o u s
,

roa r of th e crowd and th e sh r ill c r i e s o f childr e n and th e

m e llow thund e r of ch u rch b e lls r ocking ov er h e ad a nd th e ,

e ndl e ss t r amp o f a thousand f ee t b e low and wh e n th e

whol e was fram e d i n this fantastic twist e d st r e e t blazing
, ,

with tap e st r i e s and arch e d with gabl e s and bann e rs all ,

bath e d i n glo r y by th e cl e ar f r osty s u nsh in e it is littl e ,

wo nd e r that fo r a few mi n u t e s at l e ast this cou nt r y boy
f e lt that h e r e at last was th e inca r nation o f his d r e ams ,
and th at his h e art should e xult with a n e nth u siasm h e
co u ld n o t int e r pr e t fo r th e cau s e o f a p e opl e who could
,

prod u c e s u ch a Q u e e n and o f a Que e n w h o co u ld rul e

,

s u ch a p e o pl e and that h is imagination sho u ld b e fi r e d

with a sudd e n s e ns e that th e s e w e r e caus e s for which th e
sacrific e o f a lif e would b e count e d ch e ap if th e y might ,

th e r e by b e f u rth e r e d .

Y e t i n this v er y mom e nt by o n e o f tho s e myst e rious

,

s u gg e stions that r is e from th e d e pth o f a so u l th e imag e ,

pass e d into his mind and pois e d its e l f th e r e f or an i nstant

, ,
of th e gr e y-hair e d man who had pass e d half a n ho u r
ago sobbing and sh ri nking at th e cart s tail ’
.

A gain h e saw h e r wh e n h e had app e al e d to C ae sar fo r

,

th e li f e o f jam e s Maxw e ll and had won h is boon That .

night h e witn e ss e d th e r e v e ls o f th e English godd e ss and ,

h e r e still th e co ntrast stirr e d h is soul

Th e r e ac r oss th e rippling o f lut e s from th e ladi e s i n th e
n e xt r oom i n slow swaying m e as u r e w ith th e g e ntl e tap
, , ,

o f a d r u m now a nd agai n and th e pavan e b egan a stat e ly ,

dignifi e d danc e ; and among all th e ladi e s move d th e

g r e at Q u ee n h e r s e lf swayi ng and b e nding with much
,

g r ac e and dignity I t was th e st r ang e st thing fo r A nthony

.

to find hims e lf h e r e a rav e n amo n all th e s e p e acocks

and birds o f paradis e ; and h e wo n g
,

e r e d at h ims e lf and

at th e strang e h u mour o f P rovid e nc e as h e watch e d th e ,

sh imm e r o f th e d r ess e s and th e spa r kl e o f th e sho e s and

,

j e w e ls and th e soft c lo u ds o f muslin and lac e that shiver e d

,
.

and r u stl e d as th e ladi e s st e pp e d ; th e fi r e ligh t shon e

th r o u gh th e wid e doo r way o n this glowi ng move m e nt and ,

g r o u ps of candl e s i n sconc e s within th e room incr e as e d

and st e adi e d th e soft int e nsity o f th e light Th e so ft ti ng .
 AT LLA N DA FF H OUSE
ling i nst r um e nts with th e slow tap -tap ma r king th e
,

m e as u r e like a st e p s e e m e d a translatio n into chord and

,

m e lody of this stat e ly t e nd e r e x e rcis e A n d so this glo r ious .

flow e r -b e d load e d to o with a w e alth o f e ss e nc e s in th e

,

d r e ss e s and th e sw e e t -wash e d glov e s sway e d u nd e r th e ,

wind o f th e m u sic b e nding and rising tog e th er i n slow

,

wav e s and r ip pl e s Th e n it c e as e d ; and th e sil e nc e was

.

br oke n by a quick sto r m o f ap plaus e wh il e th e dan c ers

wait e d f or th e l u t e s Th e n all th e instrum e nts broke o u t
.

tog e th e r in qu ick t r ip l e tim e ; th e st r ing e d i nstr u m e nts

s u p plying a h asty th r obbing accompanim e nt whil e th e
, ,

sh r ill fl u t e s b e gan to whistl e and th e drums to gallop

th e r e was yet a paus e in th e danc e till th e Q u e e n mad e
th e fi r st mov e m e nt —
,

and th e n th e whol e wh irl e d O ff o n

th e wings of a co r anto .

It was b e w ilde r i n to A nthony who had n e v e r e ve n ,

dr e am e d of such a anc e b e f o r e H e watch e d fi r st th e .

low e r lin e of th e sho e s and th e whol e floor in r e ality ,

above and in th e mir r o r o f th e polish e d boa r ds be lo w

, ,

s e e m e d scintillating in lin e s o f diamond light ; th e h e avy

und e rski r ts o f b r ocad e p u ffe d satin a nd cloth o f gold
, , ,

with glimps e s o f foamy lac e b e n e ath wh i r l e d and toss ed ,

above th e s e flashin vibrations Th e n h e look e d at th e .

h igh e r strata and t e re was a tossing se a of fac e s and

whit e throats bo r n e u p as it s ee m e d —n o w r e v e al e d now
,

h idd e n —o n clo u ds of u ndulating muslin and lac e with

, , ,

sparkl e s o f p r e cious ston e s s e t in r u ffs and wings and o n

high-p il e d hai r .

A S A nth o ny w e nt down th e sq u ar e wi ndi ng stai r cas e

a n ho ur lat e r wh e n th e e v e ning was ove r and th e k e e n
, ,

wint e r air po u r e d up to m e e t h im h is b r ain was throbbing ,

with th e madn e ss of danc e and music and whi r ling colo u r .

H e r e it s ee m e d to him lay th e s e c r e t of lif e

, ,
For a few .

min u t e s h is old day -dr e ams cam e back b u t i n mo r e i n ,

to x i c ati n g dr e ss Th e figur e o f Mary Corb e t in h e r ro s e

.

colo u r e d silk and h e r clo u ds of black hair and h e r j e w e ls ,

a nd h e r la u ghing e y e s and sca r l e t mo u th and h e r viol e t

frag r anc e and h er fir e—th is dominat e d th e b o y A s h e
,

walk e d towards th e stabl e s ac r oss th e sta r lit co u r t sh e ,

s ee m e d to move b e fo r e him to hold o u t h e r hands to h im

, ,

to call him h er own d e ar lad ; to i nvit e h im o u t o f th e

drab-colour e d lif e that lay o n all sid e s b e hi nd and be fo r e , ,
3 6 8 ROBERT H UG H B ENSON
up into a mysti c r egion o f j e w e ll e d romanc e wh e r e h e and ,

Sh e wo u ld liv e and b e o n e i n th e e n dle s s music o f r ippling

'

st r i ngs and shrill fl u te s and th e madd e ning tap of a littl e

h idd e n d r u m .

Bu t th e familia r to u ch o f h is o w n sob e r s u it and th e

c r e aking saddl e as h e rod e hom e to Lamb eth and th e i cy ,

wind that sang i n th e riv er s e dg e s and th e whol e som e ,

sm e ll o f th e hors e and th e to u c h of coar s e hai r at th e

sho u ld e r talke d and b r e ath e d th e o ld P u r itan commo n
,

s e ns e back to h im again That wa r m -pai nt e d m e lodio u s

.
,

world h e h ad l e ft was gaudy nons e ns e ; and dancing was

n o t th e sam e a s living ; and Ma r y Corb e t was not j u st a

r ainbow o n th e foam that would di e wh e n th e sun w e nt

i n ; b u t both sh e and h e tog e th e r w er e h u man so u ls r e ,

d e e m e d by th e d e ath o f th e Savio u r w ith H is wo r k to do , ,

and no tim e or e n e r gy for folly ; and jam e s Maxw e ll in

th e Tow e r—thank G od how e v e r not for long —j
, ,
am e s
Maxw e ll with h is wr e nch e d j oints a nd fo r e h e ad and lips
,

w e t with agony was i n th e r ight ; and that l e an bitt e r

, , ,

f u rio u s woma n in th e purpl e and p e arls who s u pp e d to ,

th e bla r e o f t r u mp e ts and danc e d to th e r ippl e of lut e s ,

wholly and u tt e r ly and e t er nally i n th e wrong .

Last o f all h e saw Elizab e th wh e n a p r i e st h e chos e

, , ,

th e rack d e ath and th e s e r vic e o f th e Kingdom rath e r

, ,

tha n lib e rty and life at th e conditions of h e r tyranny .

H e had his wish and lay dyi ng i n th e To w e r in I sab e l s

’

arms .

As kn e lt and watch e d h im h e r tho u ghts circl e d

Sh e ,

conti n u ally i n littl e flights ; to th e wall e d ga r d e n o f th e

Dow e r H o u s e i n sunshin e and A nthony running ac r oss
,

it i n his b r own s u it with th e w allflo w e r s be hi nd him

,

against th e o ld r ed b r icks and iv y and th e tall ch e stn u t ,

r ising b e hind ; to th e wind -sw e pt h ills with th e th istl e s ,

and th e gold e n -rod and th e haz e l th icke ts and A ntho ny

, ,

o n his pony s u nb u r nt a nd vol u bl e h awk on wr ist w ith

, , ,
a light i n his e y e s ; to th e wa r m pan e ll e d h all i n wi nt er
, ,

with th e tap e rs on th e r o u nd tabl e and A nthony flat on ,

his fac e with h is f e e t i n th e air b e f o r e th e h e a r th that

, ,

glow e d and r oa r e d u p th e wid e chimn e y b e hind and h is ,

chin o n h is hands and a book op e n b e fo r e him ; o r

, ,

farth e r back e ve n still to A nthony s littl e r oom at th e

,
’
370 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
of A utho r ity had fall e n a nd thith e r in O ctob e r h e r e pair ed
, ,

not to th e Catholic r e ctory but to Llanda ff H ous e ( sing u lar

,

coincid e nc e o f nam e s : th e h o u s e was b u ilt by B ishop

Watson o f Llanda ff who o ccupi e d hims e lf with a prof e ssor
,

ship at Camb r idg e) i nhabit e d by Mgr B arn e s a f e llow

, .
,

Etonia n and an O xford man aft e rwards a li e ut e nant of ,

th e and Catholic ch aplai n at th e U niv e r sity Th e .

f r ont of this hous e p roj e cts almost e xactly O pposit e to

th e U niv e r sity A rm s H ot e l and th e gard e n at its back
,

st r e tch e s away to th e gro u nds o f Downing Coll eg e .

