The Henson Journals

[417]

1st Sunday after the Epiphany, January 10th, 1909.

I went to S. Margaret's at 8 a.m., and celebrated. There were but 14 commts, and these, save Cecil Chapman & Fred Ramsay, were all women.

At Mattins there was a moderate congregation, among whom I recognized Lord St Aldwyn, Sir Henry Craik, and Uncle Charles. I preached an old sermon on 'The home–life of Jesus'. The offertory amounted to a little more than £11.

I read Loisy's chapter on 'La carrière de Jésus' in 'Les Évangiles Synoptiques'. It is extraordinarily well–written, but entirely unconvincing. The historical basis he would offer to the Christian is quite inadequate to carry the fabric of personal faith, even if it be allowed to suffice for the explanation of the historical Religion.

Miss Heather Nepean came in to tea.

There was a fair congregation at Evensong. I peached again on the 'Boyhood of Jesus'. The Offertory exceeded £5.

Hine–Haycock brought in a friend to supper. Anthony Browne also brought in his brother Philip. After supper I took Harold into the study, & had some talk with him.

[418] [symbol]

Fawkes wrote to say that Father Tyrrel was at Ivy House, Old Town, Clapham, & would welcome the opportunity of making my acquaintance. So I walked to the address, &, as he was absent, left my card. The next day (Saturday, Jany 16th 1909) he called on me, & spent about two hours in my study. He is a weak–looking man, with receding chin & unsettled countenance: intellectually active & hungry; but unbalanced & doubtful of first principles: with a sense of humour, to keep him back from obvious blunders. He admitted that Loisy was now wholly destructive. He says that Houtin has returned from America reporting ill of the Churches. A non–dogmatic Theism is spreading quickly: the dogmatic system of traditional Xity is quickly losing its hold. He spoke with severity of the seminary system, to which he ascribes many of the mischiefs of the Roman Church. (Morally it works badly. An old & experienced French priest had told him that in his belief about 25 per cent of the priest–hood kept their vow of celibacy; about as many went wholly to the bad: & the remaining 50 per cent lived in decorous incontinency.) The system of delation is now in full swing: & is assiduously served by a fanatical society, "The League of Catholic Women". Pius X is described as in a half–dazed condition, quite overborne by an office altogether greater than his modest powers can sustain.

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