The Henson Journals
Sun 28 November 1909 to Wed 1 December 1909
Volume 17, Pages 21 to 22
[21]
Advent Sunday, November 28th, 1909.
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A wet disconcerting day. Only 14 cts in S. Margaret's. On this day 21 years ago, I was instituted to the Vicarage of Barking. May God for Christ's sake forgive the sins which have hindered, and the blunders which have defeated my Ministry! I am far more perplexed today than then, and I was a troubled man then. On the following Monday (Dec: 3rd 1888) I preached for the first time in the Abbey, a special sermon for Advent.
At Mattins the congregation was rather meagre, and the coughing really disabling. I preached from the Gospel, "Who is this?" taking up my parable against the new Theologian's alternative, "Jesus or Christ? "
In the afternoon I went to Bethnal Green, & addressed about 500 men in the Excelsior Hall. My remarks were disconnected enough, for I read them bits of my American Journal, and moralized on the way. However, they seemed to like it.
The church was well–filled at Evensong. I preached from Isaiah II.3 "Out of Zion shall go forth the law, & the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem". We sang the "Dies Irae" after service.
[22]
On Monday, Nov: 29th 1909, I went to Chigwell, and lectured for an hour to the boys on "The Yellowstone Park", illustrating my lecture with the 21 slides I purchased some weeks ago. Marsden, Russell, & Dr Jones were present.
On Tuesday, Nov: 30th 1909, I dined with Sir John Wolfe Barry at the Anniversary dinner of the Royal Society. Butcher proposed the toast of the evening. The toast of the medallists was responded to by Sir James Dewar & Major Ronald Rosen. As Sir John & I drove back to Dean's Yard we noticed a great force of police in Trafalgar Square keeping back a very demure crowd gathered to hear the result of the voting on the Budget. Lord Lansdowne's motion was carried by 350 to 75.
On Wednesday, Dec: 1st 1909, I dined with the Past Overseers Society, where I proposed the Toast of the City of Westminster. Mr Walter Long was a guest, also Sir Thomas Raleigh.
Oxley, the old sidesman, died suddenly in the Almshouses.