The Henson Journals

[1]

3rd Sunday in Advent, December 17th, 1905.

I celebrated in S. Margaret's at 8 a.m. There were but 16 communicants, all women save the clergy and Harold.

Cecil arrived on a hired motor at breakfast–time. He preached a lengthy & characteristic sermon, in which he covered an immense area, & traversed the entire cycle of homiletic moods and modes! Beeching preached in S. Margaret's. In the afternoon, I preached in the Abbey, with considerable difficulty, my throat being in a bad state, & by consequence my voice harsh, & my delivery painful. Moreover, the sermon was too abstract & literary to arrest the multitude. Thus, it was the case – as I judge – that my preaching displeased both preacher & congregation. The text was Hosea. XII.13: & the subject "Hebrew Prophecy".

I wrote to Carissima. At evensong in S. Margaret's there was a good congregation. I preached with discomfort to myself on "The Ministry of the Prophets". After service a Mother brought her daughter to the Vestry as a Confirmation Candidate. Custard came in to supper, and afterwards my father–in–law brought in Col: Dunlop, just returned from India, the commander of the regiment in which Jim Dennistoun is captain. He seemed a frank and amiable person.

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