He was a shy and timorous boy.

No one anticipated the amazingly brilliant career which followed at Cambridge, and even then few suspected him of original genius until he became Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity in 1907.

His attempts to be a schoolmaster were unsuccessful.

He was not good at maintaining discipline, and deafness somewhat intensified a nervous irritability which at times puts an enormous strain on his patience.

Nor did he make any notable impression as Vicar of All Saints', Ennismore Gardens, a parochial experience which lasted two years.