The Henson Journals

[209]

Wednesday, May 22nd, 1907.

[symbol]

The Moderator's breakfast is a formidable function. About 160 members of the Assembly & their wives & daughters were entertained this morning. We began with a little service. The Chaplain read a chapter & some prayers: & then the Moderator gave the blessing. Breakfast followed to which we went in order as our names were called. I took in Miss Dalrymple, a pleasant young lady enough but not to be named with my Princess of Holyrood.

At 10.30 a.m. we assembled in S. Giles' for the Holy Communion. For the first time in my life I received the Sacrament according to the Presbyterian Rite. It was a deeply impressive & edifying service. A form was used by the Moderator which appeared to include most part of the Anglican Liturgy. Lessons from both Testaments were read; and Psalms, Paraphrases, & Hymns sung. The most original feature from an Anglican point of view was the administration of the Elements. This was done by the Elders: the communicants remaining in their seats. A square piece of bread was passed round, & everybody broke off a small piece. Then followed the Cup. Nothing could be more congregational. Most of the communicants, after receiving, knelt down, or at least assumed an attitude of devotion. I have rarely, if ever, been at a more [210] [symbol] genuinely Christian service. The priest is entirely subordinate: the Corpus Fidelium is paramount.

I must not omit that before the service began a stout, bearded small old man read a protest against the use of the Form of Service. His name is Jacob Trimmer [sic], & he plays in the Church of Scotland a rôle hardly dissimilar from that of Kensit in the Church of England. From S. Giles's we passed to the Assembly Hall, where the transactions were mostly of a formal & honorific character. Deputations from the Presbyterian Churches of America, Wales & Canada, were heard, & courteously welcomed. M. Merle d'Aubigny, a son of the ecclesiastical historian, made a very lucid & excellent oration in English on the religious situation in France: & the Waldensian Churches in Italy were represented by an English Minister. Reports on the Church in India brought some rather humbling allusions to the narrow & unworthy conduct of the Anglican Bishops in the matter of the garrison Churches. I observed clear indications of an anti–liturgical spirit in the discussion on the Report of the Committee on Aids to Devotion. I joined Lady Frances in the Royal box for the last part of the proceedings. She introduced me to a fine old parson named Pagan.

[211] [symbol]

I dined at Holyrood again, but was not favoured by fortune in the young lady whom I took down to dinner – Miss Grainger Stewart. She told me that she belonged to the United Free Church; & her manners were marked by the freedom which one associates with Dissenters. I had some conversation with Miss Bruce after dinner, but that was speedily cut short by those truly formidable ladies, mine host's sisters, who engaged me in a discussion on psychical research. After dinner the Moderator carried me off to a reception given by Mr Paul, where we stayed but a short time.

---