The Henson Journals
Sun 7 March 1909 to Sat 13 March 1909
Volume 16, Pages 434 to 435
[434]
2nd Sunday in Lent, March 7th, 1909.
The thaw is in full progress – a small lake has formed about the goal posts. Knox celebrated at 8 a.m: there were but 17 comts.
There was a larger congregation than I expected, but the coughing was continuous! I preached on the Gospel for the day, which contained the episode of Christ & the Syro–phoenician woman. There was a touch of the 'New Criticism' at the beginning of my discourse, wh. will probably destroy old Mr Talbot's church–going intentions for the next few years. I celebrated the Holy Comn: there were 71 comts.
Bob & Gilbert accompanied me to Bethnal Green, where I addressed a considerable body of working men in the "Excelsior Hall". In the course of my address I read to them Faber's poem, 'The Old Labourer'. We returned to Westminster in a deluge of rain mingled with hail.
The congregation at Evensong was small, but not so small as I expected. I preached an old sermon on "Christian Marriage".
[435] [symbol]
Bridget Hole wrote me an unusually intelligent & interesting letter. She is older than the average confirmation candidate – she was 18 on Sunday the 8th March 1909 – and is, of course, much better educated. Evidently she had been brought up in an atmosphere of ecclesiastical & theological interests, her grandfather was Dean Hole, more famous as a grower of roses than as a guide of souls. I lent her Abbott's 'Silvanus the Christian', as likely to match her present mood.
On Friday, the 12th March, Ella went off to pay a week–ending visit to Mrs Oldfield at Milston nr Salisbury.
On Saturday, the 13th, Beeching & Inge came to lunch: & afterwards Inge came with Harold & me for a run to Richmond Park in Merton's car. The excellent Merton came to dinner afterwards & brought his fiddle. So the young men made music for me.
The 'Times' publishes a little letter from me calling attention to the report in the 'British Weekly' that the Bp. of Durham has worne [sic] the Eucharistic Vestments.
The death of Mr Arnold–Foster took place on Friday.