H ugh was o f co u rs e e nchant e d with th e hous e a nd its

“
big high room s with c u r v e d corn e r s & c
, ,
.

I have h e w r it e s o n O ctob er 23 a la r g e room

, ,
“

looking o n to th e st r e e t and am v e ry co mfo r tabl e i n all

,

ways it i s v e ry odd to b e h e r e .

“
It was a h e ave nly tim e at Tr e m an s .

With i n th e hous e H ugh lay so to put it ve ry lo w , , .

We br e akf aste d s e pa r at e ly M gr B arn e s w r it e s to m e

, .
,

“
aft e r o u r r e sp e ctive M ass e s ; and h e th e n r e tir e d to bis
'

room and only e m e r g e d for m e als and a co nstitutional

,
.

H e was e ngag e d i n st u dyi ng th e ology i n th e mo r n

i ngs and d u ring th e aft er noons h e w r ot e and in th e
, ,

e v e nings i nsist e d o n r e ad ing th e day s work aloud to ’

h is host who was n o t always v er y e ncouraging

,
.

M o r e cong e nial w e r e h is di sc u ssion s as to which ge m

i n Fa r ra r s Er i e be st d e s e r ve d ill u stratio n ( for it was
’

n o w that h e d r e w most o f th e s e and on whol this

) th e e ,

u nacad e mic comrad e ship s e r ve d to lay th e ghosts h e

cr e at e d fo r hims e lf by th e writing o f th e M i r r or of
S/z alott H e wo u ld oft e n app e ar all his n e rv e s o n e dg e
.
,

with his o w n inv e ntions : “ I can not b -b -e ar to b e alon e ,

h e would e xclaim .
 A T LLA N DA FF H OUSE 37 1

H ow e v e r , h e
soon p ick e d up th e thr e ad s o f ord ina r y
lif e and writing now b e cam e f or hi m an int e g r al part
,

o f th is .

Octob e / 3 I .

I b e gan Moral Th e ology this mor ning and finish e d ,

th e H e n r y VI I I book o n Sat u r day I sbist e r says that th e .

d evotio nal book will b e o u t this w e e k ; and By WIzat

A u tiz or i ty by N ov e mb e r 1 5 N o w I am sta r ting to r e vis e .

th e Cha r l e s I I o n e .

Of th e H e nry V I I I book som e th ing will b e said i n a

mom e nt th e d e votional book is o f course th e Book of the , ,

L ov e o f jesu s .

N ov em ber 6
N othi ng at all has happ e n e d—b u t it is a d e lightf u l
.

lif e a nd I am b e ginning to mak e acq u aintanc e s among

,

th e u nd e r g r ad u at e s and din e and l u n ch a good d e al , ,

and hav e also sta r te d Mo r al Th e ology and r e ally find ,

that I r e m e mb e r it p r e tty w e ll .

I go to Ki ng s a good lot and m u mbl e s u p e r stitio u sly

’
,

in th e ant e -chap e l b u t p e opl e ar e v e ry nic e .

He joins th e D e c e mviri cl u b ( wh i ch m e t on o n e
re ,

occasion which f e lt st r ang e to him i n his o ld rooms at

, ,

Trinity ) and w r it e s M r A C B e nson

, ,
“ O n e o f th e . . .
,

m e mb e rs of that tim e has si nc e told m e that h e was th e

only old e r ma n h e had e v e r known w h o r e ally mixe d with
u nd e r grad u at e s and d e bat e d with th e m o n absol u t e ly e q u al

t e r ms B u t i nd e ed so far as looks w e nt tho u gh h e was

.
, ,

n ow th irty-fo u r h e might almost have b e e n a n u nd e r

,

”
grad u at e h ims e lf 1
.

Be sid e s this h e f r e qu e nts th e Pitt Club and h e ads many

, ,

o f hi s l e tt e r s with its nam e ; also h e join e d th e M u sical

M r A C B e n s o n h as
. . .ll wi g a cd t , too , th e fo o n ne o e :

I m mb th at w
re e t d th er m t g th wh di i g with a h pi t
e e n e re e r oo o e er en n n os

abl M ast a d w i t d c d t a g st t his b wild m t a M ‘

e er, n e re n ro u e o ue , o e er en , s r.

B s
en on a d
’
Fath B sn
‘
I m st xpl ai s aid
er h st th at Fath
en on .
’ ‘
u e n,
’
ou r o ,
‘
er

B s t M B s s fath ! I sh ld hav im agi d th at h might

’ ’
i ‘
en on s no r. e n on er ou e ne e

b his said th g st ”
e so n e ue .
37 2 ROBER T H UG H BENSON
Soci e ty and oth e r Similar associations wh ich e nabl e s him
, ,

rath e r nai v e ly to r e ma r k o n N ove mbe r 1 5

It i s k eav en ly h er e —exactly th e so r t o f lif e o n e lik e s
e xc e pt that th e r e is not tim e to w r it e v e ry many bo oks .

Tb e K i ng
’
s A ch iev em en t was by n ow , how e ve r , an
a ccomp lish e d fact .

O n O ctob e r 3 1 h e wrot e to Mrs B e nson that th e H e nry .

V I I I book was finish e d I n N ove mb e r 1 90 4 h e r e ad it .

”
thro u gh to Christoph e r D e ll
“ 1
and d e cid e d that it was
a gr e at advanc e upo n By What A u tlzor i ty b e ing so much ,

be tt e r p u t tog e th e r A n d o n F e b r u ary 1 3 h e wrot e to hi s

.

moth e r to whom h e had s e nt th e book : I kno w it is not

,

so e ff e ctiv e in th e last sc e n e as in A ntho ny s d e ath b u t ’

I think it may b e partly owing to th e fact that o n e hasn t ’

th e sam e sympathy with R alph .

T his h e contin u e d to f ee l about th e book and wrot e o n ,

N ov e mb e r 6 1 9 0 5 to his fri e nd Mr F R olfe

, ,
. .

only r e ason why I am e ntir e ly ill at e as e abo u t Tlze

Th e
K i ng s A o/z zev em en t i s that it do e sn t r e p r e s e nt r e ally any
’ ’

pa r t o f my be ing N o t o n e o f th e chara ct e rs is my
i ntimat e fri e nd N ow in my oth e r books th ey ar e—th e
.

whol e lot I have looke d at th e m not writt e n th em

.
, .

D O yo u se e

con sid e r e d too that

He , ,
he had produc e d th e book
much too fast .

sist e r M iss M Be nson wrot e o n N ov e mb er

H is , .
,
20 that
sh e had r e-r e ad Y71 8 K i ng s A elzi eo emen t aloud ’
.

I do think Sh e concl u d e s it is a m u ch b e tt e r book

, ,
“

than I had r e m e mb e r e d I t s be a u tif u lly w r itt e n a pl e as u r e

.
’

to r e ad and e ith e r yo u h ave imp r ov e d it v e r y m u ch i n

,

conc e ntration o r it was n o t so i nve r t e brat e as I tho u ght .

Still it s not so e ngaging as th e oth e rs tho u gh B e atric e is

,
’

1
The h e r o o f TIce Se n ti m en talists , i nfr a , V o l I I . .
, p .
4 7 soy.
3 74 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSO N
Mo r e and Fish e r have b ee n d e spatch e d th e r e is no o n e ,

l e f t among th e outstanding actors sav e B e atric e A th e r to n

, , ,

who is p e ndant to M ary Co r b et as e v e ryon e has ,

r e cognis e d Th e mass o f s e condary actors ar e soundly

.

dra w n e xc e pt m
,
ay I p e rh ap s say Lady To r r ido n who
, , ,

is n e ith e r q u it e mod er n nor c e r tainly i n th e l e ast Tu dor .

Th is di ff u s e d and l e v e ll e d int e r e st may b e mor e in harmony

with most e xp e ri e nc e o f lif e b u t mak e s th e book to b e ,

l e ss romant ic than H u gh s fi r st historical nov e l ’

.

Its r e al h e ro o r what giv e s it unity is h e r e no long er

, ,

England b u t th e monast e ri e s
, That H u gh r e cognis e d thi s
.

i s witn e ss e d by th e chang e of its titl e and by th e c r iti ,

c i sm which p u r s u e d th e vol u m e Catholic criti cs w e r e .

oft e n v e r y indignant that h e mad e h is monks such crav e n

cr e at u r e s hyst e rical and b e w ild er e d yi e lding q u ickly to
, ,

th e brow -b e ating o f th e Visitors O n th e oth e r sid e a .

