The Henson Journals

[135]

20th Sunday after Trinity, October 9th, 1910.

A very close warm day. I celebrated at 8 a.m. when there were 22 comts.

At Mattins there was a very large congregation, a circumstance not wholly unconnected with the fact that S. John's is closed (quite illegally) for repairs. I preached on the Cleansing of the Temple, repeating a sermon first preached in the Abbey a year ago.

S. Margaret's was crowded at Evensong. I preached from Psalm 49.20 'Man being in honour hath no understanding: but is compared to the beasts that perish.' In the course of the sermon I made allusion to the revolution in Portugal, quoting some lines from 'Richard II.' The offertory was £8.13.0.

There came to supper Mary, Gilbert, Reggie, and Roxburgh.

[136]

On Monday (Oct: 10th) I interviewed Mr Arthur Mackarness with respect to the marriage of Mrs Cobbold, an innocent party. He gave, & set down in writing, the most positive assurance that her conduct had been irreproachable throughout the cruellest experiences. Then I saw separately Mrs Cobbold (who impressed me well) and Mr Babington, whom she proposes to marry.

I presided over a meeting of the Westminster Incumbents who elected Mr Ellis, the Vicar of St Mary's to be a Governor of Grey Coat Hospital.

On Tuesday (Oct: 11th) I wrote & sent in to the 'Spectator' a long letter headed "Sectarian Anglicanism", sharply challenging the pronouncement of Lang and Gore at the Church Congress. I shall not be surprised if the Editor fails to publish it.

In the evening I attended the public meeting of the Congregational Union in Horton's Chapel at Hampstead. It is an octagon seating some 1400 persons. Every seat was occupied mainly with ministers, for the most part senior men, strong looking, but rather dour. The Master of the Rolls ( Cozens–Hardy) was in the chair, & made an excellent little opening speech. I spoke for rather more than half an hour, & was very well received. Shakespeare, & Sylvester Horne also spoke.

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