The Henson Journals

[286]

Septuagesima, February 16th, 1907 [sic].

A calm, cold, bright morning after the rain. I went to S. Margaret's more than commonly depressed by the sense of the failure of my ministry to individuals. The Epistle & Gospel accorded well with the mood of melancholy, and deepened it. "Lest when I have preached to others I myself should be a castaway'. 'Many be called but few chosen'. There were but 17 communicants in all.

The congregation at 11 a.m. was not large: but it included the Speaker, Alfred Lyttelton, & Sir H. Craik. I preached from a favourite Pauline text – "Take thought for things honourable in the sight of all men". In the course of my sermon I referred to the Salvation Army's neglect of Manson's book as an illustration of a breach of the Apostle's rule.

Gilbert & I went in a taximeter cab to the Leysian Mission, where I lectured for 3/4 hour on "Other–worldism" to a large & (on the whole) appreciative set of men.

I preached again at Evensong.

[287]

Feb. 17, 1908.

My dear Sir Kenneth,

My wife & I will be very pleased that Harold shd stay here while he prepares for his examn, always provided that the time is well mapped out & sufficiently filled to prevent the danger of his being at a loose end. I am personally too much pressed with work to be able to undertake any burden of supervision in that regard, & of course I know nothing about the work itself. We do both of us really want to see him started fairly: & will gladly co–operate to that end as far as we can.

Yours ever,

H. H. H.

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