,

controv e rsy in an impo r tant R e vi e w was b eg u n but not ,

contin u e d B e nson consid e ring that th e mann e rs o f h is

,

oppon e nt which it must h e con f e ss e d w e r e s u ffici e n tly

, , ,

noto r io u s w e r e s u ch a s p r e cl u d e d m u ch disc u ssion H e r e

, .
,

B e nson f e lt was b u t a mod e rn Man with a M u ck -r ak e n o t

, ,

s e e king how e ve r foolishly fo r a p e a r l among th e filth but

, , ,

r aking fo r filth and mo r e filth and chucking it abo u t th e ,

wo r ld with his m e an i nstrum e nt It may b e as w e ll to .

r e mark that B e nson was not sh i r king wh e n h e p r of e ss e d

h is distast e for c e rtain So r ts o f cont r ov e r sy H e satisfi e d .

his consci e nc e most s c r u p u lo u sly by r e f e rring e ach o f

th e disp u t e d poi nts to o n e o r two a u thoriti e s at O xfo r d
whos e sanction h e consid e r e d final ; and so littl e inclin e d
was h e to s u ppos e that all things Catholic w e r e p e r f e ct
b ecau se Catholic that h e p e rmitt e d h ims e lf to find a
,

c e n ai n Catholic ally to b e in m e thod and lang u ag e far

“
’

, ,

mor e o b j e ctio nabl e—vu lgar abusive and cu r rish than , , ,

”
 AT LL A N DA FF H OUSE 3 75
h is non -Catholic adv er sary Th e importa nt p oints ar e .
,

first that B e nson simply disr e gard e d th e attacks which

,

aim e d at finding him o u t in mi nut e e rrors what h e ask e d

was that h is g e n e ral p ictur e should b e acc ur at e 1 S e cond .
,

it can b e saf e ly said that not e ve n so did B e nso n e ve n

app r oach an ad e quat e stat e m e nt of th e mis e ry d e s erve d ,

and u nd e s er v e d occasion e d by th e di ssol u tion o f th e,

monast er i e s O f this a nyon e may b e satisfi e d who has

.

had th e l e ast p e rsonal knowl e dg e o f e v e nts i n F r anc e

f rom 1 9 0 0 onwards A ll but a handf u l o f Englishm e n .

w e r e and I imagin e always will b e i n compl e t e and com

, , , ,

plac e nt ignoranc e o f th e atrociti e s which w e r e p e rp e trat e d

within a half -day s journ e y o f th e ir hom e s '
Catholics .

p r e ach p e ac e and pr e s u mably th e h isto r y o f th e mod e r n

e xp u lsio n n e v e r will b e w r itt e n B e nson kn e w littl e .

e nough o f that shocking chapt e r o f all but cont e mpo r a r y

h istory ; e ls e h e co u ld h ave h e ight e n e d his colou r s and ,

without f e a r .

Th e sto r y i s c e rtainly w e ll built u p o f O pposing p e r

so n ali ti e s a nd th e r e for e f u ll o f th e t r ag e dy o f twilit huma n
,

wills activ e and i n co nflict and g e n e rating ill Th e r e i s

,
.

o nly o n e monst e r in th e book—H e nry V I I I O n e oth e r .

fig u r e bri e fly u p on th e sc e n e is d e vili sh —th e e x -pri e st

, ,

Layton chi e f a nd obsc e n e st loot e r o fth e monast e ri e s wo r s e

, ,

than th e traitor Lac k i n gto n ElSe w e hav e Sir jam e s .

,

a nd Lady To rr ido n h e loyal to cr ee d sh e an agnostic , ,

b e for e h e r p r o p e r tim e with h e ad e mpty o f th e larg e r ,

and holi e r id e als sh e n e v e r u nd erstood ; and th e i r

da u ght e r s Mary and Margar e t who hav e app e a r e d i n
, ,

1
th s li s th at h vig
I t w as on sly att ack d Ki gsl y s W m a d H 1
e e ne e o ro u e n e
’
es r o

i E n ma
n ve a d sp d d with s m ac b ty t a a sw which
/ n , n re on e o e er i o n n er
”
c o n ce n

t at d
r e p i ts f d t ail H a g d th at K i gsl y i his s p b a d vit al
on o n o e . e r ue n e , n u er n

roma c c sci sly b t s bst a ti ally falsifi d th wh l pict

n e, un on ou uf p i od a d u n e e o e u re o er n

i divid als d th spe ll fa a ti -p apal th y Cf V l

n u , un er e
p 24 o n n e or . o . . 2 .
376 ROB ER T H UG H BENSON
Wizat A n t/zor z ty as Catholics grown O ld in th e i r fid e lity
'

By .

Ch ris and R alp h ar e th e ir two b r oth e r s Ch r i s manly ,

e nough at first and at last but Som e wh at o f a déséq n ilz or e

'

, ,

whil e a monk ; R alph a wor ldling i n s earch o f adva nc e

,

m e nt faithf u l to nothing sav e at first to his ambition

, , , ,

and at th e e n d to hi s fall e n mast e r Cromw e ll

, Th e , .

broth e r s p u rs u e d e vious ways o f life and Ralp h will b e ,

f o u nd e xp e lling his o w n sist e r from h e r conv e nt and ,

his broth e r fr om his L e w e s Priory o f whi ch th e d e moli ,

tio n mak e s o n e o f th e r e ally tragic mom e nts o f this b ook .

It is p e rhaps i nt e r e sting to not e that j u st as B e nson

was w r iting th e d e scription of Chri s bathing at night in
th e lak e o f h is hom e O v e r fi e ld h e wrot e to Mr R olf e
, ,
.

I like yo u r 6 3 0 bathing i n e xp r e ssibly ; po ssibly yo u know

.

th e 1 0 P M bathing too
. . B u t yo u r s i s far mor e whol e
.

som e and ap p e ars to m e s lightly sacram e ntal as no do ubt

, ,

y u mak e it
o .

And again f r om Tr e m an s
M ay
Th e r eis a n e w lak e wh e r e I b ath e d night a nd mo r ni ng
last y e a r and this y e ar cannot at all th ro u gh r e ason of
, ,

tw o savag e swans I t was s u p e r b last y e a r by moonlight

.

I w e nt down th e r e a good many tim e s with V and F .

who w e r e h er e B u t it was slightly d e vilish too with

.
,

wr e aths of mist coming o ff th e wat e r a nd th e sta r s and ,

moon and d e ad Sil e nc e

,
.

It i s r e ally th e Catholi c B e atri c e A th er ton who is

r e spo nsibl e fo r th e tw o dramatic r e ve rsals o f fort u n e
“

o cc u r ring i n this book O n e is e nt e rtaining and path e tic

.
,

b u t st r u c tu rally u nimpo r tant —that o f Lady To r r i do n wh e n ,

B e atric e by d e licious wo r d -play stings h e r o u t of h e r

, ,

cont e mptuous complac e ncy fi r st into amaz em e nt th e n f u r y , ,

th e n distr e ss and finally conv e r sio n ; th e oth e r that of

,

R alph hims e lf w h o aft e r a lif e sp e nt a s I said in s e l f

, , , ,
37 8 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
o f. Heis a cha r ming pi e c e o f so u l and body as o n e can ,

se e b y his action at L e w e s and th e n w e don t se e anything

’

o f him and his b r ight ways wh e n h e has gon e and has ,

b ee n banish e d I m su r e h e was n o t idl e wh e n h e l e ft

.
’

Le w e s —Yo u r s v e ry sinc e r e ly ,

B B ( Sub -s e nior ) . . .

Fath e r B e nson r e p li e d as follows

C A T H O L C R E TO RY CA M B R DG E
I C , I ,

Ap r i l 1 3 .

To th e ED ITO R S o f th e A lma M ater .

G EN TL EM EN m u st thank yo u most sinc e r e ly fo r th e

,
-I

l e tt e r s w hich yo u hav e admitt e d to you r magazin e with

r e f e r e n c e to o n e o r tw o of my books fo r th e kind c r iticism s ,

and s u gg e stio ns contain e d i n th e m and for th e gift o f th e ,

magazin e in q u e stion .

Will yo u allow m e to r e ply shortly to th e s e l e tt e rs

( )
1 M r
. T M .has h it u pon th e v e ry point that was i n
.

my o w n mind as I w r ot e th e last wo r ds o f T/ze K i ng s ’

A olz i ev em en t H e says th e y ar e ambi u o u s ; I int e nd e d

that th e y Should b e Dying p e r sons w g
.

0 hav e liv e d mor e

.

than do u btf u l live s g e n e rally ar e ambig u o u s I also in .

t e nd e d to s u gge st that i n accordanc e with Miss B e atric e

A th e r ton s wo r ds o n a fe w pag e s b e for e it was possibl e
’
, , ,

co nsid e ring all things that loyalty to e ve n s u ch a villai n ,

as C r omw e ll might b e a vi r t u e r ath e r than a d e f e ct It .

is so m e tim e s b e tt e r to b e faithf u l to a villain in an i n ,

diff e r e nt matt e r than to b e faithf u l to nobody
, .

Finally if I am ask e d wh e th e r I m e ant th e wo r ds

,

My Lo r d to r e f e r to C r omw e ll o r to A lm ighty G o d I ,

can only a nsw e r that I am as doubtful as Mr M R I . . .

wish how e ve r it was untr u e to lif e to mak e an e vil live r

die e villy—tho u gh I don t say that R alph did
, ,
’
.

M M obj cts to alph s villainy towards ’

( )
2 r R e R
h is family So do I ver y m u ch B u t—w e ll it is be tt e r
. . .

. .
, ,

to b e an optimist than a p e ssimist I t is optimism that .

conv e rts th e world I will try to corr e ct my p e ss imi stic .

t e nd e n ci e s .

( 3) M r
. B B obj
. e cts that R alph and his moth e r w h o
.
,

ar e said to b e alik e ar e not r e al ly so B u t p e opl e s atti

’
.
,

t u d e s towards lif e and th e ir charact e rs can b e v e ry m u ch

, ,

alike e ve n tho u gh th e y e xpr e ss th e m q u it e di ffe r e ntly A .

g r e e n butt e r fly is mo r e r e ally lik e a b r own o n e than a ,

b r own o n e is l1k e a d e ad l e af Pl e as e consid er this Mr B .

, . .
 A T LLA N D A FF H OUSE 3 79

N o ind e e d Dom
, , A nthony
was not idl e wh e n h e l e ft
L e w e s ; but I simply h adn t tim e to go aft e r h im abroad ’
.

