The Henson Journals

[143]

24th Sunday after Trinity, November 6th, 1910.

I was called late, & had barely time to hustle on my clothes, & get around to S. Margts unbathed & unshaved. Knox celebrated, there were but a dozen comts.

Rain set in shortly after breakfast: & spoiled the congregation at Mattins. However, there was a fair congregation in the circumstances. I preached on the Church, a carefully prepared sermon, but dull & wearisome. The congregation was visibly bored! Afterwards I celebrated the Holy Commn; there were 90 communicants.

There was a fair congregation at Evensong considering the unfavourable weather. I preached an old sermon on 'The Saints', which like the chariots of the Egyptian King 'went heavily.'

[144] [symbol]

Convocation met on Nov: 8th 1910 for a special session dedicated to Prayer Book Revision. On that day, which was my Birthday, I attended the session, feeling miserable by reason of a chill contracted overnight. I spoke at the end of the afternoon discussion. Then I went to Paddington & took the chair at a public debate, arranged by the local C.O.S. & Church Socialist Leage on Socialism. There were 6 champions on either side. I was distressed to notice that 4 of the Socialist speakers were young Anglican clergymen, & that their language was wild & crude. In truth it was a conflict of dervishes verses attorneys! The room was crowded largely with young men, whose sympathies were obviously Socialistic. I was reduced to physical misery by this performance, & reached home shortly before midnight in a state of collapse.

The next two days – Wednesday & Thursday – were spent in bed. I missed an unusually important discussion in Convocation, and paired with Knox–Little for the division, which took place on Thursday. The Fanaticks were beaten by 71 to 44.

The Archdeacon of Leicester, the Bishop of Southampton, & Watson were our guests for the Convocation.

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Issues and controversies: prayer book revision