The Henson Journals
Sun 21 July 1907 to Sat 27 July 1907
Volume 16, Pages 234 to 235
[234]
8th Sunday after Trinity, July 21st, 1907.
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Warm but close and overcast: a day to depress & disenchant. I went to S. Margaret's at 8 a.m.: and celebrated. There were 38 cts, of whom no less than 31 were feminine: & of the remaining seven, 3 were clergymen, one an official of the church, and 2 were boys. The effective laymen were embodied in the single person of Mr Geddes.
The sense of general emptiness in Westminster is overpowering. If the present tendencies hold, these great churches will be an Baalbec, or Ravenna, the silent memorials of a vanished life.
I preached wearily at Mattins to a small congregation which listened wearily. A batch of the older choir–boys came to tea; also Waterfield & Marshall, King's Scholars. At Evensong there was a better congregation. I preached on 'Singlemindedness': twisting the history of Solomon to my purpose.
Goss–Custard and Miss Scott came in to supper.
[235]
On Tuesday, July 23rd 1907, we went to Southampton to visit the Bishop Suffragan, who lives in a very pleasant house about 4 miles out of the town. On Wednesday, we motored in the new Forest. On Thursday, I came up to town, and conducted the annual service in the Alms–houses. Then I assisted at the wedding of Raymond Asquith & Miss Horner in S. Margaret's. Scott–Holland tied the knot, and gave a characteristic address. The same evening I returned to Southampton. The Archdeacon of Winchester, & a local parson reputed a preacher, Trevaski were at dinner. On Friday, we motored to Romsey, & viewed the noble Abbey Church, under the enthusiastic & efficient guidance of the Vicar. In the afternoon we motored into Southampton, and inspected the Huguenot church, the Tudor House, boldly described as Henry Vlllth's palace, the Walls, & the new parish church of S. Mary, built as a memorial of Bishop S. Wilberforce. On Saturday we concluded our visit, & returned to Westminster. In the evening we went to Richmond, and I addressed a gathering in the grounds of the Wesleyan Training College.
Harold, with his arm in splints from a bicycling accident, came to stay for a while.