H e o nly succ e e d e d with g r e at di ffic u lty i n e scaping him

s e l f I d idn t lik e to tak e th e r isk of going with him ; and
’

as I say th e r e wasn t tim e —G e ntl e m e n I am yo u r s faith

.
,
’

, ,

f u lly , R O B ERT H U G H B EN SO N .

P S —. I t r u st all th e oth e r a u tho r s to whom yo u hav e

.

w r itt e n will ans w e r also [ T h e oth e r a u tho r s w e r e Scott

.
,

Di ck e ns and Col e r idg e ]

,

Tho u gh th e book has f e w e r Se t sc e n e s p e r haps f e w e r , ,

e pisod e s ( th e Pilgrimag e o f G rac e is u nn e c e ssarily e pisodic ,

j u st lik e N orth e r n R e ligion i n th e e arli e r book) l e ss rh e to r ic

“
, ,

and mor e i nt r o sp e ctio n o f a Slightly n e urotic typ e (Chri s

do e s not r e ally mast e r u s and R alph s soul move s j e r kily) ,
’

th e r e is mo r e e v e n colo u r and p r og r e ssion in it w hich h ad ,

B e n so n be e n d e stin e d e v e r to giv e h ims e lf du e tim e fo r

his wo r k might hav e f u lfill e d its p r omis e of r e al const r u o
,

tive e min e nc e A S it i s A n n e B ole yn la u gh ing frantically

. , ,

u
p to h e r d e ath s e v e i n th e v e r y Tow e r room wh e r e Sh e
'

had sp e nt th e e v e of h er co r o nation is an u nfo r g e ttabl e ,

vign e tt e ; th e sc e n e s with M or e at Ch e ls e a and with

Fish e r with Ma r y To rr ido n —i n n e e d at fi r st o f h e r con
, , ,

v e nt as path e tically as e ve r was B azin s ] solée—mak e e p i ’

s o de s o f tr u e d r ama .

H u gh sp e nt Christmas at Tr e m an s for which h e had ,

b e e n p r e pa r ing charad e s with a larg e coll e ction of masks

, .

H e th e r e told hi s moth e r that h e want e d to j oi n if possibl e , ,

at M agdal e n e wh e r e abo u t this tim e h is broth e r was coming

,

to tak e u p r e sid e nc e A l r e ady i n N ov e mb e r h e had

.

thought o f e stablishing hims e lf at any rat e at Camb r idg e .

N ov e m oer 2 8.

I am b e ginning to think vagu e ly of coming h e r e p er

m an e n tly T h er e is an imm e ns e amount to b e do n e
. B ut .

it is only v e ry vagu e .
 3 80 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
To Miss E . K e mbl e M ar tin he r e p e at ed
Th e r eis an imm e ns e amount to do i f o n e only has ,

s u ffici e nt
tact as all so r ts o f p e opl e ar e int e r e st e d i n th e
,

Church and wish to h e ar about it Th e r e is no n e e d to go

, .

o u t of on e s way to s e e k th e m e v e n if it w e r e advisabl e
’

, ,
which it is n o t .

Th e M agdal e n e plan was j udg e d how e ve r i ndiscr e e t , , ,

if not imp racticabl e at l e ast for th e pr e s e nt and h e soon

,

o ffe r e d hims e lf to Mgr Scott as pos sibl e cu r at e at th e .

Catholic r e ctory Fi nancial consid e ration s fo r th e mom e nt

.

pu t th is p lan to o i nto ab e yanc e

1
.

That h e did n o t actually go to Magdal e n e did not ,

how e ve r stand in th e way o f much int e rcours e b e tw e e n

,

him and h is e ld e r broth e r A n e w fri e ndship was i n .

au gu r ate d unusual ,
sur e ly b etwe e n broth e r s w h o hav e
, ,

r e ach e d middl e- a e
g without any such s e ns e o f clos e

comrad e sh ip having d e clar e d its e l f Th e s e al so it might .

, ,

hav e b e e n j udg e d h ad not r e c e ntly b ee n se parat e d by a

,

sp irit u al schism mor e profound than any which exist ed

,

in th e i r younge r y e ars H owe ve r th is fri e ndship did but .

,

b e com e th e e asi e r a nd mor e e xpansive as tim e w e nt on ,

and th e slight s e ns e o f b e ing—in th e backg r ound som e how ,

—at war vanish e d O th ers i n rath e r surprisi n g numbe rs

,
.
, ,

hav e notic e d i n th e lat e r ye ars H ugh s incr e as e d g e ntl e

, ,
’

n e ss a nd pow e r o f making allowanc e s without sacrific e o f

p r incip l e .

F r om R om e H ugh had writt e n to h is moth e r and in all ,

th e sing u lar circumstanc e s I do n o t h e sitat e long to quot e

th e s e fragm e nts
I had a long l e tt e r from A rthur so nic e this morning , , ,

1
v y pl as d by a i vitati
H e w as er e e n n on tot ak a missi at D w sid e
e on o n .

T st w a th s displ ay d i him a d th at th
ru s u e n , n e q st c am f m ligi s a d
re ue e ro re ou , n

th s th B d ti
e e e en e pl as d him y t m
1c n e s, e e e o re . B t h h ad t
u fs e o re u e .
3 8 2 ROBER T H UG H B ENSON
coming to Lla nda ff H ous e , and b e sid e s this ,
he w r it e s i n

W e ar r ang e d always to walk tog e th e r Sunday aft e r on

noons A S an o ld m e mb e r o f King s Coll eg e I had a k e y
.
’

,
o f th e gard e n th e r e i n th e B acks and a pass -k ey of th e , ,

coll e g e gat e s which w e r e lock e d on Su n day du r i n g th e

,
‘

chap e l s e r vic e W e always w e nt and walk e d abo u t that

.

b e a u tif u l ga r d e n with its winding paths o r sat out in ,

th e bowling-g r ee n Th e n w e g e n e r ally le t ours e lv e s into
.

th e coll e g e g r o u nds and w e nt u p to th e south po r ch o f th e ,

chap e l wh e r e w e co u ld h e a r th e s e rvic e p r oc e e ding within

, .

I can r e m e mb e r H u gh saying as th e Psalms cam e to an ,

end :
“
A nglican do u bl e chants how comfortabl e and ,

d e licio u s a nd h o w e ntir e ly ir r e ligious

,

It fails o n e h e said on anoth e r occasion o f , , ,

acad e mical r e ligion “

if o n e is ill ZEsth e tic ally t h is , .
,

worship of unive rsiti e s and cath e drals was ve ry n e a r ly

h is id e al .

Th e morality play o fEv ery m an was at this tim e r e v e aling

to him n e w possibiliti e s fo r a Catholi c author H e w e nt .
,

to o to O xfo r d fo r th e Clou ds and mad e a r e ally affe c

, ,

tio n ate a cq u aintanc e with Mr F F U r q u hart o f B alliol 1 . . . .

Mr U r quhart i ntroduc e d h im lat e r o n to a small Catholic

.

d e bating cl u b now d e f unct and s u gg e st e d him for Mr

, ,
.

Wilf r id Wa r d s W e stminst e r Dining Soci e ty to which h e

’

was in f act e l e ct e d H e r e ad th e r e a pap e r o n P e rso nality .

o n Ma r ch 2 9 1 9 0 5 o f which th e r e is no n e e d to giv e any

, ,

d e tails H i s vi e ws o n this and alli e d subj e cts ar e dis

.

c u ss e d b e low O n A p r il 5 h e wrot e to M r U rq u ha r t
.
,
.

Ap r i l 5 .

I Should imm e ns e ly lik e to go to Sto n yh u r st som e day ;

b u t at p r e s e nt I am afraid I am as f u ll u p as I ca n b e
, ,
.

H1
d M U q h a t ch a mi g a d t a dma i ly cl v a d v y
e fo u n r. r u r
“
r n , n ex r or r e e r, n er

O f dy
x or B y this h did
. t all d t wh at h call d th A fah d m a
e no u e o e e e x n n er ,

which w a c mplicat d by ccl si asticism a d i v lv d pats a d p awi g a d

s o e e e , n n o e n n s n

b th ly mb ac s which d c d his v s t ch a tic x aspe ati

ro er e r e re u e ne r e o o e r on .
 AT LLA N DA FF H OUSE 3 83

I ad its h istory a fe w y e ars ago with gr e at pl e as u r e

re .

T hank you fo r what you t e ll m e about 771 8 n ltt [ n

v i s i b le
} I t is good to h e ar o f things lik e that W e had .

a good dinn e r last w ee k at th e Dining Soci e ty ; Lo r d

Llanda ff was a littl e ca u stic as us u al ; and B alfo u r sat 2
,
so u ndly o n Fr P fo r saying that th e ologians talk e d a
.

di ff e r e nt lang u ag e to s ci e ntists “
That is my point he .
,
”

said ; it is what I com p lai n o f I was so m u ch i n

“
.

te r e ste d to h e a r of Fr Ty r r e ll H e was kind to m e in . .

co r r e spond e nc e thr e e y e a r s ago ; wh e n I was u p s e t .

”

A n d I h e a r a lot abo u t him from va r ious [ p e opl e ] ; and

r e ad his books ov e r and ove r again .

I always r e comm e nd him as an antidot e to M allo c k ,

th e y ar e so ve r y much alik e in sh r e wdn e ss and s u btl e ty .

H aving accomplish e d Tb e K i ng s A eb i ev em en t it was ’

on Q u e e n Mary Tudor h e now conc e ntrat e d .

L L AN D A FF H O USE , C AM BR D I G E,

Febr u ary 1 5
want to b e gin o n Qu e e n Ma r y A r e at many
Now I .

r e vi e w s h av e taunt e d m e with having av o ide that sid e ,

and I want m u ch to Show that a cas e ca n b e mad e Mary .

i s o n e o f th e most path e tic fig u r e s in history I think ,

sn u bb e d mis u nd e rstood so u r e d by t r o u bl e with a con

, , ,

sci e n c e and convictions such a s fe w have .

