The Henson Journals

[46]

Palm Sunday, April 8th, 1906.

Instead of going to S. Margaret's at 8 a.m, I remained at home, and typed six pages of M.S. for the final "Golden" Lecture, due next Tuesday.

The service at 10 a.m. in the Abbey was lengthened by the slowness with which the Dean read not only the long Gospel, but also the long Exhortation to Holy Communion. Morrison preached the Sermon: good as a fragment, but lop–sided as a whole. After service we walked in the Abbey Garden, where also came the Beechings, and we talked together of educational prospects.

Nixon came in to lunch.

There was a large congregation in the Abbey: but the air seemed to be exhausted; & I preached wearily. The sermon took nearly 40 minutes in delivery.

At Evensong in S. Margaret's there was a large congregation: among others, Mr Asquith was there.

Mr Anthony Browne came in to supper.

A constable came to say that a light was left burning in the belfry. I went round and put it out.

[47] [symbol]

On Monday, the 9th April, 1906, I went across to the House in order to hear Mr Birrell introduce the Education Bill. He spoke for an hour and 40 minutes: and spoke well. The speeches from the Opposition Benches were frankly hostile. Masterman & Ramsay Macdonald urged secularism pure & simple. Macnamara blessed the Bill. On the whole the reception struck me as chilling.

Sitting next to me in the Gallery was the Abp. of Canterbury, with whom I had some conversation. He clearly doesn't want to fight the Bill, but fears he must. Lord Lytton was there, & I promised to discuss the Bill with him in the evening, but when the time appointed had come had so bad a headache that I could not keep tryst.

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Issues and controversies: education bill