The Henson Journals

[447]

16th Sunday after Trinity, October 8th, 1905.

I returned to S. Margaret's after an unprecedented absence of no less than 8 weeks; it was a dull day minatory of rain. I celebrated at 8 a.m. There were 17 communicants.

There were considerable congregations both at Mattins, and at Evensong. I preached on "Faction & vainglory" in the morning; and on the "Healing of the Gadarene demoniac" in the evening. The last was a frankly heretical sermon

Watson came in to supper.

[448]

On Wednesday, the 11th Oct: 1905, I travelled to Portsea, and preached in the Parish Church, where the celebration of the Dedication Festival was beginning. There was a large congregation & an immense choir of men & boys. I put up for the night at the Vicarage or Clergy-house; & was much pleased with the general aspect of enthusiasm & effort, which marked the place. Bernard Wilson is certainly an excellent fellow, & under his leading the parochial system shews up well. I returned to town on Thursday morning in time to officiate at S. Margaret's at the wedding of Miss Gorst and Major Herbert. My wife & I attended the reception afterwards, & there I met Canon & Mrs Barnett, whom I had not seen for nearly 20 years. On Thursday evening I wrote a letter to the Westminster Gazette; it appeared in that paper under the heading, ‘The Clergyman in Politics', on Saturday the 14th. The death of Sir Henry Irving is announced. A reporter attempted to obtain from me an opinion on the subject of his burial in the Abbey! The day before, he had sought a decision from me on the "Sex of the Angels">!!!

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