M ar ch 6
I am on th e v e rg e of th e Mary B ook e xactly as on th e
e dg e o f a pond o n a cold day —daw dli n
,

ove r tr ifle s and ,

m e ani ng to p l u ng e and th e n thi nking m u st do som e

thing e ls e fi r st—it is a n appalling u nd er taking
,

distraction s h er e o ccur r e d—h e discove rs a cold

Th r ee
wat er c u r e : th e B ishop o f N orth ampton acc e pts him fo r
3

his dioc e s e ; and th e r e is a U niv e rsity disc u ssion o n th e

s u p p r e ssio n o f G r e e k at th e e ntranc e examination A ft e r .

1
T his
th at it had i t st d a d c m f t d th l ast d ays f a y g
w as , n e re e n o or e e o o un

j s it w h h ad c tly di d
e u o re en e .

Th l at M R gi ald B al f
2
e e r. e n ou r .

I t w a s m dysp psia fth s t h

3
s o e impli d I im agi which m ad him
e o e or e re e ,
ne , e

c at a s ati by fai nti g i Ki g s C mbi ati R m aft di

re e en s on n n n
’
o n on oo er n n er on

N ov . 1 8, 1 90 4 .
3 84 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
it h e exclaims : I did not think th e r e w e r e
“
SO many
cl e rgym e n i n th e world ! I n cons e qu e nc e he fo u nd
h e art to r e s u m e h is task .

N ov em be r 1 3.

I hav e b e gun Ma r y with d r e adful f e a r If only I

“
.

can do it right it will b e by far th e b e st thing I hav e don e

,

but it is di fficult b e yond b e li e f I am t e lling half f r om my

h e r o s poi nt o f vi e w and half from Ma r y s—mixing th em
.

’ ’

,
up . My man s i s e asy e no u gh but th e Qu ee n s i s f e a r ful
’ ’

I have to kno w e ve ry conc e ivabl e d etail I have alr e ady .

found o u t that sh e ate quantiti e s of m e at fo r br e akfast .

Th ebook is th e re for e to b e a psychological study ra th e r

than a romanc e with an ord e r e d plot and will i nvolve in , ,

th e main th e Qu e e n h e rs e lf and Mast e r G uy M an ton a

, , ,

g e ntl e man o f h e r cou r t .

Ap r i l 30 .

Qu e e n Mary is g e tting along I have e m e nd e d th e .

fi r st part v e ry much along th e k 1n d o f lin e s that yo u and

,

Maggi e s u gg e st e d and hav e mad e G u y e v e r so m u ch

,

mo r e int e r e sting A ll h is ha r d n e ss has be com e int e ntional

.

i nst e ad o f natural H e means to b e hard now be ca u se h e

.
,

s e e s h e cannot make way witho u t it Th e bu r n in g of .

Latim e r and R idl e y is now his c r isis in which h e d e l i b er ,

at e ly chok e s down his p ity ; h e th e n b e com e s a d e vil i n

cons e q u e nc e and do e sn t r e cove r u ntil th e e n d of th e
,
’

book wh e n his p ity for Mary conq u e r s h im H o w is that ?

, .

Don t yo u thi nk that an i nge nious sol u tion

’

He ass u r e d M iss E . K Ma r tin

.

I am going to tak e imm e ns e pai ns—m u ch mor e than

with By Wleat A u th or i ty —in ord er to mak e p e opl e s e e
how u nj u stly th e y have t r e at e d h e r in th e past B u t that .

i s a pro u d and high ambition .

And lat e r
Q u e e n M ary is going alo ng nic ely I th ink Sh e will .

b e good ; b u t fo r th e last day o r two I h av e st u ck in a

fu r io u s b r awl and my p e opl e wait hou r aft e r ho u r W i th
,

u plift e d w e apons and I can t le t th e m put th e m down At

’
.
,
 3 8 6 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
s e nc e so strongly f e lt e ve n wh e n uns ee n ; th e e pisod e o f
Philip s coming to Winch e st e r ; th e pr e paration of th e
’

Cath e dral o n th e night b e for e th e m arriag e ; th e mar r iag e

its e lf ( s e e n as B e nson love s to hav e h is gr e at mom e nts
,

vi ew e d imp e rf e ctly f ro m an angl e by a s e condary p e r

, , ,

so mag e oft e n —in this instanc e by jack N orri s th e e asy ,

going g e ntl e man -ush e r : lat e r Mary h e rs e lf will vi ew th e

,

r e turn o f th e B e n e dictin e s to W e stmin st e r f rom h er privat e

p lac e abov e King Edward s Sh rin e ) ; above all th e r e con
’

ciliation o f England with th e H oly Se e .

B ut th e p sychology its e lf o n which i n this book w e ar e

,

m e ant to conc e ntrat e som e how fails to co nvinc e i n all

,

sav e o n e all -important i nstanc e To t e ll th e truth B e nson .

,

was applying a prin cipl e which lat e r o n h e f ormulat e d in

th e following short co nv e rsation
Why don t you tak e mor e troubl e ove r yo u r nove ls
’

a f ri e nd onc e ask e d h im I f a th ing s worth doing at all

.
’

it s worth doing w e ll
’

I totally disagr e e h e e n e rg e tically e xclaim e d

,
“
Th e r e .

ar e lots o f thi ngs which ar e worth doi ng but ar e n t i n th e

’

l e ast worth doing w ell .

H e proc e e d e d to e xplai n that i n his nov e ls h e wrot e

only to mak e o n e p oint to h e lp o n e r e ad e r o r p e rhap s
“
, ,

o n e group o f r e ad e rs I f that p oint w e r e b u t mad e and

.
,

thos e r e ad e rs touch e d tout le r e st e n e st q u e litt é ratur e

“
,
’

and might b e allow e d to slide H o w f ar an artist could .

p e r mit hims e l f thus to sp e ak w e may hav e a n occasion of

asking lat e r o n Su ffi c e it h e r e to say th at h e want e d i n
.

th is book to which its titl e give s th e k e y to paint a spirit u

, ,

ally convincing portrait o f Qu e e n Mary a nd as for c o n ,

struction d e v e lop m e nt climax and th e like at be st all tlzat

, , , ,

was s e condary H e did not both e r about it d e spit e his

.
,

d e t e rminatio n to tak e such e sp e cially g e at pains Thos e

“ r .
 AT LLA N D A FF H OUSE 3 87
all w e r e conc e ntrate d 0 11 th e c e ntral figur e Magdal e n e .

Dac r e 1 at first so ch a r ming th e n so p u zzli ngly s elfish and

, ,

in e ff e ctiv e ; jan e Do r m e r j ust o r dinarily sw e e t th e n with , ,

s u ch h int e d d e pth s of spi r itual i nt e llig e nc e ; jack N orris ,

j olly and all too e asy -going and talkativ e to o oft e n in hi s , , ,

cup s ; Di ck K e arsl e y that s e e ming-so u r mo st hono u r abl e

, ,

and loyal f ri e nd — all th e s e who with car e might hav e b e e n ,

d e ve lop e d into r e al p e r so nag e s to liv e in l it e rat u r e fo r ,

e ach o f th e m w e ar e b e ginning to lov e and f e e l o u rs e lv e s ,

d e fraud e d as th e y vanish — ar e ca r e l e ssly sk e tch e d in ,

tr e asur e s toss e d o u t by a millionai r e too ri ch to car e , ,

ad e quat e ly fo r his o w n b e autiful gift

,
2
I n th e m too is .

visibl e that e l e m e nt o f noisin e ss i n d e scriptio n which is ,

his who wish e s to make quickly a strong e ffe ct witho u t , , ,

th e pati e nc e to acc u mulat e th e small touch e s which shall

at last prod u c e it f orc e fu lly Th e s e p e op l e in th e Ma r y .

B ook ar e all t e tim e snapp ing

h “ “
snarli ng “
h issing ,
”
,
”
,

e ve n barking : th e y bit e th e ir lip s and b ar e th e ir t ee th

“ 3
, ,

and th e y ar e always at it N o w is not this hu r ry and .

,

buff e ting ar e w e not push e d about—not imp e rc e ptibly le d

f orward with in f r e qu e nt shocks j u st to make us r e alis e th e
,

distanc e w e h av e trav e ll e d o r th e goal w e have r e ach e d ?

H e r e is p e rhap s an impr e ssio nist hu r ling down o f colours
, ,

sid e by Sid e which is n o t r e ally craftsman ship but viol e nc e ,

i n p lac e o f str e ngth and a u dacity inst e ad o f cou r ag e

,
.

B ut what about G uy Manton ? A ssist e d by th e l ett e r

quot e d above I would a r gu e that H u gh B enson chang e d
h is mi nd about h im i n th e middl e o f his tal e G u y was .

1
M agdal ene Da c re , it appea s r , was i n re ality m a i ed brr ef
ore Q ue e n M ary
’
s
d ath
e .

1
A s for th e R e for m e r s Ri dl e y
tim w simply ca t t ll wh at w
, and La e r, e nn o e e

ares ppo s d t thin k f th m a d f th i m a ty d m A th y c a icat s ?

u e o o e n o e r r r o . re e r ur e

c t mptibl ? p ath tic ? g i ly t agic ? P h aps B s hims l f w a t

on e e e en u n e r er en o n e s o rn

tw w ays i th i
o ga d P h aps h h ad j st t m ad p his mi d
n e r re r . er e u no e u n .

3
I Tb N n oma w sh all h av a Lady La a wh m w
e ec r neer s e e ur o e s.
3 88 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
not at first m e ant to b e a psychological study at all H o w .

e v e r h e c e rtai nly b e cam e o n e and that a study i n l

’
, , ,
i ar an ess .

