The Henson Journals

[220]

6th Sunday after Trinity, July 19th, 1903.

The atmosphere heavy & thunderous, and my spirits accordingly sunk to the deeps. At the early Celebration it became so dark that all the light was needed. There were but 31 commts, of whom but 6 were males including the clergy. At Mattins there was a moderate congregation: I preached on "Divine guidance": the offertory for the National Schools was a little more than £14. Harry Smith came to lunch, & afterwards walked with me. He gives a sad account of religion in his class both at home & abroad. The worthlessness of the religiously observant is the stumbling-block everywhere.

I preached again at Evensong to a fairly large congregation. It was an old sermon, written in Barking in 1892. During the service the organ broke down, & we had to sing the hymns unaccompanied.

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