The Henson Journals
Sun 14 March 1909 to Sat 20 March 1909
Volume 16, Pages 436 to 437
[436]
3rd Sunday in Lent, March 14th, 1909.
A cold morning following a wet night: only 12 comts at 8 a.m.
It was threatening rain when we went to Church at 11 a.m: and fulfilled its promise as the service proceeded. There was an unusually small congregation, & the offertory fell below £10. Among those present were the Speaker & Mrs Lowther, Mr & Mrs Asquith, Lord & Lady St Aldwyn, Sir Henry Graham & Lady Margaret. I rather suspect that they came on the chance of an allusion being made to Arnold–Foster. I preached on 'the Authority of Christ'.
The rain had changed to snow when I started for the Congregational Church in Clapham where I was pledged to give an address to the men's meeting on "Social & Political Preaching". In spite of the weather about 700 or perhaps 800 men had assembled. I spoke for about 3/4 of an hour, very plainly: & was well listened to, though evidently my views were unpalatable to a large section of my audience.
The weather worsened steadily, & at Evensong there was the smallest congregation I can remember. I preached an old sermon on the Cleansing of the Temple.
[437] [symbol]
On Tuesday, the 16th March, there was a service in S. Margt's in connection with Mr Arnold–Forster's funeral. A considerable number of members of both parties attended.
I baptized Mary Marsden.
Goudy called on me. He seems to be quite ready to stand to his guns on the matter of the American plagiarist.
Bridget stayed behind after the Confn Class to talk with me. She is in a state of spiritual unsettlement & rather troubles me.
I filled up a paper of questions about Albert Saxton; & sent it to the Bp. of Winchester with a letter.
My lecture on the Lambeth Report on Reunion & Intercommunion was very ill–attended. The weather may have accounted for this in part: but I think everybody is bored with the subject.
On Friday, 19th March, as I was about to begin teaching my Confn candidates, Dr Alcock arrived to ask me to assist in breaking to Lady Scott the news of her son's death in India. A telegram had just come with the tidings.
On Saturday, Mr Osmund–Williams came to look at the house with a view of renting it during our absence in America.
Mr Cariss, the Vicar of S. Gabriel's, Birmingham, writes to protest against my preaching in Carr's Lane Church, which is apparently within his parish!