N o w why did H u gh do th is
, N othing w ould b e mo r e
ti r e som e than to insist that in e ach o f his chi e f charact e r s
H u gh r e p roduc e d o n e Sid e at l e ast o f hims e lf Y e t I will
.

b e h o ld to say that th e r e is o n e passag e which might v er y

w e ll hav e b e e n writt e n about H ugh by an o u tsid e u n sym
path etic obs e r v e r j ust th e n at Cambridg e :

[G uy] was a st r ang e c r e at u r e ; th e y co u ld u nd e rstand

n e ith e r his t e nd ern e ss n o r his spasms o f rag e H e had .

mad e hims e lf r idic u lous mor e than o nc e i n h is f r i e ndship s

by Showing a compassion fo r q u e e r p e r sons th e y co u ld n o t
comp r e h e nd a nd h e had mad e h ims elf a littl e t er r ibl e too , ,

half a doz e n tim e s in his f u r i e s against disloyalty and his ,

co nt empt of what th e y consid e r e d acad e mic fin e ss e .

H ow e ve r , j ust at this tim e H u gh was going th r ough

som e quit e sing u lar exp e ri e nc e s conn e ct e d with fri e ndship
and th e duti e s o f loyalty and was like ly to b e fo r som e
, ,

tim e incr e asingly misund e rstood i n this a nd oth e r points

,
.

That hi s ch a r act e r contain e d an e l e m e nt o f ha r dn e ss ,

'

which h e som e tim e s d e plor ed and at oth e r tim e s would

,

c u ltivat e but always r e cognis e d fe w should r e ally find it

, ,

h a r d to r e cognis e along with him A n d j u st now th e

.

lon e lin e ss and th e n e c e ssity o f hard e ning on e s s e lf to d e al

,
’

with positiv e r e bu ff no l e ss than n egativ e n egl e ct comi ng

f r om most wid e ly div ers e qua r t e rs w e r e promi n e nt topics
,

i n his consciousn e ss B u t it will b e e asi er to obs e rve th e m

.

’
s e pa r at e ly and lat e r o n i n h is lif e than to try to st u dy
, ,

h im in th e p e rson o f G uy Manton ; n o t only I r e p e at b e

, ,

ca u s e th e d e sc r iption o f Manton is un e q u ally ske tch e d in ,

i s p r op e r ly work e d out n e ith e r at th e outs e t o f h is hard e n

ing i n its d e v e lopm e nt and as it w e r e crystallisation and
, ,

l e ast o f all in its b r e ak-u p and disint egration b u t b e caus e

,
39 0 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
d e ath o f h er o w n body could compar e with th e sp iritual
ruin o f o n e so u l e v e n ; and sh e for e saw that o f a n e nti r e
,

nation a nd sh e f e lt that had slze b ee n oth e r al l still might

, ,

have b e e n w e ll Sh e had act ed always fo r th e b e st and

.
,

h e r action h ad brought r u in Th e r e was h e r trag e dy . .

H e r lo ng incr e asing illn e ss is d e scrib e d by B e nson with

e xtraordinary imagi nativ e i nsight H o w o n e asks could .
, ,

he possi bly hav e known all that Down to th e l e ast d e tail

h e is accurat e—th e hid e o u s h e adach e Mary s h e a v y doz e ’

i n th e ar m -chair would hav e caus ed th e sp e cial horrors of

th at giddin e ss wh ich sh ee r w e akn e ss puts into th e b r ain .

B e nson had not it is tru e b e e n g r ave ly ill h ims e lf but I

, ,

b e li e ve h e must alr e ady e v e n hav e f e lt ill as n ervo u s

, , ,

natu r e s c an and h e watch e d hims e lf ac curat e ly and multi ,

pli e d h is s e nsations and surmis e d th e i r analogi e s and lit by

, ,

Sh e e r e xp e r im e nt u pon oth e r s 1 B u t upon th e myst erio u s .

m e thod o f D e ath s coming h ow did h e alight so stra ng e ly

’
,

w e ll ? H o w so e arly i n h i s car e e r was h e so at hom e i n

, ,

thos e shadowy r egio ns ? I th i nk th e whol e of that last

chapt e r in whi ch Mary th e Q u e e n d e cid es h e r last
,
“

matt e r s an d tak e s h e r l e av e e migrat e s e nti r e ly f rom th e

o r di nary r e alms o f succ e ssf u l ar t into thos e o f inspiration
and of aw e I do not f e e l as if B e nson h ims e lf q u it e
.

r e alis e d how t e rribly and sol e mnly r e al a work h e was

cr e ating O n e day at th e st r ok e o f th e l u nch e on h e ll

.
, ,

h e walk e d i nto th e Llanda ff H ous e dining -r oom r ubbing

his hands with gl e e and i n p e r f e ctly radiant Spi r its .

Q u e e n Mary s d d de ad h e e xclaim e d
- -
’
“
Sh e h as b e e n
,
”
.

dyi ng all th e morning Su elt a d eath -b e d—r e ally it s too

.
,
’

moving—quit e tr e m e ndous—b u t I am compl et e ly don e u p .

I thi nk my in fo r mant add s that h e said it was th e

,
“
,

1 “
Ha v e you e v er sl ap p d y
e o u r ar m with a c t ai s t er n or of p im l a ?
r u
”
he
disc c ti gly
o n er n 1n q u ires o f M r R o l fe
. .
“
I t p d c s ec z m a
ro u e e .
”
 AT LLA N D A FF H OUSE 39 1

be st d e scription o f h er d e ath -b e d h e had e v er s e e n Is n o t .

that strang e ? A ft er writing pag e s o f such pow e r and

poignancy it might w e ll b e wond e r e d at that h e should
,

have b ee n abl e to e at o r talk at all Th e chap e l o n e might .

,

hav e tho u ght would hav e summon e d him rath e r than th e

, ,

dining -room 1 .

I n th e s e e xp e r i e nc e s o fth e dyi ng which h e undou b t edly ,

p e rc e iv e s fr om withi n th e Sick woman s brai n h e us e s in a ’

mast e rly way th e data o f ext e rnal fact fo r th e c onstr u ctio n

o f h e r s e ns e - hallucinations and th e n of h er sp iritual , ,

asp irations I s not that as it Should b e ? Th e pri e st in

.

his r e d-cross e d s u lph u r-colour e d v e stm e nt b e com es th e

misty figur e with th e e normous Sign o f man s salvatio n at ’

its b ack and th e Sun h e ld to its h e art

,
Th e liv e ri e s o f
h e r s e rvants a nd th e long e d -fo r h e i r giv e h er th e mat e rial
, ,

for thos e troop s o f gr ee n and whit e -clad childr e n whos e

footst e p s t inkl e through h er room bringing with th e m all ,

swe e t m e mori e s o f de w and s u nlit dawn and br e e z e .

Ea r li e r i n th e book a tru e not e was str u ck “

I t is not .
,

j an e Dorm e r said o f th e cold Q u e e n

“
that sh e has n o ,

h e art but th at it has b ee n brok e n too oft e n and sh e f e ars

, ,

to show it now A n d at th e e n d th e e xhaust e d woman

.
,

fi nds that d e ath was b e tt e r than m e r e c e asing o f li f e s o ld ’

torm e nt “
I n te M ort e Si posa nostra ign u da natura
.
, , ,

li e ta n o ma Sicura dall a ntico dolor

,
Mary saw th e utt e r
’
.

fail u r e of all h er nat u r e s e ff ort b ut e ve n as H u gh B e nson

’
,

“
brav e r than L e opardi will o n e day cry o u t My whol e
, ,

G osp e l is : Th e r e i s no such th ing as fail u r e so sh e is ,

“
now longing to proclaim to all th e world h o w gr e at and
sw ee t was d e ath Viaticum cam e to h e r
.

Sh e was consc ious o f h er body again now ,

h er wast e d
1
He ls w t a sm all pamphl t f
a o ro e e or th e Ca th lic o Tru th S ci ty c mpa i g
o e ,
o r n

M a y s d ath -b d with Elizab th s

r
’
e e e
’
.
392 ROB ER T H UGH B ENSON
limbs h e r shrunk e n br e ast ; and th r ough e v e ry fibr e of it
,
stol e a sw e e t n e ss It was to that h id e o u s and disto r t e d
.

thing that th e sw e e t B ody o f h e r Lo r d had com e it was

that pit e o u s so u l that h ad so toil e d with tro u bl e s and ,

st r iv e n with d e sir e and fi e rc e passio n p e rp l ex e d bu ffet e d , , ,

d e spis e d that th e stainl e ss and torm e n te d soul th e awf u l

, ,
Divini ty o f th e G od whom sh e had so in eff e ctually tri e d to
s e r ve h ad d e ign e d to visit
, .

Sh e whisp e r e d sto I h av
“
j esu j esu l e m ih i j es u ,
e

fail e d d e ar Je sus b u t Tho u hast not

, , .
”

So not e v e n h e r poor lov e -sto r y r eally e nd ed at ,

th e
last i n trag e dy
,
.

A n d H ugh s moth e r wrot e to him from Tr e m an s

’

I can t d e scrib e how it mov e s m e n o r how i n love with

’
,

d e ath it s e e ms to mak e o n e This last half -hour w e

.

hav e follow e d h e r from w i tli i n ; it all move s round n o w

th e st r ang e sp ac e s th e law n th e sw e e t ch ild r e n th e
, , ,

t u r ning to d ee ds of duty that have to b e don e th e ap p e a r ,

an c e o f fac e s and th e i r disap p e a r anc e th e u tt e r h elpl e ss

n e ss th e sw e e tn e ss of pardon and p e ac e—all e v e nts e v e n
,

to most o f h e r Co u rt h aving gon e to Elizab e th —all in G od s

, ,
’

hands —no bitt e rn e ss Th e gr e at R it e s and th e lift e d and

int e rp e n e trat e d soul —and th e Coming o f th e Lord th e Su n
.
,

o f r ight e ousn e ss —
,

i t is all too much to sp e ak o f it did

happ e n ju st so .

