The Henson Journals

[48]

Good Friday, April 13th, 1906.

A most glorious bright day. The window glowed and gleamed like a cohort of seraphim commissioned to guard the Cross. I went to S. Margaret's, and read the Ante–Communion service.

Since bloud is fittest, Lord, to write

Thy sorrows in and bloudie fight;

My heart hath store, write there, where in

One box doth lie both ink and sinne.

That when sinne spies so many foes,

Thy whips, thy nails, thy wounds, thy woes,

All come to lodge there, sinne may say,

No room for me, and flie away.

Sinne being gone, oh fill the place

And keep possession with thy grace!

Lest sinne take courage and return,

And all the writings blot or burn.

[49]

There was a comparatively small congregation at Mattins, and the Offertory (£11.2.0.) was the smallest on record. I added the Ante–Communion Service to Mattins & Litany, with the result that the whole function was not over until a few minutes before 1 p.m.

Ella and I went round to Uncle Charles for tea, and had some conversation with him.

At Evensong, Walters preached an excellent simple discourse. He will make a good parochial preacher if he doesn't fall into the ex tempore heresy. His voice is a pledge of success, a deep sympathetic bass, which it is joy to listen to.

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