I t app ears to m e that R ick ar d R ay n al Soli tary which , ,

h e b e gan e a r ly in 1 90 5 was th e dir e ct e xp r e ssion o f his

,

i nward craving f or solit u d e This w as ve ry strong at this

.

p e riod ; I Shall r e turn to it e xplicitly in a lat e r chapt e r .

H e k e pt h is moth e r and som e fri e nds clos e ly acquaint e d

with th e progr e ss o f th e book and o n july 2 1 90 5 wrot e to
, , ,

o n e o f th e s e

My h e rmit com e s to m e s traight f rom h e ave n I am .

mo r e c e rtain that h e e xists than that I do .

He had w r itte n e arli er to his moth e r that

th eh e rmit mov e s m e imm e n s e ly ; b u t it is e ith e r v er y
good ind e e d o r ve r y bad i nd e e d ;
,
an d I am n o t q u 1te
3 94 ROB ERT H UG H B ENSON
o ccasion o f h is ing e nious m e thod Mr , . Rol f e
’
s translation
1
D on Tar gu i n i o .

I t is—p e rhap s though b e caus e w e do know that R i ckar d

, ,

R ay n al is pu r e fi c ti o n — diffic u lt to se e how it could hav e

b e e n tak e n fo r a transc r ip t A ll mann e r o f comm e nts .
,

appr e ciation s f acts o f obs e r vation t e rms o f compari son

, , ,

e v e n obj e cts o f s e nsatio n ( as fo r instanc e colour harp e d , , ,

upon i n a way quit e unknown to m e dia e val ae sth e ti cism I ,

think) b e long utt e rly to th e mod e rn m e ntality A n d th e s e

, .

ar e far too int e gral to th e book to b e du e to any m e r e

translator s lic e nc e B e nso n hims e lf exp e ct e d this to b e

’
.

s e e n and was r e stl e ss und e r accusations H e wrot e

, .

Tk e n I should hav
k t I n v is i ble,
e though t carri e d ,

fiction writt e n all ov e r it N ot o n e r e vi e w and I hav e .

,

s e e n I suppos e b e tw e e n fifty and a h u ndr e d e v e r s u g e st e d

that it was anything e ls e B ut r e ally if anyon e W 1gtak e
, , ,

.
, ,

th e t r o u bl e to r e ad th e titl e -pag e o f R i ck ar d R ay n al I do ,

not think h e co u ld possibly fall into th e mistak e again A .

tra nslator could not p oss i bly writ e Tk e H istory of R i ck ar d

R ay n al Soli tai y B Y R ob e rt H u gh B e nson
, , .

Th estory is f ragm e ntary and portrays th e lif e o f a ,

young h e rmit from th e tim e wh e n th e call o f G o d cam e to

h im bidding hi m visit th e King—H e nry V I pr e sumably f or
, ,

B e nson a ff e cts that his M S omits all nam e s o f plac e s and .

p ersons and all dat e s a proc ee ding which c ertainly sav e s a ,

d e al o ftro u bl e Th e h e r mit go e s to W e stminst er a nno u nc e s

.
,

to th e sick yo u th h is app roaching passio n which sup e r ,

ind u c e s i n th e King an e p il e ptic fit o f a mor e o r l e ss

myst e rious kind ; aft e r th e s courging caj oling and mani , ,

fold t e mptation o f th e h e rmit and finally th e murd erous ,

attack upon him a r e vulsio n o f f e e ling ca u s e s him to b e

,

1 c tai ly w a t s e v a m d l f th igi al pl a f St
D on Targu i n i o er n s o r e s o e or e or n n o .

Tk ma f Cant b y
o s o O ath p ath tic cas w a th at f a lady w h sick
er ur . ne r er e e s o o,

f ficti d with li f t al hist ical w k lik R i kard R ay al “

o tu on , rn e re e o re or or e c n .

h ask d why di d F B s l av t p a ts fth M S

”
B t
u , s e e , r. e n on e e ou r O e .
 AT LLA N DA FF H OUSE 39 5
r e gard e d as a saint and to b e set with th e r ich i n his “

"
,

d e ath to b e laid o n th e king s o w n b e d and th e r e to die

,
’

, .

Th er e ar e thr e e domi nant m otifs in th e book fi r st th e ,

lif e o f in n e r solit u d e with G o d th at lo f ty form o f pray e r

,

which has car r i e d a man b e yond th e l e v e l e v e n wh e r e h e , ,

must r esist natur e for no w natur e i s no mor e a s e paratio n

from G od b u t a sacram e nt which brings H im n e ar s e cond ,

th e passio n and pain incid e ntal to all achi e v e m e nt o f voca

tion : and th ird th e fail u r e of th e wo r ld s coars e thumb
,
’

and fing e r to pl u mb th e natur e o f th is lif e and jo y and ,

pain an d d e ath Th e fi r st o f th e s e h e e laborat e d with th e

.

h e lp o f G Or r e s and R ichard R oll e o f H ampd e n finding ,

hims e lf unabl e to add th e infu sion o f Corn e li u s A grip pa ;

to wh ich M r R olf e was constantly u rging h im C e rtai nly

. .
,

h e captur e s a most fr e sh a nd fragrant atmosph e r e a ,

Fr anciscan gai e ty and h e i s h appy i n th e co nspiration of

,

N at u r e with th e Sup e rnatural in th e prais e o fG od Extr e m e .

simplicity p e rf e ct clean n ess m u ch cl e ar colour—y e llows

, , ,

ski e y blu e s all th e t e nd e r gr e e ns o f v e g e tation —char

,

ac te r ise th e li f e R aynal l e ads in his thatch e d hut i n th e

for e st B e nson d e lib e rat e ly l e av e s all dark or gloomy

.

e l e m e nts to o n e sid e at th e first Th is lov e ly lif e w ith G od is

.

to b e Sh e e r happin e ss i n wh ich all cr e ation lif e o f b east

, ,

and bi r d and l eaf j oins R ichard was a Parsi f al fo r whom

,
.
,

G ood F r iday did but make th e wo r ld sw e e t e r and mor e

childlike pu r e with flow e rs Ex u ltav i t sp i r i tu s meu s
. .

’
Th e h e rmit i s h ims e lf b eau tifu l; i n f e at u r e e ve n G od s ,

“
darling sp eci aliss i m u s I nto this r e surr e ction o f long
, .

lost i nno c e nc e had th e e arli e r passions o f p e nanc e and

“

p r aye r e l evat e d th e yo u ng man ; a compl e t e d passion was

to p e rf e ct him i nto th e like n e ss o f th e C r u c ifie d and daring ,

a nalogi e s ar e se t forth be tw e e n th e s e S u ffer er s sco u r g e d ,

and flo ute d by th e courts and by m e n at arms and by, ,

39 6 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
th e crowd tho u gh c e r tai n biograph e rs hav e b e for e now far
,

outstripp e d H ugh B e nson i n a like m e thod o f comparing

St Francis o f A ssisi with hi s Mod e l
. .

Tw o st r o ng contrasts ar e se t b e sid e th e h e rmit : th e

rath e r d u ll p ious o ld p r i e st (in whom B e nson was fond o f
,

d e t e cting hims e lf m u ch to th e annoyanc e o f hi s wor

,

shipp e r s who p r e f er r e d to find him in R ichard R aynal

, .

This id e a n e ve r fail e d to p r ovok e in h im thos e gl e e f u l

giggl e s to wh ich f r om tim e to tim e h e f e ll a h e lpl e ss
vi ctim ) ; and th e A n k r e t i n h is f o u l c e ll at W e stmi nst e r ,

an assault u pon th e r e fin e d s e n sation s o f c e rtain mor e

fastidio u s among his r e ad e rs fo r wh ich th e y h av e n eve r
,

qu it e fo r giv e n him Y e t th e A n k r e t too had hi s plac e 1n

.
, ,

G od s sch e m e o f asc e ticism this wo r ld G od might d e c r e e

’

, ,

might hav e to b e n e gl e ct e d or e ve n spurn e d ; though j ust

about th is tim e B e nso n was writi ng to a fri e nd “
I do not
b e li e v e that love ly th ings hav e to b e stamp e d u p on Should .

th e y n o t rath e r b e le d i n chains ? Bu t R icha r d R aynal

had his e sco r t o f whatso e v e r things ar e b e autif u l witho u t ,

e v e n n e e di n g to e nchain th e m . H ow e v e r a d e finit e ,

li nk may b e noti c e d b e tw ee n B e nso n and R ayn al s K i ng ’

.

Th is it is impossibl e to e xplain b e ca u s e th e e ss e nc e,

of it i s i n a c e r tai n n e gativ e n e ss a n inh ibition of thought

,

and j udgm e nt a b ew ilder men t in fac e o f lif e of th e f u t u r e

, , ,

of d u ty abov e all o f th e U nknown It was a kind o f

, , .

spirit u al paralysi s o f which n o acco u nt w as to b e giv e n ;

i n which yo u could o nly w ait daz e d som e how by th e
, , ,

u nmanag e abl e myst e ry o f imm e diat e lif e It is hard t o .

de sc r ib e an yth in g so e ss e ntially blank and f e atur e l e ss , ,

and numbing N o r can I do oth e r than dogmatically

.

ass e r t that H ugh at h i s ho u r s e xp e ri e nc e d thi s and

, , ,

st r o ngly I nto th e King th e n h e p u t not a littl e o f

.
, ,

hi ms e lf Ye t R aynal w as i nd e e d that e mancipat e d s e lf

.
 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
at this tim e towa r ds h is f e llow cl e rgy and which aft e r
, ,

wa r ds was so happily modifi e d H e had how e ve r hop e d .

, , ,

at first to p u blish th e sto r i e s h e had fi nish e d tog eth e r

,

with som e by h is sist er and oth e rs by a f r i e nd Th e .

publish e rs to whom th e y w er e o ff er e d point e d o u t th e i r

lack o f unity and want e d M iss B e nson to mak e th e m
,

all Egyptian i n s e tting for i n two o f h er tal e s Sh e ,

had us e d a n Egyp tian backg r ou nd with gr e at succ e ss .

Sh e r e fus e d to do this and p oi nt e d out that a unity,

was obs e rvabl e i n th e m owing to th e g r ad u al c r e sc e ndo

,

o f th e mystical not e whil e th e contrasts o f sc e n e add e d

,

n e c e ssary vari e ty Wh il e Sh e d e pr e cat e d h e r broth e r s

.
’

disc u rsive n e ss sh e willingly acc e pt e d f r om his stori e s

, , ,

thr e e which Sh e e ntitl e d Tk e H au n t of D eatk ( this is

,

Mr P e r cival s sto r y in th e M i r r or about that i r on min e

’
.
,

for whi ch an e xploratio n party i n Wal e s had furnish e d

H ugh with all th e staging ) Tk e H ou se w i tk ou t a Sou l Mr .

”
B e nson s ve ry w e ird story ) ; and a chapt e r e ntitl e d
’

Tk e M u sic of tk o Otk er Wor ld N u r em b erg ; o f which I .

can find no trac e and n o e xplanatio n Th e id e a o f th e .

whol e book was to p ictur e fo r th th e world within th e

,

world o r i f yo u will
, ,
“
th e so u l within th e world
,
.

Collabo r ation be twe e n H ugh B e nso n a nd anyon e e ls e

was I b e li e v e an imp ossibility and th e plan f e ll thro u gh
, , ,
.

Th e id e al s u r viv e d how e ve r I n ghost stori e s h e arg u ed

,
.
, ,

r e al thing e xp r e ss e s its e lf as f ar as possibl e i n a

“
th e
c e r tai n m e dium Th e y ar e th e translation of th e sup e r
.

nat u r al i nto th e natural and th er e for e only analogical ,

to any tru e stat e m e nt e ve n o f f act Spiritual e ve nts

, ,
.

u ndoubt e dly any Chri stian wil l admit oc cur th y

( ) : k ow e

occur not w e with o u r brains d e p e nd e nt upon matt e r

,

fo r th e ir imag e r y ca n d e fin e wh e th e r i ndividual port e nts

have o ccurr e d —w e ll you must d e cid e fo r you r s e lf u pon
,
 AT LLA N DA FF H OUSE 3 99
th e e vid e nc e So th e book b egi ns and so it e nds M e an
.
, .

whil e th e stori e s move s u cc e ssfully upon th e whol e and ,

had no n ee d of th e author s continual r e mind e r that ’

th e y ar e v er y gru e som e Fr Me u r o n flash e s his e y e s

.
“
.

d r e adfully r o u nd th e circl e and dash e s forward in h is ”

e motio n : pip e s d r op cigar e tt e s go o u t ; n er ve s thrill

“
,

lik e a struck harp W e do n ot like b e ing told wh e n

.

to j u mp .
‘

Th e r e ar e b u t fe w p e r so nal r e mi nisc e nc e s i n th is
work . Cornwall a nd Wal e s give h im background
a nd som e thing o f th e i r sp i r itually surcharge d atmos
ph or e This may b e Sig nificant : thos e districts ar e
.

di ffe r e nt e nough in p sych ic valu e f rom op ul e nt though

, ,

fairy -h a u nt e d S u ss e x I n Fr M addox s story to o th e r e

. .
’

, ,

is a r e fl e ction unl e ss I am mistak e n o f Lord H alifax s

, ,
’

hous e G ar r ow b y and ve ry much mor e than a r e fl e ction

, ,

o f how B e nson wrot e h is nov e ls and alm ost saw th e ghost s

h e long e d quit e to e ncount e r Lat e r i n a chapt e r o n h is

.
,

p sychi c e xp e r i e nc e s o r lack o f th e m a nd in that which

, ,

d e als with h is Mysti cism I may v e nt u r e to sp eak o f his

,

whol e att itud e towards th e pr e t e rnatural mani fe sting its e l f

at di ffer e nt l ev e ls such as (at low e st ) clicks in f u rnitur e
, ,

myst e rious st e ps s e ns e d pr e s e nc e s ; o r (a littl e high er )

“
,

u nwont e d tho u ght -trans f e r e nc e o r s e l f -hypnotism ; o r

again e cstasy a nd th e qui e ting o f a soul fo r p r ay e r wh e n
, , ,

th e spi r it u al fo r c e s e vil e qually with good find so e asy an

, ,

acc e ss to its habitually s e al e d r e c e ss e s A n d h er e m u st .

e nt e r th e ph e nom e na o f madn e ss and poss e ssion

“

( which B e nso n b e li e v e d so much suppos e d lunacy to b e) ,

and above all that s u mming u p o f th e “ O th e rn e ss which ,

th e soul i n mom e nts o f e xtr e m e inward sil e nc e diagnos e s ,

into a P e rson a Watch er r e ady to i nvad e if h e b e but

, ,

giv e n th e O p portunity A s w e ll as e ve r in Tk e N ecr oman cer s

.
,
400 ROB ER T H UG H B ENSON
B e nso n h e r e can cr e at e for us that horribl e s e ns e o f sil e nc e
round a b o u t u s i n whi ch dre adf u l f orc e s are al e rt and
,

watching u s A ll a ge s have f e lt this i n th e ir way : th e

.

G r e e ks e sp e cially fo r whom th e lov e lin e ss o f th e summ e r s

,
’

noon -day sl ee p tr e m b l e d e asily towards th e t e rribl e ; that

was th e mom e nt wh e n th e y saw nymphs and th e Pani c “
,

f e a r stirr e d th e ir h air and blood A n d mor e almost ,

than i n th e lat e r book B e nso n h e r e i nsists on th e cor r up ti on

,

o f ordinary things —som e tim e s Sh e e r br e ad a nd m eat ,

som e tim e s of a whol e art lik e painting -b y som e i n ,

dw e lling spi r it o i e vil .

H ugh B e nson did not any mor e “

play at ghosts as
h e us e d i n h is und e rgraduat e days in th e F e llows ga r d e n
’

o f King s pouncing o n th e r u n aw ay and half kill ed with

’
t

, ,

th e d e licious t er ro r of hims e lf b e ing pounc e d upo n ; b u t

h e r e tail e d th e se stori e s to th e n e w e r g e n e ration r ound th e ,

fir e and Mr Shan e L e sli e t e lls us his succ e ss was h u g e

.

A n d—h o w strang e ly it will s e e m to many—this man

.
, , ,

who mus ed u pon t r agic Qu e e n s a-dyi n g and philosophis e d ,

up on th e natur e o f th e soul and saw th e whol e world ,

sat u rat e d with gigantic f orc e s good a nd e vil fighting for , ,

th e d e stiny of h umanity was still boy e nough to wr it e with

,

gl ee to a distant fri e nd that h e h as r e s u m e d his anci e nt

practic e o f making cack es and is h iding all so r ts o f trivial
,

iti e s with inscriptions in s e cr e t cran ni e s o f Camb r idg e

, ,

a nd o f Ely buildings I suppos e that at this mom e nt

.

fiv e s-balls and buttons and halfp e nc e mu ffl e d i n motto e s , ,

ar e awaiting discov e ry i n thos e walls fo r th e m ystifi c atio n ,

o f g e n e ratio ns ye t to b e .

Th e r e is nothing l e ft I think to b e told a bo u t this

, ,

thr ee t e rms sojourn at Llanda ff H ous e Fath e r B e nson

’
.

had n o t b e e n idl e d u r i ng it ; i n fact h is lit e r ary o u tp u t ,

had b ee n e normo u s B ut h e n e v e r had gu e ss e d that th at

.
WO RKS BY T H E VERY R EV . M O N SI G N O R
R O BER T H U G H BEN SO N

C O N F ESSI O N S O F A C O N V ER T C o w 8 o 3 s 6 d . r n v , . . n et .

C H R I ST I N TH E C H U R C H : a V o l m e o f R e li giou s u Essays .

Cro w n 8v o , 3s 6 d . . n e t.

TH E F R EN D SH P I I OF C H R I ST . Se r m o ns . C row n 8v o ,
3s 6 d
. . n e t.

TH E P A R A DOX ES O F CA TH O L ICI SM . Se rm o n s p re ac h e d
in Rom e , East e r, 1913 C ro w n 8v 0 , 3s 6 d . . n e t.

A C H I LD S ’
RU LE O F L I FE . I ll st at e d b y G A BR I EL
u r P I P P ET .

4 to , 2 s. n e t ; p ap c v s er o er , 1s . n e t.

O LD T ESTA M EN T R H YM ES . I l l st u rate d b y G A BR I EL P I P P ET .

4 to , 2 s. n e t p ap c v s er o er , 1 s. n e t .

I
V EX LL A R EG S A Bo o I . k of D e v o t ion s an d In t e rc e ss o n s i on
B e h al f o f all o u r A u th o r iti e s , ldi s a d Sail s
our So A lli s t h er n or , our e , e

M o u r ne rs an d De stit t u e, an d all a f ct d by th Wa With a P fat y

e e e r . re or

N o te
by th R ight R e e v . th e LO RD B I S H P o r SA L F RD a d a F tispi c
O O ,
n r on e e
by T B A N ES j i
. I F cp ,
I 6 7 t
u n o r. .8v o , s. 11 . n e .

A MYST ER Y P L A Y I N H O N O U R O F T H E N A T I V I TY O F
O U R LO R D With 1 4 I ll st ati s by G A B R I EL P I P P BT ; A pp dic s
. u r on en e
a d St ag D i
n cti s C w 8 2 6d t
e re on . ro n v o, s. . ne .

A t g Edi ti
c zn P ap c v s 6d t on . er o er ,
. ne .

TH E U P P ER R O O M : a D ram a o f C h ri st s P assion Wi t h an ’
.

I t d cti
n ro u by H i Emi c C a di l B OU R N E a d 1 4 I ll st ati s by
on s nen e r na , n u r on

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